33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

24 – Be flexible

Have a plan for what you want to see, but be prepared to bounce around as needed. Some rides have long lines now but short later and vice versa. Use the queue wait-time info you get from the Universal app to decide where to go next before you even head that way.

Get my 6 quick tips for your first day at Universal Orlando here.

25 – Don’t drink and ride

Unlike Disney’s Magic Kingdom, you can walk around with beer here and it’s offered in a lot of locations. Think about what’s on your agenda before you give into the temptation. Will you really enjoy that rollercoaster or 3-D simulator ride after you polish off a pint?

26 – Don’t ride on an empty stomach

Even if you’re totally jet-lagged and your body thinks it’s four in the morning, have some bagel or a bit of muffin before you hit your first ride. We usually grab something from the hotel coffee bar to eat on the way to the park – that way it has time to settle before we step onto the Forbidden Journey at 8am.

Or try tip #32 and order room service for breakfast. It’s quick and if you just order a continental breakfast to share, it can be even less expensive than Starbucks.

27 – Unplug

It’s so tempting to turn your attention to your phone as soon as you’re standing still, but try putting it down so you can be in the moment. There are so many little details in these worlds – stop for a minute and look around.

Did you know you can pre-purchase a photo package for Universal Orlando? Probably not, because Universal keeps this info on the down-low. But never fear, here’s a quick look at what’s included, whether it’s worth it, and a direct link to Universal Orlando’s photo package website.

28 – Universal Orlando park-themed wake-up calls

If you are staying in one of the Universal hotels, you can get a wake-up call from Betty Boop, a Transformer, or even the Blue Man group. Use the hotel phone to set your wakeup call and it will give you all these options and more. This is a great way to set the stage for your day ahead. (Whoever fumbles for the phone when it rings should hit the speaker button so your whole room can hear).

Here’s what you can expect if you schedule a wake-up call at the Orlando Hard Rock Hotel:

29 – Read the books

This is kind of a bonus – but just be aware that some of the references in the Wizarding World, especially in Diagon Alley, did not appear in the movies. An example of this is Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, which has the spotlight in the book The Prisoner of Azkaban but doesn’t appear in the movie. Plus I can’t imagine anyone regretting reading the Harry Potter books.

If you’re heading to Florida by car, the excellent Harry Potter audio books are the perfect way to pass the time on your road trip.

Guide books are also a great way to help you get ready for your trip. My go-to resource for Universal Orlando is the Unofficial Guide. Find it here on Amazon.

30 – Watch out for parades

Luna and I are really not big parade fans which means we usually forget to check the schedule. Our advice is to check it – and to look for the parade routes on your park map.

If you like parades, you’ll know where/when to see one, and if you don’t like parades you’ll know what area to avoid. Parade routes get crowded, sometimes well before the parade starts, and parades block streets.

This means you can get stuck in one part of the park until the parade goes by, or you may not be able to get to a certain attraction because there is a parade blocking it. Save yourself some frustration and check on this early in your day. You can find info about parades on the Universal Studios app.

31 – At Universal Orlando, wet rides are WET

No kidding – some of them are really wet. The worst (or best, depending on your point of view) is Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges. This is a raft ride that is wet from the moment you sit down, and odds are that you will end up under a waterfall. If this sounds good to you, we recommend changing into a bathing suit or at the very least taking off your walking shoes & wearing flip-flops for the voyage.

Other rides where you will at least be splashed, if not worse (all of these rides go past an area where dry spectators can shoot water cannons at you), are the Jurassic Park ride and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. All of these are at Islands of Adventure.

Getting way too wet on a ride is on my list of top ten theme park mistakes. Click here to find out what else NOT to do.

32 – Room service rocks!

If you’re tired and you’ve had enough theme park food, go back to your hotel and order room service. You can eat in bed!

Room service is also great for breakfast. You can have something substantial while you get ready to go. A nice way to start the day. (And incidentally, one of my early morning wake up tips).

33 – Go Informed

Get ready for your vacation with all my tips. Be sure to join the mailing list for updates and lots more theme park advice and information. Click here to sign up.

Here on GoInformed.net you’ll find tons of information and advice so you can have a fabulous Orlando vacation. Check out these top posts:

• Universal Orlando hotel guide
• Tips for adding Universal Orlando to your Disney World trip
• Universal Orlando walking distances
• Tips for choosing the perfect Universal Orlando park tickets
• Christmas at Universal Orlando
• 55 Things to Know Before You Visit Disney World

The Go Informed Podcast is loaded with insights for your vacation planning. Find it on any podcast app – just search for Go Informed: Build a Better Vacation, or check out all the episodes here.

If you’ve got 60 seconds, you can get the basics about Universal Orlando, Disney World, and more! Check out my theme park quick start guides here.

Have a fantastic vacation!

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