Complete Guide to Universal Orlando Resort

Last reviewed: October 2026

Universal Orlando Resort has three theme parks (Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe), one water park (Volcano Bay) and Universal CityWalk. There are 11 Universal hotels, and three of them include Express Unlimited. Volcano Bay closes for maintenance on October 26, 2026, and is due back in spring 2027.

Most people who research Disney World vacations also consider Universal Orlando Resort.

Fans of Disney may consider Universal as "the other park" but I am here to tell you that both parks are equally amazing for different reasons.

If you are considering booking a trip to Universal Orlando Resort, here we'll cover all of the basics of the resort.

Adding Universal to a Disney World trip? Read how to add Universal Studios to your Disney World vacation and see what it costs on my Disney World and Universal trip cost page.

What Parks Are at Universal Orlando?

Universal Orlando Resort is made up of three theme parks, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe. It also includes a water park called Volcano Bay, and a shopping and restaurant area called Universal CityWalk.

The third theme park, Epic Universe, opened on May 22, 2025.

Universal Studios

This is the original Universal Orlando theme park. But it's changed a lot over the years.

Today you'll find a total of 8 lands in this park:

• Illumination's Minion Land
• New York
• San Francisco
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley
• World Expo
• Springfield U.S.A: Home of the Simpsons
• DreamWorks Land
• Hollywood

The idea of each land being that you are walking through the movies.

When touring this park I tend to group areas of the park together in 3 groups.

First, is the Wizarding World area. This is located towards the back of the park. While this area will often have higher crowds, there is only one ride in this area. So unless Harry Potter is your only goal, I would save this area for later in the day when touring the park.

The second area is the front of the park. This will include the rides in Minion Land, New York and Hollywood. This area has several rides that often hold higher wait times. When touring the park, start here and work your way back to knock out these higher wait times early in the day.

The third group is World Expo, Springfield, and DreamWorks Land. This is usually my last stop on any Universal touring plan. You'll find lower wait times, lots of photo opportunities, food, and shopping.

For every ride and land in detail, see my complete guide to Universal Studios Orlando.

Rides and Attractions at Universal Studios

• Animal Actors on Location! (closes for good November 3, 2026)
• The Bourne Stuntacular
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• E.T. Adventure
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Hogwarts Express: Kings Cross Station (To Islands of Adventure)
• Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast
• Kang and Kodos Twirl 'n' Hurl
• Men in Black Alien Attack!
• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
• Revenge of the Mummy
• The Simpsons Ride
• Transformers: The Ride 3D
• CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular (select nights)
• Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show (closed for a refresh since May 2026)
• Trolls Trollercoaster

Fast & Furious: Supercharged is gone from Universal's ride list. A new coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, is coming in 2027.

Islands of Adventure

The second Universal park is Islands of Adventure. This park offers more thrill rides than Universal Studios, but that doesn't mean kids will feel left out. With areas dedicated to Dr Seuss, Marvel, and classic Cartoons, there is something for everyone at this park.

Universal Islands of Adventure is split in to 8 lands:

• Port of Entry
• Marvel Super Hero Island
• Toon Lagoon
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong
• Jurassic Park
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade
• The Lost Continent
• Seuss Landing

When deciding how to tour this park, I typically suggest starting at the back of the park. The Wizarding World at Islands of Adventure offers 3 rides, and (the typically more crowded) Hogsmeade area. So if Harry Potter is a priority, you definitely want to start here.

Jurassic Park is the other area you'll want to visit early. Velocicoaster lines can get long very quickly. Plus so many amazing photo opportunities in this area (including meeting a raptor!) can make this a busy part of the park.

For more on every land, see my complete guide to Islands of Adventure. Harry Potter fans should also read my guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal.

Rides and Attractions

• The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man
• Caro-Seuss-el
• The Cat in the Hat
• Doctor Doom's Fearfall
• Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride
• Hogwarts Express: Hogsmeade Station (To Universal Studios)
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster
• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
• Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges
• Pteranodon Flyers
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong
• Storm Force Accelatron
• Jurassic World VelociCoaster

Epic Universe

Epic Universe is Universal's newest theme park. It has five worlds:

• Celestial Park
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic
• Super Nintendo World
• Dark Universe
• How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk

Epic Universe sits apart from the other two theme parks. It has its own parking at 1001 Epic Boulevard. Universal Helios Grand Hotel has its own entrance into the park.

Not every Universal ticket includes Epic Universe. Read the ticket name before you buy (more on tickets below).

Universal Express Unlimited does NOT work at Epic Universe. Only the one-use Universal Express does.

Volcano Bay

Volcano Bay closes for maintenance on October 26, 2026. Universal's Volcano Bay page says it will reopen on or before April 1, 2027. Its Express page says on or before March 24, 2027. Check park hours before you plan a water park day.

This water theme park offers several slide rides, lazy rivers, wave pools, and more. You'll find lots of seating and food and drink options. This water park is unique in how they handle a couple of things. Long lines and carrying cash around. So they offer an interactive bracelet called TapuTapu to help skip lines (more on that in a minute).

