Universal Studios Florida or Universal Orlando Resort? What is the official name of this awesome place?

Posted on by Chelsea

Universal Brain Dump 

Universal Orlando Resort™ has more than one park, there’s two, technically three but we are not including water parks today. Universal Studios first opened in 1990 with the concept for guests to not only watch the movies but to “ride the movies” (Does anyone remember those commercials from the 90s?). Universal Studios focused on movies and television (R.I.P. Nickelodeon Studios) while being immersed in a Hollywood VIP backstage experience. That is, until the second park opened up and then Universal Studios became only a single section and the people got confused… 

1990 advertisement for the grand opening of Universal Studios, Orlando FL

So technically, if you think of Universal Studios as the one whole park, you would be wrong. It’s not called Universal Studios anymore. The entire resort itself hasn’t officially been called that since 1999 when Island of Adventure™ and Universal CityWalk™ opened. It’s weird and totally confusing but let me throw you down this rabbit hole just for a minute. When Universal Studios started building hotels to increase revenue, somebody at corporate thought changing the name would gain attention and increase sales. So, in the fall of ‘99’, Universal Studios changed its name to Universal City Florida but after five months, the money wasn’t coming in so Mr. Corporate changed the park’s name from Universal City Florida to Universal Studios Escape to gain attention and increase sales…again. At this point people were just confused and didn’t know what to do and thought “Screw it, I’m going to Disney World”. So, in 2002 GQ Corporate guy decided to change its name from Universal Studios Escape to Universal Orlando Resort to gain attention and increase sales…AGAIN. Third times a charm I guess, the new name stuck and the people rejoiced. Since then, the official property name has been called Universal Studios Orlando Resort or simply Universal Orlando.

If you’re totally confused, don’t worry because none of this is on the test. Somewhere in that mess of a story, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk opened up making Universal Orlando into two parks.

It’s not what it used to be, it’s better 

So, Universal Orlando Resort currently has 4 areas with plans to open a new park in 2023:

  • Universal Studios
  • Islands of Adventure
  • Universal’s Volcano Bay
  • Universal CityWalk
  • COMING SOON: Epic Universe

The second park, Islands of Adventure, was themed in such a way for guest to embark on an adventure and visit several themed lands called islands that touch on myths, legends and popular culture going beyond movies and television. The original concept of the two parks worked like this, if you wanted to “ride the movies” and feel like you had backstage access of a Hollywood movie set, Universal Studios was where you wanted to be and for thrill and adventure seekers or families with small children, Islands of Adventure was the place for you.

The past 5 or 6 years both parks have gone through major changes and updates. In fact, the Universal Studios side has removed all but one of the original rides from its opening in 1990, E.T. Adventure. 

What about Harry Potter? 

In 2010, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ was introduced to both parks. Yep, if you were thinking it is just one area, again, you are mistaken(this is why you need travel agent!). Diagon Alley is on the Universal Studios side and Hogsmeade is on the Islands of Adventure side.  Islands of Adventure was shrunk down to accommodate the new Hogsmeade area and Universal Studios demolished Jaws: The Ride along with most of the Amity Harbor area for Diagon Alley and King’s Cross Station. Some of the fishing town theme is still present if you’re paying attention and if you look closely near Kings Cross, there is a hanging shark statue that was from the original town square  that pays homage to the gone but not forgotten ride.

The Rooftops in Hogsmeade
Gringotts Bank in Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade has shops and treats exactly like you imagined in the books and basically Xeroxed from the movie sets. You can purchase a wand at Ollivanders and be able to practice magic spells at special marked locations throughout Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. It’s freakin fabulous! You can choose a wand based on your zodiac sign or choose a beloved character’s. I also highly recommend the cottage pie and pumpkin juice at The Three Broomsticks but not before visiting Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley (they somehow manage to keep this area very cold too) and who could forget Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes. I could easily spend most of the day if not all of it in these two areas. I would gladly spend my day riding the Hogwarts Express going back and forth!

Halloween Horror Nights

Every Fall, Universal Orlando transforms into horror and screams once the sun sets. I have a whole page dedicated to the events that occur during HHN. If I start talking about it here, I won’t stop. If you are a Halloween fan, check this event out!

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