What to Do First at Universal Studios Orlando: Your Ideal Morning Plan for Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe (Early Entry, Smart Ride Orders, With or Without Express Pass)

The first 60 to 90 minutes at Universal can make or break your whole day. So that leaves the question: What to do first at Universal Studios Orlando?

When you start wrong – without strategic Universal Studios Orlando planning – you can pay for it with long waits. And a plan that could fall apart by lunch.

So, what to do First at Universal Studios Orlando?

The best first move also changes by park. Depending on which park you’re visiting – Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe – your morning strategy will of course be different.

As I’ve learned the hard way, if you want the full day to feel efficient instead of chaotic, we need a simple, step-by-step morning plan for each park. Plus a few quick Universal Studios Orlando tips for when crowds, Early Entry – and wait times – don’t match our expectations.

This post is all about what to do first at Universal Islands of Adventure, and how to create your ideal morning plan at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe.

Table of Contents

What to Do First at Universal Studios Orlando

What are the 3 parks at Universal Studios Orlando?

Universal Studios Florida – more “movie set” park, primarily packed with screen-based rides and stage shows (like The Bourne Stuntacular, and Animal Actors on Location) and other shows taking place outside within lands. There are 13 Universal Studios Orlando rides in total at this park (if you include the Hogwarts Express and Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast). This is the only park with a parade (Universal Mega Movie Parade or Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s during the Universal Christmas season – 14th November, 2026 – 3rd January, 2027). This is also the home of the incredibly impressive The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley land. In 2027, this park is getting a highly-anticipated roller coaster: Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift. Please note that the current screen-based Fast & Furious ride – Fast & Furious: Supercharged will be closing permanently in 2026). Universal Studios Florida also has a full-length nighttime show, CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular.

Universal Islands of Adventure – the heavy-hitter for thrill rides and coaster fans (including Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Jurassic World: VelociCoaster, and The Incredible Hulk Coaster). Overall, there are 18 rides at Islands of Adventure (including the Hogwarts Express). It’s also known as THE park for water rides (with Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, Jurassic Park River Adventure (set to reopen following a refurb on November 19th, 2026), and Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges). You won’t find a year-round stage show here – one of the main differences between the original two Universal parks. You will, however, find a nighttime show (albeit a shorter one): a Universal Studios Orlando Harry Potter projection show with some fireworks (currently Hogwarts Always, at the time of publishing this post. Generally, these shows are under 10 minutes long, and will change season to season – i.e. for Christmas).

Universal Epic Universe – Universal Orlando Epic Universe is Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park (which opened in May 2025), built as a “hub-and-worlds” layout where you enter through Celestial Park (the main hub) and branch out to four big IP lands (from Harry Potter to Nintendo). There are 11 rides and 2 stage shows here, so plenty to keep you busy! Sadly, Epic Universe doesn’t have a headlining nighttime show. They have a Cosmos Fountain Show, with water, lights and music. If you get a chance, it is better than you may expect and worth seeing.

How to Prepare for a Successful Universal Studios Orlando Ahead of Time

Wondering what rides to do first at Universal Orlando?

The best mornings at Universal start before we ever hit the turnstiles.

Our goal is simple: make the first hour feel like a head start, not a scramble.

This is also where we quietly solve the biggest mistake people make when they’re figuring out What to do First at Universal Studios Orlando.

We don’t always charge straight at the most popular ride. Sometimes the smarter move is to clear out nearby rides while everyone piles into the same headline queue, then circle back when that initial surge fades and the wait can dip.

Choose your main park goals first – I.E. rides, shows, dining etc.

Before we plan a single rope drop move, we decide what kind of day we’re having.

That one decision tells us how productive our morning needs to be, and how picky we should be about where we start.

(If you’re on a longer Universal trip, or you visit often, you may not need to “cram as much in” to your day. Alternatively, if this is your first – or perhaps only – Universal Orlando visit, “squeezing as much out of your day” may be the primary goal).

