first trip to Universal ...skipping Disneyworld I think!

[jenniy]

We are going on a 3 day Disney cruise in Oct. The kids are only off of school for that week for fall break. So we have 3 -4 days in FL before the cruise. I want to do Universal and IOA. I have 2 huge Harry Potter fans (boys 8 and 10) and they love big roller coasters. BUT I also have a 5 year old daughter...I feel bad for not going to Disneyworld for her but we have been to Disneyland 5 times with her and the rest of fam so I hear its pretty much the same. And we should get our Disney fill from the cruise (she doesn't love rides, just seeing the princesses which will be on the cruise) I just hope I won't regret skipping Disneyworld.
We are doing the 3 day pass for Universal and staying at Hard Rock so we will get early entry/express passes. So I am also a little confused here...we are checking into Hard rock Monday night and checking out Thursday (the day of our cruise) So we can only use the express passes Tuesday and Wednesday and not Monday? Since we don't check in until 4? Thanks so much!!

 

[uni fan]

You will actually get the express pass Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

 

[Metro West]

Based on when you check in you may not have the option of using the EP. Check in is at 4PM and the parks close early in October so you wouldn't have a chance to make it to the parks. For example...the Studios closes at 5PM on the days when Halloween Horror Nights is staged...IOA stays open until 7PM but I'm not sure you would want to burn a day of your tickets for a few hours.

Now...if you could get into your room earlier in the day, you might be able to use the EP that first Monday. The EP begins when you check in so you would be able to have the EP Monday afternoon/evening but again the parks close early and there may not be enough time.

 

[jenniy]

Ok so Monday is a maybe then? We want to go to the parks, Mon, Tues, Wed, but the hotel said we can't check until 4 on Monday so then we would not have express passes. The parks are open until 7 and 8 on Mon and Tuesday and 5 and 7 on Wednesday. But with early entry at 8am I think that is all my fam can do. Monday is Columbus Day also so it might be crowded, hmmm I wish we could somehow use those express passes on Monday.
Thanks so much for your input!!

 

[damo]

Ok so Monday is a maybe then? We want to go to the parks, Mon, Tues, Wed, but the hotel said we can't check until 4 on Monday so then we would not have express passes. The parks are open until 7 and 8 on Mon and Tuesday and 5 and 7 on Wednesday. But with early entry at 8am I think that is all my fam can do. Monday is Columbus Day also so it might be crowded, hmmm I wish we could somehow use those express passes on Monday.
Thanks so much for your input!!

You can check in whenever you want. We've checked in at 7 am and we got our express passes and off we went. However, you generally can't get into your room until 4...that doesn't mean that they won't give you a room key so you can get your express passes made right away and have the entire day at the parks using the express pass and early admission.

They will hold your luggage for you until you physically get access to your room. Just bring your stuff over to bell services.

 

[hydrotony]

Based on when you check in you may not have the option of using the EP. Check in is at 4PM and the parks close early in October so you wouldn't have a chance to make it to the parks. For example...the Studios closes at 5PM on the days when Halloween Horror Nights is staged...IOA stays open until 7PM but I'm not sure you would want to burn a day of your tickets for a few hours.

Now...if you could get into your room earlier in the day, you might be able to use the EP that first Monday. The EP begins when you check in so you would be able to have the EP Monday afternoon/evening but again the parks close early and there may not be enough time.

At Universal Studios, Mondays and Tuesdays (8pm closing) have no HHNs and only Oct 16 & 23 have 5pm closings. Islands of Adventure closes 7 pm each night. So, getting to UOR as early as you can on Monday and checking in so you get the Express Pass will give you a lot of time to ride the attractions and using 1 ticket day on Monday (& Tuesday & Wednesday) seems OK. Four hours with EP can be very satisfying. Use early entry on Tuesday & Wednesday for WWoHP since Forbidden Journey and Olivander's don't use EP. I think checking out and getting to the Disney cruise port will take up Thursday's activities but I don't know cruise departure times.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

If you want to sneak in a little MK time, you could do MNSSHP one night. That gets you into the park for 8 hours (4:00 to midnight) at a reduced price. DD and I did this last December...we were doing a Universal trip, but we wanted to sneak in a little Disney magic, so we went to the Christmas party.

