Give me something to do!!!

[pantherlj]

ready4mouse: One thing you could do is get more familiar with the movies that are featured in the parks again.

The Mummy movies, Jaws, Twister, Jurassic Park, Blues Bros., Shrek, Terminator, E.T., An American Tail, etc.

OP - I was in the same boat as you. I couldn't figure out how to "plan" Universal! It is such an easy park to do but despite everything I read, I didn't get it until I was there I wanted a plan, a strategy ..... I wanted to know where to eat and when LOL.

I agree about watching some movies. I found it odd/funny trying to explain the ET attraction to my 7 yr old. Not sure why 10 yr old didn't ask any questions 7 yr old wanted to know why the police were chasing us, etc.

Jaws movie would have made that ride more fun (avoid the left side of the boat if you don't want wet feet!).

My 7 yr old loves dinos - I haven't seen Jurassic Park in ages but she now wants to see the movie. Would have been fun for her to see before hand (if appropriate, I can't remember).

My girls didn't understand MIB either.

They had just started watching Popeye reruns on (boomerang or cartoon network??) a few weeks before we left so that was a plus.

I will say they enjoyed all the attractions without knowing the movies/shows but it might have been more fun if they recognized them going into them.

I borrowed Walt Disney World with kids 2009 from the library and liked their Universal section that explain the rides.

A couple of areas I didn't really know about or thought the kids were too old for - that turned out to be fun - the ball zone at Curious George behind the Woody Woodpecker coaster and Seuss Landing.

Be sure to pick up a map when you get there. We got there at 9 and didn't know that some attractions didn't open til later (jaws was 10:30, ET was 11, etc).

I planned a US day then an IOA day but ended up splitting up day. Started at US, had lunch at Hard Rock then went to IOA. Started at IOA, had lunch at Mythos, went to US for the afternoon. Last day started at US, went to Bubba Gump, finished at IOA. It would be awesome if they had a tram/monorail or something between parks but the walk isn't bad.

 

[damo]

ready4mouse: One thing you could do is get more familiar with the movies that are featured in the parks again.

The Mummy movies, Jaws, Twister, Jurassic Park, Blues Bros., Shrek, Terminator, E.T., An American Tail, etc.

And read some Dr. Suess stuff, some Marvel comics, watch Popeye cartoons, find out who Dudley Do-Right is.

 

[bas71873]

Be sure to pick up a map when you get there. We got there at 9 and didn't know that some attractions didn't open til later (jaws was 10:30, ET was 11, etc).

Oh yeah....this is the one thing that drove me bananas....the staggered opening thing! Otherwise, much fun to be had

 

[ready4mouse]

So, are you saying (and I am SO not being sarcastic- I swear!) that if we wanted to we could sleep in on our first day if the kids were tired from traveling and not be stuck in crazy lines? Is there ever a time you would recommend being there at opening?

It's also true that we could walk into the park and let the kids decide which rides they want to go on first?

I probably sound like a moron asking this, but it goes against everything I've been trained to do!

 

[patster734]

So, are you saying (and I am SO not being sarcastic- I swear!) that if we wanted to we could sleep in on our first day if the kids were tired from traveling and not be stuck in crazy lines? Is there ever a time you would recommend being there at opening?

The only ride that it's best to be there at opening is Pteraddon Flyers at IOA. Two reasons is that adults are not allowed to ride without a child except for the first hour of the day; and I've heard that lines can get long because the ride has a small loading factor. I've never ridden Pteraddon Flyers because I'm a late sleeper.

Really, your PBH room key will allow you unlimited access to the Express Lane all day long. That means that your line wait will either be non-existant or extremely short compared to the standard line.

It's also true that we could walk into the park and let the kids decide which rides they want to go on first?

Yes! The two parks are adjacent to each other and their entrances are seperated by Citywalk. Its a short walk between the two parks. You can go to one park, do your favorite rides there, and then parkhop over to the other park, and do your favorite rides there. No waiting for boats, buses or monorails between the two parks!

I probably sound like a moron asking this, but it goes against everything I've been trained to do!

Not at all! Prepare for a relaxing vacation!

 

[Bluer101]

So, are you saying (and I am SO not being sarcastic- I swear!) that if we wanted to we could sleep in on our first day if the kids were tired from traveling and not be stuck in crazy lines? Is there ever a time you would recommend being there at opening?

It's also true that we could walk into the park and let the kids decide which rides they want to go on first?

I probably sound like a moron asking this, but it goes against everything I've been trained to do!

Yes on all questions. The only rides you need to maybe get there early for are Rip Ride Rockit in US and The flyers in Jurassic park since they do not offer express. We just sleep in every morning until about 8-9 and go have a big breakfast in the Islands dinning room ( at RPR ), then take the boat to the parks. When you get to your first ride it's so nice to see the line and walk right by everyone and on the ride. Remember that some attractions are shows and you will have to wait for the next to start but you are in front fir the next showing.

 

[bas71873]

ready4mouse: One thing you could do is get more familiar with the movies that are featured in the parks again.

The Mummy movies, Jaws, Twister, Jurassic Park, Blues Bros., Shrek, Terminator, E.T., An American Tail, etc.

AGREE. My poor DD fell in love with ET and I wish she had seen the movie BEFORE (but she loves it now )

 

[DisneyMomOfThree]

I'm kinda of in the same boat. We just got back from 5 days in WDW with a group of 30 family members. My husband and I planned the whole trip it was a year in the making. 11 months out rooms were booked, 7 months out got everyone's input on dining, 6 months out made dining reservations and park plans and would meet with family to make necessary changes.

