How to use the OI Universal Center - new OI subscribers, please read!

New OI subscriber orientation Greetings, and thank you for joining us here in the OI Universal Center. The purpose of this page is to introduce you to how the Center works, so you can get the most out of this one-of-a-kind vacation planning resource.

Before we begin, we just wanted to let you know that you can return to the OI Universal Center at any time by clicking the OI UNIVERSAL CENTER button (in black) at the very top of any page. To get back to this orientation page, click the New subscribers link in the top navigation area.

So feel free to follow any of the links below. You’ll be able to get back here without a problem! (If you prefer to open the links in a new window, you can always right-click on any link and the select Open in new tab / window.)

The number 1 tip for finding your way around the OI Universal Center

Some new subscribers have found themselves getting a little overwhelmed by the amount of information on our site. While it is a good thing that we’ve got so much info, it is not such a good thing if you feel confused by it all. Therefore, right off the bat, we want to let you know the number 1 tip for finding your way around: Use the OI Universal Center table of contents as your home base!

When you are reading through our articles, navigating through the hundreds of questions we’ve answered, joining in on the conversation in our forum, or checking out our blog, you may feel like you’ve lost your place. But do not worry! All of our core Universal vacation planning pages are organized and available with one click from the OI Universal Center table of contents. You can return to the table of contents at any time by clicking the OI UNIVERSAL CENTER button (in black) at the top of every page.

Furthermore, as you began your exploration of our pages, you will quickly see that we link back and forth between all of our resources a lot. We do this so, when you want to learn more about any particular subject, you can always do so with one click. However, all these links can sometimes create the illusion that our material is disorganized — especially if you are looking through the OI Answers section or our forum. Again, remember that the OI Universal Center table of contents is your home base!

Now that we’ve covered that tip, let’s continue with the orientation…

7 easy steps to make the most out of the OI Universal Center

So you are ready to start your exploration of the OI Universal Center as you prepare for your trip. Here is how we would recommend that you move through our site.

Step #1 – We need to get just a bit of housekeeping done before we get to the fun stuff. As a new subscriber to our site, we ask that you take a quick moment to visit your site profile and complete the following actions:

Add a nickname for yourself. If the nickname field is currently populated with your email address, be sure to erase it even if you don’t want to enter a nickname.
Select your display name from the drop-down menu. This is how your name will appear everywhere on our site. Please be certain to change your display name if your email address is currently selected!
Change your password to something you will remember.
Verify your access plan purchase and, if applicable, your expiration date. This information is in the green and yellow table.
Upload an avatar to personalize comments you leave on our site and in the OI Forum. Avatar images should be square and no larger than 150 x 150.

Once you have modified your profile, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the blue Update Profile button.

Ready to take care of the housekeeping? Click here to open your profile page (this link will open in a new window–once you have updated your profile by clicking the blue button, you can just close the window).

Step #2 – Now we can get started for real! To begin planning your trip, start with the title page of our The Script: TICKETS, PACKAGES & PLANNING section. That page includes the most basic information about Universal Orlando. Before you start looking into any other pages in the section, head to step 3.

Step #3 – Visit the Maps, Rider’s Guide & vacation brochure page. Here you will be able to view and print out maps of Universal Orlando (and other useful material). Having printed maps will greatly aid you in understanding much of the information we provide.

Step #4 – Next, visit the title pages of the Universal Studios Florida section and the Islands of Adventure section. Like our TICKETS, PACKAGES & PLANNING title page, these two pages provide background information about Universal’s theme parks.

Step #5 – Check out our Universal Orlando crowd calendar and see what the parks will be like during your travel dates. This will determine to some extent how much planning and mental preparation you will need to do. Pay particular attention to whether there are any special events happening during your travel dates.

Step #6 – Once you have visited the pages mentioned above, and you have your maps printed, you will have a good foundation of knowledge regarding Universal Orlando. Now it is time to dig in deep! Decide what you would like to learn more about, and visit that section of the Center:

The Script: TICKETS, PACKAGES & PLANNING
Our collection of money and time saving tips which cover many aspects of Universal Orlando, including Universal Express Passes, the Universal Meal Deal, Universal vacation packages, and so much more.

