Last Minute First Visit

[terrylily]

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[Welsh_Dragon]

Planned a last minute first visit to Universal. We can only go 1 day — planned this coming weekend.

Please tell me everything we need to know. We are 2 adults. Disney veterans but totally clueless when it comes to Universal. Can we take a bag into the parks? If so what can we bring in? Do we need the express pass? And just any other tips you have for first timers. Also my fiancé is a big guy, he fits on everything at Disney, is there anything here he may struggle with? Thanks!

You are going to have great fun. You may take bags into the parks, same security checks as WDW more or less but there are a few rides that require you to put everything, and I mean everything in a locker. They have additional security scanners. Usually for just one day, I would suggest buying EPs but I don’t know how reduced capacity is at the moment, so maybe wait until you arrive.
With regards to how you tour the parks, what are your interests?
Hopefully someone who has visited the parks this week will be able to advise you further.
I can’t help with the size thing. Do you mean tall?

PS. If I knew how to link there is a UOR thread, immediately below this thread in the forum. Lots of useful information in there. I am going to try this to see if it works.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/u...citywalk-reopened-on-may-14th.3796471/page-11

 

[schumigirl]

As you are so new to UOR, you should have a check of the website and take advantage of the stickies posted at the top of each forum. The have lots of info you may want.

The website has park layouts which will give you an idea of where everything is.......it also has info on what you can and can’t bring into the park.

This is the link for people of size, not much info really, best advice is try the test seats, it has height and size restrictions. Yes, depending on his size he may struggle with a couple of the rides. Some of the rides have the big boy seats, and there are the rest seats outside. TM are excellent at advising if you need the bigger harness or not. And are very discreet.


https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/hours-information/rider-safety

This one has the maps of the park layouts.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/resort-maps

The stickies have a wonderful thread for food options that damo keeps updated......all menus are listed. Things may be slightly different as they have just reopened and not all options are available. Check out the threads on the boards for info.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...do-including-menus-updated-regularly.2681315/
Hope you have a great trip.

 

[only hope]

Allowed items, despite the wording on the website about no meals being allowed which isn’t true, are the same as Disney with two exceptions: selfie sticks are allowed, and so are simple homemade costumes, bounding-type stuff. The website says no costumes but in reality people wear wizarding world outfits all the time, just nothing that looks like a Uni tm. Most just have robes.

The free lockers are deep and wide but only as tall as a credit card on its tall side. Express pass probably won’t be needed but you can decide when you get there. Download the app- you’ll need it for virtual queues and may need it to order food, depending on where you go. Some places are mobile only.

 

[nkereina]

Can we take a bag into the parks? If so what can we bring in?

One of the biggest differences between Disney and Universal is that on several rides, Universal requires you to store bags in a free locker bank adjacent to the ride. You will use your park ticket to unlock a locker and it will be free for the duration you're on the ride. For the two most intense rides, Hulk and Rip Ride Rockit, you cannot have anything on your person - no bag, cell phone, wallet, etc. Everything has to go in a locker. For the other "locker" rides, just your bag has to go in the locker and other items can remain in your pockets. The only way to avoid the lockers on these rides (except for Hulk and RRR) is to wear a fanny pack with a three prong clasp. If it has a three prong clasp and doesn't interfere with ride restraints, they will permit you to wear it on.

Do we need the express pass?

I agree with PP to decide when you get there. You can purchase it on-site when you get there and have a sense of the wait times and crowd levels. Its hard to say how it will be since it just re-opened, but in normal times, June would be relatively busy. But in addition to crowd levels, Express Pass also lets you tour the park in any order you want without having to strategize and it gets you out of the long queues and out of potentially hot weather or even rain. So to me, there's more benefits than just a short wait time. I would suggest to decide whether or not you will purchase it early in your day so you can maximize the value.

lso my fiancé is a big guy, he fits on everything at Disney, is there anything here he may struggle with?

People report having more difficulty fitting on some rides at Universal. They're less accommodating when it comes to that. As PP mentions, there are test seats in front of the rides where it may be an issue so you can check before you enter the queue. Its my understanding the ride restraint must fully close and latch/lock in order for someone to ride. Also, for some rides, it will depend where the weight is carried. For instance, Forbidden Journey has an over the shoulder harness which may be difficult for someone with broad shoulders and larger mid-section. Mummy and Gringotts have lap bars the pull up to your stomach and over the sides of the legs, which may be difficult for someone with larger/longer legs.

 

[terrylily]

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[macraven]

Hope you have a thrilling time in the parks!

 

[Monykalyn]

My DH is tall with broad shoulders-the only trouble he's occasionally had is with forbidden Journey (they moved him to a modified seat and was fine) and Dr Doom-one time the attendant couldn't get shoulder harness to buckle, and then yesterday was fine on all rides.

I was there yesterday and at this time DO NOT buy Express pass. If attendance stays that low there is no need. We got to Islands of Adventure well before park opening, was close to gates when opened and walked to Hagrids and right on. Paused long enough to get sanitizer on hands is all. We had finished Islands by ~ noon and had time to kill before Mythos reservation at 1245. The only virtual line I saw in place later in day was Kong (with plenty of times available) and I didn't check often for Hagrids later in day (the times I did check said no times available so don't know if using VL or not). Hit Studios in afternoon and could have done everything if we chose but just did a few (like Men in Black 3 times in a row lol).
Bring multiple masks-it felt good to change into fresh mask every few hours as the one I was wearing got limp.
Yesterday we waited in line no longer than 2 minutes and it took longer to walk the queue than it was posted on the wait times!!! Mobile order is good too!

