If you’re visiting Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure in 2023, our planning information presents restaurant suggestions, park & journey technique, plus suggestions & methods that will help you lower your expenses & time, keep away from crowds, and extra to have the most effective trip doable. (Updated January 13, 2023.)
We’re Universal Orlando Annual Passholders and big followers of these parks along with Walt Disney World. Universal has improved a ton and upped its sport within the final decade. This started with the Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade lands of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which had been additional enhanced by Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. That has been taken to the subsequent stage with the debut of Jurassic World VelociCoaster.
As such, we extremely suggest spending a few days at Universal when vacationing at Walt Disney World. This is information to Universal Orlando Resort incorporates all the pieces you’ll have to know. Whether you’re doing each parks in a single day or making a visit of it with an on-site lodge keep and a number of days at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, we now have you lined with data and recommendation about points of interest, eating, resorts, technique, crowds, and extra.
In this information, we’ll cowl the right way to benefit from a go to to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. We’re going to take a counterintuitive organizational method to this information, as we’ve discovered that many readers seek the advice of it whereas visiting Universal reasonably than in the course of the planning phases of a visit. Accordingly, we’re going to entrance load with data you might want to know in case you’ve already touched down in Central Florida.
If you’re a Disney fan merely making an attempt to find out whether or not a visit to Universal Orlando Resort is best for you within the first place, you would possibly begin by studying our Universal v. Walt Disney World put up, which covers a few of the execs and cons of every, plus the variations between the 2 trip locations.
Similarly, in case you’re debating between resorts on the two foremost theme park complexes, see our complete breakdown: Universal Orlando v. Walt Disney World Hotels. That ought to assist you decide which is the higher possibility on your trip–or if a cut up keep could be finest!
Here’s all the pieces else you might want to find out about visiting Universal Orlando Resort…
What’s New & Next at Universal
If you haven’t been to Universal Orlando shortly (or ever), a lot within the final a number of years. This features a few points of interest which were added within the final a number of years: Fast and the Furious: Supercharged, Race Through New York starring Jimmy Fallon, and Skull Island: Reign of Kong.
In phrases of what’s new, there are two vastly widespread coasters in Islands of Adventure: Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure within the Hogsmeade facet of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The latest factor in Universal Studios Florida is the Bourne Stuntacular, which (because the identify suggests) is a stunt present.
This trio of additives in the previous few years has confirmed extremely widespread with visitors. In explicit, VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s are two of the perfect curler coasters in Orlando.
Next on the horizon, Universal is constructing a 3rd theme park in Central Florida. It’s full steam forward on this venture, and Universal’s Epic Universe Park is Opening by Summer 2025! This will deliver Super Nintendo World plus extra Harry Potter, Universal Monsters, How to Train Your Dragon, and far more to Universal Orlando within the coming years.
Now let’s flip to Universal Orlando’s superior planning subjects…
Where to Stay
There are various questions it’s important to ask your self when planning a visit, and plenty of of them will dictate the place you keep. Do you need Unlimited Express Pass by staying at an eligible Universal Orlando lodge? Do you wish to keep at a Walt Disney World lodge during your journey, or change lodges? Do you wish to keep an an off-site lodge within the normal neighborhood of each Universal and Disney to save cash?
We’ve lately stayed at each single on-site lodge at Universal Orlando Resort–listed here are our opinions:
For perception into all of those lodges, their execs & cons, and the way they evaluate and distinction with each other, see our Universal Orlando Hotel Rankings & Reviews.
We are large followers of Universal’s lodges, and are significantly a fan of the 2 “bay” resorts: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Both of these are in our prime 10 lodges in Orlando, rivaling a few of our favourite resorts at Walt Disney World.
Universal’s lodges present nice bang for buck, and even those who don’t embody free Express Pass do provide Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s Volcano Bay one hour earlier than these parks open. That could be completely large!
