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What to pack for Universal Studios

If you’re planning a Universal vacation and trying to figure out what to pack for Universal, I’ve got you covered. Maybe you’re wondering what to wear at Universal, and we’ll go over that too.

Where to buy Universal Studios tickets

I highly recommend buying your tickets through Undercover Tourist. There are many really scammy sites out there, so make sure you’re booking through an approved partner (like Undercover Tourist.)

Do I need a rental car in Orlando?

I like to get around as needed while on vacation, so I like to rent a car. I recommend renting a car from Discount USA Car Rental. They offer the best rates available whether you’re flying into Orlando or Sanford.

Sadly, they do not have flying cars, but you don’t pay until arrival, so if you find a flying car elsewhere, you can cancel at any time.

Don’t forget to check out Universal Orlando hacks after you’ve finished this post.

What to bring to Universal

Now that we’ve talked about where to buy tickets and whether or not you’ll need a rental car let’s get to what to pack for Universal.

What to pack for the hotel

Whether you’re flying or driving to Orlando, you’ll need to bring a few things for your hotel that you won’t necessarily need in your park bag.

Clothes

I won’t be listing clothes because you know the needs of your individual family. However, I would recommend bringing extra clothes for kids or planning to wash clothes during your vacation.

Masks

Like it or not, masks are required at Universal Orlando theme parks and resorts right now. Make sure to bring extra masks for all of your family members.

I also like to bring a small bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap to wash our masks in the sink.

Snacks

It’s always a good idea to keep extra snacks in your hotel room. Most rooms will have mini-fridges and some even have kitchenettes or full kitchens.

I like to stop at Whole Foods or Target and grab some snacks, coffee creamer, and breakfast items for my family.

Outlet Extender

If you’re going to have multiple devices to charge, bringing an outlet extender is always a good idea.

Should I stay at a Universal Resort?

I always recommend staying onsite at Universal if possible. The early park admission and free transportation, and easy access to the parks as very worth it.

If you don’t have your hotel stay booked yet, you can check out prices for your dates at:

Remember that you’ll get a free Express Pass if you stay at Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay, or Loews Royal Pacific.

If you’re visiting during the summer, holidays, or spring break, that Express Pass will come in handy. Check out my Royal Pacific resort tour and review here.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, check out Airbnb homes in the Universal area. You can save $55 on your first booking here.

What to pack for a day at Universal

Universal Orlando App

While this isn’t a tangible item, you’ll definitely need to have this on your phone. You can even attach a credit or debit card and pay through the app.

Backpack/hip bag

The very first thing you should pack for Universal is a small bag. If you don’t need to carry much around the park, I’d recommend a hip bag/fanny bag.

Most of the rides allow a hip bag, so using one will allow you to bypass the lockers unless you go on The Incredible Hulk or Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

Other roller coasters such as Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure and The Mummy do allow you to ride with a 3-prong hip bag.

Speaking of roller coasters, make sure you don’t miss the Rip Ride Rockit Secret Song List.

All of that said, I realize that most people need to carry around more than a hip bag. For that reason, I recommend a small backpack. Loungefly backpacks are the best (I have several of them!) and fit perfectly in the free lockers.

If you bring a large backpack, you’ll have to pay for a locker.

Water Bottle

It gets hot at Universal, and bottled water is both expensive and a little wasteful.

You can get free cups of water, but they are small, and I feel bad throwing away all of that plastic, so bringing a reusable water bottle is a better option.

We typically bring our Hydroflasks (decked out in Harry Potter stickers) but lately, I’ve been bringing my Berkey Water Bottle instead.

Florida water is kind of disgusting, and I use a regular Berkey Water Filter at home. I recently started using a Berkey Water Bottle for travel and haven’t looked back. The Lifestraw Water Bottle does the same thing, and it’s a bit less expensive.

Motion Sickness Medicine

For me, this could be the #1 on things to pack for Universal, and I always forget it. Universal has many 3-D rides, and if you’re prone to motion sickness, you might get sick.

I typically don’t have problems with rides unless they spin (no teacups for me.) The simulator rides are fun, but they will probably make you sick, so be prepared.

I find the worst rides for motion sickness are:

Minion Run
Jimmy Fallon
Spiderman
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
The Simpsons
Transformers

I always take ginger pills or ginger chews and notice that it does help. If you get motion sickness, I recommend getting some ginger pills, Dramamine, ginger chews, or whatever works for you!

Powerbank

I like to keep a power bank in my Universal bag.

