I'll never forget coming off Universal Islands of Adventure in 2022, soaked from head to toe after riding Popeye and Bluto's hold rat barge.
This was my first trip back to Universal Orlando Resort in years, and I learned a few things the hard way, which I happily shared with other travelers, hoping they would. avoid my mistakes.
Since then, I have had the opportunity to visit the Florida resort several times a year. And while I stand by my previous tips, I learned a few more.
Here are my top tips for newcomers visiting Universal Orlando.
1. Stay on property
From RV parks to vacation rentals, there's no shortage of places to stay in Central Florida, but it can pay to stay in one during your visit to Universal Orlando. Not only are the prices comparable to off-property hotels with Endless summer surfside And At the dock from $99 per night, but all Universal resort hotels offer 30 minutes of early entry to select parks, which vary depending on the time of year.
They also offer free transportation to the resort, so you can get back to your room fairly quickly after a long day at the park or for a lunch break. This free transportation can be difficult in the morning, especially at more expensive fares. Loews Sapphire Falls, Loews Royal Pacific, Loews Bay PortofinoAnd Hard Rock Hotelwhich offer water taxis that drop you off closer to the parks than you can get there by car or bus. Cabana Bay Beach Resort And Hotel Aventura Guests can walk to Sapphire Falls to catch water taxis, but the extra time and added steps may not be worth skipping the resort shuttle.
Walking trails are also available to the parks from all resort hotels except Endless Summer. Cabana Bay guests also have a dedicated walking trail to Universal Volcano Bay water park.
Guests staying at Royal Pacific, Portofino Bay and Hard Rock also receive complimentary Universal express passes, which significantly reduces waits for most rides and normally starts at $79.99 per person. Free parcel delivery is also available at all resort hotels, if guests don't want to lug their purchases to the park all day.
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2. Buy a popcorn bucket
Snacks in parks can be expensive. Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks, but there's one that will please everyone and won't break the bank.
A regular popcorn bucket costs just over $12, and you can keep restocking throughout your trip. Refills cost around $2 each, making popcorn one of the cheapest and most shareable snacks on property. On our last trip, my family and I received several refills for the price of a pretzel with cheese dip.
3. Bring a lightweight, refillable water bottle
Staying hydrated is always important, especially on hot days at the park.
You can fill water bottles with free ice water from one of the many Coca-Cola Freestyle machines on property. Free cups of iced water are also available wherever dispensed soft drinks are sold.
Leave the large, double-walled stainless steel tumblers at home. Not only will they feel heavy to carry around all day, but if they're not waterproof, they'll make a mess when you tip them on their side to store them in lockers for thrill rides.
4. Bring a medium-sized bag to carry your stuff
Many attractions, Jurassic World VelociCoaster has Alien attack from the men in blackrequire customers to store bulk items in lockers provided for the duration of the trip.
I previously recommended keeping most of your stuff together to avoid having to empty every pocket every time. This is still true, but I want to add a caveat regarding sizing.
The free lockers are not very big. They can hold a Loungefly-style mini backpack or an empty popcorn bucket, if you crush them, but they're not big enough for packed full-size backpacks. Keep this in mind unless you want to pay for larger lockers.
5. Bring ponchos
Ponchos don't take up much space and can save you from getting soaked like me on Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat barge, Rip Saw Falls by Dudley Do-RightAnd Jurassic Park River Adventure.
Even if you avoid water rides, ponchos are good to keep on hand for rainy days at the park.
6. Use single-passenger lines
Many attractions have a single-passenger lane. If you're traveling alone or don't mind your group being split up, you can save time by using the single-passenger lane, if it's open. They are not always offered.
This does not guarantee a short wait, but it is usually shorter. On our last trip, my middle schooler still waited at least 45 minutes to The Incredible Hulk Coaster and one hour for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. This was about as long as the usual wait for Hulk, but shorter than the standby wait for Rip Ride Rockit.
The following attractions have single-passenger lanes, although availability varies.
Universal Studios Florida
- Adventure AND
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- Alien attack from the men in black
- Revenge of the Mummy
- The Simpsons Ride
- Transformers: The Ride-3D
Universal Islands of Adventure
- Fear of Doctor Doom
- Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls
- Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorcycle Adventure
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Jurassic Park River Adventure
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster
- The Incredible Adventures of Spider-Man
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
7. Use Child Swap
If someone from your group doesn't meet driving requirements for an attraction or if you just want to sit, you can request a child exchange. It is especially useful for families with young children, as it allows parents and guardians to take turns riding the ride and staying with whoever is seated.
On our last trip, my youngest didn't want to go on board Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorcycle Adventure, so we all waited in line together, but then she and I headed to a designated waiting room while my middle schooler and my mother-in-law went for a ride. Once they were done, my mother-in-law stayed with my youngest while I went for a walk. My middle schooler was lucky to be able to ride it twice.
Not all attractions have waiting rooms, but they all offer exchanges. Just let team members know you need it.
8. Take breaks
Theme parks can be exhausting. Not only are you on your feet all day, but they can be loud, crowded and overly stimulating.
When possible, I like to schedule at least one sit-down meal during the day. This way I can take my time and recover in the air conditioning, away from the crowds. I usually splurge on a table-served meal, but there are several mid-priced quick-service restaurants at both theme parks where you can grab a lighter snack and relax.
Really, any cool place you can sit works. Mist Alley The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida is always refreshing, albeit dark. Jurassic Park Discovery Center in Islands of Adventure is a great place for kids to explore while adults relax.
9. Watch shows
The rides get a lot of love, but Universal Orlando's live entertainment is top-notch. You can find the session times on free resort app or just stop to watch the shows you happen to see while wandering the parks.
The only year-round shows with dedicated seating take place at Universal Studios Florida: Animal actors on site!, The Stuntacular Bourneand Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show, which is more funny than scary.
10. Let toddlers stretch their legs
There are several play areas in both theme parks for the little ones to burn off some energy.
This summer, a new DreamWorks Land will open at Universal Studios Florida with a “Kung Fu Panda” themed play area.
At Islands of Adventure, kids can explore Camp Jurassic in Jurassic Park, If I ran a zoo at Seuss Landing, and Me, the boat, the olive in Toon Lagoon. There are also paddling pools and water games in the Toon lagoon; just be sure to bring swimsuits or a change of clothes for these.
Bonus: Don't sleep at Volcano Bay
You'll definitely want to pack swimsuits if you're heading to Volcano Bay, which consistently ranks among the best water parks in the country and adds a completely different experience to vacation.
Its theme resembles a tropical paradise, with lots of trees and an iconic volcano housing several water slides. The water park can get crowded, but you never spend too long waiting in line because each guest gets a Portable Tapu Tapu bracelet that allows them to join one virtual queue at a time.
Single-day tickets start at $80, which is considerably lower than the $119 starting price for guests ages 10 and up at Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure, but it's still not good walk. However, if you're already planning on purchasing multi-day tickets to both theme parks, getting to Volcano Bay isn't much of an extra step.
