First Universal Visit Since 2003

[amber_cntrygrl]

Hello! We're planning on surprising our boys with their first Universal trip for their birthdays (they'll be 10 and 4). I haven't been since 2003, and it's been even longer since DH had been. We're planning on July after baseball season is over, and will be staying offsite using hubby's Marriott points from working out of town so often. Kind of freaking out about not having the Express Pass, but we don't want to pay for that. Are we going to be royally screwed, going in the middle of the summer with no Express Pass?
Any tips y'all have would certainly be appreciated!

 

[pa. dad]

If you are expecting to do 2 parks in one day without the express pass, no way.
If you are willing to do one park per day and spend a fair amount of hours in the parks getting up early, you should be able to do most not all of the attractions in the park.
I'd come up with a touring plan and prioritize what you feel are the must sees for your family and the ones that would be nice if time permits.
They let the Universal hotel guests in early at one park or the other- so if you are not a guest do the OTHER park. Otherwise there will already be lines at the major things even if you are one of the first of the general public to enter. I'd expect the new King Kong ride, both Harry Potter lands, ET, Spiderman, Transformers and the coasters to be busy from early on.
They've closed many of the old rides that when were there when you last there. So I'd familairize yourself with the current attractions and start your plan.
Oh and as a former baseball coach, I like hearing you are waiting until after the baseball season to take your vacations. It's frustrating when you work all season to get to the playoffs and then some of the players leave for vacation and you're shorthanded. So that sounds like you have good judgement to me.

 

[macraven]

you need to go early in the morning and wait in the line that will open at the official start time.

onsite and offsite package hotel guests, will already be in the park one hour prior to when you are let in.

take water bottles, change of clothing and snacks along.
rent the family locker in the front of the park.
they are larger and can be opened and relocked as many times as you wish for the day.

other lockers are only usable once.
want to continue to use it, pay the fee again.
these are the small lockers throughout the parks.



suggest the change of clothes so you all can do the water rides.
be able to towel off and change shorts and socks/shoes after the rides.

you can get free cups of water from any eatery inside the place.

but a couple of water bottles that you carry with it might be quicker for the 4 yo if lines inside the restaurants are long waits.

eat at off times in the parks so you will be able to grab a table at the counter service places outside the places
better yet, pick a shady place or eat inside if there is room.

look at www.universalorlando.com to find locations of the rides, first aide and restrooms.
if you need any of those 3, you will be able to get to them quickly since the parks will be packed.

if you or the kids get overwhelmed from the heat, the first aid and baby stations are a good place to cool off in emergencies.
you can get cool water and clothes from the staff there and sit in ac until you feel better.
if you are not used to the heat, take advantage of the places where you can get relief.

my boys got sick one summer with stomach pains and could not hold down water.
30 minutes resting in ac at first aide, saved the day for us.

 

[RMulieri]

You are going during a very crowded time . You are going to need to plan ..Be at the parks well in advance of opening.Keep in mind onsite guests and certain pkg holders will already be in the parks because they get early entry. During the summer, both parks usually have early entry.I would go to UniversalOrlando.com and familiarize yourself with the parks and make a list of what you are interested in. Once the park opens start moving and hitting your list .The 4 yr old may meet alot of the height requirements, they may not. Even if they do , alot of the rides have scarier elements to them .You know your child best.The more popular attractions ( Despicable Me, Spiderman, Harry Potter rides ,transformers etc) will already have waits when you enter the parks. Despicable Me only gets longer thru the day, so hit that early or skip it .Waits of 120mins or more by late morning during summer are not unusual .. Harry potter does quiet down a bit in the last hour of park opening so if it is too busy in the morning, you can save it till the last hour of the day. King Kong will be new and likely crowded too.The good news with that one is it looks like it will be a people-mover ( each truck will hold 72 people at a time ) .
Eat at off times and stay hydrated..Restaurants and food kiosks are also busy

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

Thank y'all SO much!! We'll definitely keep all of those tips in mind! We're expecting it to be super busy, but hopefully not absolutely miserable. We're planning on doing 4 day park-to-park tickets, so hopefully we'll be able to hit all of our must do's. I know there's several things our little guy won't be able to do, but I think he'd be ok not riding anything as long as he gets to meet Spiderman. haha.
We considered going in September, but then I remembered our oldest plans on playing football this year, but I don't want him to miss those games either especially since this will be his first year playing. I know September crowds would probably be MUCH better though..

 

[Kivara]

If he wants to get a picture with Spider-Man, it is in the back area of one of the gift shops (sorry I can't remember which one...I think it's the one that's across the street from the Spider-Man ride).
As soon as you see Spidey in the "street", get inside and in line. We hung out on the street, watching him interact a bit. By the time he walked inside & we followed to get a picture, the line was LONG.

 

[vatmark]

If you will be in the parks closer to closing time that is the best time to hit the Harry Potter areas. We've gone in June and the Harry Potter areas really clear out an hour before closing.

 

[xipotec]

2 days possible in November?

 

[macraven]

possible in early november and probably the second week also

 

[xipotec]

I have always read the week before thanksgiving is the slowest week in November

 

[macraven]

i've heard that also.

 

[disneymath]

@amber_cntrygrl thanks for asking about this!

I'll be keeping some of these tips in mind too since we hsven't been to US/IoA since 2006 and will be there during the same time of year, staying offsite (DVC) and it will be my nephews' first trips (aged 9 and 7).

We have 2 day park to park tickets but plan to stick to one park each day. For 8 of us, transportation to/from Us will be $$$ enough, so we are also hoping to get by without Express Pass.

Oh, if anyone has transport suggestions for a large group, please share!

 

[macraven]

i know Tony Hinds has a 10 passenger van for his transportation company.
i use him for all my stays while in orlando

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

@amber_cntrygrl thanks for asking about this!

I'll be keeping some of these tips in mind too since we hsven't been to US/IoA since 2006 and will be there during the same time of year, staying offsite (DVC) and it will be my nephews' first trips (aged 9 and 7).

We have 2 day park to park tickets but plan to stick to one park each day. For 8 of us, transportation to/from Us will be $$$ enough, so we are also hoping to get by without Express Pass.

Oh, if anyone has transport suggestions for a large group, please share!

I couldn't believe how much Express Pass costs! I almost cried. Haha

 

[macraven]

I couldn't believe how much Express Pass costs! I almost cried. Haha

Which is why many of us stay onsite in one of the three deluxe hotels

One of the perks it gives their guests is free unlimited usage of the express lines for the parks

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

Which is why many of us stay onsite in one of the three deluxe hotels

One of the perks it gives their guests is free unlimited usage of the express lines for the parks

Yeah, I told my husband next trip I definitely want to stay onsite. It's much cheaper than buying the Express Pass. If we weren't staying in an offsite hotel free this time, we'd definitely be doing that.