It’s no secret that a theme park vacation can be grueling. Before moving back to central Florida, it became a running joke within my family: that by the time we had come home from an Orlando trip, we needed a vacation to recover from our vacation! Traveling with young children is even more difficult, and can leave even the strongest-willed, Redbull-fueled theme park fans fatigued, and the fact that the summer months here in central Florida can often reach into the triple digits, it’s more important than ever to keep in mind how to stay cool this summer at the theme parks.
Thankfully, the Universal Orlando experience can be carefully crafted to maximize both the thrills and the relaxation, providing tired and overheated travelers with a sigh of relief as they immerse themselves in some of the most ahhhh-inspiring experiences on Universal Property. From low-demand experiences within the parks to shows that keep guests on the edges of their seats, there are plenty of opportunities to relax and recharge for your next big thrill – and with the Florida summer being as hot and hazardous as it is, keeping the temperature in mind when figuring out how to enjoy your trip to Universal Orlando Resort is the most important thing that guests can plan for.
Enjoy Smaller Experiences
While there’s no doubt that rides like Velocicoaster or Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts are incredible experiences that are well worth the wait times they often come with, there are a lot of smaller experiences scattered throughout Universal Orlando that can help pad out your day by offering fun experiences with shorter wait times, that can make guests feel like they got to do more in their day without spending quite so much time in the stagnant heat.
A unique meet-and-greet experience is also available at Jurassic Park’s Raptor Encounter, where guests can get up close and personal with a Velociraptor during a quick outdoors show hosted by a Jurassic World raptor trainer, offering laid-back thrills and once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities as this apex predator interacts with guests. Because the wait times for this attraction tend to be shorter than for attractions like Velocicoaster, guests can get in and out more quickly, and spend less time waiting around in the heat while still getting to experience Universal’s most unique attractions.
Guests can also visit a wand shop in either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure, where they can watch a wand choose its witch or wizard. Both Ollivanders Experience in Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando and the Ollivanders Experience in Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure offer this intimate, small-group show within the brilliantly-themed shops showcasing all sorts of wands. The wandmaker on duty chooses one lucky guest from each group to be paired with a wizarding wand, which they then have the option to purchase after the show. All guests have the option to purchase wands after the show – even if they’re not chosen for the demonstration – and have the option to choose from movie replicas or original wands at all wand locations.
Catch a Show
One of the best ways to relax and cool down during your busy day at Universal Orlando Resort is to catch a show; Universal Studios offers an excellent lineup of indoor shows that each run periodically throughout the day.
The Universal Orlando Horror Makeup Show, one of the most famous shows at Universal Orlando Resort, was originally a seasonal show that was in such high demand that it was eventually brought into the park for a year-round run; this roughly 30-minute show brings guests on a fascinating and hilarious journey through the history of movie makeup, with a focus on the horror films that have become a cornerstone of Universal Studios film making. This show is to die for, and with showings running roughly every hour, it’s a great way to relax and enjoy some laughs woven into the brilliant history of horror movie makeup.
Just down the road from the Horror Makeup Show is the Bourne Stuntacular; a relatively new show at the front of Hollywood Boulevard in the old Terminator 2: 3D show building, this reimagined stunt show blows its predecessor out of the water with an incredible blend of screens, sets, and stunts performed by incredibly talented actors at Universal Studios. As a fan of the old Terminator show that closed in 2017, I can confidently say that the Bourne Stuntacular is a worthy successor and that the show itself is an absolutely extraordinary show. Coming in at roughly 20 minutes (not including the 10-minute standing pre-show), this spectacular stunt show runs around every 45 minutes to an hour.
Laid-back Rides
While Universal Orlando Resort is undoubtedly a great place for the adrenaline of a great coaster, there are several more laid-back experiences that make for excellent and memorable rides. The E.T. Adventure is a fan favorite, and the only opening-day ride left at Universal Studios. Based on the official sequel to the classic 1982 Spielberg film, E.T. Adventure has guests travel three million lightyears to the Green Planet, E.T.’s homeworld, to help save the dying planet with E.T.’s magical healing touch. This charming time capsule into the engineering style of the 1990s, helping save the Green Planet is a unique and touching experience that has stood the test of time over the last thirty years.
Another fascinating look into the ride engineering of the 1990s lives at Islands of Adventure, where guests can ride the Cat in the Hat ride. This slow-paced but high-energy ride retells the classic Seuss tale through charming animatronics and hand-painted sets, and often has low wait times and a queue that is sure to cool you off! Despite being a kids’ ride, the Cat in the Hat ride still offers a fun time for adults and a visual treat for those interested in classic rides and set design.