Well, they loved it so much they want to do it again. This time at US and IOA. Where do you eat with 30 people? Do you need to make reservations way ahead of time with that many people?

 

[Anglefan]

I think the two Emeril restaurants are the only ones on Universal property you can make those kinds of advance reservations at and there is no way I'd want to eat at those with 30 people! Other than the character breakfast, I don't think you can really make advance reservations anywhere else. You do everything the morning of, from my understanding.

 

[JAL2525]

Thank you everyone- I want to believe you and relax...really I do! It's just so hard- and I have the possibility of WWOHP lingering/scaring me...we'll be there at the end of April so it's anybody's guess. Hopefully, most of the crowds will just be at WWOHP and not the rest of the park!

Anyways- right now I have 5 nights booked at PBH. We have 3 boys ages 4(he'll be almost 5), 6(he'll be 7 then), and 11. I was thinking our week might look like this:

-Sunday: Arrive; Blue Man Group at 7
-Monday: Universal Studios at opening/come back to hotel for swim/no idea what to do at night
-Tuesday: IOA at opening/ no idea what to do at night?
-Wednesday: Sleep in (gasp! is this possible on vacation?)- then head to whichever park they want
-Thursday: same as above (unless WWOHP is open- then we'll get up early and do just that area at opening)
-Friday: up early; check out; rent car at PBH; go to Sea World; drive to Ft. Lauderdale to meet up with family.

Would there be anything you would change? Any ideas for night time or just swim/relax/dinner?

All the above ideas are great...keep in mind at the hotels there are alot of activities. We stay at the HRH and they have Dive-In movies by the pool and have something to eat at least one night that we just want to relax. Particularly if the kids need a break.

 

[mbsquirrel1198]

So if you are staying off-site and don't plan to but the Express Pass, how long are you waiting in line in the summer time?? We have four kids and are staying off site and don't think the passes will be in our budget, though I may purchase if we will have ridiculous waits. What do you all think??

 

[Rip]

So if you are staying off-site and don't plan to but the Express Pass, how long are you waiting in line in the summer time?? We have four kids and are staying off site and don't think the passes will be in our budget, though I may purchase if we will have ridiculous waits. What do you all think??

How many days are you going to spend there? Often, you can almost pay for a room on site by having to purchase 3-4 EPs, with 6, you would almost surely be better off, even for 1 day - and 1 day onsite gives you 2 days of EPs. The day you check in and the day you check out.

 

[patster734]

So if you are staying off-site and don't plan to but the Express Pass, how long are you waiting in line in the summer time?? We have four kids and are staying off site and don't think the passes will be in our budget, though I may purchase if we will have ridiculous waits. What do you all think??

This coming summer will be more crowded than normal with Harry Potter scheduled to open in spring.

 

[macraven]

How many days are you going to spend there? Often, you can almost pay for a room on site by having to purchase 3-4 EPs, with 6, you would almost surely be better off, even for 1 day - and 1 day onsite gives you 2 days of EPs. The day you check in and the day you check out.

5 is the max per room.
since they have 6 in their group, they would have to rent 2 rooms.

 

[Rip]

5 is the max per room.
since they have 6 in their group, they would have to rent 2 rooms.

Good point, I didn't catch that.

Could they get a kids' suite, and does it depend on the ages of the kids (i.e. - kids under 3 don't count)?

 

[macraven]

Good point, I didn't catch that.

Could they get a kids' suite, and does it depend on the ages of the kids (i.e. - kids under 3 don't count)?

that wouldn't work.

due to the fire code in orlando, the maximum per room is 5.
this includes babies, kids under 3.

there is a maximum number of occupants for the hotel at all times.

 

[Rip]

that wouldn't work.

due to the fire code in orlando, the maximum per room is 5.
this includes babies, kids under 3.

there is a maximum number of occupants for the hotel at all times.

Ok, I had just thought that you could have more than 5 in a suite.

 

[Tinker-tude]

One thing we do to "get ready" is watch all the movies and shows, and read the books/comic books associated with the Universal attractions. It brings to life a lot of the details that you might otherwise miss.

Even though you don't need ADRs, you may want to read about the restaurants and what they offer so you have a better idea of where to go for whatever you're in the mood for. The food is always a huge part of our vacations, so I spend a lot of time looking at all the options beforehand.

As Mac said, reading the Universal forums is a GREAT way to get familiar with the parks. The first time we went, we didn't even know about the Universal section of the DIS board, let alone the other forums. We went blind and still enjoyed ourselves a lot. But then we discovered on this board just how much we had missed on our first trip and were much better prepared to enjoy EVERYTHING on our next trip.

Have a great time planning and relaxing!

 

[DisneyMomOfThree]

Even though you don't need ADRs, you may want to read about the restaurants and what they offer so you have a better idea of where to go for whatever you're in the mood for. The food is always a huge part of our vacations, so I spend a lot of time looking at all the options beforehand.

Have a great time planning and relaxing!

Can anyone recommend some good restaurants for 30 people? I agree with Angelfan about not doing Emeril's. We have several kids and I just don't think that would be a good idea.

 

[mvansear]

We ate at the NBA resturaunt with 15 people they put us in a room upstairs that seemed like it could have held 30. We used star service at HRH and each day called and chatted with them about where to eat and they even made all the ressies. We were not club level but they did it for us.