15 Mistakes To AVOID At Universal Orlando Resort
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
- We take a look at all of the mistakes you should avoid making during your next visit to Universal Orlando Resort. Did I miss a mistake to avoid during your next visit? Let me know in the comments!
How Many Days Do You NEED at Universal Orlando?: • How Many Days Do You N...
Universal’s VelociCoaster Day vs Night - The Difference Is INSANE: • Universal’s VelociCoas...
Taylor's social media:
Text me: (407) 214-5735
Twitter: oi.tips/3lFY8MX
Instagram: oi.tips/3zaT2ge
Facebook: oi.tips/3AocLKA
Orlando Informer's social media:
Twitter: oi.tips/2XhTMDx
Instagram: oi.tips/3kbuob3
Facebook: oi.tips/3nyv4tk
Facebook community: oi.tips/2XrOoO7
As the owner of Orlando Informer, I'm here to help you have a better visit to Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld parks, and more in Orlando, Florida! Please subscribe to be the first to know when I upload weekly videos.
One mistake I would avoid is missing out on Seuss landing. Whether you are a kid, or an adult, it’s super fun for the whole family. I totally recommend cat in the hat and all the other rides! Also, this is a great area for little kids, so don’t be stressed about kid friendly rides, there’s Seuss landing! Also, I’d recommend riding E.T. Adventure, it’s a great ride. And kid friendly as well.
These are great tips!
The high in the sky trolley was one of the hightlights of our trip!
Yessss, I went there and a teen and now I take my kids there ! From grad night to “hole in the bank for your kids” but it’s my fav spot !!!
I LOVE it! Went in my 20's, then 30's, with 1 kid, then 2 & going again next week. I'm absolutely making a point of stopping there as I do each time!
My son had just turned 4, daughter was 8 & they were able 2 get on every ride that I wanted 2 go on & LOVED them(even though some had me dizzy, scared & closing my 👀). That's why i love universal! With so many virtual reality rides it's great 4 kids. We left the 🎢 2 their dad!
So as an extension to "Don't let a little rain ruin your day:" when it rains (especially in the mid afternoon which is *extremely* common for Florida, and families with kids are already tired) the park will often thin out *significantly*. Most thunderstorms in central Florida in the summer come in very small bursts of severe rain and lightning which shuts all the outdoor rides down but may only last for an hour or less. I recommend grabbing a drink, hopping on one of the indoor rides, or just hanging out to enjoy the rain for a bit. The rides usually open pretty quick after the lightning has passed and the lines will likely be much shorter. This is from a native Floridian who's had an annual pass to Universal Orlando for over 2 decades.
Side note: As mentioned most outdoor rides will remain open in minor to moderate rain, but any sign of lightning in the area (exceptionally common in Florida with or without rain) will immediately close all outdoor attractions.
The lines tend to be shorter when it rains. It rained on Christmas Eve in Hollywood, and the park was really quiet until later in the day because of it. Going when it rains is very good because everyone else tends to be scared off by the rain.
The entire time I was at universal a few weeks ago it was constantly raining then it would stop then it'd rain again, but as long as you've got a jacket it doesn't do nothing, plus the lines do get shorter for a lot of things which is great, it's also great when your wanting to ride the water rides bc you'll get wet anyways lol
Normally we just bring umbrellas since everyone is leaving. Don't let the rain stop you. It just makes the lines so much shorter!
Oh yeah. I try to stay in the park and hop on one of the most popular rides when the weather gets better.
the only problem is some rides will close. funnily enough, for my first time ever at universal studios orlando it rained and had to close early so i didn't get to experience everything. it was still fun though
As a passholder, the wait times are veeerrryyy overestimated and if a ride has a less than 30 minute wait, you could probably be in and out in 5-10 minutes. Also velocicoaster breaks a lot so be prepared for a technical delay when you visit
I've never actually had velocicoaster break down while in line
The Bread Box is one of the best "hidden gems" on City Walk! The sandwiches are great, the fries are crispy, the staff is very friendly, and the price is really reasonably considering where you are. It's not right on the main strip, it's just up the stairs from Voodoo Donuts. There is indoor and outdoor seating available. Don't miss it!
Pastrami from the box is GODLY. Not a big fan of the sandwich usually, but OH BOY IS IT GOOD.
