First Timers Guide to Visiting Universal Studios Orlando

Where to stay?

As mentioned above, staying at an on-site resort is by far the most convenient option. Options range from affordable family-friendly resorts to luxurious couples resorts. Cabana Bay is a fun and affordable 50’s themed resort. Rates are often as low as $115 outside of prime season.

Amenities include a free park shuttle, early entry to the park, a bowling alley, a Starbucks, an arcade, a cafeteria style dining area, and a wonderful tropical themed pool complete with a lazy river! The pools are so awesome here that I plan a day off from the parks just to lounge around!

I love the lazy river, the waterslide, and the sand beach! There are so many great amenities here that really you don’t need to leave the property. I feel like I need at least one resort day to recover and I would be missing out on valuable pool time by not doing so!

This resort is super casual, and thus, the perfect place to come back to and relax after a long day at the park. The vibe is not stuffy at all and you will find many families and couples staying here.

I love that the cafe opens early (7am) and stays open late (11pm), so you can grab a bite before or after your park day. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and there are a lot of diverse options so everyone in your party can just order whatever they want. There is also a malt shop open late (Midnight) which serves some delicious ice cream, shakes, floats, smoothies, and even adult milkshakes.

You also grab a drink at one of 2 poolside bars, roast S’Mores by the firepit, go for a late night soak in the hot tub, or bowl a game or 2. It’s a lot of fun and my preferred choice for a low-key vacation. I figure going to the theme parks is fun so I want to stay at a fun hotel to compliment the experience.

Saving a few bucks

• The more days you pay for, the better the value. The park frequently offers promotions so check for deals. As the parks have so much to offer, it’s worth planning more than 1 day, especially as a first time visitor. It would cost a lot more to come back next year versus staying for several days and seeing more.
• 3 days is the perfect option. As of 2025, a 3 day ticket which includes 2 days of park-to-park tickets plus 1 day at Epic starts at $137.34. However, with Epic you really need more than 1 day to account for the long wait times and massive size of the park.
• Don’t forget to check the Florida resident deal if you live in the area (note ID will be checked).

• Plan for a non theme park day. This will help you save a few bucks on pricey tickets, while also allowing your body to recover! Consider a lazy pool day, a daytrip to a Gulf Coast beach, or exploring local Orlando attractions. Really, if you plan too many park days back-to-back, you will be totally exhausted! I really need a break from standing in long hot lines and going on exhausting motion simulator rides! There are so many great shady mini golf courses, interesting museums, and beautiful parks you can check out. Plus, Citywalk offers enough entertainment options on its’ own and you can take a convenient shuttle over!

• Avoid eating within the parks. The food is super pricey and honestly not that good. I recommend a big breakfast at your hotel, then snacking until dinner. One of the exceptions for me is Mythos, a wonderful cave themed restaurant at Islands (it has been rated the world’s number 1 theme park restaurant).
• Pack snacks. I usually pack a few snacks in my backpack (chips, trail mix, and enjoy a butterbeer) to hold me over until a late lunch. Besides Mythos, CityWalk is a great place to dine. After my park day, I often visit Hard Rock Cafe, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, or Vivo Italian.

• Refill your water bottle for free at Coke Freestyle stations throughout the park. You can also purchase an unlimited pop deal for $18.99.

• Book your flights and hotel well in advance for the best rates. Summer when kids are out of school and holiday periods are the busiest and priciest. It’s also super hot and humid this time of year. September, November, and January are typically the most affordable times to visit. January is the most comfortable weather wise (avg highs in low 70’s), November the least crowded, and September the best time to comfortably enjoy the water rides. I like September at Islands because it is less crowded but still hot enough to go on the great water rides.

Check out my full guide for more money saving tips.

My guide to the top rides & shows

If you are a first timer, knowing which rides to put on your must-do list can be an overwhelming experience. I’ve taken so many trips here that I now know: which rides I skip, which to go on once, and the best repeat rides.

• The Mummy (Universal): Super fast and dark coaster with crazy special effects. It’s so fast and creepy!
• All Harry Potter rides (Universal & Islands): Love the queues through Hogwarts Castle (Forbidden Journey) & The Wizarding Bank (Gringotts). Also Hagrid’s Motorbike is the craziest coaster (so many fun surprises). I usually go on the Forbidden Journey and Gringotts twice depending on wait times.
• Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls (Islands): Best water ride I’ve ever been on. Who cares if it is in kiddie land?
• Popeye & Bluto’s (Islands): This whitewater rafting ride is so much fun for big groups. A definite repeat ride on really hot afternoons!
• The Hulk Coaster (Islands): An thrilling 67 mph coaster that I have been enjoying since my first visit.
• Men in Black: Alien Attack (Universal): A fun time for anyone who likes arcade shooting games. I go on this one 2-3 times!
• Horror Make Up Show (Universal): An amazing time for horror buffs! So entertaining & informative!
• The Blues Brothers (Universal): I love the music and energy of this show! Kick back and enjoy the show!
• Jurassic Park River Adventure (Islands): A classic featuring fun animatronics & a thrilling drop!
• Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle Show (Islands): A creative show light show over the castle. Don’t miss this one!

