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Orlando Theme Parks Guide

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I know that it can be difficult to narrow down where to go on vacation. So, I thought I would make an Orlando Theme Parks Guide to help people figure out which park is right for their trip.

Orlando Theme Parks Guide

Orlando Theme Parks Guide

When planning a family vacation to Florida, it can be difficult to know which destinations are worth your hard earned money and limited time. Having visited most of the area’s parks, I thought I would do a quick overview of each park and who it’s ideal for.

Magic Kingdom

First up, I’ll start with the busiest one – Magic Kingdom. It’s the OG, the first theme park in Orlando. It’s the one with the big castle. Ha! It’s located at the Walt Disney World resort and typically costs the most to visit on a single day. I think it has a reputation for being for children (given it has Fantasyland) but I think it’s great for everyone. It seemingly has the most to do for laid back types. The food in the park is a little lacking, but I can recommend Crystal Palace Character Breakfast. This park is great for those who are young at heart.

Epcot

Epcot, also at WDW, is seen as an adults park. It’s a food mecca with a plethora of options! There’s also lots of drinks to be had, if you are of age and into that. I love visiting when there’s a festival going on for even more food and drink options! This park also has some cool stuff for kids including the Frozen and Remy rides. It is great for history buffs to learn about different countries. Kids would probably enjoy Akershus Princess Breakfast or Garden Grill Character Dinner. Adults can just pick any restaurant in the World Showcase!

Hollywood Studios

This was originally similar to visiting the big studios in Hollywood. When it opened in 1989, it was supposed to give you a behind the scenes look at movies. It doesn’t do that anymore, but it’s still fun. It’s obviously great for Star Wars and Toy Story fans. Plus, the Fantasmic Dining Package is lots of fun for all ages. It has similar vibes to Disney’s California Adventure Park, if you are familiar with it.

Animal Kingdom

Opened in the 90’s, it’s WDW newest theme park. As its name implies, it’s perfect for animal lovers! You have to ride the Kilimanjaro Safari ride! The Caring for Giants Tour is also great for elephant fans. This park has several good food options: Yak and Yeti for adults or Tusker House Character Meal are just two good places.

Universal Studios Florida

Moving over to Universal Orlando Resort, there’s Universal Studios Florida. Opened in 1990, it’s an edgier park. I love the seasonal events held at this park. I highly recommend visiting during Mardi Gras. If you are into horror/Halloween, then Halloween Horror Nights is amazing as well! The rides here are more intense than the ones at Disney. However, they just added Minion Land in 2023 and DreamWorks Land is coming in 2024! My preferred meals here are at Minions Cafe and Today Cafe (unless the seasonal booths are an option).

Islands of Adventure

Almost a decade after opening USF, Universal opened Islands of Adventure. Personally, I spend way more time at USF than IoA. However, I make time to check out Grinchmas here during the Holidays. Lots of people like Jurassic Park here as well. I don’t have a go to food place here. I guess this one is best if you like the specific IPs represented here.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Epic Universe opening at Universal Orlando Resort in 2025. It looks to have a land for everyone! I’m very much looking forward to experiencing it next year!

SeaWorld Orlando

If you have a big marine animal lover or a roller coaster enthusiast, then SeaWorld Orlando may be worth a day or two. My mom and I have done several animal add-on experiences here and loved each one! The Sharks Underwater Grill makes for a fun meal. They have lots of fun shows to watch and have been adding a new coaster about once a year for the past several years. In a few years, they will even have their own resort! So, this one is growing and will have even more to enjoy in a few years time.

Legoland Florida

Technically, Legoland Florida is in Cypress Gardens. However, it looks neat for the Lego fans in your life. I wish they were closer to an airport or provided a shuttle. You would probably need to rent a car to visit this one, but it looks fun. I’ve never visited, but I’m open to it.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

This is also technically not in Orlando. However, I know some people will rent a car to drive over to Tampa or ride a shuttle over. Busch Gardens Tampa is owned by the same company that owns SeaWorld. It is also great for animal lovers and coaster enthusiasts. My mom and I enjoyed our short visit here last year. You can read my Busch Gardens Tampa Animal Tours review for insight into some of their add-on experiences.

Orlando Theme Parks Guide

I attempted to cover the main “big” Orlando theme parks in this post, along with a few bonus parks. Which ones have you visited? Which one is your favorite?

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Review

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On my most recent visit to Universal Orlando Resort, I finally checked off staying at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel! So, it’s time for a review!

