On this episode I discuss some of our touring challenges, new hacks, and other things we learned on our recent Universal Orlando trip. You’ll find out what it’s like to visit Universal Orlando in June, and how to handle the weather and other challenges that go with a summer vacation in Florida. The notes here are for quick reference. Be sure to listen to the episode to hear all the details.

These are the show notes for episode 31. Listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic.

Or listen on your favorite podcast app! Just search for the Go Informed Podcast.

Tips From My June Universal Orlando Trip

The Weather Really Does Affect Your Visit to Orlando

We experienced extreme weather a lot on this trip, with heavy rain that lasted over an hour several times. From this, we observed a few weather cues that can help you figure out when rain is imminent.

Watch for black clouds. Those puffy white clouds are just a precursor. When you see the dark clouds that’s a sign that the rain is getting close. Usually within a half hour or so.

Notice the wind. It suddenly gets windy right before the downpour starts. When you feel that wind, it’s time to cover up and get inside.

Here are my other episodes and posts about Orlando weather:

Top 5 Orlando Summer Weather Tips – Go Informed Podcast Episode 028

Disney World and Universal Orlando Summer Gear Guide – Go Informed Podcast Episode 024

Weather at Universal Orlando: 5 Cool Tips for the Heat and Rain

Disney World Weather Tips and Why August is a Great Time to Visit Orlando

This is my post about what to do if you experience extreme weather on your trip, including soaking wet shoes.

Here’s a link to the video of the rainstorm we experienced on our ride to the Orlando airport.

Get This Shirt

I mentioned this shirt on episode 28. After testing it out in the Orlando heat, I can absolutely recommend it for your trip. It was comfortable, it never wrinkled, and it never got sweaty or stinky. Plus it looked better than just a t-shirt. To see who’s sitting on the bench next to me, take a look at the shownotes for episode 32.

It’s called the Club Ride Bandara Plaid Bike Jersey and you can find it on Amazon here.

Yes, they make shirts like this for guys too. Here’s a link.

Watch the Universal Orlando Early Admission Schedule – It Can Change!

Double-check the Universal Orlando early admission park schedule to make sure it hasn’t changed. We ended up going to the wrong park on our first morning!

Make Sure You Have the Touring Plans Lines App on Your Phone

Here’s a post about some of the apps I recommend you use for your trip to Universal Orlando.

What To Do If a Ride Malfunctions at Universal Orlando

Be aware that some of the rides at Universal Orlando are prone to breakdowns. Especially the Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts attraction.

If a ride breaks down when you’re in it, stay calm. We were stuck on the Gringotts ride for around 20 minutes one morning. It was inconvenient and not the first time this has happened to us.

If you get stuck on a ride or if there’s any kind of glitch that affects your enjoyment, be sure to talk to a ride attendant as soon as you get off. They will often let you ride again without going back through the line.

Make sure you’re courteous to the park employees. They are trying their best to get you on your way.

Listen to the episode for more tips about what to ask for when you get stuck on a ride at Universal.

Booking.com

Universal Express Pass Updates

If you are staying at an Express Pass hotel (Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay, or Royal Pacific), your hotel room key is now your Universal Express Pass. No more going to a kiosk to print a separate pass.

When you go through an Express Pass line at Universal Orlando, the attendant will scan the bar code on your room key and you will be photographed by a facial recognition camera. Universal is using facial recognition to make sure you are the person who belongs with your Express Pass.

The facial recognition system is fast and seems to be really accurate. I never had to have it take my picture more than once, and it just takes a few seconds to get through this extra step.

Park Entry Procedures and Tips

Here’s Universal’s official page about what you can and can’t bring into the parks.

When you get to the park gates early in the morning, don’t get in the longest line just because there are people in it. Go to the shortest line or an empty turnstile. The people who started those long lines don’t have any more information about where to stand than you do. Pick an empty line and be first in the park.

Get Free Water at Universal Orlando

Make sure you’re staying hydrated in the Florida heat. You can get a free cup of water from any quick service restaurant or kiosk that has fountain soda drinks. Just walk up and ask.

Listen to a Secret Song on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Roller Coaster

There is a secret song menu on the Rip Ride Rockit with about 40 extra songs you can choose from. Choices range from Led Zeppelin to Barry White to Muse, and even a few classical selections.

Here is the website where you can find out how to access the Rip Ride Rockit secret song list. Make sure you read the instructions so you know how to access the menu when you get on the ride.

Leave a Rating or Review on Itunes

Here’s a link to the Go Informed podcast on iTunes. Thanks for listening, and for your review!

