Universal advice needed :)

joolz1910 · May 24, 2015

Hi Everyone!
I have done my Disney spreadsheet, including meals, shows, fastpasses etc but the Universal days are blank. I really have not got a clue. Would anyone like to help me plan? We arrive on August 16th and I anticipate we will be there by 5pm(ish) and we are staying at Hard Rock Hotel for two nights. I haven't decided what time we will transfer to Disney on 18th. We have 14 night tickets, so can park hop.

Any advice would be welcome - must do's, places to eat etc.

We have 3 kids: 2 thrill seekers and one 7 year old who is afraid of everything lol. I am a Potter geek.

dixonsontour · May 24, 2015

Universal is much more go with the flow. I'd definitely recommend buying an interactive wand to your girls and doing all the interactive spells. They are $50ish but my dd loved this - same idea as sorcerers/phineus & pherb. Food wise we like margaritaville and bubba gumps. Lots of choices at citiwalk though.

dixonsontour · May 24, 2015

My dd also loved the minion ride, pets show and men in black. I'd also recommend meeting donkey from shrek he is very cheeky usually.

I did a universal only trip report on the dibb from last October called show me the minions tour October 2014 - same posting name as here if you want a look.

LiquidSunshine · May 24, 2015

dixonsontour said:
Universal is much more go with the flow. I'd definitely recommend buying an interactive wand to your girls and doing all the interactive spells. They are $50ish but my dd loved this - same idea as sorcerers/phineus & pherb. Food wise we like margaritaville and bubba gumps. Lots of choices at citiwalk though.

This.

I agree, Universal does seem to be more go with the flow, and we found it more relaxing - not sure why, maybe because there was far less planning involved (WWoHP was our only must do, anything after that was taken as it happened!)

I would second the interactive wands at WWoHP. It is great fun for the family & is def a hit with the kids! We also loved lunch at the Three Broomsticks restaurant.

Minions ride, followed by the Minions shop - ok, I might love those crazy little guys too much! :rotfl2:

dixonsontour · May 24, 2015

You can dance and have a photo with a minion at the end of the ride. My daughter hated me dancing .

Shrek attraction will be good for your little one - like bugs life.

Parade is small but colourful and fun - Dora, minions, sponge bob.

Bilge rat barges were a big hit too make Kali river Rapids look like a dry ride!

With just a couple of days I'd maximise your harry potter time it is so well done.

Kath2003 · May 24, 2015

Have spent many, many days at Universal at peak time and can honestly say we have barely planned! That's why we love it.

Mrs Doubtfire · May 24, 2015

Kath2003 said:
Have spent many, many days at Universal at peak time and can honestly say we have barely planned! That's why we love it.

What are the queues like in August if you don't have express passes?

saintrob · May 24, 2015

The queues for the big attractions will probably be long! I've seen anything up to 180 minutes last August for rides like the Minions and the HP stuff. You need to get in at park opening without express passes.

Mrs Doubtfire · May 24, 2015

Thanks I thought it would be bad. We are planning to get there early but don't know how long we will last in the heat.

Kath2003 · May 25, 2015

Lines are long after 11am but fine earlier. There are single rider lines for most of the rides so we have never waited long.

joolz1910 · May 25, 2015

Thanks - getting excited now and happy with the idea of 'going with the flow'. Where would you go first morning for early entry? Are the interactive wands for little kids? Would Jess like one - she is 11. I know Olivia (15) would be horrified lol. I'm thinking of snacking around the parks and going to Margaritaville and the pizza place at City Walk for evening meals. I also want to spend some time at the pool at HRH - might do that the first day

dixonsontour · May 25, 2015

No not for little kids ideal for an 11 yr old. They have to follow the directions on the spell (metal spot on floor) and then stuff happens like the umbrella rsins or lights come on. Plenty of adults were doing it too. Some definitely had a knack - the cms help if needed. You get a map with the wand but there are some hidden ones too. Not been to pizza place but looks nice.

