Hello Internet! I am officially back home enjoying the crisp, glorious mountain air of Park City and absolutely ready for fall to start arriving. As much as I loved heading back down South to catch up with old friends and indulge in food that is so ridiculously good it should probably be illegal, stepping back into a world of next to zero humidity reminds me of just one more reason why I love calling these Utah mountains home.

That said, after living out here in Park City for a year and a half, we were definitely missing a little bit of that good ol’ Southern charm (and, let’s be real, the food… okay, maybe mostly the food). So, we decided it was time for a multi-stop Southern vacation: reconnecting with old friends in Atlanta, taking a romantic detour to Savannah (where my husband and I got married!), and tackling the ultimate theme park marathon in Orlando where we finally got to visit Universal’s brand-new Epic Universe.

If you know me, you know I’m as patient as a cat (read: not patient at all) so this trip was strategically planned to make sure we were able to enjoy all the best of the itinerary while avoiding as much of the worst as possible. Read on to see how we avoided standing in three-hour lines in “feels like” 100-degree heat while eating overpriced bone dry chicken tenders and instead enjoyed a multi-resort vacation that blended historical charm, quiet luxury, rooftop cocktails, and almost zero lines.

Grab a cool drink and let’s dive into it.

Act I: Atlanta Reunion & The Road to Savannah

Our journey kicked off with a smooth flight into Atlanta. While I’m usually boarding planes to scout fresh powder at a new ski resort or check off another Wonder of the World (hello, Machu Picchu!), this leg was purely about refreshing, decompressing, and having an unapologetically good time. We spent a glorious, low-key evening catching up with an old friend, chatting over great food, and dusting off some of our favorite tabletop games (a beloved, cutthroat tradition first forged during the depths of Covid lockdowns).

TCT Tip: The Buffer Night Principle

Whenever you’re planning a multi-destination itinerary that involves heavy driving or strict park reservations, always schedule a soft buffer night at the start. Flying into Atlanta to spend time with friends meant we woke up refreshed, avoided morning airport chaos, and turned a potential travel crunch into a relaxed kickoff. Remember, Southern airports are known for summer-time storm delays.

The next morning, we started our day in proper Southern fashion: an indulgent, leisurely brunch (bring on the fried green tomatoes and mimosas!) before hitting the road for the four-hour drive down to Savannah.

Act II: Savannah Nostalgia & River Street Secrets

Savannah Riverfront Savannah holds a deeply sentimental place in my heart - it’s where my husband and I got married! Returning to these oak-draped streets always brings back a wave of memories, but this visit was all about soaking in the atmosphere, indulging in incredible Lowcountry food, and enjoying a relaxing evening along the water.

We checked into our hotel right on historic River Street. There is something undeniably magical about watching massive cargo ships silently glide down the Savannah River while you sip a cocktail from a rooftop balcony.

The Historical Logistical Marvel of River Street

While River Street is famous today for candy shops, seafood taverns, and open-container strolling (a luxury I can thoroughly respect), its foundational engineering has a fascinating maritime history.

Fun Fact: Transatlantic Ballast Stones

The uneven cobblestones that pave River Street weren’t originally quarried in Georgia. In the 18th and 19th centuries, European merchant ships sailed across the Atlantic empty of heavy cargo, filling their hulls with rocks from places like the British Isles, Spain, and France to maintain balance in rough seas. Upon arriving in Savannah to load up with cotton and rice, the ships dumped these “ballast stones.” Local settlers smartly repurposed the discarded rocks to pave the muddy riverbanks and construct durable building foundations along the harbor.

Walking along those hand-laid ballast stones is a literal step through global trading history. After an incredible dinner of wild-caught shrimp, delicious dessert beignets, and a nightcap under the gas lanterns, we rested up for the next big leg of our mission: driving south to Orlando.

The Planning Deep Dive: The Orlando “Triple-Resort” Blueprint

End of Night Lightshow Now, let’s talk strategy. Planning a trip to Orlando that includes the new Universal Epic Universe alongside Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure while minimizing wait times, commute and general hassle is a logistical puzzle.

Most travelers make the amateur mistake of booking one central hotel for an entire week, forcing themselves to deal with daily shuttle buses, traffic congestion, and sub-optimal park access. To execute this with an eye to our prize (no waits!) we engineered a Triple-Resort Split Strategy designed around park proximity, rest cycles, and front-of-line access.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: Tabitha, repacking bags and changing hotels twice in a single week sounds like a total hassle. And look, on paper, hotel-hopping takes a tiny slice of effort. But trust me on this, that brief moment of packing up is vastly outweighed by the sheer bliss of zero daily commuting; that means no driving around in circles looking for parking spots or wedging into a shuttle bus full of sweaty tourists and screaming children. Instead, you step right out of your lobby into the exact park entrance or water taxi you need for the day. Plus, if you’re already committing to a split stay, it gives you the ultimate excuse to book the most unapologetically luxurious resort in town for your mid-trip reset day (aka relaxing at the pool at the Waldorf Astoria!).

1. Timing the Arrival for Minimum Crowds

We specifically timed our drive from Savannah to arrive in Orlando on a Monday afternoon. Why? Weekend crowds at new flagship theme parks are notorious. By staging our arrival on Monday, our first full day in Epic Universe was a Tuesday which allowed us to start our park-hopping experience in the perfect window to avoid local weekend rushes and long queues.

2. Universal Helios Grand Hotel: The In-Park Luxury Flex

Ceiling of Bar Helios For our time at Epic Universe, we stayed at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Rising directly at the back of Celestial Park inside Epic Universe, this property gives you an exclusive, dedicated entrance straight into the park. Staying here means zero transit time, you literally step out of the lobby and into the magic.

