The ABSOLUTE GUIDE to Universal Studios Florida!

[Music] hey everyone Krista here and if you're heading to Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando resort I'm gonna go through absolutely everything within the park from attractions restaurants shops and more as well as a few details and Easter eggs that you may have missed on your last visit plus you'll want to make sure to stick around to the end to get a few tips and tricks to get the most out of your day so let's get started Universal Studios Florida is one of three theme parks that currently make up Universal Orlando resort the parks include Universal Studios Florida volcano Bay their water park and Universal Islands of Adventure Universal is also in the midst of building a brand new theme park that we are very excited about called Universal's epic Universe which is expected to open in the summer of 2025. Universal Studios Florida is where you become the star and step onto the set of your favorite TV shows and movies there are nine themed areas that make up the Park minions land on illuminations Avenue production Central New York San Francisco London and Diagon Alley World Expo Springfield USA Hollywood as well as a brand new area that is currently being built in the old Woody Woodpecker play area that Universal just confirmed would be based off of DreamWorks Animation [Music] when you first walk into the park the very first area that you'll encounter is guest services lost and found as well as wheelchair and stroller rentals that are located over here also right in front of the park is Studio suites where you'll be able to find plenty of treats that include everything from handmade treats Candy Apples homemade fudge Gourmet cookies as well as a wall of self-serve candy and while I was there I could not help but pick up this incredible jaws of Fishbowl which is a chocolate cake layered and delicious buttercream served in a fishbowl in a topped with a Jaws gummy if you walk through the very back of Studio suites you'll walk straight into the Universal Studio store and if you're looking for anything in particular this is where you'll be able to find the whitest assortment of all things Universal from character inspired apparel toys mugs hats backpacks gifts and more once you exit the Universal Studio store you'll encounter our very first Lan which is the brand new minions land on illuminations Avenue this brand new area just opened up in 2023 and this is where you can join your favorite super villains and blast your way to super villain stardom with the help of the minions once you're ready you'll head to your very first Adventure which is Despicable Me minion Mayhem is where you can train to become a minion and join Gru and the rest of the gang the outside of the attraction is themed as Gru's home where you'll enter and learn everything you need to know about minion training while you're in the queue you'll tour Gru's living room and a laboratory then strap on some Minion goggles and aboard this motion ride simulator to see if your minion training has paid off while you try to stay alive and not ruin Agnes's adoption anniversary gift for Gru oh yeah and be aware of fart guns once you exit Despicable Me you'll walk straight into one of my favorite stores super silly stuff where you'll be able to stock up on all of your favorite minion Gear toys and Gru approved gadgets including everything from fart guns to fluffy unicorns if you're looking for the most exclusive Despicable Me Merch this is the place to go just across the street from super silly stuff is one of the brand new attractions in Universal Studios illuminations villain con minion blast at the time of filming minion blast had just opened up for technical rehearsal and was not allowing any filming on the ride but here is where you'll be able to attend villain con the world's largest convention for villains here the most infamous super villain group The Vicious six have set up a challenge to find their newest member so grab your blaster jump on a moving walkway and shoot your way to super villain stardom and see if you have what it takes to join the likes of bell bottom Jean-Claude as well as the rest of the vicious six when you exit the villain con minion blast you'll enter the evil stuff gift shop here is where you can pick up some Minion and a villain con themed souvenirs like bags cups as well as blasters toys apparel and more if you need a sweet treat after your admission then just behind villaincon minion blast is the brand new Bake My Day shop which you may remember from Despicable Me 2. this shop not only has a wide assortment of Minion themed treats cupcakes macaroons and cookies but also a collection of super sweet minion souvenirs and apparel that include keychains cups backpacks and so much more while you're here make sure to look up to find a fun surprise there's also a new meet and greet location here at illuminations theater that's located just behind Bake My Day here is where you can meet some of your favorite characters from both Despicable Me and sing characters that you can meet here include the minions grew Agnes Margo and Edith from Despicable Me as well as Rosita Johnny and Gunter from sing just pass Bake My Day is freeze ray pops which is a walk-up window where you can grab a popsicle a cold beverage and some other icy cool Refreshments which is a perfect way to cool down on a hot day near the end of the Avenue is the brand new minions Cafe where the minions are hard at work whipping various delicious treats and dishes as long as they don't destroy the entire Cafe in the meantime the minion Cafe is a cross between a table service and quick service restaurant it is open seating so after you find your table you will scan at the code place your order from your phone add in your table number and the food will be delivered directly to your table another food here is so good it's not your typical Theme Park Restaurant menu there's a lot of banana themed items as well as items based off of the characters and all of the Minion movies the main entrees are called despicables like Agnes's honeymoon soup which is a tomato soup made to look like Agnes's concoction from Despicable Me 3. complete with a tomato in the shape of a gummy bear there's also Lucy's top secret salmon which has all of the colors of Lucy's outfit including a sui and sour sauce pipette to represent her lipstick taser as well as Otto's Noodle Bowl where the noodles come in a bowl shaped like Auto there's also a couple of delicious handheld items like Uncle Drew's belly filling pork sandwich and the steak and cheese Ray sandwich which also comes with a cheese Ray pipette they also had two specialty beverages to wash it all down with like the px41 punch which is eliminated with flavors of strawberry and kiwi as well as the antidote which tastes like a banana cream pie and you can't leave without trying one of these cute desserts which includes the fluffy unicorn cupcake Bob's teddy bear chocolate cream puff Otto's pet rock and my personal favorite was the minion Swiss roll that is served with a passion fruit banana everything here was Top Notch and it's definitely one restaurant you'll want to try while you're here while you're here make sure to