How Many Days Are Needed in Universal Orlando Resort?

Thinking of a trip to one of Florida’s greatest icons, Universal Orlando Resort? You’ve made an excellent choice! Made up of three theme parks, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay, as well as the entertainment complex, Universal CityWalk, there’s an abundance of sights to see. But with so much on offer, it can be hard to decide how long to go for. Well, that’s where we come in. With over twenty years’ of experience, we’ve created a handy guide to help you choose the optimal number of days for your visit… 

2-3 days in Universal Orlando Resort 

At a minimum, we recommend spending two days at Universal Orlando Resort as this gives you sufficient time to see the highlights. With three days, however, you can dedicate a day to each park. Plus, a great tip for soaking up all that the resort has to offer is to stay at one of their fabulous on-site hotels. For a Value hotel, Universal Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites & Dockside Inn and Suites is an excellent choice. Or if you’re looking for a more upmarket stay, the Premier hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel boasts three stunning pools, a spa, and a complimentary queue-skipping pass at the theme parks. Staying on-site means you can dive into all the action straight away, instead of having to factor in longer transportation time. 

Ideal itinerary for 2-3 days in Universal Orlando Resort 

No trip to Universal Orlando Resort could be complete without checking out the original park – Universal Studios. Here you’ll find much-loved attractions such as E.T. Adventure, Men in Black: Alien Attack, and The Simpsons Ride. Then, hop aboard the Hogwarts Express and immerse yourself in the fabulous Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  

For your second and third days, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay await. Islands of Adventure is home to the roaring Jurassic Park River Adventure, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Volcano Bay, on the other hand, provides splashtastic entertainment in the form of body slides, raft rides, and winding rivers. Plus, no need to wait in line for your favourite rides. With the TapuTapu virtual line system, you are free to explore the park while you wait. 

While you can still see a good amount in two to three days, the downside is that there won’t be much time for relaxation, so you may want to keep that in mind when thinking about how many days are needed in Universal Orlando Resort.

4-5 days in Universal Orlando Resort 

If you want to explore the parks as well as have a little relaxation time, four to five days is an ideal option. With this amount of time, you can visit all three Universal Orlando Resort parks, as well as have time for extras or some quality pool time at the hotel. And with the scorching Florida heat, this will be much desired. Plus, if you choose to stay at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel, you can also take advantage of Early Park Admission, allowing you to roam the parks an hour before regular guests.  

Ideal itinerary for 4-5 days in Universal Orlando Resort 

Four to five days at Universal Orlando Resort gives you more than enough time to visit all the classic attractions as well as pay a visit to the newbies in town. At DreamWorks Land, you can hang out with your favourite Ogre, Shrek, in his swamp or hop on the family-friendly Trolls Trollercoaster with Poppy and the gang. Another must-see coming in summer 2024 is Cinesational: A Symphonic Spectacular, where the likes of Jurassic Park, E.T., and Back to the Future are brought to life through a stunning musical show. Then, there’s the Universal Mega Movie Parade, which promises to be the largest daytime parade in the park’s history. And, as if that’s not enough, there’s even a brand-new theme park opening its doors in 2025. Epic Universe will be the fourth Universal Orlando Resort theme park and is set to feature five astonishing worlds – Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, and Dark Universe. 

With more days under your belt, you can also explore Universal CityWalk. Here, there are a plethora of restaurants, shops, and family entertainment. Indulge your sweet tooth with a stop-off at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen for some delightful concoctions, then challenge the family to a round of golf at the vintage movie-themed Hollywood Drive-in Golf. 

6-7 days or more in Universal Orlando Resort 

Although you will have to factor in a higher budget and more vacation days, if you are lucky enough to have a week or more to explore Universal Orlando Resort, there’s plenty of options on offer. If you have two weeks, you can also take advantage of their Universal Orlando Explorer ticket, where you can enjoy fourteen consecutive days of unlimited park-to-park access. Be advised - you will have to buy this ticket in advance as it’s not available at any park entrance.  

Ideal itinerary for 6-7 days in Universal Orlando Resort 

Having more time on your holiday calendar means you can pace yourself. After all, with so much theme park action, you may need a little rest in between. This length of time gives you ample opportunity to enjoy the facilities at your hotel or villa community, and to explore the surrounding area. Parks like Lake Eola and Harry P. Leu Gardens create the ideal space to recuperate in between thrill-seeking days at Universal Orlando Resort. Or you may prefer getting up close and personal with the Florida gators at Gatorland, just a 20-minute drive away. Plus, this itinerary also allows you to double up on theme park days if you can’t get enough of a specific ride or attraction.  

Discover your perfect Universal Orlando Resort holiday in 2025 & 2026 – uncover the Ocean Difference.