19 Must-Do’s at Universal Studios Orlando
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Universal Studios Orlando is easily my favorite theme park. Ever since my first visit more than a decade ago, it has become one of my favorite fun vacation destinations in the US. Whenever I want to take some time off and just kick back, I can always book a trip here for a reliably good time.
With 2 amazing parks, a wonderful themed waterpark (Volcano Bay), a lively entertainment complex (CityWalk), a special section dedicated solely to Harry Potter, fantastic on-site resorts, spectacular seasonal events (Halloween Horror Nights is a must!) and so much more, Islands and Universal really give the Disney parks a run for their money. I sometimes skip Disney, but never the other way around!
As I lived in Florida for several years (the benefits of living in Tampa Bay!), I definitely got to thoroughly explore both parks. To be honest, Universal wins for me due to the fantastic water rides (let’s face it – the summer is dreadfully hot & humid!). Bonus points as well for the creativity (really the rides are so amazingly designed) and the overall fun nostalgic movie theme (I am a 80’s & 90’s movie buff so the rides are a fun blast to the past!).
Universal Studios
The original park opened on June 7, 1990, as a fun movie themed theme park where you could “Experience the Movies.” Steven Spielberg, director of endless classics like E.T., Jurassic Park, and Jaws, cut the ribbon! It’s crazy to think that since opening 36 rides have been replaced!
Although some old favorites like Back to the Future and Kongfrontation are now demolished, there are a lots of great new attractions like The Mummy, several Harry Potter themed rides, and the Velocicoaster, the fastest (it reaches 70mph in just 2.4 seconds) and tallest launch coaster in the state. Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift, featuring a 170 foot vertical climb, will be replacing Hollywood Rip Ride Rock It (i loved this ride!) in 2027.
Islands of Adventure
When the second park opened later on in May 1999, Universal became more of a multi day vacation destination like Disney. With all the excitement and entertainment surrounding you in every direction at 2 massive parks, sometimes there just is not enough time to explore everything in a single trip. I recommend first timers taking a look at my comprehensive guide so you don’t miss out on anything.
I recommend a park-to-park ticket for at least 2 days, preferably 3. Keep in mind you need park-to-park tickets to ride the Hogwarts Express (which is a fun themed mode of transportation which saves you some walking time). Also, the new Epic Universe is massive, so you need at least severeal days to explore, and more time to account for the very long lines.
After endless trips to both parks, I have compiled a list of my favorite rides, attractions, photo opportunities, shows, and more!
Note: I visited the new Epic park 2 weeks after it opened (summer of 2025). The park was crazy busy with wait times ranging from 1-5 hours. The Super Nintendo World was amazing. The Harry Potter Ministry ride had an average wait time of 200 min with many delays. The Frankenstein Experiment was incredible. Stardust Racers is my new favorite coaster. For more details, check out my Epic experience article.
1. Take your pic by the Universal sign
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the various entertainment offerings that we completely forget to stop for any photos, sadly leaving us with no photo mementos of our trip. The iconic spinning globe is the prime opportunity for a great family/couples vacation photo.
Be sure to get your pic early on in the day. Do not wait until night when you are too tired and/or all raggedy from sweating/getting drenched on water rides all day! I always stop for a quick photo before entering the park: I know I will be too sweaty and exhausted later on!
2. Spend an entire day exploring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
For Harry Potter fans, an entire day exploring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an absolute must. As someone who has seen the movies and read the books many times, this is easily my favorite section of the park. As there are fantastic rides and attractions at both parks, you really need a full day to soak in all the excitement. I like staying at an on-site hotel because you get hour early admission to explore before the biggest afternoon crowds hit.
With Diagon Alley at Universal, Hogsmeade at Islands, the Hogwarts Express, multiple rides, themed restaurants, butterbeer stands, wand shops, endless photo opps, and interactive wand experiences, you can easily fill up a whole day with Harry Potter everything.
Trying to cram all the attractions into a few hours simply is not enough time to enjoy all the fun. In fact, the wait for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure ride was still 60 min for single riders at early admission (in June of 2025), which is why I recommend heading here first thing in the morning. When this ride first opened, our group waited over 4 hours! Was it worth it? Yes, it’s one of my favorite rides. I made up a guide of some of my best tips for organizing your day at the park – check it out for a smooth, stress-free vacation.
In terms of ranking the HP rides, for me it goes:
1. Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure: So many unique surprises (I won’t give them away!). It’s so much fun!
2. The Forbidden Journey: The castle walk through is just amazing. I love the talking portraits and cast appearances via holograms.
3. Escape to Gringotts: I love the queue through the Wizarding bank. The special effects are incredible.
There are so many little hidden gems around both parks that you will be glad that you planned the extra time to take it all in! I love the interactive wand experiences, the moving photographs in the shop windows, all the special effects in Diagon Alley & Hogsmeade, the disappearing trick at Platform 9¾, Kreacher’s appearance at 12 Grimmauld Place, and so much more.
