Do you want to talk to the Cat in the Hat while sipping on an ice cold Butter-beer?

Universal Studios Orlando is a fun-filled adventure fit for the whole family. With 3 different theme parks, there is something for everyone. As a muggle you can experience the magic of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, or show off your superpowers as you battle against villains alongside your favorite heroes before hiding from hungry dinosaurs as you make your way through the jungle. From rides and water parks to live entertainment and amazing restaurants, Universal Studios Orlando will keep a smile on your face. But its not all fun and magic when it comes down to planning.   


Planning a trip this big can seem daunting, but I will be sharing the top tips my family and I used so that you can have the best Universal experience.

Top Tips to Surviving Universal

1. Stay on-site          Staying on-site in one of Universals many hotels and resorts can give you many benefits. You can get early admission to the parks, can take the water taxi, and you get priority seating at select restaurants.                                        
2. Buy Express passes    Waiting in line for rides is boring and can eat away at the time you want for exploring. Express passes allow you to satisfyingly skip through the line on select attractions to save you time to explore to your hearts desire. You could also get free Express passes if you stay at any of the 3 ( Lowes Portofino Bay hotel, Hard Rock hotel or Lowes Royal Pacific Resort) on-site hotels.                                                                      
3. Buy anything you can ahead of time                                  Buying Express passes, hotel rooms or special packs before leaving for your trip can not only save you time but also save you money.                                                                                     
4. Don't bring too much stuff into the parks                         Most rides at Universal don't allow bags on with you. By limiting the stuff you carry around to only phones, wallets and keys; you are saving yourself from fighting for one of the many lockers Universal supplies to visitors.                            
5. Ride the Hogwarts Express    Riding the Hogwarts Express is a fun and convenient way to get from one park to the other. It is an amazing ride with magic that will entertain all ages as you travel from park to park.                                                                                                    
6. Explore one park per day         3 parks in one day can be extremely difficult to manage. I suggest exploring one park per day. This allows you to get the best experience out of all of the parks.                                            
7. Start at your favorites  When entering the park, head towards the attractions you are most excited to see or ride. This will save you time, especially if that attraction is farther away because most people will be lingering around the rides at the front while you are heading towards the ones in the back.

These tips helped me to survive my trip to Universal while allowing me to make fun new memories. Now it's your turn to drink Butter-beer while talking with the Cat in the Hat.