15 Amazing Kickass Instagram Photo-Ops at Universal Studios to Take Your IG Feed to the Next Level
Universal Studios Orlando is known worldwide for its hair-raising rollercoasters, state-of-the-art rides, and spectacular shows! But the park is also famous for its thousands of excellent photo spots worthy of the ‘gram. The theme parks, CityWalk, and even the walls surrounding the attractions are all guaranteed to give you a ton of fun memories and amazing photos.
With eye-catching features, bold colors, and plenty of places to choose from, you’ll be giving social media influencers a run for their money!
Here are the top 15 photo-ops at Universal Studios Orlando that will take your Instagram feed to the next level.
The Universal Studios Globe
Location: Right after the Universal Studios Orlando park entrance
Can you even say that you went to Universal Studios Orlando if you don’t have that classic globe photo? You’ll only know for sure that you’re inside the park when you come across this iconic landmark!
To get that perfect Instagram shot, be sure to snap your photo when the Universal words are right behind you. The globe spins, so this may take quite a while but trust us, the result is worth it.
Instagrammer Tip: Most Universal Studios Orlando visitors prefer to take their photos on the bridge with the globe just a tiny blip in the background. But go all the way around and down to the bottom until the globe is directly right in front of you. Here, there’s more room to pose for your photo, and you don’t have to deal with the inpatient line of tourists waiting to take your spot on the bridge.
Or the other people in the background of your almost-perfect shot! The larger area in front of the globe also means that you have more space to play around with your photo’s angles so you can actually get your entire OOTD in your shot. Plus, you get the spritzing water and the CityWalk in the background!
Vintage cars at Mel’s Drive-In
Location: At the end of Hollywood Blvd., across from the Horror Make-Up Show
Known for their yummy burgers and chicken fingers, Mel’s Drive-In is also the perfect place in Universal Studios Orlando for a quick photoshoot! With its retro teal and pink color palette, as well as the Grease Lightning-vibe cars, your photo stop here is guaranteed to add an eye-catching vintage splash to your feed.
Instagrammer Tip: For a 1950’s inspired photo, perch on the hoods of the classic cars parked out front. Or, if you want to go for an edgier look, head inside the cafe and strike a pose underneath one of its many neon signs.
Voodoo Doughnut Throne
Location: Voodoo Doughnut, CityWalk
Foodies will love this donut-themed throne outside of Voodoo Doughnuts in Universal Studios Orlando. And donut forget to order one – or two – of the shop’s yummy treats! Their sinfully delicious donuts with unconventional flavors are the perfect prop that will take your photo to the next level. They’re also the ideal power-up snack after an exhausting photoshoot!
Instagrammer Tip: Make sure to get the entire donut throne in your shot. It may take some tweaking with your angles and your photographer’s position but the end photo is worth the effort.
Bruce the Great White Shark
Location: Next to Chez Alcatraz at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco
Right next door to the beloved Chez Alcatraz restaurant is a massive Great White Shark hanging upside down. This photo spot is perfect for all your wacky poses, and you can even pretend to be legendary shark hunter Robert Shaw by standing beside the terrifying predator!
Instagrammer Tip: For a more memorable photo, step inside the shark’s humongous jaws and hang on for dear life by its teeth!
Seuss Landing Truffula Trees
Location: Seuss Landing, right in front of the Caro-Seuss-el
For a whimsical feel to your Instagram feed, pose in front of the large brightly-colored Truffula Trees with its striped black-and-yellow stems and feathery tufts. This underrated Universal Studios Orlando photo spot is great for striking some playful poses! Be sure to get the sweeping purple arches in the background to add more splashes of color into your shot.
Instagrammer Tip: Get yourself a giant cotton candy from one of the surrounding snack kiosks for more flair in your photo.
Yellow Taxi Cab
Location: Parked in front of the TODAY Cafe near the entrance of the park
This iconic yellow taxi cab has launched a thousand Instagrams! This is perhaps the most recognizable symbol of Universal Studios Orlando, second only to the spinning globe. Taking a photo with this classic New York City cab is a must for every Universal Studios park visitor.
Instagrammer Tip: For vibrant color contrast, include the swaying palm trees behind the cab, as well as the cafe’s signage, in your photo.
Toon Lagoon
Location: Toon Lagoon, Universal Studios’s Islands of Adventure
With tons of 3D walls and decorations, you have hundreds of interactive photo spots to choose from at Toon Lagoon! Pose underneath a speech bubble or stand alongside the characters from your favorite comic strip. With plenty of walls to choose from, you’ll definitely end up with a ton of Instagram-worthy shots.
Instagrammer Tip: For an even wackier photo, stand beside the gigantic Hush-A-Bomb and pretend like you’re going to blow the place up!
