3. Restaurant walkups

Although it’s always a smart idea to book a table (a week or so in advance) for a must-do dinner, especially on a major holiday, it is usually easy enough to get into virtually any Universal Orlando restaurant, including those at CityWalk, without a reservation. We have never waited more than 20 minutes for a table, and have always had access to the bar while we wait. Who the heck knows where or what they will want to eat six months from now? On a Universal Orlando vacation, who cares? By all means, read the menus online to get some ideas, but wait until you’re actually there to see what you’re in the mood for.

4. Thrilling discoveries

Both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are packed with thrilling hidden gems just waiting to be uncovered. When you’re walking through the parks with your face buried in your smartphone, though, trying to figure out what happened to the ride reservations you booked two months ago, it is easy to miss out on the details. At Universal, there is enough time in the day to look around and take in all that the parks have to offer. 

Check out the windows in Diagon Alley, read the giant comic strips in Toon Lagoon, and explore the trails of Jurassic Park. Hidden gems abound, and the thrill of discovery is so much more apparent when you aren’t rushing to get to the next thing.

5. Relaxed pace

Life just seems to move at a more relaxed pace at Universal Orlando. Without advance ride reservations, meals booked six months in advance, and the hustle and bustle of determined guests plowing through with binders full of printouts, the parks have a relaxed, almost old-timey feel. Take the time to breathe and follow your heart rather than a fixed schedule, and you can slide right into a completely relaxed vacation mode.

Of course, we all have certain highlights that we really want to experience. By all means, make a short list of true must-dos and check it periodically to make sure you get everything in. Beyond that, however, slow down and enjoy yourself. Taking an evening to enjoy a mint julep or two at Pat O’Brien’s won’t throw your entire schedule out of whack.