Help first trip and I haven;t planned....

[mseg16222]

Not sure if I need to have a game plan to do the parks in 2 to 2 and a half days. Trip includes myself, DH, and 2 DS's ages 7 & 8. We are staying at Hard Rock August 16-19. We should be at the hotel by no later than noon on the 16th. So I guess I need to know if I need to plan ahead like DIsney. If so are there reports out there on where to go. Best places to eat for picky kids. Things not to miss.
Should we just do City walk the first day and hang at hotel and swim.......any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[ky07]

I would suggest the half day at the hotel pool and citywalk and the 2 full days at the parks ( one at ioa and the other univesal ) cause we just did 7 days which was great cause it gave us time to see and do everything plus the more it got crowded we just went back to our hotel and as far as places to eat usually they all have someting kids like at least my two always found something they liked.
Have a great trip.

 

[ajcolorado]

We just came back from our first trip to US / IOA and felt that we really benefitted from having a touring plan. The UG has plans - also in their book "Beyond Disney"

 

[Holly Goheavy]

There will be plenty of places for the kids to eat-everywhere offers kids meals that have chicken strips or nuggets and as far as IoA, we have to eat at Circus McGurkus or DD gets teary eyed (even now that she's 16) which is in Seuss Landing.

I don't really think you have to plan out and schedule everything at Universal, that's part of the fun of staying there. Both parks are moderately sized so walking all over the place isn't a chore and with FOTL you don't have to backtrack back and forth with fastpasses. Since you can walk within 15 minutes to both parks, just grab maps when you first get there to get aquainted with the lay of the land and decide which shows you want to see and be aware of their times.

Above all else, RELAX. If the kids are hot and cranky, take them back to the hotel and toss them in the pool in the middle of the day-you don't have to worry about catching a bus or anything in order to do back and finish up the parks.

Have a fabulous time!

 

[damo]

We never use a touring plan. I would just make sure you get there early even though you'll have your passes.

 

[tlinus]

Go early - have fun - go against the flow of the crowd (meaning at the studios head to the back first if you are there at opening, at IOA go to the right towards Seuss if everyone is going left towards Marvel)

 

[ruzer28]

There will be plenty of places for the kids to eat-everywhere offers kids meals that have chicken strips or nuggets and as far as IoA, we have to eat at Circus McGurkus or DD gets teary eyed (even now that she's 16) which is in Seuss Landing.

I don't really think you have to plan out and schedule everything at Universal, that's part of the fun of staying there. Both parks are moderately sized so walking all over the place isn't a chore and with FOTL you don't have to backtrack back and forth with fastpasses. Since you can walk within 15 minutes to both parks, just grab maps when you first get there to get aquainted with the lay of the land and decide which shows you want to see and be aware of their times.

Above all else, RELAX. If the kids are hot and cranky, take them back to the hotel and toss them in the pool in the middle of the day-you don't have to worry about catching a bus or anything in order to do back and finish up the parks.

Have a fabulous time!

Absolutely true. One of the nice things about being at Universal in one of the three hotels is that you don't have to get up early, don't have to rush, don't have to plan ahead. Unlike Disney, you can just see how you feel on a given day.

 

[tlinus]

Absolutely true. One of the nice things about being at Universal in one of the three hotels is that you don't have to get up early, don't have to rush, don't have to plan ahead. Unlike Disney, you can just see how you feel on a given day.

I agree 100%

Onsite gives you the luxury of deciding that day what you feel like doing!!!