Our Ultimate List of Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando

Are you heading to Universal Orlando Resort anytime soon? Great! Then we’ll assume you know the basics…

… that Universal Orlando offers two major theme parks (Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure), Volcano Bay Water Park, the Universal CityWalk shopping and dining destination, and a variety of fun and beautifully themed hotels. So now it’s time to take your knowledge to the NEXT LEVEL. And the way we’re helping you do that is by bringing you our Ultimate List of Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando!

LET’S GO!

Universal Studios to Islands of Adventure and Back Again

The ONLY Way to Get on Hogwarts Express

Now this isn’t exactly a super hidden secret, but it takes enough guests by surprise that it’s still well worth mentioning that if you want to ride Hogwarts Express…

… then you MUST purchase a Park-to-Park ticket (which grants entrance into BOTH Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure on the same day). A One Park Per Day ticket will not grant access to Hogwarts Express, as the train connects Hogsmeade Station (at Islands of Adventure) with King’s Cross Station (at Universal Studios).

So buying a Park-to-Park ticket is the only way to ride… unless you have a Flying Ford Anglia at your disposal, in which case you might have some luck. Still, it’s best to be prepared with your Park-to-Park. 😉

BONUS TIP: Have your ticket READY as you approach the entrance to either station, as it will be scanned before you can enter! You do NOT want to be that person fumbling in your bag to find your ticket when there is a line of people behind you (not that I’m speaking from personal experience or anything…. 😉 )

COMPLETE Guide: Universal Studios vs Islands of Adventure

Take a Park Break for Some of the BEST Universal Eats

Speaking of getting in and out of the Universal parks… did you know that you can leave the park at any time, visit Universal CityWalk, and go back into the park (no matter which kind of ticket you buy)?

This is good to know because you’ll find some of the BEST restaurants at Universal along CityWalk! If you’ve had your fill of Butterbeer and are ready to fuel up on something more substantial, you’ll certainly find plenty of eateries in the parks. But since CityWalk is so easily accessible from either park, why not consider one of the standout eateries like The Cowfish, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, or Bigfire to enjoy some more memorable eats while taking a load off for a bit?

The Best Restaurants At Universal Orlando CityWalk

Bring as Little as Possible to the Parks. Here’s Why…

Packing light is a valuable skill. This is not only true for general ease of travel; it’s especially true for the Universal theme parks. Why?

Because several popular Universal rides require guests to use lockers to store their bags and other belongings. Wanna take on the VelociCoaster or escape from Gringotts? Then you’re gonna have to stash a bag, if you have one, in a locker. You can see the full list of rides that require lockers for bags here.

Fortunately, many of these rides allow you to safely store items that can fit in your pocket or a small fanny pack which can tuck under your shirt. However, all other large items (purses, camera bags, backpacks, etc.) must go inside a ride locker.

But let’s say you can’t avoid bringing a backpack or something to the parks. (I’m there with you, personally. My tube of very necessary sunscreen won’t fit in a pocket!) The standard-sized lockers are free, so that’s good. In fact, the standard lockers can easily fit small purses, wands, wallets, and cell phones.

They aren’t tall enough, though, to fit popcorn buckets or cups if standing up straight (an empty reusable cup can fit on its side). There are large lockers available, too, which can fit big backpacks and multiple purses While the standard lockers are free, these large lockers cost $2.00. So, it’s still advisable to bring as little as possible to avoid that expense.

BONUS TIP: Universal has a “no loose items” policy for The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and Jurassic World VelociCoaster. In these instances, it’s incredibly helpful to have a lanyard in which to keep your park ticket (which opens your locker once the ride is complete).

Lanyards (which can also hold Express Passes, etc.) can be worn on these rides but must be tucked inside your shirt.

A Complete List of Rides You Can’t Carry Bags On at Universal Orlando

Universal Express Pass

Consider Booking a Hotel that INCLUDES Express Pass

The Universal Express Pass allows guests to “skip the lines” one time per participating ride and ranges from $89.99 to $349.99 per person. There’s also the Universal Express Unlimited option, which ranges from $99.99 to $379.99 per person and allows unlimited skips of the line at participating rides.

If you’re planning on staying at a Universal Resort hotel, you have four tiers from which to choose: Value, Prime Value, Preferred, and Premier.

Now, you may immediately lean towards one of the least expensive options (such as Cabana Bay, Aventura, or one of the two Endless Summer Resorts — these fall under the Prime Value and Value categories).

But guests of Universal Orlando’s Premier tier resorts (the Hard Rock Hotel, the Royal Pacific Resort, and the Portofino Bay Hotel) are given complimentary use of the Express Pass as part of their stay. So this might be an option well worth considering for the inclusion of Express Pass.

Hotel Discounts Can Help!

Another tip: Be on the lookout for discounts at the three hotels that include Express Pass and book when a desirable discount comes up.

A member of our All Ears team shared the following: “I went when there was a really good Annual Passholder deal and it was SO worth it — we ended up paying around $300 a night for Portofino Bay AND got Express Pass.” WOW!