 

[terrylily]

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[Monykalyn]

Oh awesome! Thank you for the response. All of this is good to hear. Hopefully he won’t have any issues. Also looks like based on your comment and a few others that we will hold off on the express passes until we get there. We are going this weekend so just not sure if the Saturday crowd will be a bit larger than crowds so far this week. But we will hold out just incase.

Have a great time! Be aware the preshows weren't working on many rides yesterday and they do set up the ride in some cases-Gringotts is where it is very noticeable and I missed it on Hagrids as well. Men in Black has a neat preshow but not necessary as much. Mummy had the screens running for the set up but we moved too fast to really watch, same with Spiderman and Forbidden Journey. I hope your wait times stay that low as well!

 

[terrylily]

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[nkereina]

I keep seeing other posts say get your tickets on a lanyard. I bought digital tickets on the app. Did I mess up by doing that?

You didn't mess up, but it does have me wondering what a person does when they want to ride Hulk or Rip Ride Rockit. You use your ticket to unlock your locker, but your phone has to go in the locker on that ride. So I don't know how that works.

In the past, we've bought tickets online in advance. When we arrived, we went to Guest Services and they gave us paper credit card size tickets that fit in our lanyard. We were more concerned about having them in our lanyard with our EP for easy access, but I wonder if you'd need to do the same to ride Hulk and RRR at the same time.

I keep seeing other posts say get your tickets on a lanyard. I bought digital tickets on the app. Did I mess up by doing that?

Also is there a way to put my fiancé’s ticket on his app. Right now my app shows both of our tickets but we can’t figure out how to get his transferred over like it would be on MDE.

I'm not certain on that either, but I've seen others just flip to the other person's ticket and hand their phone back to that person when entering the turnstyles. I'm not sure if its in place now because of the times, but in the past, you would scan the ticket and then scan your fingerprint for validation.

 

[terrylily]

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[only hope]

Does anyone know if an average size backpack will fit in the lockers?

Specifically the Eddie Bauer stowaway packable 20L daypack? That’s the one I use at Disney and I would like to use it at universal if it won’t be hinder us.

Only if it’s pretty empty. The height is the size of a credit cards longest side. It’s fairly deep and wide though. Each ticket/pass can open one locker, though only one person per party is supposed to enter the locker area and they are being fairly strict about it now. You’d be better off packing a few smaller bags lightly and getting a locker for each one, rather than trying to unpack and repack at each locker.

 

[terrylily]

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[Wreckem]

Have a great time! Be aware the preshows weren't working on many rides yesterday and they do set up the ride in some cases-Gringotts is where it is very noticeable and I missed it on Hagrids as well. Men in Black has a neat preshow but not necessary as much. Mummy had the screens running for the set up but we moved too fast to really watch, same with Spiderman and Forbidden Journey. I hope your wait times stay that low as well!

Pre shows are probably turned off the to prevent people form not moving in the queue.

The preshows are really only used to keep people in line entertained or to hold people while vehicles are loading on the other side of the door.

 

[Monykalyn]

Pre shows are probably turned off the to prevent people form not moving in the queue.

The preshows are really only used to keep people in line entertained or to hold people while vehicles are loading on the other side of the door.

Preshow also lead into the story of the ride, and as such are missed. Gringotts is much less immersive with the “elevator” not working. The preshow in Spider-Man adds to story of the ride. The Men in Black preshow also gives some depth to ride, and FJ getting the spiel from Dumbledore and then Hermione etc definitely contain the rides story, plus for any Potter fan the talking portraits are just fun - these are still on but there’s no time to really stop and get the whole thing right now. Even the cast talking about the Mummy makes the end scene make sense. I guess I don’t consider the preshow a waste of time and enjoy the layered depth to the story. Well other than the FOP one- I could happily skip that every time.
@terrylily if you can get to park before opening I recommend going to guest services and have them get you a paper ticket to fit in your pocket or lanyard. It will work much smoother for the lockers.

 

[only hope]

Preshow also lead into the story of the ride, and as such are missed. Gringotts is much less immersive with the “elevator” not working. The preshow in Spider-Man adds to story of the ride. The Men in Black preshow also gives some depth to ride, and FJ getting the spiel from Dumbledore and then Hermione etc definitely contain the rides story, plus for any Potter fan the talking portraits are just fun - these are still on but there’s no time to really stop and get the whole thing right now. Even the cast talking about the Mummy makes the end scene make sense. I guess I don’t consider the preshow a waste of time and enjoy the layered depth to the story. Well other than the FOP one- I could happily skip that every time.
@terrylily if you can get to park before opening I recommend going to guest services and have them get you a paper ticket to fit in your pocket or lanyard. It will work much smoother for the lockers.

Exactly. Many of the preshows at Uni, and a few at Disney, set up the ride. In the case of the Harry Potter and Star Wars rides, as well as MIB, it truly is part of the attraction. Others are fun and may explain a bit but are not as immersive. Going on Gringotts and not seeing the office scene and just walking through the elevator makes it much less enjoyable, and not at all immersive. I wish they’d figure a way out to let those who want to watch all of it do so, and let the others walk through on the other side for Gringotts at least. Express for FJ now goes from the portrait room to the common room...my favorite use of my express psss benefit from my annual pass is to stand in each room of the castle for one cycle and take it all in.

 

[terrylily]

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[bchbetha]

I’d use Lyft. And I’d probably get dropped off at Hard Rock or Royal Pacific so I didn’t have to deal with the general entrance. Lyft and self driving/parking will put you in the same area to start.