Early Park Admission at Universal Orlando Resort is the best way to ensure your family will enjoy as many attractions and experiences as possible.

Like most theme parks in Florida, Universal Orlando Resort closed to the public in 2020. When they re-opened, they did so with reduced capacity. This meant that on some days, the park reached this new capacity before all ticketed guests had a chance to enter. Even with a theme park ticket, this meant park admission wasn’t guaranteed. While this is not much of a concern anymore for most families, it’s so important to get a jump start on the day with Early Park Admission at Universal Studios Florida or Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

September 29, 2023 Update: The Early Park Admission ticket feature is no longer available on single day tickets. However, it is still included in all multi-day tickets.

What is Early Park Admission at Universal Orlando Resort?

The Universal Orlando Resort app tells us,

With Early Park Admission, you can breeze into one of our three amazing parks an hour before the scheduled opening. Early Park Admission is available to all hotel guests with valid theme park admission. …For an up-to-date list of participating attractions please visit Universal Early Park Admission.

The first thing you need to know is that Early Park Admission at Universal Orlando Resort varies between each of the theme parks on different dates. So you’ll need to check the Universal Orlando Resort app or website to see the Universal Studios park hours, and whether Early Park Admission is occurring at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida or Universal’s Volcano Bay. For example, Early Park Admission was available today only at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. However, if you check park hours for St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2021, you’ll see that Early Park Admission is available at all three parks (likely due to Spring Break).

The next thing you need to know is that Early Park Admission will feature select attractions only. Most folks tend to head directly toward the Wizarding World of Harry Potter upon arrival, since the attractions in these sections of the parks are still very popular, and riding them first thing in the morning is a lot of fun!

In this short video, learn exactly how Early Park Admission at Universal Orlando Resort works!

Here’s how to go about ensuring you have access to the free Early Park Admission benefit on your next visit to the Universal Orlando Resort.

Method Number One: Stay On Site

On Site Guests Receive Early Park Admission at Universal Theme Parks

Guests who stay on site at any Universal Orlando Resort hotel are provided with many perks, but the best one, in my opinion, is the ability to enter the theme parks one hour before the parks open to the general public. This free benefit is included in your hotel stay. Whether you choose to stay at a prime value resort such as Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, or a premier hote such as Loews Royal Pacific Resort, transportation from your resort hotel will be provided by water taxi or bus, and you’ll get to enjoy a stroll through Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley before it really gets busy.

Although rare, it’s important to know that families who return to their hotel room for a break or a meal are not guaranteed re-entry to the theme parks if capacity is reached. However, hotel guests will receive priority for re-entry once the parks begin to admit guests again. The Universal Orlando Resort app tell visitors,

We encourage our hotel guests to take advantage of their Early Park Admission benefit to access the parks prior to our daily opening to the general public, and we will accommodate hotel guests on a priority basis in the parks throughout the day.

Method Number Two: Purchase Standalone Tickets

Guests who want to take advantage of Early Park Admission at Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure but don’t plan to stay on site can still get into the theme parks early. They can do so by purchasing their theme park tickets from a qualifying travel professional such as myself. Guests who purchase tickets upon walk-up to a ticket booth at the theme park won’t have access to this benefit.

Only guests who purchase their Universal Orlando Resort theme park tickets with a qualifying travel professional will enjoy this free benefit. This is just one more great reason to book your next vacation package or purchase your theme park tickets with me.

More Questions About Early Park Admission

Can I get Last-Minute Tickets with Early Park Admission?

Sometimes, although the Universal website says that tickets are sold out, they’re still available. So please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me a text or e-mail, so I can check and see if your desired tickets are available.

Is Universal Early Park Admission worth it?

This question makes me smile, because there is no additional charge for this benefit when you book your tickets with me. Early Park Admission is included in all multi-day theme park tickets when you book with me. So the answer is, YES! It’s worth it.

Can you offer additional advice about my time at the Universal theme parks?

Yes, you’ll receive a brief e-mail from me that includes some of my favourite tips for making the most of your time in the parks. We can also chat over the phone if you have additional questions.

My concierge level of service means I’ll also assist you with booking dining reservations at Universal CityWalk or inside the theme parks or resorts, upon request.

So that’s it! The next time you’re planning a visit to Universal Orlando Resort, I hope you’ll simply fill out the form below. You’ll receive a response within 24 hours, and usually sooner. I’d love to help.

Request Tickets for Early Park Admission at Universal Orlando Resort