Universal Orlando Planning Guide

This guide to Universal Orlando Resort contains everything you’ll need to know. Whether you’re doing both parks in a single day or multiple days at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, I have you covered with info and advice about tickets, attractions, dining, resorts, crowds, and more.

What Parks?

Universal Orlando has 2 theme parks, 1 water park, and 6 hotels. We only went to the two theme parks and the Universal Citywalk Orlando. We did the 2 parks in 3 days and it was doable. The Universal Citywalk Orlando can be done in the evening while leaving for your hotel or on a day when leaving for the airport. The CityWalk is Universal Orlando’s shopping, dining, and entertainment complex before entering or when leaving the two Universal parks. No need for tickets for the CityWalk. Free for all.

Fun Fact: Universal is building a third theme park in Central Florida: Super Nintendo World plus more Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon, Universal Monsters, and much more for 2025.

When to visit?

This is the number one question everyone is asking, as I did myself. Try to look at the cost and crowds first. Prices vary significantly based on when you’re visiting. Think of seasonal holidays (Christmas, Halloween), weather, new attractions (we were there unwillingly in 2010 with the opening of the new harry potter, boy that was crowded), school holidays, spring break, special events at the park (Mardi Gras, Halloween Horror Nights, the Pop Warner youth football event) that will induce higher prices.

Fact: Try to also avoid the weekends (locals). Mondays through Thursdays are the best days to visit, with much lower crowds then. However, that doesn’t count during holiday weeks or anytime school is out of session.

How long does one visit?

How long you should stay at Universal Orlando depends largely upon the type of trip it is. Are you a big Jurassic, or Harry Potter fan? Do you have teens? For us travelers from abroad: how efficient can we be in our days as if it might be a “once in a lifetime” visit? The exact length will still vary a bit depending on how much vacation time you have and if you plan on visiting other theme parks or destinations. I’ve heard Americans taking 6-7 days as it is their whole holiday, however for me, it was only a stop on my travels so I did less.

Fun Fact: The first time I came to Orlando with my parents (2010), we did 1 day at Universal Studios Orlando and 1 day at Disney Holywood Studios. In 2022 I did 1 day at Magic Kingdom and 3 days at Universal Orlando.

In addition to visiting Universal Orlando’s theme parks, you’ll also want to foresee some relaxation days. Walking in those parks can really make your feet hurt (As did ours after 3 days of parks)!

I also recommend at least a day at Disney World. You are there so you must take the chance to be that princess or hero you always wanted to be!

Fun Fact: The two Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter alone can fill a good chunk of the day. As can Jurassic World! We did 3 days of Universal Orlando where 1 day = 0.5 day HP, 0.25 Jurassic, 0.25 rest. 1 day= 0.5 day HP, 0.25 rest of the park, 1 day= 50/50 each park.

Park tickets

We chose for 1 day-ticket for the island of adventure and a Park-to-Park ticket for our second day as the Hollywood Studios was less interesting for us so that we could easily go back to the island of adventures ánd to ride Hogwarts Express (connecting the two parks, only for Park-to-Park ticket holders)! 

You can only ride this train from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley (or vice-versa) if you have the Park-to-Park ticket. Enter the train station in London, walk through a wall, and then take a train to Hogsmeade is mindblowing for every Harry Potter fan! 

We bought our tickets online on Universal Orlando’s website. That was the cheapest for us and we booked our hotel in the same package in order to have early admissions to the parks. Staying for longer days? Then Get Away Today will save you the most money on Universal Orlando tickets can be handy as they have deals such as the ‘Buy 2 days, get 3 days free’ special. 

Express Pass

Express Pass is Universal Orlando’s version of a way to skip the lines and is available as a ticket add-on or with select hotel stays. You have the regular or unlimited version. The regular version allows you to skip the line once per eligible attraction in either park ($80). 

