Make the most of your day at Universal Studios Florida. This complete itinerary will help you experience close to everything USF has to offer in one day.  

Take the guesswork out of how and what to see. You'll also spend less time walking back and forth, and less time waiting in lines.

Pro Tip:

• Combine this with my 1-day Universal's Islands of Adventure itinerary for an epic 1-Park 2-Day Universal Orlando Resort park guide!

Tips Before You Visit Universal Studios Florida

1.Be Strategic About When You Visit

• I love using Undercover Tourists Crowd Calendar to see how buy the park is expected to be.

• If possible, choose weekdays.

• Avoid dates around holidays and school breaks.

2. Utilize Early Park Admission

•  On-site Universal hotel guests and Universal AP’s have access to utilize EPA at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

• This gives you an hour PRIOR to general park admission. You can easily ride 2-3 rides during this time frame.

• When doing EPA: arrive 45 minutes before the park is scheduled to open for early entry.

• Once entering the turnstiles, head to Escape from Gringotts

3. Express Pass is a Must if Visiting on a Busy Day

• Visiting during Peak season: Unlimited Express pass will allow you wait in line less, and accomplish more.  

• Consider staying at Premier on-site Universal hotel to get Express Passes included for free.  

• I’d 100% suggest splurging to buy them if you're  visiting during peak season, and if staying at a Premier hotel isn’t doable.

4. Download The Universal Orlando App

• Save time by adding your credit card information in should you want to utilize Mobile Food Ordering

5. Know Universal’s Lay Out Ahead of Time

• Prior to your trip, familiarize yourself with where attractions and dinning options are inside Universal Studios Florida. You'll avoid ping ponging all over the park.

6. Utilize Single-Rider Lines

•  You’ll knock out more attractions, giving you a better change at re-riding attractions you love.

7. Aim To Have 2-3 Hours in Diagon Alley Before Park Closing

When Should You Arrive at Universal Studios Florida

• Get to turnstiles  at-least 45 minutes before the park officially opens

• Make sure you have your tickets out and ready to be scanned

• Once you’re through the turnstiles, head to the BACK of the park to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Start The Morning in Diagon Alley

Note—If Early Park Admission is not being offered at USF, or if you don’t have EPA your first attraction after passing the turnstiles should be Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts 

• Height Requirement: 42 inches

• Loose articles will need to go into a locker

  •  Only send 1 person in your group inside the locker area 

• 3D track-based motion simulated ride with 3D Goggles

  • One small drop

Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour

Ice cream for breakfast say whaaaaat? Hear me out— Florean’s is known for having a line wrapped around the side of the building as the day goes on.

I love to grab some in the morning before the crowds arrive. It’s also not as hot out leaving you a little more time to enjoy it before the ice cream quickly melts everywhere.

Trying it in the morning also can help you decide if trying another flavor at night is of importance to you.

Transformers: The Ride – 3D

• Height Requirement: 40 inches

• 3D simulator with goggles 

• Lockers are not needed

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

• Height Requirement: 51 inches

• Metal Detector ride 

• Outdoor, high-speed roller coaster 

  • You get to pick your soundtrack

  • Doesn’t go upside down

  • Known to be really jerky

The Simpsons Ride

• Height requirement: 40 inches

• Motion-simulator ride notoriously known for causing motion sickness. I would make sure you have your dramamine packed if you are prone to motion sickness.

Revenge of the Mummy

*Anticipated to reopen after refurbishment 8/2022

• Height Requirement: 48 inches

• Loose articles will need to go into a locker 

• Indoor high-speed roller coaster

  • Doesn’t go upside down

The Blues Brothers Show

I would 100% skip this if you’re visiting on a busy day and your pressed for time. 

• Experience: Outdoor, live stage show by the the Blues Brothers. 

• Check showtimes in the Universal App as they can vary

Grab Lunch

Food Suggestions:

• Today Show Cafe

  • Healthy quick service option wit Mobile Food Ordering ordering available.

  • Across from Despeicable Me- Minions

  • On crowded days, it’s a great low-wait alternative to Fast Food Blvd for lunch

• Fast Food Boulevard

  • Simpson’s Area

  • Well themed quick-service dining option 

    • Krusty Burger, The Frying Dutchman, Flaming Moe's, Cletus' Chicken Shack, Luigi's Pizza, and Lisa's Teahouse of Horror

    • Burgers, chicken, pizza, seafood, sandwiches and salads and more

  •  There’s something for everyone here in this food court 

    • Clayton loves the Chicken and Waffle Sandwich  

• Finnegan’s Bar & Grill

  • Directly across from Revenge of the Mummy

  • Themed after an Irish bar in New York City

  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $12-30

  • This is 1 of only 2 full-service spots in USF, making it a popular spot amongst frequent visitors

  • You’ll find similar food items in the WWoHP here (Shepherd’s pie; fish-and-chips; Guinness beef stew; bangers and mash)

Shows on Hollywood Blvd.

This is a good point in the day to see how your schedule is going. If you're feeling pressed for time, I would suggest either skipping both shows all together, or choosing 1 of the 2 shows below. 

Should you only do 1 show after lunch— You can always attempt to come back later in the evening if it works out. For what its worth, I personally like the Horror Make-Up Show WAYYYYY better than Bourne Stuntacular. 

Horror Make-Up Show

  I would 100% skip if you’re visiting on a busy day and you're pressed for time. 

• Height Requirement: none

• Experience: Indoor comedy show with behind-the-scenes deep dive into Hollywood's horror movie effects + makeup

• Check showtimes in the Universal App as they can vary

Bourne Stuntacular

• Height Requirement: none

• Experience: Indoor, screen simulated stunt-show staring Jason Bourne

• Check showtimes in the Universal App as they can vary

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

I usually suggest doing Minions later in the afternoon. If you're visiting on a day when USF is open late, consider riding it after exploring Diagon Alley, and instead doing it towards or at the end of the evening. This attraction is geared towards children, so wait times go down once most families leave the park.

