For those who’re visiting Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey in 2023, our planning information gives restaurant suggestions, park & journey technique, plus suggestions & methods that will help you get monetary savings & time, keep away from crowds, and extra to have one of the best trip potential. (Up to date Might 23, 2023.)
We’re Common Orlando Annual Passholders and large followers of these parks along with Walt Disney World. Common has improved a ton and upped its sport within the final decade. This started with the Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade lands of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which have been additional enhanced by Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Bike Journey. That has been taken to the following stage with the debut of Jurassic World VelociCoaster.
As such, we extremely advocate spending a few days at Common when vacationing at Walt Disney World. That is information to Common Orlando Resort incorporates every thing you’ll have to know. Whether or not you’re doing each parks in a single day or making a visit of it with an on-site resort keep and a number of days at Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey, we’ve got you lined with information and recommendation about sights, eating, resorts, technique, crowds, and extra.
On this information, we’ll cowl methods to take advantage of a go to to Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey. We’re going to take a counterintuitive organizational strategy to this information, as we’ve discovered that many readers seek the advice of it whereas visiting Common moderately than throughout the planning levels of a visit. Accordingly, we’re going to entrance load with information you might want to know for those who’ve already touched down in Central Florida.
For those who’re a Disney fan merely making an attempt to find out whether or not a visit to Common Orlando Resort is best for you within the first place, you would possibly begin by studying our Common v. Walt Disney World publish, which covers a few of the professionals and cons of every, plus the variations between the 2 trip locations.
Equally, for those who’re debating between resorts on the two foremost theme park complexes, see our complete breakdown: Common Orlando v. Walt Disney World Lodges. That ought to enable you decide which is the higher possibility to your trip–or if a break up keep may be greatest!
Right here’s every thing else you might want to find out about visiting Common Orlando Resort…
What’s New & Subsequent at Common
You probably have not been to Common Orlando shortly (or ever), a lot within the final a number of years. This features a few sights which were added within the final a number of years: Bourne Stuntacular, Quick and the Livid: Supercharged, Race By New York starring Jimmy Fallon, and Cranium Island: Reign of Kong.
When it comes to what’s new, there are two vastly well-liked coasters in Islands of Journey: Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Bike Journey within the Hogsmeade facet of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. With out query, VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s are two of the easiest curler coasters in Orlando. (I’d personally put each above TRON Lightcycle Run at Walt Disney World, however to every their very own on that.)
Subsequent on the horizon is Minion Land at Common Studios Florida. Because the title suggests, that is an space based mostly on the Despicable Me movie franchise, and builds on the recognition of the present Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem attraction.
Becoming a member of this expanded avenue will probably be one other rides and restaurant, plus extra retail, snack spots, meet & greets, placemaking, and extra. Blast your method to supervillain stardom within the new Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast attraction. Go to Illumination’s Minion Cafe the place mischief is all the time on the menu. Get a candy deal with at Bake My Day and extra. Minion Land opens in Summer season 2023!
Within the extra distant future, Common is constructing a 3rd theme park in Central Florida and building is progressing quick. It’s full steam forward on this venture, and Common’s Epic Universe Park is Opening by Summer season 2025! This can convey Tremendous Nintendo World plus extra Harry Potter, Common Monsters, Find out how to Prepare Your Dragon, and far more to Common Orlando within the coming years.
Within the right here and now, one other factor price addressing when it comes to what’s new is a return to regular when it comes to attendance and crowds. After practically two full years of pent-up demand driving wait instances and costs increased, each Walt Disney World and Common Orlando have seen a slowdown following spring break. Our newest crowd report shares full particulars, however suffice to say, it has been the slowest month-plus stretch on the parks in over a 12 months.
With this, each Walt Disney World and Common Orlando have gotten extra aggressive with reductions in an try and entice extra folks to go to their parks and keep in on-site accommodations. We’ve talked about repeatedly that Walt Disney World already has launched 14 completely different reductions for 2023, which is greater than have been obtainable for the whole thing of final 12 months.
Common has adopted go well with, shifting from reductions aimed nearly solely at Annual Passholders and Florida residents to normal public gives. There’s presently a “purchase 2 days, get 3 free” ticket deal, resort reductions providing 20-35% off, and bundle offers providing as much as $650 off.
