Top 5 Things to Consider Before Booking Your First Time to Universal Studios Orlando in 2026 & Beyond

Planning your first time to Universal Studios Orlando can get a little overwhelming.

From tickets to attractions to hotels, there’s plenty to consider and make sense of.

Today I’ll break down the main things you need to consider, so you can have a successful first trip to Universal Studios Orlando.

This post is all about the top 5 things you should consider before booking your first time to Universal Studios Orlando.

Table of Contents

First Time to Universal Studios Orlando

1) Are You Visiting Walt Disney World Resort Too?

If you’re thinking about squeezing both Universal Studios Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort into one trip, you might be busier than you realize.

Between Disney and Universal, they have a combined total of 7 theme parks and 3 water parks in Orlando:

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Magic Kingdom Park
Epcot
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Disney World Water Parks

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

Universal Studios Orlando Theme Parks

Universal Studios Florida
Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Epic Universe

Universal Orlando Water Parks

Universal Volcano Bay

Whilst it’s certainly possible to visit all Universal and Disney theme parks, it will largely depend on one thing: How long will your vacation be?

2) How Many Days Will You Have at Universal (& in Orlando, in General)?

Generally, the longer the trip, the easier it will be to visit both Disney and Universal.

So, if you now know how many days your Orlando vacation, let’s discuss what you need to think about before deciding how long you will need at Universal Orlando Resort:

How rushed / relaxed do you want your experience to be?
Do you want to spend all day at the park – or do you want time “off”?
Is Universal the focus of your trip?
And think about the individual Universal parks …

3) Which Universal Parks Will You Visit?

It’s not 1990, and there’s not just one Universal Orlando park anymore, as I mentioned earlier, there’s 3 theme parks and 1 water park.

Here are the highlights of what you need to know about each park.

Universal Studios Florida

A park with mainly screen-based attractions
Home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley

first trip to Universal Studios Orlando — Diagon Alley

The main IPs you’ll find here include The Simpsons, E.T., Wicked (but currently just in an exhibit/store), MEN IN BLACK, Despicable Me/Minions, Fast & Furious, Jimmy Fallon
Halloween Horror Nights is usually held here (so if you’re visiting around late August to early November, it may be on during your visit).

Universal Islands of Adventure

Known as the most thrilling of Universal parks
Where you’ll find the original Harry Potter land – Hogsmeade
IPs here also include: Jurassic Park/World, Marvel (i.e. The Hulk, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom), King Kong, Dudley-Do-Right, Popeye & Pluto, Dr Seuss (i.e. The Cat in the Hat, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, The Grinch – at Christmas).

first visit to Universal Studios — The Cat In The Hat

Universal Epic Universe

The newest theme park at Universal – which officially opened on May 22nd, 2025
Where you’ll find the most recent Harry Potter land – Ministry of Magic.
Other IPs include: Nintendo, How to Train Your Dragon, Universal Classic Monsters (i.e. Frankenstein’s Monster).

first trip to Universal Studios — How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

Often has the highest overall wait times of the theme parks.

Universal Volcano Bay

Generally considered to be better than Disney World’s water parks.
Great for thrill-seekers – it even has the exhilarating Krakatau Aqua Coaster!
Usually less “time-consuming” than the Universal theme parks.

I always recommend researching the parks and attractions, so you can roughly figure out which parks you want to visit. You’ll want to know this before purchasing your tickets.

4) Which Universal Orlando Tickets Are Best For You & Should You Bother With Express Pass?

Picking the right ticket can feel like a difficult task.

Universal throws everything at you: base tickets, park-to-park, and then the infamous Express Pass.

Let’s discuss them all:

Base Tickets – A ticket to just one park per day – no add ons.

Park to Park Tickets – Tickets that allow you to visit more than one park per day. For example, if you want to go on the Hogwarts Express attraction, you will need a Park to Park ticket for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure – as it takes you between the two parks.