Additional Resources for Planning Your Trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando

55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World

33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

Adding a Visit to Universal to Your Disney World Trip

The Go Informed Podcast

Find all the episodes in the series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation here.

Find all the episodes in the series 7 Days to a Better Universal Orlando Vacation here.

Find all episodes of the Go Informed podcast here.

Join me on social media

Facebook.com/goinformednet

Instagram.com/goinformednet

Pinterest.com/goinformednet

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Lessons From My June Universal Orlando Trip – Go Informed Podcast Episode 031 appeared first on Go Informed.

Orlando’s summer weather can be very hot and wet. These five tips will help you survive and enjoy your trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando even in difficult weather conditions.

These are the show notes for episode 28. Listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic.

Or listen on your favorite podcast app! Just search for the Go Informed Podcast.

Orlando Summer Weather Tip #1: Know What to Expect

Between May and October, you will probably have hot and rainy weather in Orlando. Watch the forecast to see what the weather will be during your trip.

Use a good weather app that includes radar so you can watch for storms during your day in the park. I use the Weather Channel app.

Orlando Summer Weather Tip #2: Do Your Top Attractions Early in the Day

Morning is the coolest time of day, and usually the least chance of rain. Weather can affect park rides and events, especially if there’s a threat of lightning. So don’t delay a roller coaster ride or other outdoor attraction – get on it early in the day before stormy weather sets in.

Morning touring is a big theme here at Go Informed. Here are a bunch of other posts and episodes with tips for early morning touring at Disney World and Universal Orlando:

Master Your Theme Park Morning – Go Informed Podcast Episode 019

How to use a Disney World Dining Reservation to Get an Entire Theme Park to Yourself – Go Informed Podcast Episode 027

Universal Islands of Adventure Early Admission Plan Of Attack – Go Informed Podcast Episode 026

Universal Studios Florida Early Admission Plan Of Attack – Go Informed Podcast Episode 023

7am Extra Magic Hours at Disney World: Blessing or Curse?

Orlando Summer Weather Tip #3: Skip the Lines in the Afternoon

At Disney World, make your FastPass+ reservations for the afternoon. This will keep you from waiting in a line in the heat.

I also recommend making lunch reservations when you tour Disney World in the hot months. This gives you a guaranteed, air-conditioned, break just when you start to need it the most.

If you are at Universal Orlando, an Express Pass will help you bypass long afternoon lines. Guests staying at the Hard Rock, Portofino Bay, and Royal Pacific hotels get free Express Passes included in their stay.

At lunchtime at Universal Orlando, the restaurants in CityWalk or the nearby hotels usually have no wait. This is a great place to take a mid-day break even if you don’t have a reservation.

Booking.com

Orlando Summer Weather Tip #4: Dress for Success

Wear clothing that’s designed for workouts – it doesn’t have to look like it’s made for the gym. Check out this great button-down shirt I’ll be wearing on my next trip.

Bring the gear that will make your summer days in the parks easier. Episode 24 is my Disney World and Universal Orlando Summer Gear Guide.

Orlando Summer Weather Tip #5: Be Flexible

The weather can disrupt your day. It can cause attractions to close temporarily, it can cause parades to change or be canceled, and it can even affect whether the fireworks go off as scheduled.

Don’t panic – there are still a million things to do at Disney World and Universal Orlando!

Make sure you have some alternate plans in mind, in case the weather forces you to change them.

When it gets too hot or too wet, here are a few things to do:

Shopping

Get a snack or cold drink

Get familiar with what’s in the parks, and head for an indoor attraction. You can listen to my Disney World or Universal Orlando park tours to find out what’s in the parks.

I also recommend taking a look through a guide book before you go. My favorites: Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, and Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando.

Escape to a nearby hotel for awhile. Or go back to your hotel room and take a short break.

Click here for more tips for your first day at Disney World.

Click here for more tips for your first day at Universal Orlando.

More Orlando Weather Tips

Disney World and Universal Orlando Summer Gear Guide – Go Informed Podcast Episode 024

Disney World Weather Tips and Why August is a Great Time to Visit Orlando

Weather at Universal Orlando: 5 Cool Tips for the Heat and Rain

Theme Park Rainy Day Tips: Xtreme Edition

My friend Diane was at Disney World during a hurricane! Here’s her post that’s loaded with tips for what to expect if you end up at Disney World when there’s a hurricane warning.

