Must do ride tips for first timers.

[DonnaS]

I haven't come to this board much at all but DH and I will be spending two nights at HRH in mid November. I have no idea what attractions we should make sure to do.

Some background: We have been to US in California and did ET (loved it) and Back to the Future (liked the ride but didn't like the seating as we had a very, very large woman in our row so the restraint wasn't anywhere near us so we were thrown around a bit too much). This was a few years ago.

We like thrill rides and well-themed rides.

Will two days be enough to do it all (we will have FOTL privileges since we'll be at HRH) or do we have to make difficult choices. Any advice would be great!

 

[Seahag]

are you going to US & IOA or just one ?
that will help me slim down my answer

 

[DonnaS]

I guess both unless there isn't much to do at US. We have tickets that will let us go to both.

 

[Robinrs]

Well, HELLLLOOOOOO Miss DonnaS....

How NICE of you to venture into Barry and My Neighborhood!!

Welcome! How are the kitties??

Okay, enough chatting...

If you liike thrill rides you will LOVE IOA. There's alot more to the park than just the big thrill rides but if you enjoy them, this is the place for you.

Do yourself a BIG favor and buy kelly monaghan's book "Universal Orlando: The Ultimate Guide". It is the hands down best resource for what to do at these parks. I've personally worn mine out!

And oh, yes, seating is very important on BTTF. I cannot sit in the backseat on the right because of my bum shoulder. I sat there once and was sore for a week!

 

[MIB999999]

get to whatever park-of-the-day it is for you hit it early, (that means the turnstyles best not move without you right there ) hit waht you just have to do on your first trip around. then make a second lesiurely trip around to tie up loose ends. you are going in november so crowds should not be a problem. finish the day with a third circut and do the best of the all over again.

 

[gschmerl]

In IOA the front row of Dueling Dragons is a MUST DO. Go right back there when the park opens and you won't have to wait for the front row. Of course Hulk and Spiderman are must dos. I really love Men in Black and Terminator in US. Go to Universals' website and see the desrcriptions of all the rides. If you're at the HRH two nights does that mean you'll have three days at the parks? With Express Access you should be able to do everything especially in mid November.

 

[goofyfordisney]

Ok, like DonnaS we have done Universal in California a few times--are the rides basically the same? We will be there Nov. 17-19th (2 nights at HRH). Should we get 2 day passes or 3 day passes? We will be going to IOA on our first day (Sat) for sure--our DS's (8 & 13) requested that! We plan on going to UOF on Sunday (I think it's a EE day???). We check out on Monday--should we go to EE on that day or just head to WDW? Waiting for your comments! Thanks!

P.S.--any good ideas for restaruants?

 

[BarryHom]

USH is different than USF. The main differences: 1.) no esclator and 2.) no tram tour. You can still see Jaws, Kong, and Earthquake, but they're different rides.

 

[DonnaS]

Goofyfordisney,
We'll be there Nov 16 and 17.

RobinRS,
I'd tell you how the kitties are but that would be off-topic Thanks for the book tip. I'll look for it.

gschmerl,
We are flying red eye in and arriving on the 16th so we'll have at least two full days before we move on to WDW on the 18th. We will have a rental car and we did buy 3 day passes so we will be able to do a third day if we feel the need.

Thanks everyone. Please keep the tips coming.

 

[snickers]

With the express line available at all the great rides, you will not have a problem riding everything as many times as you want. If the express line is longer than 10 minutes(the attendants will tell you if you ask), then ask about the single rider line especially at MIB at US. DH and I rode together in the express line twice, then did the single rider line about 9 times in a row and then went back to the express line for 1 last ride together.

Dueling Dragons is a must do first thing in the morning. You can ride both coasters as many times as you want without any line and can pick your row. You vear to the right when you go in the park and go to the back. Then when you get tired of DD go to the right out of the exit and to Marvel Island and do Spidey, Dr. Doom, Hulk as many times as you want in a row. Crowds seem to come mid day and taper off later afternoon, when you can go back to your favorite rides and ride again as many times as you want.

You will have a blast.

 

[Seahag]

HEHEHEHE ! we will be there the same weekend !!

Two days is enought to do it all & you will want to come back !
In IOA, the Hulk is my favorite, so don't miss it. We both love Dudly-Do-Right's RipSaw Falls, its another not to miss.
In US, T2-3D, although not technically a ride, it gets better each time I see it, and Jaws is an oldie but a goodie !!
I hope you have a SUPER trip !

 

[Seahag]

I am such a dork LOL I can't believe I almost forgot >>>>>
In IOA, DR. DOOMS FEARFALL !!!
I thought I was going into outer space !!!
You will love this !!! Its the best !!

