Universal Studios | Love Dwells Here

Jennifer July 6, 2021 Universal Studios

Universal’s Volcano Bay Height Requirements

Just like at the other Universal Orlando parks, it’s important to be aware of the Volcano Bay height requirements before you even arrive at the park. I’ve always found that knowing what the kids can and cannot ride makes it easier to plan our day and also helps us to combat tears and frustration before we get there.

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VOLCANO BAY ATTRACTIONS WITH NO HEIGHT REQUIREMENT

Kopiko Wai Winding River™: A favorite for our crew, this winding lazy river takes you through the park and there are plenty of water features to get you soaked.

Puka Uli Lagoon™ – kids under 48″ must wear Coast Guard-approved life vest: Designed for the little ones, this pool has plenty of water features and you can watch the Ohyah and Ohno riders as they splash into the pool

The Reef – kids under 48″ must wear Coast Guard-approved life vest: This pool is the perfect place to watch people take the Ko’okiri Body Plunge as the clear plexi tube travels through the pool.

Runamukka Reef™ – designed for kids under 54″: Another area designed for little ones, this play structure has geysers, water guns, and slides – and plenty of shade!

Tot Tiki Reef™ – designed for kids under 48″: This splash area is for the littlest kids and features tikis with fountains and a miniature water volcano.

Waturi Beach™ – kids under 48″ must wear Coast Guard-approved life vest: The most recognizable feature of Volcano Bay is definitely Waturi Beach at the base of Krakatau Volcano. This giant pool features waterfalls cascading into the lagoon and switches back and forth between calm waters and a wave pool.

MUST BE AT LEAST 42 INCHES

ika Moana of Honu ika Moana™: This is the green side of the Honu ika Moana slides and it features a five-person raft and plenty of twists and turns.

Krakatau™ Aqua Coaster: This four-person canoe travels through Krakatau Volcano and packs in plenty of thrills. It usually has one of the longest lines in the park so make sure to ride early and use your TapuTapu to hold your spot in line.

Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides™: On these six-person raft rides, travel through a volcanic gorge and spin around as you go down the canyon. With zero-gravity hang time and a funnel, these slides are thrilling!

Punga Racers™: Featuring four lanes, single riders twist and turn on these body slides.

Taniwha Tubes™: These four slides are great for single or double innertube riders but watch out for the spitting tiki statues!

TeAwa The Fearless River™: This isn’t your typical lazy river. The Fearless River is full of rapids and waves, and life jackets are required for everyone.

MUST BE AT LEAST 48 INCHES

Honu of Honu ika Moana™: This is the blue side of the Honu ika Moana slides and it also features a 5 person raft but you go high up on the sides of the massive walls.

Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides™: These two slides feature trap doors and intertwining tubes.

Ko’okiri Body Plunge™: With a 125 foot, 70-degree fall, this trap door slide is the tallest in the country. Ko’okiri Body Plunge often has one of the longest lines in the park so we recommend riding early – or getting in line right before closing if you only want to ride once.

Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides™: Located in the Krakatau Volcano, these two slides end six feet above the water where you fall into the pool.

TIPS FOR DEALING WITH VOLCANO BAY HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS

- Most of the waterslides at Universal’s Volcano Bay have a height requirement to ensure guest safety.
- If your little one is close to a cut-off (42 and 48 inches at Volcano Bay), make sure to practice how to stand up straight before your trip. Kids need to actually bump their head on the measuring guide or be obviously taller than it in order to ride.
- Unfortunately, Volcano Bay does not offer Child Swap like the other Universal Orlando parks. But since there are virtual lines for most slides (set up with your TapuTapu at the slide), it’s easy enough to swap on your own.
- There is plenty for shorter kids to do at Volcano Bay – even more so than Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure. Waturi Beach and Kopiko Wai Winding River are both favorites in our house!

Jennifer June 29, 2021 Universal Studios

Islands of Adventure Height Requirements

We always get asked, “What can my kids ride at Islands of Adventure??” By knowing the Islands of Adventure height requirements before your trip, hopefully, you can come up with a game plan for what to ride, and how to deal with youngsters that aren’t quite tall enough to ride it all.

ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE RIDES WITH NO HEIGHT REQUIREMENT

Caro-Suess-el™: Located in Suess Landing, this traditional carousel of Dr. Suess characters is good for the whole family. You can even make the characters blink, wiggle their ears, and turn their heads! Express Pass is available.