My Orlando Weather Tips Pinterest board is a collection of my favorite tips, plus links to other online information about how to cope with Orlando’s summer weather. You can find all my Pinterest boards at Pinterest.com/goinformednet

Leave a Rating or Review on Itunes

Here’s a link to the Go Informed podcast on iTunes. Thanks for listening, and for your review!

Additional Resources for Planning Your Trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando

55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World

33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

Adding a Visit to Universal to Your Disney World Trip

The Go Informed Podcast

Find all the episodes in the series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation here.

Find all the episodes in the series 7 Days to a Better Universal Orlando Vacation here.

Find all episodes of the Go Informed podcast here.

Join me on social media

Facebook.com/goinformednet

Instagram.com/goinformednet

Pinterest.com/goinformednet

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Top 5 Orlando Summer Weather Tips – Go Informed Podcast Episode 028 appeared first on Go Informed.

There’s no way around it: summertime in Orlando is hot, humid, and rainy. If you want to tour the theme parks like a pro, it’s important to be prepared for Florida’s extreme weather. In today’s episode I recommend some essential Orlando summer gear that you can purchase before your trip.

Having a few basics along when you visit Disney World or Universal Orlando in the summer months will help keep you cool and dry, even in the most extreme conditions. Listen to the episode to find out why I recommend bringing these supplies along on your summertime visit to the Orlando theme parks.

These are the show notes for episode 24. Listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic.

Or listen on your favorite podcast app! Just search for the Go Informed Podcast.

Disney World and Universal Orlando summer heat gear

The weather in Orlando can be hot almost any time of year, but especially during the summer months of May-September. Here are some things that will make your Disney World or Universal Orlando vacation much more comfortable in the summer heat and humidity.

Personal fan

Bring a fan to help keep you cool walking around the parks. There are some amazing electronic options, like the powered neck fan above. Or go low-tech with a classic fabric fan, like below.

Find these on Amazon here:

• Personal neck fan
• Classic folding fan

Disposable cooling body wipes

Click here to find cooling body wipes on Amazon

Sun protection

Click here to find this travel sunscreen kit on Amazon

Cooling bandana

Dip this bandana in ice water then tie around your neck for a very refreshing cool-down.

Click here to find this bandana in lots of colors on Amazon

Disney World and Universal Orlando summer rain gear

Buy a poncho before you go

Bring two ponchos for everyone in your group, so you can leave one to dry in your room and take a fresh one along in the morning. Look for a poncho that comes in a bag so you can easily carry it, even after it gets wet.

If you want to go with a Disney theme, you can buy Mickey & Minnie ponchos ahead of time, instead of paying the park price.

Find these ponchos on Amazon:

• Totes ponchos
• Mickey & Minnie ponchos

Microfiber towel

A camping towel is an excellent addition to your theme park gear bag. Use it to wipe down wet ride seats, clean up spills, and dry off wet ponchos.

Click here to find this towel on Amazon

Extra shoes and socks

Good shoes and comfortable socks are a must for your Orlando theme park vacation. Bring two pairs of shoes and lots of socks. This way if your feet get wet you can switch shoes and socks and keep going.

Click here to view on Amazon:

• Running shoes
• Moisture-wicking socks

You will walk a LOT on your Orlando vacation. Find out how far and get my training tips here.

Carry a weather app

Make sure you have a good weather app on your phone so you can keep an eye on the forecast during your park day. I like the Weather Channel app because it’s got an hour-by-hour forecast and radar.

Check out this post for my top travel gadgets and gear, perfect for any traveler in your life.

More tips for touring Disney World and Universal Orlando in the summer

Here are my other weather-related posts:

• Top 5 Orlando Summer Weather Tips
• Disney World weather tips
• Universal Orlando weather tips
• Theme park extreme weather tips

Join the mailing list

Get twice-monthly bonus tips delivered straight to your inbox. Join the GoInformed mailing list here.

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Disney World and Universal Orlando Summer Gear Guide appeared first on Go Informed.

On our recent trip to Disneyland we got caught in an epic day-long rainstorm that was so bad the park closed early. Here on goinformed.net I’ve already shared a couple of posts with tips for dealing with challenging weather at Disney World and Universal Orlando, and now I have a few more tips for what to do when the rain goes beyond just a typical afternoon shower. These rainy day tips will help make your day at Disney or Universal a whole lot easier.

Orlando Summer Gear Guide on the Go Informed Podcast

Click here to check out my Orlando Summer Gear Guide so you’ll be ready for the heat and rain.

Wet Shoes

Whether it’s a day-long storm or just a sudden torrential downpour, it’s easy to end up with soaking wet shoes. Here are some of my tips for how to deal with wet shoes at Disney.

