First time to universal

[Pbeh]

we have done Disney a lot, this will be first time to universal. If we did two days, one at each, would we be able to do most things? Is a third day worth it? If so which park should we spend the extra day in? We will be in town the last week of July, assuming going on weekdays are better then weekends?


Thanks in advance for ideas and suggestions. We stay offsite, free place.

 

[tinydancer09]

we have done Disney a lot, this will be first time to universal. If we did two days, one at each, would we be able to do most things? Is a third day worth it? If so which park should we spend the extra day in? We will be in town the last week of July, assuming going on weekdays are better then weekends?


Thanks in advance for ideas and suggestions. We stay offsite, free place.

If you're going July I think you will NEED a third day. Universal can be a week long destination just as easily as Disney. Disney has their headliners spread out and universal has all of theirs crammed into two parks.

Key questions:
Will you be purchasing express pass?
What kind of ticket will you be purchasing or is that also a question?

Currently undercover tourist has a Universal ticket deal where you buy 2 days P2P ticket get third day free. Seems like the right ticket for you! If you end up wanting the third day it's there, if not it's not a loss. Literally the same price as a 2 day ticket on UT.

I personally would not limit myself to a park per day. If you only get a 1 park per day ticket you will not be able to ride the Hogwarts express as it carries you from one park to the other. I also find that I like switching back and forth.

 

[macraven]

tusker house, staying offsite for free can't be beat for the budget...

to get the most out of your days in UO, be in the entrance line a good 45 minutes prior to opening.
the longer you wait to get in line, the further back you will be to enter the park.
your goal is to be in the park asap.

the park will already have hotel guests in there for EE.
so it is better to be in the front of the line to enter the park than in the middle of it or way back to the bridge in line.

going end of july you will be joining lots of families that can only vacation in the summertime.

if the crowds are high, a 3rd day in the parks would be helpful.
you will know after the first day you do a park how the crowds will run.

weekdays better than weekends as less locals are in the parks then.
they wait for the weekends most of the time.

use the single rider lines when you can.
it will cut your wait time down.
the UO website will list which rides have srl.

eat at off times in the parks.
do lunch at 10:30-45

do dinner similarly.

july will have longer park hours.
the last hour of the park day, you will have less of a wait for the big rides in potter town.

Kong will draw a lot of crowds away from other rides in IOA.

i find the p2p tickets the best.
you can flip flop from one park to the other if you need to.

if a rain shower happens when you are in the park, there are more rides indoors at the studios side than at IOA.
take a rain poncho if rain is predicted or wear clothes that are quick dri and wear sandals to avoid wet socks and blister rubs later.

 

[johde]

Spending one day in each park would keep you from riding the Hogwarts Express. The Hogwarts Express travels between the 2 parks so you need park to park tickets to ride it.

 

[Parker Clan]

I agree with the three PP's that a third day may be necessary and a P2P ticket for sure. I guess it also depends on what type of rides you are into doing there. My husband and I are not coaster people, but we LOVE the HP areas and the rides inside. We also enjoy riding the Hogwarts Express back and forth a couple times a day (we joke we definitely do not tour efficiently). But there are a ton of other rides too in both parks worth seeing that have great theming!
Enjoy!!!

 

[Pbeh]

Good advice so far. What about park strategy? I know to get there before opening, but what other tips are there?

 

[macraven]

Good advice so far. What about park strategy? I know to get there before opening, but what other tips are there?

www.universalorlando.com
get a look at the park layouts.
see how IOA is more circular for everything.
see where the rides, eateries, first aide, restrooms, shows, etc are located.
if you run into crowds, use the SRL for rides.
check the UO website for the rides that offer this feature.

same goes for the studio park.

for both, see locations of the lockers. useful info for the potter rides of FJ and Gringotts.
do the locker first then get into the ride.

have littles with you or someone (child/elderly parent) that fears going on the ride...use the child swap set up for the rides.

if you go in hot weather and need water frequently, see where the counter service places are located to get free water.

you do need some of this info for park strategy.
sometimes a ride can go down,
have a plan for other rides in the area where you are so you don't have to back track to another section of the park to return for a down ride that comes up later.

if you have a decent idea where everything is located, it helps

do check the signs in the front of the parks when you enter.
that is where you will see any ride that is down for the day.
if it is indicated at the front of the park, then don't expect it to be running at all that day.

also, check your park maps that you can pick up when you enter.
it has the locations of things in the park that you will want to see.
also, the show times are listed in this map guide.
the shows can change times each week.
what is listed in the ones you pick up, will be accurate.