Rise early in Fort McMurray and finalize packing with a quick checklist—passports, park tickets, medication, and chargers. Head to Fort McMurray Airport (YMM) allowing extra time for check-in and security, grab a hot coffee and breakfast sandwich at the terminal café, and keep your itinerary and boarding pass handy for any schedule updates.
If your flight includes a connection (common via Edmonton or Calgary), use the layover to stretch, explore airport shops, and enjoy a sit-down meal before the long leg to Orlando; consider grabbing a light, protein-rich lunch to stay energized. On arrival at Orlando International (MCO), collect luggage, pick up a pre-booked shuttle or rental car, and check in at your chosen Universal-area hotel—valet or bell service can help speed the transfer.
After settling into your hotel room, take a relaxed stroll to Universal CityWalk for dinner—options like Toothsome Chocolate Emporium for a whimsical meal or VIVO Italian Kitchen for classic fare make great first-night choices. Finish with a casual walk around CityWalk, enjoy live music or a gelato, and return to the hotel early to rest up for your first full park day tomorrow.
After arriving in Orlando, collect your luggage and take your pre-booked shuttle or rental car to your Universal-area hotel—if staying on-site, mention your reservation at Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, or Loews Royal Pacific for priority check-in and complimentary resort benefits. Drop bags with bell service, freshen up, and grab a quick breakfast at your hotel café or the on-property Starbucks to fuel up before exploring. Use any remaining morning time to pick up your pre-purchased 5-Day Park-to-Park tickets at the Universal ticket windows or app and confirm Early Park Admission times.
Check into your room and take a leisurely tour of the hotel amenities—pool, fitness center, and on-site dining—then head to Universal CityWalk for a late lunch; try The Cowfish for sushi-burger mashups or Antojitos for lively Mexican flavors. Stroll the waterfront, browse shops like Universal Legacy Store and Quiet Flight Surf Shop, and pop into the Cinemark at CityWalk if you’d like to catch a matinee or recharge with a gelato from Menchie's.
As evening falls, enjoy a memorable first-night dinner—Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is perfect for its decadent desserts and theatrical steampunk vibe, or choose VIVO Italian Kitchen for a relaxed pasta dinner. After dinner, soak in the CityWalk nightlife—live music at Hard Rock Cafe or the dueling piano bar at Howl at the Moon—and finish with a moonlit walk back to your hotel to rest up for your first full park day tomorrow.
Rise early and take advantage of Early Park Admission—head first to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley in Universal Studios to experience Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts with shorter lines, then grab a butterbeer and a quick breakfast pastry at Leaky Cauldron to fuel the morning. After exploring Diagon Alley, use the Hogwarts Express (Park-to-Park access required) to cross to Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure for a mid-morning ride on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure while crowds are still building.
Have a relaxed lunch at Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade or make your way back to Universal Studios for a fresh sandwich at Mel's Drive-In before tackling headliners like Transformers: The Ride-3D and Revenge of the Mummy—use the official app to monitor wait times and plan your next attractions. In the afternoon, wander through Springfield to ride The Simpsons Ride and grab a Duff beer or a Krusty Burger, then pop into the Universal Legacy Store or other shops to pick up a souvenir map or park-exclusive gear.
As evening approaches, enjoy dinner at CityWalk’s Vivo Italian Kitchen or return to the parks for a table at The Leaky Cauldron if you want another themed meal; night-time lighting gives Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley a magical atmosphere worth lingering for. Finish the night with Universal’s nighttime entertainment—catch the Cinematic Celebration (if running) or relax with live music at CityWalk before heading back to your hotel to rest up for another busy park day.
Start early with Early Park Admission and head straight to Islands of Adventure to re-ride favorites while lines are shorter—make Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Jurassic World VelociCoaster your first stops, then grab a hearty breakfast at Three Broomsticks or the Thunder Falls Terrace to refuel. Use the Hogwarts Express (Park-to-Park access required) back to Universal Studios briefly for any missed attractions or to snap photos in Diagon Alley before transferring to Epic Universe when it opens.
Spend the afternoon exploring Epic Universe’s newest lands and signature rides—prioritize marquee attractions, try any unique dining experiences or themed snacks, and check the app for showtimes and virtual queue opportunities. If you want a mid-day breather, head to one of Epic Universe’s sit-down restaurants or relax at a shaded bench while watching parades or street performances before returning to Islands of Adventure for any rides you skipped earlier.
As the sun sets, enjoy a relaxed dinner at CityWalk or back at your hotel—consider Vivo Italian Kitchen for a comforting pasta meal or Toothsome Chocolate Emporium for a whimsical dessert finale. If nighttime entertainment is running at Epic Universe or Universal, catch a show or evening spectacular, then wander the lit-up streets of Hogsmeade/Diagon Alley for magical photo ops before heading to your hotel to rest for tomorrow’s flexible park day.
Sleep in a little if you need the recovery — today is flexible. If you’re up for more thrills, arrive at Epic Universe when gates open to prioritize marquee attractions and any virtual queue experiences, then grab a themed breakfast or pastry at one of the land’s signature quick-service cafés to fuel the morning. Alternatively, linger at your hotel pool or enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your resort restaurant (Portofino’s Trattoria del Porto or Hard Rock Hotel’s The Kitchen) to recharge.
Use the afternoon to chase whatever you missed: revisit favorite Epic Universe rides, hunt for unique snacks and photo spots, or hop between parks with your Park-to-Park access to catch a second ride on VelociCoaster or Hagrid’s while lines dip. If you prefer downtime, book a spa treatment at your hotel, relax by the pool with a cocktail, or stroll CityWalk for lunch at Vivo Italian Kitchen or The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium.
As evening falls, savor a relaxed dinner—try a themed sit-down meal inside Epic Universe if available, or head to CityWalk for a lively night at Toothsome or Cowfish; if you’re staying in, opt for room service and an early night. Finish with a slow walk through the illuminated park areas for low-key photo ops or catch any nighttime shows or live music at CityWalk before returning to your hotel to rest for Volcano Bay tomorrow.
Start the day with a relaxed hotel breakfast, then head to Universal's Volcano Bay when gates open to claim prime lounge chairs near Waturi Beach and beat the midday crowds. Warm up with family-friendly slides at Honu ika Moana or take the thrilling Krakatau Aqua Coaster for a pulse-raising first ride, then grab a tropical smoothie at Kohola Reef Restaurant & Social Club to refuel.
For an easygoing afternoon, drift the Kopiko Wai Winding River or test your nerves on the multi-drop TeAwa The Fearless River; if you prefer to maximize ride time, use Volcano Bay’s TapuTapu virtual ride system and consider an upgrade with Universal Express to shorten waits. Lunch at the on-site eateries—try the Poké bowls or spicy tacos at Whakawaiwai Eats—then spend time relaxing in the shaded Cabanas (book ahead) or re-ride your favorite slides while the sun is high.
As the park winds down, return to your hotel to rinse off and freshen up, then head to CityWalk for a laid-back dinner—VIVO Italian Kitchen or Toothsome Chocolate Emporium are perfect for group-friendly menus and decadent desserts. If you’ve still got energy, catch live music at Hard Rock Cafe or stroll the illuminated CityWalk waterfront for souvenir shopping and night-time photos before turning in early ahead of your final park day.
Take a leisurely start after yesterday’s water-park fun — enjoy a late breakfast at your hotel (Trattoria del Porto at Portofino, The Kitchen at Hard Rock, or Bayliner Diner at Sapphire Falls) and decide whether to squeeze in one last must-ride with Park-to-Park access. If you’re chasing final thrills, arrive at Islands of Adventure or Epic Universe early to re-ride favorites like VelociCoaster or Hagrid’s while lines are still manageable; otherwise, savor a peaceful stroll through the resort gardens and pools to soak up the morning.
Use the afternoon to tie up loose ends: hop between parks to snag any remaining Photo Ops in Diagon Alley/Hogsmeade or pick up souvenirs at the Universal Legacy Store and Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods, or return to Epic Universe for one more look at its signature lands and snacks. If relaxation wins, book a spa treatment at your hotel, lounge by the pool with a cocktail, or head to CityWalk for a long lunch at Vivo Italian Kitchen or The Cowfish while you people-watch and plan last-minute purchases.
For your final evening, treat the group to a memorable dinner — reserve a table at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium for a celebratory dessert course or enjoy a waterfront meal at Bigfire for a smoky, shareable feast — then take a twilight walk through illuminated Diagon Alley or catch live entertainment at CityWalk. Finish the night packing any souvenirs into suitcases and setting out travel documents so you can sleep easy before tomorrow’s travel day back to Fort McMurray.
Pack up after breakfast at your hotel — try to grab a final coffee and pastry from the on-site café (Portofino’s Porto or Hard Rock’s The Kitchen grab-and-go) and confirm your shuttle or rental car return time. Check out, settle any incidental charges with the front desk or mobile app, and allow extra time for luggage drop and security at Orlando International Airport (MCO).
