Booking a family trip to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure can be stressful no matter how big or small your family is. After a few trips with my family as a kid, and now as a Mom of two boys, with my Dad who we affectionately refer to as Disney/Universal Pop, I have a few tips to help you stress a little less, and enjoy the parks and your stay to the absolute fullest.
First things first where to stay?? Universal is unlike Disney in the fact that you can add Express Passes to your park tickets that you can use all day ANYTIME you want. Unfortunately, if you are staying off property these carry a hefty price tag on top of the already expensive park ticket price. Best ways to beat this: Staying at one of their top tier hotels of their Resorts. TRUST me its pays for itself. There are multiple levels of Hotels on property, but only the top tier Hotels offer Express Passes with your stay, as well as early park hours for resort guests. (Every Universal resort offers early admission to their parks)
The Top Tier Hotels
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Hard Rock Hotel
Loews Royal Pacific
With these Hotels you will also receive:
~Early park hours at both Theme Parks
~Priority seating and reservations at select restaurants in resort: Just call your concierge with a place and time you would like to eat and boom you're IN!!!
~Complimentary Water Taxis to and from parks
~Complimentary shuttles to and from parks
~Complimentary delivery of any merchandise you purchase to your hotel.
Our family favorite resort to stay at is The Lowes Royal Pacific, close walk to the parks or a short boat ride. It boasts a Hawaiian atmosphere throughout the resort giving 100% relaxing tropical vacation vibes.
Express Pass's grant you express lines to all park attractions, any time you please EXCEPT (as of 2/21/23) Hagrid's. Your room key will be your express lane pass, each ride has its very own Express Pass line, where they will ask for you to show/or they will scan your room key through out the line, no more than twice but to insure there is no line hopping from others who don't have Express access. You will need to have this easily accessible, we buy lanyards or bring ours from previous years. BEST part about Express Passes, no 30-60 day prior to trip midnight rush to grab your Fast Passes like at Disney World. Your Day your Way. Velocicoaster was added to the Express Pass benefits on 2/21/23. For me it's a no brainer, as each day we were able to hit all rides with minimal waits. Unfortunately, also as of 2/21/23 Hagrid's is closed down due to refurbishments, which will hopefully resolve all of the mechanical issues that have cursed the ride since its opening, I don't recall a day where we didn't pull up the app to check wait times where this ride wasn't delayed or down for some amount of time. I hope once they re-open and the usual newly reopened time period is over, Hagrid's will also be added to the Express Pass perks.
Pro-tip: When purchasing a lanyard, make sure the pouch is clear, if not they will ask you to take it out at every line.
Pro-tip not everyone knows about, the day of your check in regardless room access, your express passes are good for that day beginning at 7 am. All you have to do is stop by your hotel, you can even drop your luggage off to leave with the concierge, and they will give you your unassigned room # key that has your Express Pass access. They will then later assign your room, and attach that to your room key.
Now that we have discussed where to stay for best deals for your stay and express passes, let's talk Park tickets. One of the best things about Universal and Islands of Adventure is that they are a short walk to and from each park, or a quick journey on the Hogwarts Express inside The world of Harry Potter, you finish your journey Diagon Alley, where Escape from Gringotts is located. To hop from park to park you MUST buy the Multi-Park hopper tickets, you can do either the 2 park ticket or the 3 park ticket if you would also like to visit Universa'ls Volcano Bay Waterpark. For the most bang for your buck I recommend, the 2 park hopper pass if you are not a Water Park fan or go during the off season for say water rides, also this is an easy upgrade at your hotel if you decide you want to add the third park.
Early entrance for Universal resort guests, is usually an hour to an hour and half before general admission, the front desk personnel will let you know each days times for your stay. Another trip life hack, people will begin to line up a hour before the early admission time, this for us was for the mad dash to either Hagrid's or Velocicoaster, now that Velocicoaster is on Express Pass, the mad rush will be for Hagrid's when it reopens. Unfortunately, even with early admission wait times can be crazy for this ride, so "Run don't walk", wait times are always less (even though can still be long) at this time versus any other time of the day, even late at night unfortunately, my kids stalk wait times on their Universal app like no other lol. Hagrid's truly is amazing and worth the wait, maybe just not a 2 hour wait.
Personal items, each ride has different bag polices, most rides you can wear a belt bag like the ever so popular Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag. This is a great option and don't get me wrong I love mine for everyday, but for all day at the parks with two kids and a husband, I recommend buying the Lululemon Clean Lines Belt Bag 2L. It's a bit bigger and can hold so so much, so much in fact you will be amazed. For larger personal items each ride has a locker area, with small and big lockers for you to store any personal item that is too big for the attraction. The small lockers are free of charge for your time on the ride, and the larger lockers are $2. Easy access using your room key to all lockers. The larger rides like Velocicoaster and Hulk have lockers in their line, these rides allow zero personal items on the attraction, and they are super strict about this as well as have metal detectors before you can get on the ride, to insure no lose items were forgotten to be put away, or given to someone who isn't riding the attraction.
Volcano Bay is also absolutely amazing and well organized for cutting down the time you spend in line. You feel like you are on a tropical getaway on crystal blue ocean shores, with the added fun of water slides for the kids and kids at heart. Volcano Bay also has early admissions for all Resort guest, unfortunately no hotel offers free fast passes. You can purchase at the water park but these come with a very hefty price tag. Each guest upon entry is given a Tapu Tapu, when you get in line for a water slide and the wait is long, you tap your Tapu Tapu and it will give you a return time, you can either continue to ride other water slides, or grab yourself a fruity concoction and relax while you await your ride time, and trust me after a few days running around Islands of Adventure and Universal you will want to enjoy lounging under a palm tree while you wait for your turn. They feature waterslides for every age, and thrill seeker level. The most popular ride that you will want to head straight to once you are in, is their Krakatau Aqua Coaster, it features a 4 person raft that will speed you around their Volcano, and is sure to get those squeals of joy from all ages. Best news ever....Every water slide water and pool is heated to 80 degrees which allows the park to be open all year round. If you and your kids are anything like our family, Volcano Bay is a must for at least one day, and REMEMBER to grab yourself a seat under a Palm Tree, a fruity cocktail, and relax why waiting the alert from your Tapu Tapu that your ride awaits your return.
Bring your best walking shoes, you will be walking 10-13 miles a day if your kids are anything like mine and want to be at the parks from sun up to close, and best news ever Universal and Islands of Adventure sell all kinds of adult beverages, so truly the best of all worlds.
xo
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