Can't make a touring plan! Info overload

[FourLeafClover]

I am so excited about our upcoming trip... We are going for 2 days - a Wednesday and a Saturday (with 2 days at Disney in between). I have spent SO much time reading and taking notes and planning. All that is left is the actual touring plan for Universal, but I can't figure out the best approach.

I'm thinking roughly:

Day 1 , start at US at park opening (we are staying offsite) with all things HP: Olivanders, Gringots, Diagon Alley, lunch at LC, HE to IOA, then Forbidden Journey, Hippogriff, Dragon Challenge, then move to Jurassic, Spiderman, Mystic Fountain, probably back to Diagon Alley in the evening...

Day 2 - Minions, Transformers, Race Through NY, Revenge of the Mummy, MIB
Then walk around and re-ride our favorites

Any thoughts on this?

Also - best place to find Spongebob and Patrick - this would make my 9 yr olds SO happy

 

[macraven]

Saturday is usually a day with more peeps in the parks

If weather is great, more locals will be there

Since you are staying offsite, get to the parks early

If you are driving, be waiting in the parking garage line before it opens
You'll have less a wait to park the car and go through security at city walk entrance

Buy the park tickets in advance

Be in the park entrance line a good 30 minutes before 9 when the park is open to the public

The earlier you enter the park, less time waiting in ride lines

Those staying onsite will be allowed in the parks an hour before it opens

Potterville will already have people there

If you eat lunch at 11 or about 1:30, LC will not be as crowded

Other than the two days you plan to be at the darkside, waits can vary based on when you go there

September?
Later in the year ?

Some months are more popular and have more crowds than others

Some rides have single rider separate entrance
Use them if regular lines have long waits

Wish you the best for the days you will be there !

 

[Metro West]

You don't really have to plan at Universal...it's not like Disney. But...wait times depend on when you are going.

 

[bchbetha]

Download the wait time app (official Universal Resort app) and don't be locked into your itinerary. Check wait times and use that to plan on the fly. Showtimes are listed there too- don't miss those! There are several small, short HP street shows and you should try and make them. Definitely Diagon Alley at night.

 

[FourLeafClover]

Thanks all - we are going in 2 weeks - 3rd week of August. IOA has early admission both days, so we will be sure to be there early.

Relaxing on the planning mentality is hard - we are a family of 6 so everything needs a plan (though we do go off plan when we can!).

 

[CoachZ]

I am so excited about our upcoming trip... We are going for 2 days - a Wednesday and a Saturday (with 2 days at Disney in between). I have spent SO much time reading and taking notes and planning. All that is left is the actual touring plan for Universal, but I can't figure out the best approach.

I'm thinking roughly:

Day 1 , start at US at park opening (we are staying offsite) with all things HP: Olivanders, Gringots, Diagon Alley, lunch at LC, HE to IOA, then Forbidden Journey, Hippogriff, Dragon Challenge, then move to Jurassic, Spiderman, Mystic Fountain, probably back to Diagon Alley in the evening...

Day 2 - Minions, Transformers, Race Through NY, Revenge of the Mummy, MIB
Then walk around and re-ride our favorites

Any thoughts on this?

Also - best place to find Spongebob and Patrick - this would make my 9 yr olds SO happy

I'll suggest watching point-of-view (POV) YouTube videos of the rides you & your family are interested in riding. This is what I did with my nephews to help plan our trip. Helped us prioritize what to ride first.

 

[yaya74]

Thanks all - we are going in 2 weeks - 3rd week of August. IOA has early admission both days, so we will be sure to be there early.

Relaxing on the planning mentality is hard - we are a family of 6 so everything needs a plan (though we do go off plan when we can!).

Will you use Express Pass? If you will get EP, your wait time will be minimum, 15 min at the most on a busy day. Just like what other have said, a plan isn't quite needed at Universal. I too am a planner. I was frustrated before my trip because I didn't know how to plan for it. But once I got there, I went with the flow and turned off my planning mind. I just needed to decide where I wanted to start, Universal or IOA and then follow the route. The only thing that I had to give much thought was to see shows or meet characters. The schedules Are available on the park brochure.

You can meet Spongebob at the Spongebob store in Universal Studio.

 

[gotomu212]

I would adjust your HP plans. If you're there early certainly start there but LEAVE once it starts to get crowded-check out other park areas, and then return to HP in the evening. Those particular areas get unbelievably crowded mid day but clear out in the evening.

 

[FourLeafClover]

We are planning to make the Express Pass a game time decision. Crowds are supposed to be about a 5 on either day so I don't want to buy in advance if it is not needed as it will be very pricey for 6, but we will bite the bullet if the crowds are higher.

Good to know I can relax on the planning somewhat (as hard as that is to do for me!).

We have watched POV videos of almost everything, which is so much fun and has gotten the kids very excited. We have our list of rides, I am more trying to think about the best order to minimize waiting and backtracking. I have not been since 1999 (Jaws!).

 

[Lynne G]

It will also be hot, so find places like the Horror make up show, or other to cool off in. Plus, for kids, the Animal show is fun. Dogs and other animals that are all rescues and used in films. I agree, I would wait to see if you need the express. It is date and park specific, with no refunds. You can buy it in lots of places in the park. The first 2 hours of the day are the best. You can get many of the more popular rides done in the first 2 hours of open. Also, since they sometimes open earlier than stated, I'd be sure to get there at least 1/2 hour before open. Have fun. IOA and US are great parks. Oh, and if you do the water rides. Beware. All 3 can get you wet. Like stepping out of the shower wet. Maybe pay for a locker for a change of clothes, or wear clothes and shoes that dry easy. On a hot day, does not take long to dry.

 

[flortlebap]

You'll be there at the same time as us we are a family of six too and I also need to plan!

We have EPs though as were staying on site. Our 10 days in Disney are planned out commando style (with full expectations that touring plans will be out of the window by day 2 after all the "but I neeeeed to peeee" breaks) so I'm hugely looking forward to the relaxed pace of 4 days at universal!

 

[CoachZ]

We are planning to make the Express Pass a game time decision. Crowds are supposed to be about a 5 on either day so I don't want to buy in advance if it is not needed as it will be very pricey for 6, but we will bite the bullet if the crowds are higher.

Good to know I can relax on the planning somewhat (as hard as that is to do for me!).

We have watched POV videos of almost everything, which is so much fun and has gotten the kids very excited. We have our list of rides, I am more trying to think about the best order to minimize waiting and backtracking. I have not been since 1999 (Jaws!).

FYI a friend of mine was at UO late last month. She told me there were kiosks set up in the parks giving free express passes for the family if a parent qualified for a credit card. Might be a free option for express pass & you can always cancel the card once it is received. That's what she did.