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is a Signature Collection resort at Universal Orlando. It’s themed after the Italian village complete with its own harbor! It is typically the most expensive resort on property (with Helios Grand Hotel expected to be more expensive when it opens in 2025) but is also considered the most luxurious.

It’s one of three resorts on property to come with free Universal Express passes. It also has boat transportation to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. It will provide bus transportation to Epic Universe.

Standard Room

My mom and I stayed in a standard two queen room. There was construction going on across the hall, but we didn’t hear too much noise. It was a pretty quiet stay, especially when compared to the rooms at Endless Summer. The beds were very comfortable with luxe bedding. Again, the difference between the comforter here and the thin cover at Endless Summer was noticeable. The details were classy and simple.

The bathroom was huge, particularly when compared to the other hotels. Although, I was a touch disappointed with the toilet paper quality here. I expected better toilet paper for the price, but it appeared to be the same cheap stuff you get at the other hotels. It also carried the same toiletries found at Royal Pacific.

Pros

  • Gorgeous resort – I loved just walking around this resort and feeling fancy. It truly feels like Italy to me (although, I’ve never actually been to Italy).
  • Boat transportation – It was amazing to walk down to the harbor and catch a boat over to the parks. Although, it did storm once and we had to take a bus back to the resort. That was less tranquil, but free park transportation is still a great perk.
  • Free Universal Express Unlimited – Your room key is your way to skip the lines in the parks. That sometimes makes the select Signature Collection hotels offering this benefit worth the higher price.
  • Relaxing vibes – I just felt so relaxed and peaceful here. I don’t get those vibes at places like the Hard Rock Hotel or Cabana Bay.
  • Several restaurants – We enjoyed Mama Della’s Ristorante as well as the Gelateria. Next time, I’d like to try Bice and Sal’s Market Deli.
  • On-site spa – I didn’t have a chance to experience it, but there is a spa on site here. It sounds lovely.
  • Three pools – This hotel is large and has three pools to spend time in.

Cons

  • Expensive – This is typically the most expensive resort on property. I used an AP discount and it was still around $300/night! If it wasn’t for the price, I would be staying here every trip!
  • Big resort – Thankfully, our room wasn’t much of a hike. However, the resort is sprawling and I can see getting lost here.
  • Theme not for everyone – This is the perfect resort for an adults only stay. However, I think children may find it to be a boring resort.
  • Limited AP discounts – This resort is technically owned/operated by Loews. As such, you can’t use your AP discount in the gift shop upstairs and at some other locations at the resort.

Is Loews Portofino Bay Hotel worth it?

Given the big price tag, I can’t recommend this hotel to everyone. However, if it’s in your budget, I say go for it. It’s now my favorite UO resort. However, the price is cost-prohibitive for many return stays. Also, I think people with children might prefer Cabana Bay or the suites at Endless Summer given the theme and pricing.

Have you ever stayed at Portofino Bay?

Mama Della’s Ristorante at Universal Orlando Review

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In February, my mom and I stayed two nights at Universal Orlando’s Portofino Bay Hotel. While there, we had the pleasure of eating at Mama Della’s Ristorante for dinner once and breakfast twice. I will be posting a full review of the hotel soon, but I thought I would do a separate post on the food here.

Mama Della's Ristorante

Mama Della’s Ristorante

For those who don’t know, Mama Della’s Ristorante is one of several Italian restaurants found at Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel. It currently serves breakfast (7 AM to 11 AM/12 PM) and dinner (5 PM to 10 PM) while being closed for lunch. It is a nice sit down restaurant. However, it’s a step below the uber fancy (and even pricier) Bice.

Over the course of our stay, I was able to eat here three times. So, I think I can give a good overall review of the place. First up is breakfast! Then, I will cover dinner!

Breakfast

We ate here both mornings of our stay at Portofino Bay Hotel. The first morning, we tried the buffet. We are a sucker for a good breakfast buffet. Priced at $30/adult, it wasn’t too much more expensive than ordering from the menu. They had a good assortment of items on the buffet. I tried two different fruit juices, but wasn’t a big fan of either one. I keep trying biscuits and gravy at UO but it never meets my expectations. The French toast and pancakes were fine. I always enjoy trying the different pastries on the breakfast buffets at the resorts. The highlight of this meal was the oatmeal with fun toppings! I had never seen candy and sprinkles as oatmeal toppings, so I had to try it. It was actually pretty good!

