Complete newb here, please help me out!

[HeatherPage]

Hello everyone, we are frequent Disney visitors now jumping feet first into our first Universal trip (even bought AP's knowing we'd be back again in Orlando and most likely will want to return). We will be at a campground 2 miles away and will be going to both IOA & US. Can an expert guide me about getting into park, getting through the entrance (for both parks), etc. Like I said I could do Disney with my eyes closed, but never set foot on US property yet. Is it a big hassle to get on property, park and then get into the theme parks (as in, is it huge and disorienting) it will be myself, husband and 5 year old son (husband can get kind of high strung about some things, so I'm trying to do a little research beforehand so things might go smoother-hopefully, he'll just chill out since he'll be on vacation, but who knows? ) Can we walk to City Walk from parks at the end of the day? We'll be there January 5th for a few days, hopefully if we get there in the morning it will be fairly slow? Thanks for any advice regarding this or anything else you may think to tell me!

 

[David R]

Universal is very easy to get around. Everything is within a walking distance.

When you enter the property, just follow the signs to theme park parking (or valet.) From there, follow the signs that say "attractions" and you'll find yourself in Citywalk. From there you'll walk down a bit to a big elevated circular screen (can't miss it) and that's your first choice. Walk to the right to Universal Studios or to the left to Islands of Adventure. You can see both parks from there.

Both parks are essentially big circles even though Universal Studios has a few cross streets that can serve as shortcuts from one area to another one. But you'll be able to start walking and walk your way around through the entire park by following the main path.

At IOA you'll have a choice to make. Once you make it down the "port of entry" (think of it as Main Street USA) you can start your day by going left which is where some of the main thrill rides are (Marvel Superhero Island), or you can head to the right, which is where Dr. Seuss Land is. Either way you go, just keep following the main path and you'll make a complete circle around the park and hit every land.

Don't worry, it's easy!

 

[Metro West]

Don't worry, it's easy!

Yes indeed...check out the website for more detailed information:www.universalorlando.com
Here's a picture (a little hard to see) of both parks:

 

[yaytezIOA]

You can also check other Universal fan based websites such as Ioacentral.com Universal-excitement.com and Universalignited.com
Loads of good info. You can also also listen to the best, the only Universal podcast IOACentral Radio (http://myspace.com/ioacentralradio ) Though they tend to bounce from park to park, they spend a lot of time on Universal.
Now come the real tips. You of course know to get there at least 45 minutes early. You have your AP's (hopefully two park preffered and not Power Passes) use them. First thing is parking. You have a youngster so you should definately walk as little as possible....do Valet Parking. Its really not that expensive if you have a TPPAP....half price (9 bucks for the whole day). That will get you front and center to City Walk. Head to IOA first and do the park clockwise. You will hit all the big rides early on and wont have to wait for the crowds. Once you get through Lost Continent its Suess Landing. Good spot to take time out and let the kids play, eat lunch and relax. Then when you are done with the park, head out and start walking towards Hard Rock Cafe. Do not go past Hard Rock, instead walk around the far right, and follow the small path behind the building where you will see a single entrance gate with a single attendant and guess what.....little to no line! This will empty you out right behind Jimmy Nuetron and in front of Shrek. Take your pick. Next tip: Mummy. If the line is over 45 minutes...do not do single rider line. It will take just as long to do single rider as the regular line at that point...muster up the strength and choke through it. MIB: if your child is too small to go on, do single rider, while the other does Child Swap....OH YEAH...while one of you waits in line, the other can take the child...on every ride, and ask where child swap is. You can then wait there, and sit down and relax. Once your other half is through the ride, your turn...with minimal waiting. Its great. And that is on every single ride that has a height requirement in both USF and IOA. This is all I know, and I let some big tips slip there...hope the rest of the vets dont get upset and kill me.

 

[Figment22]

Be sure to stop in the store across the street from the Spiderman ride so that your son can get to meet Spiderman. He's a great character and I'm sure your son will love it! There is also a superhero caravan several times during the day on Marvel SuperHero Island where several superheroes drive out on specially decked out ATV's and then do a meet and greet. Kids love it!

Over at Universal Studios, your son will love the Curious George area even if it's a cooler day and you don't want him to go into the wet zone. You can follow the footsteps to the left of the drenching areas and go to the ball factory where kids collect and shoot small foam balls all over the place. Even as my kids got older, they loved coming in here. (Truthfully, my DH even loves the place!)

BTW, January 5th should be a wonderfully quiet time at UO. You'll have smooth sailing for your trip. Getting there early is always beneficial though. Make sure to ride Pteranadon Flyers as early as possible because it's a bottleneck even in slow season. It's located inside Camp Jurassic (in the Jurassic Park section of IOA). Of the play areas for kids, Camp Jurassic is the one that you'll want to keep the closest eye on your little one though. They can come out in several different places. If I Ran the Zoo in Seuss Landing is much easier for keeping an eye on your children.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[HeatherPage]

Thanks for all the great tips everyone! We're heading over to Fort Wilderness at Disney on the 8th for 5 nights, but I have a feeling we'll be going back to check out US/IOA for at least one more day while on Disney property. Can't wait!

 

[SunnyOne]

Unless there's some event i'm not aware of, you shouldn't have any problems with lines at all on a January weekday. So have fun and don't stress!

 

[HeatherPage]

Thanks SunnyOne!