First Timers Guide to Visiting Universal Studios Orlando

Move over Disney! With 2 jam packed theme parks, Universal offers the same level of excitement as “the most magical place on Earth.” After multiple visits to both parks, I can say that no trip to Orlando would be complete without at least a few days exploring Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

Both theme parks add exciting rides to their lineup nearly every year, so you can always expect something new. I have seen the park change so much in the past 15 years; I visited Hogsmeade right after opening, then Diagon, then Epic. I remember waiting hours in line in the hot sun for The Forbidden Journey; on my most recent trip, I got through the line in just 30 minutes! One ride which continues to stay busy is Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure although it is one of the best rides in Orlando so I understand.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter continues to expand by the year, and with Epic Universe opening in spring of 2025, there is even more to do. Unfortunately, the prices go up every year too. To get the max out of your trip as a first time visitor, you will want to check out my handy guide. I offer some time saving tips, organization tips, money saving tips, and details on which rides and shows you will want to put near the top of your list.

Update: I visited Epic the 2nd week of opening. You can read about my experience at the park for more details. My brief overview: it was extremely busy, wait times were hours long, there were many ride delays, it was really hot with no shade, and you really need at least 2-3 days just to take it all in. If you are limited on time, I recommend checking out the 2 original parks first.

Islands vs. Universal? Which park is better?

Both parks are definitely worthy of a visit. I love them both equally and would never plan a trip to one vs the other. Universal is home to incredible nostalgic movie themed rides like E.T., Revenge of the Mummy, and Men in Black, while Islands is home to more fun water rides and the big coasters like the Hulk and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (my favorite coaster in Orlando).

Personally, I think Islands is “more fun” but Universal has that nostalgic factor going for it with the 80’s and 90’s themed movie rides. Universal is home to an amazing replica of Diagon Alley, while Islands is home to the Hogsmeade section of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Both are home to amazing themed rides and shops.

If I had to pick one, it would be Universal for the nostalgic factor, the incredible Diagon Alley recreation, and the classic movie rides which honestly never get old enough even after all these years! I end almost every trip with a bike ride on E.T.! To be honest, I wouldn’t even consider Epic in the mix if this is your first vacation. There is too much to do at the other parks which offer better rides in a nicer environment.

Park-to- Park tickets are a must! The Hogwarts Express takes you between the 2.

A park-to-park ticket is needed to access both parks in a single day. If you plan on switching back and forth between the 2 parks, this ticket will be needed. The Hogwarts Express train ride is a convenient (and fun) mode of transportation between both parks. I would recommend the park-to-park for any Harry Potter fans as you absolutely need to take the train ride.

There are boarding stations at Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade although I prefer the overall ambiance at Diagon. A lot of times the line is really long and it can get so hot and stuffy. I was lucky enough to visit a few times where crowds were barely existent and got a lot of cool photos. You can also take a video yourself “disappearing” through the wall at the Platform 9 and 3/4. If you check out my Harry Potter post, I have a cool video of this and other hidden tricks within Diagon and Hogsmeade.

Plus, you can save yourself more walking time between parks. I already get enough steps in for the day (like 30,000) that I enjoy the nice relaxing train ride between parks. The special effects are awesome (I love the dementors) and you can even purchase a chocolate frog or pumpkin juice to enjoy along the 10 min ride.

Hour early admission: The major perk of staying on-site

Staying at an official property offers numerous benefits, the primary being hour early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I love getting on a few rides, exploring the shops, and taking lots of pictures before the afternoon crowds take over.

This is also the best time to get on the super popular Hagrid’s Motorbike coaster before the wait is hours long. Sometimes, the rides that are open early change throughout the year so you need to check their website in advance. Or better yet, download their handy app where you can check wait times for all rides throughout the day.

For our last trip, the following rides and attractions opened early: Hagrid’s Motorbike, The Forbidden Journey, Ollivanders, Flight of the Hippogriff, and Jurassic World Veloci Coaster. Looking at the website again in spring of 2026, it appears to be the same lineup.

On our recent June trip, the single rider line for Hagrid was still an hour long and we got to the park right at early opening. Later in the day, I saw the wait at over 3 hours, so we still saved a lot of time. Also, you can get so many great pictures of all the shops before it becomes too packed to move later on in the day.

Diagon Alley completely deserted an hour before the park opens…

Versus Diagon Alley mid-day

Downloading the wait times app will save you time. More time=more attractions=better overall value. On this handy app, you will be able to scan updated wait times for all rides within both parks, so you can play your day accordingly.

Save yourself the hassle and purchase a lanyard at home (I bought 6 for 10 bucks) and store your ticket, credit card, and early admission pass in it. You can scan this to get into the park, access lockers, and board the train instead of taking out your phone out each time.