We usually fall into one of these goals:

Which rides?: We need to know this before we decide what rides to do first at Universal Studios Orlando. Want to experience every roller coaster in a park? Every slow ride? Or every ride, period. Write this down! It will have a massive influence on your morning (and daily) plan.
Which shows/parades?: Not every Universal park has a ton of shows, but they all have some! Want to see any of them? Add these to your list too (remember they will be more time-restricted as their shows only take place at very specific times throughout the day). Going to a park with a parade? This may only occur once/twice a day.
Specific Dining Preferences: Desperate to try Butterbeer Crepes at Universal Studios Orlando Epic Universe or a unique meal at the Minion Café at Universal Studios Florida? Even want a specific breakfast? Your morning will impact your dining plans for the rest of the day – especially if you want to eat at a popular location. (Remember that table service dining may require reservations ahead of time).

what rides to do first at Universal Studios Orlando — Carl’s Crispy Cauliflower from Illumination’s Minion Cafe – Illumination’s Minion Land (Universal Studios Florida)

Harry Potter-Centric Day?: A lot of Potterheads visit Universal *just* or *primarily* to experience The Wizarding World. If this is your intention, it’s best prioritize the Wizarding World and treat everything else as a bonus.

Family pace/or just a relaxed visit for anyone: Then may just want a smooth morning with less rushing (so potentially a smaller list of absolute priorities).
A little of everything: Where we want a balanced day, but we still need a smart first hour so the afternoon doesn’t implode
Allow room to experience seasonal events – Visiting during the Universal Studios Orlando Christmas season, for example? You may want to make time to see the Macy’s parade and view all the decorations.

Here’s our simple rule: if we want headliners, we plan our first 3 attractions before we arrive. Not twelve. Not a minute-by-minute schedule. Just 3. That gives us direction when the entrance area turns into a sea of people.

Early Park Admission (if you have it) to buy time and reduce stress

Early Park Admission is where select guests (see how to qualify below) get access to the theme parks before the “general” visitors.

In essence, it’s extra time in the morning where select park areas open earlier for eligible guests.

How do you qualify for Universal Early Park Admission?:

Guests staying at any on-site Universal hotel (You get to enter Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure and Universal Epic Universe up to one hour before official opening. Usually, Early Park Admission is only 30 minutes at Universal Volcano Bay water park.

best rides to do first at Universal Studios Orlando — Universal Hard Rock Hotel

Universal Preferred and Premier Passholders (Preferred Passholders get Early Park Admission at certain parks on certain days. Premier Passholders qualify for Early Park Admission on all dates; Epic Universe not included). Any 3-park Universal Passholder can qualify for Early Park Admission at Volcano Bay, on some days.

You booked a PACKAGE through Universal, including Universal tickets and a stay at a partner hotel. EPA is not granted for room-only bookings at partner hotels.

This is how to use EPA well:

Arriving early enough to be near the front. Early Entry is only “early” if we beat the pack of Early Entry guests (bus transportation starts one hour before the park opens. Many hotels also have water taxis and have walking paths to at least one park (either Epic Universe OR Universal Studios Florida AND Islands of Adventure). The Endless Summer Resorts are excluded from this, as you are reliant on bus transportation here.
We know which area opens early. Early Park Admission usually applies to specific lands and attractions, not the whole park. If we guess wrong, we waste the perk walking to attractions. Check the Universal Fl app to see the opening times of each attraction.
We aim to finish 1 to 3 rides with low waits. The number will vary on how many rides you want to get done and the business of the park.

Additionally, we keep one mindset that saves us from the biggest rope drop trap: we don’t automatically pick the most popular ride first.

They are generally not the best rides to do first at Universal Studios Orlando.

You can often be better off heading to nearby attractions that will balloon later (when guests start spreading a little more evenly across the park).

Later, we return to the headliner when the initial surge calms down.

