Check out our Best Tips for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure Florida.
Universal Studios Florida provided us with complimentary tickets in exchange for an honest review. No monetary compensation was received.
Best Tips for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
I got to be honest here, the last time I visited Universal Studios I was in my early twenties. But that was until recently when my family and I got to spend an entire day at both parks and let me just say that Universal Studios’ theme parks are a must-visit the next time you are in the Orlando area. So, get your Harry Porter magical wands ready and check out our Best Tips for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure Florida tips.
Best Tips for Islands of Adventure
First things first and before you head to the park, you should download the Universal Studios mobile app. This way you can make the most of your day at the park by finding out waiting times, show times, and maps of the parks. Moving on to our first tip, in our opinion, the most important tip is to arrive at the park bright and early. This tip works whether you are visiting both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios or whether you are just visiting one of them. By arriving bright and early, you can speed through check in and be on your way to the most popular rides first.
Speaking of popular rides, our second tip is just about this. As soon as you set foot on either Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios, our tip is for you to head on over to the most popular rides first. At Islands of Adventures, the most popular rides and therefore the rides with the longest waiting times are The Incredible Hulk Coaster, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, and Skull Island: Reign of Kong.
Our third tip, are a few practical ones. Whether you are heading to Islands of Adventure or to Universal Studios for a few hours or all day long, my first tip is to come prepared, this is especially important if you have young kids with you. Therefore, wear comfortable walking shoes and good socks, there is a lot of walking at these parks, so you must be prepared. Also, if you are not native to Florida, you should know that sunblock is a must in Florida 365 days a year. Also, bring a poncho along, if you don’t want to get wet at many of Islands of Adventures water rides. And finally, bring a backpack with you and plenty of water! Yes, I said water. Thankfully, Universal Studios is okay with their guests bringing their own water. So pack it up in your handy backpack!
Our fourth tip is a very simple one. Whether your first stop is Islands of Adventure or Universal studios use the newly opened Hogwarts Express to move between the two parks. This will save you from walking to the front of one park to get into the other one. You can board the Hogwarts Express via Hogsmead village inside Islands of Adventure or at King’s Cross Station in the London area of Universal Studios Florida.
Best Tips for Universal Studios
Our next tip is all about Single Riders. If your party consists of teenagers, this tip is for you! If your family doesn’t mind splitting up, the single riders line is the fastest way to get on a ride without having to wait. Attractions with the Single Riders options at Universal Studios are TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D and Revenge of the Mummy. Two of my family’s favorites, by the way.
Our fifth tip is all about taking it easy. Yes, I understand that you are trying to get your money’s worth, but you and your kids can easily be overwhelmed with the crowds, your tired feet, and OMG, the HEAT! Yes, Florida weather can be a scorcher, especially during the summer months. So take it easy and enjoy your surroundings, because here there is plenty of movie magic to absorb here.
Speaking of movie magic, our next tip is to enjoy the new additions at the parks. One of the newest additions to Universal Studios is Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon ride. And guess what? At this ride, you get to make your own reservation. Yes, that’s right. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon doesn’t have a line queue. All you need to do is make a reservation using Universal’s app or kiosks adjacent to the attraction and when it’s time to ride, just head to the attraction and show your reservation to enter. Isn’t that just neat?
Our next tip is all about the park’s shows. Rides continuously run through the day, however, shows don’t. Be sure to keep in mind these schedules in order to experience them. Be sure to grab the show’s schedules as you enter the park.
Our eight tip is all about food. Whether you will be enjoying a quick lunch at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure or City Walk, be sure to have lunch or early dinner during off-peak times. One thing to note here is that there are no table-service restaurants at either park, but there are plenty to choose from at City Walk.
Our final two tips are all about Harry Potter. If you are a huge Harry Potter fan or not, you must make time to enjoy The Wizarding World. Start by enjoying a beer butter, shopping, and riding Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Islands of Adventure and then taking the Hogwarts™ Express back to Universal Studios to spend the rest of your time at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Diagon Alley.
At The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Diagon Alley, you must get an interactive wand and try your hand at making spells. Just keep your eyes open and find the plaques that show you how to do the spells and where to point your wand. In my opinion, the ultimate souvenir from your day at Universal Studios. Finally, don’t miss the opportunity to ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, which by the way, is one of our favorite attraction of the two Harry Potter rides.
So, what do you think of our Best Tips for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure? What are some of your best tips for these parks? Chime in via the comment sections below and let’s keep the conversation going.