As summer vacation approaches, people may be planning trips to make it memorable. Theme parks are often a top choice for vacation, and Universal Orlando is quite popular, especially for those who don’t gravitate to the Disney parks. Universal can be a great family experience, but there are some aspects of the parks you may want to avoid.

Universal Studios Orlando and Epic Universe have been staples of Orlando for decades, and with the addition of Epic Universe in May, it’s important to know what to prioritize in order to maximize your vacation experience. Universal Studios has a variety of great rides and shows, but there are a couple of outliers. I would avoid the Minions, Simpsons, Men In Black, and Jimmy Fallon rides if you are looking for a more thrilling experience, but these rides could be fun for younger children. Some of the most memorable rides were the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and The Mummy. Those two were some of my favorite rides at Universal Studios, but the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit was extremely shaky, and its G-forces can be tough on the body.

One of the major highlights for both Universal Studios and Epic Universe is Harry Potter World. Diagon Alley was incredibly immersive and mind-blowing, from the dragon animatronic and the Gringotts coaster, this was by far my favorite part of Universal Studios. Apart from the castle, the visuals of Hogsmeade are slightly less impressive than Diagon Alley, but Hogsmeade makes up for it with its abundance and quality of rides. Hogsmeade village has three rides: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Flight of the Hippogriff, The Forbidden Journey, and The Hogwarts Express, which connects it to Diagon Alley. The two must-see rides of Hogsmeade are The Forbidden Journey and Hagrid’s Motorbike. The Motorbike coaster is fun and thrilling with unexpected twists and masterful animatronics, although the wait for this ride can be anything from 45 to 300 minutes. Considering I went on it twice, I would say it’s worth the wait.

Inside the towering castle lies The Forbidden Journey, a thrilling, motion-based dark ride, taking the rider through Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest. I thoroughly enjoyed this ride despite being petrified while waiting in the queue. Finally, one of the most important parts of the Harry Potter World experience is the Butter Beer (a non alcoholic beverage), which is a staple beverage from the Harry Potter series. This Butterscotch tasting beverage is served throughout Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley and is served at various temperatures. I would recommend the frozen Butter Beer, but any type is a must-try before leaving the park.

The most popular of the parks, Isles of Adventure, is home to a variety of rides and experiences. This part is the more child-friendly of the two, with Toon Lagoon and Seuss Landing being more targeted towards children. Though there are many slower rides, there are still plenty of exciting must-see experiences. The Spider-Man and Hulk rides are quite fun, but my top recommendation for Universal Orlando is the Velocicoaster. This velociraptor paddock-inspired ride has the steepest drop in the back and has some very cool animatronics and visuals. While the velociraptors are nowhere near realistic, the ride is still quite enjoyable, and I caught myself hopping back in the queue on numerous occasions.

One of my favorite non-rollercoaster attractions was the River Adventure. This ride begins with a scenic tour of some friendly aquatic and semi-aquatic dinosaurs. Many of the animatronics are not in the best condition and/or malfunctioning, but I still found it very immersive. Halfway through the ride, the boat is diverted into the predator containment area, where a Tyrannosaurus rex animatronic lunges at you as you drop. While this ride could definitely use a refresh, the animatronics that do work are very impressive, and I would recommend stopping by while in the Jurassic Park area.
The final Universal Orlando theme park to open as of April 2025 is Volcano Bay. This Pacific Island-themed water park is the most unique water park I have ever been to. From the innovative waiting system to the aqua coasters, Volcano Bay was the most interesting water park I’ve visited. There are plenty of slides and pools to explore, but the stand-out ride of this park is most definitely the Krakatau Aquacoaster. This slide goes through the park’s volcano and uses magnets to drag the raft up steep inclines. I have never experienced anything similar at a water park, and was devastated to find out we didn’t have enough time to hop back in line and experience it again.

In May, Universal plans to open its fourth park in Orlando, Epic Universe. While the current parks have plenty of thrilling attractions, I believe that this may become the best of the Orlando theme parks. With the inclusion of Super Nintendo World, The Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, and Dark universe, this is sure to be a great addition to future theme park vacations.