first time at Universal in 20yrs

[cruisinpan567]

My family and I have be going to Disney for many years and have not ventured to another park in about 20yrs. We are doing a non Disney trip this June. We are going to be there from Saturday thru Friday. We want to hit both Universal parks, Sea world and Wet and Wild. With Saturday and Friday being travel days what is the best plan of attack? Not sure which days are best at certain parks.
thanks

 

[RMulieri]

When in June and are yous staying onsite? keep in mind the expansion of Harry potter at the studios is slated for sometime this summer, likely June, and that will drive up crowds tremendously in both parks for a long time.Traditional slow days are likely not to be slow.

 

[cruisinpan567]

We are going June 14th, staying off site

 

[damo]

We are going June 14th, staying off site

Keep an eye out for opening dates for Diagon Alley and plan accordingly. The parks will be swamped. It's tough to plan right now because dates have not been announced.

 

[RMulieri]

We are going June 14th, staying off site

That is tough..Rumor has the DIagon alley expansion opening around then.It will PACK the parks solid.I would recommend staying onsite if you can swing it( stayting onsite at one of the deluixe resorts ONE night gives you express pass and early entry for both check in and check out day).It will give you early entry and express pass for resort guests..The official opening has not been announced yet, but it will likely be soon.That will help plan, but you can likely forget about low crowd days for this summer, there wont be any once Diagn alley opens .For now we cant help you out much till the dates are announced

 

[wiigirl]

Keep an eye out for opening dates for Diagon Alley and plan accordingly. The parks will be swamped. It's tough to plan right now because dates have not been announced.

 

[cruisinpan567]

That doesn't sound good. It would be nice to see the new part but I am hoping it doesn't open until we leave. We got around The Disney parks very easily because we knew what to expect. Not knowing anything about this parks will make it a little harder. We have already booked our place off site because of size and $. Do you recommend getting the express pass? (already know the answer I think)

 

[RMulieri]

That doesn't sound good. It would be nice to see the new part but I am hoping it doesn't open until we leave. We got around The Disney parks very easily because we knew what to expect. Not knowing anything about this parks will make it a little harder. We have already booked our place off site because of size and $. Do you recommend getting the express pass? (already know the answer I think)

express pass will be useful for the non-Harry potter things ( The current Forbidden journey and Ollivanders wand show does not take it , and it is likely that the expansion will not either).What will really help with the Harry Potter stuff will be early entry.The only way to get that is to stay onsite, or for now booking a package thru an offsite partner hotel ( rumors are once the new Cabana Bay resort opens it will be going bye bye for these offsite resorts.)If you are purchasing the express passes, be aware that 1 ) they are only good for ONE ride per eligible attraction ( resort guests get unlimited use). and 2) they are DATE SPECIFIC, PARK SPECIFIC and NONREFUNDABLE.
So my advice would be to wait and see if they are needed before buying.

 

[macraven]

june and summer months are known for family vacations.

with the coming of HP2, crowd patterns will be very different from what the regulars have seen in the past years.


go and have fun at the darkside and be sure to pack your patience.
you could end up with longer ride/show waits.

go thru the stickies, trip forum and the UO website for basic information.
check out the layout of the two parks so you have a bearing of what is located where......

if you buy park to park UO tickets, you do some of each park.
switch parks if lines are too long at the one you are at.

 

[cruisinpan567]

go and have fun at the darkside


What is this darkside you speak of? I have never been on these forums for universal before. I have read this term many times now. I have figured it out and it's pretty funny. Thanks for the advice I will keep researching to find the best way around the parks.

 

[macraven]

go and have fun at the darkside


What is this darkside you speak of? I have never been on these forums for universal before. I have read this term many times now. I have figured it out and it's pretty funny. Thanks for the advice I will keep researching to find the best way around the parks.

it's from Mac 101.........
the darkside is the unknown.......universal, a whole new adventure to discover.

the motherland is disney.......where it all started from.
kind of like how the colonies broke off from the motherland/england many years ago.

 

[cruisinpan567]

it's from Mac 101.........
the darkside is the unknown.......universal, a whole new adventure to discover.

the motherland is disney.......where it all started from.
kind of like how the colonies broke off from the motherland/england many years ago.