18 Tips for Surviving a Day at Universal Studios Orlando

A trip to Orlando would not be complete without planning at least a day or 2 at Universal Studios & Islands, which are just as great as Disney in my opinion. With Epic Universe opening in spring of 2025, there is even more to do. Update: I visited the newest park 2 weeks after opening – you can read all about my experience here.

Even just 1 day at each park is totally exhausting with all the walking required. On my last trip, I put in about 25-30,000 steps per day! You put in miles of walking and then get up the next day and do it all again. The adrenaline helps a bit, but I imagine it’s super exhausting to anyone not used to walking so much.

It’s the trip of a lifetime but also a major workout! With so much to see and do, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. Being well prepared can make all the difference between a great vs. miserable park experience. Visiting during the miserably hot summer months requires even more pre-trip planning & organization due to the intense crowds and hot, humid conditions.

As a frequent park visitor over the past 2 decades, I have compiled my best tips after many lessons learned. On every new trip, I come up with new ways to make my next park experience a smoother, less stressful experience.

Hopefully, following a few of my tips will make you more comfortable, save you some time & money, and allow you to focus all your energy on all the great rides and entertainment! After all, a trip to any theme park is not cheap. You are going to want to devote all your attention towards enjoying as many rides and seeing as many shows as possible!

1. Wear a water hydration backpack

You are going to need a lot of water, especially if walking around the parks all day on 90+ degree humid summer days. Not only will a hydration backpack save you a lot of cash (water bottles run about $4 a piece inside the park), you will also save some time by avoiding the hassle of searching around for restaurant stands. They are super handy too because you can store little extras like sunblock and snacks in the extra pockets. You can also use them for hiking, so it’s not just a one time purchase.

Update: Coke Freestyle stations are now conveniently located throughout the park. You can fill up water for free. If you would prefer pop (I advise against drinking too much dehydrating caffeine), you can pay for a refillable cup ($18.99 for 1, $16.99 for 2, or $14.99 for 3). I really enjoyed conveniently refilling my own water bottle as needed throughout the day on my most recent trip. Today, I bring one water bottle and keep refilling.

2. Take advantage of the free Wait Times app

This fantastic free app allows you to conveniently look up wait times for all rides within both parks. I’ve been using this for years and it is so convenient. Basically, you can save some time by planning your next move based on current wait times.

Times are updated consistently and seem to be pretty accurate. Those limited on time especially need this app to strategically plan their day, and thus, get the best value. I use it throughout the day especially during early admission hours so I can get on as many rides as possible before the big crowds hit.

3. Purchase park-to-park tickets

Both theme parks offer a great selection of movie themed rides. You need at least a full day at each, especially if this is your first time. Really, I can’t pick which park I like better. Islands has better coasters and water rides, but I really love the classic movie rides at Universal. Plus, Diagon and Hogsmeade are both so fantastic, that you don’t want to miss out on either.

However, if you are limited to a single day, you will want to order park-to-park tickets in order to switch back and forth between the 2 parks. Also, with the park-to-park pass, you will be able to board the Hogwarts Express, a fun & convenient Harry Potter themed train ride between the parks.

Harry Potter fans will not want to miss out on this unique experience. Because Islands is open an hour later, I usually take the Hogwarts train over a few hours before Universal closes to get more time at Islands.

You can board at either the Hogsmeade station (Islands) or King’s Cross Station (Universal). I actually love the opportunity to relax and enjoy the English countryside (and a few surprises along the way). The line can be super long at times and it can get really hot and stuffy.

Read more about my experience exploring The Wizarding World.

4. Get in line early for popular rides

On a recent trip, we arrived at Universal right at opening and headed straight to the new Harry Potter ride (Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure) at 8:30am. By this time, there was already a 90 minute wait. Later in the day, the wait is often hours long. If you are not one to stand in hot lines all day (and this queue is in the direct sun for the majority), you should get to this ride as early as possible! Who wants to waste money standing in lines all day! Also be sure to pull out your Wait Times app to see if the wait is worth your time.

In the morning hours, most rides have really short wait times (especially when everyone is exploring Diagon Alley). Is it worth it to lose hours of your time for 1 ride or would you rather get on several mediocre rides during this time? The choice is up to you! Another option is to stay at an on-site hotel which includes an hour early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Other popular rides that you should consider earlier on in the day include: Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, The Simpsons, Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls, and Escape from Gringotts. All of these rides will be insanely busy later in the afternoon, so it would be smart to try to get on 1 or 2 earlier in the morning when the park is less crowded. While the water rides will be empty in the morning, I prefer to save them for the hottest part of the day!

Update: On my most recent trip in Spring of 2025, Hagrid’s still had a wait of 60 minutes for single riders during the early admission hours. The regular wait was over 90 min with most of the time spent in the hot sun. I still recommend getting on this coaster (which is totally amazing with lots of surprises) first thing in the morning!

5. Enjoy the perks of early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Universal resorts (I like Cabana Bay, a wonderful affordable retro themed hotel) offer special perks such as 1 hour early admission. This is a great way to experience the parks before they get too packed. There is so much to experience, especially with the Diagon Alley shops and amazing themed rides and restaurants. Any hotel offering extra time at the parks is definitely worth checking into! This is the best time to get some pictures before the insane afternoon crowds make pics almost impossible!

You could easily spend an entire day just exploring the Harry Potter sections of the park, and with the incredible attention to detail and beautiful design, any fan will want to do so! This is my favorite section of the park (especially the beautifully designed Diagon Alley). On a side note, anyone that doesn’t like Harry Potter will be in luck as much of the traffic is now centered around this area of the park, meaning lower wait times for the rest of the rides!

Note only some rides are open earlier and it varies depending on time of the year. Check the park website for details. Here’s a sample of what was open early on my most recent trip in summer of 2025.

Islands early admission rides: The Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff, VolociCoaster, Ollivanders Wand Shop, and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure.

Epic early admission rides: Mario Kart, Stardust Racers, Yoshi’s Adventure, Curse of the Werewolf, Frankenstein

On a side note, if you are staying at a Universal property, you can have purchases sent to your hotel free of charge. They will be available the next day for pick up at luggage services or the front desk. This is just another perk of staying at one of these amazing resorts. It’s nice to not have to lug around bags all day.