LiquidSunshine · May 25, 2015

If you have time & the queue isn't too long, try the interactive part at Ollivanders. You get taken in as a group, and someone is picked from the group by the witch or wizard as "the chosen one".

I was made to do spells with different wands, until the right wand chose me! It is well done, and you never know, your DD11 may be the chosen one!

(I will add, I was then given the option to buy the wand - it comes with all the same stuff, box, map & it is interactive as well.)

DLPDreams · May 25, 2015

Watching this thread with interest!

I'm the same as you Joolz - I haven't planned much at all for US. In fact, I joined Touring Plans and began to try and outline a plan for US and just realised it wasn't worth it! For WDW I've found it good - although a little hard to use when it tries to change everything!

The biggest thing for me is not knowing what is happening with the early entry at US/IoA. I keep wondering if they'll do alternate EE like they did summer last year, and Easter this year. But it seems they don't announce it until practically the day in question.

We plan on a meal at the Three Broomsticks I think (brunch type thing probably) and then meals at Bubba Gumps (I've always wanted to eat at one!) and also Mythos. For the latter, you can now book online via the US website about one month in advance, which I what I plan to do.

I haven't quite figured out any plan for the parks other than to do the HP stuff asap and use EE for this where possible. I have read that with FOLPs the queues are never an issue on most of the other rides - even on the likes of Minions etc.

BTW - anyone reading this and banking on AA discount - I'm really not sure what it happening with it but there have been reports it has stopped. If you want discount you have to purchase your tickets via AAA and then they give you a discount card you can use. Having said that, some people are saying the normal AA discount is still be advertised. So, I really don't know for sure what the situation is. I have just got my AA card too - typical!

Kath2003 · May 26, 2015

If you're staying at a Universal Partner Hotel, you can get 10% off merchandise over $50 anyway IIRC.

joolz1910 · May 26, 2015

So I can get 10% of the wands? Will definitely get them for DD 7 and DD 11 - will give the 15 year old the option. Will head to a Potter attraction for Early Entry then, sounds like a good plan. Don't fancy Bubba Gumps as I think it's mainly seafood? Wish we were at Universal for an extra day now!

chmurf · May 26, 2015

joolz1910 said:
So I can get 10% of the wands?

the 10% for a purchase of $50 or more is not an onsite/partner hotel perk

you might get offers, at stores, where you get a $5 gift card with every $50 you spend. (this means you need to make another purchase to redeem)
This may not always be offered, this may not be offered at every store, some items might be excluded, and offer value may change (bottomline, you'll only know when you get there. For each DISer there will be another story of what offers they got, at the time they went)

the only way to get 10% off merchandise is to get a preferred or premier AP.

Kath2003 · May 26, 2015

chmurf said:
the 10% for a purchase of $50 or more is not an onsite/partner hotel perk

Yes, it is. https://www.universalorlando.com/Hotels/Partner-Hotels.aspx

DLPDreams · May 26, 2015

Ah yes, but don't you need to book the hotel through them i.e. US Vacation package? I don't think it's available if you are just a guest booking through another agent (which is what we, and Joolz did).

I really don't know. That's the way I read it tbh but I did just glance through it.

I've read some people saying that you still get AA discount if you are buying over $50 - let's face it, two wands (in our case) will be $100, so we would get the discount if this is the situation. I just wish I could find out for sure. Apparently the AA are still advertising the discount but someone who went a few weeks back was informed the terms have changed?

I might see if there is an email address for the AA benefits team - it's worth knowing.

Joolz - why don't you have a look at the Bubba menu online - DH isn't a huge seafood fan and he was quite impressed by the other options - are some of you veggie? I'm not sure about that though. What about Mythos? That could be quite good if you are veggie.

Kath2003 · May 26, 2015

We never have - we were told to just show a room key.
I have a feeling that WWoHP is excluded from every offer/discount ever, so I'd be ready to cough up for the wands.

Universal advice needed :)

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<font color=green>I would have gone down to recept

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I am like a child in a sweet shop, hyper on sugar!

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<font color=green>I would have gone down to recept

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I am like a child in a sweet shop, hyper on sugar!

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