• Height Requirement: 40 inches to ride the motion simulator

• Must be 48 inches to ride alone + family-friendly simulator ride

• Lockers are not needed

• Very much like Mickey's PhilharMagic at Magic Kingdom

E.T. Adventure

• Height Requirement: 34 inches

• Family friendly if tall enough

• Lockers aren't required

• Dark ride almost identical to Peter Pan's Flight at WDW

• Cute photo op after riding in the gift shop!

Animal Actors on Location Show

Another show I would 100% skip if you’re visiting on a busy day. I'd consider pulling up a video of this show to see if it's worth it to you. I personally only ever do this show if my legs and feet are dead tired.

• Height Requirement: none

• Outdoor, shaded show where you can watch  the animal stars from Hollywood perform (Dogs, birds, etc)

• Check showtimes in the Universal App as they can vary

Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl

• Height Requirement: 48 inches to ride without an adult

• Flying saucer ride similar to Dumbo + Aladdan's Magic Carpet ride at WDW

• Geared towards younger kiddos

Men in Black Alien Attack

• Height Requirement: 42 inches 

• MIB is a shooter ride almost identical to Disney World’s Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin attraction

• Loose articles will need to go into a locker 

Explore Diagon Alley

At this time in the itinerary, you should hopefully have 2-3 hours left before Universal Studios Florida closes for the night.

If You Have Early Park Admission-- As long as you rode Escape from Gringotts in the morning as your first attraction, skip riding again for now. Plan to ride closer to park closing when the line is the shortest. Especially the Single-Rider Line

Grab A Butterbeer

Enjoy it while soaking in the magical sights and sounds while you explore Diagon Alley.

Watch the 2 WWoHP Shows in Diagon Alley 

Showtimes for both will vary. Double check in the Universal Orlando app.

• The Tales of Beedle the Bard

• Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees.

Ollivanders Wand Experience

• Height Restrictions: none

• The wand chooses the wizard! This is y.our chance to be picked from the crowd inside.

Practice Your Spells

• Using your new interactive wand to cast spells in the storefront windows, and other areas of Diagon Alley + Knockturn Alley.

• There’s 11 interactive spells in Diagon Alley, and 5 in Knockturn Alley.

• 2 Secret Spell locations

Grab Dinner

Food Suggestion:

• The Leaky Cauldron

  • The only quick-service sit-down dinning option in Diagon Alley.

  • Mobile Food Ordering currently required 

Loose Yourself in The Sights and Sounds of Diagon Alley

Hang out in front of the Daily Prophet. Listen underneath the Wizarding Wireless Network. You can’t miss seeing the dragon breath fire (roughly every 10 minutes)

Gringotts Money Exchange

• You can exchange your Muggle money for wizarding bank notes. This experience is free should you not want to buy the bank notes!

• Talk with the goblin by asking him fun questions.

• There's also Gringotts merchandise.

The Magical Menagerie

• Plush animals found within Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts

• Pro Tip: Check out the windows, including one that holds Nagini

• Next, stroll down to the public conveniences to enjoy the wizarding Easter eggs hidden there. Utilizing a stall? Look above the toilet.

 The Fountain of Fair Fortune

• Head in for a Wizarding Alcoholic beverage!

• Non-Non-alcohilic drinks include ButterBeer, Fishy Green Ale, Pumpkin Juice, and Gilly water.

Knockturn Alley

Shop inside Borgin and Burkes

• Make sure you keep your ears open and look up

• Pro Tip: look for the vanishing cabinet and the Hand of Glory

• The best place to escape the heat/sun.

• 5 spell locations

• Find the 2 interactive wanted posters

• You'll also find Shrunken Heads who sing different songs. Jaws Easter egg!

Walk Around The London Waterfront

• Stop by the Knight Bus and meet STAN and Dre-head

  • Head to the back of the bus to take a look inside

  • Great photo op

• Look for Kreacher at 12 Grimmauld’s Place

  •  Periodically he pokes his head out from behind the curtains in one of windows.

  • Another  great photo op is sitting/standing on the steps

• Visit the try telephone booth in front of Leicester Square

  • Go inside  and dial M-A-G-I-C for a surprise. Most people forget about this hidden gem

How Do You Want To End Your Night

1. Universal's Cinematic Celebration

• Shown on select nights at Universal Studios Florida. It can be seen on the Lagoon in the middle of the Park and projections take place at areas all across the Park

  • This water show happens select nights. It celebrates with music, water, projection mapping, lights and fireworks

  • You’ll see scenes from some of the most iconic Universal movies—E.T., Harry Potter, Minions, Trolls, Sing, etc.

  • Located in Universal Studios Florida‘s central lagoon. The Viewing area is in Central Park

  • Check the Universal App for the showtime

2. Re-ride Escape from Gringotts

• Check the wait time. Do you want to spend the rest of the night in line for it? Or would you rather do more spells, people watch, shop?

3. Hogwarts Castle Light Show in Islands of Adventure

• This is only an option if you have a park-to-park ticket or 2 park annual pass

Attractions I Skipped

Fast & Furious – Supercharged 

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon 

• Height Requirement: 40 inches

• Motion-simulator ride with a cool queue and funny pre-show

Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone

If time is  limited, or you don’t have younger kids, i’d skip this area entirely.

• Go to activity area for younger children

• There are 2 play areas and 1 kiddie coaster

  •  Curious George Goes to Town 

  •  Fievel’s Playground

  • Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster

Related Posts:

• 1-Day 1-Park Complete Itinerary for Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort in 2022.

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