First time in a LONG time at Universal, this time with kids

[ladylonghorn]

I'm a savvy, experienced DW visitor, but it's been a LONG LONG time since I've been to Universal and it was before all the HP stuff was added. My eldest and middle have gotten into HP, so on our next trip, we want to do Universal. I know I need to get the Park to Park tickets, but I'm trying to get a sense of how many days we should plan to visit the park. We are going in late April next year (after Easter). Our kids will be 10, 7 and 4 at the time of the visit. I know our youngest will be at least 40", but likely not 44" (which are key height milestones at DW).

As a comparison, I'm a multiday, park hopper, meal plan Disney type of vacationer, so we can do 2 parks in one day or go back for additional trips on our most favorite rides, eat at whatever park we want, etc. . I'm just concerned we won't find as many things given our kids ages to keep us entertained for 2 full days at Universal. Am I off base and will I be surprised at how much there is now?

 

[Robo56]

Yes you will be surprised. You will be surprised to find out how easy it is to plan a vacation at universal. Are you staying onsite? If not you should. The cost savings is great. As you have probably read staying at Royal Pacific RPR, HARD Rock HRH or Portofino Bay PBH will give you express pass. Cabana Bay the budget resort at Universal will not. That being said all resort guests have early entry. Even Universals budget offering Cabana Bay is pretty awesome.

The parks are very close to each other. You can walk out of IOA and a short stroll and you are at Universal.

With the addition of the two Harry Potter parks it has added lots more to do. Even if the youngest one is not able to ride the Forbidden Journey in Hogsmeade you are still able to take a walking tour of the Castle.

I always tell people to look at the map at the bottom of the Universal Orlando site. You are able to pull up the maps for both parks. It gives you a good lay of the land.

At the bottom of the page it also gives you ride height requirements.

Suess landing is really fun for the little ones.

We like to hit the parks in the morning. Have lunch, then go back to hotel for pool time rest and then head back to the park. Staying on site makes this very easy. Your able to walk from your resort or take the boat (which is very nice). Cabana you can walk or take the free shuttle bus. We always stay at Portofino. It is a longer walk to the park so we take the boat.

Meal options are great. For the Potter fans Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade or the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley.
Having a frozen butterbeer and a visit to Ollivanders wand shop for the wand show. Purchase a interactive wand for the Potter fans and a map is included for them to do magic tricks at both Potter Parks.

Must is a meal at Mythos in Islands of Adventure. You won't be sorry. It is one of our favorite places to eat. You can make your reservations on Universal Orlandos Web site. I think they are still only doing them at 30 days out. In IOA
the only place you can make reservations is Mythos and in Universal Finnegan's and Lombards. The rest are walk up and order. You can make reservations at some of City Walk resturants. If you are staying onsite you have priority seating options at City Walk resturants that take ressies.

Looking at all the restaurants in both parks and City Walk and their theming, menus and prices is very easy under dining at the Universal web site. I personally am not a fan of meal plans. I plan a few meals and wing the rest.

We stay at least a week. I take my grandchildren every year. It is their favorite place to go for vacation. Universal is a destination visit for us and 2 days would never do.

The resorts have some nice dining options also that take reservations.

Have fun planning you visit.

 

[kohlby]

Our last trip to US/IOA was two years ago - with kids aged 10, 7, and 4. We did 6 days at US/IOA! That's the longest we've ever done for US/IOA. So, as far as how much time, I'd say 2 days as a minimum. On that trip, my youngest refused to do rides due to his sensory issues and he still managed to have fun. We're going again and may do 6 days again. (This time, we'll have AP's. The last time, we had some 7 day from first use tickets from a while ago. They don't have those anymore).

As for taking a break mid-day, you likely know from your Disney trips what works for your kids. Mid-day breaks do not work for my family and never have. I find my kids do best if they get enough sleep - especially the youngest. I've never had good nappers when on theme park vacations. I could get them into bed at a reasonable hour at night though to make sure they got enough sleep.