Pre-buy your Tickets
Buying tickets online will save about $4/person and you'll get early admission to Harry Potter which I recommend if you plan to get as it gets extremely busy during the day (some lines for rides get up to 5 hours long!) Another perk of going early is that you will be able to hit up the other rides before they get busy too (it's not weird for Jurassic Park to get up to over two hours long). Don't forget to give extra time for parking, security, and eat breakfast before going to not only save time but money.
Slow Times
The slower days are in fall, winter, and spring when the kids are in school. There are lots of apps and websites that will also give you a range of busy / slow days as well.
Universal Express Pass
Going during a busy time or during Halloween Horror Nights? The Express Pass would be the best option for you if you are planning to do everything in one day. This pass will get you one-time priority to every ride, shows, and attraction! The park limits the number of Universal Express passes it sells per dates so if you are going, pre-buy when you know your dates.
Bring Water - During the Day
While you aren't allowed to bring in snacks, you can bring water bottles, baby food, fruits, and vegetables into the park. without coolers. If you are going for Halloween Horror Nights, you are allowed nothing - no food or water.
Plan for Harry
Harry Potter is new to Hollywood and it's as popular as ever which means that the crowds get huge (in Orlando they are known to shut down the park due to the crowds). If you are wanting to see the park, the recommended way to do so is:
- Head straight to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Flight of the Hippogriff in the morning (these rides allow for Express Passes but these lines can get long during the day)
- Go into Universal and do the other rides throughout the park - at this time people that arrived at the park at opening will be headed to up to Harry so the lines will be shorter down here.
- Pop back up during lunch for some food and shopping
- hit up Ollivanders Wand Pairing Demonstration (does not accept the Express Pass) in the late afternoon/early evening as most people will do it in the morning.
Walk the StarWay
Did you know that if you take the four escalators from the Upper to Lower Lot take about 10 minutes? Well that gets even longer during peak season. The crappy part is that even the stairs aren't much faster so try to plan to do all the things in each lot at the same time instead of running back and forth.
Don't Eat Lunch at Noon
If you are planning on eating at the park, standard dinner and lunch hours are always busy at the food service stations. There are also not table service in the park so you can't make reservations. If you are wanting to make reservations to eat during peak time, there is CityWalk right next door with lots of restaurants that would allow for that.
Booze in the Park
Hog's Head Pub has Wizarding alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
VIP Experience
Want to see everything without the hassle? Then the VIP Experience might be for you. Your ticket includes a 6 to 8 hour personal guided tour of the park, valet parking, a light breakfast in the private VIP lounge, exclusive back lot access, unlimited priority access to all of the rides and shows, and it finished with a gourmet all-you-can-eat lunch at the Moulin Rouge dining room. The "exclusive" back lot experience has you on a private trolley with visits to working sound stages, Universal's sound department and prop warehouse, and other areas not open to the general public. Just like the Express pass, these are limited so make sure to buy in advance.
Summer Escape
Cali in the summer is hot and if you are going with kids, it gets more unbearable. Your ticket is valid all day so you could take a mid-day break when the heat and the crowds are at their peak. If your hotel is nearby then you could go there but as most people stay in LA and not in Universal City this isn't an option. Instead you could pop into the AMC Theatre for an air conditioned movie (AMC is owned by Universal so bring your U. Studios parking ticket for a parking rebate), explore CityWalk (kind like a small strip mall), or just head to one of the air conditioned restaurants in the area.
Free WiFi
If you are bored in line, you can surf the web. Just keep in mind that there is no password and during peak times it can be slow due to the number of people that are also using it.
Birthday Surprise
Some people report that if you show it's your birthday (wear a hat, pin, and/or sash for example) they've gotten moved to the front of the line. Doesn't happen every time but what's the harm in trying?
Don't Buy the Wands
In Harry Potter you can buy a standard wand for $44 or an interactive one for $50. The interactive one allows for you to interact with certain spots throughout the Harry Potter area (turning on lights for example). Sure, it's great to amuse your kids but it doesn't do anything once you take it out of the park so just watch the area when someone uses their around the park as the kids will still be surprised. Also, don't think that you will get a free wand during the Olivander Wand Pairing Demonstration - just because the wand picks you, you still have to pay full price for it.
Free ePhotos
Just outside the Jurassic Parking garage near CityWalk, there is a photo booth with different NBC backgrounds that you can take pictures with and email to yourself.
Check the Lost & Found
If you find something and hand it into guest services, call back to see if its been picked up since if it hasn't, you can keep it.