As for staying off-site, you typically will get essentially the most bang on your buck when staying in an off-site lodge, as there are a variety of non-Disney and non-Universal lodges competing with each other. We have an Off-Site v. On-Site Walt Disney World Hotels article that goes into better depth concerning the execs and cons of staying off-site, and it’s marginally relevant to Universal, as properly.
As for merely staying at a Walt Disney World lodge during your journey no matter the place you go, we now have written complete opinions with our opinions and pictures of the rooms. Check out our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews web page, for hyperlinks to every of those opinions.
Ride Strategy for Universal Orlando
Next, what to know when you’re at Universal Orlando. For starters, we strongly suggest that you just don’t “wing it” on your each day itinerary because of the aforementioned crowd points. You don’t have to plan each motion in order that there’s no spontaneity in your journey, simply be sure you have a minimum of a unfastened plan of what you’re going to do.
We have the next plans for every park that cowl our excellent days:
Those provide step-by-step touring plans for each theme parks at Universal Orlando, prioritizing the most well-liked rides and skipping what isn’t price your time. Those will assist you do Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk Coaster, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, and different must-do rides.
If you’d choose to create your personal itineraries and wish an summary and overview of each attraction at every of the parks, seek the advice of our Islands of Adventure Ride Guide and Universal Studios Florida Ride Guide. If you’re a fan spinners, you would possibly wish to verify these out, as we don’t waste your time with that nonsense within the itineraries.
When to Visit
If you’re including on a Universal Orlando go to to your Walt Disney World trip, the reply to that is straightforward…everytime you’re visiting Walt Disney World. Crowd patterns at Walt Disney World translate fairly equally to Universal Orlando.
The causes are two-fold: first, as a result of crowds are usually predicated upon faculty schedules, that are the identical for each; second, as a result of Walt Disney World is the ‘whale’ within the Orlando market, so crowds for all theme parks are dictated by when visitors plan their Disney holidays. In different phrases, you’ll be able to discuss with our 2023 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars put up to find out when to go to, as that’s roughly relevant to Universal Orlando as properly.
There are just some exceptions to this, and so they’re largely predicated upon particular occasions which might be distinctive to every of the parks. For instance, Walt Disney World sees its crowds spike as a consequence of runDisney occasions, when its lodges are internet hosting conventions or youth sporting occasions, or throughout EPCOT festivals. By distinction, Universal sees its personal spikes round Mardi Gras, Halloween Horror Nights, and early December when it performs host to the Pop Warner youth soccer occasion.
In normal, although, the large driver of attendance at each is faculty breaks. In explicit, these of Orange County and different counties all through Florida and the South. Of course, each are trip locations, so breaks for college districts within the Midwest and Northeast even have a major influence. The apparent instances like Spring Break, Easter, Summer, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are all busy.
More underneath the radar timeframes like MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Mardi Gras, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and extra additionally see pronounced spikes in crowds. Again, reference the aforementioned crowd calendars in case you’re wanting to decide on the most effective instances to go to Universal Orlando.
Due to a surge of locals on weekends, we strongly suggest avoiding Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure on Saturdays and Sundays. Mondays via Thursdays are the most effective days to go to, with a lot decrease crowds then. However, that goes out the window throughout vacation weeks or anytime faculty is out of session, when it’s disproportionately vacationers and each single day of the week is busy.
This notion of crowds is additional exacerbated by the parks nonetheless being considerably understaffed. This downside is hardly distinctive to Universal Orlando–in every single place in Central Florida is dealing with the identical hiring difficulties, together with Walt Disney World. This makes all the pieces really feel worse than it’s as a result of though attendance is on par with a traditional yr, the parks can’t soak up crowds as successfully because of the lack of staff. Thankfully, this downside just isn’t almost as pronounced in 2023 because it was prior to now couple of years, however it nonetheless stays considerably of a difficulty.
The one exception to that is if you wish to see or keep away from Halloween season at Universal, specifically Halloween Horror Nights (HHN). This is a tough ticket occasion that has an enormous following amongst locals and followers of hang-out season, usually.
