Back after 15 years.....a few quick questions.

[xipotec]

Taking the kids for the first time, last time I visited Back to the Future was biggest ride, and Spiderman was still not working properly having just opened....

1.Planning a single day in each park, and additional one half day. Which park would you add the extra half day to? We were considering spending our first day ( the half day) at one of the HP spots...we arrive at 3pm..

2. Crowds first weeks of November?

3. Best Restaurants?

4. Most over rated ride?

5. Best show?

More to come, thanks for your expert advice!

 

[macraven]

Early November is a good time
Weather decent and limited crowds

Depends who you ask what is the best
We all like different things from food to rides
You can get so many different answers as everyone has favorites

Check out damo's menu / sticky for poll results

 

[Jonny_Duck]

Taking the kids for the first time, last time I visited Back to the Future was biggest ride, and Spiderman was still not working properly having just opened....

1.Planning a single day in each park, and additional one half day. Which park would you add the extra half day to? We were considering spending our first day ( the half day) at one of the HP spots...we arrive at 3pm..

2. Crowds first weeks of November?

3. Best Restaurants?

4. Most over rated ride?

5. Best show?

More to come, thanks for your expert advice!

I used to really like Margaritaville but my last visit wasn't that good. They changed their menu and I'm not impressed. Lots of ppl seem to love Mythos but I've personally never gone.

Not sure if it qualifies as a show per say but I LOVE Terminator.

Idk if there is an overrated ride....each person likes diff things. I will say RRR wasn't that impressive to me. Not sure how highly it's "rated" though. I've only ridden it once and it was plenty imo.

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

Best Show - tie, Blues Brothers, Horror Make Up

Overrated Ride - For me, RRR. It is a legitimate roller coaster for sure, but we live near Cedar Point, so we ride REAL roller coasters, so I am a little biased. I would have voted Hulk a few months ago, just too much of a headache, hoping the refurb smooths it out. In short, because of where we live, we do not go to Universal for roller coasters.

Best restaurant - too many to choose from, it depends on taste/atmosphere. We were MEH on Mythos, love Margaritaville, and for some reason really like Louie's. It was always our go-to to pass time until Beetlejuice started. More memories than taste.

 

[Disxuni]

1. I suggest downloading the Universal Studios app before arriving and look at the app to see which Harry Potter park has lower wait times and go to that park for the half day. If it is truly your desire to spend the half day at one of the parks, but do not know which one. I suggest that if you decide to go to Diagon Alley (which is at Universal) to walk through Quiet Flight Surf Shop. It leads into another shop and once you walk out of that shop you'll be closer to Universal. It's easier to do it that way rather than to walk around all the buildings before walking towards Universal.
2. Crowds are nothing too crazy at the beginning of November.
3. Fish and Chips are amazing at the Leaky Cauldron. Burgers at Mel's taste surprisingly good as they appear flame broiled. They have a nice grilled flavor. When I went to Mytho's ages ago it was good. Personally, my favorite restaurant all around is Hard Rock mainly due to the atmosphere (as I'm a huge fan of rock music), but the food is great too. Try the wings! Either way, look up restaurants that interest you and look up reviews on your favorites to see what you'd like to do!
4. Rip Ride Rocket in my personal opinion is the most overrated ride. As it feels like more of a pain than a pleasure to be on. My head wasn't bashed around and I still had a headache after I rode it. You want a nice thrilling coaster? Ride The Dragon Challenge.
5. Favorite show for me is Horror Make Up Show, but watch out, as it has dark humor and a few adult jokes, as well shows a couple clips of gruesome scenes from horror films, although the clips do not last all that long. I only mention the warning since I do not know what kind of family you have. Also, I like T2 a lot, but I'm a huge fan of the film.

 

[macraven]

You had me going yes, yes until I read your opinion about Mel's

 

[pcstang]

You had me going yes, yes until I read your opinion about Mel's

Me too!

 

[MilitaryMouse]

Taking the kids for the first time, last time I visited Back to the Future was biggest ride, and Spiderman was still not working properly having just opened....

1.Planning a single day in each park, and additional one half day. Which park would you add the extra half day to? We were considering spending our first day ( the half day) at one of the HP spots...we arrive at 3pm..

2. Crowds first weeks of November?

3. Best Restaurants?

4. Most over rated ride?

5. Best show?

More to come, thanks for your expert advice!

This isn't exactly a show, but definitely a must do - the raptor "meet and greet"! It's very unique and so much fun. We make it a show and watch other people meet the raptor - honestly, I could do this for hours and be perfectly entertained!

