33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando
12 – Let your kid be your guide
Something weâve done when traveling, since Luna was little, is to have everyone in the family make a list each day of three things theyâd like to do. We donât always get through all nine things, but we take turns so everybody at least gets their top thing done. Not only is this is a great way for your kids to feel included in the planning process, but you will end up discovering things you may not have even considered.
As soon as you can, start talking with your kids about the upcoming trip – look at guide books, websites, and YouTube together. Ask them what they’d like to see and do, and let them take the lead for part of the day.
Check out the Go Informed Podcast
On the Go Informed Podcast you’ll find tons of tips and information to help you plan and execute a fabulous Universal Orlando vacation. Listening with your kids is a great place to start learning about all the fun things you’ll get to do together.
Click here to see all the episodes and show notes, or search for Go Informed: Build a Better Vacation on your favorite podcast app.
Here are the most recent episodes of the Go Informed Podcast
13 – Try the butterbeer
Butterbeer is a delicious treat you’ll only find in the Wizarding World and the Harry Potter Studio tour in London. If you like butterscotch and/or vanilla youâre going to like it. We prefer it frozen or cold, or in the form of butterbeer ice cream!
In my opinion, you can skip the pumpkin juice, but thatâs just me.
14 – Enjoy the ride
This is a reminder about all those warnings you are subjected to in the line queue, about who shouldnât ride (besides the usual pregnant women, people with heart conditions, etc, one of the categories is âotherâ â whatever that means?). In general if youâve ever ridden a roller coaster you will survive whatever ride youâre currently waiting for.
You may be dizzy, you may only want to ride it once, but hop on and enjoy the ride.
Do you need a touring plan for Universal Orlando? Here are 7 questions to ask yourself.
15 – Magic
One of my favorite things about theme parks is the magic of stepping out of our real world into something made of fantasy. In the case of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, magic is literally all around you. Suspend disbelief for a while and take it in.
Click here to take an audio tour of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on the Go Informed Podcast.
16 – Stay calm
So many attractions, so little time! Take a breath. Today you will have experiences unlike your usual Tuesday. Savor the moments and then start planning your return trip.
Knowing and practicing proper theme park etiquette can go a long way to help you navigate a crowded park with poise. Be sure to review my top theme park etiquette tips here.
I’ve made a list of 7 ways you can find Zen in a theme park. Here’s how to do it.
17 – Have a snack/take breaks
Take breaks more than you think you need to. If youâre planning a full day in the parks, youâre going to have to pace yourself. There are snack options almost everywhere you look â from ice cream to fruit to cold drinks. And drink lots of water, especially on hot days.
You can ask for a free cup of ice water at any quick service spot that has fountain drinks. Just walk up to the pick up counter and say please.
18 – Ride single
Many of the rides have singles options â just ask the attendant at the head of the standby queue. Both the Gringotts ride and the Forbidden Journey have dedicated singles queues.
Riding single can seriously cut down on your wait time. If you go in the queue with a buddy youâll be together for the whole time in line, just split up when itâs time to load.
Want to learn all about how to ride single at Universal Orlando? Here’s my post and podcast episode about how the single rider line works at Universal Orlando and Disney World.
19 – Try something new
So youâve never seen a Transformers movie in your life â try the ride anyway. You might find itâs your favorite attraction in the entire park!
20 – Take a risk
You may need to work up to it, but push yourself past your comfort zone a bit. Try the ride that scares you â and buy the picture for proof you did it.
Looking for a real spine-tingling thrill? Consider visiting one of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.
21 – Prepare for the weather
Florida is of course known for hot weather, but if you go in the winter it can be cold. We’ve experienced morning frost in January and February. Watch the forecast before you go – and pack layers, including hats and gloves in the winter – or you might find yourself purchasing a whole new wardrobe in the park shops.
