ITTN’s Louise Ducrocq is currently on a FAM Trip with Aer Lingus & Universal Studios to Universal Orlando, including a sneak peak at the new Universal Epic Universe experience!
Joining her on the trip are Grant Daley from NBC Universal, Bladhana Richardson from American Holidays, Donna Kenny & Veronica Aherne from Tour America, Lee Osborne from Bookabed/TBO, Graham Hennessy from Do Something Different, Barry Hammond from Sunway, Linda Ryan from Click&Go, Jill Maguire from TropicalSky, John Barrett from Magic Vacations, Rianne Byrne from Cassidy Travel, and Adam Williams from Travel Solutions.
Day 1
Our adventure began with a seamless shuttle ride from our hotel, the Universal Stella Nova Resort, delivering us directly to the heart of Universal Orlando Resort. The interconnected layout of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure felt like one expansive mega-park, allowing us to effortlessly hop between worlds. This design is perfect for intergenerational groups, offering the flexibility to split up, take breaks, and reconvene with ease.
An Elevated Experience with the VIP Tour
As guests of Universal, we were treated to the 1-Day, 2-Park VIP Experience, which typically averages around $309 per person, depending on availability and demand. Our guides, Spike and Jaz, were exceptional—infinitely knowledgeable about every nook and cranny of the parks. They shared fascinating insights into each ride, the rich history of the resort, and so much more. Their expertise made the experience seamless, and their support was invaluable—especially when I needed reassurance before braving the VelociCoaster. A special shout-out to Donna: I couldn’t have done it without your encouragement!
In total, we rode a striking 10 rides throughout the day! Technically, I rode 8—as I feared my stomach couldn’t handle Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and The Incredible Hulk Coaster. That’s how amazing they are, as the thrill-seekers of the group can attest.
Immersive Adventures and Heart-Pounding Thrills
Our day started with Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, which threw the whole group deep into the Wizarding World. We toured the infamous bank and joined Harry, Hermione and Ron as they broke into Bellatrix’s vault to steal one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. The mix of coaster elements and 3D simulation made it one of the most immersive rides of the day.
To stay in the Harry Potter magic, we headed to the enchanting Ollivander’s wand experience—where, to my delight, I was chosen by the wand (or perhaps it was the other way around). This magical moment set the tone for the day.
We were lucky enough to cross King’s Cross and board the world-famous Hogwarts Express, heading into the Jurassic Universe. That’s when we arrived at the VelociCoaster—and the whole group lit up knowing we were in for quite a ride. This coaster stood out as the most intense of the day, boasting four inversions and reaching speeds up to 112 km/h. Despite its intimidating nature, the ride’s smoothness made it more manageable than expected, and I felt a real sense of pride conquering it. My fellow travel trade members agreed—it was the ultimate thrill-seeker’s dream.
After that adrenaline rush, the Jurassic Park River Adventure offered a refreshing change of pace. This water ride was a welcome break from the more intense coasters.
Other notable attractions included Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, one of the most popular rides in the park (with wait times to match), and The Incredible Hulk Coaster, which features seven exhilarating loops. Transformers: The Ride 3D provided the most immersive 3D experience of the day, while Revenge of the Mummy delighted with a surprise Brendan Fraser cameo. We were fortunate to receive a backstage tour of this ride, exploring its hidden nooks and crannies—including a digital Brendan Fraser shout-out (if only he’d gotten his coffee in time, the ride would’ve been smoother…).
We also got to go behind the scenes at Universal’s actual working studio lot—a reminder that this was a film studio long before it became a theme park. With eight fully operational sound stages still in use today, it’s where movies, TV shows and commercials are actively filmed. It’s also home to the world-famous Halloween Horror Nights—widely considered the scariest (and most popular) Halloween event on the planet.
The day wrapped with The Bourne Stuntacular, an incredibly immersive show featuring live actors—who also happen to be professional stunt performers—re-enacting iconic fight scenes from the Bourne series. It truly felt like stepping into the movies.
Culinary Highlights
For lunch, we dined at the Minion Café, where the Fluffy Unicorn Cupcake—a confetti cake topped with vanilla and bubblegum frosting and adorned with a chocolate unicorn horn—was a whimsical delight. Another standout was Otto’s Noodle Bowl, made with slow-roasted porchetta, udon noodles and a flavourful broth.
Dinner was at The Kitchen in the Hard Rock Hotel. I indulged in the Truffle Lobster Mac & Cheese—a dish I thoroughly enjoyed, despite some colleagues’ rather loud opinions on truffle. Next time, I’ll be going straight for the Braised Short Rib Ragout.
Evening Retreat at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
We spent the evening at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, a luxurious resort designed to replicate the picturesque Italian town of Portofino. The hotel features 750 rooms, with standard accommodations starting at 450 square feet and nightly rates ranging from $393 to $739. Guests enjoy exclusive benefits like Universal Express Unlimited ride access and convenient transportation options—including water taxis and shuttle buses—to the parks.
I’ve never been to Portofino, but next time I want to sound cultured at a dinner table, I can say that I have. Getting to experience Loews Portofino Bay Hotel felt like I flew there—direct from Orlando.
A heartfelt thank you to Universal Studios and Aer Lingus for providing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience some of the world’s most exhilarating attractions. The VIP treatment and the fantastic company made for an unforgettable day—alongside Grant Daley from NBC Universal, Bladhana Richardson from American Holidays, Donna Kenny & Veronica Aherne from Tour America, Lee Osborne from Bookabed/TBO, Graham Hennessy from Do Something Different, Barry Hammond from Sunway, Linda Ryan from Click&Go, Jill Maguire from TropicalSky, John Barrett from Magic Vacations, Rianne Byrne from Cassidy Travel, Adam Williams from Travel Solutions and Ita Hendrick from Travel Biz.
