You’re in luck, friend. Did you know that Universal Orlando might be one of the best theme parks for adults? Seriously, a group of friends can spend a whole day at Islands of Adventure and still not get tired of riding coasters like the VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure.
Let’s also not forget about Universal CityWalk, a vibrant downtown district with restaurants and stores located just outside Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. Oh, and there’s Epic Universe as well, probably the most hyped theme park of the last twenty years, which gives you an even better excuse to visit Orlando with your friends when it opens on May 22, 2025.
This guide is focused on an adults-only trip to Universal Orlando, and focus on things like:
- The Best time to visit Universal Orlando
- Hotels at Universal for Adults
- Ticket Options
- Best Rides for Adults at Universal Orlando
- Best places to Eat & Universal CityWalk
Let’s go!
The Best time to visit Universal Orlando
Best months to visit: September, early October, January, February.
The good news about visiting Universal Orlando as a group of adults is that you don’t have to worry about school breaks or packing a big bag full of diapers. Sure, you still need to talk to your boss about taking some time off, but just explain that you want to ride The Incredible Hulk Coaster or become an agent at Men in Black: Alien Attack, and he’ll understand. Probably.
The best overall month to visit Universal Orlando is September, specifically the first two weeks before Labor Day. September is hurricane season in Florida, so the weather can be hit or miss, but crowds are very light, and hotel rates are much cheaper than during peak season.
Halloween Horror Nights
Even better, you can experience Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida. Halloween Horror Nights is an adult-oriented event held inside the park and is considered the best theme park Halloween event in the world. They always have some pretty fun shows and haunted houses, like Stranger Things and The Last of Us haunted houses in 2024, featuring amazing practical effects. It’s a paid event, but I highly recommend it.
Early October is also a great time to visit, right before Halloween. Crowds are still manageable, and you can find some good deals at Universal hotels. Other than that, I’d recommend January and February. January can be a bit chilly, but rain is rare, and crowds aren’t a big issue. February is also a great time to visit, with great weather and the chance to check out Mardi Gras for free at Universal Studios.
If I had to pick a single best month to visit? September still wins.
Hotels at Universal for Adults
Best options: Hard Rock Hotel (if you want a Universal Express Pass), Aventura Hotel (if you're on a budget), Universal Stella Nova Resort (if you want a place within walking distance of Epic Universe).
Picking the right hotel for adults basically comes down to three things: your budget, whether you want a Universal Express Unlimited Pass, and whether you want to stay within walking distance of Epic Universe.
Budget
If budget isn’t an issue, you should consider one of Universal Orlando’s Premier Hotels: Portofino Bay Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, or Royal Pacific Resort.
Premier Resorts start at about $500 per night, but prices fluctuate a lot. The advantage of a Premier Hotel is that they are within walking distance of Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and Universal CityWalk (but not Epic Universe… however, a complimentary bus can take you there). They also come with a free Universal Express Unlimited Pass, which lets you enter the express line at most rides in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, saving you a ton of time.
If you want to save money on hotels, consider staying at Aventura Hotel or Sapphire Falls. Both are a 15-minute walk from Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and Universal CityWalk, but they don’t include an Express Pass. The advantage is the price, with rooms starting at about $220 per night.
Universal Express Pass Unlimited
The Universal Express Pass is a fast pass option that lets you skip the lines for some of the most popular rides, like VelociCoaster, Revenge of the Mummy, and The Incredible Hulk Coaster. It usually costs about $130 per guest, but it is included for free if you stay at a Premier Hotel. If you were planning to buy a Universal Express Pass anyway, a Premier Hotel might be the best option for your adult-focused vacation at Universal.
The Universal Express Unlimited Pass is a great option for those short on time and staying at Universal for about two to three days. If that’s your case, you might save a lot of money by staying at a Premier hotel, experiencing everything Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios have to offer, and then moving to a cheaper hotel afterward. Keep in mind that the Unlimited Express Pass included with Premier Hotels won’t be valid for Epic Universe during the initial launch of the new theme park.
What if you want to stay close to Epic Universe?
If you want to be within walking distance of Epic Universe, you have three hotel options: Universal Stella Nova Resort, Universal Terra Luna Resort, and Universal Helios Grand Hotel.
Universal Stella Nova Resort and Terra Luna Resort are sister hotels and are essentially the same. They are about a 15-minute walk from Epic Universe, with rooms starting at around $220 per night. Universal Helios Grand Hotel is located literally inside Epic Universe, but rooms there start at about $530 per night.
Ticket Options
Price: starts at $540 for you to see every Universal theme park
You will almost always want to visit Universal Studios once, Islands of Adventure twice, and Epic Universe twice once it opens.
I really like a ticket option called the Orlando Explorer, which gives you three days at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, plus one extra day at Epic Universe. This ticket starts at $540. You can (and should) contact us so we can help you with your itinerary and ticket options.
You’ll probably need two full days for Islands of Adventure alone since it's a huge theme park with so many fun rides. Universal Studios is less of a blockbuster, and one day is enough to see everything it has to offer. Epic Universe, as a brand-new theme park, deserves more of your time. Even two days might not be enough to experience everything, especially since we expect this park to be really crowded for the first few months (or even years).
Let’s also not forget that you should definitely buy a ticket for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios if you’re traveling between the end of August and the end of October. It’s an awesome adult-oriented event and an even better choice for fans of horror movies, including classic Universal horror films like Dracula and The Mummy.
Best Rides for Adults at Universal Orlando
There are tons of great rides at Universal Orlando. I’m going to separate them into a small tier list: the ones you can’t miss and the ones you should ride at least once. Any rides not listed here either aren’t worth it or are more kid-oriented.
Islands of Adventure
S-Tier
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man
A-Tier
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
- Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
- Jurassic Park River Adventure
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Skull Island Reign of Kong
- Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges
Universal Studios
S-Tier
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- Revenge of the Mummy
- The Bourne Stuntacular
- Men In Black Alien Attack
A-Tier
- Transformers 3D
- The Simpsons Ride
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (closing September 2025)
Best places to Eat & Universal CityWalk
Best places to eat: Finnegan’s Bar & Grill (Universal Studios), The Three Broomsticks (Islands of Adventure), Antojitos, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen (Universal CityWalk).
Dining is very subjective, but let’s try to help you out here, shall we? I do think that Universal Studios has more options for adults than Islands of Adventure. Finnegan’s Bar & Grill is an awesome Irish pub that’s great for adults. It has live music, a fantastic atmosphere, great drinks, and delicious food. You can’t go wrong with it. If you want something more thematic, you can try the Leaky Cauldron at Diagon Alley.
At Islands of Adventure, I think the best option is The Three Broomsticks. The Feast there is a great meal for the whole family and is a pretty popular dish.
Dining at Universal CityWalk
There are tons of options for adults at Universal CityWalk, from restaurants to stores and great spots for a drink.
One of the most interesting choices is The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. Yes, weird name, I know. This awesome restaurant transports you to a steampunk era, where the servers are basically cosplayers from a faraway realm that feels like a mix of Dune and Star Wars. Even if you don’t plan on dining here, step inside at least once and check out the merchandise. They have some amazing handmade collectibles, including miniature robots and even a metallic turtle with a fortress on its back.
Antojitos is also a great place if you love Mexican food. It can be a bit loud, but the service is usually excellent, there are tons of food choices, and the drinks are considered really good.
Another option might be Bubba Gump, especially for the Forrest Gump fans out there. The atmosphere is great, and there’s even a store where you can buy t-shirts and items related to the movie. The seafood here is good, and they have, of course, a lot of shrimp options.
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