These are price pricing out for your self, however we should always warn that many have size of keep necessities of 5 days. That’s longer than most individuals will spend at Common Orlando (which is a part of why it’s being provided–to extend go to durations). In any case, we advocate utilizing a journey agent–corresponding to Be Our Visitor Holidays–to cost out completely different packages and offers, and assist you determine the easiest way to save lots of, plan your journey, and so on.
Now let’s flip to Common Orlando’s superior planning subjects…
The place to Keep
There are a selection of questions it’s important to ask your self when planning a visit, and plenty of of them will dictate the place you keep. Would you like Limitless Specific Move by staying at an eligible Common Orlando resort? Do you wish to keep at a Walt Disney World resort in the course of your journey, or change accommodations? Do you wish to keep an an off-site resort within the normal neighborhood of each Common and Disney to economize?
We’ve lately stayed at each single on-site resort at Common Orlando Resort–listed below are our critiques:
For perception into all of those accommodations, their professionals & cons, and the way they examine and distinction with each other, see our Common Orlando Resort Rankings & Opinions.
We’re large followers of Common’s accommodations, and are significantly a fan of the 2 “bay” resorts: Loews Portofino Bay Resort and Cabana Bay Seashore Resort. Each of these are in our prime 10 accommodations in Orlando, rivaling a few of our favourite resorts at Walt Disney World.
Common’s accommodations present nice bang for buck, and even those who don’t embody free Specific Move do supply Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Common’s Volcano Bay one hour earlier than these parks open. That may be completely large!
As for staying off-site, you usually will get essentially the most bang to your buck when staying in an off-site resort, as there are loads of non-Disney and non-Common accommodations competing with each other. We have now an Off-Web site v. On-Web site Walt Disney World Lodges article that goes into larger depth concerning the professionals and cons of staying off-site, and it’s marginally relevant to Common, as properly.
As for merely staying at a Walt Disney World resort in the course of your journey no matter the place you go, we’ve got written complete critiques with our opinions and images of the rooms. Try our Walt Disney World Resort Opinions web page, for hyperlinks to every of those critiques.
Trip Technique for Common Orlando
Subsequent, what to know when you’re at Common Orlando. For starters, we strongly advocate that you simply don’t “wing it” to your each day itinerary as a result of aforementioned crowd points. You don’t have to plan each motion in order that there’s no spontaneity in your journey, simply ensure you have no less than a unfastened plan of what you’re going to do.
We have now the next plans for every park that cowl our good days:
These supply step-by-step touring plans for each theme parks at Common Orlando, prioritizing the most well-liked rides and skipping what isn’t price your time. These will enable you do Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Bike Journey, Superb Adventures of Spider-Man, Unbelievable Hulk Coaster, Jurassic Park River Journey, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, and different must-do rides.
For those who’d want to create your personal itineraries and need an summary and overview of each attraction at every of the parks, seek the advice of our Islands of Journey Trip Information and Common Studios Florida Trip Information. For those who’re a fan spinners, you would possibly wish to test these out, as we don’t waste your time with that nonsense within the itineraries.
When to Go to
For those who’re including on a Common Orlando go to to your Walt Disney World trip, the reply to that is straightforward…everytime you’re visiting Walt Disney World. Crowd patterns at Walt Disney World translate fairly equally to Common Orlando.
The explanations are two-fold: first, as a result of crowds are usually predicated upon college schedules, that are the identical for each; second, as a result of Walt Disney World is the ‘whale’ within the Orlando market, so crowds for all theme parks are dictated by when friends plan their Disney holidays. In different phrases, you may discuss with our 2023 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars publish to find out when to go to, as that’s roughly relevant to Common Orlando as properly.
There are just some exceptions to this, and so they’re largely predicated upon particular occasions which are distinctive to every of the parks. For instance, Walt Disney World sees its crowds spike resulting from runDisney occasions, when its accommodations are internet hosting conventions or youth sporting occasions, or throughout EPCOT festivals. In contrast, Common sees its personal spikes round Mardi Gras, Halloween Horror Nights, and early December when it performs host to the Pop Warner youth soccer occasion.
Typically, although, the large driver of attendance at each is college breaks. Particularly, these of Orange County and different counties all through Florida and the South. After all, each are trip locations, so breaks for college districts within the Midwest and Northeast even have a big influence. The apparent instances like Spring Break, Easter, Summer season, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Yr’s Eve are all busy.
Extra underneath the radar timeframes like MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Mardi Gras, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and extra additionally see pronounced spikes in crowds. Once more, reference the aforementioned crowd calendars for those who’re wanting to decide on one of the best instances to go to Common Orlando.
