Labor Day Weekend at Universal Studios Orlando

It was almost the Labor Day weekend, and we suddenly realized that we had no plans. How did that happen??? We were heading to Orlando for a friend’s baby gender reveal party (it’s a boy!), but we didn’t know what we were going to do for the rest of the weekend. So, we decided to make a mini-vacation out of our short 2 hour drive to Orlando. We were going to Universal Studios Orlando! Now, this might initially sound like a bad idea. Labor Day weekend + Universal Studios Orlando = Crazy? Nope. Not at all. In fact, it is actually a good time to hit up the theme parks. By September, high season has ended, but it’s still summer and sunshine in Florida without too much humidity.

 

Hotel

Since we were going to the party on Saturday, we booked a hotel for the night so we could spend the entire next day at the park. Hotels were surprisingly cheap in the Disney/Universal Studios area, and we snagged a deal of $58 for a Ramada Inn. It was your typical and basic motel. Nothing great, nothing horrible. The only reason I’m even stating that we stayed there was to show that you can stay in the area without breaking the bank. [Ramada Gateway = $58]

 

Parking & Getting to Universal Studios Orlando

Getting to Universal Studios was a piece of cake from Kissimmee. We hopped on the I-4 and got off at the exit that said “Universal Orlando Resort.” From there we followed the signs to parking. We got to the parking booths around 8:45am (park opened at 9:00am), so the lines were short. I think there was only 1 or 2 cars ahead of us in line.

Unlike at Disney, there is one section of parking for the entire resort including Universal Studios, Island of Adventure, and CityWalk. However, you have 3 different parking choices. General, preferred, and valet. Supposedly, if you get there early (before 10am – ish), general parking will get you pretty close to the entrance. For us, this did not happen. We were on the ground level at the very furthest section of the garage (Blue – Jaws). The rest of the garage was empty when we got there (and full when we left), so I’m not quite sure what was going on. I guess the early bird doesn’t always get the worm? [General Parking = $20]

But anyways, from the parking, you take a series of escalators and moving walkways to a large central security checkpoint. You don’t have to take off shoes or jackets..phew! But, you do have to send you bags through an x-ray machine and walk through a metal detector. I saw them randomly searching some bags, but our went through untouched. Not that we had much in our backpack. All we had was water, granola bars, sunscreen, a rain jacket, and an umbrella.

After security, you are free to roam about the CityWalk. It is very similar to Disney Springs with restaurants and stores, but we high-tailed it through this area. We wanted to get to Universal Studios!

Universal Studios Orlando

We bought our tickets online because they were cheaper, and we got to skip the ticket lines. But, since we had just purchased them that morning at the hotel, they weren’t in the kiosk system at will-call. No problem. There was an attendant there to help us immediately.

There are several ticket options for Universal Studios, and I won’t go over all of them. However, I do want to point out a few things. It is cheaper to buy tickets online than at the gate. Also, 1 day tickets are outrageously priced. $105 + tax. And that is for a single park. Not a park-to-park pass. Florida residents don’t get a discount on 1 day tickets either. 2 days for a single park is $169 ($149 FL resident) and 3 days is $179 ($159 FL resident). So, if there is any chance you want to go for more than 1 day, you should get a multi-day pass. We got the 3 day pass because as FL residents, we get 180 days to use it. Surely we will be back again within 6 months! [3-Day Universal Studios Ticket = $179 Visitor/ $159 FL Resident]

Universal Studios Orlando Tips

You should definitely have a plan before you enter the park. You want to maximize your time at Universal Studios, right?

In general, I suggest getting to Universal Studios as early as possible and starting at Diagon Alley at the far end of the park. A lot of people will be tempted by the rides towards the front of the park and then work their way towards the back. Also, Diagon Alley is one of the most popular areas so it will get super crowded in the afternoon. So, hit up Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts first. Then, work your way around the rest of the park. If you want, you can end the day back at Diagon Alley for dinner and to browse through the shops.

Another tip is to prioritize the attractions. We knew we didn’t want to go on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket, and we decided the shows and parades were less important than the rides. So, we pushed those to the bottom of our list, and it turns out we didn’t have time to check them out anyways. They will be higher on our list for our 2nd visit.

