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The Unlocked Child walking his suitcase into the Hard Rock Hotel Orlando
The Unlocked Child walking his suitcase into the Hard Rock Hotel Orlando

Travel Planning Resources

Just because we like you, we took all the Universal Orlando travel resources mentioned in our planning guides and put them all in one place. See below.

Some links in this Universal Orlando travel resources guide are affiliate links. Read our Affiliate Disclosure here.

🏨 Hotel Bookings

Ready to book your stay now? We gathered all the best links to Universal Orlando’s on site hotels right here. Start booking your stay below right now!

🌐 Official Websites

Official: You can find everything you need to book your vacation at the Official Universal Orlando Resort website.

Package Order: 877-801-9720  |  Ticket Order: 407-224-7840  |  Hotel Reservations: 888-464-3617

Orlando Tourism Board: Visit Orlando

Air travel: Orlando International Airport, Orlando Sanford International Airport, WayAway Air Travel Booking, Expedia Air Travel Booking

Train travel: Amtrak, Brightline

Bus travel: Greyhound, FlixBus, Red Coach, Lynx Central Station

Car travel: TURO, Mears Transportation

🎟️ Authorized Retailers

​Orlando Vacation: An authorized retailer for Universal Orlando Resort, offering discounted theme park tickets, hotel deals, and vacation packages since 1993.

The Undercover Tourist: Other than having the best Orlando vacation crowd calendar out there, the Undercover Tourist is a trusted, authorized ticket seller that offers discounted theme park tickets, hotel deals, and vacation planning resources for destinations like Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and more. Known for its no-hidden-fees pricing and excellent customer service, it helps travelers save money while providing insider tips for a smoother theme park experience.

Current Undercover Tourist Offers:

Tickets2You: An authorized reseller providing tickets for Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando.

My Park Tickets: An authorized seller offering discounts on tickets to Universal Orlando Resort and other Orlando attractions.

Viator: Get your tickets on the popular travel excursion platform.

🚀 Other Things To Do In Orlando

Orlando, and central Florida generally, offers many tourist attractions other than Universal Orlando Resort. Walt Disney World is, of course, the obvious one. We recommend you get those tickets, as well as your SeaWorld tickets, from Undercover Tourist here. Some of our other favorites are listed below. From outdoorsy to historic to adventure, we’ve got you covered.

🎫 Get Your Guide

Get Your Guide is a travel service similar to Viator that books offers bookings for travel excursions. Click here to see their Orlando excursions.

🎡 Popular Attractions

🌅 Other Orlando Adventures

📝 Packing Guide Resources

🧳 Pre-Trip Planning: What to Bring on Your Trip

Of course, deciding what to bring to Universal Orlando is a highly individualized endeavor, but there are many things that should be on the list of every person who takes a Universal Orlando vacation. Make sure to pack the following:

The Unlocked Child wearing our favorite ZOMAKE backpack
The Unlocked Child wearing our favorite ZOMAKE backpack

Light and flexible bag or backpack: You want to pack easy and light for the parks. There are no specific color or size restrictions, but many rides require locker use, and the lockers have limited space. We’ve used this one from Zomake for years. It folds up to take up minimal space in your suitcase. We also love this smaller crossbody from WATERFLY.

WATERFLY Crossbody bag for the parks
WATERFLY Crossbody bag for the parks

RELATED: Click here to find out which rides require locker use over on our 2026 Universal Orlando Complete Ride List.

Ponchos and umbrellas: Orlando weather will change on a dime and almost always include rain. Bring a poncho and/or an umbrella or buy them at any Universal store around the resort. The Universal Orlando ponchos are really thick and sturdy.

Kitsch detox body bar
Kitsch detox body bar

Toiletries: These Kitsch shampoo, conditioner, and body bars are a great way to limited the liquids in your suitcase and stop worrying about explosions happening mid-travel. Plus they’re organic, paraben free, and toxin free. We love the castor oil shampoo, coconut oil conditioner, and detox or sugar scrub body bars. Don’t be like Ross Gellar and have a shampoo emergency.

Clothing: Bring outdoor appropriate and breathable clothes in the summer. Bring light layers and a big jacket or sweatshirt in the winter. Central Florida winter days are very nice, but it gets chilly at night.

Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses: Bring plenty of sunscreen, hats or bandanas, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the plentiful Orlando sunshine. You can also purchase all these at most Universal stores across the resort.

Poolside at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Poolside at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

Swimwear: Every on site hotel has at least one (1) pool, and there are really great water rides in the park. A swimsuit is not strictly necessary but always a good idea.

UNLOCKED TIP: Every pool and water ride at Universal Orlando Resort is heated to 80 degrees throughout the year. Bring your suit year round.

Reusable water bottle: A nice feature of the parks are the Coca Cola Freestyle refillable mugs that have refilling stations with ice and tons of drink options—including water—available all over the parks. But if you want to bring your own water bottle, you can use the freestyle stations to get water and ice refills for free.

Salt of the Earth electrolytes

Electrolyte packets: Get some extra hydration to put in your reusable water bottle (or your freestyle mug) with these electrolyte packets. All natural.

