The Universal Orlando Resort's main draws are its two major theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. It is also home to the CityWalk entertainment district, which houses a variety of shops and restaurants, two miniature golf courses and a multi-screen cinema complex. The off-site Wet 'n Wild Orlando water park, also owned by Universal, was located on International Drive a short drive away but closed at the end of 2016. It was replaced by a new water park, Volcano Bay, on Universal property. The on-site hotels are managed by Loews Hotels. Universal opened a new hotel - the Aventura - in August 2018. It has 600 rooms and overlooks all three of Universal's parks.

Park History

The resort's first theme park, Universal Studios Florida, opened to the public in 1990 and offers an array of attractions based on famous movies. For many years, it offered little more than a day trip for visitors to the larger, more popular Walt Disney World. Universal's first attempt to transform the resort into a multi-day destination came with the debut of the Islands of Adventure park in 1999, but real success came with the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2010.