Universal Studios Orlando: Ticket Info, Prices, and Tips -

Do you want to visit Universal Studios in Orlando and don’t know where to start? Do you want to know all the practical information to make your visit unforgettable? Then you have come to the right place since in this post we share with you all the important and necessary details so that you can live an unforgettable experience on par with these impressive amusement parks.

Known for being the rival complex of the Disney Parks and of course, one of the places to see in Orlando , Universal Studios in Orlando is made up of two amusement parks, Universal Studios and Island of Adventure and a water park known as Volcano Bay. Furthermore, unlike Disney, in this case the focus is totally focused on the film industry and most of the attractions are designed for a more adult audience than its competitor.

Based on the week we spent visiting Magic Kingdom , Epcot , Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios , the 4 main Walt Disney World Parks and the two Universal theme parks, in this article we tell you everything you need to know about how to visit Universal Studios in Orlando . Let’s start!

Table of Contents

Universal Studios in Orlando

Known as Universal Orlando Resort, this complex located in Florida and considered one of the best parks in Orlando , is made up of two amusement parks, Universal Studios Florida and Island of Adventure, as well as Volcano Bay , a water park created as a complement to the previous ones. . In addition to these three parks, in this immense complex, you can also find countless restaurants, bars, shops, nightlife venues, known as Universal CityWalk, and a set of 8 hotels ( Loews Portofino Bay Hotel , Hard Rock Hotel , Loews Royal Pacific Resort , Cabana Bay Beach Resort , Loews Sapphire Falls Resort , Universal’s Aventura Hotel , Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites and Surfside Inn and Suites ), where you can stay if you want to enjoy the experience to the fullest.

As you can imagine, concentrating all the information about the complex in one post is practically impossible, so in this case we will focus on Universal Studios Florida and Island of Adventure, which are the two main theme parks and the goal of most travelers, to explain all the details about how to visit them, what the main attractions of each of them are and all the relevant information about tickets, schedules and special passes. Thus, in this way we will focus on what is really relevant and on the information that most travelers need to be clear about before traveling.

How to get to Universal Studios

Located in Florida, just 10 miles from Orlando and 16 from the airport, you can get to Universal Studios by car or directly on the free transportation (bus) offered by Universal hotels if you stay at any of them and even, from some, to foot.
Once you are in the area you must go through Universal CityWalk, which is the restaurant and shopping area and when you reach the final area, go to the right or left depending on whether you want to go to Universal Studios Florida or Island of Adventure. Don’t worry since everything is indicated in a very clear and intuitive way.

Remember that if you are staying at a Universal hotel , in addition to having free transportation to the parks, you will have the benefit of early entry with which you can access the parks and the enabled attractions up to 1 hour earlier . Without a doubt, a highly recommended extra to make the most of your time.

Address parking and Universal CityWalk: 6000 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819

In addition to these directions to access the park, it is important to know that today you can go from Miami to Orlando with the Brightline high-speed train, a super interesting option if you don’t want to rent a car.

Tickets to Universal Orlando

This is one of the most important points when organizing a visit to the Universal parks since, depending on the one you choose, this will be your experience and what it includes. These are the types of tickets for Universal Orlando :

General Admission: This ticket is for one park only (Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure). In the purchasing process you must indicate which park you want it to be for. Remember that children between 3 and 9 years old have a reduced price.
Park-to-Park Ticket: This ticket is valid for visiting two parks in one day. That is, with it you can go from one park to another (Universal Studios Florida and Island of Adventure). It is very important to know that this is the ticket you must buy to ride the Hogwarts Express, an attraction that recreates the famous Hogwarts Express, which connects the two Harry Potter themed areas, each located in a park.
Volcano Bay Ticket: This ticket is for access to the water park.

You can buy tickets on the official website or through an intermediary with whom it can even be cheaper since you save on fees.

In addition to the tickets, during the purchasing process you have the option to purchase the Express Pass , which is a pass to skip the lines at the main attractions . It is important to know that this pass must be purchased as an extra. That is, you must buy the tickets (general or park-to-park) and then add the Express Pass in case you want to have this benefit.
It is also important to keep in mind that once you have this pass, you will only have to show it at the special access points for visitors with the Express Pass. It is not necessary to make any type of reservation at the attractions.