While it's hit or miss on the menu, I say Cowfish is a bit underrated. The sushi is interesting and I liked the filet mignon sushi. It basically was like a steak tartare with some seafood on the side. The restaurant is popular with the locals so you might want to go during off hours such as before 5 pm or after the lunch crowd leaves. Oh, and don't forget to have a Duff beer in Springfield. It's Homer Simpson's favorite and is not sold commercially outside the theme parks. I don't usually like beer but Duff is light and smooth with no burning aftertaste and seems to pair fine with meats such as corn dogs.
@@largol33t1 I love the Cowfish statue! It's one of my favorite photo spots.
I agree the food at breadbox was very good last summer. Spent 3 days at universal and the rest at Disney parks. The rain factor is true for the parks, but still enjoyed it.
The tip about not saving your most anticipated ride for the end is so true. Our first trip to Florida in '94 (when we lives in PA) was mostly a Disney trip, but we had one day at Universal. My husband really wanted to do Kongfrontation, but we had waited so long in line for Earthquake that we needed a break from the heat and we needed food. We planned on going to Kongfrontation later after the sun went down when the line would be cooler...but...Florida rain happened, and the ride shut down for mechanical difficulties. Never got on it and by the time we went back, Kongfrontation was long gone.
We always split our trips too. Usually 5 at Disney, 3 at universal. This yr even pur kids said they'd rather have a full universal trip. Shorter lines, updated rides, better hotels... just a better experience overall! We leave on exactly 7 days, so excited!
It's not a mistake, but I have a tip. There's this absolutely random time of the day where the waiting time of a ride just plummets straight down. If that happens to one of the rides you like, DON'T HESITATE and JUST RUN to it. That drop of waiting time happened to the HP Forbidden Journey ride, which is one of my favorite rides. It was like a 5 minute wait so I sprinted to the ride and got on it 3 times in a row before it jumped up to 20 minutes. I was really happy about it because after that, the waiting times really started increasing A LOT. So if this ever happens to you, go for a time attack. You won't regret it.
Normally it’s between 11-2 cause lunch time!
Tried this on Is. of Adventure and it doesn't happen on Hagrid's. Once it hits 2 hours, it never goes down.
This one is mostly for people who just want to get on a ride as fast as they can. The single rider line does not mean you have to be by yourself to get on it, but rather that you don’t mind being split up with your group. I’ve had times with me and my sister where the normal line was a hour wait, but when we would get on the single rider line, it was like we had the ride to ourselves. Especially on indoor rides where you can’t see the line unless you are already inside or on new rides like Velocicoaster or Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, the single rider line is really helpful.
My last trip to Universal, I rode Forbidden Journey like 7 times in an hour thanks to single rider. I don't believe Hagrid's has a single rider line, though. At least, I don't think it did when I went last time.
You can also get really lucky so I think this is a great tip! The “wait time” for a ride was 100 minutes, but we got on single rider and waited at most 15! A group of 3 all on the same car, and me and my mother even were able to sit next to each other!
I despise people misusing the single rider line. -_-
True. I once was in a ride's single rider line (can't remember for sure if it was at Disney or Universal) but one family rudely cut in front of several people. Karma got them later on. They were so impatient that they somehow missed the sign that said "Single rider line, families or groups will be split up"! The husband was outraged that he couldn't sit with his kids and realized his mistake when they pointed out the barriers leading from the single rider entrance. LOL...
I live in Orlando and have been going to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure for about 20 years now. I have a handful of family members who have worked there and one who works there still. I’ve got to say I have always loved Universal Studios and IOA way more than Disney. HHN is an annual tradition and going to Universal and Islands all these years has been a blast. Volcano Bay has become a summer tradition as well! I’ve stayed at every hotel/resort and my personal favourites are Sapphire Falls, Royal Pacific, and Portofino Bay.
So glad you and your family enjoy Universal, Benjamin!
Wow! I'm not going to Universal anytime soon but I watch a lot of theme park videos ( my form of escapism), and I have to say that chocolate frog card tip is really helpful for collectors. Thanks for sharing. ❤️
It's my pleasure! Glad to hear it was helpful!
Also take the wait times with a grain of salt.
