Universal Orlando: Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
Here is the list of our personally tried and tested Universal Orlando tips, tricks, and secrets.
Table of Contents
Seasonal Annual Pass
I personally feel that Seasonal Annual Pass is Universal’s best kept secret.
If you are visiting during non-peak months and planning on purchasing 4+ days ticket, get the Seasonal Pass instead. Especially, if you are coming back to Orlando within next 12 months.
4 day park-to-park ticket is $320 plus tax when the Pass is $305 plus tax (as of the time of this post). Not only you will get annual admission to the theme parks (outside of the blockout days), you will get discounts at select dining locations, discounted special events, and more. See the list of currently available perks here.
The usual blockout dates are mid-December – early January, most of April, and the month of July. See the most current list of dates here.
Mobile App
Make sure to download the Universal Orlando app before your vacation. You can use the app to:
- Get detailed, interactive maps of the theme parks, Universal CityWalk and the on-site resort hotels
- Check ride wait times and show times
- Find dining venue menus
- Locate restrooms
- Place food and drink orders
- Access Virtual Line
- and more
Link to the app in the Apple Store is here, link to android app is here.
Virtual Line
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and Fast & Furious – Supercharged in the Universal Studios and Pteranodon Flyers in the Islands of Adventure offer Virtual Line. You get to reserve a return time for these attractions without having to stand in the actual line. It is done via the Universal app and you have to be on the Universal property to access the Virtual Line option.
In the app, navigate to Menu -> Virtual Line -> Virtual Line Venues -> Select attraction -> Select return time. When it is time to ride, scan the QR code in the app at the Virtual Line entrance.
Single Rider Line
These rides in Universal Orlando offer a Single Rider line:
Universal Studios Florida
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack
- Revenge of the Mummy
- Transformers: The Ride 3-D
Islands of Adventure
- The Amazing Adventure of Spider-Man
- Dr. Doom’s Fearfall
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
In addition, if the park is busy, Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls and Jurassic Park River Adventure in Islands of Adventure might also have a Single Rider line.
Single Rider Line usually moves faster than the regular line, so if you don’t mind being separated from your party, or you are enjoying the park by yourself, head to this line for shorter wait time.
Note: the newest addition to Islands of Adventure – Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure also offers SR line, however, the feedback that I heard suggests it won’t save you much time, so you might as well use the regular line.
Child Swap
Most of the rides at Universal Orlando offer Child Swap. This program lets a child who is too small or unwilling to go on a particular ride skip the ride, while the rest of the party can take turns experiencing the attraction without having to wait in line twice.
Each ride and attraction has a family room where one member of your party can wait with the little ones while the rest of your party rides. Once they are finished, switch places so whoever rode can stay with the kids, and the adult(s) who sat out can enjoy the ride.
If you want to take advantage of the Child Swap, let the attendant at the ride’s entrance know, and he/she will explain the process (some rides/attractions handle the Child Swap differently than others).
As a side note, I can’t help but joke about swapping my daughter for two 5-year olds every time we walk by one of the Child Swap signs. She does not find these jokes amusing 🙂
Express Pass
If you want to experience as much as possible at Universal Orlando, consider staying at one of the premier resorts on the Universal Property as you will get Unlimited Express Pass for everyone in the room. Plus you will get priority seating at select restaurants.
See more about the Express Pass and Universal resorts here.
Split Stay
Split stay is a great way to take advantage of the Unlimited Express Pass provided by the premier resorts without breaking the bank.
If you stay at a deluxe resort for one night you will get the Express Pass for two days (the day you check in and the day you check out). After that, you can move to a more budget-friendly hotel. And you won’t need to worry about your luggage – the bell services can transfer your luggage from one on-property resort to another.
Secret Entrance
There is a second, secret, entrance to Universal Studios. It is next to the Blue Man Group theater (see the map below).
If the lines at the front gates are long, head to the path between Universal and Hard Rock Cafe and it will lead you to the secret entrance.
A few notes:
It opens at 10 am, and it might be closed if the parks are not busy.
Boat Transportation
If you are staying on property, avoid taking the bus to the parks as it will drop you off at the City Walk, the main entry point for the visitors not staying on-site. Security lines there tend to be long.
If you take a boat, you will be dropped off closer to the parks’ entrance, and you will go through security before getting on the boat.
Hard Rock, Royal Pacific, Portofino Bay, and Sapphire Falls provide boat transportation. If you stay at Aventura or Cabana Bay, you can walk over to Sapphire Falls and take a boat from there. The only resort that doesn’t have access to this mode of transportation is the Endless Summer resort.
Saving Money on Snacks and Water
You can have bottled water and various food items delivered to your resort. They are several delivery options available, but I prefer Amazon Prime Now. You can order a case of water ($3 per bottle in the parks vs $5 for 24-pack), yogurt, chips, fresh fruit, milk, cereal etc – all significantly cheaper than purchasing these items at the resorts/parks.
If you need the delivery address, you can find it on the resort’s website.
See our post on everything you need to know to plan Universal Orlando vacation here:
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