Worst case scenario: the main ride’s wait time doesn’t drop; but overall, you’ve saved queueing time, because you got other rides done before the massive crowds arrive.

This move alone can cut total line time more than people expect.

This strategy is demonstrated in this Epic Universe video (but I have learned that it works at the other Universal Parks too.

Key point: We can pivot, stack some easier rides, and come back when the park’s rhythm settles.

The only times I go straight to the most popular ride at rope drop

I’m not telling you to avoid headliners. However, I am suggesting to delay them when it’s clearly the worst trade (time-wise).

That said, there are a few situations where you should absolutely go straight to the biggest ride first.

These are the conditions that may motivate you to plan a headliner-first rope drop:

Limited hours: If you’re not spending the whole day at the park, it can be best to experience the hardest-to-get ride first and build around it.
If you only care about that ride: If the headliner is the whole reason we bought the ticket, it’s better to protect it early than gamble on a “we’ll get to it later” plan.
Weather risk: If storms are expected, we prioritize rides that are likely to pause or close when weather rolls in. Getting it done early can save the day.
Frequent downtime: Universal’s rides can be a little temperamental. If it’s known for delays or long pauses, riding early can beat the “breakdown lottery”.
A locked schedule later: Dining reservations, a show we refuse to miss, or anything that pins us to a time window later can force our hand. When our afternoon is boxed in, perhaps it is best to do the tough ride first so you don’t miss your chance.

Even in these cases, it’s a good idea to check the Universal app from time to time – for up-to-date wait times.

This way, if the posted wait for the headliner is already ugly at opening, you don’t have to blindly commit.

You can look for the nearest “Plan B” that still keeps us productive.

Then we circle back later, when you’re ready to go on the most popular attraction.

Park by Park Morning Plan: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe

Our best Universal mornings all follow the same idea: we want momentum before the crowds settle in.

Early Park Admission (for on-site guests and to select guests with qualifying packages) is the easiest way to get that momentum.

But you don’t have to have Early Park Admission to use a lot of these strategies. (In fact, if you don’t have EPA, I would particularly recommend not rushing to the most popular attractions. They will already have wildly long wait times by the time you enter the park).

Universal Studios Florida: The Morning Plan

Once again, the strategy here is the same as described above. However, let’s break this down into what makes the most sense of Universal Studios Florida.

Important Things You Should Know about mornings at Universal Studios Florida:

Early Park Admission often isn’t held here (more often than not, it will be at Islands of Adventure instead).
When Early Park Admission is available at Universal Studios Florida, usually has these two rides open: 1) Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and 2) Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.

There are 4 main places where you can get breakfast here: 1) San Francisco Pastry Company; 2) Starbucks; 3) Today Cafe; and 4) The Leaky Cauldron (times vary, so check the Universal app for the day you visit).

Additional Tips for Mornings at Universal Studios Florida:

If you have EPA, choose which ride you want to prioritize: either Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts or Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (I would recommend choosing Gringotts, as it’s a more impressive ride system and experience, but they are both enjoyable rides). In the hour of EPA, you may be able to experience both attractions, but in case of delays, choose the one you’re most excited about.
Don’t have Early Park Admission? If the wait for Gringotts and Minion Mayhem are particularly high when you enter the parks, avoid them until later.
There aren’t as many WILDLY popular rides here compared to IOA and Epic Universe (though this will likely change with the 2027 introduction of Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift)

For reference, here are the Universal Studios Florida rides which routinely get the highest wait times:

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley – roller coaster with screens)
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (Illumination’s Minion Land – screen-based simulator)
Revenge of the Mummy (New York – roller coaster)
Hogwarts Express – King’s Cross Station (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley – be aware that this train ride takes you to Islands of Adventure, so you only want to go on it when you’re ready to park hop – and if you have a valid Park to Park ticket!)