The price of tickets depends on the season in which you travel, the influx and, above all, the number of days for which you buy them. As you buy tickets for more days, the price reduces. In our case, we wanted to visit the two main parks, Universal Studios Florida and Island of Adventure, and we bought the Park-to-Park ticket for two days, so we could ride the Hogwarts Express and we also included the Express Pass for both days.
The decision was totally right since, in addition to the fact that we really liked going from one park to another on the Hogwarts Express, skipping the lines for the main attractions allowed us to make the most of our time.

Another important detail is to know that tickets for Universal Studios in Orlando are valid for the consecutive calendar days for which you purchased them, but they are valid for 3 more days. That is, if you buy tickets for 2 days, you can use them for two calendar days but for a period of five 5 consecutive calendar days.

Universal Studios Prices

The price of tickets to the Universal Studios Parks basically depends on the time of year you want to go, the influx and the days for which you buy the tickets. In addition to this, the price increases considerably if you add the Express Pass, with which you can skip the lines at the main attractions.

In general terms, Universal Orlando prices are:

General admission: $140
Park-to-Park Entrance: $170
Express Pass: $120-$130 (remember that the Express Pass is for skipping the lines and to purchase it you must also purchase the ticket)

As you can see, the prices are not particularly cheap, much less if you add the Express Pass option, which in many cases is practically the price of general admission. Despite that, we have to say that both parks are truly incredible and the final experience is worth every dollar spent.

Universal Orlando Parks Hours

The hours of the Universal Studios Parks in Orlando depend on the season and even the events that are scheduled. Despite that, in general terms we can say that the hours are from 9am to 9pm .

Remember that if you stay at a Universal hotel you will have transportation included and this is synchronized with the parks’ schedules. In addition, as we mentioned previously, you will also have the benefit of early entry included with which you will be able to access the parks and the enabled attractions up to 1 hour earlier. Although it may initially seem like a short time, we assure you that in an amusement park, having an extra hour is a lot of time and can mean riding without waiting in line at one of the main attractions or directly, riding 1-2 extra attractions.

It is also important to know that you can use this advantage both on the day of check-in and the day of check-out. To do this you just have to register at the hotel reception desk (starting at 7 in the morning) and they will give you a card to enjoy this extra hour in the park.

Universal Studios Amusement Parks

As we mentioned previously, Universal Orlando Resorts has two main parks: Universal Studios Florida and Island of Adventure , which are the ones that most travelers visit. Taking this into account, in this post we are going to talk about both and their best attractions so that you can plan your visit and, above all, enjoy it to the fullest.

One of the first things is to know that each of them is big enough and has enough attractions to dedicate a day to each of them. That is why our recommendation is that you have at least 2 days to visit Universal Studios .
If you only have one day, we recommend purchasing the Park-to-Park ticket to be able to jump from one park to another and thus ride the most famous attractions of both. In this case, the ideal is to make a list of the attractions you want to ride so you can go directly and not spend a lot of time wandering around.

Likewise, even if you have two days, remember that if you want to ride the Hogwarts Express, you will still have to buy the Park-to-Park ticket even if you want to visit a different park every day.

Our strategy when we were there was to take advantage of the early entry , we stayed at Universal’s Aventura Hotel , enter Island of Adventure 1 hour early and spend the first day there. In the late afternoon, we boarded the Hogwarts Express and spent the rest of the day at Island of Adventure, taking the opportunity to walk around.
The next day, we entered Universal Studios Florida, also taking advantage of the early entry, we rode all the attractions and at noon, we took the Hogwarts Express again to eat at Mythos Restaurant, on Island of Adventure, which is one of the most recommended restaurants . Afterwards, we left the park and walked back to Universal Studios Florida (less than 15 minutes) to get our food.

Important: remember to download The Official Universal Orlando Resort App , in which you can link your tickets and also review the show schedules, consult the attractions, restaurants, hotels and countless other utilities that are very necessary for organizing your visit to Universal parks.

