Universal Studios Hacks

No matter when you travel to Universal Orlando Resort, you can create an epic vacation with these 15 Universal Studios hacks. You’re in the right place if you’re looking for Universal Orlando tips and tricks. As annual pass holders and Florida residents, we share plenty of Universal Orlando vacation tips on this blog, and we are glad to have you here.

What is Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort, also commonly known as Universal Studios (although that is incorrect; Universal Studios is one of the theme parks,) is located in Orlando, Florida.

No longer a one-day stop away from Disney, Universal Orlando now consists of Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, Epic Universe, and Universal CityWalk.

Universal Orlando is also home to 11 resorts: Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Loews Royal Pacific, Aventura Hotel, Cabana Bay Beach Resort, and Universal Endless Summer Resorts – Dockside Inn and Suites and Seaside Inn and Suites. PLUS three resorts with Epic Universe. Check out Universal Orlando Hotel Types to learn more!

If you need a car for your Universal Orlando trip, we recommend renting a car from Discount USA Car Rental. They offer the best rates and free cancellation.

15 Universal Orlando Hacks

After you read these Universal Orlando hacks, you may want a complete Universal Orlando planning guide.

Planning a Universal Vacation? I’ll be your Travel Agent!

In addition to being a Florida resident and annual pass holder, I’m also a top travel agent. You might think planning a Universal vacation feels like a full-time job. Fortunately for you, it is my full-time job, and I’m here to help. Contact me to start planning your Epic Universal vacation.

Now, let’s get to the Universal Studios hacks.

1. Download the Universal Resort App

The Universal Resort App is so useful. You can use it to check on ride wait times, navigate the parks, mobile order food, and so much more.

2. Avoid Traveling During Holidays

If you can, avoid traveling during any school holidays. This includes summer, winter holidays, and spring and fall breaks. If this isn’t possible, consider #3.

3. Consider an Express Pass

If you must travel during a busy time of the year, consider an Express Pass or a VIP tour.

It’s important to note that some of the Signature resorts do include an Express Pass, so it may be worth doing the math and seeing if that makes the most sense for your family.

You can check the pricing for the Express Pass resorts; Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay, and Loews Royal Pacific.

It will cost more to stay at a Premier Resort or purchase Express Passes. However, no one wants to stand in line all day, which is precisely what can happen during the busy times when the parks are!

4. Plan your Dining in Advance

Universal Orlando has a dining plan that can make sense in some situations. The best way to know if the dining plan is right for you is to weigh your options and consider your unique family situation.

Unfortunately, the dining plan has not been available for quite some time. I will update if it returns.

5. Arrive Early

No one wants to wake up early on vacation, but arriving early at the parks is ideal for a few reasons. First, the parks tend to be slower in the morning. This means you can walk on some of the most popular rides, something you can never do in the afternoon.

Another reason to arrive early is for the chance to be “First Family.” A family at the front of the lines will be chosen to announce the opening of the park.

My son got to announce the park opening for Islands of Adventure a few years ago, and it was so much fun!

For the best chance of being chosen, stand in the front of the line, smile a lot, and wear Universal clothing (Harry Potter, Minions, Jurassic Park, etc.)

6. Stay in a Universal Orlando Hotel

Yes, it costs more to stay in a Universal Orlando Resort, but the cost is almost always worth it. Universal is always running transportation between the resorts and parks, which you won’t get at a partner hotel.

Universal has some very economical hotel options; check out our recent stay at Surfside.

We have hotel reviews and room tours for every single hotel at Universal Orlando. Check out our YouTube channel to find them.

You can still drive to the parks, but you’ll have to pay for parking. The partner hotels run shuttles, but they are very limited, which no one will tell you (but we do!) 

7. Take a break (at least for lunch) in the afternoon

If your family needs some downtime, take a break in the afternoon. The parks are the busiest, and the temperatures are the hottest in the early-mid afternoon.