Another tip. Since the park hours were from 9am – 8:30pm, I thought the rides would close at 8:30. Turns out that 8:30 is when they stop letting you in line for the ride. Not when the attractions actually close.

One last thing. There are calendars online that will show you typical crowds at Universal Studios for the day you want to visit. For us, it was a yellow, or average, day. We weren’t really sure what that meant except that peak season was finally over. So, let me give you a little more info. We found the attraction lines were generally 30-50 minutes long. Some a bit shorter, some a bit longer. We never had any trouble browsing through shops. And, we never had long waits for food.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (Diagon Alley):

• Score: 9/10
• Attraction type: 3-D Ride
• Must store backpacks in lockers

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is one of the most popular attractions at the park. I highly suggest going here first thing in the morning (or at the very end of the day) for the shortest lines. We were there within 30 minutes of the park opening and the wait was already 30 minutes long.

The line starts outside, but we barely spent any time here since it was short and they had the majority of it chained off. Made me really happy it wasn’t peak season with a long line! So, for us, the line started in Gringotts’ marble lobby where we walked passed animated goblins hard at work. Then, we were lead through dark passageways underground. Finally we boarded the 3-D ride where we navigated the vaults trying to escape from Voldemort and Bellatrix with help from Harry, Ron, and Gringott’s dragon. Super fun and exhilarating to say the least.

Something to note: You must put your backpack, purse, etc. in a locker for some of the rides, including this one. However, the lockers are FREE for the wait time + 20 minutes or so. 

 

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley:

Even if you don’t care for rides, Diagon Alley is still a must visit. With the cobblestone streets and little shops, you’ll feel like you stepped right into the Harry Potter movies. You will find stores filled with wands, creatures, robes, clothing, and quidditch gear. The sweet shop has chocolate frogs, and there is even a fire breathing dragon! We were saving most of the shopping/browsing for later in the day, but we couldn’t resist going in few of the shops now!

While walking around, we came across a short production. It was an awesome puppet show (puppets aren’t out yet in the picture below) about 3 brothers who evaded death. If you happen upon it, definitely stop and watch. It was fantastic.

Our last stop in Diagon Alley (for the moment) was to get some frozen Butterbeer. O.M.G. That stuff is delicious. It tasted like a cross between butterscotch and cream soda, and it was cold and refreshing on a hot day. But, it is super sweet, so be warned.

Men in Black Alien Attack (World Expo):

• Score: 9/10
• Attraction type: Interactive ride
• Must store backpacks in lockers

Next up was Men in Black Alien Attack. Again, the waiting area was filled with props and scenes like in the picture below. It kept us entertained and waiting in line seemed to pass quickly.

Have you ever been on the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disney? This ride is very similar. You are given a gun, and you get to shoot aliens throughout the ride. The twist on this attraction is you car is competing against another car. Tip: Aim for the red light at the top of their car. It’ll make them spin! We of course won, although I wasn’t any help. I’m pretty sure my gun’s guide light didn’t work because I never saw it, and I only scored 50,000 points. I want a redo!

The Simpson’s Ride (World Expo):

• Score: 2/10
• Attraction type: Simulation
• NOT for people who get the least bit motion sick

This was by far the worst ride at Universal Studios (that we went on). The line was 45 minutes long, and there were TVs showing clips from The Simpsons, but for some reason it was boring. And, it was outside and hot. To make it more frustrating, they were letting 20 VIP/fast pass people through for every 2 people in the regular line.

Once we got to the simulator, things just went downhill. There are 8 people per “car” and of course we got stuck behind tall people. That didn’t really matter though because both of us closed our eyes within 30 seconds. It was that nauseating. Warm, stagnant air and a simulator roughly shaking you about. Not our cup of tea. It didn’t get a score of 0/10 because we didn’t actually vomit or die.

Springfield Area (World Expo):

Although The Simpson’s Ride was a horrible experience, Springfield was fantastic to wander about. They had all the places from the show including Kwik-E-Mart, Moe’s Tavern, and Lard Lad Donuts. We even got a chance to meet Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa.