Universal Studios Florida

Opened in 1990, Universal Studios Florida is the first theme park at Universal Orlando Resorts. Like the Disney Parks, this one is also divided into zones or areas, each of them themed and based on famous film, television and music productions.

Production Central: recreating a film studio, some of the park’s most famous attractions are located here, such as Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Shrek4D and Rip Ride Rockit!, one of the most extreme roller coasters in the Universal parks. Orlando.
New York: themed in this fascinating city, this area is home to the Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon show, which became one of our favorites, and The Mummy Ride, another of the most dizzying roller coasters.
San Francisco: In this area you will find the Fast & Furious Supercharged attraction as well as several restaurants, shops and cafes. Our favorite Lombards Seafood, perfect for making a stop and eating at a table and tablecloth .
Hollywood: although there are no attractions in this area, in addition to the staging, it is worth going because it is the place where the Bourne Stuntacular show is located, which is probably the most brutal show you can see in the Universal Parks in Orlando. Mel’s Drive In restaurant is also located here, which in addition to being very curious, has a perfect location to watch the show-parade that takes place every afternoon in the park.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Based on the books by JK Rowling, this is probably the most incredible themed area in the park. It consists of 3 quite different areas: King Cross Station, from where the Hogwarts Express train leaves and arrives that connects this park with Islands of Adventure; Diagon Alley, one of our favorite areas and also where the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts attraction is located, one of the most famous in the park (if not the most); and the area that recreates some London buildings that we assure you will not leave you indifferent.
Springfield: themed and revolving, as you can imagine, in the famous The Simpsons family, here is located the attraction The Simpsons Ride, a very fun and very well-known roller coaster and Moe’s tavern, a symbol of this area.
Woody Woodpecker Kidzone: this area, where the little ones will enjoy, has several shows, themed areas and the ET Adventure attraction, which although technically perhaps not the most spectacular, we found it endearing and one of the essentials when visiting Universal Studios in Orlando.
World Expo: This area is known for being the location of Men In Black Aliens Attack, another of the park’s best-known attractions.

Best Universal Studios Florida Attractions

We imagine that you are looking forward to knowing which are the best attractions at Universal Studios , right? Well here we go! Remember to pay special attention to be able to make a list of your favorites so you can go directly to them and make the most of your time.

Harry Potter & The Escape From Gringotts

Known for being the most famous attraction at Universal Studios Florida , Harry Potter & The Escape From Gringotts is one of the experiences that, by themselves, justify a visit to the park. Although it is difficult to give you references without giving any spoilers, something that we believe is essential for you to enjoy the attraction to the fullest, is to tell you that the attraction is a 3D simulator in which speed and effects are the main protagonists.
In addition to this, we can tell you that, as happens in other attractions at the Disney Parks such as Star Wars: Rise of The Resistance, in Hollywood Studios, the attraction begins the moment you get in line since the setting , staging and organization, are already an attraction in their own right.

It is important to keep in mind that the waiting lines are usually quite long, we have seen times of 150 minutes, so the Express Pass is highly recommended .

Remember that, although the main attraction is this, exploring the entire Harry Potter area is also an attraction in itself where you can find countless themed shops, restaurants, cafes and surprises on every corner. We don’t want to tell you much more, although we can assure you that magic is guaranteed. Get ready to enjoy!

Region: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Intensity: 3
Popularity: 5+
Express Pass: yes

Transformers The Ride 3D

Considered by many to be another of Universal Orlando’s best attractions , this 3D Simulator based on the 2007 film will take you to enjoy one of the most incredible sensory experiences in the park mounted in a vehicle for 12 people. Of course, keep in mind that strong emotions and speed (real or not) are guaranteed.
Being one of the most famous attractions, the waiting times are usually quite long, so having the Express Pass is a great advantage.

Region: Production Central
Intensity: 4
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

Revenge of the Mummy

This attraction, lasting 4 minutes, is an indoor roller coaster where extreme emotions are guaranteed. We don’t think it’s necessary to say much more, right?
As in other attractions in the park, once in the queue you can enjoy an introduction that we could even say is part of the attraction itself since the staging is such that it makes you enter without realizing what will happen later…

Remember that it is one of the most extreme attractions in the Universal Orlando parks and is not suitable for all audiences (or at least for the most fearful).