Hogwarts™ Express: This train ride between Universal Studios (King’s Cross Station) and Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade) does require a park-to-park ticket, but it’s a can’t miss ride for our family. Make sure to do it in both directions because the journey is different each way! Express Pass is available.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish™: Similar to Dumbo, this gentle ride takes you up, and down, and all around. Express Pass is available.

Storm Force Accelatron: This classic spinning ride has no height requirement! It’s kind of hidden to the side of The Hulk – so much so that we’ve never actually ridden this one! Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 36 INCHES FOR THESE ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE RIDES

Cat in the Hat™: One of our faves for the best air conditioning, you go through the ride in a couch car as the story of Cat in the Hat is brought to life. Express Pass is available.

Flight of the Hippogriff™: This is the ride in Wizarding World with the lowest height requirement. Kids will love this kiddie coaster as they race through the pumpkin patch and past Hagrid’s hut. Express Pass is available.

The High in the Sky Suess Trolley Train Ride!™: This is a train ride, high in the sky, giving a birdseye eye of Suess Landing. Express Pass is available.

Pteranodon Flyers™ – Guests over 56″ tall must be accompanied by a rider 36-56″: Designed for kids from 36-56″ tall, this one requires an adult companion to ride with the child – but adults cannot ride alone! Soar over Jurassic Park, suspended from a Pteranodon on this gentle ride.

Skull Island: Reign of Kong™: Hop on the bus and join an expedition through Skull Island, but hang on tight because you’ll be getting attacked by dinosaurs in no time. King Kong shows up, and an epic battle ensues. This one can be frightening for young children as it’s quite loud and violent. Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 40 INCHES FOR THIS IOA RIDE

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man®: Put on your 3D glasses and follow Spiderman as he battles villains throughout New York. This one has you soaring above the streets, scaling tall buildings, and coming face to face with some of the most villainous bad guys around. Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 42 INCHES FOR THESE ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE RIDES

Jurassic Park River Adventure™: Board a tour boat for what should be a scenic tour of Jurassic Park. As things always do in JP, something goes totally wrong, and chaos ensues. You WILL get wet on this boat trip through Jurassic Park, but not soaked like the other IOA water rides. Express Pass is available.

Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges®: Similar to Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom, this circular raft ride goes through rapids and under waterfalls. You WILL get wet! Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 44 INCHES FOR THIS IOA RIDE

Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls®: This log flume ride is part coaster, part water ride, and features a 75-foot drop at the end. You WILL get wet. Or, realistically, you will get SOAKED by the water cannons at the end of the ride. Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 48 INCHES FOR THESE IOA RIDES

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™: One of the newer rides, this thrilling coaster puts you on Hagrid’s motorbike or in the sidecar for a high-speed journey into the Forbidden Forest. This is often the longest line in the park, but this ride is totally worth the wait. Virtual Queue is available depending on crowds.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™: Located INSIDE Hogwarts, this is one of the most popular rides in the park – and for good reason. This 3D simulator takes you high above Hogwarts where you’re chased by dragons and dementors. The line for this one is phenomenal as you walk through Hogwarts and see Dumbledore’s office, classrooms, and common rooms. You can walk through the line to tour the castle even if you’re not interested in riding. Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 51 INCHES FOR THIS ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE RIDE

Jurassic World VelociCoaster: Brand new in Summer 2021 and the newest ride at Islands of Adventure, this extreme coaster packs plenty of thrills. It travels over 70mph, has multiple inversions, a zero-gravity inverted stall, and Universal’s steepest drop. Virtual Queue is available depending on crowds, and Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 52 INCHES FOR THIS ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE RIDE

Doctor Doom’s Fearfall®: Prepare to be launched 185 feet in the air, accelerate faster than the space shuttle, and then plunge back to the ground. Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 54 INCHES FOR THIS IOA RIDE

The Incredible Hulk Coaster®: The massive, green coaster has the highest height requirement in any of Universal’s parks. Packed with high speeds, inversions, and thrills, this one is not for the faint of heart. Express Pass is available.

