First Universal Orlando Mini-Vacation

[disneyguy87]

Hi all, my wife and I will be going on our first Universal Orlando Mini-Vacation some time between late August and late September. I wanted to reach out the community to gather more intel first!

The most exposure I've had with Universal is when I went (my wife did not accompany me) to HHN in 2019. I didn't get on any rides and I just did Haunted Houses and spent some time at the City Walk. We're die hard Disney World fans so this is pretty much a brand new experience for us.

I'm looking for any Universal lovers that would like to offer tips/suggestions to make it a great stay, I'd really like the Harry Potter experience for my wife to be special.

We're looking to stay 3 or 4 days, if we do stay 4 it will be a day off from the parks. For us express passes is a must, we never get on a queue at Disney that's longer than 40 minutes (and that's pushing it). The main reason we're going is to do the Wizarding World so from what I've researched we need a pass for both parks to do this. What's your ideal entrance to the Wizarding World (I think I heard there's two?)

Most of their coasters are not for us, though we will be doing Gringotts and Flight of the Hippogriff. At Disney we spend one whole day at each park pretty much open to close - I'm not sure how big these parks are and since we'll have to get a ticket that covers both please let me know how many days we should prepare to see the two parks. I imagine many hours will be spent wandering the Wizarding World.

Outside of the parks I saw there's a dining plan, I always get a dining plan with Disney and I find it to be well worth it, do any of you opt-in for this?

Lastly I could use a resort recommendation, I stayed one night at Cabana Bay with my buddy for HHN which was fine for the night but it wasn't special and I found it too long to get to the City Walk. Closer to the parks the better, I think the way into the parks is CityWalk? If so staying on/near that would be great. I don't rent cars on my theme park visits. Thanks!

 

[bchbetha]

Stay at Hard Rock, Portofino or Royal Pacific. The Express Passes are included. You would get EPs from check in day to check out night. Far better deal than buying EPs out of pocket.
Treat Universal/ IOA as one big park and just hop back and forth between either by Hogwarts Express or walking.
Don't miss Forbidden Journey. I would try Hagrid too- it's not an intense coaster.
We travel as Harry does- starting at Universal to go through Diagon Alley then ride the train to Hogsmeade.
Be sure and buy interactive wands (about $50). Totally fun!
There are tons of great shows so it's nice to have leisurely park days to hit those.
Be sure and grab a Butterbeer (or Fire Whiskey...) at they Hogshead Inn and enjoy the patio there.
Dining plan? Not for me. But, you don't need to decide ahead of time. First place you buy food you can simply upgrade IF the way you eat makes sense for it. I just don't like pre-paying for food. I never know how hungry I'll be and I don't want to be tied to anything.

 

[disneyguy87]

Thanks so much for your insights! Will definitely follow this journey into the Wizarding World as well. Is there a difference in distance to the parks between those 3 hotels?

 

[Skippyboo]

There are water shuttles from the deluxe level hotels. The Disney equivalent would be monorail hotels and MK. The lower hotels have buses.

Universal is much more compact than WDW. Also the security check is before you get to City Walk so you don’t have to go through security every time you enter the park.

There are 2 Harry Potter sections- the Original section- Hogsmeade with the Hogwarts Castle in Islands of Adventure and then Diagon Alley in Universal Studios. The Hogwarts Express connects the 2 sections. You need park to park tickets (park hoppers in Disney speak) to ride the train. Do it both ways - it’s different in each direction.

 

[TommyJK]

As for your question about the Dining Plan, IMO it's not worth it. It's not like Disney's. It's not accepted at any of the Hotel restaurants (as The Resorts are not owned by Universal). For the most part it only saves you money if you are buying the most expensive entrees at the QS restaurants., and even then you're only saving a few bucks at best.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[schumigirl]

Thanks so much for your insights! Will definitely follow this journey into the Wizarding World as well. Is there a difference in distance to the parks between those 3 hotels?

The hotels with EP are all easily walked to and from.

HRH is a few minutes from Studios and a little further to IOA.

RPR is around a 6-7 minute walk to IOA and again, few minutes longer to Studios.

PBH is furthest away but still only a 15 minute walk or less, depending on how fast you walk.

You don‘t need to worry about the main Citywalk security check, as you go through this either at the boat docks at the hotel or at the end of the walking path from each hotel. Takes seconds usually.

They all have boats too, as does Sapphire Falls.

 

[jdancisin]

We are also booking our first trip in August. Staying at portofino. Booking through Costco. The pricing was much better than our regular agent could find.

 

[cfoxga]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/wizarding-world-touring-plans-and-details.3666427/This thread from ruthies12 is a must read for die-hard HP fans touring the parks. I wish I had it on our first trip, but will be following it on our upcoming trip in 3 weeks. There are a handful of items that we have not experienced yet.

You can't go wrong with any of the deluxe hotels, but there are definitely different vibes at them. So it really depends on what you want from the hotel.

 

[fredandkell]

Hi all, my wife and I will be going on our first Universal Orlando Mini-Vacation some time between late August and late September. I wanted to reach out the community to gather more intel first!

The most exposure I've had with Universal is when I went (my wife did not accompany me) to HHN in 2019. I didn't get on any rides and I just did Haunted Houses and spent some time at the City Walk. We're die hard Disney World fans so this is pretty much a brand new experience for us.

I'm looking for any Universal lovers that would like to offer tips/suggestions to make it a great stay, I'd really like the Harry Potter experience for my wife to be special.

We're looking to stay 3 or 4 days, if we do stay 4 it will be a day off from the parks. For us express passes is a must, we never get on a queue at Disney that's longer than 40 minutes (and that's pushing it). The main reason we're going is to do the Wizarding World so from what I've researched we need a pass for both parks to do this. What's your ideal entrance to the Wizarding World (I think I heard there's two?)

Most of their coasters are not for us, though we will be doing Gringotts and Flight of the Hippogriff. At Disney we spend one whole day at each park pretty much open to close - I'm not sure how big these parks are and since we'll have to get a ticket that covers both please let me know how many days we should prepare to see the two parks. I imagine many hours will be spent wandering the Wizarding World.

Outside of the parks I saw there's a dining plan, I always get a dining plan with Disney and I find it to be well worth it, do any of you opt-in for this?

Lastly I could use a resort recommendation, I stayed one night at Cabana Bay with my buddy for HHN which was fine for the night but it wasn't special and I found it too long to get to the City Walk. Closer to the parks the better, I think the way into the parks is CityWalk? If so staying on/near that would be great. I don't rent cars on my theme park visits. Thanks!

We were first timers and did one day, park to park admission while staying at Royal Pacific. We were able to ride 19 rides in one day, had Diagon Alley practically to ourselves in the morning due to early park admission, and never waited longer than 25 minutes for any ride thanks to the express pass. We are huge Harry Potter fans and it was literally about the most perfect day ever. I have never been sold on staying on-property for Disney, but I am totally an advocate of staying on-property for universal because of the included express passes, the boat transportation, the easy security screening, in the early park admission.

 

[disneyguy87]

Thanks so much everyone. Based on the feedback I think we will do HRH and head to Diagon Alley.

The HP itinerary was a big help @cfoxga thanks!

@TommyJK thanks for this dining tip, we'll skip the meal plan!

@fredandkell based on that maybe we only need two days at the theme parks maybe get an extra day just to relax at the resort!

Thank you all again, you've all given me good tips!