For most of my last trip we didn't even try to ride Hagrid's even though we really wanted to. It had JUST opened and the line was always like 5+ hours. But on the last day we got lucky, it was shorter (only 4) so we said screw it and got in line. We only waited 2 hours. For other rides they had also seemed to greatly overcompensate for the wait times, so sometimes it's worth the risk of getting into a longer looking ride if it's something you really want to do!
Wow, 5+ hours? I recently went there and it was only 1 or 2 hours with an actual wait time of like 30 minutes!
@@stillchillin7580 well this was 3 months after the ride opened, when that happened I heard wait times were like 10hrs or something crazy
Don't forget to bring ib prophen or Advil or some kind of pain killer. Some 3D rides and major attractions may be a little more intense than expected for some people.
Found this out today and got chargedb2 dollars for 1 aleeve pill
Definitely. Someone threw up on Simpsons. My sis stepped in it. That was fun 😐
We all took non-drowsy dramamine before going in to the park. Definitely helped with the nausea inducing 3D rides.
Fully recommend staying on site.
Also hagrid has long lines all day so do that first to get it out of the way - that line does not go down.
@Google user Do you know if hagrid still does a virtual line?
@Google user Do you know if hagrid still does a virtual line?
Like how informative this is, thanks Taylor. It’s the little things you don’t think about that really can make a difference on a park day! 😄
You're very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
I think staying on site and getting express pass has been the best thing for us. Getting season passes as well. It's so nice just to go and relax, unlike Disney. I might add don't take a backpack. Just get a small fanny pack to hold a phone and wallet. Lockers can get annoying if you aren't used to them and it can waste a lot of time on a busy day.
We just got back from our one-day trip. Absolutely get the unlimited express pass. I have a chronic pain illness, and standing in line (even short bursts at Target or Publix) can cause a lot of pain. It is a lot of extra money but it was so nice to basically walk onto rides like Escape from Gringotts and Forbidden Journey and skip the long wait times. The only thing I wish we would have known was that Hagrid's Motorbike and Velocicoaster were not part of the express pass. I put that blame squarely on my own shoulders for not simply asking someone about it. Oh well. We got in line for Hagrid's and it was absolutely worth the pain LOL It bumped my favorite coaster out of 1st place. Sorry, The Mummy!
I work at Universal and have been for about three years now and I don’t think I’ve ever seen Knockturn alley lol thank you
Whoever is going for their first time crocs are really good to wear
Not sure if everyone is aware, but make sure to get the Park to Park ticket to experience the Harry Potter train between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. The train ride is a ride in of itself
Definitely a good tip!
do not skip out on volcano bay!! i didn’t go for awhile bc i thought i wouldn’t like it at all. my bf pushed me to go and it was so fun & i loved it. felt like a vacation away from my life even tho my work was 10 min away lol. they did a good job of making it feel like a little tropical island right next to i4.
I'm so glad you enjoyed your time there, Kianna!
I’m surprised you didn’t mention the app. Guests can really plan their day better with the app since it has all the wait times listed. Also, If you don’t have a minions obsessed kid AVOID Despicable me,, waste of time for adults and older kids. Also don’t miss the hogwarts light show in the evening, it’s beautiful
I love the app!!! I check it even when I'm not at the parks just to see how busy it is. It really helps plan your day and choose rides,food, etc. Great map too
The last time I went to universal Orlando and on vacation to America was in august/September 2019. My family and I visited all the parks and Volcano bay was everyone’s favorite. Till this day everyone still talks about all the fun we’ve had. I’m hoping I can visit again soon 🥲.
stay on international ....cheaper, have a early breakfast, then hit the parks
@@fade2gray1 we rented an airbnb, it was pretty far from international drive.
I'm going with my wife and young daughter for the first time this fall. All these tips are going to help make our trip even better. Thank you.
It's my pleasure, Chris! Hope you all have a great trip!
It's worth it if you book a room at "Universal's front door." They give you an hour early entry and that can make or break your chances at getting on the rides you want. If you're going in the fall, don't worry about cold weather at the hotels. All of Universal's hotels have heated swimming pools. Even the lazy river at Cabana Bay is heated. Also, (yes, this sounds obvious but it held me up!) make sure you actually have everything before you leave the hotel. It can ruin your trip in the blink of an eye. I went early in the morning for rope drop and as my bad luck had it, the guy in front of me was totally unprepared. He had to empty out his entire wallet and dig through the mountain of junk to find his ticket and ID. Make sure you snap a picture of both sides of your ticket so you have a copy of it on your phone.