take a moment and walk all throughout the restaurant there are three different different rooms that are featured here the kitchen where you can find several of the minions already causing some Mayhem the minion break room complete with foosball tables lockers a vending machine that of course serves bananas as well as these hilarious motivational posters and last but not least is the dining room that features minion artwork and a ton of other little Easter eggs that you can find all throughout the rest of the restaurant I really loved all the little details and the googly eyes everywhere it made this restaurant just so much fun to eat in in addition to the minion Cafe there's a few other dining locations that include a pop banana which features a couple of Minion popcorn buckets and offers banana flavored popcorn which has a very subtle hint of banana and is very much like banana flavored kettle corn I couldn't help but get mine in this adorable Bob popcorn bucket especially since he's always been my favorite minion once you're done causing Mayhem along the streets of illuminations Avenue you'll make your way into our next area which is production Central and production Central is what sets the stage for your movie making Adventure the first thing that you'll encounter in production Central is Hollywood Rip Ride rocket this is no ordinary coaster honor this ride you'll become the star of your very own music video after you strap in you'll pick a song from the playlist to rock out to during the ride this coaster features 90 degree angle incline straight up to the top of a 17 story tall 167 Foot Hill where you'll get a really great view of Universal Studios then you'll drop and soar into a loop that creates the illusion of you going upside down but you actually never do this coaster tops out it's 65 miles an hour and has a track length of 3839 feet and goes through several Maneuvers that are named after something in the music industry including the treble clef which is a part of the track shaped like the famous music symbol the crowd Surfer which is an overbanked turn directly above the line queue and the drop tuning which is an underground Chasm just to name a few and just in case you didn't know there's also a secret menu of songs that you can select for Rip Ride rocket what you do is hold down the Rip Ride rocket logo on the top of the screen for 10 seconds and you'll get a screen where you'll be able to plug in the number for your favorite song on the secret menu list you can find the not so secret song list shared with a quick Google search if you want to check them out before you go on this ride not only is your photo taken but you'll also get a chance to purchase a personalized music video of your experience [Music] right next to Rip Ride rocket is Universal Music Plaza which during special events like Mardi Gras you'll be able to catch special musical live performances throughout the event the last attraction in production Central is Transformers the ride 3D on this ride the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons has come to Earth and you have been recruited by the non-biological extraterrestrial species treaty AKA Nest to help defend mankind when you enter the queue you'll be entering into the nest headquarters where you'll get a debriefing from the leader of the Autobots himself Optimus Prime into the queue you'll also see some Transformer artifacts and weaponry as well as the all-spark fragment that you've been tasked to protect then you'll board Your Nest vehicle in a join Optimus Prime and Bumblebee on this Ultra immersive ride where you'll fight to keep the all-spark out of Megatron's hand during the explosive battle between the autobots and at the Decepticons after you return if you want to bring home a piece of the adventure with you then you'll want to head over to the supply Vault where you'll be able to declare Your Allegiance with the official Transformers action figures apparel hats magnets and more if you want the ultimate souvenir then you want to head over to one of the coolest meet and greets in the park where you'll get your chains to capture a moment with Optimus Prime Bumblebee or Megatron this is a must try experience as you'll be in awe of these huge and detailed characters [Music] once you finish with the Transformers you'll enter into our next area which is New York where you'll step into a production-ready back lot made to look like the Big Apple complete with New York style pizza Gramercy Park Street shows and more the first attraction that you'll come across in New York is race through New York starring Jimmy Fallon as you enter the queue you'll walk through the hallways of the iconic NBC Studios the downstairs Lobby pays tribute to previous The Tonight Show host from over the years with displays of sets props and memorabilia from each era if you head upstairs you might be able to catch the Ragtime Gals barbershop quartet or you may see hashtag the panda as he shows off his moves there's also some interactive games here while you wait you will then be escorted into Studio 6V to see Jimmy Fallon himself then you'll board your unique flying theater and speed through the busy streets of Midtown Manhattan soar through skyscrapers and even dive into the East River as you race Jimmy towards the finish line if you want a souvenir from your race you'll want to head over to the tonight shop where you'll be able to pick up themed mugs apparel gifts and more including some of your favorite characters like hashtag the panda [Music] thinking of hashtag the panda you can sometimes catch him waving to the crowd in this window high above the streets just outside of Jimmy Fallon is a Gramercy Park which is a nice rest area that has a number of benches available if you do need to take a break for a moment throughout your day also in the very center of Gramercy Park is a designated smoking area if you're looking for one of those while you're here you can also find a couple of snack kiosks here including 57 fare which offers New York sized pizza slices calzones and even a Mini Apple streusel mousse there's also Avenue eats which offers authentic Mexican food like empanadas arepas and flan [Music] all right everybody says and action just around the corner from Jimmy Fallon is where you'll find Marilyn and the diamond Bellas during this live performance you'll find Marilyn with a couple of her backup dancers perform a few of your favorite songs this show happens a few times throughout the day so you'll want to make sure to check the universal app for showtimes just a short walk down from where Marilyn performs is where you'll find the Revenge of the Mummy here is where Revenge of the Mummy is currently being filmed inside a real Egyptian tomb and you're invited to tour the set the outside of the building is themed as the Museum of Antiquities and you'll even see some Noble guards on stilt watching over the attraction when you enter the queue you'll find yourself on set surrounded by props and set pieces as you make your way further deeper into the tomb you'll find some interactive experiences where you can have some fun while you wait in line as you climb the stairs to the second floor you'll see a giant statue of Anubis