Universal Orlando isn’t just about mega-coasters for adults and rides for children. Nope! Seniors can also have a great time here, especially since Universal is an amazing place to relax and catch some very fun shows. In fact, even if you just want to stroll through Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, or Universal CityWalk, you're going to have a great time.
This guide is focused on families traveling to Universal with their parents or grandparents. We'll highlight some of the quietest hotels that are great for seniors, rides they might enjoy, and tips to help them have the best time alongside Harry Potter, Shrek, and even Gru from Despicable Me.
This guide will help you with things like:
- Picking the Best Hotels for Seniors at Universal Orlando
- Wheelchairs & ECVs
- Our Tips for Traveling with Seniors to Universal Orlando
- The Best Restaurants for Seniors at Universal Orlando
- The Best Rides at Universal Orlando for Seniors
Let’s get started!
Picking the Best Hotels for Seniors at Universal Orlando
One piece of good news about Universal is that there aren’t nearly as many hotel options as there are at Disney World. Sometimes, having too many choices can make it more difficult to select the right one for you and your family. Much like Disney, Universal separates its hotels into different categories: Value, Prime Value, Preferred, and Premier.
Every Universal resort offers a very valuable perk: early park admission, allowing you to enter a theme park one hour before the gates officially open. That might not sound like a lot, but in that one hour, adults (or teens) can head to Islands of Adventure and ride the VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure with minimal wait times.
The Premier Resorts also offer a FastPass called Universal Express Unlimited, which gives you access to the express line at most popular rides. Just a heads-up: the resort Express Pass will not be valid for Epic Universe during its initial months.
A Value Resort starts at around $170 per night, while a Premier Resort starts at about $430. If you want to know more about the different resorts at Universal Orlando, make sure to check out or guide.
Here are some of our favorite choices for families with seniors, along with the starting price for each:
- Aventura Hotel ($240): A good hotel at an amazing price. It features a rooftop bar with incredible views of Universal Orlando and offers boat transportation to Universal CityWalk - you just need to cross Sapphire Falls to access it. You can also choose to walk to Universal, but it’s about a 15-minute walk.
- Sapphire Falls Resort ($280): Located right next to Aventura, it’s often considered “Aventura on steroids.” It doesn’t have a rooftop bar but features the Strong Water Tavern, often rated one of the best pubs at Universal. It’s right next to the boat launch to CityWalk, and you can also walk to the theme parks, although it’s about a 13-minute walk.
- Royal Pacific Resort ($410): A Premier Resort that offers an amazing swimming pool and is located just about 10 minutes from Universal CityWalk. Definitely a top-tier choice for families traveling with seniors.
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel ($500): Charming, beautiful, with amazing pools, and located very close to Universal CityWalk. This quiet Premier Resort has a relaxed, elegant vibe that seniors will love.
Wheelchairs & ECVs
You often won’t walk as much at Universal as you would at some Disney World parks like EPCOT or Magic Kingdom, but you’ll still rack up thousands and thousands of steps. For seniors, it’s important to keep this in mind and either rent a wheelchair or an ECV, or bring your own.
Not sure what an ECV is? It’s a small, single-person vehicle that resembles a scooter. You drive it around at low speeds and park it before entering any attraction. ECVs also come with a small basket where you can store a few items like snacks and drinks.
You can rent a wheelchair for $15 per day (plus a $50 deposit) or an ECV for $75 per day (or $95 if you add a canopy to your ECV). If you want to know more about Wheelchairs, ECVs and extra services at Universal, we have a guide just for that.
Our Tips for Traveling with Seniors to Universal Orlando
Transportation
It’s especially important to pay attention to transportation options when visiting Universal Orlando with seniors. If you are driving, it will definitely make getting around easier, but you should also consider Universal Orlando hotels that let you simply hop on a boat or walk to the theme parks. Every Universal Resort has complimentary bus transportation to all theme parks.
The Premier Resort Hotels are all less than a 10-minute walk from the theme parks, while Sapphire Falls is slightly farther away but offers quick and easy boat transportation to CityWalk.
Also, keep in mind Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort. These resorts are about a 15-minute walk from Epic Universe but are farther from CityWalk, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios.
Schedule Mid-Day Breaks
Theme Parks are often fast-paced and can be chaotic. That’s true for me, for you, for children, and, yes, for seniors. Schedule mid-day breaks and ease up on the action while visiting Universal. These breaks are also a great time to check out some of the live shows, relax in the shade, and just take in the atmosphere.
Do Things Outside the Theme Parks
It’s probably not a good idea to focus your entire vacation on the theme parks. One strategy I’ve found helpful is to alternate: one theme park day, then a break day, then another theme park day, and so on. Two consecutive theme park days can be exhausting, and seniors especially need time to recharge. Make sure to schedule free days to enjoy your hotel, go shopping, and do something they enjoy.
Try to Visit Universal Outside of Summer
Try to avoid visiting Universal between May and August. These months are extremely hot, which can be uncomfortable, especially for seniors. It doesn’t help that the parks are also packed during June and July. For cooler weather, visit in January or early February. To avoid crowds, consider going in September.
Visit Universal CityWalk
Universal isn’t just about Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, or Epic Universe. Be sure to visit their downtown district, Universal CityWalk, where you can shop, dine at fabulous restaurants, and have a great time. Universal CityWalk is similar to Disney Springs, and both offer fantastic alternatives if you want a break from rides.
The Best Restaurants for Seniors at Universal Orlando
Looking for a great place to eat with seniors at Universal Orlando? Here are a few options to consider:
- Finnegan’s Bar & Grill: An amazing Irish pub/restaurant at Universal Studios, featuring live music, great beer, and delicious dishes.
- The Three Broomsticks: Located in Islands of Adventure, this spot offers a cozy, medieval atmosphere and is a fantastic choice for breakfast.
- Mythos: Once considered one of the best theme park restaurants in the world, Mythos offers a mix of Mediterranean, Asian, and American fare. It’s still great, even if it’s lost a bit of its former flair in recent years.
- Antojitos: A great choice for fans of Mexican food, located at Universal CityWalk.
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: For fans of Forrest Gump… and seafood! This spot has a relaxed atmosphere and serves all kinds of shrimp for seafood lovers. Located at Universal CityWalk.
- Big Fire: Also located at Universal CityWalk, Big Fire serves up delicious steaks in an open-air environment. After all, who doesn’t love a good steak?
The Best Rides at Universal Orlando for Seniors
It’s hard to pinpoint the best rides for seniors, as some prefer to relax and enjoy live shows, while others, even seniors in their 70s, are excited to ride Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. In any case, if you're looking for a detailed breakdown of the best rides at each theme park, be sure to check out our specialized guides:
Still, we’re not going to leave you hanging, so let’s rank what we think are the top three attractions at each theme park for seniors, okay?
- Universal Studios: For Universal Studios, I recommend The Bourne Stuntacular, Animal Actors On Location, and E.T. Adventure. The first two are live shows - the first packed with action and cutting-edge technology, while the second features adorable animals. E.T. Adventure is a charming dark ride, an absolute classic at Universal Studios, and one that most guests enjoy.
- Islands of Adventure: For Islands of Adventure, I suggest The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, The Cat in the Hat, and Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges. The first two are fun dark rides that everyone can enjoy, while Popeye is a river raft ride. Yep, bring a poncho and wear flip-flops if you’re planning to ride that one.
