🌎 This Week At Universal

Everything you need to know about Universal this week, in one place!

In this post you'll find:

• Mardi Gras details

• Antojitos closes for refurb

• New resort opening soon

• and more!

🗞️ Recent News

Mardi Gras concerts and details revealed

New details for Mardi Gras 2025 have been revealed! In case you don’t know, Mardi Gras is happening February 1 — March 30 at Universal, it’s a yearly celebration with a fun new bead-throwing parade, loads of food booths featuring cuisine from around the world, and more!

Mark your calendars for these performances:
Feb 1: T-Pain
Feb 8: Joe Jonas
Feb 15: Kool & The Gang
Feb 16: Juanes
Feb 22: Scotty McCreery
Mar 1: Foster the People
Mar 8: Illenium
Mar 15: All Time Low
Mar 16: Lawrence
Mar 21: Coco Jones
Mar 22: DJ Pauly D
Mar 29: TLC

And here are some of the delicious food options!

There are so many details that go along with Mardi Gras, if you want me to do a full writeup or guide on all things Mardi Gras this year, reply and let me know!

Antojitos closed for refurbishments

Antojitos is currently closed for refurbishments! The date is subject to change, but looks like it may be open again around January 30, 2025.

Stella Nova Resort opening soon

The Stella Nova Resort is slated to open very soon. This galatic themed resort features 750 rooms, a 10,000 sq. ft. pool, as well as restaurants and bars!

This hotel is outside the main Universal complex, but you can easily take a complementary shuttle bus to the parks or a separate bus route to Volcano Bay.

If you’re interesting in staying here, reach out to us and we can find and book the best price for you!

🚧 Upcoming Ride Closures

Universal Studios Florida

• Hogwarts Express: January 28 – January 31, 2025

Islands of Adventure

• The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle

• Pteranodon Flyers

• Jurassic Park River Adventure: January 6, 2025 – January 23, 2025

• Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges: February 1, 2025 – March 15, 2025

• Hogwarts Express: January 28 – January 31, 2025

Volcano Bay

• Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides – January 2 – February 13, 2025

• Puka Uli Lagoon – January 2 – February 13, 2025

Volcano Bay will also be closed select days (they are subject to change):

• January: 14, 22, 23, 27, & 28

• February: 5, 6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 24, & 25

☀️ Weather

Weather is pretty decent this week! It will still get a little chilly at night so If you’re planning on staying late I would just bring a hoodie or jacket to wear at night.

If you’re going on a day where rain is predicted, don’t worry! Just make sure to bring a poncho or a rain jacket and you will be good to go! I recommend buying ponchos before you get to the parks, because the ponchos in the parks are really expensive. There is a Walgreens near the resort that has them for much cheaper!

👥 Crowds

These couple weeks in January are some of my favorite times to go to the parks because they are so slow! As always, weekends are a bit higher for crowds, but if you’re able to go during the week you are going to have a really great time because the crowds will be super low!

I would say that unless you just absolutely want it, the Express Pass isn’t really needed because the crowd density will be pretty low.

🏨 Hotel Highlight

Dockside Inn & Suites

The fam and I stay at this hotel just about every time we go to Universal. There is so much good I could say about it, but it really comes down to:

• Hotel is new so everything is in good condition

• Great food options in the food court

• Lobby bar and Starbucks

• Really affordable

• You get early park entry

• Short free shuttle ride to the parks

Last time I stayed here I was able to get a rate of $80 a night! It’s hard to beat that deal even if you stay at a seedy motel! Granted it was in the offseason AND I used my passholder hotel discount, but I have never paid more than $130 a night for this hotel.

One little hack that I always do is when I check in I just ask the desk attendant if there is anyways I could get upgraded to a suite. I’ve never been told no yet, so I always get a free upgrade to the suite room which is really nice!

Even if you pay outright for the suite, it’s still not that expensive in comparison to the normal rooms.

If you’re interesting in staying here, reach out to us and we can find and book the best price for you!

❓ Question of the week

Hey Stefanie! No not all rides have an express pass line. The good news is that there are only 2 rides that do not take it, so the rest is free game!

Rides that do not take express pass:

• Pteranodon Flyers (Islands of Adventure)

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (Islands of Adventure)

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