hanging from the ceiling before you board a mine train that will take you directly inside the mummies too this ride is a combination of an indoor coaster and a dark ride with fire and fog effects [Music] you'll Rush forward and a backward on a track as you try to flee the evil mummy emo Tab and just as you thought you've escaped you'll get plunged back into the pitch dark abyss wins you finally escaped The Mummy you'll be released into Sahara Traders where you'll be able to explore a unique burial tomb complete with mummies skeletons statues and discover a bizarre of treasures that feature mummy themed apparel toys jewelry gifts and more after you leave Sahara Traders if you head down the small side street next to Gramercy Park you'll come across the park Plaza holiday shop where you can experience Christmas all year round that features holiday themed gifts souvenirs and ornaments that are inspired by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter The Simpsons Despicable Me and more you can also get your ornaments personalized here too if you have any film fans in the family then you'll want to take a short walk over to film vault which is a small shop where you can find merch from fan favorite classic movies like Back to the Future Ghostbusters E.T Gremlins and a Jaws while you're in the area just down the street is where you'll find a couple of fun performances first is sing it a fun acapella performance where the singers will battle one another through several rounds of pop songs it's a really fun performance and happens a couple of times throughout the day [Music] somebody else coming through folks you know move from those rhythm and blues review also here is where you'll find The Blues Brothers show where you'll be able to listen to the Soulful sounds from the Pharaohs of fun The Blues Brothers Jake and Elwood wearing their trademark black suits pork pie hats and black shades take the stage in the New York area every single day a few times throughout the day and you won't want to miss it [Applause] if you head across the street you'll come across at Finnegan's bar and a grill Finnegans is one of two sit-down table service restaurants in the park and in this traditional Irish American Pub you'll find both a lively bar and a full-service restaurant that features authentic Irish dishes like bangers and Nash shepherd's pie fish and chips and Guinness beef stew in addition to Classic Burgers salads and more be sure to stop here on St Patty's Day because they offer green pints of beer if you're just looking for a snack while you're in New York then you'll want to head over to Auntie Anne's pretzels located right here next to the Blues Brothers stage where you'll be able to sink your teeth into their famous freshly baked warm pretzels and beverages just next story to Auntie Anne's is Haagen-Dazs where you'll be able to indulge in their famous ice cream flavors bars sorbets and more just next to Haagen-Dazs is Starbucks where you can grab a cup of their famous coffee for a morning caffeine Booth but you can also pick up a sandwich pastry or snap located in between Auntie Anne's and Haagen-Dazs as a quiet area called a sting alley not many people explore the area back here so it's a perfect place to get away from their crowds and enjoy some peace and quiet for a bit sting alley was made to look like an authentic New York alley and it's a great spot for some photos and videos If you're looking for another place to escape the heat then you'll want to head across the street to the Palace Theater arcade where you'll be able to try your hand at some classic arcade games like air hockey pinball or racing simulators you can also access this arcade through the the Sahara Traders gift shop if you walk past the arcade you'll see another small alley where you can test your climbing skills for a fee you can climb up the side of the wall themed to look like the site of a city building right next to the wall climb is Rosie's Irish shop here is where you can celebrate St Patty's Day all year long and honor your Irish heritage you'll find tons of fun shirts souvenirs with family crests and other Irish themed gear also in those areas where you can find bombos which is a high energy Latin dance party located here in the middle of the street performers will do some choreographed dance numbers and invite the crowd to join in so make sure to join the fun and show off your dance moves across the street from Rosie's is where you'll find Louie's Italian restaurant where you'll be able to find New York Italian favorites like Pizza Pasta meatball subs and salads while you're here don't miss finishing off your meal with a scoop of creamy gelato and Italian Ice just outside of Louie's Italian restaurant a few times throughout the day is where you'll be able to find the beat Builders the bee Builders feature four construction workers who will stop working on the latest Improvement projects for Universal to put on a percussion Show The Crew uses buckets scaffolding and everything in between to create their music when you're done jamming along to the beat Builders you'll enter into our next area which is San Francisco San Francisco is themed to resemble the iconic City on the bay including Fisherman's Wharf and the iconic Clock Tower in Ghirardelli Square you will also be able to enjoy some delicious Seafood that tastes like it's fresh from the docks the first attraction that you'll come across on the left is Fast and Furious supercharged Fast and Furious is a high octane journey into the underground racing World you'll start by entering this unassuming warehouse and walk through Don's Garage where you'll see some awesome muscle cars that were used in the movie franchise then you'll meet Pat and Jamie who will let you know that the party buses are ready honor this ride you'll enter custom party buses and roll out when Owen Shaw shows up uninvited to crash the party which one of you is the witness speak now when you all get fried you'll then exit Fast and Furious supercharged into the custom gear gift shop here is where you can create custom miniature car models including selecting a chassis vendor hood and frame you can also find car decals novelty plates and become part of the family with some Fast and Furious gear across the street from Fast and Furious is Richter's Burger Company this quick service Burger Shop offers earthquake themed menu items like the big one the Aftershock Burger the Richter Scale or cool down with a Frisco Shake be sure to explore both floors to find San Francisco themed memorabilia disaster themed props and there's also freestyle Coca-Cola machines here to fill your souvenir cups but you can always get water for free on the corner next to Richter's is the San Francisco Candy Factory here is where you can find Universal themed treats and snacks in this colorful store you can find freshly made fudge caramel apples cookies and a wall of candies you can also find some fun Jaws merch here as well just next to the Candy Factory on the wooden docks of the Fisherman's Wharf is a small watering hole called Shea Alcatraz here is where you can get drinks and appetizers to enjoy right next to the water while you're here make sure to snap a photo next to this massive great white shark hanging right next door this shark is a replica of the monster shark from the movie Jaws and is a nod to the former ride that used to be here in this area but was removed to make way for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley just down the street and along the Waterfront is where you'll find the second full-service restaurant here in the park Lombard's Seafood Grill this restaurant is Universal Studios Flagship restaurant here you'll find delicious fine dining seafood and a nautical atmosphere menu items include everything from lobster rolls clam chowder and all kinds of fish as well as some land options like the filet mignon and Wharf burger while you're here make sure to check out the huge saltwater aquarium that's the centerpiece of the dining room [Music] right next to Lombards is the San Francisco Pastry Company this is a quick service Cafe that offers breakfast sandwiches soups salads pastries coffee and other to-go items across from the pastry shop is amazing pictures and for an extra fee you can become a celebrity and step in front of a blue screen to put yourself into the movies to create your very own custom souvenir [Music] after getting your photo souvenir the next land that you'll enter is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley after the resounding success of hogsmeade next door in Islands of Adventure Diagon Alley opened its doors four years later in July 2014 and it reads the bar to become one of the most immersive theme park areas in the world Diagon Alley takes everything that was awesome from hogsmead and improves upon it in every way and like hogsmeade there are Whimsical secrets to find in every corner of this area when you first walk into the area you'll actually start by entering into Central London with a number of famous British landmarks along the Waterfront the first Landmark that you'll see on the left is King's cross station this station is seemed to resemble the authentic King's cross Station in London where you can cross into the solid brick wall between platforms nine and ten where the famous platform nine and three quarters is located to border the Hogwarts Express this steam train acts as both a transportation and a bright experience and it travels between King's cross station here in Universal Studios and hogsmeade Village next door in Islands of Adventure since this train does take you outside of the Universal Studios park you will need a park to park ticket in order to ride this attraction and this is not an ordinary train ride once you board you will take a seat in a cabin and enjoy a two minute ride through the British Countryside as characters and creatures from the films will make an appearance make sure to ride this train in both directions as the experience is different each way excited and I look pretty and once you pass King's cross you'll see an iconic red London phone booth on the left where if you dial the ministry of magic using the number on the dial you'll get a special message on the other side of the walkway you'll pass by a souvenir stand where Muggles can purchase a selection of London and night bust themed apparel souvenirs and more once you pass the stand on the London Waterfront you will come across the Eros Fountain modeled after the one in London's Piccadilly Circus as well as a huge Triple Decker purple bus who my fellow Harry Potter fans will recognize as the night bus that appeared in the Prisoner of Azkaban but before you leave make sure that you stop and have a chat with the bus conductor as well as the talking shrunken heads done look at that you got the link brother yeah you can also peer in the windows to see curtains beds and an ornate Chandelier across from the night bus is a row of London homes where you'll find number 12 grimald place and if you're feeling brave knock on the door and keep a watch outside you may just catch sight of the familiar face of creature the house elf peeking out the window also in this area is where you'll find the London taxi Hut where you can grab traditional English snacks like shepherd's pie loaded jacket potatoes as well as hot dogs and crisp once you finish exploring London you'll enter Diagon Alley through the secret passageway the first thing that will catch your eye is the giant dragon that sits atop gringott's Wizarding Bank this Dragon breathes fire every 10 minutes on the dock and if it doesn't it's likely asleep and you'll probably want to just check back later the Diagon Alley area is comprised of four areas Diagon Alley car kit Market Horizonte alley and Nocturne alley the first shops that you'll see as you enter onto the right as quality quidditch supplies and Weasley's wizard wheezes quality quidditch supplies is where you can get all of your quidditch related gear and memorabilia including brooms golden snitches bludgers quaffles and a tire to show off your team spirit in Weasley's wizard wheezes is a novelty joke shop run by the prankster Weasley twins Fred and George you won't miss this shop with its giant moving statue with arms poking through the windows in at this shop you can find all sorts of toys treats and novelties including skiving snack boxes you know poo pills nosebleed nougats fainting fancies fever fudge and more make sure to look up at the top of the shop to find Whimsical characters moving overhead as well as a firework show through the skylights thank you just across the way is where you'll find the Leaky cauldron in this quick service restaurant serves breakfast lunch and dinner and is the main restaurant for Diagon Alley themed as the famous pub and Inn that Harry and his friends frequently visited you'll find towering cathedral ceilings wooden beams and a massive dining hall The Leaky cauldron offers traditional English fairs such as fish and chips bangers and mash and a beef lamb and Guinness stew served in a bread bowl you can also get a cup of the famous butter beer here if you don't already know what butterbeer is butterbeer is a drink that was referenced throughout all of the Harry Potter books and you can find it at Universal in seven different forms the flavor is similar to butterscotch or cream soda and has a frothy Top butter beer is non-alcoholic but is very addictive you can find it hot cold or my favorite way especially on a hot sunny day is frozen but you can also find it an ice cream fudge potted cream as well as vegan throughout hogsmeade and Diagon Alley and it's definitely a must try for any Harry Potter fan after the Leaky cauldron you'll see an ominous dark alleyway called Nocturne alley this Alleyway acts as kind of a walk-through attraction if you're fans of the dark arts then you'll definitely want to check this out the alleyway is also a great spot to escape the heat since it's hidden away from the Sun the ceiling within Nocturne alley has projections of the Starry Sky to make it appear like your Outdoors despite it being inside and within Nocturne alley you will find all sorts of Easter eggs and nods to the films also in this area is where you'll find Morgan and Burks this dark and creepy shop is home to All Things dark arts including Death Eater masks skulls accessories curse jewelry and other nefarious items you'll exit Nocturne alley in