At MCO, clear security and use the downtime to pick up last-minute souvenirs or snacks — the A or B terminals have several shops and a Florida-themed market — and enjoy a relaxed lunch at a sit-down option like Cask & Larder if time permits. Keep your boarding pass and ID handy, monitor flight status via the airline app, and recharge devices at the gate before boarding your connecting flight toward Edmonton or Calgary en route to Fort McMurray.
On arrival back in Fort McMurray (YMM), collect your luggage, reunite with any drivers or family members, and make a quick stop for a warm meal or coffee at a nearby café if you have the energy—consider a comfort dinner at Home Cuisine or a local favourite. Unpack a little, set out tomorrow’s essentials, and turn in early to recover from your Universal adventure and travel day.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Fort McMurray Airport (YMM) - check-in & security | Free (airport fees included in ticket); parking C$6-C$20/day if parking |
| Terminal café (YMM) - coffee & breakfast sandwich | C$6-C$15 per person |
| Connecting airport (Edmonton/Calgary) - layover activities | Free to browse; meals C$12-C$30; shopping varies |
| Orlando International Airport (MCO) - baggage claim & transfer | Free (airport fees in ticket); shuttle C$10-C$25 per person; ride-share C$40-C$80 to Universal area; rental car C$40-C$120/day |
| Hotel check-in (Universal-area hotels) | Free to check in; resort fee if applicable C$0-C$35/night; bell/valet tip C$2-C$10 |
| Universal CityWalk dinner (Toothsome, VIVO, Cowfish, Antojitos) | Toothsome/VIVO/Cowfish: C$25-C$60 per person (incl. one entrée + drink); Antojitos C$20-C$45 |
| Universal Orlando 5-Day Park-to-Park ticket | Approx. C$680-C$850 per adult (prices vary by booking date and promotions) |
| Early Park Admission (benefit of select on-site hotels) | Free if staying at eligible hotels (cost included in room rate) |
| Leaky Cauldron / Three Broomsticks (quick breakfast/lunch) | C$12-C$30 per person |
| Hogwarts Express (park-to-park ride) | Included with Park-to-Park ticket |
| Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts / Hagrid’s / VelociCoaster / Jurassic World VelociCoaster | Included with park ticket; Universal Express upgrade C$80-C$200+ per person per day depending on date/availability |
| Mel's Drive-In / Springfield quick meals | C$10-C$20 per person |
| Universal Legacy Store / park shops | Souvenirs C$10-C$200 depending on item |
| Cinemark at CityWalk (movie) | C$12-C$20 per ticket; snacks extra |
| Epic Universe - new lands & signature rides | Included with Park-to-Park ticket; specialty experiences/virtual queues or paid VIP C$40-C$300+ depending on offering |
| Hotel pool / spa / cabana | Pool free for hotel guests; cabana C$75-C$250/day; spa treatments C$100-C$250+ |
| Volcano Bay water park (day pass) | Included with some multi-day passes or separate day ticket C$80-C$130 per person; cabana C$75-C$250; TapuTapu device included with entry |
| TapuTapu virtual queue upgrades / Express | Express at Volcano Bay varies; Universal Express at other parks C$80-C$200+ per person/day |
| CityWalk nightlife (live music, Howl at the Moon, Hard Rock) | Cover often free; food/drinks C$15-C$60 per person |
| Bigfire / waterfront dinner (final night) | C$30-C$70 per person |
| Airport shopping & meals at MCO (return day) | C$10-C$40 per person |
| Ride from MCO to YMM (flight segments incl. connections) | Round-trip airfare per person C$650-C$1,400 (YMM-MCO round trip, variable by airline and booking time) |
| Hotel (Universal-area) - 7 nights | On-site hotels: C$220-C$900+ per night (Loews Royal Pacific/Hard Rock mid-high range C$350-C$700/night typical in peak); off-site hotels lower C$80-C$250/night |
| Meals (outside park sit-down breakfasts/lunches/dinners) | Budget C$15-C$25, mid-range C$25-C$45, upscale C$50-C$100 per person |
| Ground transportation (rental car: taxes & fuel) | Rental car C$40-C$120/day; fuel C$5-C$15/day; insurance/taxes extra |
| Tips & incidentals (luggage handling, gratuities, small purchases) | Estimate C$5-C$25/day per person |
| Estimated Total (per person) | C$2,100 - C$6,800 per person (estimated range) |