HELP, last minute trip

[nurseberta]

hi all! booked a last minute trip next week to Universal and had to split hotels. 1st night dockside, then 2 nights at RP.
Now I have all these questions. haven't been since before WW was built.
what rides can I take my phone (in a pocket) or fanny pack on?
if I store my backpack and phone (metal detector?) can I bring my lanyard? where do I put my ticket/express pass?
anything open after park closes? bars/shopping
why does one park close earlier than the other? US on a tues closes at 8, IA closes on wed at 8?
any other tips tricks>
TIA so excited

 

[Darrah]

I personally would skip the backpack in favor of the three-prong fanny pack (unless you have to carry more than will fit in the fanny pack) so that you don't have to store it as often. There are several rides where you must put items in a locker if they're not in a three-prong fanny pack: FJ, Hagrid's, Gringott's MIB, Mummy (when it's open)...probably more that I'm forgetting at the moment. The three that you cannot take ANYTHING on are RPR, Hulk, and Velocicoaster. You will need to walk through a metal detector to make sure you don't have anything on your person. You CAN keep your lanyard on all of those rides. We keep our ticket and EP in our lanyard and wear it at all times, we just tuck in our shirts or bras (for us bra wearing people) so it doesn't fly off on the ride.

City Walk (shopping, bars, dining) is open after the parks close, but nothing inside the parks themselves.

It might be that one park has EE that day so will close earlier than the other? Or maybe there's a special event? I don't know that there's always a specific reason--just the way it is.

 

[lisam70]

There's a recent thread- Bag questions from a first timer- that answers a lot of your questions
You can take lanyard on all rides-tucked into your shirt for the coasters

 

[georgina]

To clarify, you can take a phone in a pocket on anything except the 3 metal detector rides. I often stow my bag and keep my phone for the others.

For several years I have been told to keep my small purse on FJ rather than putting it in a locker.

The reasoning for park hours is a mystery!