Universal Orlando Early Admission to the Parks – Everything You Need to Know

Get ahead of the crowds with Universal Orlando early admission and start your day with success. Early admission allows you to enter select parks up to an hour earlier, giving you a head start on the popular attractions with shorter wait times. This option can be a game-changer for guests staying at Universal Orlando Resort hotels or high-level Annual Passes.

We like to use our early admission by heading to the big tourist attractions, like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Being one of the first to hop on rides like Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a massive time saver in your day. When peak seasons hit and the parks are expected to be busy, getting in early can make all the difference in enjoying your day to the fullest or standing in big queues at the most popular rides.

What is Early Admission at Universal Orlando?

Early Admission at Universal Orlando allows you to enter the parks before they open to the general public. This benefit is available to guests staying at Universal Orlando Resort hotels and select annual pass holders.

Benefits of Early Admission at Universal Orlando

• Early access to popular attractions: You should experience much shorter queues within the first hour of the early access period
• Multiple Parks: Early admission is offered at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and occasionally at Universal Volcano Bay water theme park.

You can enjoy shorter wait times for popular attractions. Arriving early means fewer crowds, letting you experience major rides before they get busy. Additionally, you have better opportunities to take photos with less crowd interference. Iconic landmarks and characters are more accessible without large crowds.

This added time in the park allows you to make the most of your day. You’ll have time to visit more attractions, enjoy more shows, and explore at your own pace.

Early Access Schedule

The schedule for early admission varies. These are the general times for the ride parks, but see further down in this article for more specific theme park times.

• Off-Season: Usually from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
• Peak Season: Often from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM.

Early Access Eligibility

• Hotel Guests: Guests staying at any Universal Orlando Resort hotel.
• Annual Passholders: Some yearly higher-level pass holders will benefit from early admission. Please review your annual pass details to ensure you’re eligible.

Eligible Attractions for Early Admission

Early Park Admission at Universal Orlando lets you enjoy select attractions before the general public. These often vary, but you can check the Universal Orlando site to see what is available during your chosen day.

Universal Studios Florida Early Admission Attractions

Early admission often includes:

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

Universal Studios tends to have less selection than Islands of Adventure. You can experience the attractions here with shorter wait times by arriving early.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure Early Admission Attractions

Early admission typically grants access to:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
• Jurassic World VelociCoaster
• Ollivanders

Later in the day, the Wizarding World rides can have lengthy queues, so take advantage of the early entry.

Volcano Bay Early Admission Attractions

Guests can also enjoy early access to select attractions at Universal’s water theme park, often including:

• Ohyah of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides
• Ohno of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides
• Honu of the Honu ika Moana
• Ika Moana of the Honu ika Moana
• Krakatau Aqua Coaster
• Ko’okiri Body Plunge
• Waturi Wave Pool

Early entry helps you secure spots on these water rides.

How to Qualify for Early Admission at Universal

To enjoy early park admission at Universal Orlando, you must stay at an on-site hotel or purchase specific vacation packages/annual passes. These options grant you access to the park up to an hour before it opens to the general public.

On-Site Universal Orlando Hotel Perks

Staying at a Universal Orlando on-site hotel offers many benefits, including early park admission. All Universal Orlando Resort hotels provide this early access benefit. You’ll qualify for early access if you choose a value, prime value, preferred, or premier hotel.

This advantage of this perk is even more valuable during the holiday periods. Each day of your stay includes early park admission. Be sure to check the specific details for your hotel, as sometimes early admission only applies to select parks.

Vacation Package Inclusions

Vacation packages often include early park admission as part of the deal. Universal Orlando offers various packages for different budgets and preferences. These packages typically bundle park tickets and hotel accommodation. Watch for seasonal offers and special promotions that may provide additional benefits.

What Time Does Universal Orlando Open

Universal Orlando has varying opening times based on the season. You can expect different schedules during peak and off-peak seasons.

Universal Studios Hours:

• Off-Season: Usually open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
• Peak Season: Often open from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

If you have Early Park Admission, you can enter the parks up to an hour before the general public on the standard park hours above.

Example early access times:

• Universal Studios: 8:00 AM (off-season), 7:00 AM (peak season)

For more details, refer to the Universal Orlando Early Admission page

Useful Tips:

• Arrive to park 15-30 minutes before Early Park Admission starts.
• Have your ticket ready for smooth entry.
• Plan your first rides to make the most of the early hour.

What Time Does Islands of Adventure Open

Islands of Adventure usually open to the general public at 9:00 AM. During peak seasons, the opening time might be earlier to accommodate larger crowds.

Islands of Adventure Hours:

• Off-Season: Usually open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
• Peak Season: Often open from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Early Park Admission would allow guests to enter the park an hour earlier, usually starting at 8:00 AM. On select dates, this could be as early as 7:00 AM.

Early Park Admission can vary. For example:

• Regular Season: 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
• Peak Season: Sometimes 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM

Make sure to check the current schedule before planning your visit.

What Time Does Volcano Bay Open

Volcano Bay water theme park has varying opening times throughout the year.

During the peak season, you can expect the park to open earlier, often at 9:00 or even 8:00 AM. In the off-season, opening times generally start later, around 10:00 AM.

Volcano Bay Hours:

• Off-Season: Usually open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Peak Season: Often open from 8:00/9:00 AM to 6:00/7:00 PM.

Early park admission offers entry 30 minutes before the general opening times above. This exclusive benefit allows you to enjoy the attractions with fewer crowds.

Early park admission times vary, so check Volcano Bay’s Early Admission Schedule for the most accurate information.

Ticket Types and Requirements for Early Admission

To take advantage of Early Park Admission at Universal Orlando, you need specific ticket types and must meet certain requirements.

Eligible Ticket Holders:

Guests staying at any of the Universal Orlando Resort hotels automatically qualify for Early Park Admission. This benefit is also extended to higher-level Annual Passholders.

Annual Pass Options:

• Premier Annual Pass
• Preferred Annual Pass

Universal Orlando Resort Hotels:

• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
• Hard Rock Hotel®
• Loews Royal Pacific Resort
• Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
• Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort
• Universal Aventura Hotel
• Universal Stella Nova Resort (Opening Jan 21, 2025)
• Universal Terra Luna Resort (Opening Feb 25, 2025)
• Universal Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites & Dockside Inn and Suites

Check-In and Valid Identification:

Upon arrival, you must present your hotel room key card or Annual Pass, along with a valid photo ID, at the designated park entry points.

The admission schedule may change, so verify the specific times for your visit.

Making the Most of Early Admission at Universal

During Early Park Admission at Universal Orlando, you have the advantage of fewer crowds and shorter wait times.

Arrive at the entrance 30 minutes before early admission to maximize your experience. This ensures you’re among the first to enter, giving you the best chance to enjoy popular attractions with the shortest wait times.

Prioritize These Attractions:

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – Islands of Adventure
• Flight of the Hippogriff – Islands of Adventure
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – Universal Studios
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem – Universal Studios

Map Out Your Journey: Use the Universal Park maps to plan your walk from the park entrance to your first ride. This will ensure you don’t go wrong and add valuable minutes to your queuing time.

Stay Light: Avoid carrying heavy bags. Use a small backpack to keep essentials like water, sunscreen, and your park ticket.

Take Breaks: The early admission rush can still be tiring; once this is over, you’ll probably want to take a break and grab a drink.

Live Wait Times: Watch out for the digital boards for live wait times and ride updates. You can also use the official Universal Orlando app for real-time information. Switch to the next best one if the queue is already relatively high for a famous ride.