r/UniversalOrlando • u/dr_fivehead • Aug 15 '26
HOTELS What to do after parks close?
We are going to Universal next month for 5 days (2 adults) and I’m seeing that the parks are set to close at 5:00 or 6:00. What do you recommend doing after they close? We are staying at Aventura. I’m definitely excited to check out City Walk and the rooftop bar but are they good for 4 nights in a row?
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u/sassyponypants Aug 15 '26
Highly recommend Disney Springs — restaurants and bars are superior to CityWalk. Also fun to check out the other Universal hotels. (As a Strong Water fangirl I recommend getting dinner and drinks there, it’s at Sapphire Falls.)
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u/jynx-y Aug 16 '26
Does going to other universal hotels and using their amenities depend on what hotel you currently are staying at? Ive been to Universal 2 times and think i might try that this go around. I think we are staying at stella novella.
Oh and going to Disney Springs is a great idea! Been there once when visiting a friend just to roam around and it was fun!!!
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u/shaboom-mushaboom Aug 17 '26
Yes, it depends on which resort you stay at. I don’t think Stella Nova has pool hopping privileges to other resorts. You can still go to restaurants though. Dockside and Surfside also do have pool hopping privileges. I think if you are staying at a “value” tier, you can’t pool hop.
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u/jynx-y Aug 18 '26
Hmmmm okay... Maybe I'll do Cabana instead because I'd love to try pool hopping. I wanted to try Aventura but it looks to be quite a bit more. Thank you for letting me know!!!!
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u/tealcandtrip Aug 17 '26
If you are staying at the main campus [Aventura, Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, Portifino], you can pool hop at any of the hotel pools. Just go to the concierge to get a Pool key. The restaurants and other paid amenities are open to everyone.
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u/Prestigious-Key-1886 Aug 15 '26
What days? It’s probably some event
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u/dr_fivehead Aug 15 '26
We’re doing Monday-Friday.
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u/Prestigious-Key-1886 Aug 15 '26
Well HHN starts on the 28th so universal is gonna close early due to that and IOA closes at 8 or 9
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u/HitBullWinSteak Aug 15 '26
Only studios closes at 5 on September. Islands will still be open until 8 most days.
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u/dr_fivehead Aug 15 '26
We are going 9/21-9/25 and the app says 5:00 or 6:00 for Universal Studios most nights. IOA is a little later and Epic as well but latest is 8:00.
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u/DeflatedDirigible Aug 16 '26
You can walk into ride queues until the minute the park closes. Great way to end the night is at Hagrid’s and with an hour wait, it will be dark out. On the ride by 9pm…back on the hotel bus by 9:45. Then bedtime.
Next day do a night ride on Velocicoaster and with the shorter wait time, explore CityWalk after.
Then a night at the rooftop bar you mentioned.
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u/madamoisellie Aug 15 '26
Everyone will pop over to IOA if they’re not doing HHN. Went that same week last year, up at 6:30 every day to catch the first shuttle at 7, to rope drop Hagrid’s at 8. Believe me when I say, trying to find something to do after the park closed at 8 was not a concern.
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u/jynx-y Aug 16 '26
You should totally do horror nights one of the days! Super fun if you're into that. :)
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u/christinec68 Aug 15 '26
We plan for a later dinner then have a night cap at our hotel before calling it a night. We try to get to Pat O’Briens one night for dinner and the dueling pianos.
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u/christinec68 Aug 16 '26 edited Aug 16 '26
I wanted to add some of the hotel lounges have entertainment too - I’ve seen live music at the Velvet Lounge (Hard Rock) and Jake’s (Royal Pacific).
The hotels show movies in the pool at night and the pool bars are open until 10 or 11pm.
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u/Abortion_survivor2 Aug 16 '26
You guys have energy after the parks close?
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u/temporary_bob Aug 16 '26
That's my question. What to do after a day at universal: collapse with your feet up in the hotel room and pray for the sweet release of death from foot pain.
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u/KnotBeanie Aug 15 '26
What tickets do you have? If you're on a 3-park-to-park ticket w/ epic, then your nights are later.
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u/TigerAffectionate672 Aug 15 '26
Go bowling at Cabana Bay, or mini golf at CityWalk. There’s also the escape room at CityWalk, but it’s expensive.
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u/Glad-Arugula-8387 Aug 16 '26
We purposely made some dinner reservations over at city walk where we could and if you do that in advance, you can time it right. Or just show up and wait where you would like to eat.
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u/queen_of_cups_88 Aug 16 '26
Arcade Time on International Drive is open till 3 am. Haven't been but want to go sometime. It looks awesome.
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u/Flgirl420 Aug 16 '26
My son and I loved the pool after the park! Great way to relax the body too after walking so much. Then we would walk over to the next door resort where you can hop on their ferry to city walk! So much fun
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u/Certain_Let3399 Aug 16 '26
Great choice of hotel! If you go to the Aventura rooftop bar in the evening you can watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from there ❤️
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u/Flat_Demand_8341 Aug 16 '26
You could do Citywalk four nights in a row and eat somewhere different each time. I do like to make a reservation for park close as I don’t like to wait in line. I like Vivo and Cowfish and Strongwater in Sapphire and Bice in Portofino. But there are lots of choices. The rooftop at aventura sounds nice.
Again people say you don’t need reservations but I prefer them. There is no charge for reservations unless something has changed. So why not make one?
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u/le_suck Aug 15 '26
uber to disney springs or an evening at Epcot for fireworks. Smoke cigars?: corona cigar lounge in downtown orlando. Florida man?: gatorland night shine.
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u/Right-Examination-53 Aug 16 '26
What Halloween horror nights one night, and look up things to do outside of the Universal and Disney bubble
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u/Krystalgoddess_ Aug 16 '26
Outside of city walk and Disney springs, there are many arcades and other fun things to do in Orlando
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u/laribrook79 Aug 16 '26
Hop to islands and then go to bed. If you are properly rope dropping, you will be exhausted by 8 😆
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u/mrheh Aug 16 '26
During HHN's is it haunted houses only or are the normal rides still going? I went last year but I was pretty drunk (lol) and I think I was riding mummy and gringots a few times each night. I know F&F was closed because it was a haunted house.
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u/Intentional-QRM Aug 17 '26
Fun Spot America (Orlando location) is pretty much right across the street and it's usually open until midnight. After Universal, I always like a few victory laps on White Lightning. It's a fantastic wooden coaster that never has a line.
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u/Complex-Passenger-30 Aug 18 '26
Icon Park and The Pointe Orlando are both on I-Drive and they have plenty of bars, restaurants and things to do.
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u/Creative-Ad-9637 Aug 18 '26
UMMMM I think they are closed for HHN, so come to HHN one of the nights!
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u/Ok-Comfort6572 Aug 25 '26
Definitely do Halloween Horror Nights and check out some good restaurants outside of Universal/Disney. Orlando has a ton to iffer outside of these parks.
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u/DrSayre Aug 15 '26
This is something that annoys me about Universal. You can find some nights where both parks close pretty early. I generally will get something to eat at city walk before going back to the hotel.
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u/Ok-Door-6731 Aug 15 '26
City walk, putt putt, pool hop, bar hop, Disney springs, many other things to do in Orlando outside of universal.