On Monday night, we kicked off the experience with reservations at Bar Helios, the hotel’s stunning rooftop lounge.

TCT Tip: Rooftop VIP Fountain Viewing

Bar Helios features panoramic 360-degree views overlooking Celestial Park. The outdoor balcony is precisely aligned with the park’s central Chronos icon. Booking a sunset reservation allows you to sip handcrafted cocktails and enjoy gourmet tapas while watching the spectacular nightly fountain and light show from high above the crowds.

Act III: Epic Universe & Express Pass Mastery

New Mario-focused Land Tuesday was entirely dedicated to Universal Epic Universe.

No one (sane) enjoys waiting in lines and time is the ultimate asset when you travel. So, standing in a 120-minute queue in central Florida is not how I choose to spend mine. We secured Universal Express Passes for the day. While they require an additional investment, viewing Express Passes as a non-negotiable luxury completely changes your park experience. It allows you to move past standard lines and experience every major world without the stress of worrying about having enough time. For us, it let us stroll and enjoy rather than rush from queue to queue.

From the portal entrances of Celestial Park to the immersive depth of the land worlds (Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic), Epic Universe sets a new benchmark for theme park engineering.

Having front-of-line access meant we could take our time admiring the intricate details, enjoying high-end dining, and riding the flagship attractions back-to-back without watching the clock. We stayed from park open until late into the evening, soaking in the glowing cosmos lighting that transforms the park after dark.

Travel Tip: Hydration & Pacing at Epic

Epic Universe is massive and features sprawling portal entryways. Even with Express Passes, you will easily log 20,000+ steps. Pace yourself, take advantage of shaded indoor lounges during peak afternoon sun, and stay fiercely hydrated!

Act IV: The Mid-Week Reset at the Waldorf Astoria

Enjoying the Pool After logging a marathon day at Epic Universe, Wednesday was designated as our mandatory Down-Day.

As I established in my Southwest road trip recap, schedule-driven travel fatigue is real! If you push through four consecutive theme park days without a pause, by Day 3 you’ll be arguing over Hippogriffs instead of just riding them.

We checked out of Helios Grand and moved over to the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Nestled within a quiet nature preserve, the Waldorf Astoria is the ultimate sanctuary of calm away from park music and sensory overload.

We spent the entire day executing a three-step recovery protocol:

  • Step 1: Poolside Lounging & Dedicated Drink Service: We claimed our loungers by the pool to soak up the sun, read, and take full advantage of the dedicated poolside cocktail service. Their margaritas were downright delicious (and, frankly, after racking up 20,000 steps the day before, practically medicinal).

  • Step 2: The Disney Springs Retail & Happy Hour Interlude: In the afternoon, we hopped the complimentary Waldorf shuttle over to Disney Springs. It’s an effortless way to squeeze in some retail therapy and indulge in a few happy hour cocktails without having to think about parking or ride-share surges.

  • Step 3: Live Piano at Peacock Alley & Fine Dining: We wrapped up the day at Peacock Alley - a timeless, signature staple of any Waldorf Astoria property. Sipping a quiet evening drink while listening to the live piano music set the exact mood of classic, effortless glamour before we transitioned into an exquisite, leisurely dinner.

By Wednesday night, our feet were fully revived, our cocktail meter was properly calibrated, and we were totally primed for the final two parks.

Act V: Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios Florida

On Thursday morning, we shifted to the final leg of our triple-resort strategy by checking into Loews Portofino Bay Hotel for Thursday and Friday.

Portofino Bay is styled after the gorgeous seaside village of Portofino, Italy, complete with cobblestone piazzas, parked Vespas, and outdoor cafés along the bay. But beyond its stunning Italian glamour, Portofino Bay holds the ultimate “cheat code” for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

The Portofino VIP Perks: Free Unlimited Express Passes & Water Taxis

Velocicoaster

TCT Tip: The Premier Hotel Express Pass Hack

When you stay at Universal’s top-tier premier hotels (Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, or Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort), Universal Express Unlimited passes are INCLUDED free for every registered guest for every day of your stay (including your check-in and check-out days!)

When you calculate the standalone cost of buying Unlimited Express Passes for a party of two across two park days, staying at Portofino Bay often pays for itself while giving you five-star accommodations.

Furthermore, Portofino offers a dedicated water taxi service that picks you up right at the hotel piazza and glides directly to a private, security-cleared entrance at the CityWalk harbor. Skipping the main parking hub and standard entrance security lines feels like having a private backstage key.

Thursday: Islands of Adventure

Armed with our complimentary Unlimited Express Passes, we spent Thursday conquering Islands of Adventure. From flying through the Forbidden Journey in Hogsmeade to the high-speed thrills of the Jurassic World VelociCoaster, we walked straight onto ride after ride.

Friday: Universal Studios Florida

On Friday, we wrapped up our park trilogy at Universal Studios Florida. We strolled Diagon Alley, grabbed a cold drink, and enjoyed classic attractions like Revenge of the Mummy and Men in Black without ever standing in a standard line.

Final Thoughts & Anticipation

By combining nostalgic Southern reunions with an intelligent three-resort strategy, we turned what could have been a chaotic theme park marathon into an effortless, highly indulgent luxury adventure.

Keep your eyes peeled for my next trip, coming up very soon: I’ll be heading back down South for my annual mother-daughter tradition! This time, I’m taking my mom on a birthday celebration in the Music City. I can’t wait to see her kicking up her cowboy boots on Broadway.

Until then - keep your itineraries smart, your Express Passes handy, and never settle for a two-hour line!

Need Help Solving Your Own Travel Puzzle?

If mapping out multi-resort transfers, VIP park passes, or complex luxury itineraries has your head spinning, let me manage that for you. Drop me a line at [email protected] and let’s craft your next unforgettable escape!