Because of a surge of locals on weekends, we strongly advocate avoiding Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey on Saturdays and Sundays. Mondays by way of Thursdays are one of the best days to go to, with a lot decrease crowds then. Nonetheless, that goes out the window throughout vacation weeks or anytime college is out of session, when it’s disproportionately vacationers and each single day of the week is busy.
This notion of crowds is additional exacerbated by the parks nonetheless being considerably understaffed. This drawback is hardly distinctive to Common Orlando–all over the place in Central Florida is going through the identical hiring difficulties, together with Walt Disney World. This makes every thing really feel worse than it’s as a result of though attendance is on par with a traditional 12 months, the parks can’t soak up crowds as successfully as a result of lack of staff. Fortunately, this drawback is just not practically as pronounced in 2023 because it was prior to now couple of years, however it nonetheless stays considerably of a problem.
The one exception to that is if you wish to see or keep away from Halloween season at Common, particularly Halloween Horror Nights (HHN). This can be a arduous ticket occasion that has an enormous following amongst locals and followers of hang-out season, usually.
Throughout HHN, you step onto the set of a few of your favourite horror films, and strolling by way of these units as actors try and scare you. This occasion is just not for kids underneath the age of 13, and has completely nothing in frequent with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering at Walt Disney World. See our Information to Halloween Horror Nights for extra.
Except for this, the one noteworthy occasions are Mardi Gras and Christmas. See our Information to Mardi Gras: Worldwide Flavors of Carnaval at Common Studios Florida. At this enjoyable occasion, friends can expertise a meals pageant with delicacies and leisure impressed by worldwide Carnaval celebrations.
Meals cubicles serve up the flavors of Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, Spain and different areas together with, after all, New Orleans. Plus get pleasure from spectacular floats on show, road leisure, music, beads and extra all through Common Studios Florida.
Through the vacation season, Grinchmas and Common’s Vacation Parade that includes Macy’s are the principle leisure attracts. There’s additionally the Christmas Tribute Retailer, which is actually a walk-through exhibit, plus Common Studios Florida’s iconic Christmas Tree.
Maybe the most important draw is Winter in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which options distinctive decor and projections on Hogwarts Fort. There are additionally decorations round each parks in Seuss Touchdown, Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, Hollywood, New York, and San Francisco.
How Many Days?
This one goes to range broadly based mostly on a couple of variables. The largest one is how receptive your get together is to the kind of sights which are distinguished at Common Orlando Resort, particularly, curler coasters and screen-based simulators. That’s reductionist, and there are various extra issues at Common than these sorts of rides, but when your get together is averse to both, doing greater than 2 days at Common goes to be robust.
For those who love coasters or have teenagers, you may simply spend 3 days or extra at Common Orlando. Heck, I’m not large on curler coasters or simulators, and I can simply do 2 days (and even 3) at Common. Likewise, for those who love Harry Potter, a number of days at Common will probably be straightforward. The 2 Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter alone can fill an excellent chunk of the day. I imply, Diagon Alley has a fire-breathing dragon…not liking dragons is distinctly unpatriotic.
Islands of Journey additionally has a Jurassic Park space, which is mainly a tribute to our biggest nationwide treasure: dinosaurs. It’s inferior to a actual Jurassic Park (that will be just like the San Diego Zoo meets the Lincoln Memorial meets Tokyo DisneySea), however it’s an fulfilling space to discover. In different phrases, there’s loads to do for those who’re an “ambiance individual” on the Common parks.
Then, there’s additionally the query of how a lot “further” trip time you have got. Assuming you’ve already allotted your time at Walt Disney World and are taking a look at “different stuff” to spherical out your journey to Florida, I’d most likely look to spending extra time at Common than different parks like SeaWorld or Busch Gardens. That’s private choice and all of those parks undoubtedly aren’t making an attempt to perform the identical factor, however I discover the Disney and Common parks to be in a unique league than all the relaxation.
Common Orlando Park Tickets
For those who’re in search of a deal on park tickets, Get Away Right this moment will prevent essentially the most cash on Common Orlando tickets. That is very true for those who’re doing an extended journey, as Get Away Right this moment has a ‘Purchase 2 days, get 3 days free’ particular. With increasingly to do at Common Orlando, spending a number of days within the parks is extremely really helpful–particularly for those who’re staying in a close-by resort and wish to do some partial days (additionally really helpful).