The Unlimited version offers line-skipping privileges an unlimited number of times per attraction ($110). Below are the eligible Express Pass attractions in each park.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA

• The Bourne Stuntacular
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• E.T. Adventure
• Fast & Furious – Supercharged
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
• Hogwarts Express
• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
• Men in Black Alien Attack
• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
• Revenge of the Mummy
• The Simpsons Ride
• Transformers: The Ride-3D
• Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster

ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE

• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
• Caro-Seuss-el
• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
• Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
• Hogwarts Express
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster
• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• Poseidon’s Fury
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong
• Storm Force Accelatron

Both Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in Wizarding World of Harry Potter, are not eligible for Express Pass. But in your early admission to the park (if you’re staying at a Universal hotel), those rides are open already.

Whether you need to take the Express Pass depends on your own opinion. We didn’t take it as we had enough time in the low season. But if this were my one and only visit, and I wanted to do the attractions multiple times and I have limited days at the park? Then I would surely buy it! 

If you really want Express Pass, consider staying at an on-site hotel that offers Express Pass with your stay. Unlimited Express Pass is available at the Universal Premier category resorts–meaning Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel, and Portofino Bay–which are Universal’s most expensive hotels.

Where to stay?

Do you want to stay at a Walt Disney World hotel for the duration of your trip, or change hotels? Do you want to stay in an off-site hotel to save money? Are you interested in the Unlimited Express Pass? Then you need to stay at an eligible Universal Orlando hotel.

We chose a Universal Hotel as we would spend more days in those parks (1), enjoy the early admission to those parks (2), and use the free shuttle bus to those parks (3). For our one day at Disney World, we used a Lyft. Our hotel was Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn & Suites. Can really recommend it and it’s also good for families. It has a large pool, a restaurant, and a small shop in the hotel. So we ate breakfast and dinner at our hotel.

What to pack?

Pack lightly as they need to fit a locker at some point! Plus, think of all the souvenirs you’ll be buying! Some essentials: External charger, sunscreen protection, reusable water bottle, some snacks, sunglasses, and a compact raincoat that can serve as a cushion to sit on.

Fact: Numerous attractions don’t allow bags, but provide free (small) lockers nearby for storing backpacks, cameras, or wands that you have on you. Larger lockers can be found at the entrance of the park. Another reason why to stay at a universal hotel? You can ship your souvenirs to your hotel! 

Attraction Strategy for Universal Orlando

Don’t wing it during your stay but prep at least a little! What attractions do you want to do, and what theme parks do you want to spend more time on? Here’s what we did on our 3 days:

1-day Island of Adventure

Without kids, of course, this was my schedule. Do Harry Potter Hogsmeade in the morning (afternoons are way busier here). Due to our hotel, we had early park admission and we did Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Then go to Jurassic Park and finish in Marvel Heroes (Incredible Hulk Coaster, Doctor Doom Fall). Whoville can be done in the evening. But don’t forget to end your evening with the light show at Hogwarts Castle! 

1-day Universal Studios with a Park hopping ticket

With early admission, we went to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and continued our trip to Diagon Alley for the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™ ride. We stayed the whole morning in Diagon Alley. There is only one attraction in Diagon Alley but there is more to behold. If you buy a special wand you can do magic in Hogsmeade and Diagon alley. Watch 2 shows and do some shopping or snacking. We then went to the MIB ride to go further to the Simpsons area. After the E.T. ride, we finished the evening with the Mardi Gras parade. This park closes earlier than the other universal park.

1-day Universal Studios and Islands of adventure with a Park hopping ticket

With early admission, we went to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and continued our journey to the second park Diagon Alley for the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™ ride. After lunch, we went to take the Hogwarts Express back to do our last bidding at the island of adventure.

Where to eat?

There are some good restaurants in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. We ate at the burger place of Jurassic Park, Diagon Alley (Leaky Cauldron), and the Krusty Burger (way too delicious! I ate here twice). We also wanted to do Hogsmeade (Three Broomsticks) but unfortunately, the lines were too long. 

Fun fact: There’s something for everyone to eat in the Springfield area as you do not only have the Krusty burger but also other The Simpsons-diners! 