The second day we ordered from the menu. I selected the Italian French Toast and was not disappointed. The brioche bread was the perfect foundation for the Italian pastry cream, banana, and Nutella. It was definitely a sweet way to start my day! I probably needed a side of protein if this was supposed to power me through a park day though. It was good, but I couldn’t finish it.

Personally, I preferred the French toast to the buffet. If I go back, I will definitely choose it over the buffet. You can see photos of what all I sampled in the pictures in my Instagram post below.

Dinner

Given that we were planning to eat here on a Saturday night, I made a dining reservation just to ensure we were able to eat here during our stay. We already had dinner plans at Finnegan’s Bar and Grill for the Float Ride and Dine on Sunday. I was happy I had made the reservation as we didn’t have to wait long for our table.

The meal begins with a lovely bread basket. I really enjoyed trying the different breads. The accompanying butter and garlic was a nice touch. My mom chose the lasagna as her entree and seemed happy with it. It was a pretty good sized serving too. I got the chicken parmesan and was served a huge helping of chicken! I ate only about half of it, but it was really tasty. The pasta was just ok. The broccoli was basic. The real star was the chicken.

Towards the end of our meal, some performers started going around the restaurant. It was nice to hear live music while eating. I wish they had started earlier in our meal since we had to leave to watch the Mardi Gras parade. However, it was a nice touch. Overall, it was a nice meal.

Is Mama Della’s worth it?

I think you have to try Mama Della’s Ristorante at least once if you are staying at Portofino Bay Hotel. I think it does a nice job of immersing you into the Italian theme. The music at dinner was a great touch! If you are looking for something a little less fancy, there is a quick service restaurant that looks good too! Also, I highly recommend grabbing some gelato from the Gelateria for dessert!

So, have you ever eaten here? What did you think?

Cabana Bay Beach Resort Review

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In December, my mom and I stayed in a standard tower room at Cabana Bay Beach Resort during the Universal Orlando portion of our trip. Today, I’m sharing a review of that experience as well as my thoughts on the resort as a whole.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Last year, I reviewed the family suite at this resort. For my third stay here, we booked a standard room. Unfortunately, a regular room wasn’t ready when we checked in. So, they gave us a tower room with a bit of a view of Volcano Bay (the waterpark).

As you may recall, CB is a Value Resort at Universal Orlando. This means it’s in the same category as Universal’s Endless Summer Resorts, which I reviewed previously. Previously, it was considered a Prime Value, but it has been downgraded to a Value with the addition of the Stella Nova and Terra Luna coming in 2025. It offers only bus transportation to the parks and doesn’t come with free express passes. It features a retro 50/60’s vibe with lots of fun little touches.

Standard Room

My mom continues to enjoy the retro vibes of this resort. I think it makes her feel nostalgic. The beds were moderately comfortable. One huge complaint I have about this resort is the water pressure. It’s not enough for the shower or the toilet to work properly. Universal really needs to work on that. Overall, it was a comfortable enough room, considering we got a passholder discount and were there for only two nights.

Bayside Tower

While we had a standard two queen room, it was situated in the Bayside Tower. I have mixed feelings on the tower. While the tower itself seemed quieter than the building, the view of the waterpark made for a loud stay during the day. The drums that beat and the music that plays at the beginning of the day woke me up the one morning that we were sleeping in. Additionally, we could hear music playing during the day when we were napping. The noise is one of the reasons I recommend getting a white noise machine and/or a standard view at hotels. The other problem is the distance from the lobby and transportation. It’s quite the walk with all of your luggage or at the end of a long day.

Food Options

Given that this is a Value resort, there’s only quick service options here. There’s the main Bayliner Diner food court that serves the bulk of you what you can get here. I recommend the half chicken for dinner from here. I like to grab a smoothie and a croissant sandwich from Shakes Malt Shoppe for breakfast. There’s also the Galaxy Bowl Restaurant, Swizzle Lounge, two pool bars, and a Starbucks here. Unfortunately, if you want a nicer sit-down meal, you’ll have to head to the parks or City Walk.

Pros

  • Free park transportation – Again, free park transportation is one of the main reasons I tend to stay on property at UO and Disney.
  • Early park admission – Hotel guests can enter a certain park 1 hour early.
  • More affordable – We got a great passholder deal on this room of around $150/night!
  • Pool – CB has the largest pool on property and even has a lazy river!
  • Bowling alley – Fitting the retro theme, there’s even a bowling alley at this resort! It would make a great non-park day activity.
  • Lots of room options – There’s interior entry rooms in the main buildings as well as the towers. There’s also several exterior entry rooms available as well as family suites.

