10 Top Tips for a Universal Orlando Resort Cruise and Stay
Iglu Cruise’ Marketing Manager Natalie recently spent a sunny seven days in Orlando Florida. We couldn’t help but pick her brains for a Universal Orlando Resort® survival guide. Check out Nat’s top tips before you go and share some of your own with us on Facebook.
Don’t have a big breakfast
There are so many great places to eat once you’re in the park. My favourite treat of the day was the butterbeer icecream at Florean Forescue.
Download the Universal App
Do this before you arrive at the park as it gives you live updates on the queue time for each ride. Avoid disappointment and save time for more fun by being well prepared on queue times.
Diagon Alley is really busy in the daytime
I would recommend going to the park later in the day and visiting this area in the evening when a lot of the crowds have gone home. The parks are usually open until around 11pm at night.
Pre-book your tickets
Keep costs down significantly more on the day by booking your tickets in advance. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, make sure you purchase a ticket that allows you to visit both parks on the same day so you can go on the Hogwarts Express.
Join the single passenger queue
If you don’t mind going on a ride on your own I would recommend going in the single passenger queue. This brings the queue time down and I ended up sitting next to my partner 4 times out of the 6 rides that offered this type of queue.
The Hogwarts Express is a must
But it can get really busy in the daytime. Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure is only a short walk apart so I would recommend walking from one park to the other in the daytime and hopping on the Hogwarts Express in the evening. I don’t want to ruin the amazing surprise of what happens on the train but you won’t miss any scenery by doing it in the dark.
Explore Universal CityWalk
The two parks are situated within the Universal CityWalk Orlando area. This area is a great place to visit in the evening and is home to the Hard Rock Café Orlando.
Plan your days
There are lots of shows on at the park and watching these is a great way of having a little rest in-between rides. I loved the Fear Factor Live, if you are brave enough, arrive about an hour before the show time and you can audition to take park. Beware, if you don’t like heights, insects or slimy objects this might not be one for you.
Pack light
Although there are lockers at the park by each ride a few of the rides won’t let you on with handbags so the less you have with you the quicker it will be to get on the ride. Lockers are free while you ride but if you want them for a longer period you will get charged.
Buy your souvenirs at the end of the day
There are so many fun things to buy but you don’t want to get stuck lugging around wands, hats and mugs all day. Save this for the last part.
See for yourself with a cruise and stay holiday to Universal Orlando Resort®