Also, you must try a Butterbeer (frozen, hot, and regular). We took the frozen one and you can definitely share 1 for 2 people! Also, visit Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour and Honeydukes for other Harry Potter snacks! 

Fun Fact: Buy a refillable Coke Freestyle mug and you can refill your mug for free throughout the park! Also free (and ice-cold) water is available on these machines for free! We filled our reusable water bottles here.

Transportation?

What’s the best way to get to Universal Orlando? Using the free shuttle bus service of a Universal hotel! The second best answer is Uber or Lyft (ride-sharing services). The one-way cost of an Uber or Lyft will vary depending on your location. Rental? Then keep in mind the price you have to pay for parking and don’t forget about traffic lines.

Let’s visit the parks!

A) Universal Studios Florida

So this is the original theme park of Universal Studios. It was built to let people be a part of movies. Some attractions make you feel like you are actually on set. The park has 8 themes: Hollywood, Production Central, New York, San Francisco, Diagon Alley/London, World Expo, Springfield, and Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone.

Production Central

Firstly you’ll find yourself in the Production Central. So in this area, you can watch Shrek 4-D or ride the Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket. You certainly must do the last one. You can choose your own music (I picked pump it from the Black Eyed Peas), and you’re also being filmed during your ride. That video can be purchased after your ride. I loved this attraction!

New York City

If you go further, clockwise, you’ll end up in New York City where you can enjoy the following attraction: Revenge of the Mummy. That one was also amazing! The scarabs seem to come for you and the ride is just amazing!

San Francisco and Diagon Alley/London

So these areas weren’t built when we were visiting in 2010. The other theme park did have Hogsmeade of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Now, this park has the Diagon Alley and Hogwarts Express attractions since 2014.

World Expo & Springfield

Halfway through the park, you’ll find the Men in Black: Alien Attack and The Simpsons Ride. The Men in Black is a shooting game that was quite a lot of fun, but I liked the Simpsons Ride better because I’m a huge fan of The Simpsons!

B) Universal’s Islands of Adventure

This park has 7 islands of adventure. You start at Port of Entry and pass Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, The Lost Continent, and Seuss Landing.

Port of Entry

So this island doesn’t have any attractions. It only has shops and restaurants.

Marvel Super Hero Island

So this Island is based upon superhero characters featured in Marvel Comics. So the attractions that you must certainly do here are The Incredible Hulk Coaster and Doctor Doom’s Fearfall.

Fact: We were in Florida during the hurricane season. The park will stop an attraction if they get notice of a storm or thunderclouds. This was the same for when we were waiting in line for the hulk. Eventually, they closed the attraction permanently. Such a shame, but I will come back!

Jurassic Park

Always wanted to be in John Hammond’s dinosaur theme park? Well here is your chance! Make sure you go on the Jurassic Park: The Ride, where you are hunted down by a T-Rex, or be as fast as the velociraptors in the Jurassic World VelociCoaster!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade

We were so lucky because the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, opened to the public on June 18, 2010, and we visited it in July 2010! My second visit in 2022 was a bit of a homecoming but much has changed as well!

HUGE TIP: Start in Harry Potter, the afternoon is way more crowded than in the morning.

Enjoy the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This one is a ride inside Hogwarts Castle and quite surprised me! Buy your special wand and with that, you can perform real magic in the 2 parks!

Other things that you can do is visit some of the locations in the Harry Potter books like the Ollivander wand shop, a recreation of the Hogwarts Express, the Three Broomsticks (where you can drink a Butterbeer). Later on, they also added Diagon Alley where you can get a ride in Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, eat at the leaky cauldron, watch 2 shows, etc.

Universal CityWalk Orlando

So this is actually in the middle of the 2 theme parks from above. You’ll pass it when you go back to the parking lot.

Tip: Take your time here to try out some basketballs. NBA City provides basketballs with handprints of famous basketball stars, as Kobe Bryant.

Have you ever been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

Click here to see my 2 week Florida Itinerary!

Life of a Passion