Tips for a fun Experience at Universal Studios Florida

January 19, 2020

How to Plan for a Trip to Universal Studios Florida

This post was written pre-pandemic but going to assume the same tips still apply. Please be sure to practice social distancing and comply with the new CDC regulated rules when returning to theme parks like Universal Studios and Disney World. Read on for tips on how to have a fun adventure at Universal Studios Florida.

Check Ticket Prices

Make sure to check the Universal Studios ticket prices before you even book your trip as ticket prices increase and decrease based on season. The highest prices are during the holiday months. There are also discounts for local residents and military. Once you’ve checked the prices, purchase online as it will save you lots of time when arriving to the park.

Take Advantage of the Single Rider Lane

Purchase a Fast Pass. If you have it in your budget to skip the lines, get yourself and your family fast passes. But the real hack is to take advantage of the Single Rider Lane! Single riders are riders who don’t mind experiencing a ride solo. But don’t let this deter you if you’re in a larger group. Single riders are able to get on rides faster and even ride multiple times because the lines are so short. Oh! And it’s no extra charge! Here’s how it works:

You enter the single riders lane and based on the number of people in each row to go on a ride, a single rider is selected to join that row. If you’re in a group there’s a possibility you may get split up but there’s also the possibility of still riding with some people in your group. I tested this hack with three others and on most of the rides we still ended up in a rider group together. However, I don’t recommend this if you have small children. I experienced a family of four with two smaller children in the single riders lane. One of the little girls experienced a ride on her own and the park attendant asked her to “be brave!” I mean, if your kid is brave enough, go right ahead but I’d personally prefer to make sure I’m riding with a child 8 and under.

Pack a Lunch

Pack a lunch and snacks! Trips can get expensive and so can the parks, so in order to save some bucks or even eat a little healthier, bring a backpack along and fill it with snacks and/or a meal. Just choose your food options wisely as Florida is a pretty warm climate, if you catch my drift. There are several locations to lock your backpacks when riding the rides so you don’t have to worry about that part.

Go to Harry Potter World

If the park seems quiet, it’s because EVERYONE is experiencing the Wizarding World Harry Potter. So make sure you stop by. It’s a very cool experience! Modeled after the Harry Potter books and movies, Harry Potter World is filled with magic and wonder that both Harry Potter fans and newly discovered fans will enjoy. Same tips apply for this section of the park too. Pack some food, and enter the single rider lane!

Group Photos Can be Free

I recently went to Universal Studios over Christmas with my boyfriend and his family and we were in a group of 15! Naturally, we wanted a group photo to commemorate the trip so we asked a professional photographer to capture the moment with his camera and with one of our phones. Jamarr, being the family man that he is, decided to purchase the professional photo but our Samsung phone photo was just as nice. Just a tip if you’re not looking to spend an extra $30+. Keep the camera phone photo!

Wear Comfortable Shoes

You’ll be on your feet ALL DAY. Universal Studios is a large park so I made a point to wear my Nike Reacts because they feel like little clouds on my feet.