I went to Universal Orlando a few times last year, and let me tell you it was a very different experience than I remembered it being from the last time I went in high school. Covid restrictions combined with new virtual wait times and online food orders created an atmosphere that was unfamiliar to me. I used to consider myself a theme park expert, but new guidelines rendered me down to my worst nightmare-an unprepared tourist who couldn't figure out what to do next. That's why I've devised this short list of tips to make your next Universal trip the best it can be. Without further ado, let's get into my top five tips and tricks!
Get the Universal app
This app is a must have if you want to ride pretty much any of the bigger or newer rides in the park especially if you're going on a crowded day. If you want to ride Hagrid's or Minions or Transformers, you absolutely need to have this app downloaded onto your phone. This way you can reserve virtual line passes when they become available.
Arrive earlier than you think you need to
Arriving to the park early is a key tip that many people overlook. By getting to the park at or even before opening time, you help ensure that you'll have more opportunities to experience attractions that are on your to do list. Also, being in the park early allows you to avoid heavy crowds that are often found later on in the day. Especially during covid times, staying away from crowds is something many people are looking to do, and getting to the park early will help you accomplish this goal.
Bring food with you
I think most people are unaware that you can bring your own food into Universal parks, but it's something that my family and I do every time we visit. Sticking a bag of chips or an uncrustable or an apple in your bag can be the difference between a fun afternoon with your travel party or a hangry group of people getting so fed up with trying to figure out the new mobile food order that they settle for Burger King on citywalk. Don't let yourself have that second experience. Pack snacks.
Be aware for line times for lockers
Some rides like men in black have lockers outside of the ride. When considering the wait time for any rides like this, you also need to be sure to consider the extra time you will wait to put your belongings in a locker. If you have a virtual line pass for Minions expiring in one hour and see that men in black has a wait time of 30 minutes, you may not have enough time to do both because you'll likely need to wait at least 10 minutes to get your bags into and then back out of a locker. Make sure you take this into account when deciding what to ride and when.
See the Bourne Stuntacular at all costs
When I tell you this is the best thing I've done at Universal I am not exaggerating. This show is completely worth your time and you should make it a point to see it at least once while on your vacation. It seamlessly combines virtual reality with live stunt performers and 4D elements making it the most impressive show experience I have ever had at any theme park. This show puts others like Terminator 2 3D and Mickey's Philharmagic to shame-and those shows are really really good! Whatever you do, make sure you check show times and see this show while you're at Universal Studios!
So there you have five tips for having a successful Universal Orlando trip. Whether you're planning on traveling soon or vacationing in a post-covid future, I hope these tips help you have a more fun and satisfying park experience. Let me know if you'd like tips for any other parks or a part two of this list for specific areas of Universal Orlando Resort!
