This article is your complete guide to celebrating a Universal Studios birthday. As Annual Passholders, we celebrated many Universal Studios birthdays, whether it be sipping on butterbeer, having a theme park meal, or flying through the sky with E.T. That’s why we’re going to give you some of the best reasons to have a Universal Studios birthday, just keep reading.
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!
SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Universal Orlando, check out our Universal Crowd calendar!
Celebrating a birthday at Universal can be very exciting and one of the best ways to go out with birthday festivities. From thrilling attractions to unforgettable experiences, there are countless ways to make your special day truly epic. There are so many different ways that guests can feel like the main character on their birthday at Universal Orlando, most of which are free with your Universal vacation anyway! Whether you prefer a grand extravaganza or a more low-key celebration, a Universal birthday in 2024 is guaranteed to be a memorable and incredible experience.
Related Post: Everything You Need to Know About My Universal Photos
If you’re a person who might like a little recognition in the parks for your special day, Universal has special customized birthday pins that guests can pick up. These pins are free and have a few different designs, such as an “it’s my birthday button” or a more generic “I’m Celebrating” for anniversaries or accomplishments. Team members working at Guest Services will ask for your name and write it on your special birthday pin to wear around the parks.
Remember, if you are more of a shy person, this birthday pin lets all of the Universal Team Members know that it is your Universal birthday. You will be getting a TON of Happy Birthdays or other birthday greetings throughout the day. So wear your pin where it can’t be seen, or keep it as a souvenir from the parks!
Make sure that you try to meet some characters while wearing your celebration pin as well; you just may get some special greetings from your favorites! On our team’s recent Birthday celebration at Universal, we had a fun Birthday interaction with none other than Mr. Grinch himself!
It is also important to note that you do not have to “prove” it is your birthday to get a birthday pin. Not everyone can make it out to Universal Orlando Resort on their actual birthday, and that is perfectly okay!
It is as simple as asking! All you have to do to get a birthday pin at Universal Orlando is go to one of the Guest Service locations at either park and ask for one. Both Guest Service buildings are located right at the entrance of the Universal theme parks, so make sure to stop by and start celebrating! Recently, we have been seeing a guest relations stand in Islands of Adventure by Starbucks. This stand has all the celebration buttons and usually has no line!
Related Post: Complete Guide to Universal Roller Coasters
One of our favorite things to do for your birthday in Orlando is ride our favorite attractions inside of the Universal theme parks. There is nothing we would rather be doing than searching for unicorns in the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid for our birthday at Universal. So, if you’re an adrenaline lover or park ride expert, we highly recommend checking out Universal’s attractions for your birthday.
Some of our favorites are Hagrid’s Magical Creatures, Motorbike Adventure, or Jurassic World VelociCoaster. Just pure Universal birthday fun! There is also Dreamworks Land in Universal Studios Florida, where you might get a birthday hello from Donkey or Shrek. You can dance with Team Members in the New York Section or even see the Blues Brothers perform, where you might get a special shout-out.
While we cannot guarantee any special events to happen for your birthday when it comes to attractions, we have had some luck in the past for our Universal Studios birthday. If you’re looking for an attraction that will SCREAM happy birthday, we suggest stopping by The Mystic Fountain.
The Mystic Fountain is located in Universal Islands of Adventure and is an interactive fountain attraction that will make witty commentary to guests hanging around it. If you tell The Mystic Fountain that it is your birthday, you will be met with singing, splashing, joking, and more! It is one of our favorite things to do that doesn’t require waiting in line and is super personal.
We can almost bet that if you’re wearing one of those Universal birthday pins at any of the attractions, you’re going to get many good wishes while walking through the line queues. So, even if you are a Cat in the Hat fan, there is no wrong attraction for your birthday!
Related Post: Universal Early Park Admission Guide
As a devoted Harry Potter fan, I’ve personally celebrated many birthdays in true Universal Studios style, capturing iconic moments with Hogwarts Castle as the backdrop while relishing in the delightful taste of butterbeer. Make your special day truly enchanting with a Harry Potter birthday experience at Universal Orlando!
We have seen so many amazing Harry Potter World surprise ideas for kids, especially when they’re around the age to receive their Hogwarts admission letters. If you happen to get park-to-park tickets, you can even ride the Hogwarts Express between both Wizarding World lands!
Special Tip: Wear that birthday pin!!!! Guests can participate in a wand ceremony at Ollivanders Wand Shop. One special guest is chosen per show to have “the wand choose the wizard,” which is extremely magical and very likely to happen if you’re wearing a birthday pin. Guests can then choose to purchase this interactive Harry Potter wand and participate in spell casting around the Wizarding World.
Related Post: Complete Guide to Butterbeer at Universal Studios
One of our favorite things to do for our birthday is to get all of our friends together and celebrate with food! You can do the same thing during your Universal Studios birthday and snack throughout the parks or make a dining reservation at one of the restaurants. If you’re looking for family-friendly birthday restaurants in Orlando, we highly recommend looking in Universal’s direction. The best part is that transportation at Universal is free, so if you’re staying on-site, there are many different options to get you there.
While, of course, any one of these could be the best birthday dinner in Orlando, we highly recommend going to Toothsome Chocolate Emporium. If you’re a person who loves to indulge in sweets on your birthday, you have to have your Universal Studios birthday party here. Your Toothsome Chocolate Emporium birthday could include 15 different kinds of milkshakes (a ton of vegan ones, too!), specialty sundaes, flourless chocolate cake with Nutella ice cream, triple chocolate bread pudding, and more!
