Universal Orlando

Universal OrlandoTheme Park tips
Written By Carole Forrest

Tips and tricks for your best Universal Orlando Vacation!

Three Parks, one vacation - Universal Studios, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay water park.

Universal Express Unlimited – included in premier hotel bookings, extra cost for other resorts (cost varies).

Early Entry: Each day, one or more parks opens to guests one hour before official opening. Be sure to utilize this if you’re staying in a Universal Hotel, or if you’ve purchased your tickets from me!

Before your trip:

Step 1:

  • You will want to download the Universal app before your trip and set up your account.

    • Once you’ve entered the park, scan your ticket into the app and take a photo of the barcode.

    • Ride wait times

    • Mobile food ordering

    • Show times, park hours

    • Set alerts for low ride wait times

Step 2:

  • Research restaurant menus and food options

My suggestions (with nearly 300 travel agents polled) that I’ve personally tried, most other options are standard theme park fare:

City Walk: Big Fire, Cowfish, NBC Grill, Toothsome Chocolate Factory

Universal Orlando: NY Crepes stand, Minions Cafe, Leaky Cauldron (theme)

Islands of Adventure: Mythos, Fire Eaters, Three Broomsticks (theme), Hogshead for drinks (beer and some non alcoholic special drinks)

  • Familiarize yourself with the map of the three parks.

  • You may want to introduce your kids to ride videos of the parks so that they’ll know what to expect and get comfortable/excited about what they’d like to do.

  • When I take my family, each of us picks one ride or experience we must do, then during the day we do those things for sure! If we don’t get to other things, then no one is thoroughly disappointed, since we set expectations at the beginning.

Step 3:

  • Check Park hours 30 days before arrival to choose which parks to go to first, on which days.

When you arrive:

Head to your hotel resort first and check in. You will be directed to Guest Services/ ticket kiosk within your hotel after being given your room assignment to pick up your park tickets. You can also utilize Guest Services at the entrance to the parks for your tickets.

*PRO TIP: Once you have your tickets in hand, take photos of all the barcodes, in case you lose the paper one. Once you’ve scanned into the park, you’ll add the ticket to your app. Each ticket can only be attached to 1 account.

Park Days!

If you like to make a plan and want to ride all the rides and see all the shows, here are some tips to make your days run smoothly!

Send me your family photo!!

  • Make sure you have photos of everyone’s tickets and loaded on the app on your phone.

  • All parks utilize lockers for the big rides, so plan accordingly. Large bags will have to be put in paid lockers, but small lockers are available to use for smaller bags and items for free during rides. You’ll use your ticket to access these.

  • At Universal Studios you will head for Diagon Alley. The ride, Escape from Gringott’s is the headliner at that park and since lines are shortest right when park first opens, I’d recommend riding that first. If you want to do Ollivander’s (and you should), go here next- lines can get long.

Other must-do rides and attractions there are Jimmy Fallon’s Race through New York, Transformers 3-D, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, Villain-Con: Minion Blast, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, The Mummy, Men in Black, ET... but these attractions usually don't get crowded until an hour or so after the park is open. Be sure to check show times too, if you want to see those. The Bourne Identity Stunt show is amazing!!

At Islands of Adventure you should head towards Hagrid’s, sometimes they have a delayed start. If it is not open, you will want to check app frequently to see when it opens. Followed by The Forbidden Journey. My next choice would be to go to Ollivanders wand shop to see a wand choose its maker. The Velocicoaster will have a very long line by now, but will taper off in the afternoon and into the evening.

Other hot rides in IOA are The Hulk, Jurassic Park River Adventure, and Skull Island Reign of Kong. Definitely don’t miss The Amazing Adventures of SpiderMan.

The Hogwarts Express runs between the two parks. It goes from King’s Cross Station in Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure. Make sure to ride it going both ways as each ride is a unique experience. Remember, you can only ride the Hogwarts Express if you have purchased a Park-to-Park ticket.

Other tips:

  • Pool hopping within the resorts is encouraged! Use the boats, or inner-resort bus. Not allowed for Endless Summer guests.

  • If you are staying at the Hard Rock (or even if you go visit before you leave) you can get your room key turned into a guitar pick.

  • The easiest way to manage your passes and hotel key is to put them in the plastic square on a lanyard with one side showing your park ticket, and your room key on the other. You can carry this on the rides when you use your key for a locker, its also more accessible for your park to park ticket ride on Hogwarts Express.

  • If you buy a lot of souvenirs and are staying on property, you can have them sent to your room for free! No lugging them around the parks. It usually takes 12-24 hours to arrive.

  • If you purchase a bottle of water, or bring your own, you can refill it at the Coke Freestyle machines around the parks for free.

