Universal Studios Early Admission Guide

Universal Studios Early Admission Guide

Universal Studios Early Admission Guide

One of the most valuable perks families can take advantage of during their next vacation is Universal Studios Early Admission! Guests are granted entry to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universals Volcano Bay one hour earlier than other park guests.

This perk is typically given exclusively to all guests staying at an on-site Universal hotel. However if you are staying off property or at one of the on-site Disney hotels, The Park Prodigy can still help you gain early park admission!

There are select travel agencies like The Park Prodigy who sell Universal Orlando Tickets which also give you access to Universal Studios early admission. We hope you find this post helpful, and if you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time on your next vacation and find the cheapest Universal Orlando tickets!

To learn more about Universal early park admission and how you can beat the crowds on your next trip read on!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the absolute best time to visit Universal Orlando be sure to check out our crowd calendar! 

Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

Understanding Early Park Admission Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando early park admission allows all Park Prodigy ticket clients, on-site hotel guests, and annual pass holders into either Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure or Volcano Bay one hour early. Universal Orlando early admission allows guests to take advantage of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and other select rides. (rides included with Universal early park admission do vary)

The fact that Universal early park admission allows you in to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is by far one of the coolest perks guests can take advantage throughout all of the Orlando theme parks. It’s one of the most popular destinations in the world, and simply a must do for all inspiring wizards and witches. The fact that you can get on to some of the most popular rides at Universal before other park guests is simply amazing and will save you so much time through out your vacation at Universal.

It’s important to note that Universal does typically open either Universal Studios or Islands of adventure for guests. However there are times during peak season when both parks will be open for Universal early entry. Universal Volcano Bay is typically open everyday for early park admission. Guests will need to show their Universal theme park ticket from The Park Prodigy or room key for access to early entry locations.

How to Use Universal Orlando Early Park Admission

As we just discussed Universal early park admission is included at Universal Studios Florida, Island’s of Adventure, and Universals Volcano Bay. To make the most out of your time in the parks we recommend arriving at least a half hour before Universal early admission. This is especially true if you only have one day to spend in the parks as you will want to make sure to get the most out of your visit.

You will also want to take a look at the Universal Orlando website for their early park admission schedule before your trip! This will allow you to come up with a game plan for which Universal Orlando park you will be starting your day out with. We always recommend to start your day with Islands of Adventure when possible so you can ride Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure first. This is especially true if you also purchased Universal express passes as that ride will not be included in the express lines. This alone can save you up to three hours later in the day!

2021 Universal Early Park Admission Theme Parks

Below is the list of all Universal theme parks which participate in early park admission: 

• Universal Studios Florida: Participating in Universal early admission
• Island’s of Adventure: Participating in Universal early admission
• Volcano Bay Water Park: Participating in Universal early admission with reduced hours

As a reminder guests looking to visit the theme parks and take advantage of Early park admission Universal Orlando should check the official Universal website.  You can also double check the Universal early park admission schedule upon check in.

Universal Studios Early Park Admission Schedule

The Universal early park admission schedule is typically released two months in advance. To make it easier for you we do include all early admission hours on our Universal Crowd Calendar! Guests can also find crowd levels, ticket prices per day and average temperature during your next vacation.

It’s important to note Universal can change their schedule so be sure to check a few days leading up to your trip and during hotel check in.

What Time is Universal Early Park Admission?

As you can imagine it is easy to figure out what time the one hour Early Park Admission starts at Universal Orlando. Simply figure out what time the parks open and plan to show up one hour before that time. However just incase we have broken it out for you below:

What time is early park admission at Universal Studios?

• 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM for Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure
• 8:30 for Volcano Bay water park.

As discussed early park admission at Universal Studios starts a single hour before the regular park opening. The theme parks will open earlier during peak season, in which case Universal early park admission will typically start at 7:00 AM. It’s important to always check with your Universal Orlando hotel front desk upon check in as hours can change.

Which Rides are Open During Universal Early Park Admission?

Universal Studios rides open during Universal early park admission:

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotss
• Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
• Revenge of the Mummy (seasonal)

Islands of Adventure rides open during Universal early park admission:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Flight of Hippogriff
• Caro-seuss-el (seasonal)

Universal Volcano Bay rides open during early park admission:

• Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
• Ohyah of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides
• Ohno of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides
• Honu of the Honu Ika Moana
• ika Moana of the Honu ika Moana
• Krakatau Aqua Coaster
• Ko’okiri Body Plunge
• Waturi Beach

Is Universal Early Park Admission Worth It?

The short answer: Yes! We can’t stress enough how much time you can save by taking advantage of Universal early park admission. This is especially true if you are only visiting Universal for one day and trying to see both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios.

The reason being is some of the most exciting rides are in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As you can imagine this means these rides will typically have the longest wait time. Guests who take advantage of Universal Orlando early admission have the chance to ride 1-2 rides before anyone else is even in the parks. These extra hours in the parks could be a savings of 1-3 hours depending on the crowd levels for that day.

Early admission during Covid-19

Since reopening, all Universal parks have been operating at limited capacity. This means they’re only allowing a certain number of people in the park and on rides. There’s also a lot of families itching to take their first vacation in over a year and setting their sites on Orlando.

Because of this, people get to the parks as early as possible to ensure they get into the park before it hits capacity- something it does within 1-2 hours after opening almost every day. So, early admission is absolutely worth it. You won’t have to worry about getting turned away, and can go straight to rides like Escape From Gringotts that will be a 2+ hour wait later in the day.

How Can I Get Early Park Admission to Universal?