My shoes are soaked but I don’t want to leave the park

Go to the nearest shop and buy some new socks. Get two small plastic bags from the cashier. (Disney cast members will always give you bags even if you don’t buy anything).

Pick up some napkins at a counter-service restaurant or get some paper towels from the restroom.

Find a dry place where you can discreetly strip down to bare feet. (I recommend the back corner of a quick-serve restaurant; or you can use a restroom – bonus if it has a hand-dryer that can double as a foot-dryer).

Get your feet as dry as possible, then switch into your new, warm, dry socks. Then put your feet into the plastic bags.

Slip your plastic-encased feet into your shoes and carry on. This really does work and even though you’ll probably still feel the water in your shoes it won’t actually be touching your skin.

(Carefully) Use a Hair Dryer to Dry Out Wet Shoes

Soaking-wet shoes can take a long time to dry out, and if you don’t have another pair of shoes you may need to speed up the process. You can use a hair dryer to blow warm air into and around your shoes to help them dry more quickly.

First take the insoles out of the shoes, set them aside. Put the hair dryer on the highest fan setting possible, but watch the heat. If the air is too hot it might warp or melt your shoe, so don’t put a hot hair dryer right up against the shoe. Instead, blow warm air or hold the heat away from the shoe surface, and check the progress frequently to be sure you aren’t causing hot spots.

Blow the air both into the shoe and around the outside. A more powerful hair dryer will be more effective than a tiny wall-mounted hotel-room dryer. If there’s only one of these puny dryers in your room, check with the front desk to see if they have anything more powerful. They may have a standard hair dryer you can borrow.

I found the hair dryer to be less effective on the insole, at least on our shoes, but the insoles dried on their own overnight. I hung them in the shower from the clips on a slacks hanger.

You probably won’t be able to fully dry your shoes with a hair dryer, but even if you just get them less soggy this will greatly speed up the time it takes them to air dry.

Preparing for Wet Shoes

In the morning if your shoes are still wet, or if you know you will be facing another very rainy day, start your day with plastic bags on your feet (first socks on your feet, then plastic bags, like above).

Bring an extra pair of dry socks with you so you can change if you need to.

More rainy day tips for extreme weather

Pack an extra pair of shoes and lots of socks

One of the best ways to keep your feet dry is to have two pairs of shoes on your trip. This way you can rotate, allowing one pair to dry while you get the other one wet.

And don’t forget to bring lots of extra socks so you can at least switch to dry socks frequently.

Wipe ponchos down with a towel

When you get back to your hotel room, use a towel to dry your ponchos. You’ll find that you can get them almost completely dry this way, but if you don’t wipe them off they really stay wet. Towel them down, then find a place to hang them until you need them again.

Carrying a towel in your backpack can really help too, so you can wipe down when you go inside a ride or into a restaurant.

Live to see another day

If the deluge hits on your last day at Disney, by all means, keep going and make the best of it. But if you still have days left in your trip, consider heading back to your room a little (or a lot) early. Touring in extreme weather is physically and mentally exhausting.

Take advantage of the light crowds on a rainy day and hit the rides you most want to see. Then call it a day before everyone in your group melts down.

Our go-to rescue plan on a stormy day is room service. It’s sensational to get back to the room, enjoy a long hot shower, and not go back out. If room service isn’t your style, pick up a bite on your way to your room or order pizza. Put on your pajamas and rest so you can be fresh the next morning.

Order supplies

If you suddenly realize you did not pack properly for the weather conditions, check with your hotel to find out if you can receive an Amazon  delivery. You can order almost anything you need, even that extra pair of shoes you forgot, or a shoe/boot dryer, without spending precious vacation time at the mall.  Spring for next-day shipping (this is an excellent time to try out a Prime membership) and get on with your magical day.

More weather tips from goinformed.net

Be sure to also check out my other posts and podcast episodes about dealing with weather in Orlando. These tips work great for Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood too!

Disney World Weather Tips and Why August is a Great Time to Visit Orlando

Weather at Universal Orlando: 5 Cool Tips for the Heat and Rain

Orlando Summer Gear Guide on the Go Informed Podcast

Top 5 Orlando Summer Weather Tips – Go Informed Podcast Episode 028

Theme Park Touring Tips

Click here for more theme park touring tips from goinformed.net, including:

55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World

33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

Beat the Crowds and Skip the Line at Disney World’s Frozen Ever After Ride

Go Informed Podcast

Click here to listen to the Go Informed podcast.

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The post Theme Park Rainy Day Tips: Xtreme Edition appeared first on Go Informed.