I’m a fan of the Park-to-Park tickets for those who can swing spending further. It is because Common did one thing actually ingenious when it constructed Diagon Alley, and that was connecting the 2 Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter through the Hogwarts Specific.
You may solely journey this practice from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley (or vice-a-versa) when you’ve got the Park-to-Park ticket. I’m no Harry Potter fan, however the expertise of getting into a practice station in London, strolling by way of a wall, after which taking a practice to Hogsmeade is fairly superior.
For those who’re going for simply someday and don’t need the park-to-park tickets, the easiest way to economize on Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida tickets is just going to be shopping for tickets on-line on Common Orlando’s web site. The Common tickets bought on-line might be printed at residence and used on the turnstiles–that means no ready in line to buy tickets or change vouchers.
Specific Move
Specific Move is Common Orlando’s model of Genie+ or Lightning Lanes (a method to skip the strains) and is out there as a ticket add-on or with choose resort stays. You should buy two kinds of Specific Move, common or limitless. The common model permits you to skip the road as soon as per eligible attraction in both park, and begins at $80 per individual. Common Specific Limitless gives line-skipping privileges, because the title suggests, a vast variety of instances per attraction, and begins at $110 per individual.
Under are the eligible Specific Move sights in every park.
Common Studios Florida
- The Bourne Stuntacular
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- E.T. Journey
- Quick & Livid – Supercharged
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit
- Hogwarts Specific
- Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
- Males in Black Alien Assault
- Race By New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
- Revenge of the Mummy
- The Simpsons Trip
- Transformers: The Trip-3D
- Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster
Islands Of Journey
- The Superb Adventures of Spider-Man
- Caro-Seuss-el
- Physician Doom’s Fearfall
- Dudley Do-Proper’s Ripsaw Falls
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- The Excessive within the Sky Seuss Trolley Prepare Trip!
- Hogwarts Specific
- The Unbelievable Hulk Coaster
- Jurassic Park River Journey
- Poseidon’s Fury
- Cranium Island: Reign of Kong
- Storm Pressure Accelatron
These are the most well-liked sights in every park, with two vital exceptions. Each of the 2 latest and hottest curler coasters, Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Bike Journey in Wizarding World of Harry Potter, aren’t eligible for Specific Move.
In contrast to Genie+ or Lightning Lanes, there isn’t any tech element to Specific Move. Whereas it’s considerably dearer, it’s additionally frictionless. You merely go as much as the attraction and use your Specific Move entitlement. There’s nothing to order or problem with in an app. Specific Move entails zero display screen time and complications–however you’ll pay much more for it!
Whether or not Specific Move is well worth the cash largely relies upon upon what day of the week and season you’re visiting, and the way you worth your time v. your cash. Personally, we might not pay for Specific Move most days. Nonetheless, we additionally keep away from weekends and holidays, arrive for park opening, and make the most of an environment friendly park itinerary.
For those who really need Specific Move, take into account staying at an on-site resort that gives Specific Move along with your keep. Limitless Specific Move is out there on the Common Premier class resorts–that means Royal Pacific, Onerous Rock Resort, and Portofino Bay–that are Common’s costliest accommodations.
All three of those are good, on par with Walt Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts, and customarily price much less. They’re nonetheless expensive, however they’re cheaper than Disney’s higher-end accommodations, and are arguably well worth the cash–particularly if you need the Limitless Specific Move perk or an excellent location inside strolling or boat distance of Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. For those who’d be staying at a pleasant resort anyway, this trio is undoubtedly worthy of your consideration.
If you wish to study extra about this line-skipping possibility and the way it compares to Walt Disney World’s counterpart, see our information: Common’s Specific Move v. Lightning Lanes & Genie+ at Walt Disney World.
Transportation
By far the commonest questions we get regarding Common Orlando Resort is: “what’s the easiest way to get from Walt Disney World Common.” The reply is that there are loads of choices, however by far one of the best is Uber. We lined this in depth in our Uber v. Rental Automobiles at Walt Disney World article. Right here’s the pertinent portion of that publish:
Previously, the best choice we’ve discovered for individuals who don’t have rental automobiles the length of their journeys is both renting a automotive on-site for the day, or taking an expensive shuttle. Neither is cost-effective or all that interesting, particularly once you add on that parking price.
For many who aren’t renting a automotive in the course of their journey, Uber or Lyft are the unquestionable greatest choices for getting from Walt Disney World to Common. The one-way price of an Uber or Lyft from Walt Disney World will range relying upon your actual location, sometimes costing underneath $25 every manner and taking 20-25 minutes.
