First Timers For Us & Ioa-tips Please

[stephensmum]

Staying at CBR 16/8-30/8 & want to visit US & IOA for a day each. Last 2 visits we have just done Disney parks & Seaworld. DS10 likes roller coasters but not turning upside down, I've read a lot about the main rides but was hoping you could tell me which way around the parks to go, how much a taxi would be etc?

 

[GarryK]

Sharon

For our family US & IOA are must dos. July this year will be our 5th trip and we've never missed a trip to Universal. The girls will 16 & 14 this year but they loved both parks even at 9 & 6 when we first visited.

Tips - well, I'd strongly recommend booking one night at one of the Universal hotels - Royal Pacific is the cheapest. This will give you front-of-line access (like FASTPASS) for all the rides. The hotel isn't cheap (approx $250 per night) but the benefit of the FOTL can't be over-estimated (especially if you're going during the summer).

If you don't staying on-site then you'll need to be at the gates for opening.

At US, do Shrek and The Mummy first. Take a change of clothes for DS as there's an excellent play area with lots of water. 2 of the main rides (DD and The Hulk) at IOA involve turning upside-down but there's still plenty to do.

Garry

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Best advice as above, only get to the gate before advertised opening times as they do open early in July/Aug when we've been there.

Must do for IoA is spiderman first if you don't want hulk or DD because of the turns.

Normally we do hulk first in IoA and then anticlockwise.

The water rides get busy in IoA as the park fills up about 11ish and stay busy so they are good first thing although it might be a bit chilly when wet early on.

US do ROTM and shreck as above, probably Simpsons as well now.
Otherwise this park is less busy early on IMO and in fact some rides don't even open first thing.

Consider the express pass option for one short cut at each ride if the early door option isn't for you and the Universal hotel is too expensive, note that a one night stay gives you 2 days unlimited express line access.

Express pass can be bought on the universal website but you do have to name your days.

 

[rpbert1]

We stayed onsite for the last 3 years counting this year. This is a must if you want a relaxing time at the parks. The express will entitle you to 1 ride on each attraction but at $50 each approx i would book a room as suggested, for 1 night, check in early from 7am they will give you room keys which you show at the express line, room will probably not be ready, and the next day that you checkout you can use the room keys up to park closes, and you can ride as many times as you like using the express line.
Check the prices of express for 3 at each park and decide for yourself, and if you decide to book a room for 1 night try to see what offers they have i.e Triple A rates , supersaver rates anything that reduces the price. The dates you are going on, in August last year after the 14th August prices came down as season changed think rates where about $169 +tax this was tripleA rate which you can book if you are a member of the AA here

 

[Jakey Rowling]

The express will entitle you to 1 ride on each attraction but at $50 each approx i would book a room as suggested,

Agree with your comments on the onsite option, for info there are limited $19.99 1 park or $30.99 2 park express tickets available for Aug on the universal website.
I think this is decent value for what you get.

 

[DizzyErin]

The first time i took my dd she was 5 and absolutely loved both US and IOA even though there were rides she couldn't go on ... she loved all the water rides and spidey ride and the Dr Seuss area is still 1 of her faves and she's nearly 9 ... took her again at 7 and she loved it even more ... they are 2 of our faves ... you will definitely enjoy .. but get there early and get the most you can out of it

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks everyone - it will have to be the arrive early option for us. Anyone know how long & how much in a taxi?

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Mears transport is one option.

http://www.mearstransportation.com/

They charge per person, about $16 per person round trip, so depending on the group size a taxi might work out cheaper.
I think for 4 it probably works out cheaper than a taxi.

 

[wicket2005]

At Islands we usually go round this park clockwise starting at Spiderman. A lot of people head for The Hulk first.

