First time to US/IOA New Questions Added

[DisneyCP2002]

Okay all I've finally decided to post. I got a great deal on a package and sometime in the next year I will be going for my very first visit. Here are some questions:

1) Must Do's at each park?
2) Best place(s) to eat?
3) Anything to avoid?
4) I will not ride any rollercoasters that go upside down, is there any at US/IOA?
5) We will be there 9/29 - 10/6. What are the not to miss rides/shows for halloween?
6) Any other tips you have?

It will be me and my best friend going. We are in our 30's.

 

[Soprano]

Okay all I've finally decided to post. I got a great deal on a package and sometime in the next year I will be going for my very first visit. Here are some questions:

1) Must Do's at each park?
2) Best place(s) to eat?
3) Anything to avoid?
4) Anytime of year to avoid?
5) I will not ride any rollercoasters that go upside down, is there any at US/IOA?

These are the questions so far and I'm sure I will end up with more.

We've been a few times a love it! They are both GREAT parks. Are you taking children? If so, what are their ages? I could give you more accurate answers if I knew, so I'm presuming you are not:

1.) Spider-man in IOA is a MUST DO. It's a thrill ride, but not scary like a rollercoaster. THE best ride in Orlando.

2.) Theme park food is never really something we do. We have a massive breakfast, then late dinner. A few snacks during the day. I'm sure someone can advise you better.

3.) Since it's your first time, you should try everything. But some rides with big reputations may disappoint, like E.T.

4.) Avoid Spring Break at all costs, and other times when schools are out.

5.) There are a few rollercoasters in IOA and The Mummy Revenge at US.


Best advice? Get there when the parks open to avoid the crowds. But crowds are generally lower than WDW and we have never left because it felt "too busy".

 

[Melisa1]

Hi!

Must do's: Spiderman, Jurrasic Park, The mummy, MIB, Jaws. ( these are my fav's)
Best places to eat: We like Bubba Gump's, Margaritaville, NASCAR Cafe, and The Palm.
Anything to avoid: - No I love it all!
Anytime of year to avoid - I would say summertime ( July)
Coasters that go upside down: Hulk, Dueling Dragons, - you gotta ride the Mummy, it doesn't go upside down and its cool.

Have a great time!

 

[patster734]

1) Must Do's at each park?

IOA: Spiderman, Duddly Do-Right's, Popeye's, Jurassic Park River Ride, Sindbad Stunt Show and Cat in the Hat.
Universal Studios: MIB, Horror Make-up Show, The Mummy, Shrek, Terminator 3-D, Beatlejuice show and Jimmy Neutron.

2) Best place(s) to eat?

IOA: Mythos!
Universal Studios: Louie's.
Citywalk: Margaritaville, Hard Rock Cafe and Emeril's (very expensive).

3) Anything to avoid?

I've always avoided the Barney show!

4) Anytime of year to avoid?

Avoid July/August and Christmas week because of crowds.
Possibly avoid September because of hurricanes.

5) I will not ride any rollercoasters that go upside down, is there any at US/IOA?

The Hulk and Dueling Dragons, both at IOA.

 

[sb4k]

We are going for our first time January 20- 27th. We have 4 children and just got buy 1 get 1 free tickets. 4 days x 6 people = $300. Can't beat that. Our children are 10,9,5,4 and are pretty good with coasters although 4 yr old is short. So we would also appreciate any tips for new people. Any web sites to look at. I know my way around Disney but Universal is a totally foreign experience for us.

 

[DisneyCP2002]

It will just be me & my two very good friends. We are all in our 30's.

 

[kanga24roos]

We have 4 children and just got buy 1 get 1 free tickets. 4 days x 6 people = $300. Can't beat that.

Please please please let me know how to get tis deal. We are going in April also have 4 kids and we are going with me brothers family 4 more kids BOGO would be great for us.

 

[damo]

Please please please let me know how to get tis deal. We are going in April also have 4 kids and we are going with me brothers family 4 more kids BOGO would be great for us.

There is a buy one adult get one child (9 and under) free offer. Would that work? How long are you going to be there?

 

[kanga24roos]

Anything would help. We are probably only going to go for 1 maybe 2 days.

 

[LeahA]

1) Must Do's at each park?

IOA-SPIDERMAN/POPEYE AND BLUTOS WATER BARGES (YOU WILL GET WET!)/JURASSIC PARK WATER RIDE

US-MUMMY/JAWS/BACK TO THE FUTURE/MIB/Beetlejuice Graveyard Review

2) Best place(s) to eat?

