The 8 Best Things to Do in Universal Orlando

The 8 Best Things to Do in Universal Orlando

The 8 Best Things to Do in Universal Orlando

This article is your complete guide to the best things to do at Universal Orlando!  There are so many new things that families can enjoy at Universal Orlando, including the brand new Dreamworks Land, CineSational – a nighttime spectacular, Hogwarts Always, as well as a brand new theme park – Epic Universe! Below, we break down everything you won’t want to miss on your next Universal Orlando Resort vacation!

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out the latest deals on Universal Orlando vacation packages and our discounted Universal Orlando tickets which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you need help picking the best time to visit Universal Orlando for your next vacation, be sure to check out our Universal Crowd calendar!

Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

Top 8 New Things to Do at Universal Orlando Resort

There have been so many exciting changes at Universal Orlando in the past few months we have put together a list of the top 8 must-do things at the parks! These include riding the newest Universal Orlando rides and visiting the brand-new Dreamworks Land. Guests can also now check out two new nighttime shows which are CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular and Hogwarts Always. We also love the new Universal Mega Movie Parade for families visiting Universal Orlando with young children who are looking for the perfect afternoon break.

Epic Universe is now open! Guests can enter into Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk and Dark Universe.

What are the top things to do at Universal Studios Orlando?

• Visit Epic Universe
• Stay at a new Universal Orlando Hotel
• Ride the newest attractions
• Visit Dreamworks Land
• Check out CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular
• See Universal Mega Movie Parade
• Check out Hogwarts Always
• Grab a butterbeer in CityWalk
• Visit during the holidays

Related post: Guide to Spending One Day at Universal Islands of Adventure

What’s New at Universal Orlando 2025?

Visit Epic Universe

Epic Universe is now open to all guests! This is a highly-anticipated new theme park that features state-the-art attractions, shows, food and so much more for the whole family to enjoy. Step into the world of Super Nintendo and ride Mario Kart or ride with the Universal Monsters on Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. There is SO much to do in the brand new park that you won’t want to miss out on. Tickets to visit Epic Universe are on sale now!

Stay at a New Universal Orlando Hotel

Universal Orlando opened three brand new hotels right next to Epic Universe. Universal Stella Nova Resort, Universal Terra Luna Resort, Universal Helios Grand Hotel. These hotels are all within walking distance to Universal Epic Universe, a great option for guests visiting Epic Universe! We highly recommend staying at a Universal hotel for perks like early park admission and free transportation.

Ride the Newest Attractions

Of course, Epic Universe features 13 new attractions including an all-new Harry Potter Ride – Battle at the Ministry (which is our new favorite) but there are some other new rides you can enjoy between Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure.

• Trolls Trollercoaster
• Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast
• Jurassic World VelociCoaster – Islands of Adventure
• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – Islands of Adventure

Visit Dreamworks Land

Guests can now enjoy an imaginative new land in Universal Studios Florida where they can meet Shrek and splash in his swamp for little Orges, ride the new Troller Coaster, enjoy specially-themed snacks, and meet their favorite Dreamworks characters. There is also a brand new Poppy’s Playground which is another great new area for families visiting Universal with young kids. 

Check out CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular

Universal also announced a brand new show called CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular which will take place nightly in Universal Studios Florida. Universal has released that the new show will include scenes and scores from some of our favorite films including Warner Bros. Pictures Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, Jurassic World, “Jaws, Shrek, Ghostbusters, “Trolls, Back to the Future, Universal monsters, Transformers, How to Train Your Dragon, E.T., Fast and Furious, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Minions, The Mummy, and King Kong.”

Universal Mega Movie Parade

The Universal Mega Movie Parade marks the return of daytime parades at Universal Studios Florida! This is going to be a mainstay within the park which is different from the parade which normally takes place during Universal Orlando Mardi Gras. And just like the Symphonic Spectacular show this parade will include characters from some of our favorite movies including Minions, Sing, DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, Kung Fu Panda, Jurassic World, E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws, and Ghostbusters. Check the Universal app for parade times!

Hogwarts Always

We are all also very excited for the brand new nighttime show on Hogwarts castle called Hogwarts Always! Guests will be able to see and hear from some of their favorite Harry Potter Characters in the wizarding world such as Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore, and the Sorting Hat. Guests can also enjoy a different four different endings to this new show with each celebrating the four different Hogwarts houses.

Grab a butterbeer in CityWalk

Great news for Harry Potter fans! You can now grab a cold or frozen butterbeer in CityWalk! The Universal Studios Store has expanded and opened a brand new butterbeer bar with butterbeer on tap and even butterbeer merchandise. After you get your butterbeer, walk over to the new Super Nintendo World section and check out some new Mario merchandise.

Visit during the holidays

Universal Orlando has been throwing a better Halloween Horror Nights event year after year. Truly one of the most magical things to do at Universal Studios Orlando is to visit during the holiday season. Both Universal Orlando parks undergo transformations with special offerings and attractions for Christmas which even include a special celebration called Grinchmas in Islands of Adventure park with popular meet and greets as well as a Grinch character breakfast. 

Related Page: Complete Guide to Universal Studios Orlando Shows

Best Things to Do at Universal Orlando FAQ

Q: Is Universal Orlando worth it if you don’t like rides?

A: Another common question we receive is, is Universal Studios Orlando worth it if you don’t like rides? Universal Studios Orlando is still a great place to visit even if you don’t like rides. There is a ton of activities to do that don’t include ride simulations or roller coasters such as the amazing shows, Harry Potter themed lands, and character meet and greets. Universal Orlando also has some amazing special events throughout the year including Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Mardi Gras, and Grinchmas.

Q: What are the best things to do in Universal Studios?

A: If you’re wondering what to do at Universal Studios, there are plenty of events and attractions to try out for the best trip. First, we recommend to plan your trip during one of the holidays, like Halloween Horror Nights or even Christmas where you can see exclusive performances and parades. We also recommend going into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and grabbing a butterbeer to experience one of the best lands in all of the theme parks!

When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We breakdown the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out our discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets and Universal Orlando vacation package deals which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

And to stay up to date on everything going on inside the theme parks be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!