If you are looking for a family vacation that gives you both high-energy fun plus time to truly unwind, our Spring Break 2026 trip to Universal Orlando and Clearwater Beach delivered exactly that. We spent several days immersed in the excitement of the parks, then headed west for a few slower days on the beach. It ended up being one of those trips that gave us big memories, a few surprises, and plenty of helpful takeaways for families considering a similar vacation.
For our Universal stay, we booked Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort, and for our family of four, it was a great fit.
One of the biggest wins for us was the room layout. With two adults and two growing kids, finding three separate sleeping spaces is almost always a challenge. Our room had two queen beds and a sleeper sofa, which gave everyone enough space to settle in comfortably. The room itself felt spacious, and the retro décor was bright, fun, and full of personality.
Cabana Bay also had plenty to do right on the property. We loved bowling at Galaxy Bowl, and dinner was a fun, easy option after a long day. One helpful note: reservations matter. Same-day openings seemed to disappear quickly, so be sure to secure your reservation at least 24 hours in advance.
Transportation to the parks was another major plus. Getting to CityWalk, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios was simple, and the separate bus for Epic Universe made transportation easy. In our experience, it never took more than about 15 minutes, depending on traffic.
What stood out most, though, was the service. The staff at Cabana Bay went out of their way to make the stay feel special.
They were friendly, responsive, and even helped us with a small St. Patrick’s Day surprise through their text communication service. That kind of attention leaves an impression.
The hotel was not perfect, especially during a very busy spring break week. The Starbucks line was intense, and for a coffee-loving family, that mattered. The resort is also spread across several large buildings, and depending on your room location, the walk from the elevator can feel very long after a full park day. The food court had a huge variety of options, which we appreciated, but the lines were long enough that meals sometimes felt more stressful than convenient. By the time everyone had their food and made it through checkout, some of it was already cold.
That said, we visited during spring break, and the hotel was clearly very full. Several sports teams were staying there for competitions, so I do think the crowd level shaped some of the experience.
The most honest answer is yes for some families, and not necessarily for all.
We used Express Pass for our first day at Islands of Adventure, and it absolutely made a difference. The lines were still there, but they were much shorter, and that gave us more time to enjoy the atmosphere of the park instead of spending every minute in queues. We were able to hit all the rides on everyone's list, explore the themed lands, stop for food, and enjoy the details that make Universal so impressive.
That said, Express Pass can get expensive quickly, especially once you have already invested in multi-day park-to-park tickets. For families who want to maximize every moment from early admission to park close, it can be worth the splurge. For families with a slower pace, or those who want to mix rides with wandering, snacking, and taking it all in, you might only want it for one day or skip the unlimited option.
During slower seasons, I would be much less likely to recommend it.
Islands of Adventure made a strong first impression before we even entered the park. The energy hits you right away. The entrance is dramatic, the music is everywhere, and hearing the Incredible Hulk Coaster before you even see it sets the tone for the day.
We grabbed a quick breakfast and coffee at the NBC Today Café, which was a great start, then used our one-day Express Pass to go all in.
The kids got on nearly every ride they had hoped to do, and several made the repeat list. Some of the more intense thrill rides, like The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, Jurassic World VelociCoaster, and Skull Island: Reign of Kong, were a little more than what our crew was looking for. These are not casual rides. They are fast, aggressive, and definitely designed for people who enjoy a real adrenaline rush.
The water rides big hits and made a real splash...haha, see what I did there? Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls and Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges had us laughing nonstop and completely soaked. These were absolutely worth it, but plan ahead. Wear water-friendly shoes, bring a poncho, or prepare to use the People Dryers afterward.
Lunch at Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous was another surprise favorite. The décor was playful, the menu was fun, and the food was good enough that we came back again later in the trip.
Out of all the parks, Islands of Adventure was the one we chose to revisit on our fourth day.
Even without Express Passes for the second visit, we still had a fantastic day riding favorites again and enjoying the atmosphere.
Universal Studios Florida felt a little different from Islands of Adventure, and in a really good way. There were fewer rides that pulled us in immediately, but there was so much to see and appreciate. The details and small touches through every stretch and in corner of the park were riveting and every turn feels like stepping into a different movie world.
Diagon Alley was the standout for us. Of all the Harry Potter areas, this one felt the most magical. We happened to visit after rain, and the wet cobblestone streets made it even more cinematic. It is tucked away in a way that makes discovering it feel special. I will not spoil that part but it definitely added to the experience. We loved the ice cream there, and Butterbeer is a must if it is your first visit.
We spent a lot of time in the Minions area because our family are big fans. There was plenty of silly fun and lots of time spent getting blasted by fart guns and speaking in our very questionable version of Minion language. Is it Spanish? Is it Latin? It's just...Minion!
At Universal Studios Florida and really across all three Universal parks, we began to take notice that many attractions rely on “motion simulation”. For some people, that is a huge plus. For others, especially those with motion sensitivity or aging backs and knees, it is worth knowing ahead of time. Some rides involve robotic motion systems that twist, tilt, and spin in ways that can be rougher than expected.
Epic Universe requires a separate ticket, and at the time of our visit it was not included in annual passes and was an add-on for many park ticket packages. Even with the extra cost, I would highly recommend it if your travel schedule allows.
