The 12 Tips You Need to Know Before Booking Your Next Universal Orlando Family Vacation

It's hard to pick favorites from all of the delicious options, but there are definitely a few standout items that you won't find anywhere else. If you're into sweets, pop over to Voodoo Doughnuts for your very own edible Voodoo Doll donut ($3.75) or visit Toothsome Chocolate Emporium for one of their over-the-top decadent milkshakes.

If you're looking for a full meal, the Great Feast at Three Broomsticks ($69.99 for a family of four) in Hogsmeade has enough meats and sides to feed even the hungriest witches and wizards. You can wash it all down with a Butterbeer or, better yet, take the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley and try the creamy soft-serve version of this famous drink from Florean Fortescue's.

Interactive wands ($55) are available throughout the parks and online, but for the full Harry Potter experience, you'll want to head to Ollivander's Wand Shop in Diagon Alley. Be sure to keep the map that comes with your wand because it will guide you to interactive spots around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter where you can cast magic spells.

We won't give them all away, but if you can find Spintwiches in Hogsmeade and perform the Wingardium Leviosa spell, you'll see a bewitching surprise.

Universal is often billed as a "grown-up" vacation, but certain attractions are meant just for kids. Pteranodon Flyers in Islands of Adventure gives kids a (prehistoric) bird's-eye view of the park below, and Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster in Universal Studios park is gentle enough for kids to test their courage before moving on to bigger thrills.

To locate all of the kid-friendly rides, download the Universal Orlando Resort app before your trip. Once you're inside the park, you can filter the attractions to only see the rides suitable for your family and even check the wait times.

When you stay in one of Universal's onsite hotels, you can utilize Early Park Admission to get into select parks and attractions an hour earlier than anyone else.

For shorter wait times all day long, you can skip the line with Express Pass, which is included for free when you stat at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Hard Rock Hotel, or Loews Royal Pacific Hotel, or can be purchased separately if you are staying elsewhere.

Each of Universal's on-property hotels has spacious suites with plenty of room for families of any size to spread out. These family-friendly spaces include a separate bedroom for the parents, a small kitchen and dining space, a sitting area, and a bathroom. If you have younger kids, we recommend the Jurassic Park suites at Loews Royal Pacific or the Future Rock Star suites at the Hard Rock.

Each of Universal's onsite hotels hosts daily activities that'll keep the fun going even during your downtime. There's movies under the stars, pool parties, outdoor table tennis and giant Connect 4, fireside s'mores, and more. Some activities, like the outdoor games, are available all day, while others are listed on the events calendar posted in the hotel lobby.

A trip on the Hogwarts Express is not your typical train ride. While onboard, you'll encounter characters (and magical creatures!) from the iconic films. You do need a Park-to-Park ticket that gets you into both of Universal's parks to ride, but the trip from King's Cross Station in Universal Studios to Hogsmeade Station is totally different than the return trip.

In both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, there are outdoor play areas where kids can run around in a cotton candy-fueled frenzy. We love the Curious George splash pad area at Universal Studios, where kids can cool off on a hot day, and Me Ship, the Olive, which offers splashtastic views of Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges.

If your kids don't quite meet the height requirements for Universal's more thrill-inducing attractions, many of them offer child swap rooms. Your entire party will enter the queue together and, while part of your group is on the ride, the others can wait in the Child Swap room. Most of these rooms are even outfitted with televisions showing the movies that inspired the ride. When the first group finishes up, you can switch so the rest of those who are tall enough can ride without having to wait in line a second time.

Most of these rides also have a rule against bags and loose items, too, so you'll have to pass off your items to someone who is waiting or toss everything in one of the provided lockers before getting in line.

Nobody wants to spend their whole vacation waiting in line. Luckily for your family, Universal's Volcano Bay water park uses a super-convenient virtual wait line system. When you arrive at the park, you'll get a TapuTapu band to wear on your wrist. You can "tap in" to your favorite attractions, and your band will vibrate when it's your turn to ride. While you're waiting, you can lounge by the beach or float down the lazy river.

Super-powered kids of all ages can dine with Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Storm and Rogue at Cafe 4 in Marvel Super Hero Island (part of the Islands of Adventure park). Prices for the

Marvel Character Dinner are $49.99 for adults and $24.99 for kids ages 3-9

If your child is celebrating a birthday while visiting Universal, stop by guest services and pick up a free birthday button. They'll get plenty of well wishes throughout the day and maybe a surprise or two, ensuring your birthday kid will have fond memories of their special day.