City Walk visit and purchasing tickets

[shmoogrrrl]

We are headed to Disney on August 20th, and if things go as planned, we will be in Orlando around 3:00 - 4:00 pm. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge and planning to spend one day (Tuesday of that week) at IOA to visit Harry Potter and friends.

I haven't been to Universal since the year that it opened, so I basically know NOTHING about Universal and the surrounding area. I just had a few questions.

1. Is City Walk set up like Downtown Disney, where they have parking there and you can just go visit? I noticed that they had a Margaritaville there and we love their nachos, so I was thinking that maybe we could stop there when we get to Orlando for a late lunch/early dinner before heading to the hotel.

2. Since we are only spending one day at IOA, I know that we won't really get any kid of discount tickets, but is it better to buy them on-line or can we get them somewhere at City Walk when we get into town, even though they would be for a later day?

3. I am thinking about getting the Universal version of the fastpass, and I've read that if you are staying on-site, you can get into Harry Potter World an hour early. If we buy the passes, do we get the same deal? I would assume not, but I figured that I would ask!

Thanks so much for all your help!

 

[damo]

We are headed to Disney on August 20th, and if things go as planned, we will be in Orlando around 3:00 - 4:00 pm. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge and planning to spend one day (Tuesday of that week) at IOA to visit Harry Potter and friends.

I haven't been to Universal since the year that it opened, so I basically know NOTHING about Universal and the surrounding area. I just had a few questions.

1. Is City Walk set up like Downtown Disney, where they have parking there and you can just go visit? I noticed that they had a Margaritaville there and we love their nachos, so I was thinking that maybe we could stop there when we get to Orlando for a late lunch/early dinner before heading to the hotel.

2. Since we are only spending one day at IOA, I know that we won't really get any kid of discount tickets, but is it better to buy them on-line or can we get them somewhere at City Walk when we get into town, even though they would be for a later day?

3. I am thinking about getting the Universal version of the fastpass, and I've read that if you are staying on-site, you can get into Harry Potter World an hour early. If we buy the passes, do we get the same deal? I would assume not, but I figured that I would ask!

Thanks so much for all your help!

1. Parking for Citywalk and the parks are all in one place and you have to pay. You can definitely go to Margaritaville but you will have to pay the $15 parking fee.

2. If I were you I would just buy the print at home tickets online. That way you don't have to wait at any booths or kiosks. You take the print out straight to the gates.

3. The express plus passes will not get you early entry.

 

[Bluer101]

We are headed to Disney on August 20th, and if things go as planned, we will be in Orlando around 3:00 - 4:00 pm. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge and planning to spend one day (Tuesday of that week) at IOA to visit Harry Potter and friends.

I haven't been to Universal since the year that it opened, so I basically know NOTHING about Universal and the surrounding area. I just had a few questions.

1. Is City Walk set up like Downtown Disney, where they have parking there and you can just go visit? I noticed that they had a Margaritaville there and we love their nachos, so I was thinking that maybe we could stop there when we get to Orlando for a late lunch/early dinner before heading to the hotel.

I have never been to DTD so I have no idea. Universal has 2 big parking garages and it costs $15 for parking.

2. Since we are only spending one day at IOA, I know that we won't really get any kid of discount tickets, but is it better to buy them on-line or can we get them somewhere at City Walk when we get into town, even though they would be for a later day?

I would say buy your tickets online since you should get a little discount. Select electronic pickup so you don't have to wait in line, you use the kiosks. If you decided to visit Citywalk a day before, you can pick up your tickets then if it before the park closes. The tickets are not activated until you go through the gates.

3. I am thinking about getting the Universal version of the fastpass, and I've read that if you are staying on-site, you can get into Harry Potter World an hour early. If we buy the passes, do we get the same deal? I would assume not, but I figured that I would ask!

No, you cannot get into WWOHP early with express passes.

Thanks so much for all your help!

Answers are in red above.

 

[Bluer101]

1. Parking for Citywalk and the parks are all in one place and you have to pay. You can definitely go to Margaritaville but you will have to pay the $15 parking fee.

2. If I were you I would just buy the print at home tickets online. That way you don't have to wait at any booths or kiosks. You take the print out straight to the gates.

3. The express plus passes will not get you early entry.

You beat me to it again.

 

[Metro West]

Just a reminder...Parking is only $3.00 after 6pm so if you're wanting to go to CityWalk, either go when you go to the park since you have to pay the regular parking rate anyway or wait and go in the evenings when parking is cheaper.

 

[Planogirl]

Just a reminder...Parking is only $3.00 after 6pm so if you're wanting to go to CityWalk, either go when you go to the park since you have to pay the regular parking rate anyway or wait and go in the evenings when parking is cheaper.

And you beat me to that. That $3.00 parking is quite a relief after paying $15.00 on previous days. Just make sure not to arrive before 6:00 PM.