15 Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando Resort

Disclosure: My family was provided with a discounted package price as part of the Family Forward conference with Mom It Forward.  I was not compensated for this post.  All opinions, as always, are my own. #FamilyForward

A couple weeks ago we visited Universal Orlando Resort.  We had a blast from riding the rides to spending quality time together as a family as part of the Family Forward conference.  While my husband and I have been to Universal Orlando a couple times over the past 25 years (yes Universal Orlando is celebrating their 25th anniversary), S has never been.  

As a family who visits Disney World at least once or twice a year, there were several things we enjoyed more at Universal – more on that in another post coming soon! 

During our trip, we had a VIP experience where a guide toured us throughout both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.  We got exclusive backstage access, learned fun insider information, and enjoyed the parks’ most amazing rides and attractions without waiting in line!  The best part is you do not have to be a celebrity to have a VIP experience!  

Did you know that Islands of Adventure is based on books while Universal Studios is based on movies?  Me neither!  But that’s that kind of information we learned during our VIP Experience, plus we enjoyed hanging out with him for the majority of the day.  Below are some tips that we learned during our trip that will hopefully help you have a better trip to Universal Orlando!

Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando

1. Unlimited Express Passes are complimentary when staying at an onsite Deluxe resort.  Always use your Express Pass for shorter lines and shorter queues.  
2. Bring a reusable water bottle and fill it with ice and water throughout the two parks at any Freestyle Coca-Cola machine for free.
3. Child swap is available on just about every ride.  
4. If your child is not tall enough to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey be sure to get a certificate and on your next trip you will receive priority admission.  That’s awesome!
5. Hogwarts Express is a great way to get from one park to the other especially when you are at the back of the park.  You must have a multi park ticket to ride.  Each direction is a different experience, however from Universal Studios Orlando to Islands of Adventures could be a little scary for young children.  
6. The muggles at King’s Cross Station will not tell you where Diagon Alley is because they are staying in character.  Please don’t get mad at them!!!  When you leave King’s Cross Station turn left and Diagon Alley is through a brick wall.
7. All Universal Team Members are required per the agreement with J.K. Rowling to talk within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as if you are truely in Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade or Hogwarts!
8. Try Butter Beer a couple different ways: regular, frozen, hot or as ice cream.  I loved the regular and ice cream the best!
9. Try and spot a straight line in Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure!  You won’t be able to even the palm trees are curved (courtesy of Hurricane Andrew).
10. In the Marvel section of Islands of Adventure, artist Adam Kubert hid his name throughout all the cutouts.  Try and find some of them!  Also, some of the paint on the buildings changes color based on the time of day or the angle you look at it and the paint cost more than $1000 a gallon!!!
11. When watching the Cinamatic show make sure that you can see one of the screens clearly. There is a section of the show that plays clips from horror movies and is not appropriate for small children. S turned around at that point.
12. Bring ponchos!!!  It rains almost every afternoon during the summer.
13. After the Blue Man Group show, they will appear in the lobby for photos.
14. It is an easy 10 minute walk to the parks and CityWalk from Loews Royal Pacific.  If you are staying in tower 1 it is quicker to take the path from the front of the hotel.  Otherwise there is a path near the boat dock.
15. If it is lightning within 5 miles the water taxis will not run.

Have you been to Universal Orlando?