The Set: MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR VACATION
While not as “mission critical” as the planning information in our Script section, the information in our Set section will help your vacation go from good to incredible!

Insider’s guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
This section is the largest repository of Wizarding World tips, tricks, and secrets available anywhere in the world. It includes our extremely popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter Touring Plan.

Annual events at Universal Orlando
One of the best features of the Universal Orlando theme parks is their annual events, such as Mardi Gras and Halloween Horror Nights. This section is filled with the most up-to-date information available for current and future events. (This section is also a great example of where a traditional book falls short–you can’t publish specific information about these events a year ahead of time, because details are not released until just a few months before the actual events!)

Official OI Universal Orlando touring plans
Our new touring plans section provides you with ready-to-print-and-go touring plans for Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Not sure one of our plans will work for you? Then you can use our expert knowledge to design your own!

Universal Studios Florida
This section provides information covering every major attraction, show, and kids play area at Universal Studios Florida. In addition, there is also information for nearly every dining venue. Remember that the Universal Studios Florida title page presents the background information for this theme park.

Islands of Adventure
This section provides information covering every major attraction, show, and kids play area at Islands of Adventure. In addition, there is also information for nearly every dining venue. Remember that the Islands of Adventure title page presents the background information for this theme park.

Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk is the multi-level dining and entertainment area that accompanies Universal’s two theme parks. The concept is similar to Downtown Disney. At the moment our Universal CityWalk section is in the process of being built. But go ahead and swing by to see what we’ve got so far!

Accommodations in and around Universal Orlando
Are you considering staying on-site at Universal Orlando during your vacation, or are you interested in booking a Universal Orlando Partner Hotel? Then you will want to visit this section of the Center for a ton of hotel information and a unique mapping tool.

Step #7 – Visit the new OI Forum. This is a place to hangout with other OI subscribers and ask questions, offer advice, and share memories.

Additional tips from the experts

Center updates
As the days and months go by as you wait for your vacation to begin, you will want to occasionally check out the updates to the OI Universal Center. Updates may include major park announcements, new features in the Center, or small “I just noticed that!” observations from our frequent visits to Universal Orlando. The most recent Center updates are posted on our website’s homepage. When you are in the Center, you can view the complete list of updates by clicking the Update history link in the top navigation area. Click here if you want to go to the Update history page right now.

Use comments!
Virtually every page in the Center has a comment area below the posted information and multimedia. Use the comment area to write anything you’d like about the page you are viewing. It’s a great place to ask a question because, once answered, all future visitors to the page will see the information. You can also help answer other people’s questions (make sure to use the Reply button) or leave any other type of comment.

Don’t forget about the annual events
For the first-time visitor to Universal Orlando, there is so much to see and do just when you consider what is available year-round. However, Universal’s annual events are a big deal, and if you happen to be visiting while one of them is in full swing, you will want to know about it ahead of time (either so you can be a part of the crowd or avoid the crowd!). Click here to visit our Events section.

We’ve got a blog too
The OI Universal Center represents the hub of our vacation planning information. But if you want to learn everything there is know about Universal, be sure to check out our blog posts filed under Universal Orlando. There you will find fun articles like Top five drink options at Universal, news clips like Golf Universal adds two new partner courses for on-site hotel guest, and trip reports such as Cara and family visit Universal over New Years.

After your trip, come back and visit us
Chances are that your access plan to the OI Universal Center will extend beyond your trip to Universal Orlando. On behalf of our community, we invite you to return to these pages after your trip to provide feedback about your experiences. Use the comment areas of our pages to tell us how it went for you. Or, start a new topic in the OI Forum.

Share your story
Did you have a particularly exciting experience at Universal Orlando. Do you have a number of tips to share that you think would be really helpful for other guests heading to the park? Then you will want to consider becoming a contributor to our OI Share project. Visit the OI Share page for more information.