Last Hurrah @ Universal

[Disxuni]

I plan on not renewing my AP pass and it goes out at the end of May of this year. So, my question to you all AP holders is what would you do as a "last hurrah" so to speak before not visiting the park again, or for awhile (as I know eventually I will be getting one again)?

And even those who don't have APs, what are must do's in your eyes at the parks, or if you like to do multi-day visits do you feel the need to do anything before you officially leave?

 

[Robo56]

1. I would have lunch at Mytho's.

2. Ride Spider-Man

3. Reign of Kong

4. Jurassic Park

5. Buy a wand of my favorite Potter character and do every trick in Hogsmeade.

6. Have a beverage at the Hog's Head Pub

7. A sweet from Honeydukes

8. Walk through Hogwarts Castle

9. Take Hogwarts Express to Kings Cross Station

10. MIB

11. ET

12. Minions

13. Transformers

14. Walk through the wall at Diagon Alley (listening close for moving bricks)

15. Do every trick in Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley

16. Ride Escape from Gringotts as many times as I can

17. Walk through all shops at Diagon

18. Take another pic of Dragon on Gringotts

19. Have a dinner at Leaky Cauldron

20. The last walk through Knockturn Alley

21. Catch the last minutes of Cinematic Spectacular

 

[Planogirl]

I like the list above but I would add the Mummy and Margaritaville. I also couldn't stay away for very long.

 

[Metro West]

I like that list too...I couldn't stay away since I live so close and have a major dislike for Disney.

 

[janicept]

I would ride Gringott's as many times as I could. There is nothing else like it. Most everything else has similar things at other parks unless you are just going to stop going on vacation. I personally will never again buy a Disney AP. I do plan on getting a day pass to see Pandora at some point and actually spend the entire day at AK. You can always still go to HHNs for a Universal fix if you're here at that time.

 

[Disxuni]

I would ride Gringott's as many times as I could. There is nothing else like it. Most everything else has similar things at other parks unless you are just going to stop going on vacation. I personally will never again buy a Disney AP. I do plan on getting a day pass to see Pandora at some point and actually spend the entire day at AK. You can always still go to HHNs for a Universal fix if you're here at that time.

That is definitely a good idea to go to HHN if I do feel the need to have a Universal fix before I get an AP again, as most of the attractions are usually open during. Also, I do not know if I'd be able to achieve all that @Robo56 as when I go I only can manage to do half days since I have to get up for work at 4am the next day. I might have to pick and choose in what I think is most important.

 

[macraven]

No last hurray from me

I'll be going to UO until the end of life

Lol

 

[Disxuni]

No last hurray from me

I'll be going to UO until the end of life

Lol

It will only be for now! If I don't go to HHN this year (after my pass runs out). I will be eventually getting an AP again.

 

[keishashadow]

It will only be for now! If I don't go to HHN this year (after my pass runs out). I will be eventually getting an AP again.

That's the attitude! Are you a local? If so, perhaps you could downgrade to seasonal pass, etc.

I'd just do your regular routine and enjoy the vibe.

 

[Disxuni]

That's the attitude! Are you a local? If so, perhaps you could downgrade to seasonal pass, etc.

I'd just do your regular routine and enjoy the vibe.

I live an hour and a half away and that's without traffic. So, local-ish?

This whole year I went quite often and if I honestly went as much as I did for another year, I would probably at that point would might as well pay for the preferred annual that I have now, or well probably the premiere pass! For it would be $20 just to park alone each time I visit (if I just get the seasonal), not including food and drink I would enjoy while at the park. It would only take four (and technically a half) visits of that parking to essentially go up to the preferred pass and I visited far more than that.

That being said, I know I'll go back eventually. I do not enjoy the hot weather unless a pool, spring, or water park is involved and considering how warm this winter is, I'm not in a rush to renew, especially if soon enough I'll be not going to Universal for a few months due to the summer.

The main reason why I'm not renewing for now is, because I want to save a little and see if I want to do other things. I've always wanted to just stay on property, whether Universal, or Disney, and be able to enjoy the area and relax, not having to rush to the park and pack everything in one day, or splurge another way. For example, I've been thinking about going to Volcano Bay and enjoying a cabana, which normally I would never do. However, I've read some of the benefits and they sound amazing. So, if I don't do a pass and save, I might justify doing just that. For the same price, I could be doing something more reasonable, but I'm excited about the park and I never treated myself to something like that before.

F̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶I̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶g̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶p̶u̶r̶c̶h̶a̶s̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶a̶l̶l̶.̶

Either way, in the end,

 

[Annchristine65]

I live an hour and a half away and that's without traffic. So, local-ish?

This whole year I went quite often and if I honestly went as much as I did for another year, I would probably at that point would might as well pay for the preferred annual that I have now, or well probably the premiere pass! For it would be $20 just to park alone each time I visit (if I just get the seasonal), not including food and drink I would enjoy while at the park. It would only take four (and technically a half) visits of that parking to essentially go up to the preferred pass and I visited far more than that.

That being said, I know I'll go back eventually. I do not enjoy the hot weather unless a pool, spring, or water park is involved and considering how warm this winter is, I'm not in a rush to renew, especially if soon enough I'll be not going to Universal for a few months due to the summer.

The main reason why I'm not renewing for now is, because I want to save a little and see if I want to do other things. I've always wanted to just stay on property, whether Universal, or Disney, and be able to enjoy the area and relax, not having to rush to the park and pack everything in one day, or splurge another way. For example, I've been thinking about going to Volcano Bay and enjoying a cabana, which normally I would never do. However, I've read some of the benefits and they sound amazing. So, if I don't do a pass and save, I might justify doing just that. For the same price, I could be doing something more reasonable, but I'm excited about the park and I never treated myself to something like that before.

F̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶I̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶g̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶p̶u̶r̶c̶h̶a̶s̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶a̶l̶l̶.̶

Either way, in the end,

What are the benefits of a cabana at Volcano Bay? That sounds interesting.

 

[macraven]

If a person wants to make it a full day, cabana allows you a place to be in a shaded area, eat, rest, have a private place to escape to

 

[Disxuni]

If you want to know the more specific benefits to a cabana at the park it says:

"Relax, unwind and enjoy the charms of your own private cabana in paradise with extra-comfy seating, concierge service and more. Each retreat offers padded lounge chairs, a small refrigerator stocked with bottled water, complimentary fruit and snack basket, towel and locker service, plus concierge service with an exclusive menu of food and drink delivered directly to the cabana. One-story and two-story retreats are located throughout the park."

A couple of additional benefits that I haven't heard from other cabanas at other parks had me interested, especially "two story retreats" has me intrigued. I don't know how that would work. Either way, I do not know if I'd stay on property, or not. So, depending on how much a cabana is, I'm debating on staying on property, or getting one.

Also premium seating sounds nice, as other places usually will reserve a chair for you, as well as give you an umbrella for shade, but "premium seating" gets you an actual canopy, as well as an attendant who will get food and drink orders and a storage lockbox. Normally, I just go with the flow and be happy with what I got at parks, but if the cabana is too much that is tempting too.

 

[jollygreen]

I'm actually doing this. My AP expires on May 11th and I'm going down there the last weekend in April. Due to school & work I won't be able to make it back down there anytime soon, so I'm letting my pass expire. But I did want to get one last trip out of them, so I booked this trip back in February. For me, my must-dos for this trip are everything Harry Potter, Kong & Jimmy Fallon since they're new for me, and doing my favorite rides, which include all the coasters, Spider-Man, Transformers, Simpsons, and MiB. I'd also like to go to Toothsome, Cowfish, and Margaritaville. Hopefully I can cram all this into 1.5 days, if not, it'll just give me something to look forward to the next time I come down (whenever that may be).

 

[Disxuni]

I'm actually doing this. My AP expires on May 11th and I'm going down there the last weekend in April. Due to school & work I won't be able to make it back down there anytime soon, so I'm letting my pass expire. But I did want to get one last trip out of them, so I booked this trip back in February. For me, my must-dos for this trip are everything Harry Potter, Kong & Jimmy Fallon since they're new for me, and doing my favorite rides, which include all the coasters, Spider-Man, Transformers, Simpsons, and MiB. I'd also like to go to Toothsome, Cowfish, and Margaritaville. Hopefully I can cram all this into 1.5 days, if not, it'll just give me something to look forward to the next time I come down (whenever that may be).

Sounds like a great idea! I'm debating if I want to do a half day thing like I normally do, or actually go all out and do take a day off so I can completely enjoy a whole day to myself to basically do all the things you mention (also T2 and Horror Make Up Show). I'm never done a solo trip where I stay over night, so it would be strange. Also, I don't know if I can afford it since I already have a trip in April for Disney, as well as taking time off in May to go out of state. All my trips are typically spur of the moment, so I guess I'll see.

 

[keishashadow]

I live an hour and a half away and that's without traffic. So, local-ish?

This whole year I went quite often and if I honestly went as much as I did for another year, I would probably at that point would might as well pay for the preferred annual that I have now, or well probably the premiere pass! For it would be $20 just to park alone each time I visit (if I just get the seasonal), not including food and drink I would enjoy while at the park. It would only take four (and technically a half) visits of that parking to essentially go up to the preferred pass and I visited far more than that.

That being said, I know I'll go back eventually. I do not enjoy the hot weather unless a pool, spring, or water park is involved and considering how warm this winter is, I'm not in a rush to renew, especially if soon enough I'll be not going to Universal for a few months due to the summer.

The main reason why I'm not renewing for now is, because I want to save a little and see if I want to do other things. I've always wanted to just stay on property, whether Universal, or Disney, and be able to enjoy the area and relax, not having to rush to the park and pack everything in one day, or splurge another way. For example, I've been thinking about going to Volcano Bay and enjoying a cabana, which normally I would never do. However, I've read some of the benefits and they sound amazing. So, if I don't do a pass and save, I might justify doing just that. For the same price, I could be doing something more reasonable, but I'm excited about the park and I never treated myself to something like that before.

F̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶I̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶g̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶p̶u̶r̶c̶h̶a̶s̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶a̶l̶l̶.̶

Either way, in the end,

lol anything under 5 hours would equate to me driving by for a long weekend every month or so

Sounds like you may be a youngin' . There's a Big wide word out there, enjoy it. The parks will wait for you.

 

[Disxuni]

lol anything under 5 hours would equate to me driving by for a long weekend every month or so

Sounds like you may be a youngin' . There's a Big wide word out there, enjoy it. The parks will wait for you.

Yes, indeed I am a youngin', which is why I'm wanting to possibly explore my options and do something else and come back in the future if I'm really missing it, or once there is something new.

 

[OMGBecky]

I'm so jealous of anyone who can go often enough to get an annual pass. I'd seriously live at WW of Harry Potter. Have fun!
Also, since you mentioned it, I'll have to search these boards about cabana rentals at Volcano Bay. I'm hoping to get one for our September trip. Has there been news on the cost? I'm assuming around $300-350, but I really don't have a clue.

 

[OMGBecky]

@Robo56 Why lunch specifically at Mythos? Is it supposed to be better than dinner? I've never eaten there, hoping to next trip.

 

[macraven]

Mythos does not do dinner

Usually close around 5




That's why Robo said do lunch