We ended up eating lunch here, but not at one of the famous landmarks. Instead, we grabbed loaded nachos at Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck. It was a good deal at $10 for a huge basket of nachos topped with Korean shredded beef, green onions, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. [Nachos = $10]

 

And, of course, we had to get a donut from Lard Lad Donuts. They sell huge ones that can feed at least 4 people for $5. But, we were not ready to have a sugar crash and thus shared a small one. [Small donut = $3]

 

Sponge Bob Store (Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone):

After eating, we hit the road again with our next stop being Sponge Bob. Although there isn’t a Sponge Bob attraction, there is a store full of everything from under the sea. Including the pineapple house. Sponge Bob and Patrick Star even made an appearance for pictures! It is a cute and fun store to go in even though it isn’t technically an attraction.

E.T. Adventure (Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone):

• Score: 8/10
• Attraction type: Slow ride

Next door to the Sponge Bob store is E. T. Adventure. I’ve never been to Universal Orlando before, but I did visit Universal Hollywood when I was a kid. And, one of my few memories of it was being on a bicycle on the E.T. ride. It’s the same here! I’m not sure if the 2 were exactly the same, but it was close enough to bring back childhood memories of a fun California vacation.

But, back to the ride. This had the shortest wait time of the day. In fact, it was so short, I was wishing it was longer because it was so fun. First, you get a passport in your name. (Be sure to give them your real name as you are personally thanked at the end of the ride!) Then, the line meanders through a dark and eerie forest. Here, the line splits into 2 lines and we foolishly took the short line. It was so short that we walked straight through the forest without even getting to stop and look around. We were then quickly boarded onto a car designed to look like bicycles and off we went. You ride through more forests and then are whisked over a town and in front of the moon (remember that scene in the movie?) Finally you get to see E.T.’s charming planet full of colorful plants and creatures.

Shrek 4-D (Production Central):

• Score: 7/10
• Attraction type: 4-D theater

After the E.T. Adventure, we headed to the front of the park where people seem to congregate causing our longest waits of the day. 50 minutes for all the rides in this area. Eekk! The line for Shrek was similar to that of The Simpsons Ride. It was mostly outside in the heat, and the only form of entertainment was TV screens showing clips of Shrek. Bor-ring. When you finally get inside, don’t think your wait is over. It was rather frustrating standing in the very crowded room with a not so funny worker trying to make us laugh. “Everyone raise your arms and raise the roof! Let’s get this party started!… If you can’t smell the person next to you, you aren’t close enough. Move-in, so more people can cram into the room!”

We finally made it to the theater, and the 3-D movie (plus effects from the seating) was cute and funny. The seats don’t move, but you do get gusts of winds, splashes of water, and other fun stuff.

If the line had been more entertaining or shorter, I think this attraction would have scored an 8/10.

Revenge of the Mummy (New York):

• Score: 10/10
• Attraction type: Ride
• Must store backpacks in lockers

Instead of crossing the path and going directly to the Minions attractions (which is just like Shrek), we changed things up and went to the Revenge of the Mummy. The Mummy is one of our all time favorite movies, so we had high expectations for the ride. The line was around 40 minutes long, but it went by relatively quickly. The line moves through what appears to be behind-the-scenes from the movie. They even have clips where they are interviewing the cast and crew about if they believe in the curse. Then, you walk through an awesome yet creepy underground temple. If you touch certain objects things will light up or turn all the lights off which kept us entertained.

The ride was the best of the day at Universal Studios. A mummy comes alive, you are sent plunging into total darkness, and fire surrounds you. Every moment of this ride kept us on edge.