In contrast, here are the rest of the rides which generally have lower – more moderate wait times (which you may be best off prioritizing earlier in the day for lower wait times overall during your day):

E.T. Adventure (in Hollywood – dark ride)
Fast & Furious – Supercharged (San Francisco – considered to be one of the worst rides at Universal Orlando Resort. It’s an underwhelming screen-based attraction, which is departing in 2027, thanks to the new ride: Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift (premiering at this park in 2027. What I’m trying to say is: there’s a very good reason why this ride has a low wait time. Unless you’re desperate to experience this ride before it’s permanently closed, it’s pretty skippable).
Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast (Illumination’s Minion Land – looking for an attraction as bad as Fast & Furious – Supercharged? Here it is! This one makes you stand on a conveyor belt allows you to blast screens. It’s practically just a video game. For a better version of this style of ride (which is not reliant on screens), MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack is a better option).
Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl (in Springfield – spinning ride (similar to a Dumbo ride at Disneyland/Walt Disney World)

MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack! (in World Expo – interactive dark ride)
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon (in New York – 3D/4D screen-based ride)
The Simpsons Ride (in Springfield – screen-based ride)
TRANSFORMERS The Ride-3D (in New York – noticing a trend at this park with ALL the screens?!)
Trolls Trollercoaster (in DreamWorks Land – junior coaster)

Islands of Adventure: The Morning Approach

Onto the 90s Universal Park with the more popular rides …

Noteworthy Things You Should Know about mornings at Universal Islands of Adventure:

More often than not, Early Park Admission will take place at IOA. But NOT ALWAYS (so double check before you visit, if you qualify for EPA).
The rides generally open during EPA at IOA include: 1) Jurassic World: VelociCoaster; 2) Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey; and sometimes 3) Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

There are X primary places offering breakfast at Islands of Adventure: 1) Cinnabon; 2) Croissant Moon Bakery; 3) Starbucks; and 4) Three Broomsticks

Additional Tips for Mornings at Universal Islands of Adventure:

If Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is open, you may not want to go on it during Early Park Admission. Unless you KNOW you will be towards the front of the line, it’s just a waste of your time – when you could be ticking off VelociCoaster and Forbidden Journey off your list instead. Remember, you can always circle back!

Similarly, if Hagrid’s is not open during EPA, do not waste your time getting in line and waiting for an hour before it’s even open. Once again, it’s a waste of time when you could be riding other popular rides – which will likely have longer wait times later in the day.
If you don’t have EPA, you especially don’t want to go to Hagrid’s first. Depending on the wait times during your visit, it may still be worth heading for VelociCoaster and Forbidden Journey at the official park opening time. After all, a lot of people are going to head straight for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. But check the app to check if this is worth it.
There’s a selection of really popular attractions here. So a productive morning at Islands of Adventure takes a little more strategizing than Universal Studios Florida park.

The Universal Islands of Adventure rides which often get the highest wait times:

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade – roller coaster)
Jurassic World: VelociCoaster (in Jurassic Park – roller coaster)
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade – simulation with mix of physical sets and screens)
Flight of the Hippogriff (in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade – junior coaster)
Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade Station (in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade – train ride taking you to Universal Studios Florida park. Requires a valid Park to Park ticket to experience this ride)
Skull Island: Reign of Kong (in Skull Island: Reign of Kong – thrilling attraction with screens)
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (in Marvel Super Hero Island – 3D/4D attraction)
The Incredible Hulk Coaster (in Marvel Super Hero Island – roller coaster)
Pteranodon Flyers (in Jurassic Park – “flying” swing ride – Minimum Height is 36″. Be aware that guests over 56″ are only allowed on this attraction if they’re with a guest meeting the 36″ requirement).