TIPS FOR DEALING WITH ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS

Most rides at Islands of Adventure have a height requirement to ensure guest safety – a sharp contrast from Disney where kids can ride almost everything.
If your little one is close to a cut-off (36, 40, 42, 44, 48, 51, 52, 54 inches), practice how to stand up straight before your trip. Their head has to actually hit the measuring guide or obviously be taller than it, but we’ve seen many kids duck to fit under the guide and end up looking shorter than they actually are. And then, unfortunately, they miss out on the ride.
Child Swap is available at all rides with a height restriction, so make sure to utilize it if you have little ones in your party. Every ride has somewhere that one member of your party can wait with the kids while the rest of the group rides. Then, switch places, and the adult that waited with the little ones can have a chance to ride without waiting in line again. The big kids may even get the chance to ride twice, and both adults get to enjoy the attraction!
While we love going to Disney with kids of all ages, Islands of Adventure is really best once kids are at least 40-42 inches tall. I would lean towards waiting until your youngest is at least 48″ tall if it’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip since that will allow them to ride almost everything in the parks.
I’ve spent many hours at Islands of Adventure hanging out with Ellie (who is only 46″) while the big kids ride everything in the park. We usually get a special snack (like a frozen butterbeer!) to share and wander through the shops – that way, she gets to do something fun while the bigs are riding.

Jennifer June 15, 2021 Universal Studios

Universal Studios Orlando Height Requirements

“What is my kid tall enough to ride at Universal Studios?” is one of the most common questions that we get asked. Knowing the Universal Studios Orlando height requirements before your trip will save you from headaches and frustration and, hopefully, from some tears if your little one isn’t quite tall enough to do everything.

USO RIDES WITH NO HEIGHT REQUIREMENT

Hogwarts™ Express: Departing from Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station, this train ride is a favorite in our house, but you can only board if you have a park-to-park ticket as it goes back and forth between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The journey is different in each direction so make sure to ride both ways. Express Pass is available.

Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl: This is a basic spin-in-a-circle ride (like Dumbo or Aladdin’s Magic Carpets at Magic Kingdom) and fine for the whole family. Express Pass is available.

Shrek 4-D: Join your favorite characters from the Shrek movie franchise on a quest to save Princess Fiona in this 4D show. There’s no height requirement for this one, but small children may be scared of the 3D effects. Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 34 INCHES

E.T. Adventure™: This one is a fan favorite with adults and kids alike! Channel your inner Eliott and hop on a flying bicycle to help E.T. save his home planet. Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 36 INCHES

Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster™: This kiddie coaster travels through Woody’s nut factory and reminds me of Barnstormer at Magic Kingdom. Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 40 INCHES FOR THESE RIDES AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem™: Join your favorite Despicable Me characters on this 4D motion simulator ride through Gru’s house and laboratory. Express Pass is available. Virtual Line is available based on crowds.

Fast & Furious – Supercharged™: Continuing with the motion simulator trend, join the crew from Fast & Furious and help Dom save the day. This one has loud music, loud (unexpected) noises, and LOTS of action. Express Pass is available. Virtual Line is available based on crowds.

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon™: As you race Jimmy Fallon, this 3D motion simulator takes you through the streets of New York, underwater, and to the moon. Express Pass is available. Virtual Line is available based on crowds.

The Simpsons Ride™: Join the Simpsons as they visit Krustyland, Krusty the Clown’s theme park. This roller coaster simulator is shown on an 80-foot diameter domed surface and is fun for the whole family. Express Pass is available.

TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D: Another 3D/4D simulator; this one turns you into a N*E*S*T* recruit to help Optimus Prime and Bumblebee save the planet from Megatron and the Decepticons. Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 42 INCHES

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™: One of our absolute favorite rides in the park, this 4D roller coaster/dark ride hybrid packs plenty of thrills. While it can be intimidating for some youngsters to get in line beneath the fire-breathing dragon, this really is a ride for the whole family. Yes, it’s thrilling, and there are some frightening scenes, but those just add to the fun factor. Express Pass is available. Virtual Line is available based on crowds.

MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack™: Wrapping up the motion simulators at Universal Studios, as Agent Trainee, you’ll zip through New York and take a shot at all the aliens you can find. This one is similar to Astro Blasters at Magic Kingdom, but these aliens fight back! Express Pass is available.

MUST BE AT LEAST 48 INCHES TO RIDE AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO

Revenge of the Mummy™: This coaster is one of the scariest rides in the park, and young children that are just barely tall enough to ride (especially those that are tall for their age) are likely to be frightened – or terrified to the point of tears like my niece. As you’re trying to get away from the evil Mummy Imhotep, you end up in darkness, surrounded by insects, chased by warrior mummies, and underneath fire so hot you can feel it. Express Pass is available. Virtual Line is available based on crowds.

