My mom is a hard person to surprise. We traveled to Florida just a few days before her birthday cruise, and I wanted to find the best hotel to jumpstart the festivities. Hilton Orlando checked all the boxes: a large pool oasis, fun themed drinks and comfy accommodations. Most of all, I was drawn to how close it was to Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park, which I wanted to take my mom to. Though we ended the trip with a cruise not a stroll through Hogwarts, I’m still glowing from our stay on land. Here’s my review of our three-day stay at the Hilton Orlando.