Calling all Universal Experts

[ebloom]

We are heading to Orlando in October and will be spending a few days at Universal before we head over to Disney. We are staying at RPR and there will be HHN parties all three nights we are there. We won't be going as the boys are 5 and 7, but I was wondering what time they herd people out of the parks before the party?
We can just head over to IOA then as long as we have the two park tickets, right?
Also, anyone know what characters are at the resort restaurants and any suggestion about which one to go to?
Lastly, any suggestions for newbies to Universal with two young boys. The are completely into superheroes. The 5yo is a little whimpy, but loves the characters and the 7yo is a total kamikaze.
Thanks for the help.

 

[damo]

Yes you can head over to IOA but you will probably have finished with the parks by then.

Make sure you check the times for the superheroes parade. It occurs several times each day and each of the heroes will sign autographs.

Spend some time at the Jurassic Park Discovery Centre as well as the Jurassic Park Playground. They should both love that. Your 7 year old will love Spiderman but I would ride it before taking the 5 year old on. He may love it, he may not.

You can do the Superhero breakfast at Confisco's at IOA. Spiderman is the major hero.

Someone else will chirp in with the heroes at the restaurants at the resorts.

Universal has lots for little boys but no superheroes.


Here is a page of videos that might help: http://www.uomeetingsandevents.com/Universal_Experience/experience.asp

 

[macraven]

ditto to what damo said.


the studios will close at 5 and ioa an hour later.

be at the park when they open in the morning.
by park closure, you will be ready to head back to the hotel.


if you need to know in advance which characters will be at the hotel character dinner, call the hotel.
what has been in the past months, might not be the same in october.

you order off the regular menu for the hotel character dinners.

 

[ebloom]

Thanks for the help. We were planning on doing the Character breakfast. I will call the resorts for the rotating characters there. We will definitely check out the super hero parade the little guy will go nuts.
You guys are great!

 

[macraven]

Thanks for the help. We were planning on doing the Character breakfast. I will call the resorts for the rotating characters there. We will definitely check out the super hero parade the little guy will go nuts.
You guys are great!

go this site:
http://www.universalorlando.com/amusement-parks/islands-of-adventure/restaurants.html


where it is highlighted and says "click here" for dates, will give you more info. it will take you to the calendar for dates and times it is held.


this is from the site for the character breakast:

Don't Miss the Character Breakfast!

Breakfast is not just the most important meal of the day...now it's the most fun!

Bring the whole family and enjoy breakfast with special animated characters and appearances at Universal's Islands of Adventure's Confisco Grille®.

Click Here for dates and times.

The breakfast is $17.95 for Adults and $11.95 for children, plus tax and gratuity. Call 407-224-4012 for reservations.
OR use our NEW email character breakfast reservation system at diningreservations@universalorlando.com It's easy. Just send us your name, contact telephone number, party size, date and time you'd like to attend. We'll respond within 72 hours with a confirmation.


the character breakfast is at the park.

the character dinners are only at the hotels.


when you enter the park, pick up the park guide maps.
it will give the times and places for the super heroes arrival to marvel land and also all other character meet ups.

when you check into your hotel room on site, there should be a park guide map in the room.

the park guide maps change weekly.
always look at the current one to catch the characters.

 

[Coach81]

You are going to LOVE IOA with your boys.. have a great time!!!

 

[Poohbug]

Both Universal parks are great for boys. Don't get me wrong-Disney is great-but the truth is, the majority of Disney is geared for girls with an afterthought for boys. Having three boys myself, I sometimes find this annoying.

All the super heros at IOA are wonderful. You can have pix taken with Spiderman pretty much any time of the day. The parade is fun and after all the heros ride in, they work the crowd for pix and signatures. It's true-no super heros at the studios park but they do have other great characters like Scooby Doo and the gang, Simpsons, Shrek and Nick characters.

Besides the super heros, my boys love Jurassic Park, SuessLand, MIB.....well now that I think about it-they just love everything at Universal.

Have a great vacation.