We took advantage of our Mardi Gras break to do the Universal. We got free 2-day tickets for four of us using Hilton frequent travelers' points, and the person at the ticket booth gave us the free third day just like for the paying costomers.
The night of Feb 28 we stayed at RPR, so we had the front-of-line access for Mar 1. So we concentrated on the rides that day. My son was an inch too short for Hulk and Dragons, but he did everything else. My daughter is five. Last summer we took her to Universal Holywood and she got really scared of T3, so this time she refused to do anything inside a dark theater or indoor ride. Also she was too short for many rides, anyway. So we had to do a lot of taking turns staying outside with her (e.g., Spider Man, BTTF, JP River Adventure, MIB). the front-of-line access made this waiting outside very painless. My daughter did not really want to que up in the dark queing areas to be "baby-swapped", but taking turns and waiting outside was just fine because we knew the wait would be very short. We did manage to drag her into Twister and Poseidon, but she was not very happy. We skipped T3, assuming that it would be the same as the one in California. (Are we right?)
The Allman Brothers was playing that night. But we decided we really did not want to do Mardi Gras, since we were getting away from Mardi Gras. So we left early. We had already been to so many Mardi Gras parades this year and even Kids were a little paraded out.
The second day we had no more front-of-line priviledge. So we focused on the playgrounds and shows. Camp Jurassic was the most fun. We ate lunch at NASCAR Cafe, which turned out to be less $$$ than the in-park fast food on the first day. The rain shower passed by while we were in the restaurant, so it worked out great. Pteranodon Flyer was a 30-min wait, so we decided to come early the next day for it.
The third day, we got up early, and walked straight up to Pteranodon Flyer. My son rode four times in a row, and my daughter and I three times, before other people finally showed up. It was really nice to fly over the playground where we had fun the day before. Meanwhile, my husband did Spider Man with no wait before he caught up with us in the Jurassic Park area. This was Monday, and there was very littel crowd. The sign at the Dragons said 10-minute wait, but I walked up and rode it with no wait at 9:45 AM. Then I walked up to Hulk and did it with no wait at 10:30 AM. My husband and son did the vertical fall thing at 10:15 AM with no wait, also. Kids did the Suess rides (but not the Fish because it was too cold to get wet), and my son did the Storm Force a few times. We ate at Jimmy Buffet's. Again, it was less costly than the in-park fast food alternative (and a lot more relaxing and needless to say more choice and yummier food).
It was so much fun, and I really appreciated all the tips I learned from this board. I would definitely want to trick my husband again to do this next year. He was apprehensive initially because he does not like lines and crowds. But having the free tickets, as well as the front-of-access, made it easy for me to talk him into this trip. He likes coasters so once he was there, he had FUN.
The night of Feb 28 we stayed at RPR, so we had the front-of-line access for Mar 1. So we concentrated on the rides that day. My son was an inch too short for Hulk and Dragons, but he did everything else. My daughter is five. Last summer we took her to Universal Holywood and she got really scared of T3, so this time she refused to do anything inside a dark theater or indoor ride. Also she was too short for many rides, anyway. So we had to do a lot of taking turns staying outside with her (e.g., Spider Man, BTTF, JP River Adventure, MIB). the front-of-line access made this waiting outside very painless. My daughter did not really want to que up in the dark queing areas to be "baby-swapped", but taking turns and waiting outside was just fine because we knew the wait would be very short. We did manage to drag her into Twister and Poseidon, but she was not very happy. We skipped T3, assuming that it would be the same as the one in California. (Are we right?)
The Allman Brothers was playing that night. But we decided we really did not want to do Mardi Gras, since we were getting away from Mardi Gras. So we left early. We had already been to so many Mardi Gras parades this year and even Kids were a little paraded out.
The second day we had no more front-of-line priviledge. So we focused on the playgrounds and shows. Camp Jurassic was the most fun. We ate lunch at NASCAR Cafe, which turned out to be less $$$ than the in-park fast food on the first day. The rain shower passed by while we were in the restaurant, so it worked out great. Pteranodon Flyer was a 30-min wait, so we decided to come early the next day for it.
The third day, we got up early, and walked straight up to Pteranodon Flyer. My son rode four times in a row, and my daughter and I three times, before other people finally showed up. It was really nice to fly over the playground where we had fun the day before. Meanwhile, my husband did Spider Man with no wait before he caught up with us in the Jurassic Park area. This was Monday, and there was very littel crowd. The sign at the Dragons said 10-minute wait, but I walked up and rode it with no wait at 9:45 AM. Then I walked up to Hulk and did it with no wait at 10:30 AM. My husband and son did the vertical fall thing at 10:15 AM with no wait, also. Kids did the Suess rides (but not the Fish because it was too cold to get wet), and my son did the Storm Force a few times. We ate at Jimmy Buffet's. Again, it was less costly than the in-park fast food alternative (and a lot more relaxing and needless to say more choice and yummier food).
It was so much fun, and I really appreciated all the tips I learned from this board. I would definitely want to trick my husband again to do this next year. He was apprehensive initially because he does not like lines and crowds. But having the free tickets, as well as the front-of-access, made it easy for me to talk him into this trip. He likes coasters so once he was there, he had FUN.
What did you think of the Royal Pacific? Was the weather too cool to swim while you were there? How cool did it get in the evening? Out first trip after taking my almost 4 year old on spiderman he told us NO more dark rides! Thankfully last year he got over it and now does everything he can pass the height limits on. I hope you get to go back again next year! 
