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Service Dogs at Universal Studios Orlando
Typically, dogs are not allowed at theme parks. Hence, when traveling to an environment like that with a service dog, there can be a lot of unknowns. Luckily, I am a service dog handler who has been to Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure with my service dog many times! I have compiled a bunch of aspects that brought me uncertainty before my first trip to the parks with my service dog, and I hope to help out individuals and families traveling with service dogs with my experiential knowledge. I hope you'll learn how Service Dogs at Universal Studios Orlando are a huge benefit for their handlers.
Service Dogs at Universal Studios Orlando
What to Bring
Before even arriving at the park, you need to pack items that your service dog may need throughout your time in the parks. It’s very important that you and your pup come prepared because many dog-related things are not just something you can pick up at the parks while you’re there. Here is a list of things I recommend bringing to the park for your service dog:
Water bowl: there are water fountains that you can use to hydrate for free.
Booties: especially in the summertime, the ground can get very hot! If it’s too hot to hold your hand against, it’s too hot for their paws.
Treats/food: if you’re going to be out at the parks all day, your pup needs to stay fueled. Just like how we eat at the park, so does your pup, so make sure to bring their food. Plus, treats are always nice rewards for a job well done!
Dog-safe wipes: these are great to have in case your dog sits in something sticky, gets something spilled on them, wipe them down in the hotel room, etc.
Raincoat: Florida’s weather can change in an instant. Bringing a raincoat can be a good idea to keep your pup dry.
Toy: breaks are super important for long days at the parks, so giving your pup a brain break if they want it is always a good way to keep them at their best!
Poop bags: Universal provides poop bags at the service dog relief stations, but it’s still a good idea to keep some on hand.
Cooling coat: I have not used one, but some handlers use them as an extra step to keep their pups cool.
Entering the Parks
There are a few different ways to enter City Walk. Whether you’re coming from the large parking garages, a Universal bus or boat, or walking straight from your hotel to the entrance, you will be met with a security stop equipped with metal detectors and baggage scanners. All of your bags and metal devices, including items for your service dog like treat pouches, will be put through the scanners. Meanwhile, you and your service dog will go through the metal detector. Most dog collars, leashes, vests, harnesses, etc. have some sort of metal on them and will set off the detector. Unlike at the airport where TSA would have you and your dog walk through the detector separately and pat down your dog, you both may walk through together. You will then have a security guard wave you down with their handheld metal detection wand. If you are traveling with a service dog for a child, I would recommend handing the dog off to a parent to handle through this process.
Universal staff also reserve the right to ask you the two ADA questions about service dogs and businesses: is this a service dog required because of a disability, and what task does it perform? They may not always ask, but I have been asked a majority of the times I have entered the park in the past two years. It is most common for one of the security guards operating the metal detectors to ask these questions, but I have also had other related team members ask right before or right after I went through the metal detectors.
An additional note is Florida state law grants service dogs in training the same public access rights as fully trained service dogs. Thus, both service dogs in training and fully trained service dogs are allowed on Universal Orlando property. But, please keep in mind your dog’s attributes: are they prepared for an environment like this? Are they going to be more of an aid or more of an obstacle during your trip? Questions like these are great to consider while planning your trip to ensure that you and your party have the most smooth, enjoyable time possible. In some cases, a service dog is an amazing asset in these environments, but in others, they may do better to stay with a dog sitter!
Rides and Attractions
Depending on the ride and its safety restrictions, your service dog may or may not be able to ride with you. For rides that service dogs can accompany you on, it is expected that they remain laying down at your feet for the duration of the ride. For rides that your service dog has to sit out, there are two options. The first is rider swap. Just like with kids that are too young to ride, one member of your group will sit out with the service dog while the remainder of your party rides; then, you switch and one of the people who rode will sit out with the service dog while the others ride. The second option is a crate provided by Universal. At every ride that service dogs cannot go on, there is a large wire crate available for a group to leave their service dog in while they ride. A team member watches over the crate, and your service dog will not be put in the same crate as a service dog outside of your group. Some rides that allow service dogs to ride even have these crates to give you an option! Below is a list of rides and attractions that are accessible to service dogs!
Universal Studios:
Animal Actors On Location!
The Blues Brothers® Show
The Bourne Stuntacular
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
DreamWorks Imagination
Celebration
E.T. Adventure
Fast & Furious – Supercharged
Hogwarts™ Express – King’s Cross Station
Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast
Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ’n’ Hurl
King Harold’s Swamp Symphony
Mama Luna Feline Fiesta
Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp
Po Live!
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
Shrek Swamp for Little Ogres
The Simpsons Ride™
TRANSFORMERS™: The Ride-3D
Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-up Show
Islands of Adventure:
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man®
Camp Jurassic
Caro-Seuss-el™
The Cat in the Hat™
The High In The Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride™
Hogwarts™ Express – Hogsmeade™ Station
If I Ran The Zoo™
Jurassic Park Discovery Center
Me Ship, The Olive®
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish™
Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Storm Force Accelatron®
If you want to find out more, you can refer to this Universal Studios Guide For Rider Safety and Accessibility pamphlet.
Service Dog Relief Areas
Universal offers several designated spots for service dogs to use the bathroom and take a little break. They are equipped with poop bags and trash cans, and there is a sign with a stick figure and a dog to indicate this is the correct area. They will have either real grass, fake grass, or mulch. If you brought a toy or your service dog likes sniffing around, this is a great space to give your pup a brain break as they are often out of the way and spaces specifically dedicated to service dogs! Service dog relief areas are marked on the maps, including in the Universal app. Below is a condensed list of them!
City Walk:
Outside the Islands of Adventure exit
Next to the Hard Rock Cafe and Rip Ride Rockit
Universal Studios:
New York Cityscape in the corner between Jimmy Falon and the Mummy
Hollywood area by the Spongebob gift shop
Between the Simpsons Land and the Men in Black ride
Islands of Adventure:
Suess Landing between Cat in the Hat and One Fish Two Fish
Lost Continent behind the fountain up in front of the old show building for The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad
In Marvel Land (a bit hidden in an employees-only area but you are allowed to use it) to the right of Fear Fall, there is a blue wall and it is behind the employees-only sign
After reading this guide, I hope you feel more prepared to bring your service dog to the Universal Orlando Resort!
Sera Callahan is an English student at the University of Florida, dual minoring in disabilities in society and mass communications. She has raised and trained her multipurpose service dog, Mars, for the past two and a half years. They love to visit theme parks, like Disney and Universal, in their free time. Sera also likes reading, listening to music, hanging out with friends, and watching movies. She hopes to work for a fiction-based publishing house in the future. You can find Mars and Sera on Instagram @marsservicedog
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