first timer need advice

[momtimesone]

First off we, me my sister and my 8 yr old will be staying on disney property during our whole stay but this yr we are planning to see universal for the very first time ever. We will be going july 21-29 2007 and set aside that thursday for a whole day at universal. My questions are basic is it best to buy the tickits to the park ahead of time or there at the gates??? Rent a car ,take a cab or what should we use for transportation im not good at directions so im nervous?? Cheap eats anyone since my dining plan only works in disney parks wheres a good deal for lunch and dinner for us?? What is the must do things for a first timer with a little guy? Last but not least can i buy a park hopper pass thing there where i can see both parks in one day and if i do will i have time to go to both of them?? We are not into upside down coasters or scary things, My son is really into splash moutain so thats they type of rides i know he can handle. thanks everyone for helping me any advice is welcomed as i really do need it.

 

[Metro West]

My questions are basic is it best to buy the tickits to the park ahead of time or there at the gates???

I would keep my eye on the Universal website since there always seems to be some kind of online deal not available at the gate.

Rent a car ,take a cab or what should we use for transportation im not good at directions so im nervous??

Since you're staying onsite at Disney, I would check into a rental car since it's not too far between the two areas. There may be other transport that I'm unaware of since I'm a local and drive everywhere.

Cheap eats anyone since my dining plan only works in disney parks wheres a good deal for lunch and dinner for us??

Universal has some great places to eat at both parks. At IOA, I would recommend The Burger Digs, Enchanted Oak or Jungle Falls Terrace for a quick bite. At the Studios, I would go with Louie's Italian...it's awesome and about the only place I eat when I'm there.

What is the must do things for a first timer with a little guy?

At IOA, I would not miss Spiderman, Ripsaw Falls, Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges (you WILL get soaked on both rides), Jurassic Park River Adventure and Seuss Landing. At the Studios just about everything is good except Earthquake...I don't care for it but that's me.

Last but not least can i buy a park hopper pass thing there where i can see both parks in one day and if i do will i have time to go to both of them??

You can purchase a 1 day 2 park ticket that allows "hopping" so you can do everything in a day.

Keep in mind that it will be busy and VERY humid as it always is in Florida in July but the water rides at IOA will keep you cool as well as the air conditioned queues at the Studios.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[macraven]

First off we, me my sister and my 8 yr old will be staying on disney property during our whole stay but this yr we are planning to see universal for the very first time ever. We will be going july 21-29 2007 and set aside that thursday for a whole day at universal. My questions are basic is it best to buy the tickits to the park ahead of time or there at the gates??? Rent a car ,take a cab or what should we use for transportation im not good at directions so im nervous?? Cheap eats anyone since my dining plan only works in disney parks wheres a good deal for lunch and dinner for us?? What is the must do things for a first timer with a little guy? Last but not least can i buy a park hopper pass thing there where i can see both parks in one day and if i do will i have time to go to both of them?? We are not into upside down coasters or scary things, My son is really into splash moutain so thats they type of rides i know he can handle. thanks everyone for helping me any advice is welcomed as i really do need it.

i have done transportation all different ways.

taxis can run $25 if you go in a non rush hour time period.
you can take the mears shuttle and get picked up at your disney hotel.
it is $13 pp round trip
rent a car for the day at the car center at disney. price varies depending on season but can't imagine it being over $30 for the day. you would have to pay the $10 parking fee at universal though.
limo service can be $30 one way but there are some such as sunrays where you can get the discounted round trip fee.

since it is for 3 people, the transportation cost would be about the same for all of the above except the town car service. best thing about car service is they pick you up when you want and you don't pay for parking.
rent a car with parking and gas could be close to that same amount.

avoid going to UO on a weekend.
you will have less crowds then.

if you have AAA, you can buy discounted tickets for the park.
check the UO website for specials.
i believe you can still buy the 2 park, 1 day ticket at gs.
it has been soooooo long since i have purchased tickets at the gate, i could be wrong on that. until i bought the pap, i would order from the website on promos.

if you have a master card, you might get a promo/discount for tickets.
in the entertainment book, if you buy tickets at the gate, you get a discount and script money for UO.

since you are only going for one day, be at the park around 8:15.
if the line is long, UO opens early before 9. many things will be opened early if they let the guests in early.

you might want to stay with one park and do the studios.
if you find you have finished it before the day is out, you can always go to guest services and upgrade your ticket to a 2 park ticket. you would pay the difference of cost.
you don't have to decide when you first enter the park but can wait to upgrade while you are still in the parks to do that.

came back to add that the taxi cost mentioned above is one way.
rt could cost you more than the town car service.

 

[bubba's mom]

i agree with all the above advice....especially to be there early! You can purchase the Universal Express Pass Plus which will give you "fastpass" access to each ride only one time each or for about $200 for a room at the RPR (with AAA discount) you can get the Express Pass for the length of your stay for as many times on each ride as you like. (Your room key acts as your EP). In the summer the express passes can run $40-$50 per person, and by the time you buy one for each person, you may as well get the room and stay the night (or, have it to relax and freshen up in anyway!)
I would not rule out Margaritaville for "decent priced" eats....you can check the Universal Menus at http://allearsnet.com/uni/menu/menus.htm .
Hope you have a great trip!

 

[bubba's mom]

i agree with all the above advice....especially to be there early! You can purchase the Universal Express Pass Plus which will give you "fastpass" access to each ride only one time each or for about $200 for a room at the RPR (with AAA discount) you can get the Express Pass for the length of your stay for as many times on each ride as you like. (Your room key acts as your EP). In the summer the express passes can run $40-$50 per person, and by the time you buy one for each person, you may as well get the room and stay the night (or, have it to relax and freshen up in anyway!)
I would not rule out Margaritaville for "decent priced" eats....you can check the Universal Menus at http://allearsnet.com/uni/menu/menus.htm .
All the rides are good....Hulk and DD will take you upside down....those would be the only things I think you'd want to avoid...and you can see them from "outside". Do NOT miss MIB at the Studios...your DS will love that if he's into video games! Hope you have a great trip!

 

[robvia]

Lot's of Disney people come in here asking about the 1 day 2 park ticket. It costs like $70. But there's a big problem trying to hit both parks in one day during the summer. By 11am, both parks will be jammed with people, and it will be really hot out. You can do both parks during a non peak time, but not in the summer.

Many figure they'll take one day away from Disney, drive up and visit. You have to change this thinking.

What you want to do, is buy the 2 day ticket, and it usually gives you one day for free. Rent the car, and drive up at 7am, arriving the parking garage at 07:45am. The parks open at 08:30am, but they don't announce this, it just happens. Take a lap in IOA, then at noon the crowd will be there, it will be burning hot, and you leave. Drive back to Disney, take a nap, and visit a Disney park for the evening. Next day, do the same thing visiting USF. The idea is you visit one park in the morning, rest in the afternoon, then visit another park at night. There's no way you'll go an entire day in the hot sun and enjoy it.

The best idea would be to take 2 nights away from the Disney hotel and book the RPR at the end of the stay. Then you'd get the full experience, have the pools, walk to the parks, and have FOTL.

 

[geffric]

I agree that it is gonna be hard to only do 1 day at US/IOA.

There is the meal deal where you can eat unlimited food at select restuarants. http://www.universalorlando.com/tic_meal_deal.html

my son and I did this on our special trip last Feb and it was really worth it for us..

He may love IOA with Jurassica park, and Spiderman et al.. It is really themed well and fun to visit. even seuss land - ..http://www.universalorlando.com/ioa_index.html

The two park tickets are $85 for an adult is for 7 days both parks..

BTW we will be at US/IOA and WDW end of July too...

 

[macraven]

the 7 day special for $85 is a great deal.

use it for 2 mornings and maybe one afternoon/evening and it will be money worth spent.


depending on your date, there may be fireworks in the evening.
you don't want to miss that.


i have never done universal all in one day before. i can not imagine it being that possible and still catching all the sites.

i started going to universal in 1993 and that is when there was only one park, the studios to do.
we would go from before opening until the place shut down at night.
and still, had to go back the next day for more.

city walk was not city walk when we first started going to universal.

try to reconsider and do 2 days at UO instead of 1

 

[momtimesone]

thanks so much for the advice we are going to buy the park hopper thing and we will decide what is the must do things after mom researches a bit more. If for some reason we miss things well then thats all the reason mom needs to plan another trip and come back to get the others in LOL. I want to thank all of you for your help espicially the menu post that will help in deciding where we will eat. As for the heat im well aware of the conditions we went to disney last yr in july it was hot but we take breaks dont rush things and just have fun and if you see a full grown adult jumping under a fountain then just come up and say hello to me.As for the rental situation its a toss up between the renting a car or the towncar service as now its my brother and his fiance comming with us that day. So all and all its 4 adults and one child splitting the cost so will see. I will keep watching the website to see if any deals get offered then buy my tickits ahead of time. Again thanks for your help its why i come to this site