15 First Time Tips for Universal Orlando

Are you visiting Universal Orlando for the first time or has it been a few years since your last visit? From the most popular rides to where to eat, these first time tips for Universal Orlando will help you plan an awesome trip.

Universal Orlando is one of our favorite theme parks and we have visited numerous times over the last decade.

Since our first visit in 2006 a lot has changed. With the addition of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as well as an entirely new theme park, Epic Universe, it is important to visit with a basic plan and understanding.

Doing a bit of research and knowing what to expect can really help during a visit to Universal Orlando, but where do you start. Today I am sharing the best tips and tricks for visiting Universal Orlando to help you plan an awesome Universal vacation.

My Best First Timer Tips for Universal Orlando

• Prioritize the rides and attractions you want to do and plan your day around them.
• Arrive early and stay late. These are the lowest crowd times of the day. Plan a mid-day break during the busiest times of day in the afternoon.
• Understand what park you are visiting, what rides are at that park, and if you need a park-to-park ticket.

If you are at the start of your trip planning check out this post: How to Plan a Universal Trip.

Basics About Universal Orlando Resort

There are three theme parks, one theme water park, 11 resorts, and a shopping and dining area at the Universal Orlando Resort.

• Universal Studios Florida Itinerary
• Universal Islands of Adventure Itinerary
• Universal Epic Universe Guide
• Universal Volcano Bay
• Universal CityWalk

Between the theme parks there are many different rides, attractions, shows and entertainment.

I have posts about all the rides and things to do at the parks, search around or reach out, but for today I want to share the basic tips for your first visit to Universal Orlando resort.

15 Tips for Your First Visit to Universal Orlando Resort

• Arrive Early
• Consider Staying On-Site at a Universal Resort for On-Site Perks
• Ask yourself: “Do you need a Park to Park Ticket?”
• Do you want to upgrade to purchase Express Passes?
• Consider Using the Single Rider Line
• Take Time to Explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Familiarize Your Family with the Movies that Inspires the Rides
• Check Ride Height Requirements and Scare Factors
• Plan for Water Attractions or Rain
• Rides that Require Lockers
• Check for Special Events
• Take a Midday Break if You Can
• Use Mobile Order for Dining
• Prioritize the Most Popular Attractions
• Use the Universal App before you arrive at the Parks

Arrive Early at the Parks

When you are visiting a theme park I always recommend you arrive early. This is the best time to visit when the crowds are lowest and you can avoid long lines. We like to arrive 30-40 minutes before official park opening.

By arriving early we almost always have short wait times, experience all the attractions on our list, and have time for a midday break.

If you are staying at one of the Universal Orlando resort hotels you will have access to early park admission. If you are staying off-site you will enter through the parking garage for all the parks.

The perks of staying on-site might be worth it for the extra cost, which brings me to my next Universal tip.

Time Saver: Consider Staying at a Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando has 11 resorts to choose from. They range from value to luxury.

The biggest perks of staying on-site is early park admission as well as transportation to and from the parks. Premier hotels include express pass and they may be worth the extra cost.

We always use early park admission to get ahead of the crowds and it is a huge perk for rope drop at Islands of Adventure.

Do you Need a Park-to-Park Ticket

Many people have asked us if the park-to-park ticket is worth it. This allows access into Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure on the same day.

The cost of a park-to-park ticket prices starts at $164.00. A one day-one park ticket cost $109.00 but that is on the low end depending on the time of year you visit. (prices change depending on date of visit and are not guaranteed.)

I suggest checking these Universal ticket deals and comparing them to the Universal Orlando special offers.

The real advantage to having the park to park ticket is entrance onto the Hogwarts Express. Hogwarts Express is the Harry Potter themed train that transports guests from the two Wizarding World areas of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

If you are visiting to experience all the Harry Potter attractions you will want to purchase the park to park ticket. If you do not have a park to park pass you can’t ride the Hogwarts train.

Should You Purchase Universal Express Pass

Universal Express Pass is a huge perk that allows you to skip the regular line and have a much shorter wait time for attractions.

This is an add-on to your park ticket. I cover all details of the Express Pass in this post: Everything You Need to Know About Express Pass at Universal Orlando.

It can be an expensive add-on (starting at $120.00+ a person/per day, in addition to admission ticket).

If you want to skip the lines and not spend the money, I highly recommend using the single rider line at attractions that offer it.

Consider Using the Single Rider Line

The single rider line allows guests to enter a much shorter wait time by being split up from their party to fill in any missing seats on attractions.

This is not for everyone and you should not use this if you want to ride with your group. We use it often when the lines are longer. Men in Black is usually a walk-on for single rider.

On our first visit to a theme park we rarely use single rider because we want to experience the first time riding together as a family.

At times the single rider line may not be open. Ask a team member if you don’t see the entrance. Single rider line is usually a shorter wait time than the express line, in our experience.

Take Time to Explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

If this is your first visit you may underestimate the amount of time you need to explore the Harry Potter area at the Universal Orlando parks.

There are three Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter between the three theme parks. They are:

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley (Universal Studios Florida)
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure)
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Ministry of Magic (Epic Universe)

All 3 of these areas have interactive wand stations, rides, shows, and dining. If this is your first visit and you are Harry Potter Fans you will want to plan time to explore all three of these areas.

Familiarize Your Family with the Movies that Inspired the Attractions

This is not something you must do, but it is fun to watch the movies that inspired the attractions before you arrive at the parks.

We read the Harry Potter Illustrated book before we visited Universal Orlando for the first time. Then we watched the movie. There are Despicable Me attractions as well as Dr. Seuss Land and Jurassic Park.

Take Time to Research the Attractions Before You Arrive

One of the most important Universal Orlando tip is to research the rides and attractions. Know what to expect during your visit and what your kids will like. Check out these two posts to help you plan:

• Best Rides at Universal Studios Florida
• Best Rides at Islands of Adventure
• Epic Universe Ride Height Requirement

Plan for Water Attractions and Rain

This tip is for Islands of Adventure because they have three attractions that you will get wet on. We bring ponchos to wear on the ride and keep them in our backpacks for when it rains.

If you are visiting the parks in the summer expect a rain shower to pop up during your stay. Usually it is quick and passes but it is good to be prepared.

The water rides at Universal are worth it and you should plan on including them in your visit.

Rides that Require Lockers

Some attractions at the parks require you to stow your bags/purses/belongings in a locker. For the rides that require lockers, the lockers are provided free of charge for the duration of your wait and you must use them for your items if you want to ride.

I have seen people turned away from a ride because they have something on them. This includes sunglasses, phones, cross-body bags, and wands!

The attractions are:

• Revenge of the Mummy (Universal Studios)
• MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack (Universal Studios)
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (Universal Studios)
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (Universal Studios)
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster (Islands of Adventure)
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Islands of Adventure)
• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (Islands of Adventure)
• VelociCoaster (Islands of Adventure)
• Monsters Unchained (Epic Universe)
• Stardust Racers (Epic Universe)
• Hiccup’s Wing Gliders (Epic Universe)

We have never had an issue with the lockers. You use facial recognition or park ticket to secure the lockers. The free lockers are small but we fit a medium size backpack.

Check for Special Events

Be sure to check for special events at Universal. The most popular events are the Holidays at Universal, Mardi Gras, and Halloween Horror Nights. This may impact park hours.

Mardi Gras is one of my favorite times to visit and all the offerings are included with your regular admission ticket.

Take a Mid-day Break if You Can

The parks are in close proximity to each other making it very easy to get to the parks, head back to the resort in the afternoon, and then return later in the day.

If you are staying on-site, taking a break for a few hours for pool time and a nap can help avoid the afternoon slump.

Use Mobile Order on Dining to Save Time

Mobile order is available at participating dining locations. Guests need to have a credit card linked to their account on the Universal Orlando app.

Most of the casual dining now have a QR code at the table that you will scan and order from. Then your food will be brought to you. This saves time waiting in line and frustration finding a table. Check out my picks for the best places to eat at Universal Orlando.

Experience the Most Popular Rides First

When visiting any theme park you want to ride the most popular rides as early in the day as you can.

Universal Studios Florida most popular rides are Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, The Revenge of the Mummy, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, and Transformers.

Villain-Con is a newer ride but I don’t think you have to ride it first because we saw under 15 minute wait times at different points in the day.

Islands of Adventure most popular rides are Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, VelociCoaster, Jurassic Park River Adventure, The Incredible Hulk, and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

Epic Universe most popular rides are Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Mario Kart, and Mine-Cart Madness.

On busy high crowd days you will find long wait times at most of the rides, even the less popular ones.

Download the Universal App

Before you arrive at the parks download the Universal App and start playing with it. Check out wait times to see what to expect and certain times of day, you can favorite certain attractions, look at maps of the park, and view restaurant menus.

We visit multiple times a year and I still do this leading up to my trip. I want to have the best plan going into the trip and being prepared saves us a lot of stress at the parks.

My biggest tip is to not get overwhelmed with all the things and use my best tips to plan your day. Decided on what is the best fit for your travel group and use my Universal tips to plan the vacation that fits you best.

Want to hear more from me and get all the latest posts? Subscribe to my Substack where I share the latest posts from the blogs, plus destination and theme park news I am excited about. It is like a coffee chat delivered to your inbox. 🙂

Thank you for reading my post! This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date prices, we do not guarantee prices listed on our site. At times we are compensated or hosted by destination and brands. All opinions are honest and my own. If you would like to learn about how I work with affiliate partners you can read more here.