My other half and I have made Universal Orlando our go to holiday destination for the last 12 years.  I can still remember the first visit.  Those were the days when most people still had 35mm cameras which only took 36 photographs at the most on one film and then you had to wait to get them developed, usually after you got home.  Now I read all the latest blogs, get the Universal app on my iPhone, check the hurricane tracker and consider myself fully prepared.

If like myself you live on the UK side of the pond there’s also the fact that just being in the USA is a little different.  So many lanes of cars, traffic lights and street names hung over the roads, chips that are fries, crisps that are chips, petrol is gas, car boot is the trunk, toilets are restrooms (which I think is nicer) – I could go on.

Your first visit will be magical, enthralling, exhausting  and you’ll probably miss half of the good stuff.  One of the things I love most about Universal is the attention to detail in every area of their parks.  Even on this years holiday I still found new photo opportunities and secret places.  It’s so easy to head straight for the nearest ride that you miss the journey which is pretty awesome.

Our first visit was for our Silver Wedding and we tried to fit in too much visiting not only Universal but Seaworld, Busch Gardens, Kennedy Space Centre and most of the attractions on International Drive. Now we stay at one of the hotels in the Universal Resort and can spend 7 out of 12 days just at Universal taking everything in.   Then I never want to come home.

27 Tips for first timers at Universal Orlando

• Universal Orlando Resort has three parks – Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and Universal’s Volcano Bay.   Between the parking lots and the parks is City Walk where you’ll find eateries, clubs, bars, golf, shopping and a cinema.  The boats from the hotels pull up here.
• Go outside of school holiday dates
• Check the latest hurricane forecasts especially in September and October.  Be prepared, though its not often the Parks close.
• Stay onsite if you can afford it as there are perks depending on the choice of hotel.  Such as one hour early entry and free unlimited Express passes (theme park tickets required).
• Buy a lanyard for each member of your family to keep your room key card and park tickets dry and within easy reach.
• If you’re from the UK booking a package holiday is usually cheaper than organising a flight , room and car hire.
• A compact hire car will usually fit more luggage than they imply.
• Often your choice of  pre-booked hire car is unavailable at the airport and you’ll be offered an upgrade free ( we usually tip if this happens).
• Pack plastic ponchos – buy them cheap from pound / dollar stores.  It rains – hard and  they’re handy for the wet rides.  Universal sells them throughout the parks but are very expensive.
• Pack comfortable well used shoes, you’ll walk miles.
• Carry a Plastic bag to put your handbag /purse in whilst riding Jurassic Park River Adventure ride and Popeye’s Bilge Barges.  You will get wet.
• Download the Universal app on your phone.  This gives you wait times, show times, height restrictions, maps and much more.
• All Universal Parks and hotels have free WiFi so if you live outside the USA switch off  your mobile data and roaming before you fly to save money. 
• Universal Studios closes at 5pm during Halloween Horror nights.  This is a separate event not included in  the general park ticket. Closing times vary according to the time of year – more information is available on the Universal Orlando app or website.
• The Wizarding world of Harry Potter is split between the two parks – Hogsmeade is in Universals Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios.  These are linked by the Hogwarts Express train but you must have tickets for both parks to board.
• Take a photograph with your mobile phone of the area where you’ve parked- it’s easy to get lost when everything looks the same. 
• If you’re staying at Cabana Bay there’s a very regular bus to the parks but you can also use the lovely landscaped walking path to cross the road to Sapphire Falls and catch the free boat transport or just continue along the path which brings you to city walk near to the entrance of Islands of Adventure.
• One night at Universals Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay or Royal Pacific gives you 2 days free Express Pass unlimited. ( your room card now serves as the pass ).  These are the hotels that give you the Unlimited Express Pass as well as one hours early entry. 
• Staying at one of Universals Hotels entitles you to use the facilities and pools at all the others.
• There’s a shortage of places to sit down in the parks so take a break seeing a show or browse the gift shops for some air conditioning.
• Buy a Universal refillable souvenir mug.  Offers and types of mug vary but with the classic refillable you can receive discounted refills at any participating locations (those with fountain drinks) for ever around $1.50 saving heaps as its thirsty work doing all that walking. 
• Flag up any marks or dings  and try out your hire car’s air conditioning before you leave the airport.  Florida is Hot, Hot, Hot. 
• Have some small dollars ready for the tolls from  the airports.  MCO is the nearest and busiest and about 20 minutes away.  Sanford is quieter and about an hours drive.
• Ask before you leave the airport if you’ve to take your hire car back empty or full of gas.
• Plan your itinerary to include a water park on alternate days to give your feet a rest.  If you stay at a Universal Resort Hotel you’ll be close enough to return for a mid day rest or swim and then hit the parks again.
• Security is very strict at all parks. Arriving at the main hub after parking or getting dropped off be prepared for bag search which is now by x ray or inspection then visitors must pass through metal detection similar to airport security. You will also go though security prior to boarding the boats from your Universal Hotels or at the end of the walking paths. Finger prints are taken at your first visit when you present your ticket for scanning at each park gate and at subsequent visits when you present your finger this is checked with the original scan.
• Restrooms are plentiful throughout the park and the ones I’ve used all had disabled access and cubicles and baby changing facilities. They are all themed according to the area of the park for example in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios the restrooms resemble old fashioned British lavatories and in Hogsmeade at Universal Studios you can hear Moaning Myrtle.