One Day Tickets – You can buy one day tickets for any of the parks at Universal, which is great if you’re short on time, or only interested in visiting one park.

Two Day or Multi Day Tickets – Want longer at Universal? Choose a 2+ day ticket instead. If you want a multi day ticket with one day at Epic Universe, check this park is definitely included before you make your purchase.

Express Pass – Universal’s paid FastPass system (more on this later)

Standard Express Pass – Will let you “skip the line” once per ride per day.

Unlimited Express Pass – Allows you to “skip the line” as many times as you’d like for each ride, each day.

Season/Annual Passes – If you’re planning a long visit or more than one visit in a 12-month period, an Annual Pass may be a good option. Just be aware that Epic Universe is not included in the price of an Annual Pass, or as an add-on at the moment.

Wondering how to save money on your Universal tickets? Don’t just book from the first site you see. Shop around, visit different websites for authorized Universal ticket sellers (such as Undercover Tourist), and choose the best one.

Express Pass

Regarding the Express Pass, this “Fastpass” will let you essentially “cut the main queue” for the rides.

I go into more detail in this post: Is the Universal Studios Orlando Express Pass Overhyped or Overpriced?

But the important thing to know is that they are expensive (around $99.99 – $400 + tax, per person, per day).

But if you’re wondering how you can get a Universal Unlimited Express Pass for cheaper, keep reading!

5) Are You Staying Off-Site or On-Site at Universal?

This is one of the biggest questions for your first Universal trip: are you booking a room on-site or off-site?

This choice isn’t just about location, it can shape your whole Universal trip.

Here are some perks of staying at on-site hotels:

Easy transportation (or in many cases, walking paths) to Universal parks.
Early Park Admission – You can enter the parks one hour before other park guests (just be aware that some rides may be closed during this hour).
Complimentary Unlimited Express Passes for all guests in your room (including your check-in and check-out dates) at SELECT HOTELS FROM THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION (Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific).

first time Universal — Universal Loews Portofino Bay

For more information, check out my post on: The Many Perks of Staying at Hotels on Site Universal Studios Orlando (& why this is so helpful when Epic Universe opens)

Frequently Asked Questions about First Time to Universal Studios Orlando

Is it cheaper to buy Universal Orlando tickets online or at the parks?

It is usually cheaper – and far more time-efficient – to buy Universal tickets before the day(s) of your visit.

Can you buy a one day ticket to Universal Studios Orlando?

As mentioned earlier in this post, you can buy a single day ticket to the Universal parks.

How many hours do you need at Universal Studios Orlando?

This will depend largely on how much you want to do, and how many days you are visiting for.

How early should I get to Universal Studios?

For a productive day, arriving around half an hour before park opening is sufficient.

However, for Epic Universe, you may want to arrive earlier (an hour ish + before park opening).

Can you get a first time Universal Studios Orlando button?

You can usually get first visit buttons at Guest Relations at Universal Orlando.

Do I need cash at Universal Orlando?

You do not need cash at Universal Orlando. Cards and valid Universal gift cards can be used instead.

Is there free water at Universal Studios?

Yes, you can find it at quick service dining locations. You can also refill your water bottles at the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.

Can I take my backpack into Universal Studios?

Yes, but be aware that for certain rides, you have to put your belongings in a locker. And if your backpack doesn’t fit into the free lockers, you will have to pay for a larger locker.

For more information on what you can bring to Universal Studios, check out this post.

Universal Studios Orlando when did it open?

Universal Studios Florida first opened in 1990, followed by Universal Islands of Adventure in 1999, Universal Volcano Bay in 2017, and finally, Universal Epic Universe in 2025.

Final Thoughts & Ta Ta For Now

Have you got any additional tips on planning your first time to Universal Studios Orlando? Or, are you planning your first trip and trying to gather as much info as possible?!

Thanks for reading, and please share your thoughts in the comments 🙂

This post was all about the top 5 things you should consider before booking your first time to Universal Studios Orlando