Minion Mayhem (Production Central):

• Score: 6/10
• Attraction type: 4-D theater

After the thrill ride, we headed back to another 4-D attraction. Minion Mayhem was a cross between The Simpson’s Ride and Shrek 4-D. It was like Shrek in that the waiting lines were almost identical and the attraction took place in a large theater. However, it was similar to The Simpson’s Ride in that there were 4 people per “car” that rocked, tilted, and shook during the a 3-D movie. Since you were in a large theater though, there was more ventilation and more open space, so it wasn’t quite so nauseating. It was a fun and mischievous ride where Margo, Edith, and Agnes tried to train us to become Minions. Of course everything goes wrong and you are taken on an exciting ride through Gru’s laboratory. How could you not enjoy it? I have to admit that they did a good job synching up the motion with the screen. Still, I’m not giving it a high score because I’m not a huge fan of simulation rides.

Leaky Cauldron (Diagon Alley):

It had been rainy since late afternoon, but around 7pm it started pouring. So, we decided that this would be a good time for dinner. We wanted to see more of Diagon Alley, so we headed to the Leaky Cauldron. I thought everyone else would have the same idea, but there were zero lines. Yay!

We went to one of the counters and ordered the Beef, lamb and Guinness stew, sticky toffee pudding, and Fishy Green Ale. After paying, they gave us a number and the host took us to our table. The whole place had a really cool ambiance with countless old pictures of wizards on the wall and large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Our food arrived within 10 minutes. The stew was delicious, hot, and exactly what you want when it is dark and rainy outside. My only complaint was the bread bowl. I wish it was more bowl and less bread. And, that is coming from a bread lover. The toffee pudding was of course scrumptious. Word to the wise though. If there aren’t lines, order it after you finish your entree. There is ice cream on top. The Fishy Green Ale… well, it was just weird. It isn’t alcoholic. It’s a green, minty, cinnamony drink with blueberry “fish eggs.” The fish eggs are the best part of the drink. They are little bubbles that burst blueberry ooze in your mouth.

[Stew = $12.99, Toffee Pudding = $6.99, Fishy Green Ale = $4.99]

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley:

It was still raining when we finished dinner, but we didn’t let that stop us from exploring more of Diagon Alley. In fact, it looked even more real in the rainy night. It felt as if wizards and witches really could be lurking about. And, of course, the fire-breathing dragon looked uber cool in the dark.

While browsing through the shops, we found the Ollivanders wand shop. We had seen a small wand shop earlier, but it didn’t compare to this one. Before you even enter the shop, there is a performance with an elderly wizard. He picks a kid out of the crowd and helps find him/her the right wand just like the movie. Then, you can wander through the store looking at all the different wands used in the Harry Potter movies. And of course you can buy Harry Potter’s wand, Hermione’s wand, and even Voldemort’s wand! Some of the wands are interactive and let you do tricks around Diagon Alley like squirting water out of a fountain. Even though all the wands cost around $45, they all look very well crafted.

Transformers The Ride-3D (Production Central):

• Score: 5/10
• Attraction type: 3-D Ride

I thought that we had finished all the attractions that we could squeeze in to one day, but on our way out, we determined we had time for one more ride. It wasn’t quite 8:30 yet! So, we went to the last one on our list. The Transformers. The line was fairly short since the park was about to close, but it was inside and entertaining. They all sorts of props set up to look at, and the story line for the ride was being set up on TV monitors.

I gave the ride a pretty low score of 5/10 because it made me nauseous. This could have been because I was so tired though. I initially thought it was going to be a simulator like The Simpsons Ride, but the vehicles were on a moving track. Some of the parts were moving, but I’m pretty sure other parts were stationary where the car was just rocking while you were looking at a 3-D projection. That is what made my brain hurt. I’m probably alone is this, but I spent the entire ride trying to figure out how/when/where we were moving and when it was only simulated effects. To make it worse, I was sitting in the center back, so I couldn’t see if the ground was moving or not. I didn’t like not being completely sure of what was real and what wasn’t.

Universal Studios Wrap Up

After the Transformer’s ride it was time to say goodbye to Universal Studios and head home. If I had to do the day over again , I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I think we had the perfect itinerary for our first visit. However, next time, I think we will skip The Simpson’s Ride and try to catch some of the performances/shows.

Universal Studios Orlando Packing List

• Water
• Snacks
• Rain jacket / umbrella
• Sunscreen
• Sun glasses
• Light jacket (if you are going in cooler months)
• Money