During HHN, you step onto the set of a few of your favourite horror motion pictures, and strolling via these units as actors try and scare you. This occasion just isn’t for kids underneath the age of 13, and has completely nothing in widespread with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World. See our Guide to Halloween Horror Nights for extra.
Aside from this, the one noteworthy occasions are Mardi Gras and Christmas. See our Guide to Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval at Universal Studios Florida. At this enjoyable occasion, visitors can expertise a meals competition with delicacies and leisure impressed by worldwide Carnaval celebrations.
Food cubicles serve up the flavors of Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, Spain and different areas together with, after all, New Orleans. Plus get pleasure from spectacular floats on show, avenue leisure, music, beads and extra all through Universal Studios Florida.
During the vacation season, Grinchmas and Universal’s Holiday Parade that includes Macy’s are the principle leisure attracts. There’s additionally the Christmas Tribute Store, which is actually a walk-through exhibit, plus Universal Studios Florida’s iconic Christmas Tree.
Perhaps the largest draw is Winter in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which options distinctive decor and projections on Hogwarts Castle. There are additionally decorations round each parks in Seuss Landing, Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, Hollywood, New York, and San Francisco.
How Many Days?
This one goes to differ broadly based mostly on just a few variables. The greatest one is how receptive your celebration is to the kind of points of interest which might be distinguished at Universal Orlando Resort, specifically, curler coasters and screen-based simulators. That’s reductionist, and there are lots of extra issues at Universal than these kinds of rides, but when your celebration is averse to both, doing greater than 2 days at Universal goes to be robust.
If you’re keen on coasters or have teenagers, you’ll be able to simply spend 3 days or extra at Universal Orlando. Heck, I’m not large on curler coasters or simulators, and I can simply do 2 days (and even 3) at Universal. Likewise, in case you love Harry Potter, a number of days at Universal will probably be straightforward. The two Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter alone can fill a very good chunk of the day. I imply, Diagon Alley has a fire-breathing dragon…not liking dragons is distinctly unpatriotic.
Islands of Adventure additionally has a Jurassic Park space, which is mainly a tribute to our best nationwide treasure: dinosaurs. It’s inferior to a actual Jurassic Park (that might be just like the San Diego Zoo meets the Lincoln Memorial meets Tokyo DisneySea), however it’s an gratifying space to discover. In different phrases, there’s loads to do in case you’re an “ambiance person” on the Universal parks.
Then, there’s additionally the query of how a lot “extra” trip time you’ve gotten. Assuming you’ve already allotted your time at Walt Disney World and are “other stuff” to spherical out your journey to Florida, I’d in all probability look to spending extra time at Universal than different parks like SeaWorld or Busch Gardens. That’s private desire and all of those parks undoubtedly aren’t making an attempt to perform the identical factor, however I discover the Disney and Universal parks to be in a distinct league than the entire relaxation.
Universal Orlando Park Tickets
If you’re searching for a deal on park tickets, Get Away Today will prevent essentially the most cash on Universal Orlando tickets. This is very true in case you’re doing an extended journey, as Get Away Today has a ‘Buy 2 days, get 3 days free’ particular. With increasingly more to do at Universal Orlando, spending a number of days within the parks is very beneficial–particularly in case you’re staying in a close-by lodge and wish to do some partial days (additionally beneficial).
I’m a fan of the Park-to-Park tickets in case you can swing spending additional. This is as a result of Universal did one thing actually ingenious when it constructed Diagon Alley, and that was connecting the 2 Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter through the Hogwarts Express.
You can solely journey this prepare from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley (or vice-a-versa) you probably have the Park-to-Park ticket. I’m no Harry Potter fan, however the expertise of getting into a prepare station in London, strolling via a wall, after which taking a prepare to Hogsmeade is fairly superior.
If you’re going for simply in the future and don’t need the park-to-park tickets, one of the simplest ways to save cash on Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida tickets is solely going to be shopping for tickets on-line on Universal Orlando’s web site. The Universal tickets bought on-line could be printed at dwelling and used on the turnstiles–that means no ready in line to buy tickets or change vouchers.
