The Fulfilled Hustle

We are so excited that we have the opportunity to attend the Passholder Preview at Universal Orlando’s brand-new park, Epic Universe, tomorrow! From what we’ve seen, the park looks absolutely incredible, and we can’t wait to explore it for ourselves.

As many of you know, we’re frequent visitors to Universal Orlando, and I recently shared a post about my go-to Always Ready Bag that comes pretty much everywhere with us. With a big new park to tackle and two little ones in tow (ages 4 and 8), I wanted to give you a peek into how I prepare for a day like this—from our car ride strategy to what’s packed in the stroller. Spoiler: it’s all about staying ahead of the meltdowns!

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First Things First: Keep Outfits Light and Comfortable

Tomorrow’s forecast is gorgeous (no rain in sight!), so everyone’s wearing lightweight clothing and comfy walking shoes. You’ll cover a lot of ground in any of the Universal parks—especially a brand-new one like Epic Universe—so comfort is key.

When I’m packing and prepping to visit Epic Universe with kids, I break it into three categories:

1. What’s going in the car
2. What’s going in the stroller
3. What’s going in my Always Ready Bag

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Let’s Talk Strollers (Yes, Even for Older Kids)

While our girls don’t typically need a stroller, I’ve learned the hard way that having one saves everyone when the walking gets to be too much. Even if it’s parked in one area for most of the day, it’s great for carrying stuff, and it gives the kids a break when needed.

Must-Have Tip:
Attach an AirTag to your stroller. We’ve had it moved for parades or crowd flow before, and being able to quickly track it down is a game-changer.

What We Pack in the Stroller:

• Turkish towels (super compact, great for drying off and for resting/blankets)
• Flip-flops or Crocs for the whole family
• Bathing suits and cover-ups for water rides (note: they will not allow you to only wear a bathing suit, so make sure your cover up is something that could go as a regular outfit – think a sundress.
• Optional: Rain jackets or sweaters, depending on weather

There’s only one water ride at Epic Universe (for now!), but we’re coming prepared just in case we decide to hop on midday instead of saving it for the end. I also can’t recommend the flip-flop swap enough—switching out of your sneakers just for the ride – it’s so much better than walking around in wet shoes all day.

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What’s in the Car (Especially for Pre/Post Park Transitions)

Since we’re leaving straight from a T-ball game tomorrow, the car bag is crucial. I’m packing:

• Change of clothes for both girls
• Amazon Fire Tablets for the drive (great for distraction when traffic hits)
• Pajamas, so they’re ready to crash on the way home
• The car potty (OXO from Amazon—we don’t go anywhere without it!)

The car potty has saved us so many times when bathroom stops weren’t an option, especially with a little one who’s still learning to give us a heads-up. Totally worth the space in the trunk!

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My Always Ready Bag: Park Day MVP

This is the bag I keep with me all day, and I tweak it a bit for each park visit.

Here’s what’s inside for tomorrow:

• Hats, sunglasses, sunscreen (never forgetting the game-changer Solar Buddies sunscreen applicator!)
• Backup phone charger
• Cooling towels
• Annual passes (pro tip: wear a lanyard for easy access!)
• Snacks that won’t melt – chopsticks and kids’ protein bars are the winners this time
• Empty water bottle to fill up at the free ice-cold water stations in the Coke Freestyle machines
• Harry Potter robes from Amazon (they’re nearly identical to the park’s version but way cheaper)
• Interactive wands from Universal (we protect the tips with pencil toppers as they can stop working if damaged)

And of course, my just-in-case kit:

• Hand sanitizer
• Mini first-aid/medicine pouch
• Wet wipes + baby wipes
• A dry bag with a full change of clothes (because accidents do happen—and so do water rides!)

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I’m honestly so proud of this prep system—it’s taken a few trips (and a few forgotten items!) to really dial it in. The little bit of effort tonight is going to make a huge difference tomorrow.

Stay tuned because I cannot wait to share our full review of Epic Universe after the preview!

R