MUST BE AT LEAST 51 INCHES

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit™: Choose your own music, go 17 stories up vertically at a 90º angle, and then drop at 65 miles per hour as you enjoy this coaster. This thrilling ride features the world’s first non-inverting loop and is packed full of fun. Express Pass is available.

TIPS FOR DEALING WITH UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS

- Unlike Disney Parks, most rides in Universal Studios Orlando have a height requirement to ensure guest safety.
- If your little one is close to a cut-off (34, 36, 40, 42, 48, 51 inches), practice how to stand up straight before your trip. They have to actually bump their head on the measuring guide or obviously be taller than it, but we’ve seen many kids duck to fit under the guide and end up looking shorter than they actually are- and then they miss out on the ride.
- Child Swap is an option at every ride with a height restriction so make sure to utilize it if you have little ones. Every ride has a room where one member of your party can wait with the little ones while the rest of the group rides. Then, switch places, and the adult that waited with the kids can have a chance to ride without waiting in line again. This allows both adults to enjoy the attraction, and the big kids may even get the chance to ride twice!
- While we love going to Disney with kids of all ages, Universal is really best once kids are at least 40-42 inches tall. If it’s going to be more of a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I would lean towards waiting until your youngest is at least 48″ since that will allow them to ride almost everything in the parks.
- If your kids aren’t quite tall enough to ride everything on this visit, it means it’s time to start planning the next trip for when they’re a bit taller.
- I’ve spent many park days hanging out with Ellie (who is only 46″) while the big kids ride everything in the park. We usually get a special snack to share and wander through the shops – that way, she doesn’t feel like she’s missing out on as much since she’s too short to ride the biggest rides.

Jennifer June 1, 2021 Universal Studios

Universal’s Volcano Bay with Kids

The kids and I went to Universal’s Volcano Bay for the first time over spring break. Oh my gosh, I don’t know why we didn’t visit sooner – we had the BEST time! Now, my kids love a water park, it doesn’t really matter what kind or where it is, but I’m all about the theming. And the theming at Volcano Bay does not disappoint.

If you’re staying on-site at Universal Orlando Resort, there’s usually early entry into Volcano Bay about 30 minutes before the park opens (versus 60 minutes early for the other parks). Since we weren’t staying on-site for this trip, we got there just before the park opened to maximize our time and get good chairs.

Unlike the other Universal parks, for this one, if you’re driving yourself, you park in the parking garage and then take a bus to the park. There’s no parking at Volcano Bay – the plus is that the bulk of your walking takes place in the covered garage and not out in the sun. I actually wish more of the parks would adopt this set-up since it means your vehicle is covered and cool when you get back!

We were on one of the first busses of the day and headed over to Volcano Bay – it’s only about five minutes away from the parking garage. Upon arrival, you hop in one of the entrance queues, scan your park ticket, and you’re good to go for a day of fun!

The kids and I split up in search of beach chairs and totally lucked out with four chairs, under an umbrella, in the first row by Waturi Beach (the massive wave pool). Honestly, I could have laid on that chair all day enjoying the waves crashing and watching the waterfall cascading down Krakatau Volcano.

But, alas, I was traveling with kids, and they obviously wanted to explore – so off to the wave pool we went! Like most wave pools, this one alternated between calm waters and sets of waves every fifteen minutes or so.

Life jackets are required in the wave pool for the under 48” crowd – and the lifeguard quickly alerted me to this since I didn’t realize it was a rule. They have plenty available in a wide range of sizes, so make that your first stop after securing chairs if you’re visiting with little ones.

The big kids immediately went out as far as they could and played near the cascading waterfall. There’s a rope behind them, and you can’t actually go underneath the waterfall.

Ellie was content to float around where she was still able to stand. Even with the required lifejacket on, she’s not the most daring in the water.

Towel rental is not included and not cheap – $6 per towel – so make sure to bring towels from home or your hotel! We had to pay to rent towels the first day because I didn’t realize you had to pay to rent them. Oops!! We learned through and brought pool towels from our hotel on our next visit!

Everyone that visits Volcano Bay gets a TapuTapu (similar to a Magic Band at Disney) to use at the park. The TapuTapu holds your place in virtual lines, you can pay for food and drinks with it (as long as you also set up a pin), and it’s what makes sure that your ride photos are tied to your account. We LOVED using the TapuTapu – the kids especially appreciated that they didn’t have to wait in hour-long lines for some of the more popular water slides/coasters.

