Family Forward at Universal Orlando: Fun for Everyone
Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.
This year was our 2nd year attending the Family Forward conference planned by the amazing Mom it Forward team in Orlando, Florida. It was a truly incredible experience that included delicious food, amazing accommodations, fun family adventures and the ultimate VIP experience at Universal Orlando!
The hotel accommodations for the conference were at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort, one of the luxury resorts in Orlando. The resort’s South Pacific feel and decor transported us to an island oasis as soon as we arrived on site.
The resort features a lagoon sized pool, on site restaurants, a game room, a kids club, a spa and theme-park benefits (Universal Express & Early park admission). Plus, the City Walk and the parks are a short walk away or a short water taxi ride away.
Family Forward 2016Opening Party
This year, the theme of the opening party was “green” and families were encouraged to embrace the green by dressing & accessorizing in shades of green. We decided to have shirts printed for our whole family for this green experience.
Many families really outdid themselves and had fun with the green theme! We had some surprise guests drop by the party fortune photo opps! At the party, it was revealed that we would be getting to ride the new Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster and hang out in Marvel’s Superhero Island area.
Hubby and I rode the coaster while our boys checked out the rest of the area with friends. The boys had a blast getting on The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman 3D ride, Storm Force Acceleration.
The superheroes were out and about, posing for pictures with everyone. We encountered Storm, Rogue, Spiderman and Wolverine!
Pool party at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Family Forward organized a daily pool party at the nearby retro themed Cabana Bay Beach Resort where we had access to the pool, lazy river and bowling alley.
The resort was beautiful and seemed to take us back in time with its decor and laid back feel. Plus, the food options seemed absolutely endless at the Byliner Diner located inside the resort: deli & sandwiches, pizza & pasta, international and burger & grill all featuring kids menus!
We spent the day lounging on our rafts riding the Lazy River around and around and around.
VIP Tour of Universal Orlando
The VIP tour a day filled with fun and adventure in the park minus all the lines…yes MINUS the waiting in line! Groups of 12 guests are personally guided around the park by an officially trained and super knowledgeable tour guide.
Our VIP tour group enjoyed front of the line access to all the rides we were interested in checking out. We got on the new Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Honestly, we were able to get on way more rides and really enjoy the parks because we were on the VIP tour plus we had fun collecting Universal fun facts from our tour guide!
Meet & Greets with the numerous movie characters was tons of fun too! Our tour guide knew exactly when and where the movie celebrities would be and we were able to get some nice pictures!
We roamed the park together and really got to experience way more rides than we would have by ourselves plus we were able to enjoy a VIP lunch that included many of the signature dishes from other restaurants at the park but in one place!
Universal Orlando Fun for Little Ones
Universal Orlando really is fun for the whole family! My husband and older sons, enjoyed riding coasters together and snapping pictures with superheroes and villains.
There were rides that we were all able to get on (even my 2 year old) and enjoy. The boys all had fun at Camp Jurassic & Seussland!
Family Forward at Universal Orlando was the ultimate family getaway filled with fun, laughs, good times and awesome memories!
-SD