How Early to Arrive At Universal Studios

How Early to Arrive At Universal Studios

How Early to Arrive At Universal Studios

This article is your complete guide on how early to arrive at Universal Studios Orlando! We always recommend to arrive at least 30-60 minutes before park opening or early park admission. For more specific times for each park, you should arrive 30-45 minutes before Universal Studios Florida and Volcano Bay opens and 60 minutes before Islands of Adventure opens. These times are especially important to remember when taking advantage of Early Park Admission for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure!

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 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!

 Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

How Early to Arrive at Universal Orlando

We almost always recommend arriving 30-45 minutes before Universal Orlando and Volcano Bay open and 60 minutes before Islands of Adventure open up during regular operating hours or when each park has early park admission. Make sure to also give yourself an extra 15-20 minutes to park your car, go through the Universal Orlando security, and walk to either of the two main Universal Orlando theme parks. Guests visiting Volcano Bay should keep in mind that they will have to take a 10-minute shuttle bus to the park from the parking garage as well.

How Early Can You Arrive at Universal Studios?

Universal CityWalk will open up for guests exactly one hour before early park admission at the two main Universal Orlando theme parks, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. We would also recommend that you arrive when Citywalk opens if you are trying to take advantage of early park admission, especially if your main goal is to ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

What Time Does Universal Orlando Typically Open?

• Islands of Adventure 9:00 AM (8:00 AM for most early park admission mornings)
• Universal Studios Florida 9:00 AM (8:00 AM for most early park admission mornings)
• Volcano Bay 10:00 AM (9:30 AM for most early park admission mornings)

Related Post: How to Get Discount Universal Orlando Tickets

What is the Best Time to Arrive at Universal Orlando?

Arriving for Universal Early Park Admission

• 45 – 60 min before the park opens

For guests who plan to take advantage of early park admission, we would recommend arriving 30-45 minutes before Universal Orlando and Volcano Bay open and 60 minutes before Islands of Adventure. We would also suggest arriving at the parking garage an extra 15-20 minutes before this to give yourself time to go through security and walk over to the parks.

Arriving for Regular Park Opening

• 3o – 60 min before the park opens

You will see that our strategy for the best time to arrive at Universal Orlando during regular park hours is very similar to early park admission. We still recommend arriving 30-45 minutes before Universal Orlando and Volcano Bay open and 60 minutes before Islands of Adventure. However, we would typically try to avoid starting our mornings at the park that has early park admission if you are not taking advantage of it. The main reason is that we see the benefit of rope dropping right when the park opens for the lowest crowds, and that might not be the case if the park has already been open an hour for early park admission. We would also say that if you do plan to rope drop at a park that has already been open for early admission, we would focus on going on rides that are not included in the extra hour, such as the rides in Marvel Super Hero Island.

Visiting Universal from On-site Hotels

Guests staying at one of the official Universal hotels should allocate an extra 15-25 minutes for transit to Universal Orlando’s CityWalk, as travel times can vary based on the hotel’s location. We would suggest that guests looking to visit from any of the three Universal premier resorts can give themselves 15-20 minutes. Guests staying at the preferred or value resorts should allocate an extra 20-25 minutes to get over to the main two theme parks when using the Universal Orlando transportation.

Arriving via Universal Parking Garage

As discussed above, we would suggest giving yourself an extra 15-20 minutes to park your car at the Universal Orlando garage, go through security, and walk over to the parks. Guests who plan to visit Volcano Bay might want to give themselves an extra 20-25 minutes as they will have to take a shuttle bus over to the park from the Universal garage.

Best Time to Arrive at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

For the wizards and witches eager to explore the magical world of Harry Potter, being one of the first at the park is paramount. Ensure you’re at the gates 45-60 minutes before opening to experience the magic with fewer crowds. As discussed above we would always lean towards arriving 60 minutes before when taking advantage of Early Park Admission on the Islands of Adventure Harry Potter rides. 

Related Post: The Cheapest Time to Visit Universal Orlando 

How to Get Into Universal Studios Early

Another aspect to consider when figuring out how early to arrive at Universal Studios Orlando is early park admission. The main reason is universal early park admission will allow you into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. In general, the Harry Potter rides can have some of the longest wait times in the parks during the middle of the day. By getting on these rides early, you’ll have more time to enjoy your day at Universal.

As discussed, when figuring out the best time to arrive at Universal Orlando for early park admission, we recommend 45-60 minutes before early park admission starts. Another tip we want to mention is if this is your first or only day visiting Universal, you still have to pick up your tickets. In this case, we recommend having your group jump onto the line to get into the park for early admission while your group leader goes to the ticket kiosk or calls to grab your tickets. This will ensure you keep your spot and take advantage of arriving so early at Universal! 

Related Post: Universal Early Park Admission Tickets

Biggest Benefits of Arriving Early at Universal Orlando

• Experience the Thrill of VelociCoaster With Minimal Wait –  Be one of the first to board the adrenaline-pumping VelociCoaster, Universal’s newest and most thrilling ride, and avoid the lengthy queues that build up as the day progresses.
• Dive Into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Without Delay – Embark on magical adventures like The Escape from Gringotts and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure without the usual wait times, making your experience in this enchanting world even more spellbinding.
• Navigate Heavy Crowd Days With Ease –  On days projected to have substantial crowds (7+ on our Universal Orlando crowd calendar), an early arrival is your best strategy to navigate the park efficiently and enjoy more attractions in less time.
• Maximize Your Time at Volcano Bay –  Volcano Bay’s allure is undeniable, and early arrival ensures you make the most of every splash, slide, and sunbath on your visit to this water paradise.
• Conquer More When Time Is of the Essence – If you’re operating on a tight schedule with just one day to soak up all Universal has to offer, getting there early is imperative. It allows you to experience more attractions, shows, and entertainment, ensuring a fulfilling and unforgettable visit.

Related Post: The Ultimate Guide to Universal Orlando Rides

What Time to Arrive at Universal Orlando FAQ

Q: What time should I get to Universal?

A: As a general rule of thumb, we recommend arriving at Universal Studios Orlando 45-60 minutes before the park opening. This will allow you to be some of the first families into the theme park and get onto some of the most popular rides with very little to no wait.

Q: How Early Should You Arrive at Universal For Halloween Horror Nights?

A: We strongly advise guests to plan their arrival at the Universal parking garage or designated drop-off zones a 60-minutes before the commencement of the Halloween Horror Nights festivities. This approach accounts for potential delays during the security checks and offers ample time for on-site ticket retrieval if necessary.

Q: What time does Universal Harry Potter open?

A: The Universal Harry Potter lands will typically open up at 9:00 AM for regular park guests and 8:00 AM for guests taking advantage of early park admission in each participating park.

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 break down 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 inside the theme parks, be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!