OORlando #52 - Big news on OOrlando....

In episode 52 of OORlando Rick and Willem share great news! Rick just returned from a 9-day group trip to Orlando, where he visited the four Universal parks with a nice group of travelers. Time to discuss this trip together! In addition, this episode features a special announcement about the podcast itself...

Listen to episode 52 of OORlando here!

Orlando & Universal: why this is a popular combination

A trip to Orlando equals the ultimate theme park vacation for many travelers! The city is known worldwide for its great theme parks, with Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World as absolute highlights. In Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure film, action and theming come together. Especially the popular Harry Potter theme areas in the 3 theme parks makes Universal Orlando Resort a must-see for many visitors.

With the addition of the new Universal Epic Universe Orlando gains another impressive theme park. This new park brings innovative rides and complete immersive themed areas, Making Universal Orlando consist of four parks as of 2025, including the water park Volcano Bay. Together, these parks provide tremendous variety and make Universal one of the most popular choices within any Orlando vacation.

What is this episode about?

In episode 52 of OORlando, Rick and Willem look back on a special group trip to Orlando AND share some big news. This all comes to pass:

• Rick's experiences during the 9-day group trip to Orlando
• Visiting all four Universal parks as a group
• What makes Epic Universe a good addition to Universal Parks?
• What traveling in a group adds to the overall theme park experience
• Why Universal Orlando fits so well within a rrequirement to Orlando
• And ... a special announcement about OORlando!

More about Universal Epic Universe

Universal Epic Universe is the newest theme park within Universal Orlando Resort and opened on May 22, 2025. Epic Universe is Universal's third theme park and has a completely separate entrance. The park is all about grand themed areas with innovative attractions, impressive shows, unique stores and a wide range of restaurants.

• Celestial Park: The central heart of Epic Universe, where nature, water features and futuristic architecture come together. From this area, you have views of the iconic Helios Tower. Highlights include Stardust Racers, a fast-paced dueling roller coaster, and Constellation Carousel, a tranquil attraction for all ages.
  
• Super Nintendo World: A colorful and interactive world based on the Nintendo games. Visitors literally step into the game at Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, an innovative attraction with augmented reality. Yoshi's Adventure offers a relaxing ride with stunning views of the area.
  
• How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk: A lively Viking village inspired by the popular movies. Fly along on Hiccup's Wing Gliders, an accessible but surprisingly fun roller coaster, or compete with water cannons during Fyre Drill.
  
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic: A brand new Harry Potter area taking the magical world to the next level. Visitors travel to the iconic Ministry of Magic, where magic, mystery and technology come together in a spectacular attraction full of storytelling. This area is an absolute must-see for fans of the Harry Potter universe.
  
• Dark Universe: A dark and atmospheric area centered on classic Universal monsters. Step into Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, an intense darkride, or brave Curse of the Werewolf, a spinning roller coaster with a powerful launch.

For those who want to experience Epic Universe to the fullest, a stay at the Universal Terra Luna Resort an excellent choice. Located right by Epic Universe, this new Universal hotel features a futuristic, space-like design that perfectly complements the park. Guests enjoy comfortable rooms, convenient amenities and the well-known Universal benefits, such as early park access and good connections to the other Universal parks.

Discover Florivida's group tours!

The group trip Rick talks about is exactly what Florivida stands for: traveling together, freedom as much as you want and everything arranged down to the last detail. During our group tours to Orlando you will discover the best theme parks without having to figure everything out yourself. From tickets and hotels to fun group moments and extra activities! At Florivida, we arrange it all for you so you can enjoy your trip to Orlando or any of our other destinations to the fullest.

A group tour is ideal if you want to experience Orlando in a relaxed yet fun way. You travel with like-minded people, benefit from the knowledge and experience of our travel experts and get the most out of your trip to Orlando. Whether it's your first time or you've been to the parks before: exploring together makes the experience even more fun.

👉 View our group tours to Orlando
👉 Read more about our group tours
👉 Read how our travelers experience group travel!

Want to know more about a trip to Orlando?

After this episode, did you get excited about a trip to Orlando? Then we would love to help you out. On our website you will find plenty of inspiration, practical tips and extensive information about Orlando, the theme parks and the various travel options.

Whether you dream of Universal, Walt Disney World or a complete theme park vacation, our blogs, podcasts and trips will help you discover what suits you best.

• View our individual trips to Orlando
• View our group tours
• Make an online appointment with one of our travel experts!