You can read more in my full guide to exploring Harry Potter.
3. Dine at Mythos Restaurant
The majority of the time when visiting theme parks, I just want to get something to eat really quick at some counter stand so I can get back to the rides! That being said, there is one exception: Mythos Restaurant. This enchanting cave themed restaurant has been repeatedly voted as one of the best theme park restaurants in the world.
The setting here really is unique and there are some great views of the theme parks, so you really do not feel like you are completely leaving all the excitement behind. The food is also excellent (I recommend the veggie Pad Thai!).
Dining here will just take up about an hour or so of your time, but trust me it is worth it for the nice ambiance, not to mention much needed cool air conditioned break. So take some time to fuel up, enjoy the ambiance, and give your weary feet a break!
See more of my favorite themed dining experiences around the city. Orlando offers no shortage of fun vacationd dining experiences.
4. Treat yourself to a butterbeer!
Nothing tastes better on a hot, humid day in Florida than a frosty frozen butterbeer. If you are a fan of the books and movies, you are most likely well aware that this drink is mentioned countless times throughout, so it must be pretty darn good.
Although the recipe for the creamy drink is a secret, you can find countless recipes online attempting to mimic the popular treat. This drink is alcohol-free, and basically tastes like a mixture of cream soda and butterscotch. I didn’t try it out until my second time visiting the park: now I order at least one every day! Seriously, it’s the best drink ever and this coming from someone who isn’t a huge fan of sweets. The frozen variety is so much better!
Next on my list is trying the butterbeer flavored ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour in Diagon Alley. I’ve heard it’s delicious, but unfortunately I always run out of time!
5. Ride the Hulk Coaster
The Hulk is the coaster to ride if you are limited on time. Found at Islands of Adventure, this super fast thrill ride takes you on an exhilarating 67mph adventure as you race through 7 inversions in the blink of an eye. This ride is always on my must-do list no matter how many times I visit the parks! It’s a classic!
The queue is pretty cool too (although it can get really hot and stuffy!). I also love the comic book themed design of Marvel Super Hero Island. You’ll find a lot of themed shops where you can pick up Marvel souvenirs and cafes. The Amazing Adventures of Spider man ride is over here too although to be honest, this ride gave me the biggest headache. I’ll never ride it again – I can handle most motion simulators but this one just bangs you around way too much!
6. Spend a night exploring CityWalk
Citywalk is a fun dining, shopping, & entertainment district. There is just so much to do here, from themed restaurants, to fun karaoke bars, to mini golf and movie theaters. It’s a great place to kick back and relax after a long day at the parks. Occasionally, we stop at a themed restaurant mid park day to enjoy a long air conditioned break. It just depends on how hot it is – otherwise, we end up here after the parks close or even on an off park day.
It’s a great place to explore even if you are not going to the parks. Sometimes, I take the shuttle over from Cabana Bay (my preferred resort) to simply enjoy a fun dinner and a movie.
My favorite things to do here:
- Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe: I love their appetizers, Twisted Mac & Cheese, and the fun rock n’ roll theme!
- Dessert at the Toothsome Chocolate Factory: Their sundaes & milkshakes are crazy!
- Listening to live karaoke: You can sing with backup singers & a live band at Rising Star
- Seeing the latest action flick on a giant IMAX screen: You can see a move at AMC well after the parks close.
- Enjoying a laid-back themed round of mini golf at Hollywood Drive-IN Golf: I love the theme!
- Shopping at the massive Universal Studios Store: They carry everything! This is the only place I could find a Ron wand (they were sold out everywhere else).
- Voodoo Donuts: Try a crazy sugar loaded donut at this Portland originated chain.
Check out my full Citywalk guide for more info
7. Plan some time to enjoy all the great shows
My first few visits to the parks, I was way too busy to even consider the shows. In recent years, I have been checking out all the great shows (boy was I missing out before!). These shows (which are included with your admission ticket) really add a little something extra to the experience. I absolutely loved both The Blues Brothers and the Horror Makeup Show.
Check out my full list of the best shows worth skipping the rides for!
8. Enjoy all the spectacular water rides at Islands: don’t be afraid to get wet!
A lot of people skip out on the water rides because they do not want to walk around dripping wet all day. First of all, I recommend wearing workout apparel which will dry much quicker than jeans. Second, air dryers are available for a few bucks near the water rides if you despise the thought of being wet for hours. Third, it’s just so brutal out during the hot, humid summer months, that it’s worth getting wet to cool down for an hour or 2! I actually purposely time my water rides for the hottest part of the day: it’s more fun and refreshing.
Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls at Islands is the ultimate blast. You can easily get on a few times in a row early on in the morning, although it gets totally packed by late afternoon. It’s a water coaster with lots of little drops, twists, & teases until you reach the final 75 foot double drop. It gets insanely hot and humid in the waiting queue which makes the much needed cool down even more refreshing. I don’t care that this is in the kidde section – I go on this ride 3 times minimum!
Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges is a fun circular whitewater rafting type ride with lots of twists, turns, and drops – great fun for big parties as it fits up to 12 adults. And don’t forget about the classic Jurassic Park river raft ride which features both fun dinosaur animatronics and an exhilarating 85 foot drop! Just hearing the iconic theme music brings back so many good 90’s memories for me!
9. Let the wand choose you at Ollivanders
One of the best souvenirs for Harry Potter fans is pretending to be a wizard for the day with your favorite character’s wand. Your interactive wand can be used to access special features throughout the parks! They carry a wand for any character you can think of, not just the main cast. Boxes and boxes of wands are piled high to the ceiling.
Funnily enough, I looked in at least 5 shops on my most recent trip to find a Ron wand and they were all sold out. I finally found one at the Universal Studios store. Which wands do I now own? Snape, Dumbledore, Luna, Ron, and of course, Harry Potter! I bought the cutest wand holder from the Noble Wands collection.
Although you can pick up a wand at multiple stores around both parks, it’s so much more fun to watch the wand ceremony at Ollivanders where you could possibly be randomly selected amongst the crowd for a personal wand reading. Be aware that only 1 person will get picked for a personal wand experience. However, it’s still a magical experience to be part of the show as a spectator. Just one of those little things that add a little something extra to the whole Universal experience! Wands by Gregorovitch pictured also offers a sizeable collection of wands.
10. Enjoy 90’s photo opps
One of the things I love most about these parks is all the movie nostalgia. I am a big fan of 80’s and 90’s movies and I visit filming sites all over the country. Back to the Future (esp 1 and 2) is one of my favorites, so it was a fun experience taking my picture next to the DeLorean. Unfortunately, my first visit to the parks was just after the iconic Back to the Future: The Ride closed.
If you are a Simpsons fan, you will find lots of great photo opps in Springfield U.S.A. The Simpsons Ride is a lot of fun if this is your first time visiting (it gets a big old after a few times around but it’s the best the first time!). I also love this iconic Jurassic Park jeep photo opp at Islands of Adventure!
11. Treat yourself to a wonderful sit down dinner after a long day at the parks!
CityWalk is a convenient and fun place to enjoy a fabulous relaxing dinner after being on your feet all day. One of my personal favorites is Vivo Italian – a wonderful Italian restaurant located in the heart of all the action.
This modern Italian restaurant features an exposed kitchen and a really unique seating area. The tasty menu includes handmade fresh pasta daily. Not to mention the convenient location right so you do not have to research any restaurants online. Or worse, resort to a common chain. Bonus: prices are totally affordable despite the touristy location!
12. Explore Springfield U.S.A.
Like most of us who grew up in the 90’s, I watched my fair share of Simpsons episodes. I even had the Bart vs. the Space Mutants Nintendo game. This section of the park, called Springfield U.S.A is so colorful and nostalgic. If you are a big fan, you will definitely want to check it out. Here, you will find all sorts of fun themed rides and dining experiences. Characters are frequently walking around ready to take photos. You will see a lot of Springfield staples like Moe’s Tavern, Lard Lad, and Duff Brewery.
Kang and Kodos Twist n’ Hurl (pic above) is a fun low-key themed ride, while The Simpsons Ride is an intense motion simulator experience that I think is one of the best the first go around.
13. See the Nighttime Lights Show at Hogwarts Castle
The amazing nightly illumination show on Hogwarts Castle is just as good as Disney’s iconic Magic Kingdom show in my opinion. I actually just had time to see the whole production rather recently (I am usually too busy running around) and was truly impressed. It runs every 30 min or so around dusk and features really cool scenes from the movies including an amazing quidditch match. I highly recommend making the time!
14. Take a ride aboard the Hogwarts Express
The Hogwarts Express, a perfect replica from the Harry Potter movies, is a convenient means of transportation between both parks. Back in the day, visitors had to waste much precious time walking from one park to the other (I can’t imagine how many miles they got in as I easily rack up at least 25,000 today with this ride). Today, you can skip the tiresome walk in favor of this festive train ride. Board at either the Hogwarts Express at either the King’s Cross Diagon Alley station at Universal or Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure.
The ride features a bunch of special effects (the dementors are amazing!) and you can even purchase snacks to bring along for the journey (pumpkin juice or chocolate frog anyone?!) Remember you will need to purchase park-to-park tickets to enjoy the train ride (which you should do anyways as both parks are amazing!). There is also an amazing trick where someone can film you “disappearing” through the wall at Platform 9 and 3/4.
