Family of 5 first trip - tips or advice?

[mommyof2boys1girl]

We will be arriving on Sept 29, staying onsite at the HRH for 3 nites. We will have single park tickets, and plan to use early entry (AAA TA said both parks?? Is this something new??) whenever possible.

We plan to spend Sunday the 30th at US, then Monday the 31st at IOA. The 1st will be spent in the park that recieves the most family votes!

We are hoping that our Universal Express passes with our onsite stay will help with crowds - hubby and two boys will do "thrill" rides, while 6 yr old dd and myself will shop, do kiddie rides and play areas.

The rest of our trip is spent at WDW, and I have detailed touring plans for each day there. I would like to put plans together for the Universal parks as well, but other than hitting WWoHP first, I don't have any idea of how to tour or what rides will be busiest. So any advice would be appreciated!

 

[mesaboy2]

We will be arriving on Sept 29, staying onsite at the HRH for 3 nites. We will have single park tickets, and plan to use early entry (AAA TA said both parks?? Is this something new??) whenever possible.

We plan to spend Sunday the 30th at US, then Monday the 31st at IOA. The 1st will be spent in the park that recieves the most family votes!

We are hoping that our Universal Express passes with our onsite stay will help with crowds - hubby and two boys will do "thrill" rides, while 6 yr old dd and myself will shop, do kiddie rides and play areas.

The rest of our trip is spent at WDW, and I have detailed touring plans for each day there. I would like to put plans together for the Universal parks as well, but other than hitting WWoHP first, I don't have any idea of how to tour or what rides will be busiest. So any advice would be appreciated!

I think the AAA TA was wrong. As far as I know, EE only applies to Wizarding World of HP, which is within IoA.

Honestly, I would consider switching your two park days. I know it's counterintuitive, but Sundays are often less crowded than Mondays, especially in the offseason. Since WWoHP is fairly small I prefer to go there on a Sunday.

That said, you are going at a relatively slow time of year and the Express privileges will positively spoil you. You won't need a touring plan like you may be used to for Disney. Be aware that four or five attractions do not accept Express--they are Forbidden Journey, Pteranadon Flyers, Ollivander's (all in IoA), and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit in the Studios. The fifth attraction I'm not sure of is Despicable Me and is so new I don't know it's Express status, but others here do.

 

[Planogirl]

I suggest that you read up on the restaurants and decide where you'd like to eat. Also, plan to pool hop if your family enjoys pools. Otherwise, relax. It's a different world at Universal.

 

[macraven]

that sunday has the studios closing at 5:00 due to it being a hhn, hard ticket event.
you will probably start to see crowds in the park by 3:00.
if you have park to park tickets, you could hop over to ioa for the rest of the day then.
ioa will be closing at 7:00.


i did read about the studios starting early entry for the onsite hotel guests for the studios.
only a select few rides will be open in that first hour before the official opening of the park.
i think it is shrek and despicable me you can do.
if there are other rides open, i don't remember.