CityWalk Suggestions

[Albytaps]

Hey folks. We are planning on arriving at Universal around 2pm on Thursaday the 1st of July. It will be a long drive and my wife and I will be pretty tired but we will want to stay up and do whatever we can on our first day keeping in mind to go to bed early. My questions are:

!. Will 2pm be a good time to check into our hotel the RPR?

2. What is there to do with the kids at Citywalk besides eating?

3. Would you head over to Downtown Disney instead of hanging out in Citywalk? (i rather not drive any more that day)

4. Are the other hotels worth visiting and is there anything to do with kids?

FYI I have 4 girls ranging from 2-8. Thanks.

 

[clever girl]

My 7-year-old daughter and I just returned from Universal yesterday.

As far as things to do at Citywalk, take their bathing suits. There is a fountain/spray area that she absolutely LOVED and would have stayed playing in all night if I would have let her. There is also a parrot at Margaritaville where they can have their pictures taken, and also 2 folks walking around on stilts inside the restaurant making balloon creations for the folks dining there. We went and the food was GREAT! (I printed off a coupon at Orlando coupons for a free margarita with order of an entree!!!)

She loved looking in all the stores and playing in the mist in front of the universal globe.

Have fun!!!!

 

[clever girl]

My 7-year-old daughter and I just returned from Universal yesterday.

As far as things to do at Citywalk, take their bathing suits. There is a fountain/spray area that she absolutely LOVED and would have stayed playing in all night if I would have let her. There is also a parrot at Margaritaville where they can have their pictures taken, and also 2 folks walking around on stilts inside the restaurant making balloon creations for the folks dining there. We went and the food was GREAT! (I printed off a coupon at Orlando coupons for a free margarita with order of an entree!!!)

She loved looking in all the stores and playing in the mist in front of the universal globe.

Have fun!!!!

 

[bubba's mom]

Check in and go to the pool at the hotel.

Head to CityWalk for dinner.

There is a game room upstairs in NASCAR Grille. There are some cheesy carny games at CW and a carosel.

CityWalk is mostly restaurants, but there are some shops too.

I'm sure since you'll all be tired, an early bedtime will be in order?

 

[Albytaps]

Thanks guys, good ideas. We had it in mind to do some swimming, but that's a good call to go to that fountain/spray area too... my kids will love that! The carny games will be fun too.

I wanted to go to Margaritaville, will we be able to eat there without a reservation? There are many places I wouldn't mind eating at so I figured we'd walk around and see where the kids want to go.

Planning our bedtime as soon as the sun goes down cause we're getting up early! Can't wait for Potter!

 

[clever girl]

We walked up to Margaritaville when we got there and they told us it would be about an hour. They gave us a pager that they said was good for around 30 yards from the store, so we went into the Universal store to kill some time. I'd say they buzzed us after about 40 minutes. Well worth the wait. Food was DELICIOUS!

 

[scanne]

clever girl,

Thank you for the tips about the coupons! I just printed off a bunch for our Universal trip. There was $10 off Island Dining Room (where we have a reservation), I got the free margarita coupon and 20% off PastaMore! Definitely an awesome find!

Thank you so much!!!

 

[patster734]

There's also a movie theater in Citywalk.

http://www.universalorlando.com/Citywalk/universal_cineplex_amc_theatre.aspx#

 

[tabby1964]

Clevergirl,

Do you know if it is one free margarita coupon per group or could my husband and I both use one. Did you stay on-site and still have to wait that long for a table. We are going at the end of July and I am trying to figure out my crowd strategy. Thanks!

 

[unionville]

Thank you for the free margarita tip!

 

[Albytaps]

Yes thank you, I will be printing out the Margaritaville and BubbaGump coupons.

I was also wondering about the on-site priority seating? Will I even need that BubbaGump coupon? Do the restaurants in Citywalk honor the on-site priority seating?

 

[patster734]

Yes thank you, I will be printing out the Margaritaville and BubbaGump coupons.

I was also wondering about the on-site priority seating? Will I even need that BubbaGump coupon? Do the restaurants in Citywalk honor the on-site priority seating?

All Citywalk restaurants, except Emeril's and Bubba Gumps, honor the onsite priority seating.

 

[Albytaps]

Thanks Pat, I guess I'll print out that BubbaGump coupon after all. I also love going to the movies, but not sure if the 2 year old will be a pain in the you know what.