One thing to note: if you plan to use the free buses at Universal's hotels, get on board a little early, don't wait until there's a line otherwise you'll have to stand up the entire trip. At least the ride is less than five minutes. Don't be surprised to find it packed with Irish/British/Scottish/Welsh tourists. There is no Universal/Harry Potter theme park in the UK so a LOT of them come to Orlando.
Oh, forgot to add: if the daughter is craving a warm drink, they serve hot butterbeer year round. Don't worry about old videos saying it's not available during this or that month. Universal lifted the seasonal restrictions on its drinks and you can have hot butterbeer any time. I have a nervous stomach and it helps calm me down after going on roller coasters. The bakeries in Hogsmeade also have butterbeer flavored fudge and you can have butterbeer ice cream at Fortescue's in Diagon Alley!
Onsite hotels are very reasonable if researched well before your trip
If you're going for just one day prioritize the rides you want to ride and plan it out. I highly recommend the express passes in this case at busy peak times. Definitely worth it.
I made the mistake to not bring ibuprofen with me! But I brought it the second day for a intense roller-coaster and headache free day!
That's a good item to bring just in case!
do you know the secret to survive a intense roller-coaster ?
@@fade2gray1 I try to keep my neck at far back of the head rest! Also powerade/gatorade after!
@@Bapki try screaming, for the stomach
I am not a fan of theme parks, but Universal was really fun! I have anxiety about not being able to control on what rides I do or don't go on, so most of the time I go alone. But most of my friends I've gone with all agree in the same thing, if there's a ride they really want to go on, I'll do it, just as long as it's not Dr doom's.
I'm so glad you were able to enjoy your time at Universal!
@@TaylorStrickland thank you! Next time I go I'll remember these tips :)
I will do the velocicoaster but not dr doom lol
Personally, saving your most anticipated ride till the end is a hit or miss, one time there i went on hagrids and the wait said an hour and a half but it was really 2 hours and it really cut down our minutes for us to have velocicoaster to be our last ride, we were able to get in line with 2 minutes left of the park being open and got out about an hour of it being closed. While another time we had 20 minutes remaining of the park being open and hagrids was delayed for the rest of the day.
I mean, you need to knock the rides out that you want to ride immediately (and if you count coaster credits and you're missing any, that's obviously the first priority) that you haven't been on. There's absolutely no guarantee that they'll be up again later, and popular rides can get pretty long lines end of the day at Universal. Then later you can go back for re-rides and night rides. No reason to be stuck doing sad rides like Transformers and Fast and Furious when you're rolling the dice on Hagrids and Velocicoaster being up later.
Never go on doctor doom unless the wait is less than 10 minutes.
Also keep a pair of flip flops in your bag and wear them on the water rides. Keep shoes and socks in the locker.
Good tip with the timeshare! It drives me crazy! I don’t like to be harassed. Well, I don’t think anyone does lol. So I avoid those areas every time. Good good tip!
Thank you, Tiffany! Haha
Hello Taylor 👋 thank you for this video it was very informational . I didn't know about the wand repair thanks
You're so welcome, Anna! Thank you for your support.
When it comes to the wet rides I highly suggest getting a towel and flip flops or sandals. It might be more convenient for others to have a change of clothes and socks but for my family personally what we like to do is we’ll wear flip flops for theme parks and bring a pair of crocs or close toed shoes if required for a rollercoaster. On top of that we’d wait to ride the wet rides when we plan to eat food, that way we can have time to dry up with the towels and enjoy a nice warm meal when the water is usually cold or makes you a little chilly and when we’re done eating we’re all dry and good to continue with our vacation.
Also a mini tip, if you plan to go to any theme parks in Orlando, practice cardio. It’s a weird tip but from personal experience theme parks in Orlando are very big and will require you to be walking a lot so it just helps to be able to walk for long periods of time. It’s a good tip in general for any theme park but Orlando especially can have you walking miles.
Why not just wear Crocs?
