What is Your Best Universal Memory?

ForMyBoys · Jul 6, 2015

Hi All, We've never been to Universal but have an upcoming trip and would love to know your favorite experience/memory from the park? Thanks!

JustCallMeMommy · Jul 6, 2015

My DD and I are big Harry Potter fans, and our favorite memory involves Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. During a week long trip, we started and ended every park day at this ride. We would ride over and over and over again through the single rider line until it started getting crowded and then we would visit other attractions; I estimate that we rode about 100 times that week. After a while, the team members recognized us, and some of the particularly great team members would tell us specific things to look for as we went through the ride. It just amazed me that the level of detail was so high that I could still find new things on the 50th or 75th ride.

I hope you have a great trip and make lots of new memories.

disney world dreamer · Jul 6, 2015

my favorite memories are from attractions that have been removed or changed so i don't think it's gonna help you much.

-seeing "clarisa explains it all" being filmed during the nickelodeon studios tour.
-having foam concrete blocks dropped on me while on the escalator in the interactive potion of earthquake
-yelling out "no absolutely not!" during murder she wrote
-acting in the merry go round scene in strangers on a train at the alfred hitchcock attraction
-acting in the star trek experience where you make your own episode
-acting in the your day at universal studios experience
-being terrified that jaws was gonna eat my mom and crying about it only to realize it is fake

saskdw · Jul 6, 2015

We've made two trips to UO. We were there 6 nights at HRH in Dec 2010 as part of a split stay after spending 8 nights at WDW. And then we did a 10 night stand alone stay at RPR Dec 2012.

Picking out specific highlights is tough as we enjoyed all of our time there. But the first 2 things that popped into my head were these:

1) Riding Spiderman for the first time. I'm a comic book geek from my childhood and this was a huge thrill for me. It also turned out to be my wifes and sons favorite ride as well. We rode it over 10 times both trips.

2) During the 2012 trip my son and I picked a hot day (high 70's, hot by our western Canadian standards...lol), we put on our swim gear and headed to IOA to specifically enjoy the water rides. We had an absolute blast!! We rode them over and over for 3-4 hours. Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls is probably our 2nd favorite ride next to Spiderman. There were many laughs and smiles that afternoon. Actually a very fond memory of just me and my boy hanging out! It was nice to be staying onsite and just walk over in our swim gear so we would have no concerns of getting wet.

SnapesGirl · Jul 6, 2015

Love this thread! My favourite memory was on our last trip, which was before Diagon Alley opened. We did Ollivander's one day and being a massive HP fan, I was disappointed that I wasn't chosen for the wand show. Later on in the day, we went into the shop that connects with Ollivander. I was looking for a wand and out comes Ollivander himself and starts asking me if I was shopping for a wand. He started taking my measurements, asking me questions about what kind of magic I want to do, what house I'm in, discussing the different woods and what each wand could do for me and then chose a wand for me! (or rather the wand chose me as he said

) He told me to be careful as the wand learns from the wizard!

It was so incredibly cool to have that personal experience with no one around and I nearly started crying :cloud9:

ForMyBoys · Jul 6, 2015

SnapesGirl said:
Love this thread! My favourite memory was on our last trip, which was before Diagon Alley opened. We did Ollivander's one day and being a massive HP fan, I was disappointed that I wasn't chosen for the wand show. Later on in the day, we went into the shop that connects with Ollivander. I was looking for a wand and out comes Ollivander himself and starts asking me if I was shopping for a wand. He started taking my measurements, asking me questions about what kind of magic I want to do, what house I'm in, discussing the different woods and what each wand could do for me and then chose a wand for me! (or rather the wand chose me as he said ) He told me to be careful as the wand learns from the wizard!

