Halloween Horror Nights Trip Day 2

“Today is where your book begins” — Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield)

Today started at CityWalk with some Travel Advisor update training. Of course, that meant a stop at Voodoo Doughnut first because it is basically a requirement for me anytime I find myself at CityWalk in the morning.

I always tell myself I’m going to branch out and try a different flavor, but I almost always end up with the Grape Ape. It’s a yeast doughnut topped with vanilla frosting, purple sprinkles, and grape dust. I know grape probably sounds like an odd flavor for a doughnut, but the grape flavor reminds me of a grape Pixy Stix, and somehow it just works! It is easily my favorite, plus it’s easy to eat while walking to wherever I need to be.

Our training was held inside the Cinemark theater. While I definitely appreciated the comfy seats, sitting in a dark movie theater made staying awake toward the end of training a little more challenging!

After training, we had a break for lunch. Emily and I headed to NBC Sports Grill & Brew, which I think is one of the more underrated restaurants at CityWalk. It may not be as flashy as some of the other options, but I’ve always enjoyed eating there.

After lunch, it was time to head out for our resort tours, and we had quite the lineup to get through!

Our first stop was Dockside Inn and Suites at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort. Endless Summer is made up of two separate resorts, Dockside Inn and Suites and Surfside Inn and Suites. One of the biggest differences between the two is size. Dockside is more than double the size of Surfside and has two pools instead of one. Dockside also has a larger food court that includes a Build Your Own Salad Bar, which you won’t find at Surfside. One of my favorite features at both resorts is the Family Suite. These rooms can sleep up to six people and include a kitchenette, separate bedroom, and split bathroom setup. They can be a great option for families or groups looking for a little more space without jumping into one of Universal’s more expensive resort categories.

Our next stop was Universal Terra Luna Resort, which is actually where I stayed during my first Epic Universe trip in May 2025. I didn’t take a ton of pictures during this visit, so if you want to see more from my experience staying there, you can check out my Epic Universe Day 1 blog here: Epic Universe Day 1.

For anyone unfamiliar with Universal Orlando’s newer resorts, Terra Luna has a sister resort across the street called Stella Nova Resort. While the two have a lot in common, there are some differences. Stella Nova has a walking path to Epic Universe, while Terra Luna does not. Stella Nova’s pool area also has a kids’ splash pad, which Terra Luna does not have. The theming is another big difference. Terra Luna uses more earthy, otherworldly colors and designs, while Stella Nova leans into deep space and galaxy-inspired colors.

Our final resort stop of the day was Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, which happens to be one of my favorite resorts at Universal Orlando.mSapphire Falls has a relaxed Caribbean feel, but one of my favorite perks is its water taxi transportation to CityWalk, giving you easy access to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Sapphire Falls is especially unique because it offers water taxi transportation without being one of Universal’s Signature Collection resorts that includes Universal Express Unlimited. Another favorite feature of mine is Strong Water Tavern. It is basically heaven for rum drinkers, but even beyond the impressive rum selection, it is just a fantastic resort bar and restaurant.

Once we finished our resort tours, Emily and I headed over to the parks to check out the Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store and continue our quest for the Fallout merchandise on our shopping list.

Then it was time to head back to Cabana Bay.

I stopped at Swizzle Lounge in the lobby for a drink before walking over to Bayliner Diner for dinner. I’m always impressed by how many different options this food court has. I ended up ordering the chimichurri steak with rice and really enjoyed it.

The night concluded the same way the previous one had, with plenty of girl talk and giggles lasting into the early hours of the morning. As a trip like this should!

If you want to travel to Universal Orlando Resort or anywhere else in the world, contact me here.