Universal Studios Insider Secrets

We at Orlando Fun Tickets have told you the best time of year to go to Universal Studios, the best rides to go on and shows to see, and what to eat and where to shop. Now, let us fill you in on a few insider secrets that will make your trip to Universal Studios an even greater one!

-The attraction JAWS is much scarier, and more realistic, at night after the sun goes down.

-Take advantage of any attraction that has a single rider line. These are much shorter wait times, and if you don’t mind your party being split up, take this into consideration and get a lot more done.

-If you are sticking around to watch the nighttime show, some of the best places to view it around the lagoon are along the Embarcadero, in the Central Park area, or along Expedition Boulevard.

-The least-crowded parts of the day will be dinner and lunchtime, so it may be best to eat at off-hours and save the busiest attractions for those times.

-Be sure to bring light rain gear with you when you head out of your hotel – especially in the summer. Umbrellas are much more difficult to carry, so a rain poncho (which can be purchased in the park) may be a better option. Rain and thunderstorms will postpone or cancel most outdoor shows and attractions, so beware that the indoor rides will all be swamped during those time periods. 

-If you are staying at one of Universal’s three resorts, simply show your room key at an attraction and receive free Universal Express access to the rides, bypassing lines and letting you see a whole lot more in whole lot less time.

-Walk up to the second story of Lombard’s Seafood Grille and get a great overview of the entire park.

-Steven Spielberg is incorporated into the Men In Black attraction. Just before you enter the scanner, you will see him on a bench reading a paper (with Jurassic Park 3 on the cover) – when the paper lowers, it is an alien holding up his head!

-Even though Universal Studios got rid of the Kongfrontation attraction, when they opened up Revenge of the Mummy, they incorporated a few artifacts into this ride. In the queue, look for bananas scattered about, along with two giant ape hieroglyphs near the giant Anubis. On the table before you hit the stairs, there are gold coins with Kong on them.  And when the ride starts, there will be a sucked dry tourist with a “Kong Rules” hat on.

-Although you can’t physically get into your room at one of the three Universal Orlando resorts until later in the day, you can go ahead and check in as early as 9am and get your room key (which won’t work until that afternoon when your room is ready). This enables you to leave your luggage with the bell staff, and, if you wish, to head into a theme park and have Universal Express access on all the rides as part of your resort benefits.