This water park is divided in to 4 sections:

• The Volcano
• Rainforest Village
• River Village
• Wave Village

Rainforest Village is where you will find the more intense water attractions, while River Village will offer the most laid back options.

If you drive, you park in the main Universal garage and take a free shuttle to the Volcano Bay entrance.

Universal CityWalk

If you're looking for shopping, dining, and entertainment without a park ticket this is your stop. CityWalk serves as the entrance to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. So when you park, bus, or Lyft over to those two parks you'll first walk through the CityWalk area.

Epic Universe is NOT reached through CityWalk. It has its own entrance and parking.

This is a great opportunity to experience unique dining (both quick service and sit down) and shopping.

Since Universal doesn't allow you to carry on bags or backpacks on many of the attractions, I've often purchased souvenirs in City Walk on my way out of the parks.

How Much Are Universal Orlando Tickets?

Universal shows a "starting from" price for each ticket. That is the price on its cheapest dates, per person, plus tax. These were checked October 11, 2026.

• 1 day, Universal Studios OR Islands of Adventure: from $124.99 adult, $119.99 child (3-9)
• 1 day, Epic Universe: from $134.99 adult, $129.99 child
• 1 day, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure park-to-park: from $179.99 adult, $174.99 child
• 2 days, 1 at Epic Universe and 1 at Universal Studios OR Islands of Adventure: from $254 adult, $244 child
• Special 3-Day Ticket, one day each at Epic Universe, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure: from $297
• 3-, 4- and 5-day park-to-park tickets that include Epic Universe every day: from $143.67, $111.50 and $92.20 a day for an adult

A 1-day or 2-day ticket for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure does NOT include Epic Universe.

To ride the Hogwarts Express between the two Harry Potter lands, you need a park-to-park ticket.

For every ticket, Express price and a family total, see my Disney World and Universal trip cost page.

Universal Resort Hotels

Universal offers 11 resorts:

1. Universal's Surfside Inn and Suites
2. Universal's Dockside Inn and Suites
3. Universal's Aventura Hotel
4. Universal Stella Nova Resort
5. Universal Terra Luna Resort
6. Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort
7. Universal Helios Grand Hotel
8. Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
9. Loews Royal Pacific Resort*
10. Hard Rock Hotel*
11. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel*

*These are premier resorts that give an EXTRA perk of Universal Express Unlimited.

Which Universal Hotel Tier Is Which?

Universal sorts its hotels into tiers. The rate is the lowest Universal showed for 2 adults and 2 kids, Sunday, November 8 to Tuesday, November 10, 2026, per night before the 12.5% hotel tax.

Rates change by date. These show how the tiers compare, not what your dates will cost.

What Do You Get When You Stay at a Universal Hotel?

Similar to staying at a Disney World resort, staying at one of these hotels can give you some perks when you are at the Universal Parks

• Option of charging to your room
• Free on-site transportation via bus (and water taxi from select hotels)
• Early Park Admission to select attractions
• Park purchases delivered to your room
• Universal Express Unlimited (Only for premier resorts noted)

Early Park Admission lets you in up to one hour before the park opens, at select attractions. Universal's fine print names Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure (Universal picks which one each day), plus Volcano Bay. You still need a park ticket.

Helios Grand, the hotel next to Epic Universe, does NOT include Express Unlimited.

How Do You Get Around Universal Orlando?

• Buses: Free shuttle buses run from the Value, Prime Value, Preferred and Helios Grand hotels to the CityWalk hub for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
• Water taxis: Sapphire Falls, Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel and Portofino Bay also have water taxis.
• Walking paths: Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls have walking paths to Volcano Bay. Stella Nova has a walking path to Epic Universe.
• Driving: Regular self-parking is $35 a day, tax included. One payment covers both Epic Universe and the main Universal garages that day.

Getting between Disney World and Universal is its own question. I cover it in how to add Universal Studios to your Disney World vacation.

Extras Offered at Universal Parks

Universal Express

Universal Parks offer a paid way to skip the lines on almost every attraction at the parks called Universal Express.

When you have Universal Express you don't need to make reservations or grab times on an app for rides. If you have this pass you can show up and skip the lines. You'll find a dedicated queue for each ride. You simply scan your park ticket to enter. Just note that you can only skip the line one time on each ride. There is no re-riding with Universal Express.

Universal Express works at all four parks, including Epic Universe and Volcano Bay. You buy it as an add on to your park ticket. A 1-day Universal Studios Express starts at $119.99, and a 1-day Epic Universe Express starts at $199.99, per person plus tax.

Depending on how many people are in your party and the number of days you are visiting, sometimes staying at a Universal Resort is cheaper than buying these passes. It's a smart idea to have a travel agent who handles both Disney and Universal compare these prices for you to make sure you don't overpay (we can help you with that here).

Universal Express Unlimited

Universal Express Unlimited is the same as regular Universal Express, but with one big difference.