 

[Ezzie]

clever girl,

Thank you for the tips about the coupons! I just printed off a bunch for our Universal trip. There was $10 off Island Dining Room (where we have a reservation), I got the free margarita coupon and 20% off PastaMore! Definitely an awesome find!

Thank you so much!!!

Can I ask where did you find the Margaritaville drink coupon and $10.00 at Island Dining Room? Thanks!

 

[disney74352]

1. Will 2pm be a good time to check into our hotel the RPR?

I think that would be ok, but I would get there a couple of hours earlier if you can.

2. What is there to do with the kids at Citywalk besides eating? I would not recommend taking children with you a Citywalk because most people are drunk. The only thing to do is walk around, drink, party, dance, loud music, eat, and movie theater. If you are checking in at 2pm then you will have plenty of time to ride rides before Citywalk opens.

3. Would you head over to Downtown Disney instead of hanging out in Citywalk? (i rather not drive any more that day)

I think downtown disney is more family oriented. I think they do have a kiddy section where there are arcades and such. I got my tips on a website called www.orlandoonadime.com before I went last March of this year, I found it to be very helpful and it nearly ansewered all of my questions. Downtown disney also has planet hollywood, shopping, circ de solei (circus without animals) and so on.

4. Are the other hotels worth visiting and is there anything to do with kids?

We stayed at Best Western Lakeside hotel, they have a playground, kiddy pools, heated pools, golf, refrigerator, pizzahut ect. It might be cheaper for you to book through travelocity or some kind of thing like that online.

 

[bubba's mom]

2. What is there to do with the kids at Citywalk besides eating?

I would not recommend taking children with you a Citywalk because most people are drunk. The only thing to do is walk around, drink, party, dance, loud music, eat, and movie theater. If you are checking in at 2pm then you will have plenty of time to ride rides before Citywalk opens.

We always see a TON of small children at City Walk...especially at the splash/fountain area. (nearly run one over every year since they run around and don't watch where they're going). They will be fine going to City Walk...the drunks aren't out in force till way later in the evening. Most restaurants won't allow children after 9pm...that's when the club scene starts picking up....when those age children should be starting to get ready for bed....

and, when I've been to DTD, (esp when PI was there), I've seen quite a few drunks in my day. I don't want people to get the impression there is nothing but drunks at CW at night..... Just like there are so many misconceptions all there is at IOA is coasters and Universal is a coaster/thrill park.

But, the games and carousel are there to enjoy....Besides, if they are onsite, they can always walk back to their hotel if they (or the kids) don't like it.

 

[patster734]

We always see a TON of small children at City Walk...especially at the splash/fountain area. (nearly run one over every year since they run around and don't watch where they're going). They will be fine going to City Walk...the drunks aren't out in force till way later in the evening. Most restaurants won't allow children after 9pm...that's when the club scene starts picking up....when those age children should be starting to get ready for bed....

and, when I've been to DTD, (esp when PI was there), I've seen quite a few drunks in my day. I don't want people to get the impression there is nothing but drunks at CW at night..... Just like there are so many misconceptions all there is at IOA is coasters and Universal is a coaster/thrill park.

But, the games and carousel are there to enjoy....Besides, if they are onsite, they can always walk back to their hotel if they (or the kids) don't like it.

I completely agree!

 

[Albytaps]

Yes, most likely we'll be at CityWalk from 3pm - 7pm. This should give us enough time to:

1. Have fun at the fountains (and go back to hotel to change if need be.)

2. Do the carosel and carny games

3. Site see and walk around

4. Do some wndow shopping and maybe get a thing or 2

5. Eat somewhere cool

That should be enough for our first day. Thanks again guys

 

[unionville]

Can I ask where did you find the Margaritaville drink coupon and $10.00 at Island Dining Room? Thanks!

I think I googled "free margarita coupon at margaritaville orlando". It was part of the orlandocoupons.com website.

 

[disney74352]

I did not say all people are drunks, I said most people are drunk. And when we went most people were drunk and we visit several times a year. Now, remember Citywalk does not begin until the park closes which is pretty late for us. But I think the point of her question was which park would be more of a child oriented place to be and I ansewered to the best of my ability which I still think Downtown Disney. You might have seen a lot of children there when you went (which must of been right when it opened and people were also trying to exit), but we did not see very many children when we did go, honestly. But to ansewer her question, there would be more for the kids to do if she wanted to be out late, I would recommend Downtown Disney. I am sorry if I offended anyone.