Is there something (link, website) that summarizes EVERYTHING?

[AngiTN]

We are just beginning our foray in to all things Universal.
DGD has finally gotten to that magic height to do everything at both parks so we are ready to start going.
Bought AP this past Oct when we made spur of the moment plans to go to their parks and realized how few days it takes to make an AP worthwhile.
We are planning a fairly intensive trip in June with a friend going for their first, and only, time. We want to be ready to cover most everything then so we are doing a few recon trips before then

To start, DH and I are going to be there for 2 and half, 3 days next month. And we'll go back in April for a day or two. I really want to get my bearings for that trip in June.
We know really little about anything Universal. The basics really, like how early entry works, how express pass works, know the rides to some small degree. But that's where it ends.
I know nothing about their parades, characters, shows, etc. And pretty much any other non-ride things.
When we bought our passes in Oct I saw bits of parades and characters but wasn't sure where to find out all that are offered. We were there with an "expert" that day and they took us on the must do rides but it was quite a blur
Is there a good overview location for all things Universal?
And yes, I'm reading through threads here too

 

[jagafen]

My favorite site is www.orlandoinformer.com

 

[damo]

I'd start with www.universalorlando.com

 

[DisHmsklMom]

Hi AngiTN.

We just returned from our first trip. The Orlando Informer was great for so much information on the rides, there was also a great thread recently on this board on what to ride if you are worried about ride intensity. I found that this group was invaluable in helping me figure out how to experience Universal.

From this trip I learned that taking Non-Drowsy Dramamine was key to our family having a great time, we all took it every day and agreed that if we hadn't we would have not done as well on a number of the rides.
If it is going to be busy while you are there, the express passes are invaluable. The first day we were there was not so busy, but the 3rd day was very, very busy and even the express lines had gotten much longer.
Go for the early openings to Harry Potter. If you are staying on property it is very easy to take an afternoon break and then head back to the parks after dinner in City Walk.
You might get very wet on the Jurassic Park ride.

We arrived on Sunday, mid-morning. It took a while to get our FL resident annual passes, we poked around IOA for a bit did a bit of Seuss stuff, rode the train to US, rode the Mummy, did MIB then headed back to get everything into our room at Portofino, then headed back to US rode Gringott's and did some Harry Potter stuff, and then caught the Mannheim Steamroller show (this was really great). The parks closed at 8, so we headed back to the Portofino.
The next day we did early entry, Harry Potter stuff first at IOA. Then we headed over to the Jurrasic Park and Marvel area. Park was getting crowded so we went to City walk for lunch and went back to Portofino and a nap by the pool. Back to park after dinner and did more rides. Parks open til 9.
The day after started at IOA and did Harry Potter again, rode the train, then did Minions. Now we had gotten most of the big stuff done, we started repeating rides we liked and when it got too crowded we went back to the room for a rest. After dinner we split up, thrill rides for DD and I, and various others for my DH and DS. We rode coasters in both parks and found that later in the day since the park was much more crowded it was fast the exit and enter through the front of the parks rather than take the HP train. We met up again after the thrill rides, the guys had ridden Minions again and did MIB three times. We all went to the Monster makeup Show and then headed back to Harry Potter to ride Gringott's for the last time, after that we shopped in the Weasly's candy store and exited the Harry Potter area just in time to see the US fireworks/movie show. The parks closed at 9.
We headed out the next morning.

We were quite impressed with the entire Universal experience and will be heading back again soon. This time we want to see more of their shows.

I think after your first visit you will be all set for your June trip.

Hardest part of the trip: My family kept expecting me to know what we should be doing next, and I didn't know where all the bathrooms were.

 

[phillymummer]

The one thing to remember is that you don't need to plan as much as you would Disney. For my last trip, I typed up a tentative itinerary, like I do with Disney, and i threw it out after lunch on the first day. I quickly realized it was not needed- especially with EP. Are you staying on-site? That will affect your experience a bit- early entry, express pass, transportation (you can easily walk to the parks from Royal Pacific and Hard Rock).

• If you have express pass, you simply enter the EP line for each ride. That's it. There are only a few rides that have no EP line- Forbidden Journey, Gringotts, and the Pterodactyl flyers (but it sounds like the children will be too tall it ride it anyway). I think there might be one more ride with no EP.

• Park hopping is a breeze.
• Early entry is for on-site resort guests and is the Harry Potter Areas only. If you are going during a slow time, just one park will have EE. You might not know which park will be open until that week.
• Dining- you can make ressies the week of your trip. you can even do it day of, sometimes.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks all, very useful.
I am familiar with EP and we are staying at a resort that gets it. When the ride doesn't have it, DH and I will use single rider, if it has it too. We don't mind at all.
Thankfully, we all ride everything, no motion sickness or fears. Though DH and I won't do the water rides in January and may even limit those in June. I do like the ideas of doing them and planning to return to the room after.
I think that Orlando Informer will give me all I'm looking for. Mostly it's the non-ride stuff, since those we are slightly familiar with.

I do love the app. We used it last trip. We were meeting our friends at an unfamiliar spot in the park. Got out the app, put in the destination and loved the step by step direction to get us from where we were to where we wanted to be, complete with photos along the way. Made it super easy to find things.

 

[gotomu212]

Thanks all, very useful.
I am familiar with EP and we are staying at a resort that gets it. When the ride doesn't have it, DH and I will use single rider, if it has it too. We don't mind at all.
Thankfully, we all ride everything, no motion sickness or fears. Though DH and I won't do the water rides in January and may even limit those in June. I do like the ideas of doing them and planning to return to the room after.
I think that Orlando Informer will give me all I'm looking for. Mostly it's the non-ride stuff, since those we are slightly familiar with.

I do love the app. We used it last trip. We were meeting our friends at an unfamiliar spot in the park. Got out the app, put in the destination and loved the step by step direction to get us from where we were to where we wanted to be, complete with photos along the way. Made it super easy to find things.

I just wanted to comment on your single rider line idea- I would make sure you go through the regular line once for Gringotts and Forbidden Journey. Single rider on those skips A lot of the interactive line parts and castle tour (if you go right at early entry the normal line isn't bad).

 

[damo]

Just watch the date on the Orlando Informer stuff as some of it is no longer valid....like the drinking cup programs.