Universal does offer FuelRods, so you can always purchase one of those and swap it out. You can purchase a FuelRod at Universal for $30, or you can buy one on Amazon for $20 before you go.

It costs $3 to swap out the Fuelrod, but you can get 5 free swaps by downloading the Fuelrod app.

There are several Fuelrod locations at Universal Orlando, and they are adding more regularly.

The Fuel Rod locations are:

Next to the Today Cafe (Universal Studios)
World Expo near Men in Black (Universal Studios)
New York by the Palace Arcade (Universal studios)
San Francisco by the Fast and Furious (Universal Studios)
City Walk near guest services
Marve Superhero Island by the Comic Book Shop (Islands of Adventure)
Seuss Landing by the Mulberry Street Store (Islands of Adventure)
Jurassic Park by the Jurassic Outfitters gift shop (Islands of Adventure)

You can also use any old power bank if you don’t want to swap it out.

Poncho

It rains a lot in central Florida, especially in the summer. Bring some small, foldable ponchos if you don’t want to pay Universal prices for ponchos or an umbrella.

You can also wear a poncho on the water rides if you’d rather not get soaked.

Bandaids

When I visit Universal, I typically walk over 25,000 steps in a day. That’s a lot of steps! I recommend wearing good shoes (more on that later) but bring bandaids just in case you get blisters.

It might also be a good idea to bring a small first aid kit in your park bag. Just make sure you don’t have anything sharp in there.

Tip: If you’re staying in a Universal Resort, and you should, they’ll give you bandaids if you need them. It’s still best to bring your own as you will probably need quite a few should you get a blister.

Sunscreen

If you’re going to be outside all day, you’re probably going to need some sunscreen. I like the “All Good” brand as it is earth-friendly and people-friendly.

You can read more about reef-safe sunscreen and why it’s so important here.

Lip balm

Lip balm is another theme park bag must-have that takes up very little space.

Snacks

There are plenty of great restaurants around Universal, and you should definitely check out several during your vacation. That said, theme park meals and snacks add up quickly.

Bring some granola bars, fruit, or other small snacks to help you get by in between your meals and snacks at Universal.

Snacks are also great for anyone who is on a special diet. Luckily, Universal is very friendly for those with allergies or special diets. Make sure to check out where to find vegan food in Universal for vegan/dairy-free options.

A vegan reindeer brownie during the Christmas holidays at Universal.

I also have a post about gluten-free food in Universal for those with Celiac disease or gluten intolerances.

A jacket or sweater

I know this falls under the “what to wear at Universal” category but you can’t wear it if you don’t pack it.

Believe it or not, Orlando isn’t always hot. In the summer, it is, but not all year. It can be chilly during the winter, especially in the mornings.

Pack a light jacket or sweater and bring it along just in case. Even if you don’t need to bring it in your park bag, it’s good to have it at the hotel just in case.

On the bright side, a sweater or jacket is another way to wear your favorite Universal characters!

What to wear at Universal

Now that we’ve talked about what to pack for Universal let’s talk about what to wear at Universal.

Comfortable shoes

The #1 most important thing to make sure you have when considering what to wear to Universal is comfortable shoes.

Comfortable shoes look different to everyone, but for myself and my kids, it’s Teva’s. It can get hot in Orlando, and I don’t really want sweaty socks, or worse, wet socks, so I prefer sandals.

If you prefer gym shoes/tennis shoes (what do you call them?), that is another good option. Just make sure to choose some moisture-wicking socks.

One more important note about shoes, a Universal vacation is not the place to test out new shoes. Ensure that your shoes are comfortable and worn quite a bit before walking in them all day.

Harry Potter gear

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll want to make sure to wear your best Harry Potter outfits. Although costumes are not technically allowed at Universal, you can absolutely wear your Harry Potter house gear, including robes.

Buying all of this Harry Potter gear at Universal would be pricey. Lucky for you, I have a post with 7 things to buy before going to the Wizarding World that goes over some of the things you can buy in advance to save.

I also have a post about things you should buy at Universal, such as interactive wands and more.

The interactive wands are about $55 and an absolute must-have for Universal. Watching a wand ceremony is also a must-do at the Wizarding World.

Here is a video of my son getting chosen for the wand ceremony on his 11th birthday, one of his favorite Universal memories.

Other Universal gear

If you’re not a Harry Potter fan, well, I’m sad for you, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of fun at Universal for everyone.

Make sure to rock your best Jurassic Park, Minions, Simpsons, or Trolls gear instead!

By the way, you might want to check out 30 movies to watch before going to Universal to get even more excited for your Universal vacation.