The Palm Restaurant is a nearly 100-year-old steakhouse chain that operates close to 20 restaurants in the US, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. The closest location to me, however, is inside the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando.

I'd been to the restaurant before to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat at the bar — it's long been one of my favorite spots to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Universal — but I'd never eaten in the dining room before.

There are lots of exciting things coming to Universal Orlando Resort in 2025, from new hotels like Stella Nova Resort to the return of Butterbeer Season this spring, but if there’s one addition to “Universal East” that everyone’s got their eye on, it’s the grand opening of Universal Epic Universe – which believe it or not, is only 100 days away.

The all-new theme park will feature five lands – and more than 30 dining locations – making the 100+ new culinary delights just as exciting as the park’s attractions, shows, and character experiences. From Butterbeer Crepes to The Mario Burger, here’s what’s coming to Epic Universe menus when Universal’s new theme park opens on May 22, 2025.

This spring, Universal Orlando Resort plans to open its Epic Universe theme park. In anticipation, the property is also launching three new hotels: Stella Nova Resort, Terra Luna Resort, and Helios Grand Hotel.

Stella Nova was the first to open its doors this January. The beautiful space-themed resort is tiled in dichroic glass and decorated with recreations of NASA space photographs. Plus, it's located right across from Epic Universe, which is set to open in May.

Universal Orlando Resort’s 2025 calendar is packed with big events and major milestones. From fan-favorite celebrations like Universal Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Florida to the highly anticipated opening of Universal Epic Universe this summer, the year ahead promises to be a thrilling one for this ever-expanding Central Florida destination.

As a food and travel writer who spends lots of time in theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, I’m always on the lookout for a good small bag to carry my belongings on long park days. It never occurred to me to combine my choice of crossbody bag with my love of meeting and interacting with theme park characters until I spotted a person on a recent Disney trip who was carrying a white, faux leather mini backpack and a handful of permanent markers, having characters like Mickey Mouse and Princess Tiana sign their bag.

Before I even left the park, I hopped onto Amazon, hunting for faux leather bags that were the perfect material for character autographs.

As a journalist who covers theme parks and lives in Central Florida, I often joke that the spooky season is my Super Bowl.

From family-friendly Halloween parties at Disney World to jump-scare-filled haunted houses at SeaWorld, my family starts making its seasonal rounds in late August. But there's one event that stands above the rest: Halloween Horror Nights, or HHN, at Universal Studios Florida.

While some of Orlando’s theme parks are better known for their family-friendly Halloween offerings, there’s lots of Halloween fun to be had at Universal Orlando Resort as well. Universal hosts the iconic event Halloween Horror Nights each year, but since it recommends kids only visit the scary event if they’re 13 or older, parents may wonder what else there is for kids to do to get into the spooky spirit at Universal’s hotels and theme parks.

Read on for our guide to different Halloween activities and happenings going on at Universal Orlando from now through early November when Halloween Horror Nights ends.

There’s a new Halloween party in town and it’s happening at Universal Studios Orlando on select dates throughout the month of August. At Halloween Horror Nights’ Taste of Terror, HHN enthusiasts can taste their way through a preview of foods that will be on offer during the iconic Halloween event, which kicks off on September 1 and runs through November 4.

Keep reading for an inside look at this event, including our picks for the best food at Halloween Horror Nights 2023.

In Orlando, theme park Halloween events get started way before the month of October. Arguably one of the scariest Halloween theme park events in the area, Universal Orlando’s 2023 Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) kicks off September 1 and runs on 48 select nights through November 4.

That’s a lot of time for jump scares and screaming, but for parents, it’s normal to wonder when a teenager is ready for this Orlando rite of passage.

How old should kids be before they visit HHN? Read on for how an expert says to know your teen can handle the Halloween event and the tips we’ve gathered throughout the years.

I really love a good escape room. From solving puzzles as a team to taking in the elaborate theming, visiting an Orlando escape room on a date night always feels like the perfect way to spend time with my husband. But escape rooms also make me more than a little anxious. The solution? Universal Orlando escape room – but with a twist!

Whether you’re a local or visiting, Orlando is full of places to cool off. No matter the time of year there are plenty of places for swimming in Orlando, especially with kids. From whimsical water parks to natural springs and everything in between, there are many ways to make a splash. And with our guide to the best places to take your kids to go swimming, you might just impress your kids.

If you are coming to Orlando, or you’re a local looking for a staycation, scope out these Orlando Hotels with Water Parks, Orlando Water Parks, and other swimming destinations in Orlando.

I spend a lot of time at the theme parks throughout Central Florida. I've sweated it out in 100-degree temperatures to ride popular roller coasters and battled crowds to see the return of beloved parades and shows after the coronavirus pandemic caused them to be canceled. The theme park life is fun, but stressful at times. But there's a place where my family has never experienced a stressful day — Volcano Bay, the South Seas-themed water park located at Universal Orlando Resort.

As a journalist who writes about theme parks, I spend a lot of time at Universal Orlando Resort. As other Orlando theme parks have continued to raise prices without much benefit to guests, Universal has become a favorite hangout for my family of four. But on my birthday this year, I asked my clan to experience something completely new together: A private VIP tour of Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure.