Universal Orlando Packing List: What to Bring for a Perfect Park Day

Must-Have Essentials for Universal Orlando

These are the essentials that I never forget to pack when visiting the Universal parks.

Portable Charger (Don’t Skip This)

You will need your cell phone for a lot of things when visiting. Tickets can be stored on the app, making virtual queue reservations, mobile ordering for meals, as well as checking wait times.

Plus if you are like me you will be taking a lot of photos and videos throughout the day. .

Having a portable charger will be a huge help when visiting the parks. All our theme park essentials including the portable charger we currently use can be found on my amazon shop.

Park Tickets + Universal App

There are two things you need to “pack” that are not really part of the list but still important. They are purchasing tickets before you arrive and downloading the Universal App on your phone.

You will save money on Universal park tickets if you purchase ahead of time. I would never recommend purchasing at the gate because they cost more and take a lot of time out of your day.

I also suggest spending a little time before you arrive playing with the Universal app. Learn how to check wait times and become familiar with the park map.

Having these two things ready to go before you arrive at security and the ticket gate will save you so much time and make the start of your park visit start off smooth.

Small Backpack or Fanny Pack

When we travel as a family of five my husband usually carries a small backpack that has all of our daily essentials for the park. When it is just myself a crossbody or fanny pack is the best option. I love this one I purchased from amazon that was under $15.00 and comes in many different colors.

Universal has a strict locker policy for many of their attractions. The small lockers are free for the duration of the ride. The locker size is small and you will want to bring a bag that you can easily fit in. If your bag does not fit in the small locker you will have to purchase a large locker.

Some attractions allow you to keep a fanny pack around your waste, not across your chest, and skip the locker.

Stay Cool & Comfortable in the Florida Heat

Florida gets hot and packing these items for your visit to Universal will help make the day more comfortable.

Reusable Water Bottle

I am split on whether or not a reusable water bottle is a must when visiting the parks. We have always brought one and have also had issues with it leaking when put into a locker.

The pros of having a water bottle is not having to ask for cups and you are more likely to stay hydrated during the day. There are water filling stations and Coca-Cola freestyle machines with water that guests can use making it really easy to refill.

The cons is they can be heavy and/or leak in the lockers. We did recently try these collapsible water bottles which are under $10.00 and may be a perfect way to carry your own without the bulk.

Decide what is best for you and your group. You can also ask for cups of water at most counter service restaurants. During the summer months bringing our own is a must.

Sunscreen, Hat & Sunglasses

Florida sun is intense year round and you want to be prepared with essentials like sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. All of these items can be purchased in the gift shops but you will save money brining your own.

Snacks You Can Bring Into Universal

Guests are allowed to bring small snacks into the park. I like to include granola bars and pretzels with trail mix in our bag to keep us going during the day.

We often skip breakfast and eat a granola bar as we wait for the parks to open. Snacks are even more important when you have small children.

Cooling Towels or Neck Fans (Optional Upgrade)

I know people that swear by cooling towels and neck fans. Personally I have never used them but if you are planning a visit in July or August, or don’t do well with extreme heat, having a few on-hand will help throughout the day.

What to Pack for Rain & Water Rides

Islands of Adventure has the most water rides at Universal and if you don’t want to get soaked you may want to pack these items.

Ponchos (Better Than Umbrellas)

I have always been team poncho over team umbrella because they are so much easier to carry around. It wouldn’t be realistic to carry around 5 umbrellas during our visit to the parks. And yes ponchos are not fashionable, but they are practical for when an afternoon storm rolls through the parks.

The summer months are the rainiest time of year but we have needed rain ponchos in the spring too.

When it is a rainy day at the parks the crowds are usually small, having rain ponchos allows us to stay. Most rides are open when it rains. We have also used rain ponchos for riding the water rides at Universal when we don’t want to be soaked for the day.

We have also used them during the cooler months to keep our clothes dry when riding the water attractions. They do not always keep you completely dry but they do help when trying not to get soaked.

Bring them even if you don’t think you will need them or wear them. We have used these rain ponchos on a few visits. They have held up and lasted us a couple trips. Just make sure you allow them to dry before you store them.

Waterproof Bags or Phone Case

I like to bring a waterproof case for my phone to keep it dry on the water attractions. If I having a bag with me I will often ask for a plastic bag from the gift shop to put our things in. This can be carried on the rides and prevents your things from getting soaked.

Extra Clothes (Especially for Kids)

If you are traveling with young kids and you have a stroller you may want to pack a change of clothes. We don’t do it often but for some visits we will change our sneakers to flip flops, store it in a locker, ride the water rides, and then change back into our sneakers.

Wet socks and sneakers are the worst at a theme park. This does take a bit of planning and carrying around a lot of shoes but it is an option if you want to keep your feet dry.

Health & Comfort Must-Haves

If you are spending a full day at the theme park you will want to pack any daily medication you need as well as a few extra things to get through the day.

Medications & Motion Sickness Relief

I will always bring something for headaches. If you are spending long days at the park you may need it!

Sometimes the rides can cause motion sickness for some people. Motion sickness medicine is a good idea for those prone to it.

My typical theme park bag has ibuprofen or tylenol (adults & children), sunscreen, lip balm, deodorant, mega babe thigh rescue, and hats/sunglasses for the family. I use a small toiletry bag to keep it all organized in my backpack. You can find all my products on my amazon theme park store.

You may also want to bring a first aid kit, change of clothes if traveling with young children, and any other personal items you may require.

Hand Sanitizer & Wipes

Theme parks have a lot of touch points. Having hand sanitizer and/or hand sanitizing wipes on hand makes it a lot easier to continue with our day. There are often spots at the exits of rides but having my own makes it easier and convenient.

Blister Care & Pain Relief

I don’t suggest breaking in new sneakers during a day at the parks. You want to wear comfortable shoes that you know will help you through the day. Bring Band-Aids if you think you may need them during your trip.

What NOT to Pack (Avoid These Mistakes)

You do not want to over-pack for the day and end up carrying around a bunch of stuff you don’t really need.

• Large bags- they will not fit in a small locker and then you will have to spend money on large locker or have someone sit out to hold all the stuff
• Glass containers / prohibited items
• Too many “just in case” items- you often don’t need them.

Pro Packing Tips from Frequent Visitors

• Pack light- be mindful of what you really need for the day.
• Use a fanny pack to skip lockers. If you are traveling with adults and teens you really don’t need a lot of stuff to get through the day. There are only a few attractions where you will need to store it in a locker. They include: VelociCoaster, The Incredible Hulk, and Stardust Racers.
• Bring extra socks- this can help if they get wet and you want dry feet.
• Download everything ahead of time so you are ready to go at park opening.

Final Thoughts: Pack Less, Enjoy More

Honestly the best way to pack is to pack less. You don’t really need that many things to get through the day. Most will fit in a small crossbody bag or small backpack.

If you are taking a mid-day break at the hotel you can park even less. I usually lay out everything I think I might need and then par down from there. Consider the weather and what your day will look like.

If you are staying late into the evening you may want to take a break at your resort to change for the cooler evening. The winter months at Universal can get chilly at night.

I suggest planning your Universal packing list around the weather as well as your traveling party. Now that we visit the Universal parks with teens we don’t need to pack as many daily essentials.

Now that you know what to pack take a look at my articles on how to plan your day at each of the parks. My Universal Studios Florida Itinerary, Islands of Adventure Itinerary, and Epic Universe Itinerary will help you enjoy the best of each park without feeling stressed.

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