the far corner where you'll enter horizontally right next door to the Fountain of fair Fortune modeled after a traditional British pub here is where you can get a variety of beers including dragon scale Wizards brew as well as non-alcoholic beverages like Gilly water pumpkin juice and butter beer at this location you can get your butter beer hot cold or frozen after enjoying a refreshing pint you'll come across the magical Menagerie across the walkway in this Whimsical pet store you can find magical creatures of All Sorts including Crookshanks Fang Buckbeak fluffy and scabbers there's also Cornish Pixies ferrets pygmy Puffs and a variety of owls including pigwagen and Hedwig if you go along the back Alleyway and peek inside the store window you'll find a snake and hear him speak in parcel tongue [Music] right next door to the magical Menagerie is Harry Potter and the escape from gring Gods you will begin your journey by entering gringott's Bank located beneath the massive fire breathing dragon then you'll enter the lobby where you'll be in awe of all of the detail and Grandeur and hanging from the ceiling is four gigantic crystal chandeliers that will take your breath away then you'll see all of the Goblins hard at work as you eventually arrive at Bill Weasley's office where blardock takes you on a tour beneath the bank to see the vaults you'll then take the lift to the caverns below while you're here be sure to look up at the giant security trolls looming overhead once underground you'll grab a pair of safety goggles and make your way to the Kart station once aboard your cart you'll Venture deep into the bowels of green Gods where things will go awry this ride is a combination of roller coaster with 360 degree themed sets and 3D projection systems and is a musteride for all fans of Harry Potter when do you make your Escape from Gringotts then you'll want to make sure to celebrate by grabbing a delicious cone of ice cream and just across the way is the perfect spot at Florian fortescu's ice cream parlor here is where Muggles and wizards of all ages can enjoy soft-serve ice cream with flavors that include butter beard chocolate chili Granny Smith Earl Gray and lavender salted caramel Blondie and more and by the way if you're finding this information helpful I would love it if you could hit that like button and subscribe if you would love to find more Amazing Adventures like this and my beautiful state of Florida I release a new video every week and the best way to be able to see them is by subscribing just pass Florian fortescue's ice cream parlor down Diagon Alley are two more fun shops to explore Madame malkin's Robes of All Occasions and shutter buttons Photography Studio the first one that you'll come across is Madame malkin's robes for All Occasions where you can add to your Wizarding wardrobe at this fun clothing shop in here you'll find uniforms scarves sweaters robes ties hats and more and you can also find authentic replicas of Hermione's Yule Ball Gown while you're here be sure to pose in front of this magical Talking Mirror you may just make some comments on your outfit yeah [Music] right next door is shutter buttons photography studio where you'll be guided through 12 scenes from several iconic locations for a photo souvenir to take home with you or you can get a moving portrait just like the one in the book and movies for an extra fee directly across the street is where you'll find the famous ollivanders one shop and it's just like the ollivanders and hogsmeade this shop offers both show and a shopping experience with over 50 different interactive wands to choose from Pacquiao ladder definitely not the ones come with a map and all of the interactive wand locations for both hogsmead and Diagon Alley there are over 16 locations in Diagon Alley and nine interactive lawn locations located in hogsmeade just look for The Medallion onto the ground and it will point the way to where you need to cast the spell there are also a couple of lawn locations that are not marked on the map so if you know where they are let me know down in the comments below there are also Juan locations located within Nocturne alley so make sure to explore the area and check your map under the black lights of Nocturne Ally for some fun surprises [Applause] with your brand new wand in hand you'll make your way further down horizontally and in the next shop that you'll come across is eternal's elixir of refreshment add to this small beverage kiosk you'll find a variety of elixirs when combined with Gilly water will transform before your eyes into colorful and flavorful beverages unfortunately at the time of filming this shop was still temporarily closed so if it's still closed during your visit you can purchase the elixirs at the hopping pot and Fountain of fair Fortune just across the alleyway and next to Gringotts bank is where you'll find a golden statue of the famous gringott himself and her right next door is wise Acres wizard equipment here is where you'll find a variety of Wizarding wears and supplies including House theme apparel toys collectibles as well as Ministry of magic themed merch next door to wise Acres wizard equipment is scrupulous and here is where you can stock up on feather quilt pens ink parchment postcards and other stationary equipment and writing supplies continuing past scrupulous is where you'll find Gringotts money exchange and in the shop you can exchange your muggle US currency for Gringotts banknotes in 10 or 20 denominations this can be used for purchases within Diagon Alley and hogsmeade and select other locations throughout Universal unused wizard money cannaby exchange back at Guest Services while you're here be sure to chat with the Gringotts Goblin and see if he'll answer back gym are you a household no walking further into Horizon alley you'll next come across Globus Mundy this shop is the official travel agency of the Wizarding World and here is where you can pick up everything for your next magical trip including travel themed souvenirs like passport holders luggage tags as well as other Globus Monday branded items like t-shirts mugs and more just past Globus Mundy is a stage where you can find a couple of different shows throughout the day the tales of beetle The Bard is a stage show presented by The Wizarding Academy of dramatic arts you'll see these puppeteers use props and puppets to retail two famous Tales of beetle The Bard who is a famous author of Wizarding fairy tales the stories told in this show include the Fountain of fair fortune and the tale of the three brothers the other show that you can catch on this stage is celestina warback and the Banshees during this magical show you can hear celestina and her banshees as they perform some of their hits including a cauldron full of hot strong love you stole my cauldron but you can't have my heart and you Charmed the heart right out of me also if you're here during the holiday season you'll get to hear a few Christmas tunes with a Wizarding twist be sure to check the app for show times for both of these shows after enjoying the shows you'll enter into the kharkit market area of Diagon Alley and the first place that you'll see is the hopping pot and the hopping pot is a walk-up