First Universal trip for a long-time Disney World nerd

[mickeyluv'r]

I agree with pretty much everything said so far. If you stay at one of the onsite hotels going between parks and your hotel (for a break) is much easier than at WDW. Do look at a map though to see which is closest. Endless Summer and Dockside are Universal but those two are a bit further away. Cabana Bay is walkable, but also a little further than the rest. next is Aventura, then Sapphire Falls. Sapphire is very walkable, and a beautiful hotel. There's also shuttle boats to SF, RP, Porto and HRH.

Many of the hotel restaurants are somewhat underpopulated, esp compared to WDW, but they very good food.

A few of the in-park eateries - like WDW - are not that great. some though are very good, especially when you compare against cost of dining at WDW. Citywalk has some fun options, and is very clsoe to the parks.

I have also stayed offsite near Universal a number of times, and that is very doable, too. One area we like is Major Boulevard area. It is walkable, but we usually drive if we stay over that way. One of my favorites there is the Residence Inn, but there are a number of options over that way they get high reviews, don't cost very much if you don't care about early entry, and some come with breakfast. I've also heard good thigns about Drury, though I have never stayed there.

We also often stop in at the Whole Foods plaza, just off Universal property when we visit. The WF is $$ for groceries, but that one is pretty amazing with all the prepared food options. They have a nice seating area.

Do check out the glass case in the Chocolate Emporium in the chocolate shop side.

 

[glocon]

If you don’t stay at one of the 3 deluxe resorts with the free ep, I’d suggest Cabana Bay.
It’s like a higher end value resort.

Two great pools, one with a slide and the other with a lazy river.
And you can walk to the parks or to the water park from there (or take a bus).

And Cabana Bay also has a bowling alley.

So if you leave the parks early due to HHN you can swim or bowl!

 

[glocon]

And definitely get an interactive wand!

 

[spewey]

Great great advice here. In the past decade my family (wife, DD 16) have made more than a dozen trips from Canada to either Disney or UO. We love both.

I'm the planner. My (actual, real) OCD comes in handy I must say with Disney. I have guided us though three completely different ride booking systems - paper Fastpasses, MBs, and now Genie. Master of the refresh, using my wife's phone to watch time.gov, LLs, VQs, I've become an expert in everything. Have advised several other Canadian families on how to tackle what is frankly a byzantine, often overwhelming process - even written out itineraries for them.

For Universal, these are my strategies (which work year 'round - we just spent Christmas break there, which is super high season, but usually go when schools are back for the locals, like late August, or even September, which I see you're considering). Follow these steps carefully, and you're assured of a low-stress, go-with-the-flow vacation, with plenty of time to do everything you want, with maybe just a little planning set aside for Hagrid's.

Ready? Here goes:

1. Book a stay at Royal Pacific.




That is all.

 

[PDXmouse]

Great great advice here. In the past decade my family (wife, DD 16) have made more than a dozen trips from Canada to either Disney or UO. We love both.

I'm the planner. My (actual, real) OCD comes in handy I must say with Disney. I have guided us though three completely different ride booking systems - paper Fastpasses, MBs, and now Genie. Master of the refresh, using my wife's phone to watch time.gov, LLs, VQs, I've become an expert in everything. Have advised several other Canadian families on how to tackle what is frankly a byzantine, often overwhelming process - even written out itineraries for them.

For Universal, these are my strategies (which work year 'round - we just spent Christmas break there, which is super high season, but usually go when schools are back for the locals, like late August, or even September, which I see you're considering). Follow these steps carefully, and you're assured of a low-stress, go-with-the-flow vacation, with plenty of time to do everything you want, with maybe just a little planning set aside for Hagrid's.

Ready? Here goes:

1. Book a stay at Royal Pacific.




That is all.

Haha. This is awesome and I love it. We’re headed out in two weeks. First stop? Royal pacific.

One thing I would add: Bring lanyards as Universal doesn’t have a “ticket on the wrist” option like magic bands.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Haha. This is awesome and I love it. We’re headed out in two weeks. First stop? Royal pacific.

One thing I would add: Bring lanyards as Universal doesn’t have a “ticket on the wrist” option like magic bands.

We've done lanyards, but then they show up in every photo. A plus of lanyards is you can take them on rides. Another option is a fanny pack. Even better is to find a pack that can be worn as either a fanny pack OR a sling, that way you aren't stuck wearing a fanny pack all day.

One more thing to know about Universal is they have the Coke Freestyle machines. We are generally able to use the machines to get free ice water, though not every machine allows for free water, so you have a look a little for the ones that do.

If you go on the Islands of Adventure water rides, you WILL get wet. We often skip them, or else it pays to dress for them: clothes that dry easily, water tolerant shoes. Compared to WDW, you'll see more people dressed for the water rides. Universal has lockers for the water rides, but those cost $, or did the last time we sued them. If you are staying onsite, it might make sense to go back to hotel, change then make a special wet rides only visit to IoA with no bags, folowed maybe by a trip to your hotel pool.

 

[PDXmouse]

We've done lanyards, but then they show up in every photo. A plus of lanyards is you can take them on rides. Another option is a fanny pack. Even better is to find a pack that can be worn as either a fanny pack OR a sling, that way you aren't stuck wearing a fanny pack all day.

One more thing to know about Universal is they have the Coke Freestyle machines. We are generally able to use the machines to get free ice water, though not every machine allows for free water, so you have a look a little for the ones that do.

If you go on the Islands of Adventure water rides, you WILL get wet. We often skip them, or else it pays to dress for them: clothes that dry easily, water tolerant shoes. Compared to WDW, you'll see more people dressed for the water rides. Universal has lockers for the water rides, but those cost $, or did the last time we sued them. If you are staying onsite, it might make sense to go back to hotel, change then make a special wet rides only visit to IoA with no bags, folowed maybe by a trip to your hotel pool.

Good point. I guess we don’t mind the lanyards in our pictures. We all get themed lanyards… Spider-Man for DD and Harry Potter for the rest of us.

DH like wearing socks and athletic shoes but brings a dry pair of socks. The rest of us wear crocs or water sandals.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Good point. I guess we don’t mind the lanyards in our pictures. We all get themed lanyards… Spider-Man for DD and Harry Potter for the rest of us.

DH like wearing socks and athletic shoes but brings a dry pair of socks. The rest of us wear crocs or water sandals.

We liked our lanyards too, up to a point. They too are themed ones. We only had one set though, and I guess we didn't think much about matching our lanyards to our outfits. Over many visits though, there are definitely some photos where the lanyards clash.

 

[Kit Jackson]

If you want to wear lanyards, but don't want them in the pictures, you could put the lanyard around your back for the photos. You might see the neck part, but you won't see the badge part.