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Universal Orlando Resort Secrets, Easter Eggs, and Tips

Universal Orlando Resort Globe

There is something about the hidden treasures in theme parks that calls to me on a vacation. One can easily show up to the parks, ride all the rides, eat some cotton candy, and call it a day. However, finding little secrets and extras truly makes an adventure. Universal Orlando Resort has secrets that will take your visit to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios to a new level. Look for these Easter eggs, secrets, and enjoy this tips on your next visit.

Islands of Adventure

-Jurassic Park Area-

Easter Egg: After you ride the Jurassic Park River Adventure, take the kids to Camp Jurassic and the Jurassic Park Discovery Center. On the ground floor, guests will see what appears to be the backstage view of Jurassic Park. Eggs lay in a cage on on shelving unit. Take closer look at the shelves and you’ll notice a can of shaving cream. Fans of the movie will know that it’s a nod to Dennis’ attempt to smuggle dino DNA out of the facility.

Tip: While in the Discovery Center, make sure you hang around the egg exhibit to watch a baby dino break out of its shell. One lucky witness will get to name the newborn and get an official birth certificate for their new pet. Ask a staff member when the next event will be to make sure you’re there in time.

-Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Hogsmeade Village-

Secret: The Pumpkin Juice is delicious, the Butterbeer is amazing, but have you tried the Pumpkin Fizz at the Three Broomsticks? It’s a secret menu item you can only get inside the Three Broomsticks or The Hog’s Head Pub in Hogsmeade. The carbonated version of the juice might be your new favorite WWOHP exclusive drink.

Easter Egg: After ordering your Pumpkin Fizz, check out the display of bottles behind the bar. You’ll see Fire Whiskey in one of the taps. You can’t order it, but Potter fans will enjoy the nod to the beverage.

Tip: Ask to go on the The Hogwarts Castle tour, especially for fans who aren’t able to ride the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This tour, available during non-peak hours and will let you spend as much time taking photos and looking at the amazing details of the inside of Hogwarts. It’s entirely indoors, skipping the outdoor line and Herbology greenhouse. You cannot use this tour as method of jumping the line, so don’t be a squib and attempt that trick.

-Marvel Superhero Island-

Secrets: Near the top of the hour, Marvel characters ride motorbikes into the area in front of the near Dr. Doom’s Fear Fall. They quickly disperse into different areas for photos ops. Spider Man is one of the popular characters and easy to miss. Locate him in near the back of Marvel gift shops across the street from the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man for a Daily Bugle photo op taken in front of green screen and turned into a comic book cover you can buy. If you rather not spend the extra money, you can still take pics with your own camera.

Easter Egg: Throughout the island you’ll notice large 2D drawings of comic book characters. Look for a signature in each from Marvel’s veteran artist, Adam Kubert. His name is hidden in the images. For example, ADAM is hidden in the crook of Hulk’s left hand; blended in the wrinkles of his skin between his thumb and index finger.

Tip: The area is interactive. Notice the phones everywhere? Pick one up and try and make a call for surprise.

Universal Studios

-Entrance-

(Sorta) Secret Entrance – There is a second entrance into Universal Studios that rarely has a line and lets you in near some of the best rides. Take the path to the Blue Man Group venue – the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit will be on your right. Once you are outside of the building, look to your right and you’ll see a single entry spot where a staff member will scan your ticket and fingerprint. Note that this line doesn’t have early access hours and usually doesn’t open until 10 AM.

-Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit-

Secret: The is a list of secret songs you can play during your ride. Hold down the logo button for 10 seconds and enter a three digit code for the VIP beats. Here is a list of secret songs you can listen to…

Secret Songs on Hollywood Rip, Ride, and Rockit

-Men In Black: Alien Attack-

Secret: If it’s a slow day – ask a ride employee for a tour of the “Immigration Room” and you’ll be taken to the ground floor you only get to see in the line for the attraction. It’s an amazing photo opportunity!

Easter Egg: One of the aliens you can blast on the ride is a nod to Steven Spielberg. Look for the alien wearing a Jurassic Park hat and reading a newspaper.

-Diagon Alley-

Secrets: There are so many, we’ve complied a growing list! Check them out – 20 Tips, Tricks and Secrets for Visiting Diagon Alley in Universal Orlando. One for the road – the outdoor sign for The Leaky Cauldron actually leaks water!

Easter Egg: There are a few nods to the former JAWS ride that Diagon Alley replaced. Look in the window of a record shop in the London front of Diagon Alley. You’ll find an album by the Quint Trio entitled, ‘Here’s to Swimming With Bowlegged Women’. A set of shark jaws can be found in the Apothocary storefront next to Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour. You also can’t miss the shrunken heads in Knockturn Alley singing Quint’s favorite tunes such as ‘Show Me The Way to Go Home.’

Tip: Take your time in Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, checking out every amazing detail. Don’t forget to look up, check out the skylight and you’ll see thew Weasley’s fireworks display via a skylight.

-CityWalk-

Tip: Make sure you stop and look outside the Hard Rock Cafe. There, you’ll find a large piece of the actual Berlin Wall. Great moment to inject a tiny history lesson into your trip. It’s a nod to the relationship between rock n’ roll and the deterioration of communism in the 80s.

Easter Egg: Before the Blue Man Group occupied the theater on CityWalk, the Nickelodeon Studios called it home. Check out the floor of the bathrooms for a tribute to the green slime in the tile.

Secret: On those glorious not-so-busy days, ask the VIBE host at the Hard Rock Cafe for a behind the scenes VIP tour to see some amazing pieces of music history. It’s free and open to anyone. Just make sure it’s not peak business hours to ensure the best visit.