33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

12 – Let your kid be your guide

Something we’ve done when traveling, since Luna was little, is to have everyone in the family make a list each day of three things they’d like to do. We don’t always get through all nine things, but we take turns so everybody at least gets their top thing done. Not only is this is a great way for your kids to feel included in the planning process, but you will end up discovering things you may not have even considered.

As soon as you can, start talking with your kids about the upcoming trip – look at guide books, websites, and YouTube together. Ask them what they’d like to see and do, and let them take the lead for part of the day.

Check out the Go Informed Podcast

On the Go Informed Podcast you’ll find tons of tips and information to help you plan and execute a fabulous Universal Orlando vacation. Listening with your kids is a great place to start learning about all the fun things you’ll get to do together.

Click here to see all the episodes and show notes, or search for Go Informed: Build a Better Vacation on your favorite podcast app.

Here are the most recent episodes of the Go Informed Podcast

13 – Try the butterbeer

Butterbeer is a delicious treat you’ll only find in the Wizarding World and the Harry Potter Studio tour in London. If you like butterscotch and/or vanilla you’re going to like it. We prefer it frozen or cold, or in the form of butterbeer ice cream!

In my opinion, you can skip the pumpkin juice, but that’s just me.

14 – Enjoy the ride

This is a reminder about all those warnings you are subjected to in the line queue, about who shouldn’t ride (besides the usual pregnant women, people with heart conditions, etc, one of the categories is “other” – whatever that means?). In general if you’ve ever ridden a roller coaster you will survive whatever ride you’re currently waiting for.

You may be dizzy, you may only want to ride it once, but hop on and enjoy the ride.

Do you need a touring plan for Universal Orlando? Here are 7 questions to ask yourself.

15 – Magic

One of my favorite things about theme parks is the magic of stepping out of our real world into something made of fantasy. In the case of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, magic is literally all around you. Suspend disbelief for a while and take it in.

Click here to take an audio tour of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on the Go Informed Podcast.

16 – Stay calm

So many attractions, so little time! Take a breath. Today you will have experiences unlike your usual Tuesday. Savor the moments and then start planning your return trip.

Knowing and practicing proper theme park etiquette can go a long way to help you navigate a crowded park with poise. Be sure to review my top theme park etiquette tips here.

I’ve made a list of 7 ways you can find Zen in a theme park. Here’s how to do it.

17 – Have a snack/take breaks

Take breaks more than you think you need to. If you’re planning a full day in the parks, you’re going to have to pace yourself. There are snack options almost everywhere you look – from ice cream to fruit to cold drinks. And drink lots of water, especially on hot days.

You can ask for a free cup of ice water at any quick service spot that has fountain drinks. Just walk up to the pick up counter and say please.

18 – Ride single

Many of the rides have singles options – just ask the attendant at the head of the standby queue. Both the Gringotts ride and the Forbidden Journey have dedicated singles queues.

Riding single can seriously cut down on your wait time. If you go in the queue with a buddy you’ll be together for the whole time in line, just split up when it’s time to load.

Want to learn all about how to ride single at Universal Orlando? Here’s my post and podcast episode about how the single rider line works at Universal Orlando and Disney World.

19 – Try something new

So you’ve never seen a Transformers movie in your life – try the ride anyway. You might find it’s your favorite attraction in the entire park!

20 – Take a risk

You may need to work up to it, but push yourself past your comfort zone a bit. Try the ride that scares you – and buy the picture for proof you did it.

Looking for a real spine-tingling thrill? Consider visiting one of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.

21 – Prepare for the weather

Florida is of course known for hot weather, but if you go in the winter it can be cold. We’ve experienced morning frost in January and February. Watch the forecast before you go – and pack layers, including hats and gloves in the winter – or you might find yourself purchasing a whole new wardrobe in the park shops.

If you visit in the summer, you can expect hot, humid days, and rain showers. I’ve created a bunch of posts to help you deal with the summer weather:

• How to beat the heat at Universal Orlando
• Top 5 Orlando summer weather tips
• Go Informed Orlando summer gear guide
• Theme park extreme weather tips

22 – Watch the movies before you go

Here is some homework I think everybody can enjoy. Almost every attraction at both parks is based on a movie or TV show. The queue lines usually provide some context for riders unfamiliar with the theme, but why not spend some time catching up on the movies before you go?

If you aren’t already Harry Potter fanatics like us, we especially recommend you acquaint yourself with these movies before you visit the Wizarding World. Otherwise most of the theming will go straight over your head.

A word about ride intensity that relates to the movies. Know that especially with the Harry Potter rides, anything you see in the movies could – extremely vividly – come to life on the ride. For this reason, I think it’s particularly important to watch the movies before you visit the Wizarding World. And take my advice here about how to test-drive a ride to find out if it’s too scary for your kid.

I’ve written a post listing all the movies that inspired rides at Universal Orlando. Click here to find out what you should watch before you go.

23 – Charge your phone

Today your phone is also your camera, map, and guide book. Expect to use it a lot, and if you’re using the Universal Park app most likely your phone will be checking in on the GPS frequently, which can really drain the battery. Make sure you start with a fully-charged phone each day.

It’s also really smart to toss an extra power bank into your park backpack.

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