First Timer Universal Questions

MablePines24

Earning My Ears
Joined
Oct 8, 2015
Messages
16
Hi everyone!

I'm planning my next trip to Disney for next November, and I want to plan a day at Universal. This will only be our 2nd trip to Disney and 1st time to Universal. I have questions I need assistance with.

I have decided if we do Universal, we'll do a 1 day Park to Park ticket, in order to try to make the most of it. However, for 2 adults and a 11 year old, this is looking to be quite expensive, at almost $500. not including transportation to Universal from Disney.

1) Is there some hidden way to make this cheaper? (A long shot, I know)
2) What are suggestions to get the most out of the day while still enjoying it? We love Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and my son is really looking forward to the Kong ride. I'm fine skipping things to get the most out of what we might enjoy.
3) Is it really worth spending what equals a 1/4 of the rest of my vacation dollars on one day?

Thanks a bunch!!
 
A one day ticket is the most relatively expensive way to do a themepark. I felt the same way when we had a universal trip and I was tempted to go to Epcot for the day.
 
You could purchase your tickets through undercovertourist, which are cheaper (not a LOT cheaper, but a little). As for if it's worth it... well, for our family, we figured that once we were spending a small fortune on tickets, we might as well go all out. For $60/person you can buy two day tickets instead, and on both the universal site and sites like undercovertourist, once you buy two days you get a third free. (UCT even has a "buy two days get TWO days free" promo on right on.) Since we were spending so much already, we figured we might as well just go whole hog and spend a BUNCH of days there. Of course this will vary a LOT depending on how much you think your family will get out of it. My kids adore HP and so I'm sure they'll keep enjoying it over multiple days, but the value of it for your family could be quite different.

Good luck!
 
We stopped doing split stays almost ten years ago now, due to cost. It is just more economical to stay at WDW and add a day to your ticket. Likewise, a 4-day Uni ticket is not much more than a two-day. I also worry that having only one day at Uni will leave you wanting for more.

Universal has tons to offer. Consider a vacation solely to that destination. We started with a 3-day "there's not much to do" long weekend. Then we spent 7-days on property and had a blast. This last trip was 10-days. Only made a day trip to Disney Springs to get away.

We still love both, and alternate between them every other trip.
 

I am not a first timer but rather than starting a new thread, I figure to as my 30 day "I didn't think about that" Questions here.

1. Early Admission at US both days....Whats the best transportation options from RPR to Universal gates for park opening? walk? water taxi? others???
2. Would you recommend taking HWE back from Universal to IOA when leaving at night? or does everyone do this?>
3. I no to the above, is taking HWE from early admission in Universal a good idea? What time does it start?
4. Do we REALLY no want to bring a bag/back pack? What about a small waist type pack?
5. BREAKFAST>?!?? What where? for early admission?
6. Favorite QS resturant?
7. Will Express pass really save alot of time? November 11-13th.
8. Best Non Potter ride?
9. Shoes get really wet on JP?
10. THANK YOU!
 
1. Water taxi is best if the Studios is the EE.
2. If you want to walk back to RPR from the Studios at night, yes, taking HE saves on the legs. If you are taking water taxi and just want to get back to RPR as fast as possible, do not take HE. You will be backtracking to get to the water taxi from the font gates of IOA.
3. HE starts running at the opening time. You are still in the first wave with the other rope droppers from the gates. Can get a lot done those first two hours.
4. Touring without a backpack makes it super-easy. But...we have used a backpack and found the lockers to be no big deal even at the height of summer when we go.
5. We do poptarts and coffee in the hotel room. Croissant Moon in IOA has a big QS breakfast menu.
6. Since you asked about QS, I have to say both the Three Broomsticks and Leaky Cauldron were wonderful.
7. Maybe not tons of time, but you are staying at RPR so you will have then none-the-less.
8. Spiderman
9. No. It is a flume drop like Splash Mountain.
10. You are welcome.
 
Surprised by the lack of reservations at either Potter resturant....

So used to ADR's at WDW
 
I agree with pp to add another day. But if you can't here is the run down. Make sure you are at Universal property 30-45 minutes before the park opens. It takes a bit to get through bag check and walk through City Walk to get to the park. I would start with IOA, once inside go clockwise, to the left towards Hulk....If you like Roller coasters Ride Hulk, and Dr. Doom's then head to Spiderman, Skip Ripsaw Falls and Blutos Barges, go to King Kong and then Jurassic Park, then onto Hogsmeade and the Harry Potter rides, before boarding the HE to Universal Studios. That way you have the must have's out of the way and the only thing at IOA you are skipping is Suess land, which is more kiddy rides and the lost continent which only has a walk through experience and a pretty lame live show in it.

At Universal Studios, once off the HE, go to Diagon Alley. Depending upon time, you can eat lunch at either Hogsmeade (3 broomsticks) or Diagon Alley (Leaky Cauldron). In November the lines should be no big deal, unless you are going the week of Thanksgiving.

Yes it is a tad pricey for the park to park one day, but if you want King Kong and the full Potter experience it is a must have. Have fun!
 




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