Universal Orlando With Kids: What I’d Do Differently

Last week, I got the opportunity to go back to Universal Orlando without my kids and I really want to share with you what I’d do differently if I was planning a return visit with my family.

In March, we visited Universal Orlando as a family — three boys, big rides, rollercoaster highs, snacks, tired legs, and the usual theme park chaos. We had the most incredible trip. It was one of those holidays where everyone was running on adrenaline, refillable water bottles and the promise of “just one more ride. Then in May, I was lucky enough to go back to Universal Orlando on a media trip, but this time without the kids. And it was a completely different experience.

Not better, because nothing beats watching your own children lose their minds with excitement in a theme park, but different. I had more time to slow down. More time to ask questions. I definitely had more time to notice the details. More time to look around without also mentally calculating who needed sun cream, who was hungry, who was about to fall out with who, and whether we had left a child’s hat on the last ride.

And it made me realise something. We didn’t do Universal Orlando wrong as a family. Far from it – we had an absolutely brilliant time. But there are definitely things I would do differently the next time we go back with the kids. Because when you visit Universal Orlando in full parent mode, it is very easy to chase the rides and miss some of the magic happening around them.

I’d prioritise the shows, not just the rides at Universal Orlando

This is probably the biggest thing I realised when I went back without the kids.

When we visited as a family, we were on such a high from the rollercoasters and trying to get around all the rides that we more or less forgot about the shows.

At the time, it didn’t feel like a huge mistake. We were having an amazing time. The boys were loving the rides. We were trying to make the most of the days.

But when I went back in May and actually had the time to stop, watch and properly take things in, I realised we had definitely missed out.

The shows are not filler. They are part of the magic.

The nighttime show at Universal Studios Florida, CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular, genuinely took me by surprise. It’s a lagoon show with fountains, projections, music, lights and Universal movie moments all pulled together in such a gorgeous way. It was actually a bit emotional to watch — I absolutely loved it.

Then at Epic Universe, the fountain show in Celestial Park at the end of the night was phenomenal. The whole area comes alive in the dark, and it really is one of those moments where you just want the kids beside you watching it too.

And the one I really regret missing with the boys is The Untrainable Dragon in Isle of Berk. Toothless flies over the audience. I repeat: Toothless. Flies. Over. The. Audience. Looking back, I know the boys would have absolutely loved it. It would have been one of those proper wide-eyed moments, and I can’t believe we missed it because we were probably too busy chasing the next ride or wondering who had stolen whose popcorn.

Next time, I would plan the shows into the day the same way I’d plan the rides. Not as a “we’ll see if we get to it” thing, but as a proper part of the day.

I’d slow down inside the lands

When you’re visiting with kids, especially if you have a few park days and a list of rides everyone wants to do, it’s very easy to become a woman on a mission.

You walk through the lands thinking, “Lovely, gorgeous, amazing, where’s the queue entrance?” But when I went back without the kids, I realised how much there is to take in when you actually slow down. The details. The music. The characters. The shops. The food. The little corners. The atmosphere. The things that don’t show up as a wait time on the app.

Universal Orlando is not just a checklist of rides. Obviously the rides are a huge part of it, and I will never pretend I’m not delighted to be flung around on a rollercoaster like I have no responsibilities. But some of the best bits are the things you notice when you stop power-walking to the next queue.

Next time, I’d leave more space for wandering.

Especially in places like Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World and Celestial Park.

I’d rather do slightly fewer things and actually enjoy them than spend the entire day dragging everyone from one brilliant thing to the next until nobody has the energy to appreciate it.

I’d stay at Universal Orlando for at least part of the trip

If I was going back to Universal Orlando with the kids again, I would absolutely look at staying at Universal for at least part of the trip.

When I went back in May, we stayed at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, and the location made such a difference.

The water taxi into the parks was brilliant. It made getting in and out feel so much easier, especially compared with the usual theme park logistics of buses, transfers, walking, waiting, wondering why everyone suddenly needs the toilet at the exact wrong moment.

But the biggest win for me was Volcano Bay. Sapphire Falls is within walking distance of Volcano Bay, and after doing Volcano Bay with the kids on our family trip, I could really appreciate how valuable that is. When we visited Volcano Bay in March, I found the transfer side of it harder work. Not impossible, but harder. And when you’re dealing with swim bags, towels, sun cream, flip flops, damp clothes, hungry children and someone who has suddenly decided they hate the feel of wet shorts, the logistics matter. Being able to walk over from Sapphire Falls made the whole thing feel easier before the day even started. And with kids, convenience is not just a luxury. Sometimes it is the difference between a brilliant day and everyone being fed up before you’ve even made it through the gate.

I’d seriously consider a Premier hotel for the extra perks

This is one of the biggest practical things I’d look at if we were going back as a family of five.

Some of Universal’s Premier hotels — Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort — include Universal Express Unlimited for guests staying there, for use at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. For a family of five, that is a huge perk. Express Passes can be expensive when you’re buying them separately, so staying one or two nights at a Premier hotel could actually be a really cost-effective way to access them, especially because the benefit applies for the length of your stay, including check-in and check-out days.

But it’s not just the Express Pass benefit. Universal hotel guests also get Early Park Admission, which lets you enter select parks and attractions up to one hour before regular opening, depending on the park schedule. That early hour can be brilliant with kids, especially if you want to get a head start before the heat, crowds and general theme park chaos kick in.

Premier hotel guests also get priority seating at select restaurants in Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk, subject to availability. And honestly, anything that makes food easier on a theme park holiday with kids is worth knowing about. Nobody is at their best when they’re hot, tired and trying to negotiate dinner with five opinions and one child who suddenly only wants chips.