Cons

  • No sit down restaurant – For some families, this may be fine. For others, it may be a disappointment.
  • Bus only transportation – It’s not really feasible to walk over to Sapphire Falls to take the boat to the parks here. Although, there is a 20 minute garden walk path over to the parks.
  • Low water pressure – In fact, when we moved over to Disney I was actually impressed with their water pressure. That’s how low the pressure is here.
  • Can be crowded – Given how large the resort is, it can be a crowded resort. Additionally, sometimes groups or teams may stay here.
  • Distance – Given how many rooms this resort has, it’s spread out as far as UO resorts go. Depending on where you are staying, it may be a bit of a hike to the bus and/or lobby.

Should you stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort?

If you want a good value on the hotel or need a quieter family suite, then this is an excellent resort. In fact, I know lots of people consider this one of their favorite resorts. It’s usually more affordable and has plenty of room options. If you want a classier theme, quieter resort, express passes included, or boat transportation, then you will want to consider a different resort. Have you stayed at Cabana Bay?

Finnegan’s Bar and Grill at Universal Orlando Review

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On my most recent trip to Universal Orlando Resort, my mom and I once again booked the Mardi Gras Ride and Dine package. However, this time we decided to try Finnegan’s Bar and Grill for our dinner. So, here’s my review of that experience.

Finnegan's Bar and Grill

Finnegan’s Bar and Grill

Finnegan’s is an Irish-American pub located in the New York section of the Universal Studios Florida park. It features many Irish dishes as well as some classics like burgers. It’s one of the two sit-down restaurants in this park. The other being Lombard’s Seafood Grille, which we ate at last year for this package.

The restaurant often has live music. I know some people like to enjoy a drink at the bar while enjoying the band. For us though, it was too loud. My mom wears a hearing aid, so the loud music made it hard for us to talk and for her to converse with the waitress. It wasn’t impossible, just difficult. So, something to keep in mind if you have hearing issues.

The Food

Since we ate here as a part of the Ride and Dine package, we were both able to select an appetizer, entree, dessert, and beverage for our meal. My mom ordered a diet drink, which she enjoyed. I ordered a water.

For an appetizer, I chose the Guinness Warm 3 Cheese Dip served with soft pretzel sticks. It reminded me of the pretzel bites we used to sell when I worked at a movie theater. It was good, but not anything groundbreaking. My mom selected the Potato & Onion Webb. It was basically a big basket of fried onions and potatoes. It was a touch greasy but had a good flavor.

For the entree, I ordered the Bronzed Flounder. The fish was a little dry or well-done but tasted good. The vegetables were also fine. Again, not anything mind-blowing here. My mom chose the Irish Fish and Chips. Unfortunately, this was a greasy mess. The fish was mostly bread with very little actual fish. I attempted to tear a piece off to try and got a handful of grease! I was actually shocked by how greasy this fish was. So, maybe don’t order this dish if you don’t like grease.

As for the dessert, we both selected the Apple Caramel Bread Pudding. This was the highlight of the meal. It was warm with a scoop of ice cream! The bread pudding was a little dry, but that ice cream really helped it. It was a nice to way to end the meal.

Mardi Gras Ride and Dine

As I stated above, this meal was purchased for the Mardi Gras Ride and Dine experience. Last year, we were given our lanyard and information as soon as we entered the restaurant. This time we were told we didn’t need anything. However, we spotted other diners as we were leaving wearing lanyards for the experience. So, we asked the attendant who said we needed the lanyard for the event. He went in the back to look for our packet but couldn’t find it. We ended up waiting several minutes for someone to pull our stuff together. Then, we had to sprint across the park to make it in time for the parade line up.

This year, we were on the King and Queen float. Unfortunately, some big guy was beside me and crowded me out of my spot on the float. I spent most of the parade standing behind my mom and we took turns tossing beads. One thing we learned from last year: run directly to the photo pick up location at the front of the park for ride photos. We purchased a few nice pictures this year and I love that we have souvenirs this year.

Is Finnegan’s Bar and Grill worth it?

This is probably one of the harshest reviews I’ve ever posted. However, I strive to be honest here, so it is what it is. I wouldn’t eat here again. The food wasn’t great and certainly not worth the prices charged. My mom’s fish was one of the greasiest dishes I’ve ever encountered. My fish was ok. The dessert was pretty good, but I think you can find better desserts/snacks elsewhere. If we book the Ride and Dine experience again, it will be at another restaurant.