By Pink Diva
We normally focus on Disney and Disney-related subjects for our articles. But, every once in a while we travel down I-4 to “that other theme park.” You know the one I’m talking about: Universal Studios. My family is planning a trip to Universal Studios Orlando in February and I was able to review The Unofficial Guide Universal Orlando 2020 to help me prep for our trip. I have looked through the book and want to share my 5 reasons you need this book.
Hogwarts Express
Reason 1. The book is broken down into easy to navigate chapters or parts. While you should start in the introduction, after that you can kind of flip around to read what you want to focus on. If you want to research dining options, skip to Part 6 to read about dining plans, quick and full-service options, and character meals. There is current (2020) pricing included which is helpful when deciding if you want to use the dining plan or not. I really like the mini summaries of the restaurants. It’s very hard to plan where to eat when you know nothing about a place. The Unofficial Guide Universal Studios 2020 lets you know a restaurant’s location, quality, value, portion and reader-survey responses along with a shortlist of what is offered and useful general comments about the restaurant.
Revenge of the Mummy. One of my personal favorites.
Reason 2. There are maps! The maps are located in the corresponding parts of the book, but there is a very helpful list in the front of the book on where to find the maps. I like to make a plan to maximize my day. Having good, up-to-date maps helps me visually see where everything is. Knowing what attractions are in Universal Studios and which are in Universal’s Islands of Adventure are key to a good vacation.
Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the Cat in the Hat.
Reason 3. Part 5 is all about kids. If you are going with kids or not, this section should not be skipped over. First, if you don’t have kids, thumb through this section to see where all the kids are going to be. (Small kids tend to take afternoon breaks for naps, so this is a good time to ride family-friendly attractions.) There is also a great list of character greeting locations that everyone can enjoy. If you do have kids, get your highlighters out-this section will save your vacation. Whether your kids are experienced theme-park visitors or first-time visitors this section thinks of everything. It breaks down the fright-potential for each attraction. This is super helpful if you have little ones that can get scared easily. It also has tips on strollers, lost kids, and random stuff you may not have considered.
The fire-breathing dragon on top of Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
Reason 4. The Introduction and Part 1 of this book will turn you into a Universal Orlando specialist. Not really, but it will give you all the information you need all in one place to get started on planning your Universal Orlando vacation. It describes the differences between the two parks, the lingo used in the parks, and some interesting Universal History. Part 1 is the “know before you go” section. It has general weather information, phone numbers, what social media and podcasts are the best, and which Touring Plan is best for you.
Bart Simpson. AKA El Barto.
Reason 5. Touring Plans. Yes, the book comes with touring plans. They have already done the work for you! There are step-by-step plans on how to see everything with little wait times. There are many different plans to suit your specific vacation needs. Going with small children? There is a touring plan for that! Want to do everything in the Wizarding World? There is a touring plan for that! I plan to utilize the touring plans to make sure we hit up everything we want without waiting in lines all day.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Unofficial Guide Universal Orlando 2020 is chocked full of great information. You could spend all day searching different internet sites and still not find all the information that is in this book. The detail, humor, and tips make this more than just a vacation guide-book.
Whether this is your first trip to Universal Orlando or your 100th trip, this book will help you maximize your time in the parks. With the popularity of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the newly opened Volcano Bay, and the exciting announcement of a third park, Universal Orlando is more popular than ever. Having the Unofficial Guide Universal Orlando 2020 book will give you the tips and tricks to stay ahead of the crowd.
GIVEAWAY: Would you like to win a copy of this Unofficial Guide for yourself?? Great news, we’ve partnered with the Unofficial Guides to offer one lucky Tips from the Disney Divas and Devos reader a copy of their own Unofficial Guide Orlando 2020.
First, you will need to sign up for the Unofficial Guide newsletter here.
Second, you will need to like Tips from the Disney Diva on Facebook
You will use the Rafflecopter link below to confirm your entries – additional entries are available, but the two mentioned above are mandatory to enter.
You will need to “LIKE” each of the Facebook entries for those to count. All entries will be verified. The winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. The contest ends on Tuesday, January 7. GOOD LUCK!
You must follow the rules to be entered to win, if you do not sign up for the Unofficial Guide newsletter or like our Facebook page you will not be eligible to win.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? You’ll want to look into The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World or The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2020.
Disclaimer: Liliane Opsomer from The Unofficial Guide series provided me with a complimentary copy of The Unofficial Guide Universal Orlando 2020 to review. She also generously has allowed Tips from the Disney Divas and Devos to give away a copy of another Unofficial Guide book to our readers. I received no other compensation for my review, and my opinions are completely my own.
*Copyrights for the photographs used in this article belong to Liliane Opsomer as noted and are being used with her permission.
Want even more help planning your vacation? Email Trish at All For Dreams Travel for a FREE quote and help making all your travel plans.