Islands of Adventure attractions with lower-moderate wait times:

Caro-Seuss-el (in Seuss Landing – carousel)
Doctor Doom’s Fearfall (in Marvel Super Hero Island – drop tower ride)
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls (in Toon Lagoon – log-flume, water ride)
Jurassic Park River Adventure (in Jurassic Park – water ride. This is closed for refurbishment between January 5th, 2026 and November 20th, 2026)
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (in Seuss Landing – spinning ride)
Popeye & Bluts Bilge-Rat Barges (in Toon Lagoon – water ride)
Storm Force Acceleration (in Marvel Super Hero Island – spinning ride)
The Cat in The Hat (in Seuss Landing – dark ride)
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride (in Seuss Landing – similar to a “People Mover” type ride)

What to Do First at Universal Epic Universe: The Morning Strategy

Epic Universe being the newest (and seemingly busiest) park requires the most planning of all three Universal theme parks.

So let’s discuss everything you need to know …

Vital Things You Should Know about mornings at Universal Epic Universe:

Early Park Admission is a staple offering here at Epic Universe
The rides open during EPA are even more subject to change than the original parks (so be sure to double check this before your visit, if you qualify for EPA).
Want to grab breakfast at Epic Universe? There are 3 main locations which serve breakfast: 1) Café L’air De La Sirène; 2) Oak & Star Tavern; and 3) Starbucks.

More Tips for Mornings at Universal Epic Universe:

Trying to decide ‘what rides to do first at Epic Universe?’. If you are going for Early Park Admission, the most popular attractions (i.e. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD rides, if open) aren’t the best for maximizing the number of rides you experience in total on your day at the park.
If Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is not open during EPA, spending the whole hour of Early Park Admission waiting in line is probably not the best use of your time.

what to do first at Universal Epic — Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride queue

If you don’t have EPA, the best rides for you to head for first are the ones that were not open during Early Park Admission

Epic Universe rides which often get the highest wait times:

Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, simulation ride with mix of screens and physical sets)
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (SUPER NINTENDO WORLD – 3D/4D ride)
Mine-Cart Madness (SUPER NINTENDO WORLD – roller coaster)
Dragon Racer’s Rally (How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk – thrilling attraction)
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders (How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk – roller coaster)
Yoshi’s Adventure (SUPER NINTENDO WORLD – like a People-Mover-style attraction)

Epic Universe rides with lower – more moderate wait times:

Constellation Carousel (Celestial Park – carousel, as the name suggests!)
Curse of the Werewolf (Dark Universe – roller coaster)
Fyre Drill (How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk – water ride)
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment (Dark Universe – motion simulator)
Stardust Racers (Celestial Park – roller coaster)

How Express Pass changes what we do first (and how Unlimited makes mornings even easier)

If you have an Express Pass, it practically means that you can get on rides with a much lower wait time.

This means that you can do less strategizing on the best timing of attractions – usually without compromizing on your daily park productivity.

Early Park Admission also changes if you have Express Pass.

If we have an Express Pass, your morning can be more flexible because you’re not relying on a perfect first hour to “save” the day.

You may still aim for a strong start, but you really don’t have to panic if the first wait time looks worse than we hoped.

And don’t forget: Express Passes can be used during Early Park Admission!

Do Single Rider Lines Help with Productive Mornings at Universal Orlando?

Single Rider can save time, but not always.

It’s less helpful when single rider is moving slow or gets paused (it happens). If the single rider entrance looks packed, we pivot to another quick win and come back. On rides that seat guests in rows of 2 (for example), Single Rider lines often don’t save as much time, as there’s often fewer opportunities to have empty seats for one.

Please be aware that single rider lines may not always be open.