If you need a break, head back to your resort for a nap or some time at the pool. Even if you don’t need a big break, mid-afternoon is a great time to sit down and eat lunch with some A/C.

8. Bring water bottles and snacks

Don’t buy those $4-5 bottles of water, don’t do it! First of all, you can get free water at most restaurants. Second, there are plenty of places to fill your water bottles. The Coca-Cola machines are the best places because you can get water and ice and there are lots of them around the parks.

Bring a sturdy water bottle, like a Hydroflask, and fill it up throughout the day.

9. Bring a fanny pack/hip bag

Many rides, including the Hagrid coaster, will allow guests to wear a 3-prong fanny pack. If you don’t need to carry much, this can be a great way to save time by not using the lockers.

Families with younger children may not be able to take advantage of bringing so little into the parks, but adults or families with teens may be able to get away with only using a fanny pack.

Check out Amazon for some great prices on fanny pack/hip bags, but make sure to purchase one with 3-prongs. You can also check out our post with the best bags for Universal Studios.

10. Take advantage of “single rider” lines

If your party members are ten years or older, you can take advantage of single-rider lines. Yes, your party may be split up for the actual ride, but you can still wait together in the queue. This is one of the best Universal Studios hacks for busy days!

Occasionally, you will even ride together, especially if you only have two people and the ride seats more than 2, such as Kong or Transformers. This is not guaranteed, so ensure everyone in your party is okay with sitting separately.

We have compared wait times and have found that single-rider lines can sometimes be even shorter than Express Pass lines.

11. Buy the refillable bottles and popcorn

This is a good tip if you’re looking for Universal Studios hacks to save money! Buy the refillable soda bottles and popcorn on your first day. They’re initially pricey, but the refills make an inexpensive snack. Of course, this may not be a good tip if you don’t drink soda/Gatorade, but if you do, it will save you a lot of money.

Plus, they always have adorable new refillable popcorn buckets with different Universal themes! The refills are only $2.

12. Make sure you have Park-to-Park tickets

You can’t ride the Hogwarts Express without a Park-to-Park ticket, so make sure you have one! You can’t fully explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter without riding it both ways!

13. Plan for three days minimum

Plan for a minimum of 3 days in the parks. Many people consider Universal a smaller park, but it isn’t! Four to five days are even better. Enjoying the entire park in only one or two days is very difficult.

14. Use the “secret” entrance

If you’re visiting on a day when it isn’t jam-packed, you won’t need to use this Universal Studios hack. However, if you’re visiting on a busy day, there is another entrance to the parks by the (former) Blue Man Group Auditorium.

This sadly isn’t available anymore, but I decided to leave it here for the memories. 

15. Know the secrets of the Wizarding World

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is one of the most popular attractions at Universal Orlando. Make sure to know plenty about it before you go. Fortunately, I have a blog post with 25 Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips.

I also have a post with the hidden secrets of the Wizarding World, so make sure to check both posts out before your next Wizarding World adventure.

*Bonus* Universal hack

As of 2025, Express Pass on Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure is still unavailable.

I recommend riding Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure first thing in the morning, especially if you have early park admission. Typically, Hagrid’s has longer lines throughout the day, so it’s best to take advantage of shorter queues in the morning.

While the Velicoaster can has long lines, it’s easy to find it at 60 minutes or less vs. 90+ with Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. Plus, this ride now accepts Express Pass.

Universal Orlando Hacks

I hope that these 15 Universal Studios hacks are helpful! Let me know in the comments, or share your favorite Universal Studios hacks. If you’re ready to plan an epic Universal vacation, contact me and let’s get started!

There’s so much more to know before going to Universal, but don’t worry! We have lots of Universal Orlando tips and trick on the blog:

• 20 Universal Orlando Mistakes to avoid
• A complete list of rides at Universal Orlando
• 20 things to know before going to Universal Studios
• The problem with Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure
• The best lanyards for Universal Studios

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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