counter where you can cool off with a variety of drinks including butter beer pumpkin juice dragon scale beers and more and this is a great spot to grab a drink or snack before enjoying one of the stage shows right next to the hopping pot is the owl post this is where you used to be able to get your gifts professionally wrapped and shipped within the US unfortunately at the time of filming the owl post has been closed and I'm not quite sure if they'll be reopening it in the future also in car kit Market is where you'll find sugar Plum's sweet shop and in the shop you can stock up on Sweets and Treats of all kinds including chocolate frogs birdie Bots every flavor beans sugar quills exploding bon bons cauldron cakes and more once you've loaded up on all of the sweets you'll want to head across the alleyway to wands by gregorovich gregorovich is a long time rival of ollivanders and here he has a small store set up within car kit market and this is a really great spot to look for ones if the popular ollivanders is just a little too crowded for you both gregorovich and ollivanders offers the same ones so don't feel like you're missing out if you shop at either one when you're done exploring all of that Diagon Alley has to offer then you'll enter into our next land which is the World Expo the World Expo area has gone through many changes over the years and today it only consists of one single bride Men In Black alien attack the two towers that rise above the World Expo are replicas of the towers that were built for the 1964 World's Fair in Queens New York and as you may remember them from the original Men In Black movie in 1997. when it turned out that they were actually spacecrafts when you enter into this World's Fair attraction your tour will quickly be diverted as you become the newest recruit for the Men in Black you'll descend into the secret headquarters and you'll see several aliens along the way throughout the queue then you'll board your training vehicle that has an attached laser Blaster as you try to shoot as many aliens as you can honor this ride you'll encounter over 120 different kinds of aliens that were created specifically for this ride as you blast the aliens you'll rack up points and increase your score [Music] when you're done saving the Galaxy you'll exit into the Men in Black gift shop here is where you can get Men In Black and alien themed gear and merchandise and including merch featuring The adorable Frank the pug right next to the Men in Black is the Coca-Cola refresh shop where you can refill your fresh style cups or you can always fill up with water for free ha after passing the World Expo the next area that you'll come across is Springfield USA home of The Simpsons in this land you'll feel like you just stepped into the world of The Simpsons you'll be able to find Easter eggs and characters of the classic TV show all throughout this area the first attraction that you'll see as you enter this is The Simpsons Ride and the entrance to the attraction is seemed to look like you just walked into Krusty land you'll enter into the cube by walking through Krusty's giant mouth and aboard a motion simulator ride as you join The Simpsons on the zany theme park Adventure in crafty League after your crusty land Adventure if you're feeling a little lucky then you can try your hand at the many carnival style games in this area to try and see if you can win a variety of prizes games including the Sledge Homer duncaflunk whack a rat Mr Burns radioactive rings and many more directly across from The Simpsons Ride is Kang and koto's twirl and hurl this ride is a classic aerial Carousel Ride where the humans are captured by aliens and are forced to attack other earthlings by controlling your flight path and activating the targets as you fly by between the twirl and hurl and fast food Boulevard is a meet and greet area where you can meet some of your favorite Springfield residents some characters that you can meet here include the entire Simpsons family as well as Krusty the Clown and Sideshow Bob on the corner of fast food Boulevard and Evergreen Terrace is where you can find the Kwik-E-Mart on the outside you'll find Mill House hanging out enjoying a buzz Cola where you can get a photo you can also see Nelson over here by the pay phone and if you answer the phone you may hear a surprise on the other end inside the Kwik-E-Mart you'll find Simpson themed merch that every fan will love including apparel mugs toys and of course these giant Pink Donuts fresh from lard lad Donuts next to the Quickie Mart is fast food Boulevard which is a collection of six quick service shops with unique items made famous from the TV show at cletus's Chicken Shack Cletus takes all of the best parts of the chicken and serves them up hillbilly style Krusty Burger has a variety of burgers and hot dogs including the famous rib witch Lisa's Tea House of Horrors offers healthy options that even at Lisa Simpson herself would approve of at the frying Dutchman is where you can find delicious Seafood Luigi's Pizza is Springfield's finest Italian Eatery and finally flaming Moe's is where you can get a variety of beverages including the Flaming Mo which is a bubbly citrusy non-alcoholic concoction made with dry ice for a flaming effect and is really cool right next door to fast food Boulevard is where you can step into Mo's Tavern and enjoy a Duff beer with a local bar fly Barney if you don't want to step inside you can always walk across the way to Duff Brewery on this outdoor bar and beer garden you'll see a statue of deaf man in the topiaries of the seven duffs as they greet you outside at the bar you're gonna watch a 30 minute Loop of The Simpsons Clips while you relax and right next to deaf man is a small kiosk where you can buy duffed themed merchandise and souvenirs after quenching your thirst with Duff beer you'll find Chief Wiggum and his cop car parked in front of the famous larda lad donut shop here is also where you can Channel your inner Homer Simpson and enjoy a world of famous delicious pink donut in addition to Donuts you can also get ice cream here including the famous brain freezing donut sundae parked next to larda Lads is Bumblebee man's taco truck at this food track you can grab some tacos including carne asada chicken or Korean beef with a side of Buzz Cola [Music] after you finish exploring Springfield the next land that you'll encounter is Woody Woodpecker's Kid Zone Woody Woodpecker's kid zone is geared towards the younger kids but also has some rise and shows that will delay guests of all ages this area is currently in the midst of being reimagined so expect a lot of construction here in January 2023 fievel's Playland Curious George Goes to Town Anna the Woody Woodpecker Nut House coaster all closed permanently to make a way for a new land that Universal just confirmed would be based off of DreamWorks Animation despite the construction there's still a few fun rides shows and shops to see when you first walk into the area the first thing that you'll find on the right hand side is a couple of familiar Vehicles the iconic DeLorean and the steam train from the classic Back to the Future movies can be found here for photo ops so be sure to explore these and