Universal Studios is one of the best theme parks to visit in Florida.
Whether you’re stopping by the park for one day or investing in a multi-day pass, you might not want to stay inside the park for the entire day.
Eating lunch at a park restaurant is more expensive than going off-site, so you can save money by leaving. But if you leave, can you re-enter Universal Studios?
Does Universal Studios Allow Re-Entry?
Can You Re-Enter Universal Studios? Luckily, the park does allow re-entry. This information greatly benefits families who worry about bringing everything into the park. There’s no need to load up a heavy backpack and carry it through the park all day.
Some people think bringing everything in and renting a locker is best. However, you have to pay a fee to rent a locker. Also, they’re near the park entrance. If you’re deep in the park and suddenly need a snack, water bottle, or first aid kit from your bag, you’ve got a long trek ahead of you.
Being able to leave and re-enter the park is a great benefit. Yes, you’ll still have to walk back to the entrance from wherever you were in the park, but you’re not also paying for a locker rental. You can keep your belongings in the car and leave the park when you need to get something.
The ability to re-enter the park means you don’t have to carry a heavy backpack all day. Some rides don’t allow bags at all and offer a free locker for the duration of the ride. But if you have a large backpack, it might not fit into the provided locker. Leaving things in your car means you don’t have to worry about your backpack size or weight.
If you’re leaving things in your vehicle, hide them under the seats or in the trunk. Don’t leave valuables in the car, either. If you’re only bringing your phone to Universal Studios, it’s better to lock your wallet in the hotel room safe than leave it in your car.
Entering Universal Studios
Universal Studios has streamlined its entry procedure over the years. You don’t have to see an entry guard when you need to get into the park. You can take advantage of fingerprinting or use mobile technology to get into the park and enjoy your exploration.
Fingerprint Access
Universal Studios upgraded from a hand stamp to fingerprint access. You show your ticket and scan your fingerprint when you first visit the park. The park links your print to the ticket for easy readmission. This feature is especially convenient for people with multi-day, season, or annual passes.
There’s no need to worry about Universal Studios saving your fingerprint or using it for other purposes. However, if you’re uncomfortable using a fingerprint, it’s unnecessary. You can talk to an admission employee and show them your photo ID instead of giving your fingerprint.
Mobile App
Universal Studios Orlando has a mobile kapp streamlining the ticket-buying and entry procedures. You can download the app for free and buy your tickets directly through the dashboard. If you do, the app generates a QR code for each ticket purchased. You can scan the QR code at the theme park gates for easy entry.
If you already bought tickets through the website, you can transfer them to the app. You’d have a code on the ticket email or from your travel agent if you used one to book your trip. You can input the code in the app, so everything is on your phone. If the code doesn’t work, you have to get the paper tickets and scan the barcode to integrate them into the app.
The best thing about the app isn’t how it simplifies admission and re-entry, though that’s a major perk. It’s how a single app eliminates the need for you to carry multiple items, including:
- Your photo ID
- Cash
- Credit cards
You can treat the app like a wallet and file your payment information. You can book restaurant reservations through the app and pay after you eat.
The app also has a park map, so you don’t have to carry around any paper. You can find your family’s favorite rides and reserve a ride time to maximize your park experience.
How To Re-Enter Universal Studios
In the past, Universal Studios used hand stamps. You’d stop at the turnstiles on your way out and tell an employee that you were leaving but planned to come back the same day. They’d give you a hand stamp that allowed you back in. The stamps washed off, so there was no worry that people would use them the next day.
Now you don’t have to worry about letting a park employee know you’re planning to leave the park and re-enter later. They don’t need to know when you leave — you just have to check back in for admission when you return.
Whether you ran to your car for a minute or left for lunch at an off-site restaurant, you can re-enter the park just as you did the first time. Show your admission ticket and photo ID, or use the fingerprint process to re-enter.
If you’re planning on leaving the park completely, including leaving the parking lot, consider springing for preferred parking. It costs a bit more than the cheap lot, but attendants allow you to leave and come back, showing your parking pass instead of having to pay again. It will save you money in the long run.
Final Notes
Visiting Universal Studios is exciting, but it’s a lot to tackle in a day. Families like to get away from the park to let small children have a break. If you booked a nearby hotel, you might want to leave the park during the day for a brief rest or to have lunch in your room.
But can you re-enter Universal Studios? Yes, Universal Studios allows re-entry, allowing you to make the most of your visit without feeling overwhelmed.