20 Universal Orlando Mistakes to Avoid
Here are 20 Universal Orlando mistakes that most people make. However, you’re here today, so you don’t have to make these Universal mistakes!
My name is Amy, and I’m a Universal Annual Passholder, Florida local, and a Certified Universal Travel Agent! Welcome to Florida Travel with Kids, where you’ll find all kinds of Universal Orlando tips, like 25 Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips and what to pack for Universal Studios.
Today, we’ll discuss 20 common Universal mistakes and how you can avoid them!
Do I need a rental car for a Universal vacation?
Unfortunately, we Muggles can’t fly on brooms or use flying cars, so when I travel to Universal, I like to rent a car. If you decide to rent a car in Orlando, I recommend renting one from Discount USA Car Rental.
Universal Studios mistakes to avoid
Here are 20 Universal Orlando mistakes to avoid, listed in no particular order.
1. Not downloading the park app.
Downloading the Universal Orlando Resort App is one of the most important things you can do! It’s an easy mistake to avoid by downloading it beforehand. The app contains useful information, from a park map to park hours, show times, ride wait times, and even directions!
2. Assuming it’s okay to buy tickets at the park
While you can buy tickets at the park, this is one of the easiest Universal Orlando mistakes to avoid. The lines to buy tickets are generally long, and who wants to waste time in line?!
Whether planning a family or an adult-only trip, I’d love to work with you to create your dream Universal Orlando vacation.
As a Universal annual pass holder AND certified Travel Agent, I have firsthand experience with the parks, rides, dining options, and more, enabling me to offer tailored recommendations and insider tips that can significantly enhance your trip.
Contact me for more information.
3. Thinking it’s cheaper to stay off-property
For Disney World, it is often cheaper to stay off-property (although staying at Disney is pretty magical.) However, at Universal, this isn’t always the case. Universal now has three different resort tiers: Signature, Prime Value, and Value. You can learn more here: All the Universal Orlando Hotel Types explained.
The Signature Resorts (formerly mostly Premier Resorts) are more expensive but come with some great perks. We’ll talk more about that below. The Value and Prime Value Resorts can be very inexpensive, depending on when you visit.
Endless Summer Dockside and Surfside are often the same as a hotel room off-property. Plus, Endless Summer has two-bedroom suites that sleep 6, often under $150/night! It’s hard to beat two bedrooms, a kitchenette, and free park transportation. Even the partner hotels don’t tell you their transportation is limited.
We recently stayed at Surfside, so check out our review here: Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites Review.
4. Not knowing how far Endless Summer is from the parks
I just mentioned how economical Endless Summer Surfside and Dockside are, but they’re also the furthest from the park.
You can walk to the parks from Cabana Bay and Aventura if you want to. You can even walk over (very easily from Aventura) to Sapphire Falls and take the water taxi. You’re stuck with bus transportation at Endless Summer: Dockside and Surfside. This might still work for your family, and the buses run frequently, but it’s good to know that they are not very walkable options.
You have to weigh the cost difference and what works best for your family. The Endless Summer Resorts are a great economical option, but they were built later and quite a bit further than any of the other Universal Orlando hotels.
If Cabana Bay is in your budget, it’s a much closer option.
5. Not utilizing early park admission.
Early park admission comes with every Universal hotel stay OR with any stay booked with a Travel Agent (yep, Universal loves their travel agents.) If you have it, take advantage of fewer crowds and shorter wait times for some of the popular attractions like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter rides!
6. Assuming Universal is a 1-2 day destination
Way, way back in the day, Universal may have been a one-day stop during a Disney vacation. Those days are long gone! Universal is now easily a 3-day destination, and it’s easy and fun to stay even longer.
I recommend one full day for Islands of Adventure and one for Universal Studios. Then, I recommend one extra day to do anything you miss, especially during a busy time like summer or any major holidays. If you plan to visit Volcano Bay (Universal’s fantastic water park!), You may even want 4 days to really enjoy your time.
We have a guide oh how to visit the entire Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day and a blog post that goes more in-depth about visiting Universal in one day (and why you shouldn’t!)
It’s easy to spend an entire week at Universal, especially if you take a day off from the parks to hang out at your hotel, visit one of the Disney Parks, or explore other things to do in Orlando.
7. Forgetting sunscreen
It’s hot and sunny in Orlando (except when it rains), and you’ll need sunscreen! Make sure to stock up and bring some in your park bag. We’ll talk about park bags in #11.
Our favorite sunscreen is from the All Good brand. It’s reef-safe (no, there is no reef in Orlando, but we travel to many other places) and sensitive-skin friendly, too!
8. Skipping the shows
Most people go to Universal for the rides, but don’t miss out on the shows! There’s a really cute animal show that is one of the three original attractions still going at Universal. Do you know the other two? I’ll give you a pro tip so that you can impress your friends! The 3 original attractions still available at Universal are:
- Animal Actors on Location
- ET Adventure (the only original ride still at Universal)
- Horror Makeup Show
The Bourne Stuntacular is a really fun stunt show. It’s in the A/C, which is a great way to escape the Orlando heat.
9. Not getting a park-to-park ticket
Not getting a park-to-park ticket is a critical error for a Harry Potter fan. The only way to ride the Hogwarts Express is to have a park-to-park ticket.
10. Not knowing the Hogwarts Express is different both ways
Speaking of the Hogwarts Express, this isn’t a one-and-done experience! The experience of going to Hogsmeade from Diagon Alley is different from the reverse trip; you have to do both.