I would say go to Harry Potter first thing in the morning and work forward back to the front. This might have changed in the last couple of years but the Harry Potter world isn't as crowded in the morning if that is one place you want to see. ;0)
Still the same as of today Jan 25, 2023. To clarify, though, morning is _less insanely crowded_ than later. By a little before noon it was wall to wall people.
I THOUGHT THE LAST TIP WAS GONNA BE BAD BUTTTTTT. The last one is so helpful you guys PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LISTEN TO THAT ONE IF NOT ANY OTHERS. If you see a ride you rlly wanna ride wait in the long line earlier in the day they’re going to get worse the later it gets anyway!
Three bonus tips!
1.) Single Rider ISN'T ALWAYS FASTER... If ride attendants are pushing people towards Single Rider, or rides have a small cart size (i.e. Transformers, Spider-Man, etc.), then the Single Rider queue may actually be longer than the posted wait time.
2.) The best time to hit must-see attractions is LUNCH or DINNER... Since people will eat at 12:30pm and 6:30pm respectively on average, people won't be joining queue lines, making these the best times to hop in a line for Hagrid's, Velocicoaster, or any other attraction that may have a long and stagnant line.
3.) Check if you qualify for an AAP... An AAP (Attraction Assistance Pass) is for those with a disability, visible or not, and allows you and up to 5 other people to either go straight through Express queues (if posted wait time is under 30-minutes) or return to an attraction to go through the Express queue at a given time. This is an absolute lifesaver for some attractions, especially Hagrid's and Velocicoaster since nobody else can go through the Express queues yet! If you think you qualify, go to Guest Services at the park entrance and get one for your trip.
what would one have to show for proof of disability I wonder?
@@WatchDoggyDog In Florida, they cannot ask for it. They just ask you to explain why your disability/disabilities would hinder your ability to participate in a traditional queue experience.
about the 3rd thing, some workers may be a bit rude and say "no express pass" and make you go in the regular line without checking off your pass (I am speaking from experience)
For hagrids moter bike, look out for it to be delayed on the app amd get in line if you see it opening, the sign may say 60 minutes but half the time it isnt completely true, remeber rhe wait timw for rhe ride will barelt ever be under 45 minutes. but it is worth it! (fastpass doesnt work for havrids moterbike and velovicoaster)
Mistake #16 (disappointed kids/spouse): Do NOT think that Express Pass avoids all the lines or a "walk-on". Mummy and Transformers can be 20-30 minute wait even with 30-50 minute posted wait time.
Mistake #17: Missing out on super cool experience of Jurassic River Adventure and Dr Dooms Fear fall at night. The Jurassic gates opening with the classic Jurassic music swelling and dino noises everywhere - wow
Deep cut mistake: at 4PM all the premium annual passeholders start getting "free" Express Pass, and they crowd the popular Express lines
These are great additions, John! Thanks for taking the time to share them.
Wow, the LAST comment has never ever been mentioned in the 20+ hours of Universal tip videos I've watched over the last 9 months!
Didn’t know they would work on broken wands. Thanks for the information!
Also I have seen them replace a wand if it gets lost....not sure if you have to have a receipt or not.....
They gave my daughter a new wand- so just realize you won’t get your old wand back. :)
Oooooh thanks for the chocolate frog tip!! I always just grab a couple but never looked at the back!! Thank you!!
It's my pleasure, Shannon!
Biggest mistake if you’re a thrill seeker, is going to Universal Studios instead of Islands of Adventure. If you’re rich go to both but the only good rides in US is Rip Rocket and The Mummy which is closed right now. Islands of Adventure on the other hand is non stop incredible attractions.
You hit the nail on the head. Hopefully Studios gets solid additions now that Shrek 4D and Fear Factor closed. Also expecting Simpsons and the Kids Zone to get replaced with something else. Fallon is ok but Fast and Furious is mediocre but they’re both new so I don’t see anything taking their spots for a while.
I hear Gringotts is thrilling enough to be mentioned here! But yup IOA is where it's at :)
Escape from gringotts is great!
One mistake is going to lunch at 12:00 PM is because everyone gose to lunch at that time. Check ride wait times at 12:00 PM. Don't go to lunch. Eat it late or early.
That is a good tip and hard lesson learned, Evelyn!
Love thunder falls terrace.. my wife and I have a picture sitting at the tables out front in our first and tenth anniversary!