 

[goofyfordisney]

DonnaS,
We are also taking a red-eye from SFO on 11/16th (we arrive MCO at 5:47am 11/17! We plan on hitting the parks ASAP! We have all day Sat. and Sun. Do you plan on doing a whole 3rd day at Universal or half-day? I think that we should go into USF/IOA on Mon. 11/19 (EE for IOA) and hit the things we really liked, then get over to WDW--what do you think? Did you get a package deal for USF/IOA and HRH? We just have hotel only (HRH) & plan on buying our tickets there. I have a coupon for $10 off 3 day tickets. I STILL NEED IDEAS FOR DINING--ANYONE??? Thanks.

SEAHOG,

Sounds like you've been before--any other recommendations? My sons are 8 & 13--they are both into the whole Super Hero, Juarassic Park, etc...I think we are going to have a hard time leaving this place! Hope you have a great trip! Looking forward to anymore comments you may have. Thanks

 

[DonnaS]

goofyfordisney,
You must be flying the United flight the night after us! Ours arrives at 547am too but on the 16th. We haven't fully decided if we will do a third day at all at US/IOA. We plan to play that by ear depending on what we want to do more of. In any case we can save our unused day.

We got a room only Entertainment Discount room at HRH and bought our tickets already online.

Sunday we'll be checking into CSR for 5 more nights so Sunday will be the swing day in terms of how much time we spend at US/IOA. Since (for the first time) we'll have a rental car we could also chose to use that third day in the middle of our WDW trip if we get bored at WDW (like that is going to happen ).

So maybe we can arrange to meet while there and do a few rides together?

I can tell this is one thread I'm going to have to print out. I feel like such a doofus when it comes to US/IOA.

 

[goofyfordisney]

DonnaS,

Thanks for the reply! I have a question...if you don't use your 3rd day during your stay at HRH, will you still get FOTL when you go back during your time that you're staying at WDW? That might be the way to go if it's possible. Somehow, I think my kids will want to go back to USF/IOA before we head home! This is our first time to Orlando as well, we have a car too--hopefully it will help to get around easier. How old are your kids?? Do you have to pull them out of school?

Happy planning--are you as obsessed as I am about planning this vacation? My husband is only interested in going to Maui--so I'm kind of a "closet" planner--he just wants to "wing it"!
Looking forward to sharing information/tips with you!

 

[h20jag]

Quick tip -
Pteranodon Flyers will sometimes let no-kid adults on when park first opens. Otherwise, you gotta have a shrimp between 36" & I forget the limit (see Barrys' info link for height reqs.).
It's a short, sweet ride. Take your camera and get some nice overview shots. You've only got about 80 seconds though before the ride ends.
It's worth doing once, and only if there's less than a 10 min. wait.
Have a blast!
Jim

 

[DonnaS]

I'm pretty sure that if we go back after checking out of the HRH then we won't be able to use the resort guest privilege but we can use the Universal Express privilege (like Fast Pass I think). If we do go back it will probably be more to do a ride or two.

We don't have kids (only cats ).

This isn't my first trip to Orlando but it is my first to Universal/IOA. I'm not too obsessed, in fact I 'm trying to get excited. I think I need to get that book RobinRS recommended and learn more.

DH is excited about going but he doesn't like to plan. He used to think he liked to wing it but one trip to WDW we did wing it and he didn't like that either. Finally we decided that he likes me to plan everything but not to over involve him in it. He likes to wake up in Orlando and ask "What are we doing today?" He doesn't like me to answer "I don't know, what do you want to do?"

BTW, we're in Sunnyvale.

 

[gschmerl]

Goofyfordisney,
It is not the three day pass, but the HRH room key that gets you the express access. Therefore, if you stay at Disney, you will NOT get the express access automatically--you will have to go to the machines and get an express pass for each ride. The room keys for HRH and PBH are the only things that give you automatic express access.

 

[goofyfordisney]

DonnaS,
Sounds like our husbands are very alike...I enjoy the planning--he's glad I enjoy it & he thinks that I do a great job! We try to do a go-go-go type vacation after every Maui vacation! The only thing he's interested in, is where we're going to eat! Any ideas on that?? I will be buying that book too--there's probably some good tips in there! Sorry...I didn't mean to assume that you had kids! Hope you have a fun trip--maybe we'll see ya there!

gschmerl,
Re: express pass access
Thanks for clearing that up for me--just one more question regarding express pass--how often can you get express passes? Is it similiar to WDW? Thanks.

 

[gschmerl]

As far as where to eat---MYTHOS!!! It's in IOA in the Lost Continent. Fantastic food, wonderful atmosphere, and great service. In City Walk we really liked the Latin Quarter.
As far as the Express Passes, I believe it's now one express pass at a time---it keeps changing. Barry can clear that one up for you.