You can check out my detailed ride post for the full scoop.

Update: For the new Epic park, I will add:

• The Ministry of Magic (although the wait can be up to 5 hours)
• Super Nintendo World: Super cute & nostalgic with lots of fun photo opps
• Stardust Racers: Really fast and fun coaster with big drops and inverted criss crosses.
• The Frankenstein Experiment: Incredible ride with amazing special effects. One of my favorites!

Note: As I stated before, this park is 100% last on my list. On my next vacation, I’ll probably be skipping out on this one until they get a big more organized. Also, it’s really hot with barely any shade (I would never plan a summer visit here again!).

Other fun experiences not to miss out on!

• Take your picture by the Knight Bus at Diagon Alley.
• Try a butterbeer! It tastes like a butterscotch milkshake and makes for a delicious cool down on a hot day! The frozen variety is the best. They also serve butterbeer flavored ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s.
• Have someone take your picture disappearing into the brick wall at Platform 3/4 (King’s Cross station at Universal Studios). If you are interested in exploring all the hidden gems, you can check out my Wizarding post for more details.
• Don’t miss the dragon fire breathing show (it runs every 10 min on top of Gringotts).
• Take your pic by the iconic spinning globe (located right near entrance). I take my pic here first thing.
• Don’t forget a character pic: it’s the perfect free souvenir.
• Consider engaging in the wand choosing ceremony at Ollivanders. It’s hard to get picked, but a fun experience nonetheless! Also if you buy a wand, you can enjoy interactive wand experiences throughout the park.
• A few more great photo opps: Hogwarts castle from the bridge, the phone booth in Diagon Alley, Brick wall in Diagon Alley, the Back to the Future Delorean car, Raptor Experience (Jurassic Park), The jeep from Jurassic Park, and lots of photo opps at the Springfield Simpsons area.

Prepping for a day at the park

• Consider wearing a camelbak. These handy backpacks hold a liter or more of water, basically enough to cover you all day in the park. You will be drinking extra water to stay hydrated in the hot, sunny climate. You can also fill up for free at Coke Freestyle stations.

• Other essentials to throw in your backpack include sunblock, sunglasses, a few light snacks that won’t melt, a poncho if you don’t want to get wet on water rides, contact rewetting drops/glasses, a portable mister for standing in the hot lines, and anything else that might make your day more comfortable.

• Wear gym shoes and workout apparel. Workout clothes will dry faster than jeans after getting soaked on water rides. Also gym shoes will prevent dreaded blisters from flip flops! We usually clock in 8+ miles a day, so it’s best to be comfortable!

• Check showtimes in advance. As the shows are limited in number, you will want to plan your day around them. Horror Make Up Show and the Blues Brothers are definitely worth making time for. Check out my guide to the top shows not to miss.

A few more of my handy tips for enjoying your day at the parks. You will notice that the more trips you take, the more you learn to make your next trip smoother and more enjoyable.

How to organize your time at the park

Below is my sample itinerary for a 2 day park-to-park experience

Day 1

8am: You will get to enter Islands at 8am with the early admission pass. We usually eat right when the cafe opens at Cabana (around 7) and then head to the shuttle. The first shuttle at Cabana typically starts an hour before early admission with shuttles running every 10 to 20 min. Starbucks opens at 6 if you want an earlier start.

Before opening, there will barely be any crowds, so use this first hour to your advantage. Harry Potter fans will want to explore Diagon Alley or get in line for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure.

Other rides open early include: The Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff, and Ollivanders wand experience. Everyone else not interested in anything Potter related can opt to get on the new VelociCoaster which often has a 90+ min wait mid-day.

Note that early admission attractions open may change throughout the year. Typically, there are at least a few HP rides open. Do check the website or Wait Times app to see what is open early during your vacation. This app comes in handy for planning your day according to estimated times.

9am: Get in line for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. This ride is super popular, so much so that it had a 10 hour wait at opening. Today, you can considerably lower your wait time by getting here first, although the line is still long.