That said, here are the single rider lines available at Universal Orlando:

Universal Studios Florida Rides with Single Rider Queues:

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley)
Revenge of the Mummy (in New York)
TRANSFORMERS The Ride – 3D (in New York)
MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack (in World Expo)

Fast & Furious – Supercharged (in San Francisco)

Islands of Adventure Rides with Single Rider Queues:

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade)
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade)
Jurassic World: VelociCoaster (in Jurassic Park)
Jurassic Park River Adventure (in Jurassic Park)
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (in Marvel Super Hero Island)
The Incredible Hulk Coaster (in Marvel Super Hero Island)
Dr Doom’s Fearfall (in Marvel Super Hero Island)
Skull Island: Reign of Kong (in Skull Island: Reign of Kong)
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls (in Toon Lagoon)

Epic Universe Rides with Single Rider Queues:

Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic)
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD)
Mine-Cart Madness (in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD)
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders (in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk)
Stardust Racers (in Celestial Park)
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment (in Dark Universe)
Curse of the Werewolf (in Dark Universe)

Frequently Asked Questions Related to What to Do First at Universal Studios Orlando

How early should you arrive at Universal Studios Orlando?

If we care about a smooth start, we don’t show up “at opening.” We show up early enough that opening feels like a formality.

Here are some good guidelines:

Without Early Park Admission: we aim to arrive at the parking garages and security 60 to 75 minutes before official park opening. That usually gives us time for parking, security, the walk, and turnstiles without starting the day already behind.
With Early Park Admission (on-site guests): I’d say up to 60 minutes before the early entry time (or as early as on-site park transportation starts). Early entry can feel like bigger a perk if we’re ahead of the rest of the Early park Admission crowd.

Why so early?

Parking (if driving. Allowing for transportation time, even if you’re not driving is important).
security,
ticket scanning,
And walking to the first ride inside the park in the morning.

How many hours do I need at Universal Studios Orlando?

Generally, if you’ve scheduled one park per day, I would recommend spending as much time in the park that day as possible (allowing for breaks, if you’d prefer).

But it also depends on the park you’re visiting:

Epic Universe – Ideally, a full day
Universal Studios Florida – Could be a half-day park. Ideal for park-hopping to Islands of Adventure on the same park day
Islands of Adventure – Could be a full day or half-day, depending on the attractions you’re interested in and if you want to park-hop or have “time off” on that day.

If you’re using Unlimited Express, our hours get more flexible, because you can do more in less time.

What to do at Universal Studios in one day?

Here’s some helpful tips for Universal Studios Orlando planning if you’re visiting for a day trip:

Arrive early and commit to a first area.
Start with quick wins near each other, usually 2 or 3 ish attractions.
Re-check the headliner after the first rush, then decide if it’s time to ride it. (Or prioritize these earlier if they are the only rides you really care about experiencing).

If you’re doing one park in one day:

Select your top 5 to 7 priorities and protect them.
Watch wait times throughout the day.
Slot in a show or slower attraction or just a break when you’re getting tired! (A productive day won’t be fun if you’re exhausted).

If we’re splitting time across the Universal theme parks (Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe):

Treat it like a highlights day, not a completion day.
Put our highest priority park first.

How Express Pass changes the one-day approach:

With Express, we can be less rigid. If a ride looks ugly, we pivot and come back.
With Unlimited Express, we focus on flow. We can ride what we love, take breaks, and re-ride without feeling like we’re “wasting” our one shot.

Wondering how to do Universal Orlando in 1 day? Check out my previous post: 5 Steps to Create Your Perfect Universal Studios Orlando Itinerary 1 Day

What are the most unique things to do at Universal Studios Orlando?

Universal is not just a ride checklist. Some of the best “this feels like Universal” moments happen when we stop treating the park like a timed exam.

A few unique things we build into the day:

Riding the train between the Harry Potter areas (park-to-park required): it’s not just transportation, it’s part of the experience. It also breaks up the day in a way that feels fun instead of “we’re walking again.”
Interactive wand moments in the Wizarding World: It’s a shame that it tends to cost $65+ to purchase an interactive wand, but there are some magical moments if you get one!
Shows – Universal Studios Florida has everything from stunt shows to shows featuring animals! And Epic Universe even has shows with incredibly lifelike dragons!

What are the best things to do at Universal Studios Orlando for adults?