Jurassic Park Dinosaurs
Location: Jurassic Park, Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure
The life-sized terrifying dinosaurs scattered all over Jurassic Park make for perfect photo-ops! Take a few shots of you running away from these scary reptiles or duplicate Owen Grady’s iconic stance from the 2015 blockbuster Jurassic World. Don’t forget to take a few pictures in front of the towering Jurassic Park gate, which looks straight out of the movie set. Of course, no visit to the park is complete without a ride on the spine-tingling River Adventure!
Instagrammer Tip: The exterior and interior walls of the Jurassic Park Discovery Center are painted with spectacular murals. Take your photo among the many reptiles and prehistoric animals seen on the walls. The bright yellow triceratops, in particular, is a crowd favorite.
The Jules Verne Train
Location: Next to the DeLorean near the entrance of Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone
Featured in the 1990 cult film, Back to the Future III, the Jules Verne Train is a favorite photo spot for many. With its old-timey vibe and striking dark colors, it’s definitely an Instagram-worthy Universal Studios Orlando photo shot! The train is one of the more underrated photo-ops inside the park, so you won’t have to wait long to take your picture.
Instagrammer Tip: The usual photo angle with the Jules Verne Train is one from the walkway. However, go around to the lagoon side of the vehicle for a unique frame.
Lard Lad Donuts
Location: Fast Food Boulevard, Springfield
Who doesn’t love donuts? Springfield’s favorite donut shop in Universal Studios Orlando is serving up more than just those yummy circular treats, though. Get your fill of large Brain Freezin’ D’oh-Nut Sundaes, giant pink-iced donuts, and of course, tons of Instagram-worthy photos! Pose in front of the shop while holding up one of its many treats or stand beside one of the show’s most beloved characters, Chief Wiggum, and enjoy your donuts together. Make sure to include the red fire hydrant and the soaring donut sign in the background to add more oomph to your shot!
Instagrammer Tip: Springfield’s best-kept secret is a bold periwinkle wall around the corner from The Simpsons Ride. This subtle yet eye-catching backdrop is the perfect spot to take your OOTD photo.
Simpsons Fence
Location: Near the Kwik-E-Mart, Springfield
This fun and interactive fence features some of the most ubiquitous characters in the Simpsons universe, including everyone’s favorite rebel, Bart! Other figures from the show are also painted on the fence, so you’ll definitely have many photo-ops to choose from.
Instagrammer Tip: For a hilarious photo, stand beside the other characters and pretend like Chief Wiggum is frisking you. Or you can help Homer Simpson try to catch a floating Maggie!
Diagon Alley
Location: Diagon Alley, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Potterheads and Muggles both agree that Diagon Alley is one of the most Instagrammable places in Universal Studios Orlando. The old-timey shops make for a great background, or you can stand in the middle of the cobblestone streets and strike a pose with a scarf in your house colors around your neck. Practically every spot in Diagon Alley is a photo-op waiting to happen!
Instagrammer Tip: Wait for the dragon on top of Gringotts to breathe fire. It does this every 15 minutes, so that it may take a while, but the result is simply amazing.
Hogwarts Castle
Location: Hogwarts Castle, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
This iconic castle has filled the childhood dreams of many, so you better take a picture! With the sun shining down on it, the castle is an intimidating structure surrounded by lush greenery and rocky cliffs. At night, it’s a breathtaking sight to behold with all of its towers lit up. Either way, Hogwarts Castle is picture-perfect, no matter the time of the day. Hardcore Potterheads may want to grab a wand or even deck themselves out in full wizarding gear to complete the look!
Instagrammer Tip: Skip the lines in front of the castle and head on over to the bridge leading to Jurassic World instead. This spot offers a great view of the castle without the tourists in the background. Plus, you get a sweeping view of the cliffs and tower spires.
Hogsmeade Village
Location: Hogsmeade Village, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Make all your Muggle friends jealous with photos in this iconic spot! The quaint snow-covered village with its leaning chimneys and brick walls gives off a cozy vibe made for your Instagram feed. Pose with your wand in front of the village sign or stand in the middle of the street with a chocolate frog – wherever you turn, there’s a great photo-op waiting for you.
Instagrammer Tip: Buy a couple of treats from Honeydukes to complete the just-landed-in-Hogsmeade aesthetic.
Butterbeer Cart
Location: Hogsmeade Village, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Did you even go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter if you don’t have a photo in front of the Butterbeer cart?
Instagrammer Tip: No photo by the Butterbeer cart is complete without a tall glass of creamy Butterbeer!
Whether you’re looking for thrilling adventures or Instagram-worthy photos, or both, Universal Studios Orlando is the place to go to. Whether you visit the park in the summertime or during the cold winter months, leaving with great memories and even greater pictures is a guarantee.
Take your Instagram feed to the next level by challenging yourself to hit all Universal Studios Orlando 15 photo-ops that we’ve listed on here! Or, if you know of a great spot that isn’t on our list, leave a comment down below to let us – and everyone else – know.
Have a great photoshoot!
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