Know What’s NOT Included with Express Pass

Whether you book Express Pass through your hotel, or purchase it as an add-on to your theme park tickets, just be aware of which rides do NOT offer an Express Pass line.

For instance, many guests may be surprised to learn that one of the most popular Universal attractions (and perhaps THE most popular) — Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure — is NOT one of the participating Express Pass rides.

Is the Universal Orlando Express Pass Worth It? Everything You Need to Know

Before You Go…

Download and Familiarize Yourself with the Universal App

Take some time to download and peruse the free Universal Orlando Resort app BEFORE your trip.

These days, the My Disney Experience app is practically a requirement for visiting Disney World, to access things like Virtual Queues and Disney Genie. Though you don’t have to rely on your phone quite as much at Universal (which many guests are quite happy about), that doesn’t mean the Universal app isn’t SUPER handy and helpful!

You can find attraction wait times, check out park maps, find dining locations, and MUCH more. But my personal favorite PRE-visit feature is the ability to mark — or “Heart” — your favorites! Go through and select your must-ride attractions, and once you’re in the park, you can access that list and the wait times will pop right up along with your selected attractions!

And that’s just one feature — additional pre-planning features include the ability to pre-purchase tickets and Express Pass and more.

Oh! And here is something good to know: you can also use Mobile Order for select dining locations once you’re in the parks, like the new Illumination’s Minion Café!

Doing a little clicking through the app before your visit can save you time in the parks finding the features you want and need.

Check out the NEW Minion Cafe HERE!

Be Aware of Park Hours BEFORE You Go

Here’s a heads up: During certain times of year, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure may close earlier than you might anticipate. Or one park may close much earlier than the other. (This is especially true when a park hosts a special event such as Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios).

On the flip side, if you’re eligible for Early Park Admission by virtue of being a Universal Annual Passholder or a Universal Resort hotel guest, this can greatly impact how much you can get done in a day! Be aware of the dates AND WHICH PARK or parks this benefit is being offered at before you go by searching Early Park Admission on the Universal Orlando website.

Knowing ahead of time, you can plan your park itineraries accordingly.

Learn the Height Requirements for Attractions

Have kiddos in tow? Then here’s another pre-trip homework assignment: Study up on height requirements for various attractions. Universal is pretty famous for offering some more intense and extreme rides than Disney World, which means that there are less rides without height requirements.

So you don’t risk having a disappointed kiddo in the park, be sure to check height requirements for your must-ride attractions on the Universal Orlando website ahead of time.

Consider: Could an Annual Pass Be “Just the Ticket” For You?

You would need to do some number crunching here, to make sure this would be a good fit for your needs and budget, but sometimes purchasing an Annual Pass — even if you’re only visiting the parks for a few days — may be a worthwhile purchase for the hotel and theme park discounts.

You can do price comparisons on the Park Tickets section of the Universal Orlando website. And, it’s good to know that Universal Annual Passes can be purchased with flex pay and split up into payments for out of state visitors (which is a difference from Disney World’s Annual Pass program).

Click Here to Find Out Why You Might Want to Opt for a Universal Annual Pass Instead of Park Tickets

Refillable Universal Coke Freestyle Cups

Guests who love soda may find tremendous value in purchasing a Refillable Universal Coke Freestyle Cup!

For $17.99 (the price per cup goes down a bit if you buy more than one), you can enjoy unlimited sodas AND Icees (where available) all day long… AAAAND it can be reactivated on future visits for the cost of $10.99.

BONUS TIP: There is a refillable souvenir cup station in CityWalk! This is a great spot to fill up your mug on the way in and out of either park!

Be Prepared for Motion Sickness… Juuuust in Case

LOTS (and I do mean LOTS) of the attractions at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure present their stories through 3D screen experiences (along with other ride elements).

These include — but are by no means limited to — attractions such as The Simpsons Ride, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. Even though Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey boast other major ride elements, screens still play a major part in each attraction. (Note that Forbidden Journey does not utilize 3D glasses.) The thing is…

… these have the potential to make you a bit woozy. (I don’t typically suffer from motion sickness, and The Simpsons Ride can still be a bit rough for me.)

But guess what? Single doses of medication are available for free at First Aid locations if you need them! At Universal Studios, you can find First Aid at Family Services at the front of the park. And at Islands of Adventure, you’ll find First Aid Stations inside the Guest Services Lobby (to the right of the main entrance turnstiles).

We know… theme park visits these days involve some pretty intense logistics when it comes to planning a great visit. But we also know this: it’s WORTH IT to take a good amount of time to familiarize yourself with the ins-and-outs of your destination before you go.

So give yourself a big pat on the back for taking the time to read up and learn some extra tips, and get ready for a GREAT time at Universal Orlando! You’ve done a good job on your homework, so be sure to kick back, relax, and enjoy our video tour below of Universal Studios!

How Much Does A Trip To Universal Studios Cost?

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