What I love About Universal Orlando Resort: We are huge Harry Potter fans in our household and that is a big driver of making an (usually) annual trip to the Universal Orlando Resort. It has two theme parks (Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida) and a water park (Volcano Bay), versus the one theme park in California (though the rides and experiences are different which makes visiting either location fun). You can do almost everything in the two theme parks in two days and there is less planning involved with a visit to Universal (especially with a Universal Express pass) than Disney.

Universal Orlando Resort General Tips & Considerations

  • Planning and Budget:  What type of trip are you hoping to have? Are you traveling from out of state? What is your budget? We are a small family traveling from out of state and are almost always visiting during the busiest times of year (that is, during school breaks). Hence we have always stayed at one of the three onsite resorts that include an Express pass with your stay. This might not meet your budget if you are a larger family, but for us it’s easy (less planning), close to all the parks, reduces time spent waiting in lines, and lets us take advantage of the resort perks as well (more on that below).
  • Ticket Selection: If you want to ride the Hogwarts Express between the two parks (which you’ll definitely want to do if anyone in your party is a Harry Potter fan and it’s a different experience both ways) you are going to need a Park-to-Park ticket. Ticket options include: One Park per Day tickets, Park-toPark tickets, option to add on Volcano Bay, and Express Passes (note that there are a couple of different levels of Express Passes and separate theme park admission is required, also prices vary depending on how busy it is).
  • Age: I would say that rides in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida tend to work best for older children. Most rides have height restrictions so I recommend reviewing those to see if it’s the best amusement park for your family to visit at that time. You can view information on height restrictions here https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/hours-information/ride-height-requirements
  • Download the Universal Studios Florida App: (There is a different app for Universal Studios Hollywood.) I don’t end up using the app as much as I do at Disneyland or Disney World as Universal doesn’t have a ride reservation system like Genie +. However, occasionally they will have a ride with a virtual queue and I’ll use the app for that (this can happen during busy times). I primarily use the app to view ride wait times, checking in for dining reservations, and for mobile ordering.
  • Things Change: It’s a good idea to keep current by reviewing other online tips. One of my favorite resources is https://www.undercovertourist.com/  
  • Go Early: The best time to beat the crowds is in the morning and then late in the evening. Take advantage of early entry if you are staying at an onsite hotel.
  • Orlando International Airport (OIA): Is the gateway airport for Universal Orlando Resort. We booked a Vacation Package and added Universal’s SuperStar Shuttle Service for round trip shuttle service from the airport to our hotel and then from our hotel to the airport which, runs about $39 per adult for a round trip.
  • Universal Orlando Resort Transportation: If you are staying at one of the resorts, there are three primary options for getting around the property and to the parks- walking, water taxis, or shuttles. We usually do a combination of walking to the theme parks in the morning and then taking a water taxi back to the hotel in the afternoon or evening. Transportation options do vary by hotel.

Dining

  • Breakfast at the parks can be tricky (not that many options) so we usually do a grab and go from our hotel before heading to the parks.
  • There are many quick serve dining options in the park, but there are only four restaurants that take reservations within the parks themselves. I try to make lunch reservations in the park we plan to be in around lunch time to ensure we have a scheduled time to eat as well as a break in the afternoon when it can be the warmest and busiest.
  • Favorite places to eat at Islands of Adventure: Three Broomsticks (lunch & dinner), and Mythos Restaurant (takes reservations, lunch and dinner).
  • Favorite places to eat at Universal Studios Florida: The Leaky Cauldron (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), Finnegan’s Bar and Grill (takes reservations, lunch and dinner), and Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour (quick serve, delicious ice cream with fun flavors).
  • The hotels also have great dining options. We’ll usually make dinner reservations at one of the hotels.
  • Don’t forget to check out City Walk. There are quit a few restaurant options and you can make reservations using the app.
  • You can also use the app for mobile ordering food (including selecting the pick up time) in the parks as well as for some places in City Walk (like Voodoo Doughnut).

Where to Stay

  • I recommend staying at one of the onsite hotels, especially if you are visiting from out of town. The hotels (and corresponding prices) range from Value to Premier so you can select the best hotel for your budget. You can view hotels, prices, perks, and availability here https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/places-to-stay/hotels/at-a-glance/hotels-overview
  • Guests staying at one of the property hotels get early access (up to an hour) at one of the theme parks. The early entry schedule can be viewed here https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/early-park-admission
  • Premier hotels (Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel) include free Universal Express Unlimited passes which let’s you pretty much skip the line for almost all of the rides (note that you still have to buy park admission tickets).
  • We have stayed at both the Portofino Bay Hotel (photo on left) and the Royal Pacific Resort and loved both properties and their amenities (think lovely afternoon pool breaks). Also, the walking paths to the parks (see photo below) from both of these properties are beautiful and skirt the canal which make the walks even more enjoyable. There are lots of onsite food options at the hotels too.
  • Staying onsite also makes taking a break in the afternoon (when it can be the hottest and most crowded) a breeze.

Maximizing Your Time

  • Take advantage of early entry if you are staying at an onsite hotel.
  • If you are not staying at an onsite hotel, arrive about 30 minutes before the park opens to the public (because they will often let people in a few minutes early) and make sure you have already purchased your tickets to avoid having to wait at a ticket booth/ guest services.
  • Especially during busy times, consider staying at a hotel that includes the Universal Unlimited Express Pass or purchase an Unlimited Express Pass or the Express Pass which allows you to skip the line once per participating ride. Having an Express Pass is the biggest time savor and allows you to do almost everything in both parks over two days (though we usually plan for three days in the theme parks so we don’t feel rushed and can spend a little more time at the hotel).
  • Some rides have single rider lines (like Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts). Single rider lines are usually shorter and can be a good option if you don’t mind riding without your group.
  • If you are visiting during a busy time, beware that the Wizarding World can reach maximum capacity and they will restrict access to the area. We usually try to go to the Wizarding World first thing in the morning to ride the rides, then back in the evening to check out the stores, practice magic (with an interactive wand), and watch the light show on Hogwarts Castle.

When to Visit

Other

  • Lockers: In contrast to rides at Disney, most rides at Universal require you to store your things in a locker (including small purses). Don’t worry! They have this system down and it doesn’t take long to put your things in a locker and then proceed to the line for the ride. The only consideration is that you may want to think about what size bag you are bringing in and wait until the end of the day to buy souvenirs so you aren’t having to stuff too much into the locker.
  • Accessibility information can be viewed here https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/accessibility-information