Just back 10/16-- my mask observations and a couple useful tips

[J'aime Paris]

Stayed at Royal Pacific Resort 10/12-10/16
Gloriously hot weather without a drop of rain!

Mask compliance was high and enforced within the parks, TMs were right on top of anyone who wasn't compliant (very few). Mask compliance was less, but still high in CityWalk. No TMs wandering about to ensure guests were following rules.
Mask wearing was also high in common areas at Royal Pacific Resort. No masks required at the pool or in your room of course.
We found mask wearing "ok", and dealt with it with positive attitudes. It is what it is, ya know. And we wanted to enjoy the parks. But it was 90+ every day of our stay and it got old after a while. We spent a good deal of time at the pool....much better!

Ride lines worked extremely well with social distancing, it was an ideal situation for crowd flow. Walking within the parks was more haphazard, since folks are headed in all directions to different destinations within the park. But people seemed generally conscientious and courteous of other groups.

TIP #1: Do not head to a park early before the opening time. Seriously!
The social distancing leads to excessive pre-opening cluster. We made the mistake, only once on our first morning, of walking from RPR to IOA before opening. When we exited the walking path by Margaritaville, we were directed several hundred yards further back to the end of the line. It was full sun, no shade and a waste of time to leave the room early.
Subsequent mornings we left the room shortly after park opening time, and by the time we walked to the park, the lines were almost completely gone.

TIP #2: Make dining reservations, especially Monday-Wednesday!
I know this is an unusual tip for Universal, but trust me on this one!
The parks were only open until 5 or 6pm when we were visiting. Finding somewhere to eat when the parks close was a real problem for many guests. All in-park options are closed obviously, and some of the CityWalk locations are only operating Thursday-Sunday. There were huge crowds with long waits outside Toothsome, HardRock Cafe and NBC Sports Grill!
I made a reservation for Hard Rock Cafe for Monday night, The Palm Restaurant for Tuesday night and Margaritaville on Wednesday night. We ate supper at Jake's at RPR on Thursday night, no reservation needed for that.

TIP#3: Travel light if you're able.....
The wait for a locker is real, and can be longer than your wait in line for the attraction (we had EP)
The locker areas are monitored by TMs and you will wait to be ushered to an area, almost one at a time. We travel light as a rule, but saw the lines and spoke to others who had to use them. It could be a pain. We did use the lockers only for RRR, and we waited about 5 min for a locker and walked right onto the coaster. Heard of much longer wait at the HP attractions though....YMMV

Feel free to ask any questions! I was super grateful about the heads up on the dining reservations. I always like to pay it forward to someone else if able

 

[Alicefan]

Thanks! I'll be there in about 3 weeks. Not looking forward to the mask nazis but I have got to get out of this house for a while.

 

[schumigirl]

Fabulous recap and some excellent info there Lori.....

Glad you had such a fabulous trip

 

[cschaaf]

I'd amend Tip #1 to say - if you want to get to the parks early, then get to the parks EARLY. Plan to arrive at the gate no later than 45 minutes prior to opening.

Our first day, we got to the IOA gate at 8:20 and were in the queue by the ticket booths. By 8:30, the line went back across the bridge. Once the gates opened (8:45), it took us 5 minutes to get scanned in from where we were.

2nd day, the water taxi was delayed and costs us. We got to IOA at 8:30 and we got in line right at the Margaritaville plane. There were 2 lines formed across the bridge. Not a fun place to wait at all. By 8:36, the lines stretched past Big Fire and around the corner into City Walk. Even as far back as we were (the plane), we scanned in 11 minutes after the gates opened.

Day 3 (a Friday) - we arrived at IOA gates at 7:52 and there were 8 families in front of us.

 

[Nanceliz319]

question, Did IoA only have early opening or did it switch off with original park?

 

[cschaaf]

question, Did IoA only have early opening or did it switch off with original park?

For our dates, it was only IOA. Currently, IOA will open early through 11/8. USF is opening early on the weekends through 11/8.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/early-park-admission

 

[J'aime Paris]

question, Did IoA only have early opening or did it switch off with original park?

Last week it was only IOA when we were there. Not sure otherwise.

