Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice
Joey Fatone's CityWalk counter serves loaded hot dogs that go well past ballpark fare, in the former Hot Dog Hall of Fame space.
The Short Version
Base camp first, then the parks
Three parks anchor the district now. The original Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure stand together at the CityWalk hub, and Epic Universe, the first major new theme park to open in Orlando in 25 years, has its own side of the resort, with Stella Nova and Terra Luna opened in early 2025 as the value-tier resorts serving it.
CityWalk is the shared ground between park days: a chocolate factory restaurant that puts dessert in every course, and a hot dog and Italian ice stand run by an Orlando native families may recognize. On a family trip, the dinners between the park days are where the trip is won or lost, and this district keeps them inside the fence.
The Picks
Every family pick in the Universal Area
The complete family list for the district, in the guide’s own order. Tap any name to open its own page.
The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen
A steampunk chocolate factory at CityWalk, all brass, gears, and towering smokestacks, built on the idea that chocolate belongs in every course.
Universal Epic Universe
Universal's newest park still makes guests reach for the word epic, and the scale backs them up.
Universal Studios Florida
The original Universal park, open since 1990, is still the one where the movie magic feels personal, and Diagon Alley is the reason guests give most.
Universal's Islands of Adventure
Eight themed islands ring the lagoon here, and guests keep calling the coaster lineup the strongest in Orlando.
Universal Stella Nova Resort
Stella Nova is the value-tier basecamp for Epic Universe, a space-themed resort a 10-15 minute stroll from the park with modern, clean, good-sized rooms.
Universal Terra Luna Resort
Terra Luna is Stella Nova's sister resort on Epic Boulevard, clean and modern with an exploration theme and a big resort pool.
Before You Go
Practical notes
How the district fits together
- The original two parks and CityWalk share one hub, so a base near that hub makes those mornings simple. Epic Universe stands on its own side of the resort with its own hotels, and its resorts run quick shuttles to it.
- That split is why the base camp choice comes first on a family trip here: it decides which mornings are a short ride and which are a production. Pick the park that matters most to your family, then choose the base that serves it.
Using the finder
- The family view below opens the finder filtered to the occasion across every district, including the International Drive family list for the days off from the parks.
- The finder’s map shows the split between the CityWalk hub and the Epic Universe side more honestly than any list can. Open it before choosing where to stay.
Keep Going
The district, and the whole guide
This page is one cut of the guide: family in The Universal Area. The district story covers the neighborhood itself, and the finder carries every place in the guide with search, filters, and a map.