 

[The Fetherstons]

Hi, We stayed at ASMo/Mu and Pop and travelled by taxi and mears and also the Lynx bus from the TTC to Sea World then a taxi from there, it only takes about 15 minutes from disney as its not too far. With Mears you pay return and ring them to arrange a return pick up, it cost about $24 each. I can't remember how much the taxi was but I think about $35 each way. The Lynx bus is cheap but a bit more of a hassle if you need to get there early for opening.

 

[rsbuxt]

Hi

At Universal The Simpsons ride opens in Spring and this will be the main draw all summer long. Shrek, The Mummy & Men in Black always have long waits so get fast-passes or do these rides as early as possible.

At IOA Hulk and Spiderman draw the big crowds early. Spiderman is must do and not far off the best ride in Orlando. There are two wet rides where it is absolutely certain you will get soaked through to the skin. This is not a case of you may get spahed a bit, you 100% will get soaked....take a change of clothes and a towel.

If you can stump up for the front of line passes they sell, they are very well worth it on a busy day - we had them over Xmas and we managed to do both parks in one day, saving money as we ddin't need a second visit.

Rich

 

[DizzyErin]

[QUOTE=rsbuxt;22646131]Hi

At Universal The Simpsons ride opens in Spring and this will be the main draw all summer long.
Hi any idea when in the Spring?? We'll be there April 5th -19th
Thanks

 

[rsbuxt]

[QUOTE=rsbuxt;22646131]Hi

At Universal The Simpsons ride opens in Spring and this will be the main draw all summer long.
Hi any idea when in the Spring?? We'll be there April 5th -19th
Thanks

Hi

I asked the guy who served us in the Quicky Mart next door and he said they were trying for Easter, but he suspected in may be May. Fingers crossd for you.

Rich

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks everyone. Am I right, in that if you buy fastpasses, you can only use 1 time per ride?

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Thanks everyone. Am I right, in that if you buy fastpasses, you can only use 1 time per ride?

Thats normally correct, on some of the less popular rides they don't always stamp your fast pass so you could use it again.

We are a early bird park visitor so leave the fast passes to later in the day to get best use.

 

[stephensmum]

Taking into account 2days taxi's & fast passes for 3, I'm now thinking it might be worth the extra to stay 1 night at RPR. It is $214 + tax on 25/8, is this a good price? I checked on Lowes & uni site, is there anywhere else I can check? We don't have AA.

 

[The Fetherstons]

Hi

You could try staying on International Drive for a night which offer free transport to US and IOA you can get rooms at very reasonable prices there, and is very close

Hope this helps a little

 

[Dazed]

stephensmum,
you can look on the Universal resort forum on these boards. There's a current date and rate thread which should give you a good idea of usual rates.
I have bought the minimum AA cover (£39) just for hotel discounts and is good for meal discounts around Universal as well. We loved FOTL perk on our last visit.

 

[rpbert1]

I would book the room , then keep checking for discounts, you can change your booking to a lower rate at anytime if you see one. Bit early for Supersaver rate but it usually runs about 15% to 20%, i think there is a minimum stay of 2 nights
I know last year ,the rates changed to a value rate on the 14th August this year the rates change to Value on the 17th August, our Summer rates where $191.20 +tax, the Value was around $169+tax for Triple A

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

we go to universal and ioa every time we go as my boyfriend loves the hulk. we have gotten a two park hopper ticket so you can go back and forth all day if you wanted. we book our transport through a company recommended by our rep i think its called mears. for an adult (not sure what child prices are) its $12 return and you just ring them an hour before you want picking up.
as for rides on ioa
- hulk- very turny but incredibly fun
- spiderman is a must
- jurrassic park is brilliant
- the water rides are amazing- you will not have dry spot on you!

universal rides
- shrek
-mummy
-men in black- try going single rider you are very likely to sit in same car if not together- but maybe do the longer way first time
-jimmy neutron - sounds like its for small kids but very fun
- earthquake-

at universal and ioa they have lockers for certain rides which are free for the first hour and you use your fingerprint to unlock - which your son will think is really cool