With the unlimited option you are able to re-ride your favorite rides as many times as you would like!

It only works at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. It is NOT valid at Epic Universe or Volcano Bay.

If you stay at Loews Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel or Loews Portofino Bay, Express Unlimited is included for free and linked to your room key. If you aren't staying there, a 1-day Express Unlimited for both parks starts at $174.99 per person plus tax.

Child Swap

Similar to Disney World's rider switch program, Universal Parks offer child swap if you are touring with a child who doesn't meet the height requirements of certain rides.

Here is how you take advantage of this perk:

• Your entire group will get in the ride queue (even the child who wont be riding)
• When you get close to the loading area of the ride a team member will show the adult and child to a waiting room, and the rest of the group can ride
• After the first group rides, they meet up in the child swap waiting room and guests can then switch who rides

I actually find this system to be way better than what Disney World offers. My experience with Child Swap has been pleasant waiting rooms with cartoons or movies playing. There are seats and often changing tables as well.

This system is also better in how relaxed Universal is about Child Swap. Disney now allows rider switch for a child who is tall enough but does not want to ride, but Disney limits the second group to two riders. Universal doesn't limit how many people can ride in the second group. So if you have older children (or multiple adults) they will be able to ride every ride twice. As long as there is always one adult with the child, Universal is amazing about letting older kids ride twice.

TapuTapu

If you head to Volcano Bay water park you'll be given a wrist band called TapuTapu. The lines at this water park are virtual. If you want to ride you tap your wrist, and you'll be notified when it's your turn to ride. So in the mean time you can enjoy the lazy river or a cold drink.

You can also use this wrist band to make purchases at the water park. So you wont have to carry your wallet around with you or worry about having wet cash.

Things to Know About Universal

Bags on Rides and Lockers

Many of the rides at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure do NOT allow bags or backpacks on the rides. So what do you do with those souvenirs and park bags?

Any rides that do not allow bags will offer complimentary lockers for you to store your belongings. You'll find them in the ride queues, and team members will direct you where to go to take advantage. The exception is the water rides, where the lockers cost a fee.

Just note that the lockers are on the smaller size. If you have a large bag you will need to pay to store it in a larger locker.

Height Requirements

Unlike Disney World parks, small children will not be able to ride any rides in your lap. Most rides have a minimum height, and even The Cat in the Hat and the Seuss Trolley in Seuss Landing need 36". So if you have little ones keep that in mind.

A few rides have no minimum height, like Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast at Universal Studios and Constellation Carousel at Epic Universe. Hand-held infants are not allowed on them, and children under 48" need a supervising companion.

That isn't to say there aren't things for little guys to do. Areas like DreamWorks Land will be a blast for little guys. There are also tons of character meets.

Plus, the child swap system is the best in the game. So don't feel guilty if you want to enjoy the parks, but have a little one. Swapping so all adults (and big kids) can ride and even re-ride is easy.

Who Would Enjoy Universal Resort?

Universal Parks are very different from Disney World Parks. At Universal you'll find larger thrill rides, and fewer rides for smaller children.

Universal can be enjoyed by anyone! But you'll get the most out of Universal if everyone in your group enjoys thrill rides, if the people in your group are tall enough where height requirements wont be a huge issue, if you are a huge Harry Potter fan, and if you love Marvel Superheroes.

Universal might not be for you if you are traveling with small children (toddlers or babies), you aren't a big Harry Potter fan, or you aren't a big fan of large roller coasters and thrill rides.

We personally found our 4 year old was just the right age for Universal. She didn't mind waiting with us and hanging out in the Child Swap areas, there were enough characters she enjoyed, and she could ride everything at Seuss Landing. I suspect if she were any younger, she may not have gotten as much out of the experience.

Universal Orlando Questions

How Many Parks Are at Universal Orlando?

Four. There are three theme parks (Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe) and one water park, Volcano Bay. Universal CityWalk is free to enter and needs no ticket.

Is Volcano Bay Open?

Volcano Bay closes for maintenance on October 26, 2026. Universal gives two reopening dates on its own pages, on or before March 24, 2027 and on or before April 1, 2027.

Does Express Unlimited Work at Epic Universe?

No. Universal Express Unlimited, including the free one from a Premier hotel, is valid only at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. For Epic Universe, you need to buy the one-use Universal Express for that park.

Which Universal Hotels Include Express Unlimited?

Three: Loews Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Portofino Bay. Helios Grand, Sapphire Falls and the Value and Prime Value hotels do not include it.

Does My Ticket Include Epic Universe?

Only if the ticket says so. The 1-day Epic Universe ticket, the 2-day ticket with one Epic Universe day, the Special 3-Day Ticket and the 3-, 4- and 5-day park-to-park tickets include it. A 1-day or 2-day Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure ticket does not.

Does Early Park Admission Include Epic Universe?

Universal's hotel fine print names Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure (Universal picks which), plus Volcano Bay. It does not name Epic Universe.

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See you at the parks,
-Julie