keep an eye out because you may also see Doc Brown make an appearance after traveling back in time you'll come across one of my favorite shows in the Park Animal actors on location in this outdoor stage show you'll get to see some incredible animal movie stars and other trainers as they show you some tricks and a training techniques this show is really fun and something that guests of all ages can enjoy across from animal actors on location is where you can find everyone's favorite talking yellow sponge SpongeBob here at SpongeBob store pants you can step inside a replica of SpongeBob's pineapple house see Gary the snail in a walk underneath the jellyfish to find SpongeBob themed toys plushies and souvenirs also here is a dedicated meet and greet spot where you can encounter SpongeBob Patrick and even Squidward right next to SpongeBob store pants is the Kid Zone Pizza Company after this quick service counter you can grab a slice of pizza get a milkshake or ground some fries this stand is famously known for their fan of favorite pizza fries during Halloween Horror Nights so make sure to check those out if you follow the construction walls towards the back you can still find the classic ET Adventure when you enter you'll give your name to one of the team members and walk through a dark and spooky Forest then you'll board your flying bike and take off with ET riding in the front of the basket you'll Dodge bad guys and soar to et's home planet filled with other worldly creatures and at the end E.T will thank you personally before arriving back home After exiting you'll walk through a small gift shop called et's toy closet and photo op here is where you can get ET themed toys merchandise and souvenirs also for an additional charge there's a unique photo spot here or you can pose on a bike in front of the green screen to make it appear like you're flying and also pose with ET in the toy closet [Music] once you're done hanging out with at you'll enter into our final land which is Hollywood the Hollywood area is themed as the iconic entertainment capital of the world and you'll see Classic Hollywood landmarks here including Schwab's drugstore in Mel's Drive-In when you walk into this area you'll first come across a very popular stand on the right hand side called Central Park crepes here is where you can grab some very tasty sweet or savory Crepes these are very delicious and are a great snack and yes even though this is a Hollywood section Central Park can also be found right here next to the water and if you're looking for another quiet spot to get away from the crowds this is a really great area to head into this is also the viewing area for the Lagoon show which has been permanently closed this year Universal is currently working on a new nighttime show for Universal Studios but has not officially announced anything at the time of this video across from Central Park is Cafe La Bamba this quick service shop is used for the VIP tours for breakfast but they do open to the public for lunch later in the day as you walk down the streets of Hollywood the entire area is a character Zone and hosts a variety of meet and treats throughout the day here you can meet everyone from The Simpsons family Scooby-Doo in Shaggy Marilyn Monroe Betty Boop Dora the Explorer Hello Kitty trolls Beetlejuice King Julian the Madagascar penguins and more so make sure to check the app for show times and keep an eye out for your favorite characters on the right hand side of the street is where you'll find the popular Mel's Drive-In Mel's Drive-In is a quick service retro burger restaurant inspired by the iconic 1973 film American Graffiti you'll be transported to the 1950s as you see classic cars a parked out front and a jukebox at every table Mills Drive-In offers A Classic Diner menu of burgers sandwiches and milkshakes in a while you're at Mel's Drive-In you'll want to keep an eye out for the Mel's Drive-In dancers who can be found doing this really fun performance a few times throughout the day we weren't able to find showtimes for this but we were able to catch this show just as Mel's Drive-In was opening for the day so it's a really fun opening performance for the restaurant across from Mel's Drive-In is universal Orlando's horror makeup show before the show make sure to explore the lobby area where you'll be able to see a collection of authentic props and makeup effects from some classic Universal horror movies then when the show begins you'll watch as makeup and special effects artists show how to craft some creepy characters and feature some live interactive demonstrations this show combines comedy with creepy chills during this fascinating look into the movie making process [Music] just down the street from the horror makeup show on the right hand side is where you'll find the new location of the tribute store this store is incredibly popular and its theme changes seasonally this shop has several themed rooms to walk through and is usually decked out as an attraction itself at the time of filming the store was themed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park during the celebration you'll see amazing looking dinos and a props from the classic movie during the Halloween season this story transforms into a Halloween Horror Night shop but make sure to catch this tribute store seasonally as it changes for Halloween Christmas and Mardi Gras in addition to the awesome theming you can also find tons of great souvenirs merchandise and collectibles that you can only find in the store next to the tribute store is Schwab's Pharmacy and Schwab's Pharmacy is a quick service retro soda shop modeled after the real Schwab's Pharmacy and here you can get a scoop of Haagen-Dazs ice cream as well as Banana Splits hot fudge sundaes waffle cones milkshakes animals across the way from Schwab's Pharmacy is our next attraction the born stuntacular during this live show you'll follow Jason Bourne through several continents as he tries to outrun the Sinister characters trying to bring him in this stunt show combines live acrobatics practical effects and incredible set pieces as well as a huge LED screen I was really impressed with how the live performers and the LED screens were integrated together and I definitely think it's a must-see attraction whether you're a fan of the Bourne movies or not when you exit the born stentacular show you'll enter into the Five and Dime Store this shop serves as a gift shop for the born stuntacular as well as a classic Universal monster shop you'll find all sorts of born identity themed gear and souvenirs including some spy toys like a Recon watch Spy eyes and ears invisible ink pens voice disguisers and more on the monster side of the store you'll see souvenirs and collectibles as well as giant statues themed after the classic monsters like the Creature from the Black Lagoon Wolfman Bride of Frankenstein Frankenstein the mummy and a Dracula directly across from the born stuntacular is the Brown Derby hat shop in the shop that's shaped like a giant Brown Derby hat you can find fun hats as well as apparel toys and more right next to the Brown Derby hat shop is the Hello Kitty store and here is where you can step through the rainbow Archway to find toys