It was so incredibly cool to have that personal experience with no one around and I nearly started crying

OMG that is fantastic! My 12 year old would just die!!! He found a HP touring plan on line where you retrace harry's steps in order, needless to say regardless of crowd we will be doing that. Thanks for sharing

HM · Jul 6, 2015

ForMyBoys said:
OMG that is fantastic! My 12 year old would just die!!! He found a HP touring plan on line where you retrace harry's steps in order, needless to say regardless of crowd we will be doing that. Thanks for sharing

Could you share where he found that? Sounds like something we'd like to try.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Jul 6, 2015

HM said:
Could you share where he found that? Sounds like something we'd like to try.

It might be this:

http://orlandoinformer.com/page/art...touring-plans/harry-potter-world-touring-plan

Full-day, “Harry’s journey” touring plan (for both Wizarding Worlds)Plan on two to six hours, depending upon exactly how the crowds are and your dedication to being authentic to Harry’s journey. For each step of the plan, there are directions followed up by one or more photos. (For the purposes of saving space, the photos do not appear in the printer-friendly version.)

1. We usually recommend that, whether or not you have Early Park Admission for Universal Studios Florida, you arrive at the turnstiles 45 minutes before you are able to get in (either as part of EPA or as part of general admission). But considering that your plan is to spend most of the day in the Wizarding World anyway, it isn’t as necessary for you to be the first in line. Just be aware that Escape from Gringotts may have a line two hours long or more for most of the day. If you’d like to learn more about avoiding that wait for Escape from Gringotts, see our guide to Early Park Admission.

2. When you are let through the turnstiles, grab a park map and proceed through to Diagon Alley. See our map for a visual reference: http://bit.ly/diagonalleymap (be sure to switch it to Satellite View and zoom in).

3. Stop by the Knight Bus and visit with the Conductor and his Shrunken Head compatriot – this is how Harry arrived at London, after all! Be sure to take a look inside the bus, as it’s one of the best photo ops in the entire park.

4. Visit the cabman’s shelters. One serves food while the other offers authentic London merchandise. If possible/desirable, grab a little something to snack on while you head to Leicester Square Station, the entrance to Diagon Alley.

5. Eat breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron. Harry went through here first before doing his shopping at Diagon Alley.

6. Visit the Gringotts Money Exchange in order to pick up some authentic Wizarding Bank Notes with which to do your shopping (this is just like Hagrid taking Harry to Gringotts Wizarding Bank to withdraw his galleons).

7. Pop into Knockturn Alley for a scare (or a quick spy on the Malfoys and the other Death Eaters). You can even pretend you’re being rescued by Hagrid once you’re done window shopping.

8. Go shopping for your school supplies. We recommend hitting up (a) Ollivander’s Wand Shop (on Diagon Alley) for your wand (do the wand-choosing-the-wizard show for the most authentic experience), (b ) Magical Menagerie (on Horizont Alley) for your pet owl, © Quality Quidditch Supplies (Diagon) for your broom, and (d) Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions (Diagon) for your school robes, of course.

9. Grab a quick bite of ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlor. Harry ate here often before boarding departing for school.

10. Board the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross Station to head to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at Hogsmeade (located in Islands of Adventure).

11. Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside of Hogwarts Castle. There’s enough adventure in these five minutes to cover an entire school year of misadventures!

12. Visit Hagrid at his hut and ride Flight of the Hippogriff.

13. Ride Dragon Challenge – both sides – to help Harry win the Triwizard Tournament.

14. Have lunch at the Three Broomsticks and desert at the Hog’s Head Pub. Be sure to try a frozen Butterbeer here.

15. Enjoy the Frog Choir and the Triwizard Spirit Rally.

16. Pick up your final wizarding essentials at Hogsmeade’s shops, including (most importantly) the Marauder’s Map (at Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods) and some sweets (Honeydukes).

17. Hop back on the Hogwarts Express to experience the return journey to London.

18. Face down Voldemort on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts inside of Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
Congratulations – you’ve helped defeat Lord Voldemort by destroying his Horcruxes!

ForMyBoys · Jul 6, 2015

Yes that's the one!