Region: New York
Intensity: 5+
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

With more than 50 meters high and a route that exceeds one kilometer, this roller coaster is another of the most extreme in the park . Furthermore, you will only have to see it to sense, given its height, that the emotions you will experience are not suitable for unadventurous people.
In addition to the aforementioned features, another of the most surprising and most liked features is that travelers can individually choose from a selection of 30 songs which one they want to listen to on headphones during the dizzying journey. Nothing better than putting music to life, don’t you think?

Region: Production Central
Intensity: 5+
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

The Simpsons Ride

This family attraction , with a relatively low intensity, although with movements that can make you dizzy, is one of the favorites of travelers. Centered on a kind of indoor roller coaster that is also a simulator, the experience begins as soon as you get in line and enter the world of one of the craziest families in animation.
Like the rest of the attractions we mention in this selection, this one is also usually very crowded, so we recommend using the Express Pass.

Region: Springfield
Intensity: 2-3
Popularity: 4-5
Express Pass: yes

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

This exciting and delirious attraction is perfect for young and old alike who will delve into a story that has all the ingredients to become one of your favorite attractions at Universal Studios Florida. Although it does not have great techniques, much less since it became 2D a few years ago, it is still, as we say, one of the symbols of the park and as such, we recommend you not miss it. In addition, it does not usually have many queues and lasts relatively short. The simulator is not very intense although it does make some quick movements.

Region: Production Central
Intensity: 1
Popularity: 4
Express Pass: yes

E.T. Adventure

Known for being the only attraction at Universal Studios Florida that has been maintained since its inauguration , this ride on a flying bicycle, inspired by the famous Steven Spielberg film, became one of our favorite attractions despite not being intense at all or having any real effects. spectacular. Of course, prepare to shed some tears if you are nostalgic: the latest themed areas are beautiful.

Region: Woody Wodpecker’s KidZone
Intensity: 0-1
Popularity: 4
Express Pass: yes

Hogwarts Express – King´s Cross Station

This attraction, known worldwide for being the only one designed to take you from one amusement park to another (Universal Studios Florida with Islands of Adventure) , has, like the rest of the Harry Potter area, an incredible setting and staging that alone , make the attraction as such totally recommendable. In this case, the train is not an intense attraction, far from it, quite the opposite since the train ride is appropriate for all ages, although that will not save you from getting the odd surprise during the journey. You have been warned!

It is very important to remember that to be able to ride this attraction and go from one park to another, regardless of whether you take it at King Cross Station (Universal Studios Florida) or Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure), you must have the Park-to-Park ticket. Otherwise, you will not be able to enjoy the attraction. In addition, we also recommend doing the journey in both directions since the attraction changes. We won’t tell you more to avoid any spoilers.

If you have the Express Pass you can also skip the lines , something highly recommended, especially in high season and at times of high influx.

Region: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Intensity: 0
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes – You also need to have the Park-to-Park ticket to ride. Do not forget!

MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack

Although this is not the most incredible attraction in the park, technically speaking, the fun and dynamism are undoubtedly its strong points and what make it one of the most requested by travelers in the Universal Orlando parks. With a theme set in the movie, the attraction consists of vehicles that move practically without control on board of which you will have the only objective of shooting at the different targets that will appear. As with the vast majority, it is a good idea to go with your eyes wide open when standing in line as the setting and introduction are unique.

Region: World Expo
Intensity: 1
Popularity: 3
Express Pass: yes

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon

This attraction-show , starring Jimmy Fallon, one of the most famous television stars in the US, is another one that you cannot miss whether you are a fan of the television show or not. Located in a building where, upon entering, you find a replica of the NBC network lobby in New York and a kind of museum of The Tonight Show, riding this attraction is entering the bowels of a 3D show that is hardly you will forget Get ready to laugh and be surprised in equal measure.

Region: New York
Intensity: 2
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

Bourne Stuntacular

Although in this case we would not know whether to classify it as an attraction or a show, we can say that Bourne Stuntacular is one of the most technically impressive shows we have ever seen. One of those shows from which you leave with your mouth open and wondering if what you have seen can really be real. Awesome! As with the rest of the attractions, we don’t want to tell you much more to maintain the surprise, but in this case we believe that even if we tried, we would be unable to tell you in words what it is like and what we thought of the show.

