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16 Things to Know Before Visiting Universal Orlando
1. It's Not Called Universal Studios
Despite nearly everyone calling the park in its entirety Universal Studios, the park is actually called Universal Orlando Resort. The new name is way less catchy, but it was changed to show off the fact that the park now includes 3 parks (Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay), hotels, and an entertainment complex known as City Walk.
2. The Park is Brilliantly Laid Out
These people knew what they were doing when they designed the park! You must walk through City Walk to access Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure. That means you’ll be passing by a butt-ton of shops, bars, restaurants, and entertainment spaces on your way in and out of the park.
3. Staying Onsite Has Its Perks.
Dude, the perks you get for staying onsite are BOMB! We’re talking about benefits like:
- Early park admission
- Express Passes
- Water taxis
- Priority seating at select restaurants
- Anything you buy can be sent to your hotel
4. Pay Close Attention to Park Hours
The park hours fluctuate based on the day and season. Be sure to check the official site for the hours on the day(s) of your visit.
You may also get early access to the park if you stay on-site. (See above).
5. It's TOTALLY Busy!
Universal Orlando is BUSY! Like, most of the time. As you are planning out your trip, you should reference the Orlando Crowd Calendar to see what the anticipated crowds are like during your visit.
Without an Express Pass, it will be difficult to get to all of the rides in just one day.
Visiting during the off-season is the best way to avoid the crowds. If you can help it, avoid summer, major holidays, and school breaks, if at all possible.
Historically, the park isn’t as busy on weekdays. And September, January, and February are typically the best months to visit.
6. Download the App
Like most theme parks, Universal has its own app, and it’s actually pretty freaking great. You should download the app before you leave for your trip so you can check out all of the features.
My favorite features were:
- A spot to record where you parked
- Maps that you could sort by distance and wait times
- A spot to order ahead food
The app also gives a super vague description of what the rides are. I wish these were a little more descriptive because you could literally be standing in a line for a ride that you are terrified of and not even know it.
7. There Are Actually TWO Wizarding Worlds (What the What!???!)
Remember how I said the park designers were brilliant? I wasn’t kidding. If they aren’t members of MENSA, they probably should look into it!
Oh wait…maybe they’re wizards themselves??
These brainiacs were smart and split the Harry Potter attractions across 2 different parks- Universal Studios AND Islands of Adventure! That means in order to get the full experience you have to have a Park-to-Park ticket.
Hogsmede is in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley is in Univeral Studios. Both sides of the HP stuff is connected by the Hogwarts Express, which is a train that you can only ride if you have a Park-to-Park ticket.
8. You Better Drink Up!
The Florida heat and humidity is no joke, yo. Even if you visit during a cooler day, it’s important to stay hydrated. Pack your own water bottle and refill it at the free water fountain points all over the park. We travel with this one and it’s a total game changer!
Shoot, while you’re at it pack a fan, cooling towel, sunscreen, and your patience. Florida is miserable, trust me- I’m from here.
9. You're Packing for a Day- not a Week. Don't Overpack Your Day Bag!
Unless you pay to rent a locker, you’ll be carrying your day bag for all or most of the day. Even if you do rent a locker, this involves going back and forth. Who wants to do that?
Do yourself a favor and don’t overpack your day bag.
For my last visit, I used this fanny pack as my day bag. We had an 80% chance of rain that day so I tossed in a raincoat. I added my driver’s license and debit card, which was it! Smiley brought along a drawstring bag where she kept a water bottle, raincoat, phone, retainer case, and Chapstick.
Other ideas:
Portable Battery charger
Cooling towel
Collapsible water bottle
Neck Fan
Sunscreen
10. Oh...but DO Pack Snacks!
You’re allowed to bring your snacks into the park. You’ll probably want to avoid packing anything with chocolate though, because the Florida heat is a BEAST!
Some ideas:
Goldfish
Chips
Granola Bars
Pretzels
KIND Bars
Fruit Snacks
Dried Fruit
11. We Ain't the Lightning Capital For Nothin', Ya'll.
Here in Florida, it rains almost every day in the summer. We’re talking torrential downpours with violent lightning.
When there is lightning within 5 miles, all of the outdoor rollercoasters will shut down along with the hotel pools and Volcano Bay.
If you see a storming rolling in, be prepared to pivot your plans.
12. Be Single, at Least for a Day!
The Single Rider lines will pretty much always be shorter than the regular standby line. If you don’t mind getting split from your party and don’t want to shell out money for the Express Pass, this is your best bet for maximizing your time.
We found it easier for me to ride the ride first and then have my daughter hop on the next ride. That way, I could wait for her at the exit.
13. ....or at Least Be a VIP For a Day!
Hear me out, booking a VIP Tour might just be the best way to experience the theme park.
Here is what is included with every Universal VIP Tour:
- Dedicated tour guide
- Behind-the-scenes tours and experiences
- Front-of-the-line access to attractions
- Valet parking
- Reserved seating at in-park shows
- Universal Express Unlimited passes for the rest of the day
- Discounts on merchandise and food
- Free admission to some clubs at CityWalk
- At least one complimentary meal (all 2-Park Tours)
Group tours start at $249 per person + the cost of your theme park ticket. Prices vary depending on the time of year and the crowds.
14. Parents, This One's For YOU!
Alright grown-ups with offspring, this one’s for you! All of the rides at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure now have a special Child Swap area.
If you have a kiddo that doesn’t meet the height requirement (or is scared to death of a certain ride)… that doesn’t mean you have to miss out!
Here’s how it works. You line up for the ride as a family. Once you get to the front of the line, one adult takes the kiddo(s) to the Child Swap area, while the other gets a mental health break and rides the ride. Once the ride/break is over, the adults swap places! This way, there’s always someone watching the kids and the adults don’t have to miss out on the fun.
15. Oh, and if You Hate Lines and Have Extra Cash, This One is For YOU!
Everyone hates lines. Especially when it’s hot as hell out. If you shell out some extra money, you can purchase an Express Pass which lets you skip the line.
The unlimited pass will set you back $100/per person/day. There are limited passes that start at just $20.
If you’re staying at an official Universal Studios Hotel, you get one of these badass passes for free! Totally worth it, right?
It’s estimated that an Express Pass shaves about 70% off of your wait time.
16. You Should Probably Have a Game Plan
The general rule of thumb for theme parks is to start at the back and work your way toward the front. This rule definitely applies to Universal Studios but is less relevant for Islands of Adventure.
When you walk into Univeral Studios, fight the urge to hop on the Minion rides and head straight to the back of the park. Instead, zoom on back to the furthest part of the park- which just so happens to be the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
This plan works 2-fold- 1) You don’t have to retrace your footsteps at the end of the day to exit the park. 2) The wait times are a little shorter the earlier you get back to the HP stuff.
Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventures!
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Be sure to also check out our other posts on Orlando theme parks.