Express Pass
Express Pass is Universal Orlando’s model of Genie+ or Lightning Lanes (a technique to skip the strains) and is on the market as a ticket add-on or with choose lodge stays. You can buy two types of Express Pass, common or limitless. The common model lets you skip the road as soon as per eligible attraction in both park, and begins at $80 per individual. Universal Express Unlimited presents line-skipping privileges, because the identify suggests, a vast variety of instances per attraction, and begins at $110 per individual.
Below are the eligible Express Pass points of interest in every park.
Universal Studios Florida
- The Bourne Stuntacular
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- E.T. Adventure
- Fast & Furious – Supercharged
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- Hogwarts Express
- Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
- Men in Black Alien Attack
- Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
- Revenge of the Mummy
- The Simpsons Ride
- Transformers: The Ride-3D
- Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster
Islands Of Adventure
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
- Caro-Seuss-el
- Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- The High within the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
- Hogwarts Express
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
- Jurassic Park River Adventure
- Poseidon’s Fury
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong
- Storm Force Accelatron
These are the most well-liked points of interest in every park, with two important exceptions. Both of the 2 latest and hottest curler coasters, Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in Wizarding World of Harry Potter, should not eligible for Express Pass.
Unlike Genie+ or Lightning Lanes, there isn’t any tech element to Express Pass. While it’s considerably dearer, it’s additionally frictionless. You merely go as much as the attraction and use your Express Pass entitlement. There’s nothing to order or problem with in an app. Express Pass entails zero display screen time and complications–however you’ll pay much more for it!
Whether Express Pass is well worth the cash largely relies upon upon what day of the week and season you’re visiting, and the way you worth your time v. your cash. Personally, we’d not pay for Express Pass most days. However, we additionally keep away from weekends and holidays, arrive for park opening, and make the most of an environment friendly park itinerary.
If you actually need Express Pass, contemplate staying at an on-site lodge that gives Express Pass along with your keep. Unlimited Express Pass is on the market on the Universal Premier class resorts–that means Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel, and Portofino Bay–that are Universal’s most costly lodges.
All three of those are good, on par with Walt Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts, and usually value much less. They’re nonetheless dear, however they’re cheaper than Disney’s higher-end lodges, and are arguably well worth the cash–particularly if you would like the Unlimited Express Pass perk or a very good location inside strolling or boat distance of Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. If you’d be staying at a pleasant lodge anyway, this trio is undoubtedly worthy of your consideration.
If you wish to study extra about this line-skipping possibility and the way it compares to Walt Disney World’s counterpart, see our information: Universal’s Express Pass v. Lightning Lanes & Genie+ at Walt Disney World.
Transportation
By far the commonest questions we get regarding Universal Orlando Resort is: “what’s the best way to get from Walt Disney World Universal.” The reply is that there are a variety of choices, however by far the most effective is Uber. We lined this in depth in our Uber v. Rental Cars at Walt Disney World article. Here’s the pertinent portion of that put up:
In the previous, the best choice we’ve discovered for individuals who don’t have rental vehicles the length of their journeys is both renting a automotive on-site for the day, or taking a dear shuttle. Neither is cost-effective or all that interesting, particularly if you add on that parking payment.
For those that aren’t renting a automotive during their journey, Uber or Lyft are the unquestionable finest choices for getting from Walt Disney World to Universal. The one-way value of an Uber or Lyft from Walt Disney World will differ relying upon your actual location, usually costing underneath $25 every method and taking 20-25 minutes.
As for airfare, rental vehicles, and different fundamentals, right here’s my customary data: for locating low cost airfare, we suggest ITA Software by Google. It’s essentially the most strong airfare search engine on the market, though you’ll be able to’t ebook via it. It provides you latitude in selecting a number of airports to see if close by airports would possibly provide higher pricing, and lets you try a calendar of dates for journey.