Region: Hollywood
Intensity: 0
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

Shows at Universal Studios

If the attractions are incredible and unsurpassed, we cannot leave behind the Universal Studios Florida shows , which are another of the great reasons to visit this park. Known especially for their technological innovations and for the surprise factor hidden in their themes and narrative, we leave you a selection of those that are, according to our experience, essential.

Universal’s Superstar Parade: this parade of floats, which takes place every day at Universal Studios Florida, is one of the park’s great must-sees. In addition to the main floats, the show has entertainers and secondary characters who will make the experience unforgettable. We saw it in the Hollywood Boulevard area and it was a success. We recommend checking The Official Universal Orlando Resort App for schedules and routes.

Universal Orlando Cinematic Celebration: Located in the lagoon area, this is Universal Studios’ nighttime show . Although at a technological level it seemed below what we could see in the Disney Parks, we believe that it is advisable to give it a chance, especially if you are a movie lover since in this case, it will surely not disappoint you.

Islands of Adventure, another amusement park at Universal Orlando Resort

Opened in 1999 as an extension of Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure was created so that the most adventurous travelers can enjoy attractions and shows in which adrenaline will surely be present in every corner. In this case, the park is divided into 7 islands (zones) and Port of Entry, which is the entrance area located next to the lake. Each of them follows a fairly defined theme, among which Marvel, Harry Potter, Jurassic World, King Kong or Dr. Seuss, creator of the Grinch character, stand out. In addition, as you imagine, the attractions that you can find in each of them are also in line with this theme and of course, the adventure that can be sensed just by imagining it.

Port of Entry: this is the entrance area through which you can access the different areas. There are no attractions here and you can only find restaurants, shops…etc. From here, the islands are located in a circular shape.
Marvel Super Hero Island: little more can we say than this is where The Incredible Hulk Coaster and The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man are located, two of the most famous attractions in the park and, we would dare say, of all the amusement parks in the world.
Toon Lagoon: this is one of our favorite areas of the park since the color and scenery are perfect for walking and relaxing after touring the most adventurous islands. Get ready to come face to face with Popeye.
Skull Island: As you can imagine, this area is completely themed and revolves around King Kong and his spectacular attraction.
Jurassic World: entering this island is synonymous with maximum adrenaline and, above all, speed. Can you imagine what we are talking about? This is where the Jurassic World VelociCoaster is located, probably the most extreme roller coaster at Universal Studios Orlando.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: completely themed in the Harry Potter world and as a complement to the area found in Universal Studios Florida, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is located here, a brutal roller coaster and some secondary attractions that are also highly recommended. Remember that here, just like at Universal Studios Florida, if you have the Park-to-Park ticket, you can go from one park to another with the famous Hogwarts Express.
The Lost Continent: based on some myths and legends, the Poseidon’s Fury and Mythos attraction is located here, one of the most recommended restaurants in the park. We booked that same morning through the application and the truth is that we really liked it.
Seuss Landing: in this area there are only attractions focused on children and the characters created by Dr. Seuss.

Best Islands of Adventure Attractions

It’s time to talk about the attractions, the big reason why you’ve probably considered visiting Islands of Adventure. As we did with Universal Studios Florida, in all those that we included in the selection, we leave you the area in which they are located, the intensity, popularity and also, if you can use the Express Pass to ride.
Remember that in Islands of Adventure there are more attractions than those we include, although these are not as famous or spectacular, so in this article we wanted to focus on the one that most travelers choose to ride and to which we believe, you should dedicate the time. time you are in the park.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

This 3D simulator is one of the best attractions in Islands of Adventure as well as one of the most amazing on a technical level. Based on the adventures of Spider-Man, aboard a vehicle and wearing 3D glasses, you will enter a world in which, for 4 minutes, you will feel like a superhero. Although the attraction is not particularly intense, the special effects do make there are moments when your stomach drops.

