New To Universal

[TINKERIFIC]

OK..We are venturing out of Disney for a few days in December to Universal. We are going to be there on 12/27 (maybe..evening) 12/29 (all day) and 1/2 (until 2pm and then again at 6pm). We are 2 adults, 2 children (11yo and 2 1/2 yo). We love any kind of ride. Where do we start? Should I actually buy the FOTL pass for our full day on 12/29? With my 2yo we always do child swap at Disney...do they have something similar at Universal?

I have no idea where to start.

 

[damo]

Yes they have child swap at Universal. You should get to ride everything without an issue. Make sure you get to the parks before opening to minimize your wait times. I wouldn't purchase the FOTL pass until you actually get into the parks and see what the crowds are like. You can buy the parks at gift shops and kiosks throughout the parks.

Take a look at www.universalorlando.com

There are great ideas there for things to do with the kids as well as little clips of the rides to give you a better idea of what you are in for.

Have fun!!!

 

[dolphindan1]

My advice...at IOA...hit Hulk and Spiderman 1st thing they are the 2 best rides there. I would then ride Dr. Doom if interested, then head to Dueling Dragons ride both of the coasters Fire and Ice there, then JP...if its not too cold you hit Bluto and Dudley Doo rite....avoid Pterandon Flyers it has the longest, slowest moving line in the history if theme park rides and its just not worth it, however if yo walk by and there is no wait, then ride...if 10 people are in front of you expect and hour wait. I exagerate of course but it is slow....then you can go back and hot the few shows you missed and some of the exhibits...one thing about IOA it has some of the longest, I mean long long long queue lines I have ever seen....Dueling Dragons and Dudley Doo rite are long....last time we were there we walked the queue line an walked right on the ride but they both seemed like 10 minute walks....WOW they were long

At US...We always go straight to the Mummy, then Jaws, MIB, ET and then work our way back around hitting everything else...Twister, Shrek, Terminator, Earthquake etc....Now we havent been since Simpsons has opened but I hear its the same principal as Back to the Future so it will not change the way I tour next week....

You will be suprised at the theming at both parks it rates right up there with Disney. I love both Universal and Disney. I get the "Disney magic" feelings when I am there but when I am at Universal its a different magic...no stress, no mobs, no being felt like I have to rush to everything....its laid back and a fun atmosphere....

enjoy both

 

[macraven]

OK..We are venturing out of Disney for a few days in December to Universal. We are going to be there on 12/27 (maybe..evening) 12/29 (all day) and 1/2 (until 2pm and then again at 6pm). We are 2 adults, 2 children (11yo and 2 1/2 yo). We love any kind of ride. Where do we start? Should I actually buy the FOTL pass for our full day on 12/29? With my 2yo we always do child swap at Disney...do they have something similar at Universal?

I have no idea where to start.

if you go to universal anytime between christmas and dec 31, you will have lots of crowds.

the park will open at 8:00 am for that week closing at 10:00 pm.

the express passes should be at a high rate for the days of the 27th and the 29th you have planned for.
the express pass is only valid one time only for each ride or attraction.
the FOTL pass is for hotel guests and that pass is for unlimited rides.

both passes use the express lane for the rides and shows in the parks.

since you are going to be a day guest, leave disney early to avoid rush hour traffic.

be at the parking garage at least 40 minutes prior to it opening.
once the garage opens up, and you are about the 5th in line, you will be parked and at the gate within 15 minutes hopefully.

the garage should open one hour prior to the parks.

you can buy the 7 day, 2 park passes that is a promo now and use them for both days at the cost of $94.99 plus tax. or, you can buy the 2 day, 2 park passes. if you can buy your 7 day tickets at an AAA office, it would be cheaper than the above price.
those 2 day tickets do not have to be used for consecutive days.

a 2 day, 2 park ticket is $104.99 plus tax.

you do not need a ticket for the child under 3.
children's tickets cover ages 3-9.

you will want to be at the park very early to park.
you will be able to get a lot done if you start early and beat the crowds.
expect crowds around 10:30 to start growing.

if it is possible, and you stay onsite for one night, you can get the fotl for 2 days for being a hotel guest.
but, you only have that perk for the day you check into the hotel and the day you check out of the hotel. if you can't change your dates for universal around, then scratch that suggestion.

if you buy the express passes for the 27th a saturday or the 29th, they would be $45.99 plus tax per person. that is the cost for a one park express pass.
you would be looking at over $150 for one park.

for that reason, many stay one night on site as the fotl is a perk for hotel guests.

also, if that extra cost is not in your budget, seriously plan to be at the parking garage way early so you can be at the gate when they first open.

you can see a lot and do a lot when you are there before the crowds start.

the child swap is wonderful.
if you wait with your little in the child swap room, your other child and spouse can do the ride. when they get off, you take a turn on the ride and your older child can ride again. two rides in a row for that child. woo hoo.

like others have suggested, you might want to wait until you are at the park before you buy the express pass.
unless i read it wrong, you plan to go saturday for the evening and the other day for most of the day with a break in the afternoon, then return later.
if either day is packed, you might want to think about getting the express pass for the family on the day you arrive late at the parks.
wait and buy it at the parks instead of advance.

hope i didn't confuse you.

 

[arthur06]

I could ride the mummy 20 times! That ride is probably my favorite ride at any park! Also, my wife and I love MIB, we are very competitive! And she always makes me put on the dog hat and takes my picture in the gift shop, sort of a family tradition now! Have not been on Simpson's yet, but excited to try!

 

[donaldduck352]

Very good advise mac

Your not the only one arthur.I have read the sticky 10times then showed the wife the little tricks and she spanks me everytime!!!!

 

[LilMommyBug]

The child swap at Universal is far superior to that at Disney World.

 

[jsfein]

With regard to child swap, will only 1 of my older children be able to ride with the parent that rides the second time around or can more than one child ride the second time around (I have 4 kids with one an infant)?

 

[macraven]

at universal, all the kids can ride twice when you do the child swap.

dark marauder posted about that in another post.


there are some universal TM's that post in the universal threads.

 

[Metro West]

The child swap at Universal is far superior to that at Disney World.

 

[TINKERIFIC]

Thanks for all your help! We have finally decided to go to USF on 12/30 (all day) and IOA on 1/1 (all day). Our DD can ride all of USF rides, but not the coasters at IOA. Our thinking was since IOA is more "popular" than USF, we would hit IOA first thing on 1/1. We thought it would be less crowded that morning than 12/30.

 

[macraven]

if you get to the park when it opens on jan. 1st, i'm sure you wont see many crowds. At least not until noon.......if any.....


who gets up early on new years day?

 

[Metro West]

if you get to the park when it opens on jan. 1st, i'm sure you wont see many crowds. At least not until noon.......if any.....


who gets up early on new years day?

That would be me...sorry...I get up early for work and can't turn off the brain clock.

 

[donaldduck352]

if you get to the park when it opens on jan. 1st, i'm sure you wont see many crowds. At least not until noon.......if any.....


who gets up early on new years day?

That would be me...sorry...I get up early for work and can't turn off the brain clock.

Same here I'm up at the rooster crow every morning if I want to or not!!

 

[drenalin'junkie]

We hit the parks early every 1/1 after being out til 2am.It is as said slow til 10 or noon then the crowds make it back.You'll be able to get a lot done before it gets busy.Of course compared to slow times of year it'll seem busy.

 

[GuestServicesMonkey]

who gets up early on new years day?

I do! See ya there when you roll in.