Guests staying in any of the on-site hotels at Universal Orlando get early theme park admission every morning of their stay. Not every park is open early every day, and not every attraction is open early, so it’s really important to have a plan so you’ll be ready to make the most of your extra hour in the park. This episode outlines my advice for making your Universal Studios Florida early admission plan of attack.

These are the show notes for episode 23. 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.

Make sure you check the Universal website to find out which park will be open early during your stay. If it turns out that your early admission will be at Islands of Adventure, episode 26 is your Islands of Adventure early admission plan of attack.

At Universal Studios Florida early admission the attractions that are open are the Revenge of the Mummy ride and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley.

The hotels that give guests early admission to the Universal Orlando theme parks are: Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific, Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, Aventura Hotel, Dockside Inn, and Surfside Inn. Consider staying at least one night in one of these hotels so you can enjoy early park admission.

Click here to read my guide to all the hotels at Universal Orlando Resort.

Decide your priorities for the morning BEFORE you get there. You can find out what’s in Diagon Alley on episode 5 of the Go Informed podcast.

For early admission, you need your park ticket and you need to bring your room key. Every guest entering the park must show a room key for early admission. The hotel will issue a personalized key card for every guest at check-in – even kids.

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Arrive at the park at least 30 minutes before the scheduled early admission opening time.

Get my tips for how to master your theme park morning here.

If this is your first day ever at the park, listen to episode 7 before you go to Universal Orlando.

Here’s our video of the walk into Diagon Alley at early admission.

Not sure if the Gringotts ride is right for your entire family? Here’s my tip for how to find out if a ride at Universal Orlando is too scary.

Yes, you can use your early admission to Universal Studios Florida to be one of the first guests in Hogsmeade Village in Islands of Adventure! Listen to the entire episode for lots of tips about this.

Click here to read my detailed post that outlines our typical plan for Universal Studios Florida early admission. This is the post with the information about the lockers you’ll find outside the main gate at USF.

Get the lay of the land at Universal Studios Florida on episode 3 of the Go Informed podcast.

Here are all seven episodes in the series 7 Days to a Better Universal Orlando Vacation.

If you want to explore annual pass options that include early admission access, click here to view on the Universal Orlando website.

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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.

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The post Universal Studios Florida Early Admission Plan Of Attack – Go Informed Podcast Episode 023 appeared first on Go Informed.

There are two theme parks at Universal Orlando – Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Find out the early admission schedule on Universal’s website here.

If you will have early admission to Universal Studios Florida, here are some tips to make the most of your special hour.

If your early admission is to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, check out my special tips here.

Hear more advice about using Universal Studios Florida early admission. Click here to check out  Go Informed podcast episode 23.

Be there early

Know that the gates usually open about 15-20 minutes before the posted time. So if your early admission is at 8:00, you may actually be able to enter the park at 7:45 or before. Do you want to be first in line? If you arrive 45-60 minutes before the posted time you will probably be first on a turnstile or maybe even first at the park. Arrive just 30 minutes before opening and you’ll already find a crowd.

One note of warning ~ when you are first at the gates you will be there before the Universal employees line up at the turnstiles. Check out my park hacker tip in this post: Weather at Universal Orlando: 5 Cool Tips for the Heat and Rain for advice about where to line up to be sure someone will be there to take your ticket.

Wondering how to get your family moving so you can be first at the park? Listen to episode 19 of the Go Informed podcast to find out how to Master Your Theme Park Morning.

The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando 2018 (The Unofficial Guides)

Travel light

No bags or backpacks are allowed on the Escape From Gringott’s ride in Diagon Alley. Free lockers are provided near the ride, but if you have a bag you’ll have to stop and drop it in a locker. For early admission, try to carry only what will fit in your (zippered) pockets so you can go straight from the gate onto the ride.

Goinformed.net park hacker tip: There are lockers just outside the entrance to Universal Studios Florida where you can stash stuff for later. As you head toward the turnstiles, take a right, walking in front of guest services, past the will-call kiosks, then left around the corner (you’ll see signs for restrooms). Pass the restrooms and turn left to the back of the building. The lockers are all-day rentals. Cost is $12 which includes unlimited open-and-close privileges.

Use Early Admission to See the Wizarding World

Here’s how we recommend you use Universal Studios Florida early admission hour to ride both Gringott’s in Universal Studios and Forbidden Journey in Islands of Adventure:

Get to the gate at Universal Studios at least 40 minutes before early admission scheduled opening.

At opening you will be guided to Diagon Alley, stay with the line, stopping at a locker if you need to. (Lockers for the Gringott’s ride are located to the right of the ride entrance, look for the mob).

Ride Gringott’s!

Read this post if you’re wondering whether the Gringott’s ride is too scary for your child.

Optional: Ride Gringott’s again through the singles line (door is just to the right of the main ride entrance door).

Then get in line for the Hogwart’s Express. Trains start running about 20 minutes before the other park opens. The sooner you get in line the more likely you’ll be on the first train, and into that park before it officially opens. If you ride Gringott’s twice as suggested above, you’ll probably get into Islands of Adventure right at park opening.

Go straight from the Hogwarts Express to the Forbidden Journey. If you want to get on right away, take the singles line here.

What can you expect when you enter Universal Studios Florida with the early admission crowd?  Click here to watch video from our recent trip.

Go Informed Podcast

Episode 23 of the Go Informed podcast is your Universal Studios Florida early admission plan of attack. Listen now here or on your favorite podcast app, including iTunes and Spotify.

More Orlando Touring Tips From goinformed.net

Get all of goinformed.net’s theme park touring tips here.

33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World

My recommended resources for planning your trip to Orlando

The Disney World hack that gets you first in line access to the Frozen ride

Click here to hear an audio tour of Universal Studios Florida on the Go Informed podcast.

Click here to hear an audio tour of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.

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The post Harry Potter fans, here’s how to make the most of Universal Studios Florida early admission appeared first on Go Informed.

On this trip to Universal Orlando Resort we put our own advice to the test, this time with early admission at Universal Studios Florida. We got up early, beat the crowds, and walked directly through an empty theme park straight on to the Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringott’s ride. In fact, we were on the first car of the day on the ride two days in a row!

So this is what it looks like to be first in the park. (View on YouTube)

Early Admission is Available For All Guests Staying in a Universal Orlando Hotel

Get my advice about where to stay when you visit Universal Orlando on episode 2 of the Go Informed podcast.

On-site hotels at Universal Orlando are: Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific, Sapphire Falls, Aventura, and Cabana Bay.

Go Informed Podcast Episode 23 is all about how to plan for Universal Studios Florida early admission. Click here to listen.

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Theme Park Touring Tips and Advice on goinformed.net

Click here to read all of goinformed.net’s theme park touring tips and advice.

Including:

33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World

Harry Potter fans, here’s how to make the most of Universal Studios Florida early admission

Theme Park Rainy Day Tips: Xtreme Edition

Click here to hear an audio tour of Universal Studios Florida on the Go Informed podcast.

Click here to hear an audio tour of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on the Go Informed podcast.

The post Here’s What It’s Like to Be First In Line At Universal Studios Florida appeared first on Go Informed.