Inside of a month...!

[clsteve]

We're heading to USF Jan 13 for our DS10 and DS8's first trip and our first trip since 1999! We had planned a split stay with 4 days at YC and 3 days at PBH, but are now doing 4 days PBH and "winging" 3 days around Fla and visiting some family in Sarasota Springs, as well. Not going to go into why we dropped the YC portion.....

Since it's been so long since we're been I had a few questions and am asking for a few opinions (and Mod, I apologize in advance if this spans both the Parks and Resort sections):

1. The walk from PBH to IOA - We like to walk and we're very familiar with the walk from BWV to DHS, is the time/distance about the same? It does seem pleasant, looking at the pictuures.

2. The Pedicabs - The kids have loved these in other cities: are they available first thing in the morning/early enough to make early entry? From reading the threads, am I correct the usual tip is in the $5-$10 range?

3. Queues - We'll have Express Pass with PBH, but, since we're going at a low crowd time, what queues do you feel are not to be missed at least once? I want to make sure the boys get the full experience for those rides.

4. Blue Man Group - I'd like to hold off deciding to go until we get there (tough for me because I'm a planner! ) and just decide maybe sameday based on how everyone feels. Is walk-up an issue during the slow times?

5. Restaurant Reservations - Kinda the same question as above: being a slower time, are we fine with walking up to Mythos without a reservation during the lunch period? How about Mama Della's, The Kitchen and The Tchoup House as walk up's for Dinner?

6. Photo Connect - Seems like a great deal. From reading the threads on this, it doesn't seem like there are as many photogs in the Parks as with PP+ besides the ride and character photos. Are there specific spots in the Parks we should look for them for not-to-be-missed photos?

7. PBH - Love Loew's Resorts and am really looking forward to PBH. I've read through the threads on which rooms to request - am I correct that the West Wing is closest to the boat dock? We have 2 connecting rooms reserved, one king with 2 queens in the other. Does that limit where we might request?

8. PBH Kids Club - We've used the Kids Club at BC and they loved it and we'd like to do a parents night out. Anyone used it and is it a similar experience?

Being a planner (and admission is the first step to recovery) can you tell I'm doing my best to have a "No Plan Vacation" and "wing it" like my DW has always hoped for...? I must say, it is refreshing to not be planning much of anything, now that we've dropped the other portion of the trip. Strange, but refreshing...

We're incredibly excited! Well, I know the boys will be on Wednesday. We've kept it a secret (not as easy as I thought that would be....) and are giving it to them as their Mom and Dad Present on Xmas morning!

Thanks in advance for any feedback y'all can give. In return, I promise to post a full Trip Report shortly after returning.

 

[macraven]

3. Queues - We'll have Express Pass with PBH, but, since we're going at a low crowd time, what queues do you feel are not to be missed at least once? I want to make sure the boys get the full experience for those rides.

i always do the regular line once first thing when i hit the parks.
i go for a long stay and able to see the full queues on different mornings.
usually, you get through them quickly if going early when the park first opens.

MIB
Mummy
ET

Hulk
Dr Doom
Spiderman

if i have a lot of time to spare, i have done Despicable Me and Shrek in the regular lines during the day in order to watch the monitors in the lines.

 

[RMulieri]

1)Restaurants should be ok for walk ups.Keep in mind Mama Dellas as well as Trattoria Del Porto isnt always open every night in the offseason( when we were there last Jan Mama Dellas was closed on Tuesdays and Trattoria on Wednesdays, but that could change.Check with the resort when you get there).Mama Dellas is only open for dinner and opens 530pm( it is our favorite place at Universal) .Mythos generally has its last seating around 3-4pm in the low season as well.
2)The Kids clubs rotate which one is open during off season,the one at PBH may or may not be open.They do also charge for kids meals and are open 5-1130 Sun-TH and 5-12 fri -Sat..Not really late if you are planning on hitting Citywalk for nighttime adult entertainment
3)Pedicabs- we often walk from PBH, sometimes there are pedicabs in the morning, sometimes not.There are usually plenty of them later in the morning.They work on tips

 

[clsteve]

1)Restaurants should be ok for walk ups.Keep in mind Mama Dellas as well as Trattoria Del Porto isnt always open every night in the offseason( when we were there last Jan Mama Dellas was closed on Tuesdays and Trattoria on Wednesdays, but that could change.Check with the resort when you get there).Mama Dellas is only open for dinner and opens 530pm( it is our favorite place at Universal) .Mythos generally has its last seating around 3-4pm in the low season as well.
2)The Kids clubs rotate which one is open during off season,the one at PBH may or may not be open.They do also charge for kids meals and are open 5-1130 Sun-TH and 5-12 fri -Sat..Not really late if you are planning on hitting Citywalk for nighttime adult entertainment
3)Pedicabs- we often walk from PBH, sometimes there are pedicabs in the morning, sometimes not.There are usually plenty of them later in the morning.They work on tips

Much thanks! now that we're done with our travel this week, I'll call to see which Kids club is open while we're there. And you're right 11:30-12am isn't very late - but always ends up seeming late when the kids pop up at 6am the next day...!

Looking forward to Mama Della's - have heard nothing but good things and will fit our schedule around it being open.

 

[clsteve]

i always do the regular line once first thing when i hit the parks.
i go for a long stay and able to see the full queues on different mornings.
usually, you get through them quickly if going early when the park first opens.

MIB
Mummy
ET

Hulk
Dr Doom
Spiderman

if i have a lot of time to spare, i have done Despicable Me and Shrek in the regular lines during the day in order to watch the monitors in the lines.

Thanks for this. We've been getting the kids ready for the trip, without them knowing it, by doing "Universal Movie Nights". The Mummy was one of their faves, so I know they'll love the queue and the ride.

I haven't ridden Dueling Dragons since they changed to the Potter Theme. Have they done anything interesting to the queue? I remember it being a rather long walk through a bunch of tunnels......