As for airfare, rental automobiles, and different fundamentals, right here’s my normal information: for locating low-cost airfare, we advocate ITA Software program by Google. It’s essentially the most strong airfare search engine on the market, though you may’t e-book by way of it. It provides you latitude in selecting a number of airports to see if close by airports would possibly supply higher pricing, and permits you to try a calendar of dates for journey.
Eating
There are some good eating places in Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey, however as an entire, I don’t assume the culinary expertise is on par with Walt Disney World’s. The unquestionable highlights, in my thoughts, are the counter service eating places in Diagon Alley (Leaky Cauldron) and Hogsmeade (Three Broomsticks) and the desk service restaurant, Mythos, which is a superb worth.
Different in-park eating places at Common Orlando that we like embody the Right this moment Present Cafe (for lighter choices) and Krusty Burger (for the precise reverse). Really, there’s one thing for everybody within the Springfield space, which has quite a lot of eating choices drawn from The Simpsons.
On the snacking entrance, you’re clearly going to wish to strive Butterbeer–maybe all three varieties (frozen, scorching, and common). A lot of the different snacks we get pleasure from are additionally within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour and Honeydukes.
One other factor you would possibly wish to take into account is buying a refillable Coke Freestyle mug. I’ve accomplished this, however I can actually put down the Cokes to make it well worth the cash. I’m positive some day I will probably be toothless, however hopefully that’s no less than 5 years away. These Coke Freestyle machines situated all through the parks are additionally a handy method to get free water that’s chilly and tastes nice.
Different Issues to Do
Volcano Bay is Common Orlando’s water park. It’s themed to the South Seas and encompasses a big volcano (therefore the title) within the center with water slides in it. For Walt Disney World followers, it’s a bit like Storm Lagoon water park combined with Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Adventureland.
All of the rides at Volcano Bay function a Digital Line as a substitute of conventional standby queues. You faucet in along with your TapuTapu wearable (assume MagicBand) to seize a journey time. Then go float, swim, splash, eat, store or loosen up round Volcano Bay. Your TapuTapu will inform you when it’s your time to journey.
Along with the 2 theme parks and Volcano Bay water park, there’s CityWalk. That is Common Orlando’s purchasing, eating, and leisure complicated, which is so much like Disney Springs. The massive distinction is that you simply stroll by way of CityWalk to entry Common Studios Florida or Islands of Journey, and it’s extremely straightforward to exit the parks and eat lunch or dinner at CityWalk. No bus needed!
There’s additionally loads of comparatively new eating at CityWalk, corresponding to Bigfire, Voodoo Doughnut, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, and VIVO Italian Kitchen–amongst different issues. Toothsome is a fan-favorite for its excessive milkshakes and dessert concoctions (in addition to the enjoyable steampunk theme), and Voodoo Doughnut is an absolute must-do. With that stated, we predict the sleeper hits of the record are Bigfire and Cowfish, each of which provide nice meals at cheap (by theme park requirements) costs.
One closing word on sights is that there are quite a few sights that don’t permit luggage, however present free lockers close by for storing backpacks, cameras, babies, and no matter different random junk you may need on you. These are fairly handy and there are bigger lockers you may pay for on the entrance of the park, however the level right here is for these of you who’re used to bringing a small U-Haul price of stuff into the Walt Disney World parks: you may’t do this at Common. Pack for the parks a bit lighter.
I believe that is most likely an excellent place to begin for those who’re planning on visiting Common Orlando Resort as an add-on to your Walt Disney World trip. If you want to see a few of these subjects lined in larger depth, please let me know within the feedback. We’re planning to sort out extra on eating, particular occasions, and Common Orlando information within the coming months, so keep tuned for extra of that!
Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation to your go to to Central Florida? Be certain that to learn our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for every thing about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and far more, join our FREE e mail e-newsletter!
Your Ideas
Are you visiting Common Orlando Resort in 2023? Excited for Epic Universe or different rumored additions within the subsequent few years? What about Jurassic World VelociCoaster, Hagrid’s, or the brand new rides which have lately opened? Have a favourite on-site resort at Common? Do you like staying on-site at Common, or commuting from Walt Disney World? For those who’re a first-timer, is there anything you’d prefer to know? Likelihood is when you’ve got questions nonetheless, so does another person! Please share your ideas within the feedback