MARGARITAVILLE-casual/great food/great margaritas/great atmosphere
Emeril's Tchoup Chop at Royal Pacific-great dinner/great mai tai's

3) Anything to avoid?

Hulk/ Dueling Dragons/Earthquake/ET/Fievel's playground and water area (kids will never want to leave and they will get wet

4) Anytime of year to avoid?

We always go spring break and Citywalk restaurants get very crowded, expect long waits at more poplular venues, especially at dinner time

5) I will not ride any rollercoasters that go upside down, is there any at US/IOA?

Hulk and Dueling Dragons/Hulk make me sick just looking at it!

 

[DisneyCP2002]

New info/questions added.

 

[damo]

Which ones are new?

 

[DisneyCP2002]

5 & 6

 

[damo]

Are you doing some Halloween Horror Nights (HHN07)?

 

[Spidey7]

They seem to have covered the rides, although I consider Jurassic Park to be a must do.

The restaurants are great at Universal, it is not your typical theme park burgers/fries/pizza only type of place.

Mythos in IOA is a terrific sit down restaurant with a very unique and yummy menu, this is a must do for us. Enchanted Oak for more casual dining at IOA. Jimmy Buffets is great in CW and is a must do for us. I have Jakes American bar on my must do list now as well, I tried some items on their menu last time that I just love, its at the Royal Pacific. Also Tchoup Chop, (sp?) is pretty good and unique worth trying for sure also at the RP.

The seafood restaurant at the main park (forgetting the name at the moment) is also great, its right before you get into the Amity section on the water kind of. For casual the Monster Cafe is very cool and Pat O'Brians is very decent. But City Walk has tons to choose from, all range from decent to outstanding.

 

[DisneyCP2002]

I'm not sure about the Halloween stuff. As this is my first trip ever to US/IOA I don't know alot about it. Can someone explain it to me more please.

 

[ChrisFL]

The seafood restaurant at the main park (forgetting the name at the moment) is also great, its right before you get into the Amity section on the water kind of. For casual the Monster Cafe is very cool and Pat O'Brians is very decent. But City Walk has tons to choose from, all range from decent to outstanding.

That place would be "Lombard's Landing"

 

[macraven]

I'm not sure about the Halloween stuff. As this is my first trip ever to US/IOA I don't know alot about it. Can someone explain it to me more please.

park closes at 5 for the studios and 6 at ioa on nights hhn happens.
it is a separate hard ticket event.

it consists of scareactores, houses, scarezones, etc.
set to the halloween theme that only universal can pull off.

it is not for children at all.
most of the crowd is 18 and up.

it is held on fri, sat, sun in the beginning of the start of HHN.
then wed, thurs are usually added on by mid month.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

1). Must do's at each park?

USO: Jaws, Twister, Mummy, Shrek, Jimmy Neutron, Horror Make-Up Show (DO NOT MISS THIS!)
IoA: SpiderMan, Dr. Doom, Popeye, Dudley Do-Right, JPRA, Suess Trolley Train, Cat in the Hat

2). Best place(s) to eat?

USO: Monster's Cafe, Mel's Drive-In
IoA: Mythos, Comic Strip Cafe, Enchanted Oak

3). Anything to avoid?

USO: Barney, Animal Actor's Show, Lucy: A Tribute
IoA: Storm Force, ??

4). Any rollercoasters?

USO: Mummy is an indoor rollercoaster, but does NOT go upside-down, only fast
IoA: Hulk and Dueling Dragons both go upside-down several times. I love them, however, but if you don't feel comfortable, then don't ride.

5). Halloween?

I am not a Halloween expert, and haven't been to HHN, but the other homies should be able to help, or go to the Universal Orlando website.

6) Any other tips?

USO: the back row of Twister gets you wetter than the front back row of Mummy = more airtime, Beetlejuice...if it's running when you're there (may be down due to HHN), check it out...it's actually really funny, and go towards the middle/back for 3-D shows, or else the effects are lost on you
IoA: go to the top of Me Ship, the Olive in Toon Landing-the views are amazing! Also, front of the boat IF POSSIBLE on JPRA, as it gets you MUCH wetter than the back rows. Above all, BRING A CAMERA! YOU WON'T REGRET THAT! Also, for CityWalk, check out Bubba Gump's and the stage shows that are on the main stage-sometimes there are contests that you can win!

HAVE A FUN TRIP! YOU WON'T FORGET IT!