First time visitor to Universal- help!!

[kwright868]

My husband, 14 yr old son & I are going to Universal 1/21- 1/24 then off to Disney. We are staying at Cabana Bay and will be doing the parks with a park to park tickets for 2 1/2 days. Can't wait but a bit overwhelmed. I've been to Disney more times than I can count but this is our first time to Universal. Would love to hear some strategies and planning ideas so we can make the most of our visit. We are big Harry Potter fans plus my husband & I also love good beer but are happy with not so fancy meals! Thanks in advance!

Also do you think Express Passes are needed? Looks like we will be there at the one of the slowest times of the year

 

[macraven]

the harry potter gala will start soon after your visit.
hopefully most that do that event will extend their stay once the gala event is over rather then come in early to do the parks prior.


your time period usually is not bad.

this year i am starting with disney late january then going over to UO.

i'm not expecting crowds at either parks.


by you staying onsite, take advantage of the early entry of one hour prior to park opening.
hit the potter sections without large crowds.

if you would hit crowds, use the single rider lines.

 

[bchbetha]

This is a great site for researching Universal. Lots of good ideas. http://orlandoinformer.com/

Download the Universal wait time app. You don't really need to have a plan, just hop around based on interest and crowds. (If you have an iPhone, make sure location services is off except while using the app otherwise it'll suck up your battery).

I think you'll be fine without express passes. I'm sure they are lovely to have but some of the lines are pretty cool and worth standing in. Plus it shouldn't be very busy. You can always buy day of if you decide you need them.

 

[Marc D]

The best thing I can add is to be there at opening. Walk fast to HP land (either park), do the dark rides than enjoy the rest of day to explore shops and other sections of the park. I was first to ride both days I was there and was able to do every ride multiple times without the Express pass in the middle of July.

 

[Parker Clan]

The beauty of Universal is you don't really need a plan like you do at Disney. We've done it the last six years and have a few must-do's but other than that it's nice to just mosey.. With that express pass of course

 

[macraven]

The beauty of Universal is you don't really need a plan like you do at Disney. We've done it the last six years and have a few must-do's but other than that it's nice to just mosey.. With that express pass of course

you sound like my twin..........hahahaha

all i do is book the room, book car service, book the flight and pack for UO trips.


i eat when i'm hungry with no thought of advance planning.


since i stay for a decent time period, most days i sleep in and miss early entry for the parks.
but i try to hit it a few times just to say i did it.....

 

[michelepa]

you sound like my twin..........hahahaha

all i do is book the room, book car service,
but i try to hit it a few times just to say i did it.....

I know you go alot Macraven is there a particular car service you use?

 

[macraven]

My go to company is Tony Hinds

Once i found him, i have stayed with his service for all my trips

My requirements with car service:
Safe driver
Clean vehicle
Price
On time
Free grocery stops

 

[quandrea]

you sound like my twin..........hahahaha

all i do is book the room, book car service, book the flight and pack for UO trips.


i eat when i'm hungry with no thought of advance planning.


since i stay for a decent time period, most days i sleep in and miss early entry for the parks.
but i try to hit it a few times just to say i did it.....

This is what I'm not used to. We've been to Disney upwards of fifty times and I can plan in my sleep. Not needing to do much for Universal feels a bit disconcerting. I've booked Tony. He will pick us up at Boardwalk after our Disney stay (Looks like similar timing to your trip). Then he will transfer us to Royal Pacific for three nights at Universal club level. We are very excited. I'm just worried that we are ill prepared. No real plan in place!

My go to company is Tony Hinds

Once i found him, i have stayed with his service for all my trips

My requirements with car service:
Safe driver
Clean vehicle
Price
On time
Free grocery stops

He has been so easy to work with. I'm looking forward to meeting him.

 

[Allie B]

I agree with other post. Universal is so nice because you don't have to have it all planned out like Disney.

 

[NannyX6]

Universal is new to me too. Looking for transportation from MCO to Portofino Bay and then to BC. Debating renting a car for the whole stay vs car service. You recommend Tony??? What company is he with?

 

[Jeff Morris]

Our daughter works at Universal so we spent a day there last week. Some thoughts:

If you're into Harry Potter, go to Diagon Alley first. It's something to behold. Stay outside long enough to see the Gringotts dragon roar. The "Escape from Gringotts" ride is a lot of fun if a bit rough. If you want a wand, you need to go to Ollivanders, and I am most definitely not saying that because anyone I raised works there.

Oh--if you're claustrophobic, be aware that all of the shops are cramped and it gets crowded very quickly.

