When it comes to any vacation, packing is never easy! We wanted to help take a little more stress off your plate by creating our list of must haves for any trip to Universal Studios Orlando. We’ve been visiting the Universal Orlando since the 90’s and wanted to pass along some of our essential packing list and a few fun additions too! Thanks to the magic of Amazon, we’ve added links to everything discussed so you don’t have to spend your valuable time online searching for all the must haves for your next Orlando vacation!
Lanyards:
This is one of the best options for adults and kids alike. The convenience and security alone are well worth it since you’ll be having to show your card all day long, from getting into the park and your hotel room or for using the Express Pass and more. Having a lanyard makes the cards easy to keep up with, especially for the younger ones in the family.
Wizarding Robes:
For fans of the Wizarding World, there is no better way to show your house pride than with your house’s robe. Personally, we’d rep the Gryffindor house but there are Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff options available as well. Robes typically run around $140 in the parks, but if you’re looking for a less expensive alternative, there are some great costume versions on Amazon.
UNIVERsal Studios Classics:
For those who aren’t big fans of the Wizarding World, there are still lots of great options to get you ready for your trip to Universal! Here are a few of our favorites:
Even though this Classic attraction is has closed, we still love to show our love with our favorite Jaws t shirt.
Another beloved classic that you can never go wrong with - Back To The Future!
The Ultimate Classic- Jurassic park
We’ve loved it for decades and with the new Velocicoaster ride it keeps getting better!
No trip to Universal Studios would be complete without visiting Seuss Landing and one of our favorite family shirts are the Thing Shirts!
Now let’s move on to the more practical items that can improve your vacation!
First up on our Practical list is GOOD SHOES:
Plan on walking a LOT each day in the parks so you want shoes that are comfortable to you. (We love tracking our steps with a Fitbit or smartwatch too) Many people like a great tennis shoe and you can’t go wrong with that option. One of our personal favorites are hiking sandals, since they are designed to walk long distances, are comfortable and lightweight as well as waterproof which comes in handy for the water rides or afternoon rain showers that pop up in Florida! These minimalist Teva’s are a favorite of ours.
Next up on the list is A GOOD BACKPACK:
Depending on how many are in the family and what your needs are the size may vary but here are a couple of our go to bags when we are in the parks. The larger speedo backpack is spacious and has multiple compartments for different items.
Our go to choice is a backpack purse with antitheft zippers. With the main compartment being accessed from the back it provides added security while traveling and waiting in lines. The canvas bag also has two additional hidden zippers on the side of the backpack for additional space. These two are my go to travel bags, I carry the canvas bag in summer and the leather for cooler months!
RAINGEAR:
You can’t think about a visit to Florida in the summer and not consider rain gear! Inexpensive rain ponchos are often recommended for trips to Disney World. They are small, lightweight and can be discarded once they are used. However our personal favorite is a vinyl rain suit. We can pull throw these on over our backpack and ensure we stay dry during the storm and can keep on with our day! Some days we only use the jacket but none the less it’s our favorite!
We never visit Universal without a few carabiners (or just or fun we’ll sometimes take this Mickey Shaped stroller hook into Universal too) on our backpack as well. It’s perfect for attaching a merchandise bag to your backpack, an ultra compact umbrella or a refillable water bottle. With many places having refillable water bottle stations in the park or by asking for ice water you can ensure everyone stay’s hydrated in the hot Florida heat.
DISNEY SHIRTS:
And for those die-hard Disney fans who want to continue to spread the Disney love wherever they go…
Core Memory Day - Sweatshirt | Tank Top | T-shirt
Magic Kingdom List - T-shirt | Tank Top
Hakuna NoDolla - T-shirt
Aloha Mickey - Tank Top | T-shirt
Universal ACCESSORIES:
No trip to Universal is complete without a little fun and whimsy added to your time in the parks!
WAYS TO STAY COOL:
From Personal Water Spray Fans, to mini fans and cooling towels here are some of the best ways to stay cool when the temps are at their highest!
Light up the night:
In a recent trip to Disney World we were walking through a very crowded Magic Kingdom and saw a group of adults and kids with what we thought was probably the best nighttime travel hack we’ve ever seen! Everyone in the group had a light up scrunchie on their wrist, mom, dad, grandpa, grandma and all the littles were wearing them and it make it INCREDIBLY easy to keep up with each other in what was otherwise a sea of people going in all directions. We immediately went online and placed an order for ourselves for all of our Orlando trips! Fun and function combined to make for a must have for all night time in the theme parks!
Phone Power and More
With the apps needed while in the parks and all the photos and videos you’ll be taking, most phone batteries can’t make it a full day in the parks. You’ll want to be sure you’re ready so you don’t miss capturing a special moment on the trip! We’ve linked one of the most best park chargers in the image below. Fuel rods can be used as a normal power bank, OR… you can SWAP them out while in the parks! In the case of Universal there is a small fee for each new fuel rod but the ability to get a full charge for everyone’s phone quickly and easily is so worth it! (And if you find yourself in Disney World, swaps are FREE and unlimited! ) However, if you’re looking for a cordless option, these are fantastic:
iWalk USB-C compatible Portable Charger
We hope this list helps make your next trip to Universal Orlando a little more fun and hassle free! And if you have a favorite park item you have to bring to the parks, let us know what it is in the comments!
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