UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO
The Best of Universal Orlando
by: Cara Goldsbury
So you’ve done Walt Disney World and now you’re ready
to discover Universal Orlando. But where to start?
Universal Orlando is a whopper of a destination
composed of exceptional resorts, first-rate restaurants,
and two theme parks offering a certain brand of high-
speed intensity certain to please. Here are some of
Universal’s best experiences:
Best Deluxe Resort
For the height of luxury in a Mediterranean seaside
setting head straight for this exclusive hotel designed to
resemble Italy’s idyllic seaside town of Portofino. The
scenery is pure postcard with colorful fishing boats
bobbing in the seductively curving bay, sun-bleached
stucco buildings with shuttered windows and trompe l’oeil
decorative facades, and a charming, waterside piazza
loaded with appetizing restaurants. Guestrooms are large
and luxurious with four-poster beds, luxe linens, down
pillows, and a pile of other amenities that can’t be beat.
Best Resort For the Utterly Cool
Hard Rock’s motto is “love all, serve all” and serve they
certainly do at the single coolest place in Florida to hang
out in California hip style. It’s a mix of pure luxury and
star worship where an ultra slick marble lobby, a
marvelous pool complex, and stylish guestrooms
are interspersed with over one million dollars worth of
rock and roll memorabilia and rock music blasting away in
every public space; over 900 speakers are scattered
throughout the property, all running seven days a week,
24 hours a day. But rest assured, from the
moment you enter the hallways leading to your trendy
guestroom, only beautiful silence is heard.
Best Resort Pool
Hard Rock’s 12,000 foot zero-entry pool is almost too hip
to handle. It comes with an underwater sound system and
a 250-foot slide (the longest at any U.S. hotel), all
surrounded by a sand beach and swaying palm trees.
For the ultimate in luxury, rent a poolside cabana
equipped with lounge chairs, TV, telephone, fax line,
refrigerator, and ceiling fan. You can even order up your
own private masseuse.
Best Resort Lounge
It depends. The hip crowd should head to Velvet, Hard
Rock Hotel’s so cool cocktail lounge offering a huge list
of specialty martinis and premium cigars along with rock
and roll, chic seating, and a great outdoor terrace with a
view of the resort’s pool. Those with a more sophisticated
inclination will love Bar America at Portofino Bay Hotel
where a pianist entertains a fashionable crowd feasting
on Beluga caviar and fine wine in an elegant setting.
Best Attractions For Thrill Seekers
Universal Orlando is the perfect place for those who
crave a rush of adrenaline. And the best park for thrills is
Universal’s newest, Islands of Adventure. Head first to the
Incredible Hulk Coaster where you’re launched from a
near standstill to 40 mph in 2 seconds, then immediately
into a zero-G dive roll looping through inversion after
inversion and twice underground before coming to a halt.
Then take a ride on Dueling Dragons, the world’s first
inverted, dueling (there’s two of them), near-miss
coasters. At certain points during the ride you’ll swear
your dangling feet almost touch those of the opposite
dragon as it goes roaring by.
Best Way to Spend an Evening Without the Kids
First check the children into one of the Universal resort’s
excellent child care centers. Then head to either Emerils
at Citywalk, a classy spot reminiscent of the New Orleans
warehouse district with intoxicating Creole/Cajun food or
Tchuop Chop at Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort, one of
the most beautiful restaurants in Orlando serving
innovative Asian/Polynesian fare. Afterward dance the
night away at Universal’s Citywalk. Buy a Party Pass for
unlimited admission to all the nightclubs and enjoy!
Best Resort Restaurant
It’s a toss up. Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific Resort
for it’s breathtakingly beautiful dining room and
imaginative cuisine or Delfino Riviera, Portofino Bay Hotel’
s stylish and sophisticated Italian restaurant perched
above the piazza overlooking the bay.
Best Way to Spend an Afternoon Away From the
Parks
Immerse yourself in luxury with one or two soothing spa
treatments at Portofino Bay’s Mandara Spa. Choose from
a variety of massage, face, anti-aging, and body
treatments including Indonesian four hands massage and
Javanese Lulur. Follow this with an afternoon lazing
beside one of the resort’s three luxurious pools.
About The Author
Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World: How
to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer available at 800-247-
6553, www.luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.com, or your local bookstore.
Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.
com.info@luxurydisneyguide.com
The Best of Universal Orlando
by: Cara Goldsbury
So you’ve done Walt Disney World and now you’re ready
to discover Universal Orlando. But where to start?
Universal Orlando is a whopper of a destination
composed of exceptional resorts, first-rate restaurants,
and two theme parks offering a certain brand of high-
speed intensity certain to please. Here are some of
Universal’s best experiences:
Best Deluxe Resort
For the height of luxury in a Mediterranean seaside
setting head straight for this exclusive hotel designed to
resemble Italy’s idyllic seaside town of Portofino. The
scenery is pure postcard with colorful fishing boats
bobbing in the seductively curving bay, sun-bleached
stucco buildings with shuttered windows and trompe l’oeil
decorative facades, and a charming, waterside piazza
loaded with appetizing restaurants. Guestrooms are large
and luxurious with four-poster beds, luxe linens, down
pillows, and a pile of other amenities that can’t be beat.
Best Resort For the Utterly Cool
Hard Rock’s motto is “love all, serve all” and serve they
certainly do at the single coolest place in Florida to hang
out in California hip style. It’s a mix of pure luxury and
star worship where an ultra slick marble lobby, a
marvelous pool complex, and stylish guestrooms
are interspersed with over one million dollars worth of
rock and roll memorabilia and rock music blasting away in
every public space; over 900 speakers are scattered
throughout the property, all running seven days a week,
24 hours a day. But rest assured, from the
moment you enter the hallways leading to your trendy
guestroom, only beautiful silence is heard.
Best Resort Pool
Hard Rock’s 12,000 foot zero-entry pool is almost too hip
to handle. It comes with an underwater sound system and
a 250-foot slide (the longest at any U.S. hotel), all
surrounded by a sand beach and swaying palm trees.
For the ultimate in luxury, rent a poolside cabana
equipped with lounge chairs, TV, telephone, fax line,
refrigerator, and ceiling fan. You can even order up your
own private masseuse.
Best Resort Lounge
It depends. The hip crowd should head to Velvet, Hard
Rock Hotel’s so cool cocktail lounge offering a huge list
of specialty martinis and premium cigars along with rock
and roll, chic seating, and a great outdoor terrace with a
view of the resort’s pool. Those with a more sophisticated
inclination will love Bar America at Portofino Bay Hotel
where a pianist entertains a fashionable crowd feasting
on Beluga caviar and fine wine in an elegant setting.
Best Attractions For Thrill Seekers
Universal Orlando is the perfect place for those who
crave a rush of adrenaline. And the best park for thrills is
Universal’s newest, Islands of Adventure. Head first to the
Incredible Hulk Coaster where you’re launched from a
near standstill to 40 mph in 2 seconds, then immediately
into a zero-G dive roll looping through inversion after
inversion and twice underground before coming to a halt.
Then take a ride on Dueling Dragons, the world’s first
inverted, dueling (there’s two of them), near-miss
coasters. At certain points during the ride you’ll swear
your dangling feet almost touch those of the opposite
dragon as it goes roaring by.
Best Way to Spend an Evening Without the Kids
First check the children into one of the Universal resort’s
excellent child care centers. Then head to either Emerils
at Citywalk, a classy spot reminiscent of the New Orleans
warehouse district with intoxicating Creole/Cajun food or
Tchuop Chop at Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort, one of
the most beautiful restaurants in Orlando serving
innovative Asian/Polynesian fare. Afterward dance the
night away at Universal’s Citywalk. Buy a Party Pass for
unlimited admission to all the nightclubs and enjoy!
Best Resort Restaurant
It’s a toss up. Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific Resort
for it’s breathtakingly beautiful dining room and
imaginative cuisine or Delfino Riviera, Portofino Bay Hotel’
s stylish and sophisticated Italian restaurant perched
above the piazza overlooking the bay.
Best Way to Spend an Afternoon Away From the
Parks
Immerse yourself in luxury with one or two soothing spa
treatments at Portofino Bay’s Mandara Spa. Choose from
a variety of massage, face, anti-aging, and body
treatments including Indonesian four hands massage and
Javanese Lulur. Follow this with an afternoon lazing
beside one of the resort’s three luxurious pools.
About The Author
Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World: How
to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer available at 800-247-
6553, www.luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.com, or your local bookstore.
Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.
com.info@luxurydisneyguide.com
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