How to Handel Water Rides at Universal

[rs505]

This summer will be our families first trip to Universal. We will be staying at a WDW resort and renting a car to get there.

In looking at Universal, we are mostly going as a change of pace and for our DD to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. But since we are going, we will obviously see other parts of Universal. The thing is we are not big thrill ride people. So in looking at good rides for our family (DD 10 almost 11 and DS 8), I am not sure we will enjoy Universal all that much. DD will go on roller coasters, but not extreme coasters. DS has no interest whatsoever in thrill rides. On our last trip to WDW in 2009, DS would not go on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

So, it looks like the water rides are a good option, but from what I understand you really get soaked on these rides. My question is what do people that are not staying on site to address getting soaking wet at the park. At AK on Kali River Rapids, we come prepared to change into flip flops and have a change of clothes and store all electronics is plastic bags. I guess we can do this at Universal, but at AK, we do Kali River Rapids last, and then can go back to the hotel. But if we are not staying at Universal, this option is not really available.

Any thoughts on how to handle getting really wet at Universal, and then not having being wet ruin the rest of our day.

Thanks for any suggestions. My guess is to rent a locker for a change of clothes and to store electronics, but that means having to trek back to the locker area, and leaving my camera and phone behind.

 

[Bluer101]

You have 2 options.

1. You can rent a locker in the front of the park for your dry clothes.
2. We used to when staying offsite just leave the stuff in the car and go back after the water rides and change in the garage. Yes, its a long walk but did not mind it.

 

[Badge]

Well, at the exit of the two main water rides they have these really odd drying machines that I see people using. I have never used it before, but it looks basically like the "drying" area of a car wash, lol. Its a ton of blowers that shoo air at you to dry you off. They seem to work well in drying you off, but I have never used them before.

At lockers at the front of the park will be your best option. As for what to do with the camera/phone, bring them along with you in a plastic bag. Popeye has the area in the middle of the boat like Kali at AK to place it in. Then, for the other rides just place it in a pocket. Whenever I go to the parks, I ALWAYS keep my phone/camera in a plastic bag even when I don't plan on getting wet becuase you never know when it will rain.

 

[rs505]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm a huge fan of WDW as are the kids, but want to try Universal and so I'm trying to figure it all out so we can enjoy ourselves.

 

[Badge]

Your welcome!

You will have a great time. I used to be a HUGE WDW fan, but that quickly changed the more I visited Universal. I still enjoy WDW, but not nearly as much. I got spoiled since we always stay onsite at Universal and never have to wait in any lines becuase of the express you get while staying onsite. You will have a great time!

 

[steve_rob]

There are (or there were the last time I was there) some big lockers near the water rides, so you don't have to go all the way back to the front of the park. Believe me, you don't realise how far it is to walk back to the front of the park until you've done it when you're soaked to the skin!

I found some a lot nearer just to the left of Dudley Do Rights and from memory, they charge based on how long you use them for - by the time we'd done all of the water rides (including Popeye twice!), the cost of the locker came to only about $2.

I used the nearby restrooms to change into swimming shorts, water shoes and a spare t-shirt, then put my regular clothes and electronics in the locker before riding. Also one time we brought a towel as well to help dry off quicker, but it was a pain carrying something so bulky around the whole day, whereas the water ride clothes can be folded up real small and you don't notice them so much.

 

[SashaFarce]

We bring a bag with changes of clothes (we always have a scooter so we just pop it in the basket and we're probably ignorantly unconcerned about theft - otherwise locker rental is probably wise). We do US first, then go over to IOA. Once we get to the water rides portion, we change our shoes to flip flops then do all the rides that will get us wet, then we change into dry clothes and back into our sneakers then go about our business.

 

[nhrenee]

There are (or there were the last time I was there) some big lockers near the water rides, so you don't have to go all the way back to the front of the park. Believe me, you don't realise how far it is to walk back to the front of the park until you've done it when you're soaked to the skin!

I found some a lot nearer just to the left of Dudley Do Rights and from memory, they charge based on how long you use them for - by the time we'd done all of the water rides (including Popeye twice!), the cost of the locker came to only about $2.

The lockers are $3 for the first hour. I just swiped my credit card. The "booth" dryers were $5. It was 95+ last thursday so dh and I walked around the park in wet clothes. It felt great but we did avoid air conditioning so we wouldn't get chilled.

 

[Blanche_Neige]

Be prepared you get WET.

I would recommend that you either bring light clothes that dry fast or bring a change a clothes. You can bring a large plastic bag to put your stuff into (if you do not want to go back to the hotel or rent a locker), that is what I did and secured it under my shirt (got wet bu didn't move). I also saw lots of people in bathing suite tops (not bikinis) or shorts.

We did all water rides one after another by the time we were done it was like I went swimming in my clothes!!! We had a blast

BTW
make sure you do NOT wear bright colored, polka dot, black underwear under white or light clothes DS thought it was really funny to see people underwear

 

[Moon Child]

My hubby wears his poncho! Works like a charm!

 

[frequency]

I actually invested in some quick-dry cargo shorts. These are the type they use for white water rafting or other water sports and they are this really cool fabric that dries amazingly quickly. Adventure sports places have them.