Universal Orlando 1-Day Itinerary: Unlimited Express Pass

This was our first time at Universal Studios in the United States. We stayed at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, which is designed to feel like a miniature Italian coastal village. The theming is genuinely impressive, but the practical reason to stay there is the included benefit: room keys that double as Unlimited Express Passes.

We took the water taxi from the hotel directly to the parks, arriving around 9:30 AM. The park closed at 7 PM. We finished both parks by 5:30. Here is exactly how we did it and what was worth the time.

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The Express Pass Advantage

By staying at a Premier Universal hotel, our room keys worked as Unlimited Express Passes for both parks. We saw standby lines sitting at 90 minutes for rides we walked directly onto. If you are planning to hit both parks seriously in a single day, this makes it realistically doable. Without it, you would need to pick and choose much more carefully.

Vincent's key had the Hulk on it. Mine had Spider-Man.

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Universal Studios Florida

Revenge of the Mummy

Our first ride of the day and a good place to start. I was not expecting the real fire and water effects inside, and they genuinely caught me off guard. The ride is short, but the presentation is excellent. Very fun opener.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley

Walking through the hidden brick corridor and having Diagon Alley open up in front of you is exactly as magical as it sounds. It is notably larger and more immersive than the Hollywood version. The dragon on top of Gringotts Bank breathes real fire, which was stunning to see in person.

We rode Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. The immersion is exceptional. By the time it was over, I immediately wanted to get back in line.

Men in Black: Alien Attack

Used the Express Pass and scanned directly into the weapons room with essentially no wait. A classic shooter ride where you aim at aliens. Fun, quick, and a good palette cleanser between the bigger experiences.

ET Adventure

A friend recommended this before we went and it earned its spot on the list. You genuinely feel like you are flying on a bicycle, and there is a forest scent pumped into the building that is surprisingly good. Worth riding for the nostalgia and the storytelling, not just as a filler.

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Snacks

Swamp Dog (Shrek Cart): A hot dog served in a garlic-heavy bun. We expected a standard theme park hot dog and were genuinely surprised. Delicious.

Minion Banana Swiss Roll: Tastes like banana milk in cake form. The cream is light and does not taste artificial. Not too sweet. A solid snack if you pass the Minion area.

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TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D

The combination of 4D effects and physical movement on this one is genuinely cool. The sync between what is happening on screen and what the ride vehicle does is well executed. We also spotted Megatron outside the exit, insulting guests as they walked past. Worth the extra minute to watch.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

A vertical climb straight up followed by a large drop. Bags go in a locker before you board. The experience looks impressive from outside, but the ride itself is rough and somewhat "jiggly" in a way that gave us both mild headaches. We would recommend saving this for last if you plan to ride it, or skipping it entirely if you are sensitive to that kind of movement.

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Islands of Adventure

We crossed over to the second park in the early afternoon as the Florida weather warmed up to around 76°F.

Lunch at Three Broomsticks

We skipped the pizza and burgers and ordered the Fish and Chips and the Shepherd's Pie. The Shepherd's Pie was the standout: the meat was deeply flavorful and the mashed potatoes were exactly what you want with it. We washed it down with a Frozen Butterbeer. The butterscotch flavor is balanced and not overly sweet. A good call for a mid-park lunch.

Jurassic World VelociCoaster

The best ride in the park. Fast, smooth, and packed with unexpected drops. It is our top recommendation at Universal Orlando by a significant margin. Ride this one first if you can, or at minimum do not leave without doing it.

Skull Island: Reign of Kong

A solid mid-tier ride. The vehicle is surrounded by a large 360-degree screen, which is a cool concept. The downside is that depending on where you are seated, visibility is limited and you miss parts of the experience. Fun, but lower priority than the coasters.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster

We saved this for our final ride. Loops, fast, and physically intense. Strangely, the adrenaline from this ride actually resolved the headache that Rip Ride Rockit had given us earlier. Make of that what you will.

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Ride Rankings

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Tips

• Stay at a Premier hotel for the Unlimited Express Pass. The Loews Portofino Bay is the closest to the parks and the water taxi is a genuinely nice way to arrive.
• Start at Universal Studios Florida first to hit Diagon Alley before it gets crowded, then cross to Islands of Adventure in the afternoon.
• Three Broomsticks for lunch over standard theme park food. The Shepherd's Pie specifically.
• Rip Ride Rockit last or not at all if you are prone to headaches from rough rides.
• VelociCoaster early. Lines build quickly and it is the one ride worth fighting for.

We finished the day with caramel popcorn on the way out and headed back to Portofino Bay on the water taxi. Our room had been ready since 1 PM, which was an early check-in bonus we did not expect. Both parks, done, with time to spare.