Universal Studios is one of the world’s coolest theme parks and a perfect destination for a family holiday, especially for those with teens. But with a place as vast as Universal Studios, it can be hard to figure out what activities and attractions to visit with your teens.
To help you with this, here’s everything you need to know about taking holidays at Universal Studios with teenagers.
Knowing the Best Time to Visit Universal Studios
The best time to visit Universal Studios will depend on what you want to get out of your family trip. While there’s no official peak season, there are certain times throughout the year when the park can be bustling.
Spring break is one of the busiest times at Universal Studios and the worst time to visit if your teens don’t want large crowds. It usually occurs around mid-March, lasting until early April. Thus, it also coincides with the Easter holiday, making it even busier. During holidays, you can expect the theme park to be much more crowded, which could mean longer waiting times for the rides.
If you want to avoid the crowds and the long queue, schedule your visit outside of school breaks, if possible. The best time to visit with your teens is between April and May, the shoulder season. During this time, you can enjoy warm and comfortable weather with fewer crowds at the park. Since it is not the peak season, you can take advantage of cheaper hotel rates.
Planning What to Do at Universal Studios
As a massive theme park, there are numerous things to do at Universal Studios with your teens. But you better plan your itinerary ahead of your visit to save time. Of course, when it comes to this, you need to consult your teens and ensure they agree with what you plan to do.
Riding the Incredible Hulk Coaster should be on your list. It’s perfect for teens who want to experience the thrill of riding a roller coaster with sudden dips, rises, and loops. If they prefer to play in the water, let them try the Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. If your teens are okay with getting soaked, they will surely enjoy the experience. Another ride perfect for your thrill-seeking teens is the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, a super-fast roller coaster with speeds of up to 65 mph!
A must-do for every teenager visiting Universal Studios is to drink Butterbeer from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Even if your kids do not have a sweet tooth, they will want more of this non-alcoholic drink.
After all the fun rides, the best place to relax is the CityWalk outside Universal Park. It also has some of the park’s best restaurants, where you can enjoy delicious meals. The area is also home to a movie theatre and some shops.
Organising your Trip to Universal Studios
You will find plenty of excellent companies that offer holiday packages to Universal Studios, making organising your family trip much easier. These holiday packages are perfect for families looking to take the stress out of organising their trip.
As you organise your trip to Universal Studios, the accommodations are a huge part of the planning process. The hotels at Universal Studios are fantastic for families. Depending on your budget, you can stay at budget hotels, preferred hotels, or premier hotels. You can save more if you stay at hotels outside the park. But staying onsite is worth it since you can benefit from several perks, such as extra time inside the parks.
The tickets are another essential aspect to consider when organising your trip to Universal Studios. Consider buying the tickets online in advance to save you time. Also, you can take advantage of some deals online. Depending on how long you plan to spend in the park, you can get a one-day park ticket, two-day park ticket, universal express unlimited ticket, or the VIP experience ticket.
Keeping Everyone Safe at Universal Studios
Even though your kids are already old enough to decide whether something is safe or unsafe, you must ensure they know some safety tips while navigating Universal Studios. Theme Park safety concerns are not always a priority for families with teens until unfortunate incidents make headlines. So, although injuries and even deaths are rare in Universal Studios, accidents can still happen.
Remind your kids to follow ride rules at all times. For instance, when riding roller coasters, they must remain seated with hands, arms, and feet inside. Although the staff is there to ensure your kids adhere to rules, parents must remember that safety is a shared responsibility between them and the park.
One important reminder to give your child is to put down their gadgets when taking rides. Mobile phones can become projectiles that can endanger your kids’ lives. If your teens are fond of having their devices with them, you should have this conversation before you visit Universal Studios. Every ride will have a locker to stash their phones and other belongings, so inform them of that.
Where to Eat at Universal Studios
While you will find many great restaurants in almost every corner of Universal Studios, you can save time by planning in advance where you will eat. Talk to your teens about it and agree on where to have lunch, dinner, snacks, etc. Doing so can save you time.
Since the whole concept of Universal Studios is to bring movies to life, you can expect most of the restaurants to mimic movie settings, something that your teens might find interesting. If your teens are fans of Harry Potter, you can dine at Three Broomsticks. It’s styled after a restaurant featured in the series and offers an immersive experience. You’ll find it at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and they serve classics like roast chicken and fish and chips. The highlight is the frozen butterbeer, which is perfect when you visit in summer.
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