Region: Marvel Super Hero Island
Intensity: 2
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

Hagrid´s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

Known for being one of the most famous, fun and crazy Islands of Adventure and Universal attractions , we assure you that riding Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is an experience that it will probably take you a while to forget.
Completely themed and starting in the queue itself, where you can get acquainted with the staging, once you arrive at the attraction itself you will have to decide whether to get on a motorcycle or its sidecar to travel the kilometer and a half of rails that make it Florida’s longest roller coaster .
It is important to know that although the intensity does not reach that of VelociCoaster or Hulk, there are sections in which speeds exceed 80 kilometers per hour as well as some surprises that will make you feel pinched in your stomach.
We would tell you that it is highly recommended to go with your eyes open, since the scenarios you go through are brutal, but we have to confess that on occasions, we had to close them from the shock.

It is very important to know that this is the only Universal Studios attraction that does not accept the Express Pass . This means that the queues that form usually have peaks of more than 150 minutes at some times of the day. To avoid them, our recommendation is that you try to go first thing in the morning, especially if you have the early entry benefit of Universal hotel guests to try not to wait more than 60 minutes in line, which is what there usually is first thing in the morning. the morning. We did it like this and arriving about 30 minutes before opening, we queued for 40 minutes.

Region: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Intensity: 4
Popularity: 5+
Express Pass: no

Flight of the Hippogriff

We could say that this is the little sister of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure since it is another roller coaster . Of course, in this case it is perfect for families , since it has a much lower intensity than the previous one. Despite that, it is also very popular and we really liked it since it also has unique views of the castle area in its highest parts. It is important to know that this usually has much less queue and also, the Express Pass is accepted here.

Region: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Intensity: 2
Popularity: 4
Express Pass: yes

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Located inside Hogwarts Castle and technically practically perfect, this is another of the best-known attractions and probably the most desired by travelers on Island of Adventure. Like others of its style, the adventure begins as soon as you enter the queue area since the staging is simply perfect and, above all, surprising. Once you arrive at the boarding area you find vehicles for 4 people, which move to the rhythm of the 3D images, as a simulator. Although in this case it is not excessively intense, at times it can make you dizzy due to the movements. Warning: the safety restraints are like those on some extreme roller coasters but don’t be scared as there is no inversion.

Region: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Intensity: 3-4
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

The Incredible Hulk Coaster, another of the best attractions at Universal Studios in Orlando

Extreme attraction . We think we should start here before giving you any other features of this attraction. Known for being one of the best roller coasters in the country , riding Hulk and living this 2-minute experience is synonymous, among many other things, with going from 0 to 70 kilometers in less than 3 seconds, having an inverted fall at more of 30 meters and several inversions that will surely leave you breathless.

If you like strong (extreme) emotions, it is ideal to wait to be able to ride in the first positions of the carriages.

Region: Marvel Super Hero Island
Intensity: 5+
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

Jurassic Park River Adventure

Ideal for adults and children, this water attraction is perfect for the hottest days and for travelers who are looking to combine fun with the occasional scare and adrenaline rush. We don’t want to give you any spoilers so we’ll just tell you that the adventure begins in a very calm way but in the end… splash!

Region: Jurassic Park
Intensity: 3
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

Jurassic World VelociCoaster

This is probably the most brutal roller coaster you can ride in the Universal Studios parks and in any of the parks in Florida. Known for its intensity in all aspects and for its route, during which you will run out of breath thanks to its constant speed, inversions, rotations, jumps and throws, during its almost mile and a half, you must be prepared to become disoriented, dizzy, feel in the clouds and above all, release more adrenaline than you could have ever imagined.

In addition to the attraction itself, during the queue you can enjoy a unique staging that revolves around the world of Jurassic Park. Get ready to enjoy!

Region: Jurassic Park
Intensity: 5+
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

Skull Island: Reign of Kong

Up on a truck and with 3D glasses, this attraction is another of the most famous in the park, as well as fun, surprising and, above all, spectacular from the moment you enter the area where it is located. It is important to know that it has practically no intensity since there are no excessive real movements, although 3D images can sometimes result in surprising and, above all, unexpected moments.
For us it is one of the attractions that we liked the most and we thought it was essential. Even the type that invites repeats. We leave it there!

