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8 things I wish I knew before visiting Universal Orlando - Yahoo Style Canada
When it comes to vacation planning, I go all-in. I’m comparing hotels, making dinner reservations weeks in advance, studying a map of the area I’m visiting and packing a travel bag full of “emergency” supplies. But as any traveler knows, trips don’t always go according to plan.That was especially true on my recent trip to Universal Orlando. I’d previously visited back in 2019, but the parks have changed quite a bit since then. From unexpected fees at hotel check-in to mega crowd levels at Epic Universe, these are some of the things I wish I knew before walking through the gates.1. Epic Universe gets extremely crowdedEpic Universe is the shiny new theme park on the metaphorical Orlando block. Considering that it’s both brand new (it only opened last year) and home to some of the most beloved franchises in the world (like Super Mario and Harry Potter), it’s no wonder it draws huge crowds.However, large crowds mean long lines, and nobody likes spending most of their vacation standing in two-hour lines for rides that are over and done with in two to three minutes. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the average wait time for a given ride during my day at Epic Universe was typically around the two-hour mark, sometimes longer. The standby wait time for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry alone remained consistent at four hours while I was there. Yeah, no thanks.It’s super expensive, but if you’ve got the cash, my number-one piece of advice is to consider buying an Express Pass (aka Universal’s “skip the line” pass) for the day. I was able to get on most of the rides at Epic within 30 minutes or less with Express, even when the line was out the door.2. Set up the Universal app earlyThere’s an app for pretty much everything nowadays, and Universal is no different. While it’s certainly not perfect, it was extremely helpful to have installed while wandering the parks and sitting down to eat. Most of Universal’s quick-service restaurants let you seat yourself and place a mobile order through the app, which they’ll bring straight to your table. No waiting in food lines with other hangry customers is necessary!You can also upload your park admission tickets and Express Passes to the app for easy scanning (or fuss over your paper tickets all day like I did). The feature I found most helpful, however, is the wait times tool. This lets you see real-time line updates for rides in your area. You can even set alerts for when a ride reopens after a delay or when a wa...
The Best Orlando Itinerary With Kids: 3, 5 & 7 Day Disney World and Universal Plan - Dolly Dowsie
Planning an Orlando vacation with kids can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to fit in Disney, Universal and everything in between.The key is not to do everything, but to plan a trip that feels manageable, fun and realistic for your family.This guide breaks down the best Orlando itinerary with kids: 3,5 and 7 day Disney World and Universal Plan, so you can choose what works best for your time, budget and energy levels. There are so many great and free things to do in Orlando with kids, so there are lots of options to suit all family budgets. Here are some insider tips on how to save money at Disney World. These are very useful!If you haven’t booked accommodation yet, it’s worth starting with where you’ll stay, as choosing the right location can make your itinerary much easier. Check out these best Orlando hotels for families near Disney to find the perfect base for your family during your vacation.3 Day Orlando Itinerary With Kids (Short & Focused)If you only have a few days, it’s best to keep things simple and focus on the highlights.Day 1: Magic KingdomStart with Magic Kingdom, as this is the park most families picture when they think of Disney.Spend the day enjoying classic rides, meeting characters, and watching the parade or fireworks.Try not to overpack your day. With kids, slower is better.Day 2: Hollywood Studios or EPCOTFor your second day, choose based on your kids’ interests:Hollywood Studios is great for Star Wars and Toy Story fansEPCOT is better for older kids and a more relaxed paceBoth parks offer a very different experience from Magic Kingdom.Day 3: Rest + Disney SpringsAfter two busy park days, build in a slower day.Visit Disney Springs for:• shopping• casual dining• a more relaxed atmosphereYou could also spend time at your hotel pool, this is often one of the highlights for kids.5 Day Orlando Itinerary With Kids (Balanced & Enjoyable)With five days, you can explore more without feeling rushed.Day 1: Magic KingdomDay 2: EPCOTDay 3: Rest Day / Pool / Disney SpringsDay 4: Hollywood StudiosDay 5: Animal KingdomAdding Animal Kingdom gives your trip more variety, with:• animal experiences• nature trails• a slower pace compared to other parksThe rest day in the middle helps prevent burnout (for both kids and parents).Photo by Meredith Duffield7 Day Orlando Itinerary With Kids (Disney + Universal)With a full week, you can include both Disney and Universal.Day 1: Magic KingdomDay 2: EPCOTDay 3: Rest DayDay 4: Hollywood StudiosDay ...
Epic Universe Tips & Trip Report (Friday Express Pass, No Early Entry)
Without early entry, the only thing you can do is grab a spot at the Starbucks on the right side as you enter (not the one near Super Nintendo World) and shop.
Planning your first trip? These Epic Universe tips 2026 will save your...
Use your early park admission to crush these before crowd levels spike. Use Child Swap — Families wait together, then adults take turns riding without re- ...