Tip for your Harry Potter fans: after you have been through the castle once as a family to see everything, the single rider line is much shorter for additional rides since Express Pass doesn't work for the castle ride.

 

[jenniy]

If you want to sneak in a little MK time, you could do MNSSHP one night. That gets you into the park for 8 hours (4:00 to midnight) at a reduced price. DD and I did this last December...we were doing a Universal trip, but we wanted to sneak in a little Disney magic, so we went to the Christmas party.

Tip for your Harry Potter fans: after you have been through the castle once as a family to see everything, the single rider line is much shorter for additional rides since Express Pass doesn't work for the castle ride.

Yes I am thinking of doing the Halloween Party!! That seems perfect just so I will get a little Disney fix Were you able to see the new Fantasyland during the party, I know my dd will want to see it!

Oh thank you, great tip!! I know they will want to ride that again and again!! No express passes for it though, that stinks.

 

[jenniy]

At Universal Studios, Mondays and Tuesdays (8pm closing) have no HHNs and only Oct 16 & 23 have 5pm closings. Islands of Adventure closes 7 pm each night. So, getting to UOR as early as you can on Monday and checking in so you get the Express Pass will give you a lot of time to ride the attractions and using 1 ticket day on Monday (& Tuesday & Wednesday) seems OK. Four hours with EP can be very satisfying. Use early entry on Tuesday & Wednesday for WWoHP since Forbidden Journey and Olivander's don't use EP. I think checking out and getting to the Disney cruise port will take up Thursday's activities but I don't know cruise departure times.

Thank you for your help!! Yes, we can get on the ship at 12 so I think Thursday will be out for doing anything else.

 

[jenniy]

You can check in whenever you want. We've checked in at 7 am and we got our express passes and off we went. However, you generally can't get into your room until 4...that doesn't mean that they won't give you a room key so you can get your express passes made right away and have the entire day at the parks using the express pass and early admission.

They will hold your luggage for you until you physically get access to your room. Just bring your stuff over to bell services.

Really?? That would be so great!!! That is my plan that I will try then. Thank you!

 

[macraven]

Ok so Monday is a maybe then? We want to go to the parks, Mon, Tues, Wed, but the hotel said we can't check until 4 on Monday so then we would not have express passes. The parks are open until 7 and 8 on Mon and Tuesday and 5 and 7 on Wednesday. But with early entry at 8am I think that is all my fam can do. Monday is Columbus Day also so it might be crowded, hmmm I wish we could somehow use those express passes on Monday.
Thanks so much for your input!!

columbus day will have some crowds if it will be like the past 2 years ...

i found the crowds to be in the parks starting around 1:00 in the afternoon.
i have been going in the time period for many years now.
will be there again in that time period this october.

check in to the hotel, store your luggage with valet and hit the parks.

when you check in, you'll get room keys for all on your reservation.
with the room key, have your express passes made.
you all will need them to use the express lines in the park.

don't feel there will be crowds on tuesday in the parks.

 

[jenniy]

columbus day will have some crowds if it will be like the past 2 years ...

i found the crowds to be in the parks starting around 1:00 in the afternoon.
i have been going in the time period for many years now.
will be there again in that time period this october.

check in to the hotel, store your luggage with valet and hit the parks.

when you check in, you'll get room keys for all on your reservation.
with the room key, have your express passes made.
you all will need them to use the express lines in the park.

don't feel there will be crowds on tuesday in the parks.

Ok great!! Thank you so much so I will really need those passes on Monday, I am so glad I can get them.

 

[bumbershoot]

Really?? That would be so great!!! That is my plan that I will try then. Thank you!

Yep, just like at Disneyland you can check in super-early and get access to Magic Morning/EMH, you can do that at Universal, too. Get there early enough and you can have early entrance to Wizarding World that first day.

I don't know who you talked to, but FWIW the onsite resort pages on loewshotels.com state this in the FAQ sections. Maybe the person you talked to should be shown those pages.


Universal is really funny and kind of makes fun of Disney, FWIW. It's done hilariously IMO, but do expect that. The Shrek ride teases Tinkerbell, for example.

Someday you'll have a longer trip and you can fit WDW, and then you can see how different and alike it is vs Disneyland, but it's not necessary to go to. Universal is great.