Need Some Universal Advice From Experts

[boomhauer]

My wife and I decided we'd take our 5 year old 1 day to Universal in July. We'll be at Disney for 12 nights, so we figured we could afford 1 day.

I just can't decide, should we buy the 2 park, 2 day ticket, and just do both parks in 1 day, or should we just buy a Universal Studios ticket and skip IOA. I've only been to Universal once about 10 years ago.

As for IOA, I have no interest in the Incredible Hulk or Dueling Dragons. Only things we'd be interested in at IOA is Spiderman and Jurassic Park. Is it worth buying the 2 park pass just for those attractions?

At Universal, there's much more for us: Jaws, Back To The Future, ET, The Mummy, Men In Black, T2 show, Earthquake, Twister show.

What should we do?

Is getting between the 2 parks easy and non time consuming?

 

[macraven]

walking between the two parks, ioa and us, takes less than a few minutes.
use the shortcut way which is behind hrcafe, across from the old nickolodean building in the uo side.


buy the one day one park ticket. go to the studios side for the day. if you have time left over and want to either do both parks or spend another day at universal, go to guest services and upgrade that one day ticket to suit your need. it is MUCH cheaper to upgrade that ticket while you are there.

if you leave and want to return another day, you can't upgrade and have to buy tickets again.

you might find that the studios side is all you have time for. wait before you upgrade before you upgrade to a 2 park ticket.

there are more things at ioa a 5 year can do. seuss land is fantastic

 

[boomhauer]

Thanks for the advice. I didn't even think of that. Upgrading sounds like the best idea. I just thought IOA would be a waste of money given that I'm not a huge coaster buff.

Our plan is to only spend a day at Universal. Arrive around 9:00AM, and leave by 6:00PM.

 

[macraven]

i suggest you leave the disney hotel by 7:30/40 and drive to universal.
you will miss most of the traffic the earlier you leave.

be at the gate for universal by 8:30. depending on crowds in line, they do open early on those occassions.
you can do a lot of things at the studio side before the crowds begin if you start early.

crowds will be happening around 11 ish in the morning.

eat at off times, just like you would at disney.

wait and decide if you want to upgrade the tickets before you leave.
why spend the money if you don't have to.

if you start early and finish the studios side by 3, go ahead and upgrade your ticket and go to ioa. if this is your only time you will be at universal, this is the chance to see spidey, seuss land, jurassic park. they are well worth it.

 

[boomhauer]

Only problem is, we won't have a rental car.

I'm assuming Lynx has a stop at Universal, but I can't figure out on their home page which bus I would take from the TTC at Disney to Universal.

 

[Kath2003]

Getting to Universal on Lynx is hard work. If I were you, I'd take the 50 Lynx bus from the TTC to Sea World and get a cab from there. The bus takes half an hour, runs every half an hour (schedules: www.golynx.com) and costs $3 return each. Alternatively, take a cab the whole way.

Five year old daughter? You're gonna be doing a LOT of babyswapping! Assuming she's tall enough for all attractions....

Universal Studios

She will like E.T. - the waits for this get REAL long (don't be thinking that just because you're inside the building you're about to ride - it can easily be another 20 minutes wait), so do this FIRST.

Men in Black - probably, but warn her about the bigger alien at the end. The rest of it is cute and funny until you arrive at that thing.

Jaws - probably if she's brave! Seat her on the right hand side of the boat, it's further from the shark.

Earthquake - More intense than Jaws but she can go through all the pre-show entertainment (about 15 minutes) with you guys and then not ride.

Shrek 4D - she'll love it. BE SURE to go see Donkey across the way. It was the highlight of our trip last summer - HE TALKS

The Mummy - don't even try it unless she's real hardcore.

Twister - she'll probably be OK on this because it doesn't move much, and you can ask to go on the stationary bit (you're really not missing much).

Animal Planet Live - she'll love this.

T2-3D - No, just...no. I don't like it and I'm 21.

Kidzone - She'll love this area, plan to spend most of the day here

Islands of Adventure

Hulk - she will wet her pants at just seeing it.

Dr Dooms Fear Fall - poor man's TOT. Not for kids, though.

Duelling Dragons - again, no.

Jurassic Park - she'd have to be VERY brave.

Spiderman - not for small children, quite scary and intense, do not ride if prone to motion sickness!

Popeye's barges - Good for kiddies BUT...you will get SOAKED. Have her change into her swimsuit and take off her shoes. I'm serious. At least remove the shoes. We poured water out of ours.

Dr Seuss area - she'll love this, bright, colorful and great fun.

Psoidon's Fury - kinda unneccessarily hyped, assure her that none of it's real and she'll be OK.

Have fun!!!

 

[alisonbestford]

We first visited Universal when DD was 4

She's now 7 and it's still her favourite park (both of them)

So, she's still not tall (or brave) enough for some of the rides but she absolutely loves water and the water features at Universal are great fun

I always take a book and her swimming gear so that I can have a 'chill out' whilst she gets soaked

It's a 20 min walk but I have walked, from the trolley stop by Skull Kingdom, pushing a buggy, before - then again I'm a mad English woman

 

[boomhauer]

OK, here's an interesting twist. Universal is running a promotion, where if you buy an adult 2 day/2 park pass, you get a free child's pass of the same. So, if my wife and I both buy the 2 park/2 day ticket, we'd get the free child's ticket for our son, and the total would be $218. If we buy 2 adult 1 day passes and 1 child's 1 day pass, the total would be $178. So, we're talking about an extra $40 for all 3 of us. Almost seems silly not to do it.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

Almost seems silly not to do it.

it does seem almost silly not to do it. then your little one can see suess landing as well. not to mention, a whole new other park.

 

[goofy!]

Or better yet, take 3 of those 12 nights and stay onsite. For $263.00 per night at the Royal Pacific in July, you get your all your tickets (both parks), AND your son eats free for those days.

There is no better way to capture the "magic" of Universal than to stay on site and experience FOTL.

 

[boomhauer]

Or better yet, take 3 of those 12 nights and stay onsite. For $263.00 per night at the Royal Pacific in July, you get your all your tickets (both parks), AND your son eats free for those days.

There is no better way to capture the "magic" of Universal than to stay on site and experience FOTL.

Never happened. Although I liked a couple of the rides at Universal when I was there (10 years ago), I didn't find it "magical" in any way. I'm a Disney person, through and through. I wouldn't stay off Disney property if it was free. I feel weird enough just about going to Universal. I'm very weird like that.

 

[goofy!]

Things have really changed in 10 years.

Take it from this former Disney addict. It is actually possible to love 2 different things equally

Just look at it from the point of view - that it just opens two more "lands" to visit during your Orlando stays

And psst - the Universal resorts are hands down better than any at WDW - and I usually stay Poly concierge.

If you don't stay onsite - I would suggest you purchase express passes for the family. That way you won't have to wait in line with a 5 year old and you will be able to at least experience all the rides once in both parks. July is busy and lines can get long (just as in Disney.)

I just don't get this "I feel weird going to Universal" thing. (And not just you) It is your life - you can enjoy what you want - you don't have to have blind loyalty to a profit making corporation.

 

[boomhauer]

I will definitely purchase tickets in advance. No 2 ways about that. Sadly, after 14 Disney trips, I've become addicted to Disney and only Disney. Nothing else interests me outside of it's borders. I feel like when I leave Disney property, I'm leaving my vacation.

I know - It's awful.

 

[goofy!]

I will definitely purchase tickets in advance. No 2 ways about that. Sadly, after 14 Disney trips, I've become addicted to Disney and only Disney. Nothing else interests me outside of it's borders. I feel like when I leave Disney property, I'm leaving my vacation.

I know - It's awful.

Not just the regular tickets - look into purchasing the optional Express passes. This will give you one express pass for every ride. 10 minute waits vs. 60 minutes with a 5 year old makes it worth every penny. And that way you can do both parks in one day.

BTW - your son will probably love Spiderman in IOA - best ride in all of Orlando. There is also Storm Force (tea cups), and PT Flyers. When we have little ones with us - one parent will take the child on Storm Force while the other rides Hulk. And the Flying Unicorn is always a hit with the kids. Again, one parent will take the children on Unicorn while the other rides Fire and Ice. And from experience, in the express line - you can get 12 rides on Unicorn while the other parent rides fire and ice once each And then save some time for the play area at Suessland after riding One Fish Blue Fish, and Cat In The Hat (not to be missed by both parents and kids!).

And since you have a son - schedule the Spidey character breakfast. Great one-on-one time with Spiderman.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

I will definitely purchase tickets in advance. No 2 ways about that. Sadly, after 14 Disney trips, I've become addicted to Disney and only Disney. Nothing else interests me outside of it's borders. I feel like when I leave Disney property, I'm leaving my vacation.

I know - It's awful.

people change. it's a big world out there... otherwise, you wouldn't be interested in revisiting Universal again. not to mention exposing your son to it.