As discussed there are a few methods to gain early admission to Universal Orlando. We feel there is absolutely an option for every family looking to take advantage of this great perk! However we are going to start with what is easiest for most families!

The Park Prodigy Universal Tickets With Early Park Admission

All guests who purchase their Universal Orlando tickets from The Park Prodigy will receive Universal early park admission. We find Universal early park admission will typically save our clients up to three hours in the parks. That’s three hours you can spend relaxing by the pool or hanging out at Citywalk!

This is just one of the many benefits of purchasing your theme park tickets from The Park Prodigy. Families will also be able to take advantage of our Magic Rewards program which helps you save money on discount Universal tickets. Not to mention our custom Universal theme park touring plans and our Magically Carbon Free Program.

To learn more about how you can purchase Universal Orlando tickets with Early Park Admission be sure to check out our ticket page!

Discount Universal Orlando Tickets

On-Site Hotels with  Early Admission to Universal Orlando Theme Parks

All of the Universal Orlando Resort hotels offer early park admission. Guests can also take advantage of Free Universal Express passes (at select hotels), complimentary transportation and priority seating at select restaurants on property.

Universal Orlando Hotels

• Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel (Expres Pass included)
• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel  (Express Pass included)
• Loews Royal Pacific Resort  (Express Pass included)
• Sapphire Falls Resort
• Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
• Universal’s Aventura Resort
• Endless Summer Resort and Surfside Inn and Suites

Vacation Packages From The Park Prodigy

Universal vacation packages

You can combine your park tickets with over 30 Universal Orlando Partner hotels to take advantage of any bundle savings. With so many neighbor hotels surrounding the Universal area families will find an option that meets every group size and budget. The best part is our travel professionals can help you price and book your next trip at no additional cost to you!

It’s important to note that you can also book vacation packages if staying at an on-site Universal resort. This can sometimes be a great option to save by bundling as well. It’s not however necessary to take advantage of the early park admission that Universal provides. You can simply book your hotel and tickets separately so shop around and make sure you are getting the best deal.

Universal Early Park Admission Annual Passholders

The third way to gain early park admission to Universal is by becoming a Preferred or Premier annual passholder. We find this to be a great benefit to an already great deal. Our group has been both Universal and Disney annual pass holders for over 10 years and we love each. We do however feel Universal offers the best value and comes with some great perks such as early park admission.

The only downside is Universal Orlando annual pass early admission does not include Volcano bay. If you’re traveling from out of town you can easily get around this by staying at an on-site Universal resort. It’s important to note that your regular preferred black out dates would apply as well.

The Best Times To Use Early Park Admission Universal Studios Orlando

As discussed early park admission can save you a ton of time if traveling during peak season at Universal Studios Orlando. However we don’t feel it’s necessary to use everyday. Below are the best times to use Universal’s early park admission:

1. You’re trying to ride Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure!
2. You’re trying to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and ride The Escape from Gringotts with little wait.
3. You’re visiting during a day when crowds are heavy. (we recommend any crowds 7+ on our Universal Orlando crowd calendar)
4. Any time your visiting Volcano Bay we recommend using early park admission. We have been able to get on 4-5 rides before the parks even open.
5. You’re only visiting Universal for one day and you’re trying to get as much done as possible

Universal Early Admission TIPS and TRICKS

1. To make the most of your time in the parks we still recommend arriving to the parks 30-45 minutes before expected opening time. This will allow you enough time to pass through security and to the front gate.
2. Early Park admission into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter can be a great opportunity to explore with little to no crowds. Not only can you go on rides but you can also take some great pictures and explore Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
3. Ride Hagrids Motorbike Adventure or Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotss. This can be a huge time saver later on as the line can get over 3 hours during peak season
4. We saved the best for last. Always use Volcano Bay early park admission. We can’t stress this enough how much time this will save you!

Universal Early Park Admission – Questions and Answers

Q: Does early park admission include Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure?

A: Yes, and this is one of our favorite perks about the Universal early admission. Guests can save a huge amount of time by taking advantage of the Universal Orlando early hours to ride Hagrid’s Motorbike adventure and save up to three hours later in the day.

Q: What time is early park admission to Universal?

A: Early park admission is one hour prior to normal opening time. This typically is 8:00 AM on normal days and 7:00 AM during peak season.

Q: When can I start to use my early park admission perks?

A: You can start to use your early park admission perk from your check-in date to you check out date if staying at an on-site Universal hotel. It’s important to note that you must check in prior to going to the parks.

Q: What should I bring to get into early park admission at Universal?

A: You should always bring your room key and park tickets when visiting the parks for early admission. It’s important to note that if you purchased your Universal tickets from The Park Prodigy we will give you an E-travel document. This will verify your early park admission access.

How to Book Your Universal Orlando Vacation

There has never been a time where it’s been so important to book your Universal Orlando vacation with a park expert. With changes happening at a rapid pace, it’s important to book your vacation with a Universal Orlando expert to walk you through the entire process and answer any questions along the way. When you book your Universal Orlando vacation with The Park Prodigy, it includes our services absolutely FREE!

Once we plan the perfect itinerary for you, you’ll pay just $50 per person down to hold your vacation. Final payment is due 45 days prior to arrival and payment plans are available. To get started you can request a no-obligation Universal vacation quote online or by calling one of our travel experts at 407-630-8650.

If you’re not in need of a package but would still like to get into Universal for EARPY PARK ADMISSION be sure to check out our Universal Orlando  Universal Orlando Tickets! All Park Prodigy Universal Orlando tickets will get you into the park one hour before regular park guests!

When is the Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

If you’re not sure when to plan your next Universal vacation, 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.