One I see people do all the time is get the express pass during off peak times. It's not worth it to miss most of the queue for a ride that is only posted at 10 or 15 minutes. Some of the queues are so interesting and you're really not saving time.
That's a good tip, Nicolas!
One mestake I made: Not Reading signs. Especially if they recommend not going on certain rides if you get motion sick…… yeah…. Ummmm… READ THE SIGNS
The signs are important, I agree!
Personally, every time I go, I get lunch early in the morning because most people get food at 12 or 1, so every restaurant is so full. If you get food at about 9 or 10, and then something in the afternoon like a pretzel or churro, then you don't have to wait forever.
That's a good tip, Catherine!
I HATED having to alter my lunch schedule but was forced to do that on my trip. I went to lunch at around 2 but it was worth it. The lines were very short so I was able to grab lunch in only 5-10 minutes as opposed to half an hour at the height of tourist season so it's worth the pain and trouble to severely alter your lunch schedule. The corn dogs in Springfield are pretty good and go well with Duff beer.
Also if you are on site you can get into the park an hour early
My tip is to not leave your things in the free ride lockers and go on the ride again. They will ask you to pay for the locker if you don't get your stuff after your 1st ride. Staff helped me get my belongings for free but told me that I should always empty my locker after each ride, then grab a new locker before getting back in line.
That is a really important tip! They're only free for a certain amount of time, so you would need to get another locker to ride again in most cases.
I was riding Mummy back to back because it had zero wait and when I went back to my locker it asked for money. Apparently they know how long the ride is taking and if you keep the locker past that time they start charging
One thing to note: I asked a cast member about this by the way: if your ride has technical problems and you got a free locker, they do NOT charge you if the wait time was extended to repair the ride. So if on the Mummy and it breaks down and takes 15 minutes to get back online, they don't add that 15 minutes to your free use locker time.
I’ve been to Orlando many times and to be fair he is spot on with his advice also great advice about the socks I wear water shoes with no socks cos I love the water rides.
Your footage is so crisp 👌🏼
Thanks so much, Jon!
I think hard rock hotel is so with it for universal because fast pass and it’s close and really nice
For the restaurants, I would like to throw in Cafe 4 in Islands of Adventure. It’s cheap and the pizza is big enough for two, and is usually not very busy
That's true, Kevin! It's definitely an ideal option on a busy day.
velocicoaster is actually better at night rather than the day
I just rode it again for the 2nd time on the last day of my spring break trip and boy was it something at night…
@@kingMT514 fsfs, its so cool
Honestly buying an interactive wand has to be the best souvenir. You can bring it back, or to any park, to play around with and do the interactions again and its a lifetime guarantee that if it breaks or stops working, they will fix or replace it. 50 bucks (100 for "famous wizard" wand) doesn't seem like that much when you get to keep bringing it back and keep getting free new ones if it breaks.
7:15 agreed👍🏼that Maple Bacon Donut🍁🥓🍩is the best!
totally loved Volcano bay
also concerning your last advice: for those from overseas, like me, its better to plan 6 month in advance
6 months is a good amount of time to plan everything. Disney is still angering and driving away customers with its cutting of amenities and constant price increases. I saw the fallout coming a year ago. Then came the news that Disney dreaded: A Swiss family was denied entry to the theme park and apparently, they never knew about the ludicrous reservations system so the mother was standing on the sidewalk with a sign asking if anyone had reservations to swap with them. I believe Universal's management offered them discounted tickets and they accepted the deal. Still an embarrassing scene for Disney. I wouldn't recommend a Disney vacation to my worst enemy.
Great tips! Before covid hit, My family and I would go to Universal every year. The water ride tip with a change of clothes is so true. Or you can always bring a poncho (and works for the rain). To add, I would say bring a small towel (they also sell some around the water rides area). But to save money, you can bring a small to medium sized towel. In addition, I wear light water shoes on the ride and then change back to my regular sneakers.
Also, some snacks and drinks are expensive, so you can bring some snacks that are easy to carry and a water bottle. As well as a small bag of medication, bandaids etc. If you're prone to motion sickness, or just in case, some dramamine (or other similar medication). I normally don't get motion sickness but needed to take one after a few of the virtual rides.