Eats at Volcano Bay with Kids

I don’t usually have high expectations for water park food, but our lunch at Volcano Bay was AMAZING. I mobile ordered it from our chairs, Chris and Ben went to pick it up, and we had hot and delicious food in no time. We ordered lunch from the Kohola Reef Restaurant & Social Club directly behind Waturi Beach, but there are several other restaurant options in the park.

Jerked Mahi Sandwich: Jerk seasoned Mahi Mahi, cucumber mango basil slaw, lettuce, tomato, and sriracha mayo on toasted coconut bread with fries.

Kohola Chicken Sandwich: Tandoori marinated chicken, cucumber mango basil slaw, lettuce, tomato, and avocado mayo on a toasted Hawaiian style bun with fries.

Mango BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich: Topped with caramelized pineapple, fresh cabbage, and mango slaw on a toasted Hawaiian style bun with fries.

Even with an extensive menu, Ellie decided she really just wanted a basket of fries for lunch. And, hey, we were on vacation, so why not?!

While the kids were off exploring the park, I ventured over to the Dancing Dragons Boat Bar to put the TapuTapu to the test. It was super easy to make a cashless purchase with TapTu Pay. As long as you have a credit card and security pin set up in your Official Universal Orlando Resort App, you can pay for food, drinks, and merch with a simple tap. I was off enjoying my piña colada in peace in no time.

Slides at Universal’s Volcano Bay

I’m not a huge waterslide fan, but it was really nice that the kids (including Ellie!) could go off on their own and explore the slides. There’s a huge variety of slides at Volcano Bay: some that you don’t use an inner tube, some that you do, and some with a tube for the whole family!

Even though she wanted nothing to do with going in deep water in the wave pool, she was a daredevil when it came to the slides. And she went on every single one that she was tall enough for – and shed a few tears about the ones she couldn’t go on yet. It’s a good thing that we have the Universal Military Freedom Passes and can come back all year!

We paid for a My Universal Photo Package ($39) one day, and it was so much fun seeing the pictures that Universal captured of the kids on the slides. They were definitely living their best lives!!

The centerpiece of the park, the 200 foot Krakatau Volcano, houses three drop capsule slides – including Ko’okiri Body Plunge, the tallest one in America – as well as the Krakatau Aqua Coaster and the four-lane Punga Racers. Nick stopped on the overlook at the top to wave hello before dropping 125 feet on the Ko’okiri Body Plunge.

On the raft/tube slides, life jackets are required for little ones since you end up in a pool of water. It came in handy on this slide because the tube flipped over as soon as they hit the pool. The lifeguards immediately jumped in to right the raft and make sure the kids were all ok – which they were!

Volcano Bay Lazy River

I do love lazy rivers, and the one at Volcano Bay was no exception! There are actually two in the park – one that’s lazy and one that’s not so lazy, the TeAwa Fearless River! The big kids preferred the rapids and intensity of the Fearless River – life jackets are required for all guests – while Ellie and I preferred the relaxing loop on the lazy river.

I honestly have no idea how many times we went around on the Kopiko Wai Winding River or the TeAwa Fearless River because they were both so much fun!

Goodnight, Volcano Bay!

Right now, Volcano Bay is only open from around 10am-6pm, so we spent our whole day at the park, and the kids all said that it wasn’t enough time and they wished Volcano Bay was open longer. In the future, especially if we stay on-property, I could see us doing Volcano Bay first thing in the morning, heading back to the room around lunchtime, and then going to either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure in the afternoon/evening. But that would require having multiple park days so that the kids had time to go on allllll the slides!

The kids made sure they were in a slide line right before closing to maximize their park time. We’re those rope drop to as late as we can possibly stay after closing kind of people! Because the park closes so early, we were able to watch a gorgeous sunset behind the volcano as we waited for the park to clear out.

Tips for Visiting Universal’s Volcano Bay with Kids

Make sure that you set up a credit card AND PIN in your Universal account before you visit so that you can mobile order and/or pay for orders with your Tapu Tapu. It was so nice to be able to stop and grab a piña colada after the lazy river without needing to go back to the bags for my wallet.
Don’t forget to bring, use, and REAPPLY sunscreen. I coated the kids in sunscreen before we arrived but forgot to reapply, and they ended up a smidge pink.
Check height requirements before you go. Like in the theme parks, there are height requirements (both minimums and maximums) for some of the slides.
Life jackets are required for all guests in the Fearless River and those under 48″ in the Reef and Waturi Beach. They are available to use throughout the park at no cost.
But most of all, HAVE FUN!