15. Don’t forget about all the oldies!
Even though they are a bit dated, classic rides like E.T., The Mummy, and Men in Black Alien Attack are well worth at least a one time go around. E.T. is one of my favorites and I’ve never waited more than 20 minutes! I always end with this peaceful, nostalgic ride. It’s one of the park’s first rides and still one of the best (I hope they never remove it). I love the cool, dark queue through the redwood trees. I love the gift shop too (I found the cutest stuffed E.T. wearing a red hoodie on my last trip).
Alien Attack is an awesome spinning arcade style ride where you shoot at targets. Our entire party often chooses this ride as one of our repeat rides. The Mummy is an incredible fast indoor coaster loaded with special effects. Even the queue is amazing on this one: really dark & eerie! These classic rides are still the best in my opinion!
16. Take advantage of the endless Wizarding photo opportunities
Numerous picture-perfect Harry Potter photo opportunities await you throughout both parks: The Knight Bus, Platform 9 3/4, Diagon Alley, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, the telephone booth at King’s Cross, and the list goes on. So many memorable sights from the film are lurking throughout both Universal and Islands of Adventure.
The early admission is a must if you really want to explore both parks minus the super hefty congestion that builds up later in the day. Be sure to take all sorts of crazy photos that you can reminiscence about years later.
Check out how empty Diagon Alley is during early admission hours! This is a great time for Harry Potter fanatics to go picture crazy! This is why I highly recommend staying at an on-site resort to gain early admission!
17. Stay at an on-site hotel
Sure the on-site hotels are a bit pricier, however, you might as well splurge as you are already spending loads of money on theme park tickets and airfare anyways. In my opinion, these resorts come with a number of perks that make them worthy of the up charge including fantastic pools, great restaurants, close proximity to the parks, and early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This hour early admission alone makes paying a bit extra a worthwhile investment.
Cabana Bay is a fantastic budget friendly choice (it’s typically the cheapest option, but still fantastic). Lots of great amenities -a free shuttle to the parks, an amazing tropical pool and lazy river, an on-site Starbucks, a bowling alley and arcade, and early admission to HP. The pool and lazy river are so amazing: I like to plan at least one day off just to lounge around the pool. I would recommend this resort to families and couples seeking a relaxed vibe.
18. Take your pic with a character
Unlike Disney where character picture waiting lines can be longer than the rides themselves, it’s easy & fast to get a picture here. The wait is usually no more than 10 minutes or so. The Simpsons, Scooby Doo, and Hello Kitty are just a few of the sprightly characters you will see throughout the parks. Check out the full list of characters making appearances daily.
19. Explore Epic
It is not my favorite park to be honest. I would rank Islands first, then Universal, and finally Epic. While there are several great attractions and the Ministry portal is beautiful, the lines are long, it’s hot with little shade, and the queues and rides themselves just don’t seem as fun and nostalgic. Also, you need at least 2-3 days to explore it all here due to the sheer amount of crowds, frequent tech delays, and massive size of the park.
I would book the other parks first and save this one if you have the extra time/cash. To be honest, I will probably skip this park on my next trip. I loved the Super Nintendo World, but everything else was just too disorganized.
What I liked about this new park:
Super Nintendo World: A blast to the past. I love the design and all the little details. Very colorful and fun for 90’s kids.
The Ministry of Magic: The ride itself is cool (minus the 200 min wait and tech malfunctions). This section of the park is beautiful and obviously a lot of effort was put into the design.
Stardust Racers: An insanely cool coaster that I was not expecting to be so awesome.
The Frankenstein Experiment: Amazing ride with incredible special effects. One of the best queues in Orlando.
And if you have the time and a car…Plan a day away from the parks
There is much to do and see in the city asides from world-class theme parks. In fact, I often took daytrips from Tampa without booking tickets to any park. If you like nature, there are a lot of great preserves, bike trails, and alligator watching tours. If you like museums, there are plenty of interesting options too. And, of course, dining options are endless. Exploring the local side of Orlando not only allows you an inside look at what tourists miss out on, but also gives you a much needed break from the crowds and commotion.
FAQ
What time do the parks open?
Universal Studios is open from 9am-9pm. Islands of Adventure is open from 9am-10pm. Check for special event early park closures.
How much are tickets?
Pricing starts at $119 for a single park/ $174 for park-to-park. Tickets are cheaper the more days you purchase.
Is a Express pass worth it?
The fast pass allows you to skip to the front of the line. Although it is pricey, it saves a lot of time. I think it is only worth it if you will only be visiting the park for one day. It is extremely difficult to get on most of the rides you want to get on even with the fast pass. Check out my guide to best rides to make sure you focus on the best-of-the-best!
Are there any special discount available?
The park frequently offers promotions on their website. As of spring 2026, they are offering a 7 day park pass for the price of 5 as well as numerous Halloween Horror nights specials.