If you visit in the summer, you can expect hot, humid days, and rain showers. I’ve created a bunch of posts to help you deal with the summer weather:
- How to beat the heat at Universal Orlando
- Top 5 Orlando summer weather tips
- Go Informed Orlando summer gear guide
- Theme park extreme weather tips
22 – Watch the movies before you go
Here is some homework I think everybody can enjoy. Almost every attraction at both parks is based on a movie or TV show. The queue lines usually provide some context for riders unfamiliar with the theme, but why not spend some time catching up on the movies before you go?
If you arenât already Harry Potter fanatics like us, we especially recommend you acquaint yourself with these movies before you visit the Wizarding World. Otherwise most of the theming will go straight over your head.
A word about ride intensity that relates to the movies. Know that especially with the Harry Potter rides, anything you see in the movies could – extremely vividly – come to life on the ride. For this reason, I think it’s particularly important to watch the movies before you visit the Wizarding World. And take my advice here about how to test-drive a ride to find out if it’s too scary for your kid.
I’ve written a post listing all the movies that inspired rides at Universal Orlando. Click here to find out what you should watch before you go.
23 – Charge your phone
Today your phone is also your camera, map, and guide book. Expect to use it a lot, and if youâre using the Universal Park app most likely your phone will be checking in on the GPS frequently, which can really drain the battery. Make sure you start with a fully-charged phone each day.
It’s also really smart to toss an extra power bank into your park backpack.
Booking.com
Great article. I’ve JUST started looking at Universal Studios etc since my wife & I and 10 year old son love HP and can’t wait to see these attractions there. It’s all overwhelming at first b/c there is so much to investigate. Everyone wants to always get the best experience for the best price. That’s why articles like this are very helpful. Keep up the great work.
Thanks! I agree that it’s nice to start with the basics before you get too far into your planning. Have fun preparing and have a tremendous vacation!
Great tips! Thanks!
So glad to be helpful. Have a splendid vacation!
great tips! thank you for taking the time;)
Thanks Linda. I hope you have a great trip!
Super, duper generic.
Great Article. I have not been to Universal in years and we are planning a trip in 2018. Lots of good information here. I am not an early riser and get anxious in large crowds, but am willing to try!
Happy to help you with your planning Tonia. Try to get some practice with big crowds and early mornings before you go – it might help take away some of the stress for you. And keep on reading – the more information you have, the fewer surprises you’ll encounter on your adventure ð
Thank you so much for this very informative post!! It answered pretty much everything i was wanting to know about Universal! I am planning my familys first trip for june 16th and we are so very excited!! Also very big Harry Potter fans here too! Love your daughters name btw ð again thank you sooo very much for the information, im now following your blog on facebook and pintrest !!
Have a fabulous trip Brittany! I hope the tips help you make the most of your time in the Wizarding World and beyond ð
Hi. I’m planning our first trip to Universal, and I have a question about Express Pass. If we book a participating Universal hotel through a site such as hotels.com, is the express pass still included? Or do we have to book directly from Universal?
Yes, as long as you’re staying at one of the Express Pass hotels, it doesn’t matter how you book it, you’ll get the Express Pass and early admission perks.
Thank you!
Loved your post! I’m planning a trip now to go in April. I’ve been once and loved it but am so excited to experience more, especially with all your great tips! I especially loved the super practical ones like shoes and washing your hands frequently-genius! Definitely making a list from your list when going. Thanks again!
So glad to help Tiffany! Have a wonderful trip!
Your posts on Universal really helped me plan and have a great time with my family. Thanks for taking the time to put them together. We went 12/2015 during Christmas week and stayed at the Cabana Bay hotel. We did not get the express pass with our hotel stay. I mistakenly believed that I could purchase it for 59.00/person. However, the rate fluctuates based on park capacity. Therefore it was 170.00/person/day. Way too much. But, I have a family of five, so the hotel suite at Cabana Bay was 229 compared to the 800/night I would have to pay at the other Universal hotels. So, we just got up early to catch the 6:30 shuttle to the park, and followed your Harry Potter advice. And, after that we had the parks to ourselves until about 11am each day. Thanks again.
Cara
Thanks for the nice feedback Cara. I’m glad the information helped you guys get the most out of your trip! Keep reading – I’m heading back to Orlando in February and will have more tips coming up.