Dining
There are some good eating places in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, however as a complete, I don’t assume the culinary expertise is on par with Walt Disney World’s. The unquestionable highlights, in my thoughts, are the counter service eating places in Diagon Alley (Leaky Cauldron) and Hogsmeade (Three Broomsticks) and the desk service restaurant, Mythos, which is a good worth.
Other in-park eating places at Universal Orlando that we like embody the Today Show Cafe (for lighter choices) and Krusty Burger (for the precise reverse). Actually, there’s one thing for everybody within the Springfield space, which has quite a lot of eating choices drawn from The Simpsons.
On the snacking entrance, you’re clearly going to wish to strive Butterbeer–maybe all three varieties (frozen, scorching, and common). Most of the opposite snacks we get pleasure from are additionally within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour and Honeydukes.
Another factor you would possibly wish to contemplate is buying a refillable Coke Freestyle mug. I’ve completed this, however I can actually put down the Cokes to make it well worth the cash. I’m positive some day I will probably be toothless, however hopefully that’s a minimum of 5 years away. These Coke Freestyle machines situated all through the parks are additionally a handy technique to get free water that’s chilly and tastes nice.
Other Things to Do
Volcano Bay is Universal Orlando’s water park. It’s themed to the South Seas and encompasses a large volcano (therefore the identify) within the center with water slides in it. For Walt Disney World followers, it’s a bit like Typhoon Lagoon water park combined with Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Adventureland.
All the rides at Volcano Bay characteristic a Virtual Line as a substitute of conventional standby queues. You faucet in along with your TapuTapu wearable (assume MagicBand) to seize a journey time. Then go float, swim, splash, eat, store or calm down round Volcano Bay. Your TapuTapu will inform you when it’s your time to journey.
In addition to the 2 theme parks and Volcano Bay water park, there’s CityWalk. This is Universal Orlando’s buying, eating, and leisure advanced, which is so much like Disney Springs. The large distinction is that you just stroll via CityWalk to entry Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure, and it’s extremely straightforward to exit the parks and eat lunch or dinner at CityWalk. No bus needed!
There’s additionally a variety of comparatively new eating at CityWalk, equivalent to Bigfire, Voodoo Doughnut, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, and VIVO Italian Kitchen–amongst different issues. Toothsome is a fan-favorite for its excessive milkshakes and dessert concoctions (in addition to the enjoyable steampunk theme), and Voodoo Doughnut is an absolute must-do. With that stated, we predict the sleeper hits of the listing are Bigfire and Cowfish, each of which provide nice meals at cheap (by theme park requirements) costs.
One ultimate notice on points of interest is that there are quite a few points of interest that don’t permit luggage, however present free lockers close by for storing backpacks, cameras, babies, and no matter different random junk you may need on you. These are fairly handy and there are bigger lockers you’ll be able to pay for on the entrance of the park, however the level right here is for these of you who’re used to bringing a small U-Haul price of stuff into the Walt Disney World parks: you’ll be able to’t do this at Universal. Pack for the parks somewhat lighter.
I feel that is in all probability a very good place to begin in case you’re planning on visiting Universal Orlando Resort as an add-on to your Walt Disney World trip. If you wish to see a few of these subjects lined in better depth, please let me know within the feedback. We’re planning to deal with extra on eating, particular occasions, and Universal Orlando information within the coming months, so keep tuned for extra of that!
Need journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Make positive to learn our Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for all the pieces about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For common updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and far more, join our FREE electronic mail publication!
Your Thoughts
Are you visiting Universal Orlando Resort in 2023? Excited for Epic Universe or different rumored additions within the subsequent few years? What about Jurassic World VelociCoaster, Hagrid’s, or the brand new rides which have lately opened? Have a favourite on-site lodge at Universal? Do you favor staying on-site at Universal, or commuting from Walt Disney World? If you’re a first-timer, is there the rest you’d wish to know? Chances are you probably have questions nonetheless, so does another person! Please share your ideas within the feedback