Is there a Universal equivalent to touring plans or ridemax?

[disney4us2002]

We are planning to spend one day at Universal and we are not staying onsite so no access to FOTL. Buying those passes are out of the question as it will be June and expensive for five already so no add'l costs are going to happen. From reviewing the Univ list it appears what we'd most like to hit are:

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Simpsons
Shrek 4-D
Revenge of the Mummy
MiB
Jaws
Terminator 2
Twister
Disaster

All of us are teens and older so no little kid stuff. What order is the best? The first 4 are definites as they were either missed last trip or are new to us. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

The follow would be my opinions/suggestions; take it or leave it...

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit - opens spring 09 and will probably be the biggest line so I'd suggest doing that at park opening. This will be a MUST DO. Simpsons - newest attraction and lines will be huge. Well worth the wait as it is a great ride. This is a MUST DO I'd go to this 2nd after HRRR. I think they have single rider lines for this also which could save time). Shrek 4-D - Lines are big but its a big theatre so dont be scared by the line. This is a pretty good 3D (4D) show. I would suggest doing it at the height of the heat as it is airconditioned. Early afternoon would be my selection. Revenge of the Mummy - great ride and usually long lines. I would say do this 3rd after HRRR & Simpsons - This is a MUST DO. MiB - This is like Buzz Light year (MK) on sterioids. Usually very long lines, and I would suggest using the single rider line for this to make it much quicker. It is a good ride but if you have to wait for 2 hours to do it, you may think otherwise... Jaws - Long lines and no escape from the heat since its outdoors - Do this in the early evening when it starts to cool off a bit. Terminator 2 - I would do this mid day as it is air conditioned and somewhat of a long show which will give you a chance to cool off a bit. Twister - I dont care much for this but it is also indoors with AC. I'd say skip it but if you've never done it, check it out, but dont rush to see it by any means. Disaster - IMO, similar to twister; something to do once and then check it off the list. I wouldnt rush to see it by any means.

I would also do Jimmy Neutrons (motion movie ride) and ET (definately a kids ride but I enjoy it).

I would say 1. HRRR, 2. Simpsons, 3. Mummy, 4. MIB, 5. Jaws, 6. ET, 7. Terminator, 8. Shrek, 9. Jimmy Netron, 10. Disaster, 11. Twister.

Again, just my suggestion/opinion...

 

[disney4us2002]

Thanks Boston, I was kind of figuring HRR and Simpsons very first thing. I could spend the whole day on Mummy. It is my favorite ride of any park we've ever visited!! We plan to be at the park 20 minutes before opening just in case we can get in early. Then we basically have all day as our Blue Man tickets are for 9pm. I read in the Unofficial WDW guide that a lot can be accomplished at Uni early as the onsite people tend to come much later due to FotL access. I hope that holds true in June.

 

[Darcy03231]

If you don't mind doing the single rider line for MIB that one moves fairly quickly. We were there in August 2007 and the regular rider line was over an hour. We were on in less than 10 minutes using single rider. In a couple of instances two of us got in the same car.

Since you're staying offsite make sure you get to the park and are at the turnstiles right before the park opens. You can really get a lot done between 9 am - 11 am when the lines start to form.

On our last trip neither Simpsons nor Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit were there. At park opening we went right back to The Mummy and did that first, we then did Shrek, Twister, Earthquake (now Disaster), and MIB all with little to no wait time. We had a short wait at Jimmy Neutron and Terminator (around 15-20 min) and then a longer one at Jaws (around 30-40 min). We then went back and did MIB a few more times using the single rider line. With the two new rides I would do it in the following order:

1. HRRR
2. Simpsons
3. Mummy
4. Shrek
5. Twister
6. Disaster
7. MIB (using single rider line if necessary)
8. Jaws
9. Terminator 2

If you have enough time make sure to catch the Hollywood Horror Make-Up Show (across from Mel's Diner). Its pretty funny and one of my families favorites (I think we saw it at least 4 times on our last trip).

 

[taliategan]

Thanks for the tips - I am also going in late June for 1 day to Universal on a short weekend trip to Orlando. I might try to fit in a few rides on the IoA side as well. Staying off-site - trying to avoid express pass - but the day I am going is projected to be crowded - the highest price for express pass. If it get as real crowded early, I will probably buy the express pass. I was curious why the Studios side will close at 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday, if Universal is projecting this as one of the crowdest days of the summer. With an 8:00 closing does this mean not to expect any nighttime show or fireworks since the park will close when it is still daylight?

 

[Darcy03231]

Thanks for the tips - I am also going in late June for 1 day to Universal on a short weekend trip to Orlando. I might try to fit in a few rides on the IoA side as well. Staying off-site - trying to avoid express pass - but the day I am going is projected to be crowded - the highest price for express pass. If it get as real crowded early, I will probably buy the express pass. I was curious why the Studios side will close at 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday, if Universal is projecting this as one of the crowdest days of the summer. With an 8:00 closing does this mean not to expect any nighttime show or fireworks since the park will close when it is still daylight?

We found IOA to be much busier that US the whole time we were there (we were in the Orlando area for 16 days in August 2007 and spent 7 of those days between US and IOA). If you really want to do anything in IOA I would go to that park first and then over to US. Wait times for Hulk, Spiderman, Dueling Dragons, Popeye, Jurassic Park, & Dudley Do Right all got to be between 90 and 120 minutes by 1 -2 pm. I don't think I saw anything in US get much over 60 minutes the entire time we were there but HRRR and Simpsons weren't there.

There weren't any fireworks when we were there and the parks stayed open until 8-10pm. People have posted in the past about the earlier closing times due to US/IOA being within the city limits and noise ordinances.

Have a great time!

 

[william4192]

Thanks for the tips - I am also going in late June for 1 day to Universal on a short weekend trip to Orlando. I might try to fit in a few rides on the IoA side as well. Staying off-site - trying to avoid express pass - but the day I am going is projected to be crowded - the highest price for express pass. If it get as real crowded early, I will probably buy the express pass. I was curious why the Studios side will close at 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday, if Universal is projecting this as one of the crowdest days of the summer. With an 8:00 closing does this mean not to expect any nighttime show or fireworks since the park will close when it is still daylight?

I never understand why Universal closes early. They close their kiosik two hours before closing (at least this weekend) and the stores close right at closing (including food) except the big store on way out. Makes no sense to me.

 

[william4192]

We found IOA to be much busier that US the whole time we were there (we were in the Orlando area for 16 days in August 2007 and spent 7 of those days between US and IOA). If you really want to do anything in IOA I would go to that park first and then over to US. Wait times for Hulk, Spiderman, Dueling Dragons, Popeye, Jurassic Park, & Dudley Do Right all got to be between 90 and 120 minutes by 1 -2 pm. I don't think I saw anything in US get much over 60 minutes the entire time we were there but HRRR and Simpsons weren't there.

There weren't any fireworks when we were there and the parks stayed open until 8-10pm. People have posted in the past about the earlier closing times due to US/IOA being within the city limits and noise ordinances.

Have a great time!

Not sure I buy that b/c:

1. I-Drive is close and stays open (yes with rides)
2. They close stores and resturants early.

 

[shasess]

Great tips!