 

[Disxuni]

You had me going yes, yes until I read your opinion about Mel's

In my defense, it recently occurred when they first opened and it was made fresh. Haha. So, that might make a difference? I never remembered Mel's that being all too great, but my last experience surprised me. So, it could've been a one time deal.

 

[macraven]

Ok, I take back my words.... Lol

Yes 15 years ago it was decent and many loved the place including myself

But this is one place that is not consistent when I am there, and has missed the mark for me
( I put another park eatery in that category also)

I always redo places three times before I stop eating there and monsters cafe is one of the two for me

But I do have to say that two different times in the past two years I retried the place, they were very cordial when I took my food back to the register and requested a refund for it.

I give them 5 stars for extreme kindness on refund service

 

[xipotec]

My daughter is freaking out about Raptor encounter.

What is the Simpsons area like!

Should we really go early to Potters place in November. I was thinking of doing the half day for that area as a start.

 

[Disxuni]

Like I said, there is two Parks for Harry Potter, so my suggestion is downloading the Universal app on your phone to seeing which park has lower wait times and go to that park, since you made it sound like you're going to start on your half day in the afternoon.

I finally got to see the Simpsons area and I personally enjoy it. There is a lot more than I expected there. A lot of quick service restaurants. So, I think that was the main focus in them wanting to create a Simpsons area, because honestly, the main focus is food and also drinking. The Flaming Moe is a wonderful novelty drink for kids. However, I never tried it myself, because it's a little too rich for my blood. Also, they even managed to make a mini-ride as well in the area and there are games also in the area. It's kind of a cross between it being Springfield / Krustyland.

 

[Hunterr]

Flaming Moes is expensive, but i had to try it once! It's orange soda with dry ice. It's all about the presentation

 

[pa. dad]

I would do the 3rd day on the park that you feel you missed some things at so be flexible with that.
One thing I like about Universal is that the City walk is just outside the parks so you can eat a meal there and then return to a park. Best shows rides and meals are a matter of personal taste but there is a good variety there.
IF you want to take the Harry Potter train ride, you need a 2 park ticket for that - I thought it was a very expensive for a choo choo ride. Even a big special effects choo choo ride.
have fun.

 

[Disxuni]

Well, the Hogwarts express wasn't just made for guests to experience the idea of the "Hogwarts express", but I think was mainly produced for transportation. It was a way to transport guests to one park to another (which they never done before) while also giving the guests a great experience. They finally had an excuse to do that. They do not want people to see behind the scenes, or a bunch of bush, and want to keep people in the reality of the wizarding world, hence why the special effects and making it not just transportation, but a whole ride experience.

 

[macraven]

Flaming Moes is expensive, but i had to try it once! It's orange soda with dry ice. It's all about the presentation

i only tried it the first time the year it all opened.

i thought the presentation of flaming moes was fantastic too!

but......i did not like the drink.
had a bit and poured it out

i'm sure there are some readers that love the drink so i am not saying it is bad, just not to my taste.

 

[schumigirl]

i only tried it the first time the year it all opened.

i thought the presentation of flaming moes was fantastic too!

but......i did not like the drink.
had a bit and poured it out

i'm sure there are some readers that love the drink so i am not saying it is bad, just not to my taste.

It was gross!! But looks cool.......we took one sip and a TM laughed at my reaction and offered to get us a fresh empty glass in place of dirty one.........we accepted her offer.......

We bought it only for the cup anyway......lol......love our souvenirs........

 

[Hunterr]

Well, the Hogwarts express wasn't just made for guests to experience the idea of the "Hogwarts express", but I think was mainly produced for transportation. It was a way to transport guests to one park to another (which they never done before) while also giving the guests a great experience. They finally had an excuse to do that. They do not want people to see behind the scenes, or a bunch of bush, and want to keep people in the reality of the wizarding world, hence why the special effects and making it not just transportation, but a whole ride experience.

And it's also a genius way to entice people to fork up the extra cash for a 2-park pass if they otherwise may have just wanted a one park ticket.

 

[Hunterr]

i only tried it the first time the year it all opened.

i thought the presentation of flaming moes was fantastic too!

but......i did not like the drink.
had a bit and poured it out

i'm sure there are some readers that love the drink so i am not saying it is bad, just not to my taste.

The drink is neither good nor bad. It simply exists and is in the cup. I finished it because if I pay 8 bucks, I'm swallowing every last drop. But yeah, I might buy it one more time when I go with family, but that's it.

 

[schumigirl]

The drink is neither good nor bad. It simply exists and is in the cup. I finished it because if I pay 8 bucks, I'm swallowing every last drop. But yeah, I might buy it one more time when I go with family, but that's it.

It was definitely bad to me!

I wouldn't have cared it was $50.............it got poured away!