PRIMA bar variety
PRIMA bars variety

Extra snacks: Even though the parks, hotels, and CityWalk are full to brimming with excellent food, keeping some go to snacks in your bag, especially for kids, is always a good idea. We love these protein bars from PRIMA. They taste like cookies and brownies and keep our energy up for long park days. (They’re also a mainstay for the Unlocked Child away from the parks.)

Our favorite portable power bank
Our favorite portable power bank

Portable chargers and power banks: Portable power is always a good idea at the parks. Between using the Universal Orlando app to get around and taking tons of pictures, you’re likely to drain your battery. With three (3) output types, we find these light to pack and easy to charge. Keep your phone charged up so you don’t lose other members of your party. (Or let your phone die so you can avoid them. Again, we don’t judge.)

Multiple payment options: Many outlets across the resort are now cashless, so make sure you bring cards or ApplePay. But cash is still taken in many outlets, and it’s also a good idea for traditional tips. Make sure you have both.

Photo ID: You should always have this with you, even away from Universal Orlando. Someone might think you’re under 21. 😳

Wipes and sanitizer: We have to bring them due to Laney’s celiac disease, but it’s a good idea for everyone when there are big crowds, tight spaces, and tons of germs everywhere.

Harry Potter and other cosplay items: It’s time to break out your wizard robes. Make sure to check out the costumes policy before you pack them.

Ziplocks and other waterproofing: We always bring plenty of ziplocks to protect the electronics we bring to the parks, and plenty of plastic bags to store wet clothes.

Comfortable shoes: You’re always going to walk more than you think at a theme park. But when traversing the entire Universal Orlando Resort, you can easily walk 5–10 miles in a day. Make sure you have a pair of shoes that are already broken in to wear on your trip. Trust us, Universal Orlando is not the time for new shoes.

UNLOCKED TIP: Don’t judge us, but we walk around in these at the parks all the time. They are made of sturdy memory foam, have excellent heel and arch support, a comfortable toe strap, and they don’t give you blisters.

Laney wearing the reef dream flip flops onboard a Universal Orlando water taxi
Laney wearing the reef dream flip flops onboard a Universal Orlando water taxi

Blister prep: Maybe you’re one of those people who can walk 20 miles and never get a single blister. But maybe you’re not. Bring plenty of blister pads, blister spray, band aids, etc., just in case. We rely on these ENGO patches and this moleskin.

ENGO blister patches that save your feet on 10 mile days
ENGO blister patches that save your feet on 10 mile days

UNLOCKED TIP: Just like new shoes, Universal Orlando is no place for a pedicure. Don’t put a pedicure in your prep for a Universal Orlando vacation. You don’t want delicate feet before walking tons of miles. Callouses are your friend! And speaking of …

💆‍♀️ Post-Trip Recovery: Things to Use after Your Trip

Since Universal Orlando is a very active vacation, we recommend pampering yourself *after* your trip, instead of before.

After an active and indulgent vacation—especially one filled with theme park walking, late nights, and perhaps a few too many cocktails—you’ll want to focus on recovery, hydration, relaxation, and resetting your routine. Try the following for post-travel recovery:

Electrolyte packets: We mentioned them in the packing section, but they’re also great for rehydrating post-vacation. Get some extra hydration with these electrolyte packets.

Coconut water: Also a great rehydrating tool.

The Unlocked child wearing our favorite red light mask. He tries to stay young.
The Unlocked child wearing our favorite red light mask. He tries to stay young.

Red light therapy: Red light therapy is becoming more and more trendy as people realize all of its amazing benefits. It’s also, thankfully, becoming more and more affordable. Detox your whole body, or just your face, with a good home system. We use this one for our faces, and this one for our bodies.

Timeless 100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid
Timeless 100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid: Pair your red light with this pure hyaluronic acid. It’s a main ingredient in most regenerative skin creams, but we recommend skipping the middle man and using it in its pure form.

IV fluids: As long as the credentials are legitimate, IV bars are wonderful places to recharge after a big vacation.

Ancient Minerals salt soak
Ancient Minerals salt soak

Ancient Minerals salt soak: Whether for your whole body or just your feet, a salt soak can work wonders for a tired body. We love Ancient Minerals because the salt and minerals are all natural, providing your body with much needed electrolytes and a good night’s sleep.

CBD or Arnica Cream: It helps with muscle aches and inflammation.

Weighted blanket: Speaking of a good night’s sleep! Try this one.

Sleep Mask: Good for the flight back too. We like this one because it has padding that totally blocks out light.

Hydrating Face Masks: Restore moisture after sun exposure and long days.

Vitamin C Serum: Helps with skin repair and brightening.

Cooling Eye Masks: Reduces puffiness from travel and lack of sleep.

Equip Prime Protein Powder
Equip Prime Protein Powder

Protein powder: Get some protein back in your diet as your work your way back to real life. We use Equip Foods versions obsessively.

Massage or spa day: And now is the time to go get that pedicure! Stop by the sauna and sweat out those toxins.

✈️ Universal Orlando Travel Resources: Everything You Need

We are an encyclopedia of Universal Orlando travel resources. If you’re looking for something specific and didn’t find it on this page, please contact us here, and we will find it for you.

Don’t forget to head over to our 2026 Ultimate Universal Orlando Planning Guide. It has all these resources but also anything and everything you could ever need to know about Universal Orlando.

Have an amazing time at the parks!!

🎬🏝️💫