ZellyB · Jul 6, 2015

We were there this past January with my twin girls who are 11. They were dressed in their Hogwarts robes (1 Slytherin and 1 Ravenclaw) when we went to the Olivander wand show in D.A. They were selected for the wand choosing and we had so much fun during that. Olivander's assistant did such a great job playing up that they were twins and in different houses. It was just great!

jeanico2000 · Jul 6, 2015

I have 2 especially dear memories, both involving my adult DD!
1) first ever visit to Ollivanders in Hogsmeade (pre-Diagon Alley days!), and my daughter and I are both speaking softly in French (we are from Montreal), admiring our surroundings, when she gets picked for the wand experience. We were breathless with excitement, being HUGE Harry Potter fans!
2) Same trip, and she is asked to take part in the Macy's parade as one of those gigantic balloon handlers. What fun!
I can tell you, Universal is very near and dear to my heart!

littlejimmy · Jul 6, 2015

been to universal about 10 times over the past 8 years....still nothing beat the first time me and my daughter(huge harry potter fan) walked into hogsmeade for the first time...she said, "dad, this IS hogsmeade!" the look of awe on her face was priceless.

JOCAmom · Jul 6, 2015

My current favorite memory, and they do change, is remember the pure joy my oldest daughter had riding Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges on our last trip. She was pregnant on our trip and there are very few rides in the parks she could do. It was a hot day in November when we were there and all she wanted to do was ride something and cool down. She rode it 3 times in a row with her sisters and boyfriend. I never saw her look so happy on our trip.

*disclaimer.....this is not recommendation to any pregnant woman considering a trip to Universal. My daughter discussed and viewed videos of the rides with her doctor before our trip as to what would be safe for her.

SA-TX · Jul 7, 2015

There are two theme park experiences that I won't ever be able to forget. The first was when I was seven years old and I went on the Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland for the first time. The second happened 32 years later when my wife and I went on HP Forbidden Journey. I was absolutely floored. If Disney's bread and butter is the dark ride, then Universal's is the simulator. I'm still partial to Disney because of the magic and the memories, but what Universal is doing with these rides is unbelievable. They are setting a new standard. We went on the ride another 5 or 6 times in the days that we were there. It never got old and each time was better than the last.

sersee05 · Jul 7, 2015

My favorite memory is more about my ds9... The poor thing is scared to death of Et. No matter how many times people tell him ET is nice(he saw the movie)...he is still scared. I think it's how he looks. He avoids Nickelodeon when the have ET on because they advertise it for a good week. So when we went to Universal, obviously he wasn't riding ET. We were walking and he asked for the map. I don't remember where we were but we were coming up on where ET is. I don' t know how he knew that because it was his first time there. So he tells me "Ok Mom we have to go this way to get to here(mib ride )" I briefly looked, told him that we were just going around in order so we don't miss anything. . He insisted that this was the best way to go. So I shook my head and grabbed the map and realized he was having us go all the way around ET. He didn't want to even be close. I whispered to him.." are you trying to avoid the alien who we don't speak of(that is what he called Et. Couldn't bear to say his name)". He looked at me with these sad big eyes and nodded yes.

Apparently we were headed in that direction. I knew everyone else wanted to ride it so I whispered to my husband to go ahead. So I said to my family..."Im really thirsty so Im going to go get a drink" I asked my son if he would go with me so I didn't have to go by myself... which he replied yes. We told the rest of our family to go ahead and we will meet them at mib. My dh knew to take them to ET.

So we went and found a place to get something to drink and I was sitting with my son . He leaned over and said..."thanks mom". I said "for what?" He said " just for being my mom".