Our favorite milkshake at Toothsome is the cookie jar. It’s made of vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream, blended cookies, and topped with both crumbled cookies and a whole cookie! This is the best restaurant to celebrate a birthday in Orlando, in our opinion
Related Post: Guide to Hotels Near Universal Studios Orlando with Free Shuttle
If you’re looking to make your birthday at Universal Orlando extra special, book the VIP Experience. This premium service offers front-of-the-line access to all major attractions across Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, meaning no long waits for rides like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, or The Incredible Hulk Coaster. You’ll enjoy unlimited Express Pass access, so you can ride your favorites over and over without standing in line.
A personal tour guide will lead your group, providing insider knowledge, fascinating stories, and park history, all tailored to your interests. Want to focus on Harry Potter? Or maybe you’re a thrill-seeker? Your guide will craft a personalized itinerary to make sure your birthday hits all the highlights.
The VIP Experience includes complimentary meals and snacks, including a gourmet lunch at one of Universal’s top restaurants. Throughout the day, you’ll have access to free snacks and beverages to keep you fueled while exploring the parks. To top it off, you’ll get plenty of photo opportunities at iconic locations like Hogwarts Castle or the Universal Globe, with your guide ensuring you avoid crowds for those perfect shots.
Whether you opt for a private VIP tour just for your group or join a group tour, this experience is the perfect way to celebrate a birthday in style. With perks like VIP souvenirs, a full 7-hour guided tour, and a day tailored to your interests, the VIP Experience makes your birthday celebration truly unforgettable and perfect for a special occasion.
Related post: Complete Guide to the Universal Orlando VIP Experience
As an adult, one of our favorite things to do for a 2024 Universal Studios birthday is relax by one of the pools at a Universal hotel. Universal Orlando Resort has some of the best pools at their on-site hotels, and each has a unique set of dining and recreation. Make sure to mention that it is your birthday while you’re staying at an on-site hotel because you might just get surprised!
Some guests receive birthday surprises in their rooms when they check in, like special birthday pins, coupons for snacks, pieces of cake, balloons, etc. While it is not guaranteed that your hotel will do something for your Universal Orlando birthday, we always recommend talking with your travel agent or concierge at your hotel to check.
Each Universal hotel has either a quick service or a signature restaurant on-site. You might even be able to have a birthday cake at a hotel restaurant. Make sure to ask the restaurant beforehand. We recommend trying Strong Water Tavern at Sapphire Falls Resort for specialty rum tasting!
Hotels like Cabana Bay Beach Resort have multiple pools; one even has a lazy river. With that being said, you are allowed to pool hop at all pools except for those at Endless Summer Resorts. Loews Portofino Bay has three different pools to swim at, and the main Beach Pool is perfect for a Universal birthday party with poolside activities. No matter which Universal Resort you are at, you are guaranteed to have a blast at the pool for your Universal Birthday.
One of our favorite perks of staying at a Premier Universal Orlando hotel is that all guests registered to the room get a free Universal Unlimited Express Pass. So, if you’re looking to throw the best Universal Studios birthday party at the hotels, we suggest picking one of the three Premier Universal hotels.
If you’re more of a water park kind of person, then a Volcano Bay birthday party might be better for you! Cabana Bay Beach Resort is only a few steps away from the entrance of Volcano Bay Water Park, which is truly the best water park in Orlando. You can rent a cabana, ride the world’s tallest water slide, and more for the best birthday at Volcano Bay.
Related Post: Universal Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer Resort Guide
A: When celebrating a birthday at Universal, guests can visit Guest Services in Universal Theme Park to pick up a special birthday pin. Other than the birthday pin, there are no other special items guaranteed to be given to you on your birthday. With that being said, wearing that birthday pin might get you a free birthday treat or other special surprise from Team Members.
A: While there are rules and regulations on what you can bring into the theme parks, you can have a birthday party at Universal Studios. As of right now, Universal does not offer birthday packages, so the agenda will be one you put together. We think it is a great idea to celebrate your birthday inside Universal Orlando Resort, especially if you have an on-site hotel room that you can decorate.
A: Yes! Free Universal Studios birthday pins can be picked up at either Guest Services inside of the Universal theme parks. Just ask and give the Team Members your name to get your very own personalized birthday pin to wear throughout the day!
A: While we cannot guarantee this will happen, Cabana Bay Beach Resort has given out birthday vouchers to redeem at Bayliner Diner for a piece of cake in the past. Guests have also reported getting birthday hats when letting the concierge know during the check-in process. We’ve heard similar stories at other Universal hotels, so make sure to check if there are free birthday perks at your hotel!
A: While you cannot bring an entire birthday cake at Universal Orlando through security, there are a few restaurants you can visit that serve cake! It is also important to note that you can always call your hotel in advance to see if they offer Universal Studios birthday cake for your hotel room celebration.
A: As of right now, we are not aware of any official Universal Studios birthday packages offered for purchase through the theme parks. We have seen instances of guests calling their hotel and paying for Universal Studios birthday packages for their rooms, but that would depend on each hotel. If there are ever any Universal Orlando birthday packages offered in the future, we will make sure to add them here for you and your planning.
A: No, there are no special discounts for your birthday in Universal Orlando. In general, when visiting the Universal theme parks for your birthday, I would not expect anything special. We have seen in the past that guests might get a special treat for free or be allowed to skip the line in some instances, but that is never guaranteed.
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.
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!