The train ride to Hogsmeade was wonderful. Having actually gone to King's Cross Station, I was in heaven with the reproduction. That said, wasn't thrilled with Hogsmeade itself. Too cramped. The Hogwarts ride was rough.

Oh--I recommend the Leaky Cauldron for breakfast and lunch.

My daughter could tell you more about Worlds of Adventure, but the only other ride we went on was the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride. Loads of fun, but again a bit rough.

Now for two dining recommendations: Cowfish is a lot of fun with their twists on dishes. And you have to go to Toothsome and try the chocolate almond bread. YOU HAVE TO. Oh my god...

Hope this helps.

 

[gotomu212]

I'll add that if you like relaxed meals with some good beer you really can't go,wrong having dinner in Citywalk right outside both parks. There are a lot of fun restaurants and we always liked stopping there after the parks before heading back to the hotels.

The farthest I plan is hey what time do I want to get up and which park do I want to start at (with early entry even that decision can be made for you!) I also try to plan one afternoon hanging out at the pool-not sure if your weather will make that as fun.

 

[macraven]

So your daughter works at Islands of Adventure

So nice !

Have always enjoyed the great TM's in both of the parks

 

[macraven]

Universal is new to me too. Looking for transportation from MCO to Portofino Bay and then to BC. Debating renting a car for the whole stay vs car service. You recommend Tony??? What company is he with?

He owns his company and has several employees as drivers

Tony strives to do at least one of the legs of booked trips with all his fares
I can pm you a link for more info on him

He has a very old site but is in the process of new improved website

When I find out I can post the new site

 

[Jeff Morris]

So your daughter works at Islands of Adventure

So nice !

Have always enjoyed the great TM's in both of the parks

Whoops. She's gonna kill me for saying "worlds"...

She actually works in the main park, though she was pressed into emergency duty at the Seuss section recently. She didn't like it--said all the Whos down in Whoville freaked her out big time!

 

[macraven]

Your daughter will never know

Secret is safe with me and the thousands that read this board

 

[Catvondita]

I can tell you what me and my Fiance usually do and we usually only do one day at Universal and not even the whole entire day. Just a note we only tend to do the headliners and tend to skip the more kiddie rides. We've never needed the express passes.

With a park hopper we usually get to Universal at Park Opening (maybe like 10-15 minutes before) and go to Diagon Alley first. Well do one of the rides on our way to Diagon Alley if its only a 5-10 minute wait. We haven't had to wait more than 20 minutes for Gringotts except when we went the first month it opened. From there we take the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmead and get that out of the way and have lunch there and then make our way around Islands. We'll usually do Jurassic Park, Spiderman, Doctor Doom and the Hulk and then head back to Universal. At Universal we usually do Transformers, The Mummy a few times and MIB. We usually skip the Rip Ride Rocket because it gives me a headache. Also I haven't been since the Kong ride came out so I don't know about the wait times.

With the amount I can get done in a little more than half a day i think you should be fine for 2 1/2 days. I really don't think you would need to spend all that money on the express pass. There are lots of single ride options and there aren't that many rides at the parks. Hope you have a great time!

 

[kwright868]

Our daughter works at Universal so we spent a day there last week. Some thoughts:

If you're into Harry Potter, go to Diagon Alley first. It's something to behold. Stay outside long enough to see the Gringotts dragon roar. The "Escape from Gringotts" ride is a lot of fun if a bit rough. If you want a wand, you need to go to Ollivanders, and I am most definitely not saying that because anyone I raised works there.

Oh--if you're claustrophobic, be aware that all of the shops are cramped and it gets crowded very quickly.

The train ride to Hogsmeade was wonderful. Having actually gone to King's Cross Station, I was in heaven with the reproduction. That said, wasn't thrilled with Hogsmeade itself. Too cramped. The Hogwarts ride was rough.

Oh--I recommend the Leaky Cauldron for breakfast and lunch.

My daughter could tell you more about Worlds of Adventure, but the only other ride we went on was the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride. Loads of fun, but again a bit rough.

Now for two dining recommendations: Cowfish is a lot of fun with their twists on dishes. And you have to go to Toothsome and try the chocolate almond bread. YOU HAVE TO. Oh my god...

Hope this helps.

Thanks much!! Can't wait!

 

[TheConsciousness]

Like a lot of people around here say, Universal is scarily easy to plan. I'm in my 20's and pretty new to vacation planning, and after taking a week to plan a trip barely one month in advance, it can leave you worrying that you're missing something. I do have one secret weapon: lurking the board for everyone else's previous experiences.

All I find that it takes:
Ticket plan
Airport parking plan
Flight plan
Airport-Hotel transportation plan
Hotel plan

And then you can scour the site for park strategies!