First time in 6 years

[mh1973]

My kids and I are leaving Sunday for our first US visit in 6 years. We have been doing just disney every year. What rides should we do first and which can we save for later? I have not purchased the express tickets and don't plan to, but we will have 5 1/2 days to spend there.

Also, what's good to eat in the parks? Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[macraven]

My kids and I are leaving Sunday for our first US visit in 6 years. We have been doing just disney every year. What rides should we do first and which can we save for later? I have not purchased the express tickets and don't plan to, but we will have 5 1/2 days to spend there.

Also, what's good to eat in the parks? Any suggestions are appreciated.

are you staying on site?
how old are your kids?
do they meet the height requirements for the rides?
(you can find that info on the website for the parks.)
do you like water rides?
what type of food does everyone like?

there have been additions to the parks in the last 6 years. check out the website...www.universalorlando.com and see what they have now.

if you have 5.5 days to spend at the park, i'm sure you will be able to do the highlights, shows, repeat rides and the remanding things there.

 

[brocklesnar69]

Whoa. You guys are leaving on the exact same day WE are! Cool. I havent been there in about 8 years. I think we'll have fun. I'll bet we walk right past eachother at some point, never knowing the difference.

 

[mh1973]

Whoa. You guys are leaving on the exact same day WE are! Cool. I havent been there in about 8 years. I think we'll have fun. I'll bet we walk right past eachother at some point, never knowing the difference.

Where are you traveling from?

 

[mh1973]

are you staying on site? no-homewood suites by Hilton on International Drive
how old are your kids? 9, 12, and a 15 yo cousin
do they meet the height requirements for the rides? most of them
(you can find that info on the website for the parks.)
do you like water rides? yes
what type of food does everyone like? anything

 

[Metro West]

Also, what's good to eat in the parks? Any suggestions are appreciated.

My top recommendations in the parks are:

IOA: Thunder Falls Terrace (counter), Comic Strip Cafe (counter) and Mythos (table).

Studios: Louie's (counter), Finnegan's (table) and Lombard's (table).

I've never had a bad meal in any of the above places.

 

[Planogirl]

Remember to get there at opening time and you'll get a lot done before the crowds show up. The busy rides would typically be the Incredible Hulk, the water rides when it's hot, the Simpsons, Men in Black (some days), Shrek (lines form early), The Mummy and when we went, Disaster. Hit these things early and use single rider lines if you are OK with that and you should be fine.

I agree that Thunder Falls Terrace is good and there's a great bakery just as you enter the Studios. (Why do I forget the name?) There's a lot of good places to eat in Citywalk too and I personally love to take a break from the parks.

We stayed offsite too and we would typically leave Universal around mid-afternoon to rest and then do something else for a while. There's a lot to do around International Drive. Will you have a car? Did you buy the low cost on-line tickets?

 

[fanoforlando]

Hey let's not forget BK Whopper bar. You can get whoppers there that aren't normally in BK restaurants ouside CW

 

[Josh Hendy]

... We stayed offsite too and we would typically leave Universal around mid-afternoon to rest and then do something else for a while. There's a lot to do around International Drive ...

We're planning on doing the same thing when we visit in a couple of weeks.

Did you return in the evening to do more rides? By around what time in the evening did the crowds subside enough to make it worthwhile to return? I'm assuming you were there at a moderate to busy time.

 

[macraven]

Remember to get there at opening time and you'll get a lot done before the crowds show up. The busy rides would typically be the Incredible Hulk, the water rides when it's hot, the Simpsons, Men in Black (some days), Shrek (lines form early), The Mummy and when we went, Disaster. Hit these things early and use single rider lines if you are OK with that and you should be fine.

I agree that Thunder Falls Terrace is good and there's a great bakery just as you enter the Studios. (Why do I forget the name?) There's a lot of good places to eat in Citywalk too and I personally love to take a break from the parks.

that place is Boulangerie and it is fantastic.

it is not just a bakery. it has the cheese cake factory items.

the sandwiches there are soooo goooooddd !!

you get a side with each sandwich.

they make them fresh when you order them.

i always to to this place a couple of times on each visit.

 

[brocklesnar69]

Where are you traveling from?

Flying out of Sacramento.

 

[macraven]

since you are staying off site, get up early for the mornings you plan to be at UO.

leave your condo so you can be at the parking garage before it opens.

you might have a 15 minute wait before you can enter and park but you will be ahead of a long line waiting also to park there.

be at the turnstile around 8:30ish.
if the park opens early, you will have a head start of others.

ioa usually has the front main rides available when it opens before the official opening time of 9:00.

do as much as you can before 11ish. that is when you will notice crowds coming into the park.

up to this point, the express pass would not be needed.

eat at off times from the crowds.
while they eat, you will be on rides.

the usual hours that people eat when they are at disney would be the same for universal.

i suggest to hold off on the wet rides for when you want to do a half day in the park.
do them all, get drenched and then call it a day.

if you do not have plans for half days, take clothes to change into and rent a family locker to store them. change clothes when you are done with ALL the water rides.

if you have covered the main things at ioa, switch over to the studios side.

don't over look the shows. they are time consuming as you do have to wait in line prior to the entering the show area, but well worth it.

Horror Make Up show is a hoot. it is different each time based on the volunteer that helps in the show.

disaster is good, animal planet is just like the tv show in a way.....etc.


go to the map on UO website and see the locations where the rides and food stands are. you can also read onsite of the foods for each place.

when you do enter the parks, be sure to pick up the park guide map.
it will list where characters will be, times of shows, and basic information.

if you leave the park during the day and plan to return, save your parking stub. you can reenter the garage without repaying.