  • Make sure to try the themed drinks! ButterBeer and Fishy Green Ale are delicious! The carts and quick service HP places carry cold and frozen ButterBeer, inside The Three Broomsticks, you can get hot ButterBeer!

  • If thrill rides are not for you, don’t miss out on touring the castle at The Forbidden Journey in IOA! You can ask at the entrance of Hogwarts to just do a walk through. It’s definitely worth it to see all of the amazing and magic touches!

  • Universal has some great indoor Child Ride Swap areas. Take advantage of them if some of your little ones don’t quite make the height requirements, or if you know the ride will be too intense. 42” is the magic number to take your children on the rides, however, know your child best.

  • There are some really fantastic rides at the parks, but they can get pretty intense with motion or illusion of motion. I would recommend nausea medicine before you enter the park that day or peppermint essential oil to rub on your ears if you are sensitive to movement.

  • Universal is very generous with their food servings. I found that you can easily feed two
    people from one order at most places.

    Volcano Bay

  • TapuTapu – You will be given a wearable, waterproof device that goes on your wrist when you enter the park, This is used for “Virtual Line” – wave your wrist and save your place in line. Your device gives you the time to return for your ride. Use your ticket to set up your TapuTapu account on your Universal app. You can also add your credit card for cashless purchases.

  • Divided into 3 villages -Wave Village, River Village and Rainforest Village. Try and start in the back of the park past the Volcano, the Spirit of Krakatau. Most people start at the front of the park. Try and map out your day on the app. The app will show rides and height requirements for each ride.

  • Cabana Rentals – private cabana, padded lounge chairs, refrigerator stocked w/bottled water, complimentary fruit and snack basket, towel, locker service and concierge service. Exclusive menu of food and drinks delivered to the cabana. Call 1-877-801-9720 to book today.

  • Towels: You will need to bring or rent your own towels at Volcano Bay. Unless you rent a Cabana with towel service.

  • For a super fun way to travel around the park, use the Lazy river!

  • The bars will have sails on the roof to easily locate and may require ID, so be sure to be prepared and ask about any refillable cup discounts.

  • If you’re not renting cabana or premium seating, head towards back of the park for chairs as the ones in front will fill up first.

    Harry Potter Extras

  • Buy a wand

  • Interactive wands at Ollivander’s – Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade in Universal’s Islands of Adventure or Diagon Alley in Universal. approx. $60 (plaques on the ground around the park showing how to cast a spell & where to aim wand. Keep your arm straight. A map is also included.

  • Try a Butterbeer
    Non-alcoholic drink that tastes like butterscotch or ice cream soda. Available in frozen, cold, hot, butterbeer ice cream and butter beer potted cream.

  • Ride the Hogwart’s Express – must have a park-to-park ticket (King’s Crossing Station at Islands of Adventure or Hogsmeade Station at Universal). The experience is different in every direction.

  • Watch fire breathing dragon on top of Gringott’s in Diagon Alley – on the 10’s.

  • At the Ministry of Magic in Diagon Alley, Dial 62442 (magic) on phone

  • Knockturn Alley in Diagon Alley, find the evanishing cabinet

  • Hagrid’s motorbike w/sidecar (photo op)

  • Exchange money for Wizards Gold – talk to Goblins (exchange muggle money for wizarding money)

  • Visit Honeydukes in Hogsmeade

  • Look for Kreacher in the windows outside of the entrance of Diagon Alley.

  • Moaning Myrtle talks in the Hogsmeade bathroom.

  • There is a chirping bird in the vanishing cabinet at Borgin and Burkes.

  • Find the snake that speaks both Parseltongue and English!!

  • Make sure you find Knockturn Alley! Some of the best witches and wizards work within it.

  • If you eat at the Three Broomsticks, look for the shadows on the second floor.

  • If you enter platform 9 3⁄4 from Kings Cross, you can get a video of yourself that looks like you are walking through the wall. Have your friend video it for you. Check out YouTube videos for the correct angle to be at.

  • Copy and paste this list to the notes app on your phone so you don’t miss a thing!

  • From the amazing themed areas, to a multitude characters roaming around the park, Universal Studios Orlando has a lot to offer! There are many small corners to explore within the parks, and the details are meticulous in the Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter. And not just the parks, but the resorts are great to go visit and explore – swim or eat at, on you’re off park days. Each one is unique with their theming. I hope you enjoy your trip, and remember if you have any issues or questions, I am always available to help you out. If you’ve been happy with my as an agent, please recommend me to your friends and family. Almost 98% of my clients are referrals or repeat travelers and I’d love to help you with your next Disney Destination, Universal Studios, Cruise or All Inclusive resort vacation!

Carole Forrest
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