Universal Studios Orlando Florida (2026 Planning Guide)
Universal Studios Orlando Florida is no longer a two-day add-on to Disney.
With Epic Universe now open, Universal Orlando Resort has become a genuine multi-park destination — and it completely changes how you plan a Florida holiday.
If you’re visiting in 2026 and beyond, you need a strategy. Because doing Universal casually doesn’t work anymore so we’ve updated our guide to Universal, Orlando.
What Is Included at Universal Orlando Resort?
Universal Orlando Resort now includes four theme parks:
Universal Studios Florida
Islands of Adventure
Volcano Bay water park
Epic Universe
Each park offers a different style of experience:
Universal Studios Florida – movie-based attractions and Diagon Alley
Islands of Adventure – thrill rides and Hogsmeade
Volcano Bay – immersive water park with virtual queuing
Epic Universe – fully themed lands including Super Nintendo World
This is no longer a quick bolt-on to a Disney itinerary. It’s a major part of a Florida holiday in its own right.
The Universal Globe, Orlando Florida
How Many Days Do You Need at Universal Orlando?
Before Epic Universe opened, two well-planned days could work. Now? Three days minimum, four days comfortably.
If You Want to Do It Properly
You’ll need time to:
Ride the headline coasters
Experience both Wizarding World areas
Explore Epic Universe fully
Re-ride favourites
Avoid complete burnout
Universal is more intense than Disney.
Less walking — but bigger thrill concentration.
Planning matters more than ever.
Is Express Pass Worth It at Universal?
This is now one of the biggest planning decisions.
Universal Express Pass can dramatically reduce queue times — but pricing varies depending on season and demand.
We’ve broken this down properly here:
👉 Universal Express Pass Guide
That guide covers:
Standard vs Unlimited
When it’s worth buying
When you can skip it
Cost comparisons
Strategy tips
With four parks now operating, Express is less of a luxury and more of a tactical tool during busy periods.
Stella Nova Resort near Epic Universe
Is Staying Onsite at Universal Worth It?
Staying onsite changes your pace completely.
Benefits include:
Early park entry
Walkable or boat transport
Security before park arrival
Easier mid-day breaks
On one of our trips, we stayed at Loews Royal Pacific Resort because it included Express Pass Unlimited for everyone in the room. That shifted the maths completely. Instead of buying Express separately, it became part of the hotel decision.
Full breakdown here:
👉 Loews Royal Pacific Resort Review
When Universal is busy proximity becomes a serious advantage.
The Rides That Define Universal Orlando
Universal is built around intensity and immersion.
Across the resort, the standouts include:
VelociCoaster
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
VelociCoaster at night remains one of the most complete thrill rides in Florida. But Epic Universe has added serious competition. Universal now has depth across multiple parks — not just a handful of headline attractions.
Yoshi’s Adventure best ridden at night.
Universal vs Disney – Should You Split Your Time Differently?
This is where Florida planning has changed. It’s no longer: “Two days Universal, the rest Disney.”
With four Universal parks now operating, many families are choosing:
3–4 days at Universal
8–10 days at Disney
Rest days or split stays between resorts
The balance has shifted.
But how you split your time depends on:
The ages of your children
Whether you’re thrill-focused or character-focused
Time of year
Whether you’re staying onsite at either resort
Whether Express Pass is part of your strategy
This is something we structure properly when we book Florida holidays for families.
We don’t just secure the hotel and tickets — we help you plan how the trip actually flows, how Universal fits alongside Disney, and how to avoid wasting park days.
Because getting the balance right is what makes the difference between feeling rushed… and feeling like you nailed it.
If you’re booking your Florida holiday through Team Five Holidays, that guidance is built in.
👉 Florida Holiday Enquiry Page
Ticket Strategy – Do You Need Park-to-Park?
If you want to:
Ride Hogwarts Express
Move flexibly between parks
Maximise ride windows
Then park-to-park tickets are often worth it. But not always. Ticket combinations can get confusing quickly — especially when adding Epic Universe days.
This is something we often help families structure properly as part of wider Florida planning.
Planning Universal Orlando for 2026 and Beyond
When planning Universal now, you need to consider:
Time allocation across four parks
Express strategy
Onsite vs offsite hotels
Crowd seasonality
How it fits alongside Disney
Universal rewards preparation. Done casually, it feels rushed. Done properly, it becomes one of the highlights of your Florida holiday.
Final Thoughts – Is Universal Studios Orlando Florida Worth It?
Yes. But only if you respect it. Epic Universe hasn’t just added more rides. It’s changed how Universal fits into a Florida trip.
Treat it as an afterthought, and you’ll feel under pressure.
Plan it properly? It becomes one of the strongest parts of your itinerary.
Universal Without Express – Would We Do It Again?
One of the biggest planning decisions at Universal Orlando is whether to buy Express Pass.
On this visit, we didn’t — and the queues at both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure were noticeably quieter than we’ve experienced in previous years.
In truth, if we’d paid for Express on that particular trip, it probably wouldn’t have felt necessary.
But here’s the reality:
Crowd levels change.
Epic Universe has shifted demand.
And you can’t predict what your week will look like next year.
If it’s your first visit — or you don’t know when you’ll return — Express can remove risk completely.
This episode shows exactly how the day unfolded without it, and why the decision isn’t as simple as “always buy it” or “never bother.”
Watch below.