Skip to main content

10 Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando

Many people are very familiar with the Walt Disney World Resort and the top tips and tricks for visiting, however, the same is not always true for Universal Orlando, so we wanted to make sure you were prepared with our top 10 tips for visiting the Universal Orlando Resort!

1. Don’t take a large backpack

Many, if not most, of the attractions require guest to put their personal belongings in a locker before getting on the ride. This is not optional, so there are complimentary lockers provided at these select attractions. The lockers are approximately 8in x12in and can’t accommodate a larger bag. If you need to rent a larger locker, the cost is $2, which I'm sure you'd rather spend on some goodies at Honeydukes instead.

2. Take advantage of the Coke Freestyle mug

If you are a soda drinker, the Coke Freestyle mug is a great value for your park days. Refill locations can be found all throughout the parks, unlike the Disney World Resort mugs, which can only be refilled at - you guessed it - resorts. Note that they do not have a handle, so you’ll want a bag that it fits into when not in use.

3. Bring your own lanyard

This is the best way to store your park ticket, Express Pass, and resort key for easy access as you will need to scan it when going park to park and at every attraction where you use Express Pass.

4. Download the app ahead of time

You will definitely want to be familiar with the Universal Orlando app before you get to the park. This is especially important for entering Virtual Queues, mobile ordering food, and checking attraction wait times.

5. Exchange your money at Gringotts

You can visit the goblins at Gringotts to exchange your muggle money for wizarding coin. This is a super cool experience, and the money can then be used to purchase food and souvenirs around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

6. Purchase a Park-to-Park ticket if you want to ride the Hogwarts Express

Because the Hogwarts Express truly takes you from inside Universal Park to inside Islands of Adventure (or vice versa), you must have a Park-to-Park ticket in order to ride. You'll also want to be sure to ride the Hogwarts Express in both directions because the experience is different depending on which direction you are traveling.

7. Make your dining reservations ahead of time

Visitors can make dining reservations at Universal Orlando 180 days in advance. Be sure to plan ahead!

8. Take a photo of your park passes

In the unlikely (or likely, you be the judge) that you lose your park passes, having a photo on hand makes it much faster for guest services to assist you with printing a replacement.

9. Take advantage of Express Pass

At Universal, Express Pass can save you tons of time and allow you to make the most out of your day. The regular Universal Express Pass allows you to bypass lines once for each participating attraction. The Universal Express Unlimited Pass will let you bypass the lines for attractions as many times as you want!

10. Purchase your tickets through an On The Road Travel agent

Purchasing Universal tickets through the team at On The Road Travel gives you early entry access to the parks - the equivalent of Disney World's "Extra Magic Hours." If you purchase tickets directly through Universal online they do NOT include that benefit.

To start planning your next trip, contact your On The Road Travel agent. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gaston's Tavern Giant Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are a must for me at Christmas and this is one of my favorite recipes for look-alike Gaston’s Tavern Giant Cinnamon Rolls! I found it on Inside the Magic , so all recipe credit belongs to them, but I have copied it below with some of my commentary and photos of my step by step process. Homemade cinnamon rolls are always going to be a bit time consuming, but these only have to proof for 40 minutes total so it’s really not bad at all! First things first, here are the materials you’re going to need: Mixer (one with a dough hook will make your life much much easier) and bowl Rubber scrapers Rolling pin 2-3 saucepans Microwave safe bowls An area big enough to roll them out 2 metal sheet pans with edges Measuring cups Measuring spoons Medium sized bowl for filling Liquid measuring cup The nice thing about the recipe is it uses pretty basic ingredients that you likely already have at your house. I went to Aldi and bought nearly everything just to see and it was about $20. A...
Post a Comment
Read more

Disneyland Hotel

Become immersed in the spirit of Disneyland past and present! If you love Disney nostalgia, this resort will delight with its artwork and memorabilia that pay homage to the history and traditions of Disneyland. Stay in the Adventure, Fantasy, or Frontier tower—each an homage to the park’s original lands—and delight in the sleek, ultra-modern design at every turn. Located just steps from the Downtown Disney District, this hotel is a short stroll to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Rooms at the Disneyland Hotel are both sophisticated and whimsical, paying loving tribute to the classic years of Disneyland Park. Upscale styling, state-of-the-art amenities, and special Disney furnishings—including light-up Sleeping Beauty Castle headboards and timeless artwork—provide a stay your entire family will treasure. Most rooms at Disneyland Hotel sleep up to five guests in two queen beds and a fold down sofa. Rooms are offered in standard, deluxe, premium, and premium Down...
Post a Comment
Read more

Port Orleans Riverside Resort

Update 3/23/2022   Be sure to request a Resort Guide at the front desk so that you can have the most up-to-date information about resort happenings and schedules.  For the most up-to-date information about the phased re-opening of the Walt Disney World Resort, please visit the  Walt Disney World Know Before You Go Guide. This week’s feature is on Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort, formerly known as Dixie Landings. It underwent this name change in 2001. This is a moderate category hotel. It is expansive and features a lovely river with that “rolling down the bayou” theme. Disney’s theming is sensational and gives guests a feeling of an old Southern Mississippi river community. It is a sure bet for families up to 5, or multigenerational family groups, that look to maximize their budget and sleep up to 5 guests in one room. Port Orleans Riverside's GPS address and location are: Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort 1251 Riverside Dr Lake Buena Vista, FL 32...
Post a Comment
Read more