In this day and age, theme park guests of all types want to be online and ready to share photos, videos, and the thrills of their vacation. We don’t blame you – after all, Orlando Informer is on many social networks ourselves, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
On this page, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about free internet access throughout Universal Orlando Resort’s parks and hotels. We also provide a primer of the official Universal Orlando mobile app.
Skip to: Free wifi – parks/CityWalk | Free wifi – hotels | Universal app
Is there free wifi at Universal Orlando Resort?
Universal has expanded its complimentary wifi network to include Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, and Volcano Bay, as well as Universal CityWalk.
The sign-on process is simple: just search for the wifi network “Universal.” In order to join the network, you must agree to the terms and conditions (including that, by using the network, you agree to receive promotional emails from Universal) and agree that you are 18 years of age or older.
Overall, speeds are good for basic use, and access is strong throughout the parks and most of CityWalk.
Comparing the two theme parks, the signal tends to be slightly stronger in Universal Studios Florida as compared to Islands of Adventure. Usually, you can connect to the Xfinity wifi network the moment you get past the security checkpoint and moving walkways of Universal’s parking structure. Volcano Bay, meanwhile, is fairly comparable to Islands of Adventure.
The connection may log off due to inactivity. If this happens, simply open your Wi-Fi settings and look for the “Universal” network again. If you have already logged in once during the same day, you should not have to re-enter your log-in information.
Other internet access options
Some CityWalk restaurants also offer free wifi to their patrons, such as Hard Rock Cafe – just ask your server for the password.
How do I connect to wifi at Universal hotels?
The hotels at Universal now feature free wifi access for registered guests. In the rooms and inside the concierge lounge, “standard” wifi is complimentary, meaning that, if you’re staying at the hotel, you can do basic things like check your email and tweet without having to pay extra. If you want faster speeds so you can upload all your high-res photos and HD videos, you’ll likely want to pay for the “premium” service.
Premium wireless access is complimentary for up to four devices per room, and Premium Plus wireless access is $9.95 for up to eight devices per room. Both access options are valid for a 24-hour period between 1:00 pm and 1:00 pm.
If you’re not a registered guest but still want to get online, you’re in luck—Universal Orlando’s hotels offer free Wi-Fi access to everyone in their lobbies and pool areas (just don’t expect too much performance).
How to use the Universal Orlando mobile app
Here are the links to the official Universal Orlando app: Android or iOS.
The mobile app can help with planning your vacation before you arrive, but most of its functions are best used when you are actually in the parks. For example, once you are inside the resort, you can select the “Guide Me” function when you are viewing a ride, and it will give you walking directions from your current location.
Along the middle of the screen, you will find three simple options: “rides,” “shows,” and “dining.” Then, along the side, there is a menu that can be expanded that contains a lot more choices.
Let’s run down the list of what each of these does.
Universal Orlando mobile app – main menu
Home
This is pretty self-explanatory: this will bring you back to the home page, where you can quickly access tickets, park hours, maps, rides, shows, and dining. As you scroll, you’ll also find sections for special offers, mobile ordering, Universal Pay, chatting with Universal, and personal care products.
Map
This tab provides access to maps of all Universal Orlando Resort theme parks, Universal CityWalk, and the hotels. We’ll cover how to navigate this tab later in the guide, but it’s an essential tool for planning your visit.
Buy
This app is your one-stop shop for a Universal Orlando Resort visit. In the ‘Buy’ section, you can purchase theme park tickets, express passes, and extras like access to Halloween Horror Nights or a My Universal Photos package.
Profile
The profile section of the Universal Orlando Resort app is packed with useful information. The “My Wallet” feature lets you store a default payment method for in-app purchases and keeps all your tickets and passes organized.
As you plan, remember this tab because you can tap the heart icon on any ride, show, or dining location to mark it as a favorite. This is especially handy for organizing a “My Favorites” list of experiences you definitely want to try. Frequent visitors can use this feature to curate a collection of past favorites. Plus, when checking wait times, having a favorites list lets you quickly see the wait times for your top attractions.
In this section, you’ll also find notifications, where Universal may send updates—like when a ride’s wait time matches your preferred notification. Additionally, you’ll see your dining reservations, Annual Pass blockout dates, and parking reminders, which we’ll cover later.
Universal Orlando mobile app – explore parks and hotels
Theme Parks
Under the “Universal Orlando and Resorts” tab, you’ll find Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay. The map will initially display icons that show the location of rides, but you can also select “shows, “dine,” and “shop” within the dropdown menu at the top. These options can be displayed all at once (by selecting multiple categories) or one at a time, which can be accomplished by deselecting the other categories at the top.
You can filter experiences by thrill level, 3D and 4D attractions, water rides, and kid-friendly options. Additionally, the guest amenities option in the dropdown menu at the top of the map shows restrooms, family restrooms, first aid, lockers, and more. This works like the categories at the top and will display in addition to any other subsets you’ve already selected.
Zooming in on the map is essential to get a clearer sense of the exact location of the item you’re interested in. Plus, the map details are fun to explore when zoomed in!
The functionality for Volcano Bay is largely the same as its theme-park brethren, with one key difference: no wait times display for the rides, since the entire water park utilizes only Virtual Lines. (For more on how Volcano Bay and its attractions operate, please see our complete guide to TapuTapu.)
Universal CityWalk
This section opens a similar map. The categories here are “dining,” “shop,” and “guest amenities.” These categories work exactly the same way as those on the park maps—the more you select, the more icons will show, and to remove a certain category, you must touch it to deselect it.
(Note: when you are viewing the parks or CityWalk and you would prefer to view a list of available rides, shows, restaurants, and shops, select “List” at the top right corner. This will display each category you’ve selected in alphabetical order as a list without an accompanying map. If you have picked more than one category, then the first one you chose will be displayed at the top, with the others following afterward.)
Hotels
You can easily access details for any of the eleven Universal Orlando hotels straight from the app. This allows you to easily access dining options and amenities.
Universal Orlando mobile app – guest amenities
Parking Reminder
Universal’s parking structure is huge. You can use this function to take a picture of the sign that labels the section and row where you parked. There’s even a space to jot down your parking section, level, and row, to help you remember – as well as a place to add further notes.
Amenities
Restrooms (both standard and family), ride and rental lockers, and other services can quickly be referred to in this tab – a lifesaver for a large family!
Contact Guest Services
The guest services category opens into a submenu with options like Ticket Assistance, which provides a phone number to call, and various ways to contact guest services, such as displaying locations, email, phone number, and Twitter contact instructions. Additionally, the app includes a chat function that can answer questions about wait times, park hours, news, and more.
Help
Tucked away at the bottom of the page, Universal’s FAQ is a huge boost in navigating your day through the resort. If you have a question or feel confused, this is a great place to check before tracking down a team member or going into theme-park panic mode. You can find answers on the following:
- Food Allergies
- Free in-park wifi
- Universal Express
- Coca-Cola Freestyle
- Universal Dining Plans
- Child swap
- Single rider
- Package pickup
- Vacation packages
All in all, the official Universal Orlando app is an excellent tool for both first-timers and frequent visitors, and the free (and expanded) resort-wide wifi is certainly a worthy companion.
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