 

[J'aime Paris]

I'd amend Tip #1 to say - if you want to get to the parks early, then get to the parks EARLY. Plan to arrive at the gate no later than 45 minutes prior to opening.

Our first day, we got to the IOA gate at 8:20 and were in the queue by the ticket booths. By 8:30, the line went back across the bridge. Once the gates opened (8:45), it took us 5 minutes to get scanned in from where we were.

2nd day, the water taxi was delayed and costs us. We got to IOA at 8:30 and we got in line right at the Margaritaville plane. There were 2 lines formed across the bridge. Not a fun place to wait at all. By 8:36, the lines stretched past Big Fire and around the corner into City Walk. Even as far back as we were (the plane), we scanned in 11 minutes after the gates opened.

Day 3 (a Friday) - we arrived at IOA gates at 7:52 and there were 8 families in front of us.

There is no way that I would arrive over an hour before park opening, especially with EP. But that's just me.
Certainly is a strategy to get to the head of the line though.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

Thanks for the tips. We’re arriving Thursday. I made dining reservations for the weekend but didn’t think it would be necessary to make them during the week. I made a reservation for every night now so we don’t have to wait to eat.

 

[J'aime Paris]

Thanks for the tips. We’re arriving Thursday. I made dining reservations for the weekend but didn’t think it would be necessary to make them during the week. I made a reservation for every night now so we don’t have to wait to eat.

The reservations really made a big difference, especially in CityWalk.
Have a great trip!!

 

[cschaaf]

There is no way that I would arrive over an hour before park opening, especially with EP. But that's just me.
Certainly is a strategy to get to the head of the line though.

Totally understandable. We're up early anyway and it's a great way to get a 'short' line for Hagrid's. We had planned on trying to get multiple Hagrid's rides per day, but we didn't see if move to a virtual queue the three days we were there. One of the days, it was showing Delayed most of the day so we were glad we got a ride in first thing.

 

[lilfaeriebrat]

Are the lines still fairly short during the week? We're planning to go Monday thru Thursday and avoid the crowds.

 

[cschaaf]

Are the lines still fairly short during the week? We're planning to go Monday thru Thursday and avoid the crowds.

Standby lines? Not really 'short'. EP lines were short.

Download the app and check throughout the day to get an idea of what it looks like.

 

[J'aime Paris]

Are the lines still fairly short during the week? We're planning to go Monday thru Thursday and avoid the crowds.

Definition of a short line will vary, lol!
We always stay at a resort that offers EP. Certainly makes a difference, even earlier in the week.

Crowds have crept back up to higher numbers from where they were when the parks first reopened.

 

[GatorChris]

Totally agree with Tip#2. I made reservations Mon-Thurs at Margaritaville and Hard Rock (good gluten free options for my wife). Every single time I walked up, someone was showing up and being told it was an hour wait. Then the looks of pain, frustration, and anger. But then I'd say we have reservations and be seated immediately. Way better than most WDW restaurants with ADRs.

Let me add this tip to dining. The nachos at Margaritaville are HUGE. And the best I've ever had.

 

[lilfaeriebrat]

Definition of a short line will vary, lol!
We always stay at a resort that offers EP. Certainly makes a difference, even earlier in the week.

Crowds have crept back up to higher numbers from where they were when the parks first reopened.

No Express pass needed.. I've never been so not sure what a normal wait time is but I remember a month or so ago people saying during the week the lines were short and express passes weren't needed. I don't mind 40 minute waits.. 90 minutes I draw the line.

 

[fredandkell]

Thank you so much for the tip about making reservations for when we get done with the parks! Just made some for Friday. Thank you in advance for heading off my 10-year-old’s tantrum when he had no food to eat because we had no reservations

 

[J'aime Paris]

No Express pass needed.. I've never been so not sure what a normal wait time is but I remember a month or so ago people saying during the week the lines were short and express passes weren't needed. I don't mind 40 minute waits.. 90 minutes I draw the line.

I hope you find decent wait times when you go.

Rix Flix on youtube (a very frequent visitor of the Universal parks) posted a video on 10/14/20. At time 14:15 of the video, Rick explains that he now advises guests to either purchase EP or stay at one of the resorts that offers EP as part of your stay.