souvenirs and a Collectibles of this popular Global icon there's even a Hello Kitty at the movies merchandise line where you can find the adorable Hello Kitty placed in the middle of some classic films like Jaws E.T Back to the Future and King Kong you might even get a chance to meet Kitty white herself During certain times throughout the day near the very front of the park is where you'll find the today Cafe and this quick service restaurant is themed after NBC's long-running Morning Show here you can enjoy baked to Goods sandwiches salads coffees and be sure to check out Al Roker's seasonal selections next you'll come across on location this corner store hosts hats glasses sun care products as well as the my universal photo photographers which is a pickup location for all of the attractions and photo spots that you can find throughout the park and last but not least universo just added a brand new food stand just across from today Cafe and right at the entrance of minionland this cart offers a lot of great breakfast items like breakfast empanadas as well as snack options like the everything pretzel and before you head back to your car at the end of the day you'll get one last chance to pick up some souvenirs at it's a wrap where you can pick up last minute apparel toys as well as other souvenirs before you leave the park [Music] foreign if you are heading to Universal Studios for the day here are a few things to know Universal Studios is a pretty big Park so you'll definitely want to allocate an entire day or more to explore each one of the different areas within the park on select days if you are staying at any of the Universal Resorts or hold a Premiere or preferred Universal Annual Pass you'll want to make sure that you utilize early entry into the park to knock out a couple of the most popular attractions before the crowds make it in for the day my favorite attraction to use the early entriana Universal Studios is Harry Potter and the escape from Green Gods ride but there are several attractions that are available to you in that hour if you do want to make sure that you squeeze in all of the attractions in one day then you'll want to make sure that you get the express pass there are a couple of tiers one that allows you to skip the regular line one time and another one that allows you to skip the line an unlimited amount of times you can purchase your express pass on a line or at the park on the day of your visit speaking of purchasing on a line I highly recommend purchasing your day ticket online before you get to the park this will expedite your Park visit especially since they sometimes don't have a lot of ticket booths open and it will be one last line that you have to wait in before entering the park once you do make it to the park entrance if this is your very first visit to Universal Studios you want to make sure that you have your ID with you and ready to show as they will do a visual check of your ticket and ID as you enter the park if you are visiting Universal Studios during the summer or actually any time during the year you will want to bring a refillable water bottle with you we love taking our yeti with us every time that we go and the great thing about Universal is that you're able to refill your water bottle with cool water at any of the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines as you make your way throughout the park if you forget your water bottle you can always purchase a refillable souvenir cup that you can find at several locations throughout Universal in addition to the refillable souvenir cup there's also a refillable popcorn buckets where you can get a great discount for refills it's a great way to save money if you do have family members that just love to snack throughout the day also while you're here at Universal don't skip out on the shows there are several amazing shows throughout Universal Studios from high production shows like born identity and the smaller pop-up shows like The Blues Brothers colors they are really fun and a great excuse to take a break for a moment especially if any of them are inside so that you can get a break from the Sun and as you're making your way through the rides during the day if it's not too busy ask an attendant for a behind the scenes tour these free tours last about 10 to 20 minutes and will get you up close to some of your favorite attractions just remember that team members are only able to do this during the downtime and tours are not guaranteed so make sure that the wait time is 10 minutes or less and remember that the team member can say no at any time and last but not least I asked you what your best tips were for visiting Universal and you guys did not disappoint here are a few viewers suggested tips that you should keep in mind first is from D Kingston 9946 on YouTube their number one tip is to get there write it open and go straight to escape to grain gods or just the Harry Potter area in general it's best to explore it write it open because it gets so packed throughout the day and I could not agree more you want to be able to get to the Harry Potter section right as the park opens because the later in the day it gets the more and more packed that the area gets so if you want to enjoy the Harry Potter section a little less crowded make sure to get there as soon as the park opens they continue in saying that they noticed that the dragon breathes fire every 10 minutes on the tens and this is true if you want to be able to capture and epic shot of you with the dragon breathing fire you want to plan that for every 10 minutes right on the dawn and on Instagram my friends the two golf coasters said always bring a poncho and use a fanny pack or no bag if you can and this is a great tip especially if you're visiting during the summer between May and September this is our rainy season here in Orlando so you can expect a shower almost every afternoon but don't worry they only tend to last for a short period of time so don't let the rain forecast ruin your day and last but not least from my wonderful in-laws who also have a YouTube channel by the way called retired and loving it and they said to expect to spend a lot more money than you anticipated and this is so very true I know I always spend a lot more money than I originally planned when heading to any of the parks so you'll want to allocate for that especially if you're visiting on a budget if you've made it this part in the video I would love to hear from you on Instagram at Chrissa travels where I release daily content on the videos that I'm currently working on for this channel if you are spending even more time at Universal and haven't already watched my video on Islands of Adventure then I'll plug that video up on the screen right now and then I'm gonna go over everything there is to see at Universal's other theme park Islands of Adventure just like this one from shops restaurants and attractions so you don't miss a thing while you're there until next time everyone I hope you have an amazing day and go out and enjoy some Florida Sunshine

Channel: Chrissa Travels

Views: 165,291

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Id: HwvdUw64-g0

Length: 70min 22sec (4222 seconds)

Published: Sat Jul 29 2023