Advice for Universal newbies with young children

[Amboo]

Hi! Just looking for a little advice from the experts. We've been to Disney multiple times, but Universal is fairly new to us (I've been but it's been 10+ years and DH has never been). We'll be traveling with our 2 young kids (3 and almost 1). We will be visiting Universal for 2 days (Sept. 18, 19 or 20, not sure which 2 yet). We were lucky enough to receive free tickets, but we're not sure what kind of tickets they are yet. We're assuming single park tickets. So we'll be doing Universal one day and IoA the other. I love Harry Potter so that's a priority to me. Otherwise we would like to try out some of the rides, but don't really have any other must dos. So here's my questions..

1) Would it make any sense to get express passes? Obviously we'll be riding solo for any of the bigger rides. Do you think it's necessary at that time of year?

2) Our hotel is also free for us, but is closer to Disney than Universal. We'll have a rental car. Would it make any sense to book a room for 1 night at Universal to get the express passes and early entry?

Basically just looking for advice to accomplish the most in 2 days, but also allowing for the slow downs that come with young children (and we want to do things they'll enjoy as well). We'll be going to Disney after and plan to take afternoon breaks to beat the heat, but it looks like Universal isn't open as late? Anyway, I'm just rambling now. Any advice and tips would be appreciated!

 

[macraven]

I would not go on the 18 th as Hhn will be on that Sunday
Park will be crowded during the afternoon and the studios will close at 5:00

Do Monday or Tuesday
Monday could be lighter as those that went the night before might be sleeping in

 

[Amboo]

I would not go on the 18 th as Hhn will be on that Sunday
Park will be crowded during the afternoon and the studios will close at 5:00

Do Monday or Tuesday
Monday could be lighter as those that went the night before might be sleeping in

That makes sense! I hadn't thought to check those dates yet. Do you think it will be quiet enough those 2 days that we wouldn't need the express pass?

 

[macraven]

That makes sense! I hadn't thought to check those dates yet. Do you think it will be quiet enough those 2 days that we wouldn't need the express pass?

either day, monday/tuesday should be fine.

usually tuesday are slow days but with hhn happening that weekend, those that went aren't going to be up early to do the parks on monday....
hhn closes down at 2:00 am .....by the time people get to their rooms on site or offsite, wouldn't have enough sleep to hit the parks early the next morning.

 

[bumbershoot]

With it closing early and you being offsite I would rethink the afternoon break. Maybe you should start early and finish early. But I wouldn't take an offsite break.

Child swap is done inside the lines; everyone can go through the lines at Uni. That makes things a little faster. You can also use single rider when available (instead of child swap) and the other parent could take the kids to do something fun then switch after the first rider.