And I definitely recommend going as soon as the park opens for the rides. Even if a popular ride has a long wait, it's only going to get longer later.
Definitely some great additions!
We go in August. No towel or change of clothes necessary. 🌞
@@TaylorStrickland Question: does Universal still have the pay driers outside the water rides? If they do, then maybe those are better than having a towel taking up space in a backpack...
I feel like a lot of people might not agree with me but depending on the visit, you should avoid the Hogwarts Express. As an Annual Passholder, you're honestly better off walking than riding it since the train gets so much downtime and you're practically spending half of your day waiting in line. This System overall is heavily flawed and I 100% do not recommend, unless it has a really short wait time.
I agree. One of the most disappointing experiences of our trip. Not worth the wait. Window is a TV screen and not actually able to look out and see the park. Not able to purchase anything on the train like in the Harry Potter movies. We walked from park to park the remainder of our days. Where you'd think US would have thought of everything, they lack there the most. The train is the prime example.
Hey I found your you tube channel while planning my very 1st Universal studios Orlando trip. Thanks for all the helpful info 👍. Your awesome I'm definitely going to keep watching your channel 😀
Thanks so much for watching! I hope you have a great time at Universal!
In February I went to universal and the Jurassic water ride was open and it was so fun
So glad you enjoyed it!
I always rush to the back where the Harry Potter rides are in the morning 1 because they are my favorite and 2 shorter waits in the morning
Actually if you have kids and/or want to do minions. Do it when you walk in !! The wait times go to over an hour easily some days.
On most days, it'll drop sometime in the afternoon. 8)
Along with stay onsite, don’t miss the resort pools. They are incredible.
That's a good one, Eric! My favorite is probably Sapphire or Hard Rock's... How about you?
#5 is pretty serious. I'm a florida native and go to universal quite often. I went to diagon alley for 2 years before i figured out knockturn alley was tucked away. I remember finding it the first time like "are we supposed to be going back here? Wait..... seriously... this was always here?"
It can be pretty hard to find if you don't know what to look for!
I'm surprised that the lights were even on. I'm serious. I went in the off-season and knew about Knockturn Alley but when entering Borgin & Burkes, it was open but they dimmed the lights. It was embarrassing bumping into tables and shelves, waiting for my "night vision" to kick in. The staff kinda frightened me, they stood silently looking around, like Death Eaters! I was so shocked that I didn't notice the huge Vanishing Closet Draco used in the books was right next to me! It was the deepest cosplay experience I've ever had!
The universal properties (our fave is cabana bay) are so affordably priced and convenient we’ve never even considered staying off property, We even stay on universal property when we’re going to the Disney parks.
My favorite is cabana bay too! I don't see the reason to spend more!
My advice is to go to islands of adventure first because most rides are on delay when it rains or high winds which happened every day and most stuf in universal is indoor so don’t make that mistake
Good information! Thanks for keeping everything to the point!
It's my pleasure, Naur!
Tip: if a ride says its 30 - 0 minutes, go on it, it is most likely going to just be walk straight on
Sometimes you can get lucky that way!
Oh I definitely avoided that doom drop
Don't forget a poncho for the rainy times!!
Another #1 mistake, going to NBC sports grill thinking you will get seated any time soon even when its only a 1/4 full. Its a hard pass. Also stayed at the sapphire, I HIGHLY recommend, outstanding service and great place to stay. Also hit up cabana bay diner across the street if you want to to have a few lower cost meals
Going this weekend ! Great video!
We’re not first timers at universal but you have some great tips. Thanks.
I hope you have a great time!!
Great tips! And I love the Bread Box!!
whats cool is that people worry about the rain so much, once we went on a saturday that was raining a bit and it was as normal as a weekday ( school days ) and the rides didn’t even shut down
It can lead to a very uncrowded park day if you don't mind getting a little wet!
We usually stayed off site but the hotel was the double tree right across the street 😂
Pretty close to being basically on-site then 😂
ive been to florida twice last year for universal and im going to florida in a few days and mummy is my fave ride, also ollivanders does replace wands!!
I am sorry, but Mummy is down for maintenance n upgrade. Check the UO maintenance schedule! However! It is my greatest wish your vacation is still amazing!
@@482Brisbane369 yea ik its closed for that, but thank you tho!