It truly felt EPIC.
The lands felt even more captivating than the other parks and the overall design made it easy to explore. You can move in a circle around the Constellation Carousel and step into each world as you go, which creates a really smooth flow for the day.
One especially cool perspective came from Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. From the bridge at the back of the hotel, facing the park, you can see the different lands of Epic Universe spread out in the distance. It gives you a real appreciation for how massive the park is and how distinct each land feels.
Our family loved Super Nintendo World and How to Train Your Dragon the most, and that is where we spent much of our time. Dark Universe was impressively done, but definitely darker and creepier in tone. That is worth noting if you are traveling with younger kids or cautious riders.
Even without Express Passes, we were able to do all the rides we wanted, enjoy snacks, catch a show, and re-ride favorites. One attraction on our list was closed that day, but that just gave us one more reason to come back.
After four full days of parks, big crowds, and 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day, we were ready for a complete change of pace. Clearwater Beach gave us exactly that.
The first thing that struck us was the sand. Bright white, soft, and stretching as far as the eyes could see from left to right, right to left. Add in palm trees, happy energy, and those classic blue cabanas lining the beach and it felt like the right place to recover after the nonstop pace of Orlando.
If you go, I highly recommend renting a cabana. It made the beach days more comfortable and gave us a perfect home base.
In Clearwater, we stayed at Beachview Inn. It is an older hotel, but the location was excellent.
Our balcony view of the beach was one of the best parts of the stay. In the mornings, we sat outside and watched early joggers kiddos playing in the sand before heading down ourselves. In the evenings, we sat out again while getting ready for dinner and took in the louder, livelier energy of the beach strip below.
Once again, we were looking for a room with three sleeping spaces, and this setup worked well for our family. We had two queen beds and a sleeper sofa, plus a separate living space that gave us room to spread out. The sofa bed was definitely not comfortable, but for a family of four, the extra space still made the stay worthwhile.
And the location really could not have been better. We could walk out the door, head downstairs, and be on the beach in about two minutes. The little coffee shop on the way became part of my morning routine, and it was delicious every morning.
We tried BAD Fins and Crabby’s during our stay, and both were good dinner picks for different reasons.
BAD Fins had a lively, beachy energy with outdoor seating, a big menu, and friendly service. It felt fun without being too wild, and the food was great. We all tried something new, including lobster mac and cheese, grouper nuggets, and a margarita served in a pineapple.
Crabby’s gave us one of the most beautiful sunsets of the trip. The food was great there too, especially the crab claws and Nashville hot chicken sandwich. We also went back for breakfast one morning. The food was still good, but the pace was noticeably slower. Beach towns have their own rhythm in the mornings, and this definitely felt like one of those places where everyone was easing into the day.
We expected Clearwater to be our relax-and-do-nothing stop, but it turned out to include one of the most unexpected adventures of the trip.
After watching people parasail from the beach, we eventually looked at each other over breakfast and said, “Why not?”
So we did it.
The weather was breezy, which made the boat ride choppy, but the crew was excellent. They explained everything clearly, got everyone fitted into harnesses, and somehow stayed perfectly balanced while moving around the bouncing boat.
I think we were all relieved not to be the first family to go. Watching another group take off first gave us time to process what we had signed up for. Then it was our turn.
Seeing the parachute lift people hundreds of feet above the water was exciting enough. Doing it ourselves was even better. There were nerves, adrenaline, wind, laughter, and a lot of “we are really doing this” energy. Everyone in our family was brave and we all came away feeling proud that we had done something so adventurous and unexpected.
Would all of us do it again? Maybe not. But it absolutely became one of the most memorable parts of the trip.
This kind of trip works especially well for families who want a little of everything. Big entertainment, mind and body-bending experiences, fun food stops, then a few days to slow down and just be together.
A few of my top recommendations:
Bring a reusable or collapsible water bottle. Universal makes it easy to refill throughout the parks and water is free!
Pack snacks in your backpack. Packaged snacks, bottled water, and reusable cups are allowed - that will save both money and time.
Choose your splurges on purpose. There are some food experiences that are worth doing for the memories, like Butterbeer, ice cream in Diagon Alley, a meal at Circus McGurkus, or a themed breakfast or dinner. Everything does not have to be be over-the-top for the trip to feel special.
If you are staying at Cabana Bay, think ahead about the busiest parts of the day. Coffee lines, food court lines, and walking distance within the resort can all feel more significant when you are tired.
And finally, build in some grace. There will be lines. A ride may close. Someone around you may be complaining loudly. Go with the flow, laugh together, and recap in the hotel room at the of the day.
What made this trip special was not just the rides, the views, or even the parasailing. It was the balance. Universal gave us excitement, adrenaline, and nonstop family fun. Clearwater gave us room to breathe, laugh, sleep in, and enjoy being together.
Between the white sand, fresh grouper, gorgeous sunsets, themed lands, soaked sneakers, and a whole list of firsts, this trip gave our family memories we will never forget.
If you are thinking about planning a similar family getaway and want help choosing the right resort, park strategy, and beach add-on, this is exactly the kind of trip I LOVE helping families create.
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