Daddy/Daughter Day trip to Universal...first time at "new" Universal

[doconeill]

We will be down at Disney the week of April 19th. We had planned on the Wednesday to all go together at SeaWorld - and then we looked at the ticket prices - they were more than Universal!

So DW suggested that I could take DD#1 to Universal while she can take DD#2 someplace else.

DW and I were at Universal in 1997. It is safe to say its very different now.

With park hours set as 9:00-6:00, and no plans to get the express passes:

- Which park would be recommended? DD will almost be 9, and about 50", so several of the coaster at IOA, but pretty much everything at USO.

- How crowded is it likely to be?

- Would the extra money for the 2-park/1-day pass be worth it? Would it be possible to do everything at both parks? Especially given that she won't be able to ride DD, Hulk, or Freefall.

- What are the must-dos?

- Any random suggestions?

 

[Darcy03231]

We were there in August 2007 with my niece, who was 9 at the time. She preferred Universal because she could go on everything there. She was too short for Hulk, Dr. Doom and Dueling Dragons. While she enjoyed the rest of the rides in IOA, she felt a bit left out when the older kids did them.

I really don't think there is any way to do everything in both parks in one day, especially without the Express Pass. You could certainly do some things in both parks. If there are things you want to do in both parks I would make a list of my top 5 in each park and get those done first. After that I would then get whatever you can in until the park closes.

Make sure you're in line at the turnstiles when the park opens. You can get a lot done in the first couple of hours with little to no wait.

In US my niece loved Revenge of the Mummy, Earthquake (now Disaster), Shrek, Jimmy Neutron, Men in Black and the Hollywood Horror Make-up Show. In IOA her favorites were Jurassic Park, Dudley Do Right, Popeye, Spiderman and The Flying Unicorn.

 

[Metro West]

With park hours set as 9:00-6:00, and no plans to get the express passes:

- Which park would be recommended? DD will almost be 9, and about 50", so several of the coaster at IOA, but pretty much everything at USO. You might want to stick with the Studios if your daughter can do everything there.

- How crowded is it likely to be? The parks shouldn't be too crowded that week...go on a weekday if possible.

- Would the extra money for the 2-park/1-day pass be worth it? Would it be possible to do everything at both parks? Especially given that she won't be able to ride DD, Hulk, or Freefall. No...I wouldn't spend the money on the Express Plus pass...crowds shouldn't be bad that week.

- What are the must-dos? You should be able to do everything you want...get there at opening and you will miss a lot of the crowds. This will hold true at either park you start with.

- Any random suggestions? Get there at opening and do the bigger attractions first.

My responses in red.

 

[robhawk]

Just did universal with my daughter in March. We arrived at the gate at 8:50. I would say we did about 95% of both parks by 6pm. We then had dinner at the Hard Rock.
The key is to be at the gate at or before opening. We walked on Hulk, Spiderman, both Dueling Dragons, all the water rides and pretty much all of IOA with 0-5 minutes wait.
I thought about the Express pass but it really isn't worth it.
As for one park over another. If your daughter is a dare-devil like mine IOA.
Good luck!!

Rob

 

[rhw]

each year we take one day and do both US and IOA that day. We are usually completely done with IOA by lunch and finish US by 5 pm. This includes riding many of the rides more than once. We don't take any breaks and don't spend time really noticing details (which we are going to try to notice this trip, what have we missed?) If you are just wanting to get through the rides, you won't have any problem.

 

[Tank]

If you like water rides than you could get the 2 park pass. DD ripsaw falls, Popey's bilge rat barges and JP river ride all get you wet. Otherwise just stiick with the studios. In IOA the only dry rides she would be big enough for are spiderman and the ones in Suess landing. If you stick with just the Studios you would have time to see all the shows and ride your favorites more than once.

 

[Darcy03231]

Wow, I guess we must be slow! While we can get through a park a day, we've never even come close to getting everything done in both parks in a day.

 

[macraven]

let me add to what others are saying about getting to the park early.

if you are driving to universal, be in the parking garage line by 7:40.
granted, the lot does not open until 8 but the line at that time to enter the garage will be way backed up at that point.


if you are there at 7:40, you should be about the 4th or 5th car in line.

once the lot opens, you will be parked and on your way to the studios gate by 8:05.

if the line for the turnstile is long, many times the park will open around 8:30ish even though the official opening time is 9:00.

not all rides will be open but enough for you two in having a head start from the crowds or lines.

you will be safe until about 11ish, as that is typically when crowds start to form.

i would stay in one park only.
you can do plenty in that one day and still not see everything in that park.
if you take in the shows, that will cut into your down time.

horror make up show and animal planet are excellent shows at the studio side.

if you like musicals, the beetlejuice review is at the studio side also.