11. Bringing a very large bag
One of the easiest mistakes to make at Universal is bringing a large bag. It can be tempting to carry around lots of stuff, but then you’ll have to either 1) pay for a locker or 2) leave someone with all your stuff. The easiest solution is to carry a smaller bag or a few smaller bags if you have several people.
The Loungefly bags are the perfect size for a free Universal locker, and you can pick one to match your favorite Universal characters! A hip bag/fanny pack is also a great option as the 3-prong bags will go on most rides excluding the rides where you go through a metal detector.
Unlike Disney, Universal does require you to use a locker for most rides, so make sure you have a bag that will fit. Check out the best bags for Universal Studios for more favorites.
12. Forgetting a poncho
During the summer months, it isn’t uncommon to have a random downpour in the afternoon. Bring a few cheap ponchos and thank me later because umbrellas and ponchos are very expensive at Universal.
13. Not getting the photo pass
This tip is for the moms out there. Sometimes, you look back and realize you were hardly in any photos. Maybe you have a great partner who makes sure you are, but then they aren’t in it! The Photo Pass helps to ensure the entire family can be in the photos. There are Photo Pass photographers at the entrance and all around the popular photo spots at the park.
Of course, you’ll also get the ride photos too!
14. Not comparing Premier Resorts vs. Express Pass
If you’re visiting during a busy time of the year, an Express pass can be necessary. If you only have a short trip (2-3 days), an Express Pass is essential around the holidays or even in the summer months.
The biggest mistake that people make is not factoring in the Express Pass being included at some of the Signature Resorts! Check out which Universal Orlando hotels offer Express Pass to learn even more.
Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay, and Loews Royal Pacific all offer Express Passes for your entire party. For a family of 4, staying here is often less expensive than staying at a cheaper Universal hotel and buying Express Passes separately.
Contact me to see what is right for your family! If you don’t need an Express Pass during your stay, I’ll tell you! It isn’t always needed.
15. Assuming you won’t get wet on water rides
Universal Studios does not have water rides, but Islands of Adventure has three. Jurassic Park River Adventure, Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls, and Popeyes and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges are all water rides.
Jurassic Park is hit or miss, depending on where you sit. Dudley Do-Rights is your typical plunge ride (very likely to get wet), but the most..watery..of the water rides is the last one. Popeyes and Blutos? Even a poncho won’t help you! Plan accordingly. Check out our full list of rides at Universal Orlando to learn more about the water rides.
Besides, the water rides are one of the best ways to stay cool on a hot day at Universal!
16. Not preparing for motion sickness
Many of the Universal attractions are indoor and screen-based. This is a good thing and a bad thing. It’s great if you want to avoid rain or extreme heat. However, the nature of screen rides is bad for those of us with motion sickness.
I recommend packing accordingly. As someone who has pretty severe motion sickness, I like to bring:
- Ginger chews (for mild nausea)
- Emeterm Relief Band (the only thing I’ve found that really works)
Other nausea products like Dramamine may be good to have if they work for you. We also have a blog post with the worst rides for motion sickness at Universal to help you prepare.
17. Not having an Express Pass
I know I said that sometimes you don’t need an Express Pass, but sometimes the lines can be so long that an Express Pass is the only way to ensure actually getting on rides in any timely manner. I recommend talking to a travel agent (like me) or checking out a crowd calendar to determine if you’ll need them!
Check out Which Universal Orlando hotels offer Express Pass? This can be a great way to get an Express Pass and save money overall.
18. Forgetting about single-rider lines
If Express Passes are out of the budget and your party is all adults or adults and teens, the single rider lines can be a lifesaver! Sometimes, these lines are shorter than Express Pass! Your party may be split up, but you get to wait in line together, and it can be a great way to get on more rides.
19. Not using child swap
If you have small children, don’t leave them waiting with an adult somewhere near the ride queue. Have the entire family walk through the queue together and utilize the child swap area. Most of the queues at Universal are fun and interactive, so young kids may enjoy them even if they’re too small for the rides.
Jurassic Park/World fans will love the Velocicoaster queue, even if the ride itself would terrify them. Camp Cretaceous plays in child swap, which is great for young dinosaur fans. Child Swap will usually have a kid-friendly clip or show playing related to the ride. Plus, many of the Child Swap areas have restrooms, water fountains, or A/C!
20. Forgetting park essentials
I mentioned ponchos and sunscreen, but there are other things that you might want to make sure you bring to Universal. I already have a blog post about it, so check out what to pack for Universal Studios (and what to wear at Universal.)
Universal Orlando Mistakes to avoid
I hope this list of common Universal Orlando mistakes to avoid will help you plan the ultimate Universal vacation! We have lots of tips to help you along the way, so if you’re heading to Universal Orlando (or even Walt Disney World), check out our other Universal Travel Tips and Disney Travel tips:
More Universal Travel Tips:
We have lots more Universal travel tips on the blog. Check them out!
- 25 Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips
- 25 Free Things at Disney World
- Where to find Dole Whip at Disney World
- How to Eat at Universal on a Budge
- The best gluten-free food at Universal
- 20 Pro Tips for Universal Orlando
- The best food at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
About Florida Travel With Kids
Florida Travel with Kids was started by a family who loves to travel the state of Florida with kids! This site will help you explore the fun state of Florida and all of the kid-friendly activities you’ll find here.
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