Region: Skull Island
Intensity: 1
Popularity: 5
Express Pass: yes

Shows on Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure is not an amusement park that is especially characterized by its daytime shows beyond some that you can see in the Harry Potter area . Although we do not believe that they are essential, if you are a fan of the saga, we do recommend that you check the park’s application to see the schedules and, as far as possible, try to be in the area to see them.

What you cannot miss is the nighttime show The Nighttime Lights At Hogwarts Castle, which takes place in the castle and is a light and sound show as well as projections on the castle, which takes place on specific nights, during the spring and summer.

Tips for visiting Universal Studios park in Orlando

Although we hope to have answered your questions throughout this article about how to visit the Universal Studios Parks in Orlando , we leave you some tips and recommendations that we believe can be very useful when organizing your visit.

The ideal is to have two days to visit Universal Orlando Resort , one for the Universal Studios Florida park and another for Islands of Adventure. Initially it does not matter which of them you visit first, although in our experience we would perhaps leave Islands of Adventure for last since it has the fewest shows and is generally quicker to visit.
Download The Official Universal Orlando Resort App before visiting the park. With it you can review the themes of each attraction, waiting times, show schedules and even place orders at different restaurants or make reservations.
Spend some time reviewing the attractions and making a list of the ones you want to ride . This is the way to make the most of your time and invest it in getting to know the parks and, above all, riding the attractions you have chosen.
Waiting times at the main attractions are usually long so, especially in high season or on weekends, it is highly recommended to purchase the Express Pass . Although this is quite expensive, it is certainly worth it in those cases.
Although there are many restaurants, our recommendation is that you do not book at any unless you have good time for the attractions. On the second day we booked at Mythos and, although we liked it a lot, we don’t think that going justifies missing out on some attraction.
In the access area to the parks you will find an endless number of shops, restaurants, many of them very well-known, cafes…etc. so it is always advisable to reserve some time, either in the morning or in the evening when you finish the parks, to go for a walk.
In some attractions you cannot ride with a backpack, bag, etc. and you must leave it in the designated lockers. These are free for small pieces for a maximum of 30 minutes but from then on, you will have to pay between $2 and $3 per piece.
It may seem silly but wear comfortable clothes and shoes . The day is very long and you will end up walking many kilometers. Also, if you go in summer, try to wear closed-toe shoes since in many attractions you will have your feet in the air.

Questions and answers for visiting Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure

We know that on many occasions, having so much information can cause the most relevant and important data to end up going unnoticed. That’s why in this section we wanted to include a selection of the most common questions and answers we receive to make visiting Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure much easier and more fun.

What ticket do I have to buy for Universal Studios in Orlando?
Admission is general and will allow you to enter Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. If you want to jump from one park to another on the same day, you must purchase the Park-to-Park option.

How do I get from Universal Studios Florida to Islands of Adventure?
You can walk since they are practically next to each other. Another option, if you have Park-to-Park admission, is to ride the Hogwarts Express, an attraction that recreates the famous Hogwarts Express and connects the two Harry Potter-themed areas, each located in a park.

Can I ride the Hogwarts Express without having a Park-to-Park ticket?
No, it is essential to have this ticket to be able to ride.

Is it advisable to buy the Express Pass?
It depends mainly on the time of year you are going to visit the parks. If it is high season or a weekend, it can be highly recommended since you can skip the lines at the main attractions and thus make the most of your time.

How much do tickets to Universal Studios in Orlando cost?
The price varies depending on the season and even the days for which you buy tickets. In general terms, the prices are $140 for general admission, $170 for Park-to-Park admission and an extra $120-$130 if you want to buy the Express Pass.

Is there a nighttime show at Universal Studios in Orlando?
Yes, in the Universal Studios Florida park you have Universal Orlando Cinematic Celebration and in Islands of Adventure, in spring and summer, The Nighttime Lights At Hogwarts Castle.

How many days do you recommend to visit the Universal Parks in Orlando?
The ideal is to have two days, one for each main park since each of them has incredible attractions.

Universal Studios Orlando: Ticket Info, Prices, and Tips