Jennifer May 11, 2021 Universal Studios

All The Ways To Get Butterbeer | Universal Studios Orlando

Brought to life by Universal Studios, Butterbeer is a popular drink in the Harry Potter books and movies. It tastes kind of like a combination of butterscotch and cream soda and it is one of the most iconic things you can order in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Butterbeer comes in a variety of forms now – more than just the regular butterbeer from the books. But which is the best? And where can you get them?? Keep reading to find out about all the different ways to get Butterbeer at Universal Studios Orlando!!

WAYS TO GET BUTTERBEER

The first time we visited Universal Studios Orlando, we only tried a couple of varieties of Butterbeer due to time constraints. However, since we got the Military Freedom Passes (like an annual pass for military members) this year, and have been several times, we’ve had an opportunity to try each version of Butterbeer – some more than once! We typically only order a couple of each type and share them which allows us to order a greater variety during our stay.

COLD BUTTERBEER $7.99

This is the original Butterbeer – it’s been available in the parks for over a decade and it’s true to the Harry Potter storyline. This one seems REALLY sweet to me – I think it’s the sweetest of all the types of Butterbeer – but others find it really refreshing.

Diagon Alley

Hopping Pot
Fountain of Fair Fortune
Leaky Cauldron

Hogsmeade

Three Broomsticks
Hog’s Head Pub
Seasonal Carts

HOT BUTTERBEER $7.99

Original in terms of the books, hot Butterbeer didn’t make an appearance at Universal Studios until several years after cold butterbeer, but it was an instant success! This one is NOW AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND and it is absolutely perfect on a cold day. It’s thick and creamy – almost like a hot chocolate – but with an unforgettable butterscotch flavor.

Diagon Alley

Hopping Pot
Fountain of Fair Fortune
Leaky Cauldron

Hogsmeade

Three Broomsticks
Hog’s Head Pub

FROZEN BUTTERBEER $7.99

Ahhhh… there’s nothing better on a hot Orlando day than a Frozen butterbeer! Luckily, most days in Orlando are hot, or at least warm and humid, so more often than not it’s the perfect weather for a frozen butterbeer! While the kids each had their own butterbeer for the purpose of this picture, it really was overkill and we usually split them.

Diagon Alley

Hopping Pot
Fountain of Fair Fortune
Leaky Cauldron

Hogsmeade

Three Broomsticks
Hog’s Head Pub
Seasonal Carts

BUTTERBEER POTTED CREAM $5.79

Pivoting from the beverages to the food items, Butterbeer Potted Cream is one of the newest iterations of butterbeer. This sweet treat isn’t quite as sweet as the drinkable varieties but is equally delicious. The kids described it as a kind of foamy pudding – now don’t take the word “foamy” as a bad thing, they just meant it has more of a mousse-like texture.

Diagon Alley

Leaky Cauldron

Hogsmeade

Three Broomsticks

BUTTERBEER FUDGE $4.95

Another newcomer to the butterbeer scene, the fudge is a sweet treat (or souvenir!) worth sharing. I bought a piece on our last Universal Studios Orlando trip and after the girls each had a nibble, we brought the rest home for the boys and they devoured it. The fudge isn’t like your traditional chocolate fudge – it tastes more like butterscotch and shortbread.

Diagon Alley

Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop

Hogsmeade

Honeydukes

BUTTERBEER ICE CREAM $5.49

Mmmmm…. Butterbeer ice cream. This flavor-infused soft-serve version is available only in Diagon Alley and it is DELICIOUS! While I often go for one of the hard-packed ice creams (usually Salted Caramel Blondie), the kids ALWAYS order soft-serve Butterbeer ice cream.

Diagon Alley

Fountain of Fair Fortune
Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream
Hopping Pot (hard-packed)

Hogsmeade

Three Broomsticks (hard-packed)

So, that leaves us with which one is the best: I’m partial to either the frozen or the hot, depending on the weather. The kids will almost always choose butterbeer ice cream as their fave. The nice thing about having so many varieties is that you can try them all and choose your own favorite! While you might not like the temperature or texture of one version, there’s bound to be another one that you’ll enjoy!

What kind of butterbeer is your fave?? Have you tried them all??