It was one of those memories that will stay with me forever.

littlejimmy · Jul 7, 2015

sersee05 said:
My favorite memory is more about my ds9... The poor thing is scared to death of Et. No matter how many times people tell him ET is nice(he saw the movie)...he is still scared. I think it's how he looks. He avoids Nickelodeon when the have ET on because they advertise it for a good week. So when we went to Universal, obviously he wasn't riding ET. We were walking and he asked for the map. I don't remember where we were but we were coming up on where ET is. I don' t know how he knew that because it was his first time there. So he tells me "Ok Mom we have to go this way to get to here(mib ride )" I briefly looked, told him that we were just going around in order so we don't miss anything. . He insisted that this was the best way to go. So I shook my head and grabbed the map and realized he was having us go all the way around ET. He didn't want to even be close. I whispered to him.." are you trying to avoid the alien who we don't speak of(that is what he called Et. Couldn't bear to say his name)". He looked at me with these sad big eyes and nodded yes.

Apparently we were headed in that direction. I knew everyone else wanted to ride it so I whispered to my husband to go ahead. So I said to my family..."Im really thirsty so Im going to go get a drink" I asked my son if he would go with me so I didn't have to go by myself... which he replied yes. We told the rest of our family to go ahead and we will meet them at mib. My dh knew to take them to ET.

So we went and found a place to get something to drink and I was sitting with my son . He leaned over and said..."thanks mom". I said "for what?" He said " just for being my mom".

It was one of those memories that will stay with me forever.

coolest story I have read in a long time. thanks for sharing

Loudbmw · Jul 7, 2015

My best memory:

Winning the Fear Factor Stunt Show at age 62!

That after being runner up twice to my son.

tink1957 · Jul 7, 2015

Mine is being there during the first week of soft openings for HP...we were among the first to see Hogsmeade and to ride FJ....it was an awesome time for my Harry fanatic family from the early entry for onsite guests...we were literally running through IOA to get there...I called it the Potter fan stampede...what fun ...to the first sight of Hogwarts...it was amazing.

KatieCharlotte · Jul 8, 2015

My DD11, who has been a Harry Potter fanatic since she read the first book at age seven, felt sick to her stomach on the elevator down to Gringotts. She decided not to ride, and I knew she was feeling a little down about it. She had already found Forbidden Journey too intense the year before. We wandered into Ollivander's and realized we were the only people there. Her older brother was considerate and made it clear to Ollivander that he did not want to be chosen. She had been dreaming that she would be chosen on that trip, just a couple weeks after her eleventh birthday, but had convinced herself that it would be okay if she wasn't. Watching her face glow and her hair fly out, I was close to tears. The perfect wand "chose" her. Of course we bought it, she cast spells all over Diagon Alley, and she couldn't believe the magic of riding the Hogwart's Express to Hogsmeade. She had brushed her red hair to look like Ginny's that day, and a thoughtful park employee referred to her as "Miss Weasley." That night, with Hogwart's silhouetted against the night sky, she held her wand up and said she felt like Voldemort when he gained possession of the elder wand.

ForMyBoys · Jul 8, 2015

KatieCharlotte said:
My DD11, who has been a Harry Potter fanatic since she read the first book at age seven, felt sick to her stomach on the elevator down to Gringotts. She decided not to ride, and I knew she was feeling a little down about it. She had already found Forbidden Journey too intense the year before. We wandered into Ollivander's and realized we were the only people there. Her older brother was considerate and made it clear to Ollivander that he did not want to be chosen. She had been dreaming that she would be chosen on that trip, just a couple weeks after her eleventh birthday, but had convinced herself that it would be okay if she wasn't. Watching her face glow and her hair fly out, I was close to tears. The perfect wand "chose" her. Of course we bought it, she cast spells all over Diagon Alley, and she couldn't believe the magic of riding the Hogwart's Express to Hogsmeade. She had brushed her red hair to look like Ginny's that day, and a thoughtful park employee referred to her as "Miss Weasley." That night, with Hogwart's silhouetted against the night sky, she held her wand up and said she felt like Voldemort when he gained possession of the elder wand.

Too cute!

What is Your Best Universal Memory?

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