Adults have the same goal as everyone else, have fun, ride great rides, try some great UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO food. Here are useful ideas:

Try to balance roller coasters and slower rides. There’s fun and beauty in lots of different kinds of attractions at Universal.
There’s nothing better than a Butterbeer break. Frozen, cold, hot, ice-cream etc. – There’s no bad choice! Walk around the Wizarding World or find a cozy place to sit (like Hogs Head).

Express Pass can be a great splurge if you want a slower-paced day – without missing out on attractions. If you stay at select Universal hotels, you can get Universal Express Pass Unlimited included!

What should you not miss at Universal Studios?

There is no “one-size fits all” answer to this. However, my general advice is: you shouldn’t miss the things that will disappoint you if they get skipped.

But side note, here are some attractions that may deserve a place on your priority list:

Thrill-seeker who loves roller coasters? – Check out: 1) Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure; 2) Jurassic World: VelociCoaster – Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure; and 3) Revenge of the Mummy – New York at Universal Studios Florida and 4) Hiccup’s Wing Gliders – How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk at Epic Universe.

Love slower rides? – Don’t overlook E.T. Adventure (the only remaining Opening Day ride at Universal, from 1990).
A huge fan of water rides – Here are the main 3 Universal Islands of Adventure are known for: 1) Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls – Toon Lagoon; 2) Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges – Toon Lagoon; 3) and Jurassic Park River Adventure – Jurassic Park (when it re-opens on November 20th, 2026).

What are the 4 parks at Universal Studios Orlando?

When we talk about our morning plan, we focus on the three theme parks: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe.

That said, Universal Orlando technically has four parks:

Universal Studios Florida
Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Epic Universe
Universal Volcano Bay (the water park)

What are the best Universal Studios Orlando outfit ideas?

The best outfits for Universal Studios Orlando are the ones you don’t think about all day.

A day at Universal may involves heat, sudden rain, long walks, and enough photo ops that we still want to look put together.

What usually works well:

Breathable top (dark colors hide sweat, light colors feel cooler)
Comfortable Shorts or lightweight pants
Supportive shoes you’ve already worn at home
A hat and sunglasses because squinting all day gets old fast
A light layer – especially if you’re there all day, into the evening

what to see first at Universal Studios Orlando — *(Or you could ignore half these tips and dress like a Hogwarts student 😂 Though I do not recommend wearing a Hogwarts robe during the warmer seasons!).*

If you’re doing Early Park Admission, consider the morning temperature. Early can feel cool, then by lunchtime it’s hot and sticky. Layers certainly help.

What should be on my Universal Studios Orlando packing list?

Packing for Universal is basically packing for a long day outside with a few indoor breaks. We don’t want to carry a suitcase on our backs (especially because we want our belongings to fit inside a free locker on rides which require them. Otherwise, you have to pay for lockers).

Here’s what we actually use:

Park tickets and ID (sounds basic, but it’s the trip-ending kind of basic)
Phone and portable charger (the app is our map, wait time board etc.)
Refillable water bottle
Sunscreen
Hand Sanitizer (it’s very easy to catch something when you’re at a theme park with thousands of people!).
Poncho or compact rain jacket (Florida weather loves surprises)
Potentially Snacks if we get hangry, because line decisions get worse when we’re hungry
A small zipper pouch for anything we don’t want lose in a locker or in our bags
Anything else you would typically take with you day to day – that you couldn’t go without at Universal Orlando

Final Thoughts on What to Do First at Universal Studios Orlando

The best answer to What to do First at Universal Studios Orlando is not to just “pick the biggest ride and hope for the best.”

It’s to arrive with a carefully curated list and plan of what you want to achieve on your Universal day!

Do you have any tips on what to do first at Universal Studios Orlando? Please share them in the comments 🙂

This post was all about what to do first at Universal Islands of Adventure, and how to create your ideal morning plan at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe.