Need Help (Various Topics/Questions)

[rmpearson]

I'll be taking my son(10) and daughter (12), to US/IOA from Aug 20th-25th, followed by 9 days at Disney. We're staying on site at the Hard Rock. This is our first trip, and while we've been to Disney multiple times in the last few years, we've never visited Universal, and I have many many questions. Here are a few:

1. Dining - At Disney I make reservations way ahead of time. I haven't yet for US/IOA. I would like to eat at Mythos and Three Broomsticks and am considering a character breakfast and the nightime show dinner at Lombards. Am I too late to make reservations, or, will I just be able to make reservations when we get there?

2. Is there a nightime show or fireworks at IOA?

3. My son loves Harry Potter and any tips for the area/shops/etc. are much appreciated. Do they sell "potions" in the gift shops?

New to the message boards, hopefully i did this right....sorry if I didnt...

thanks in advance! I'm really nervous since I feel like I know NOTHING compared to Disney!

 

[macraven]

I'll be taking my son(10) and daughter (12), to US/IOA from Aug 20th-25th, followed by 9 days at Disney. We're staying on site at the Hard Rock. This is our first trip, and while we've been to Disney multiple times in the last few years, we've never visited Universal, and I have many many questions. Here are a few:

1. Dining - At Disney I make reservations way ahead of time. I haven't yet for US/IOA. I would like to eat at Mythos and Three Broomsticks and am considering a character breakfast and the nightime show dinner at Lombards. Am I too late to make reservations, or, will I just be able to make reservations when we get there?

2. Is there a nightime show or fireworks at IOA?

3. My son loves Harry Potter and any tips for the area/shops/etc. are much appreciated. Do they sell "potions" in the gift shops?

New to the message boards, hopefully i did this right....sorry if I didnt...

thanks in advance! I'm really nervous since I feel like I know NOTHING compared to Disney!

many times you don't need to make a reservation for some of the places at the hotels and in the parks for food.

you can use www.opentable.com for mythos and other places if you wish.
the 3 B's won't take breakfast ressies but you can be on the wait list with the tm that is holding the clip board, outside the restaurnant.
easy to get a table at 3 B's for lunch or dinner.


the character breakfast is held at La Bamba in the studios park.
you call, book and pay for this, then call the restaurant for a ressie date/time.
you can enter the studios an hour prior to official park opening then.

no night time show at ioa

the park does have lighter crowds the last week of august.
looks like you will be at the motherland at that time though.

read thru the stickies for more information.
especially check out the food/menu one.

check out www.universalorlando.com for info in the parks and city walk.

 

[Planogirl]

Don't discount eating at Citywalk even in the middle of the day. You'll probably be shocked at how easy it is to get around at Universal. We love to eat lunch at Margaritaville and it's so nice that it's just an easy stroll from the parks.

One thing to consider at the Uni parks is that some of the counter service places and Confiscos close kind of early in the parks. It caught us offguard a few times. Check the times and plan to eat later dinners at places such as Mythos and the 3 Broomsticks.

The Hard Rock is nice. Don't forget that you can pool hop.

 

[Lynne G]

I'll be taking my son(10) and daughter (12), to US/IOA from Aug 20th-25th, followed by 9 days at Disney. We're staying on site at the Hard Rock. This is our first trip, and while we've been to Disney multiple times in the last few years, we've never visited Universal, and I have many many questions. Here are a few:

1. Dining - At Disney I make reservations way ahead of time. I haven't yet for US/IOA. I would like to eat at Mythos and Three Broomsticks and am considering a character breakfast and the nightime show dinner at Lombards. Am I too late to make reservations, or, will I just be able to make reservations when we get there?

2. Is there a nightime show or fireworks at IOA?

3. My son loves Harry Potter and any tips for the area/shops/etc. are much appreciated. Do they sell "potions" in the gift shops?

New to the message boards, hopefully i did this right....sorry if I didnt...

thanks in advance! I'm really nervous since I feel like I know NOTHING compared to Disney!

1. Unless you want a very popular place, we were at USO same time last year. First night we phoned bubba gumps for dinner reservations later that night. They laughed at us. We never needed reservations for any meals the 4 nights we stayed at the
Portofino.

2. No, nothing in IOA at night, though Potterland was neat to see in the evening, even just to look around. For the first time this year, US will have a night time show and afternoon parade. We are looking forward to both this summer too, you may see us!

3. Best tip for see all of Potterland, is to use the early entry with your room key and run (well briskly follow the mass) into the castle and ride. Single rider is awesome during the morning too. If you want to see the wand show at Oliver's, go to that first, before the castle. When the park opens to the public, head to other parts.


Have a great time, and check ou the other hotels' pools. I thought the Portofino's was the best, but each of the pools have great theming. You just show your room key, and no charge to swim at any of the pools. My DD10 ad DS14 really enjoyed our USO visit, we are back this year, though at RPH this time. Nothing like having your kids use their room key as an unlimited fast pass, and ride Spiderman too many times to count.

 

[damo]

1. Unless you want a very popular place, we were at USO same time last year. First night we phoned bubba gumps for dinner reservations later that night. They laughed at us. We never needed reservations for any meals the 4 nights we stayed at the
Portofino.

2. No, nothing in IOA at night, though Potterland was neat to see in the evening, even just to look around. For the first time this year, US will have a night time show and afternoon parade. We are looking forward to both this summer too, you may see us!

3. Best tip for see all of Potterland, is to use the early entry with your room key and run (well briskly follow the mass) into the castle and ride. Single rider is awesome during the morning too. If you want to see the wand show at Oliver's, go to that first, before the castle. When the park opens to the public, head to other parts.


Have a great time, and check ou the other hotels' pools. I thought the Portofino's was the best, but each of the pools have great theming. You just show your room key, and no charge to swim at any of the pools. My DD10 ad DS14 really enjoyed our USO visit, we are back this year, though at RPH this time. Nothing like having your kids use their room key as an unlimited fast pass, and ride Spiderman too many times to count.

Although Bubba Gump's doesn't take reservations, I agree that it most likely isn't necessary in late August to make reservations at any of the restaurants. You can always stop in at the reservations booth in Citywalk and make them if you want, or just as the concierge at the hotel.

 

[rmpearson]

Thank you all!! I really appreciate it.

 

[Metro West]

1. Dining - At Disney I make reservations way ahead of time. I haven't yet for US/IOA. I would like to eat at Mythos and Three Broomsticks and am considering a character breakfast and the nightime show dinner at Lombards. Am I too late to make reservations, or, will I just be able to make reservations when we get there?

You have to make reservations for Lombard's several days in advance and frankly...I wouldn't spend the money for the dinner at Lombard's. Yes it's usually very good but it's a little pricey just to sit on the dock to see the show. You can stand anywhere around the lagoon and see it just fine. I watched it from outside MIB tonight and although I didn't get the full effect, it was a good show. So maybe try Finnegan's or Louie's for dinner instead and then watch the show. You'd be saving quite a bit of money.