I wouldn’t necessarily say every family needs to stay in a Premier hotel for the whole trip. That will completely depend on budget, plans and how many park days you have. But if you’re trying to make the most of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, especially with kids who want to do the bigger rides, I would absolutely price it up.

Because with kids, you are not just paying to save time. You are paying to save patience. And your feet. And possibly an impromptu family argument outside a Minions ride.

For Epic Universe specifically, I would also look at Universal Helios Grand Hotel because of the location and the dedicated entrance into Epic Universe, but just to note the Express Unlimited hotel perk, currently only applies to Portofino Bay, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific. That said the Helios Grand is absolutely stunning and the fountain show each evening and views of the park at night are beyond spectacular! I was lucky enough to get to watch the fountain show in Celestial Park from the rooftop bar in the Helios Grand and it was very special.

I’d stop treating CityWalk like a corridor

This was another thing I really noticed when I went back without the kids. When we visited as a family, we more or less treated Universal CityWalk as somewhere to pass through.

We were always on a mission.

• Get to the park.
• Get to the hotel.
• Get to food.
• Get to the next thing.
• Get out before someone melts down dramatically beside a decorative fountain.

But when I went back and had more time to actually look around, I realised we had massively underused it.

CityWalk is not just an entrance area. It’s a whole dining, shopping and entertainment district, and there are loads of restaurants, shops and bars that would have been well worth exploring properly. Next time, I’d stop treating CityWalk like a corridor and actually make it part of the plan. Not necessarily for a huge late night with the kids, because let’s be realistic, by the end of a theme park day everyone is one misplaced hat away from tears. But for a slower evening, a proper meal, a wander around the shops, or a break from the pace of the parks, I think it would be lovely.

I’d choose the time of year really carefully

This is something I feel even more strongly about after visiting in both March/early April and late May.

When we went as a family in March, the weather worked really well for us. It was warm enough to feel like a proper Florida holiday, but not so hot and humid that the kids were completely wiped out.

When I went back in late May, it was a very different level of heat. Some days were around 39 degrees, compared with closer to 29 degrees when we visited in March, and the humidity made a huge difference.

Now, I love the sun. I am basically solar powered. Give me heat, blue skies and a pair of sunglasses and I’m a new woman.

But theme park heat with kids is a different thing altogether. The heat changes the day. It changes how far kids can walk, how long they can queue, how many breaks you need, how often you need drinks, and how quickly everyone’s mood can fall apart over something as simple as a water bottle. If I was planning Universal Orlando with younger kids again, I’d probably look at February, March or early April, while being very mindful of spring break dates because crowds and prices can obviously jump around then. I have also been previously in October and that’s a great time to visit too.

For us, that March timing felt like a really good balance. Warm, but manageable. Enjoyabe heat, but not “why is my face melting?” levels of heat.

I’d plan fewer full-throttle days

Our family trip was brilliant, but there is definitely a temptation at Universal to go full speed all day. Everything is exciting. Everyone wants to do something. You’ve paid a lot of money. You want to make the most of it. So you keep going.

• One more ride.
• One more land.
• One more shop.
• One more snack.
• One more “we’ll just see what the wait time is.”

And suddenly everyone is exhausted, someone is crying, and you’re trying to have a meaningful family moment while also wondering if your feet will ever recover.

Next time, I’d build the days differently. I’d still have ride-focused mornings. I would still chase the big attractions. I’d still get excited about the rollercoasters. But I would also plan proper breaks, slower afternoons, shows, food stops before everyone is starving, and time to just enjoy where we are. A pool afternoon is not a waste of a theme park holiday. Sometimes it is the reason everyone still likes each other by day three.

I’d make a “must-do rides” list and a “magic moments” list

This is probably the biggest mindset shift I’d make next time. Before our family trip, we naturally thought about the rides.

• What did everyone want to go on?
• Who was tall enough?
• What were the big must-dos?
• What had the longest waits?
• What did we need to prioritise?

And that is all useful. But after going back without the kids, I realised I’d also make a separate list next time.

A magic moments list.

Things like:

• Watching The Untrainable Dragon.
• Seeing the fountain show in Celestial Park at night.
• Staying for CineSational at Universal Studios Florida.
• Taking time in the Harry Potter areas instead of rushing through.
• Exploring CityWalk properly.
• Having a slower Volcano Bay day.
• Letting the kids browse a shop without me saying “come on” every six seconds.
• Sitting down before everyone is feral.
• Actually looking around.

Because the rides are incredible, but they are not the only things your kids will remember. Sometimes the thing they talk about afterwards is the snack, the show, the character, the hotel boat, the pool, the random shop, or the moment you nearly lost your dignity trying to get out of a wet poncho.

Final thoughts on Universal Orlando

Going back to Universal Orlando without the kids gave me the chance to see the parks differently.

Not better. Just differently. When you’re there as a parent, you experience everything through the needs of your children. Thinking about who’s hungry. Who’s tired. Which kid wants the big ride. Who suddenly doesn’t want the big ride. Who needs the toilet even though they were asked eleven seconds ago. But when I went back without them, I had the space to notice what we had rushed, what we had missed, and what I would prioritise next time. My biggest takeaway is this: Universal Orlando is not just about how many rides you manage to tick off.

The rides are amazing. Obviously. But the shows, the lands, the hotel location, the slower moments, CityWalk, the time of year you visit and the bits you leave space for can completely change the experience. Next time, I’d still chase the rollercoasters. But I’d also slow down, plan the shows, stay on-site for at least part of the trip if budget allowed, make more of CityWalk, and leave room for the kind of moments my kids would probably remember long after they’ve forgotten the wait time for a ride.