A Universal New Year 2019

[Stewboy]

So you may not be surprised to hear that the Sears are going back to Florida for New Year!

What may surprise you is that this time around it’s all about Universal Orlando! We haven’t visited since 2015 when we stayed at Royal Pacific Resort for 4 nights at the end of our WBTA cruise on the Disney Magic.

There’s no cruise this time (we already did that this year, lucky us!) so we will fly from Gatwick to Orlando International, pick up a car and drive to Cabana Bay for a 7 night stay.


Stewart & Isabella - Universal 2015

The planning of this trip started back in April when Jo found a really cheap direct flight with Virgin. We’d talked about going to Universal now that Isabella was older (she’ll be 7 on December 30th, during our trip!) and is a big Harry Potter fan - we’ve just finished reading The Goblet of Fire, and she has just finished rereading The Philosopher’s Stone by herself.

Also, as it’s her birthday between Christmas and New Year, and she’d enjoyed being in Florida for it in 2016/17, we thought it would be great to spend it out there again this year.

Being in Florida, we couldn’t not do something Disney, so we thought we’d visit the Christmas decorations of the monorail resorts again, and also spend some time at Disney Springs; there’ll be no Disney park action this time though.


Sears @ Grand Floridian - December 2016


NYE @ Hollywood Studios - 2016

However, Isabella requested some fireworks for her birthday, so one of the two ADRs we’ve booked will be at California Grill so that we can watch the Magic Kingdom ‘Fantasy in the Sky’ fireworks on her birthday.

The second ADR is for the new Storybook Dining at Artist Point in Wilderness Lodge. This is brand new, and Jo managed to book it on the day the first ADRs became available - it looks like fun and we’ll get to meet Snow White, the Evil Queen, Grumpy, and Dopey. We’re doing this on New Year’s Day - should be a nice way to start 2019!

As mentioned, we’re staying at Cabana Bay, which looks lovely, and as we’re on Universal property we get early entry to the parks; we’ll be trying to take advantage of this in the hope we actually get to go on the Harry Potter rides without an incredible wait - we’ve decided not to pay out for the Express Passes as the exorbitant cost really doesn’t seem justified.

We realise this might mean getting on other rides throughout the day could be an issue, so we’re going to take a break in the middle of the day and chill out at the hotel; maybe relax on the lazy river, spend some time around the pool, or head out to do some shopping at the malls (Mall at Millenia, and the two Premium Outlets are on our list) or Disney Springs.

On Isabella’s birthday we’ll hopefully be going bowling at the bowling alley in the hotel, as well as visiting iHop for brunch.

Other offsite restaurants we’ll be visiting include LongHorn Steakhouse, Chick-fil-A, First Watch, and Keke's Breakfast Cafe.

At CityWalk we’ll be visiting Cowfish (we loved this place back in 2015) and on New Year’s Eve we have Mythos booked at Islands of Adventure - although it’s possible we may cancel that one.

FInally, at Disney Springs we hope to finally eat at Blaze Pizza, as we’ve been wanting to try it for the last few years, but always end up doing something else instead.


Jo @ Cowfish

In terms of tickets, they were bought from Orlando Attractions, and as I said, Express Passes are not included. Flights are with Virgin, and once they were booked back in April, car hire with Budget, airport (Purple) parking, Cabana Bay, and the Premier Inn (for a pre-flight overnight stay) were booked soon after.

So that’s all the details, except maybe the most important ones for those that don’t already know us...

Stewart: 42, Creative Director at London Marketing Agency and Trip Report writer
Jo: 34, Science Tutor and Trip Planner/Organiser
Isabella: Almost 7, avid book reader.

We’re all really excited about this trip. Although the rides are important, especially the two main Wizarding World of Harry Potter ones (which Isabella has never been able to do), we also want to spend some time taking in the atmosphere of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, rather than rushing around/queuing to try and get onto other rides.


Jo & Isabella - "Kings Cross" 2015


Thumbs up for Harry Potter


Outside Hogwarts


Visiting Gringotts

As well as Harry Potter stuff, we’ll want to do the rides at Seuss Landings, and a few others like ET (which Isabella wants to do), and Jurassic Park, but there’s a lot of stuff there that we won’t queue for too long for - obviously if we can get on them we will.

So on Friday 28th December we’ll drive down to Gatwick, stay at the Premier Inn, and Saturday morning will be taking our Virgin flight to Orlando International! I hope that you’ll read along!

TFR


5th birthday selfie

[CoasterQueen]

Following Hoping to do similar next xmas/new year so very interested in crowds/weather/etc-Fingers crossed Isabella gets on the Harry Potter rides

[Twinklestar1]

Hope you have a fantastic time - looking forward to reading along.

[LLamb]

Ooh sounds wonderful. We have a very similar universal only trip booked for next May.
Did full on Disney this year and our DS 5 is really getting into Harry Potter. We have just started reading the philosophers stone with him.
Enjoy

[sizzle]

We fly out on Saturday as well but on the later flight, first week Disney and Seaworld and then moving to Universal next Saturday staying at the Aventura. Hope you have an amazing time. Weather looks good for next week...

[Kat11]

Following along, have a fab time.

Kat

[00swan]

Sounds lovely - happy holidays to you all

[princess allie]

Have a fabulous trip. Sounds lovely x

[JanetteP]

Can't wait to read - very interested in your stay as thinking of Cabana Bay for 4 nights next year - can't justify the cost of the others. Have fun guys

[Rhoose]

I have been waiting for this pre trip report. Looking forward to reading along. We were in Universal back in August and really enjoyed Harry Potter. My son and I rode multiple times on both of the main rides. We also took in the atmosphere of the area and took our time looking around, and noticed different things from when we went in 2014.. So much to see. My sons birthday is the same day as Isabella's although he will be 15, hope she has a great day. Have a great time.