Not too far from the Cat in the Hat ride is one of the entrances to perhaps one of the most unique attractions at Universal Orlando Resort – a ride that offers two different ride experiences in one, the Hogwarts Express is a quick-travel option between parks for those who have a park-to-park pass and offers a different experience depending on where you board. From Islands of Adventure to Universal Studios, guests are transported from the Hogsmeade station to King’s Cross, and vice versa when traveling from Studios to Islands – but rather than just playing the same scenes in reverse sequence, the entire experience differs depending on which way you ride, meaning guests will have to ride this attraction twice to get the full experience. Covering classic scenes transpiring on the Hogwarts Express through the original Harry Potter film series, fans of the Wizarding World will surely enjoy the show! Though the queue on the Islands of Adventure side of the attraction is fully outdoors, the queue in King’s Cross Station at Universal Studios tends to be cool and refreshing and is situated almost entirely indoors. Either way, taking the Hogwarts Express to the next park sure beats walking the length of CityWalk in the heat!
Universal’s Islands of Adventure also offers several water-based experiences, where guests can get soaked from head to toe in an attempt to stay cool! The Jurassic Park River Adventure, Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges, Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, and various water locations scattered throughout Camp Jurassic and Me Ship the Olive can help guests beat the heat with water attractions to help cool down those high temperatures!
Chill Spots
When navigating the cast outdoor spaces that connect all of central Florida’s best attractions, it’s easy to underestimate the amount of time you might spend in the sun; with Florida’s sun being intense and unforgiving, especially in the summer months (which often feels like all of them), it’s important to know where to go to escape the heat.
Places like Knockturn Alley in Universal Studios Wizarding World of Harry Potter are invaluable cool-down spots, where guests can escape the sun and still find fascinating props, shops, shows, and photo-ops to explore. Deep within Knockturn Alley, guests can explore Borgin and Burkes, find hidden locations for Universal’s interactive wizarding wands, and witness the magical moving wanted posters of some of the most dastardly wanted wizards in London.
The Jurassic Park Discovery Center is another great cool-down spot, allowing guests to grab a dino-sized bite upstairs with Burger Digs, which offers classic diner fare with burgers, shakes, and fries, as well as an incredible indoor and interactive area where kids and adults can explore different displays. Visiting the Jurassic Park Discovery Center to interact with the hatchery is an excellent way to stay cool and entertained, with plenty to explore within the walls of the Discovery Center’s lower floor. Kids can run and play in several different discovery stations inspired by the real-life science of paleontology, as well as the science fiction of Jurassic Park’s genetic labs.
Staying Hydrated
Staying hydrated is a must, and even the most conscientious guests can still be left feeling the effects of the often 100+ degree heat of Florida’s summer months. Guests can find unique drink options scattered throughout the park, from frozen Butterbeer at both Wizarding World of Harry Potter locations to The Antidote at the Minion Cafe – a flavored soda with whipped topping and graham cracker crumbles that (I promise you!) actually tastes like a banana cream pie! – these drinks are all interesting, delicious, and memorable ways to stay cool during the hottest parts of the day. Lemon Slush stands can also be found in both parks, offering guests a lemonade shaved ice treat that is as refreshing as it is cool.
In addition to tasty drinks, guests must remember to stay hydrated with plenty of water during their days at Universal Orlando Resort. Guests can get cold water at every Coca-Cola Freestyle, free of charge, without needing any special cups. Guests can use any refillable or disposable cups in the Freestyle machines when getting only ice and water, and are in fact encouraged to! Guests can also get individual 8 oz plastic cups of ice water at most vendors that serve soft drinks, indoors and out. Be mindful, however, that there are no Freestyle machines permitted anywhere within either Wizarding World of Harry Potter locations, so guests will not be able to fill their own bottles in these locations.
Thankfully, Universal Studios also offers for purchase a few extra goodies that will help keep you cool this summer – cooling towels, spray fans, bubble fans, and neck fans can all be purchased in the park for guests who realize they left theirs at home! Cooling towels in particular, as well as little spray bottles for guests to be able to mist themselves as needed in the intense heat, are particularly useful tools to help keep the temperature down. While all of these cooling products can be bought for cheaper outside of the parks, Universal offers themed options as souvenirs to be purchased in-park, which can be a lifesaver if you find you need one of these tools in the middle of your trip.
Take a Break, and Stay Aware
Sometimes the best thing you can do is absolutely nothing; remember to take breaks during your Universal Orlando experience! Give your body time to rest. Giving your feet that extra bit of rest or taking a few minutes to park yourself on a bench and just people-watch while you catch your breath can go a long way, and make your Universal Orlando experience more sustainable! When planning how to jam-pack your vacation with as many thrills and rides as you possibly can, many people tend to overlook the necessity of resting which will help prevent burnout early on – especially for guests planning to do multiple parks over multiple days.
Guests can also take these resting periods as an opportunity to hydrate, to check in with supplies, water, snacks, and showtimes to best plan how to stay cool and how to navigate the parks and the crowds during the heated summer months. As central Florida reaches triple digits well before the official start of summer this year, please do not underestimate the importance of staying cool during your park visit.
Familiarize yourselves with the warning signs of heat-related illnesses. Headache, nausea, difficulty breathing, usual changes in skin color or temperature, a fast pulse, and excessive perspiration can be easily ignored warning signs of heat-related illnesses and may require medical attention.
Whether you’re a theme park veteran or someone visiting the parks for the first time, the heat is a very real challenge that catches guests off-guard every year. And the one attraction no one ever wants to visit at the parks is the Health Services building.