As of spring 2025, during early admission hours, the line was still 90 min long (we got on in about 50 min as single riders). Keep in mind that the wait is entirely outside so it will be really hot later in the day! Just another reason to get here first! Also, this is a prime time to explore Hogsmeade without the crowds!

Mid Afternoon hours: This is the best time of the day to go on the water rides. If you visit in the summer, it will be miserably hot and you will likely be irritated from waiting in hot sunny lines. Jurassic Park, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges, and Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls are all a blast.

Although there are dryers located throughout the park, I would take advantage of the cool down. You will be dry (and hot) again within a few hours.

Late Afternoon: Take the Hogwarts Express back over to Universal. This is a great time to grab a butterbeer as the temps will be hot and there are many stands throughout Diagon.

If you need a quick snack, Louie’s in the NYC section of the park offers giant slices of pizza for 12 bucks. The pizza is actually pretty decent, plus you can also treat yourself to gelato and garlic knots. If you time your visit just right, you can head across the street for The Blues Brothers show afterwards.

Evening hours: Get on any rides you missed earlier in the day. And do not forget about classics like E.T. which barely have any wait. I almost always end my day with a relaxing ride on E.T. It’s so cute and nostalgic, never overcrowded, and I love the queue through the giant redwoods. I even bought the cutest stuffed ET wearing the hoodie on my last trip.

Also, if you have extra time, you can do some shopping and exploring in Diagon if you didn’t have time earlier. These stores are so detailed you really need an entire day just to explore them all. I see new things that I missed out on the first time around on every new trip.

Note: Universal closes at 9 and Islands 10. If you are not totally wiped out, head back over to Islands for 1 or 2 more rides. If you are done for the day, I recommend exploring Citywalk. Do check the hours as they can change throughout the year or vary based on private events.

You will probably be tired, hot, and hungry. Now is a great time to kick back and relax, enjoy tasty comfort food, and simply relax in an air conditioned setting. Hard Rock is the perfect fun choice after a full day walking around the parks! Featuring great comfort food and a laid-back rock n’roll ambiance, you can keep the party going! If treats are more your style, Toothsome serves incredible sundaes and milkshakes.

Day 2

*Get on any rides you missed the first time around.

*Repeat any of your favorites. In my opinion, The Hulk, Gringotts, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Castle, Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto’s, and Men in Black usually top our list of repeat rides depending on lines.

*Do more shopping and exploring in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. It’s much easier to take some time to shop after you have made sure to get on the big rides!

*Try to fit a few more shows into your schedule. The Horror Makeup Show and the Hogwarts Castle show are all amazing. Get to the Hogwarts show a little bit early as it tends to get extremely crowded!

*Take a pic with a character. It is much easier to do so at Universal vs. Disney. The lines are way shorter so it barely eats up any time. In fact, most of the time, I didn’t wait at all.

Important things to know

• If you are staying at Universal hotel, you can have your retail purchases sent to your resort. This is a free service (just let the cashier know at any shop). They will be available at the front desk the next day. I never knew this until my recent trip! How convenient!

• Park hours vary depending on day and time of the year. Rides open early also vary.

• CityWalk is open until Midnight (1am on Saturday).

• Loews Portofino, Loews Royal Pacific, and Hard Rock Hotel all offer free fast passes. Unfortunately, Cabana Bay does not include the passes. In my opinion, if you have at least 2 days at the park, a fast pass really is not worth the extra fee.

• Plan on walking a lot (my fitbit recorded 20-30,000 steps per day which is about 8-9 miles). You may need a foot massage when all is said and done!

• You can dramatically reduce your wait times on more popular rides by riding solo. Just line up in the single rider line.

• The park occasionally offers discounted tickets or free days when purchasing several. It never hurts to check!

• If you are prone to motion sickness, avoid the following rides at all costs: Spiderman, the Simpsons, Despicable Me, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Race through NY with Jimmy Fallon. Some people take motion sickness pills to help. Note Spiderman and Despicable Me are the absolute worst!
• If you are looking to cool off in the mid-afternoon, these rides have the coolest indoor queues: the Mummy, Men in Black, E.T., Skull Island, Escape to Gringotts, The Forbidden Journey, Fast & Furious.
• The hottest lines to avoid mid afternoon include: Hagrid’s Motorbike, The Hulk, and The Simpsons.
• The best restaurants within the theme park include: Finnegan’s Irish pub, Louie’s NY Pizza, Mythos restaurant, Like i said the majority of the time I eat a big breakfast and bring snacks, but these restaurants are pretty decent.