Problem: Phone dies! You can't take pictures or call your Uber home, etc.
Solution: wireless charger (tip - you will have to remove it from your pack at entrances, so Instead of getting beeped - remove it and hold it at arms length and you will get through the checkpoints faster)
I've literally just got back from universal and my big mistake for everyone is don't just go to the film's/sections you love... Because Ive never watched Jurassic Park and missed out on loads of cool stuff because I just focused on Harry potter etc
Hopefully you can visit again and see everything you missed this time, Dylan!
No one: my cousin looking at velocicoaster. 5 seconds later, runs up to the ride and rides it
That sounds like a fun cousin!
Thanks. These are great tips we are planning our first visit this summer.
So glad you found them helpful! Hope you have a great trip!
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is always like an hour wait every time I go
Don’t forget to stay hydrated!!! Central Florida is really hot nearly all the time. You can easily become sick from dehydration especially in the summer time. All the coke freestyle machines accept any kind of cup for free ice and water. It’s only when you want a juice or cola product that you have to have the reusable park cup with the chip in the bottom. We’ve taken regular coffee cups and collapsible cups and they all allow to get ice and water without having to spend $5-$6 per bottle for water.
That's a very good tip as well!
I’ve had the same wond for years and it still works like since 2017 to 2022
The Bourne show was SOO COOL PMGG
I'm glad you mentioned Thunder Falls Terrace. It doesn't get much notoriety but parents with kids will like this place. They can dine next to the dino animatronics in some parts of the dining area. I had a burger there and it was delicious.
It is a great spot!
The Bourne stuntacular is the best I saw it yesterday
So glad you enjoyed it!
My sister lost a nail on Hagrid's and she made a big deal about it so one of the staff let us on again 😂
I’m going to Orlando this week for first time I’ll be there for 2 weeks and spending 3 days at Disney, universal, Disney, sea world. So yea
Hope you have a great time, Brandon!
Definitely recommend Bread box
I would too if they brought back the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich 😢
Typical Florida weather in the summer is it rains almost everyday for 15 minutes and then it stops. Winter it hardly rains but when it does rain it's for like 15 minutes.
Another mistake I made, don’t buy the ceramic chocolate frogs box. It cost $25 and it is nothing more than a case. It doesn’t even have a chocolate frog in it!
I'd buy it; that's a really nice box.
im going with my HS band so we het 72 hours STRAIGHT at Universal with free passes for all 140 of us :D
Volcano bay is mostly adult attractions, and but it does have some ride for kiddos that aren't meant to be on adult rides! I would rate Volcano bay 7/10 not that good, and would go to the park instead of it.
Hope this helps with your next vacation to Universal!
I will be going next year for 2 weeks to Universal Orlando, I am from the UK when we come we will be skipping Volcano bay as I don't like water parks.
I hope you have a great visit, Spencer!
One thing to avoid is DO NOT AT ALL COST.... TAKE THE TRAIN.... because: it takes 1 HOUR of you day just to get to the other it take instead walk its better it takes 1 and a half hour not an HOUR LIKE THATS CRAZY
My big mistake was buying...what I thought was park to park...and it really said 2 park!!!
It is so expensive for the fast passes so make sure you really pay attention to the wording!!
Some really good tips and ideas 💡🤙 thank you 😊
So glad you enjoyed it!
Hi! Cant wait for June! We will be there!
Hey Ashley! I can't wait to see you there!
I wrote down Knockturn Ally so I don’t forget. I’d probably end up missing it so now I won’t. Thanks
So glad this was helpful!
I had no idea about the frog stars!
A mistake you could make is not eating before velocicoaster cause I went on that ride hungry which caused me to get on light headed so after the ride I threw up right outside
One mistake to avoid is riding the Velocicoaster. I have no problem riding the Rockin’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood studios cuz that ride has one loop and a barrel roll. Anything more than that will freak me out.
The only issue I see with getting your VooDoo Donuts at noon is if you plan to stay in Universal the rest of the day. If you're walking around in the hot Florida sun all day, those donuts will be a melted sticky mess. BUT, good idea if you're heading back to your room for a midday break. Thanks for all the great tips tho! I don't remember Big Fire being there last time, so we will definitely check it out next trip! :)
Or you could just eat it.