never been to universal... what do i need to know?

[gigi1313]

we're planning another disney trip and dh mentioned that he'd like to give universal a try... i had read somewhere that if you stay at a universal resort you get "front of the line passes" and other perks... is that true?

what else would make us spend the first three or four days of our trip at a universal hotel before we head to disney?

how many days do we really need to enjoy all universal has to offer?

what are the must see/do things?

what kind of tickets are best to buy?

restaurant info? are character meals worth the $?

please help this disney-freak learn about universal! THANKS!

 

[damo]

I suggest reading through a few pages of posts on these Universal boards and then asking questions. There is just too much to suggest. It would be much easier to answer specific questions. You do need to tell us when you are going so we can advise you best.

 

[Immelman]

please help this disney-freak learn about universal! THANKS!

Step 1. Turn off the disney gene (I've got one too) and repeat after me...

"Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are a completely different experience than WDW". repeat all the way to the gates.

Step 2. start reading the threads.

lots of people are here to help you connect the dots after that.

 

[robvia]

Agree, the new readers should lurk a few weeks before asking questions, but I'll still answer them.

You want to stay at Disney first, then Universal for 2 nights. Why? Because you won't be waiting in lines if you stay onsite at USF.

Yes, you get FOTL (Front of the Line) access by staying onsite. Your hotel keys are called "magic keys" and get you on most rides with no wait. There are some restrictions, for example, you can't walk up to the front row of coasters and get on. The FOTL gets you on from rows 2 thru the back. But thats an amazing perk, to get on most rides with no wait.

Everything else, you'll just have to ready the boards. The restaurant info is all here, or will come up again as people ask. Beleive me, if you go, you'll have no problems finding a good restaurant.

 

[the kabuki]

Much would depend on what season you're going to be there. If it's not a busy time of year, you may not need to stay onsite for FOTL. We went this past Jan. and never had a problem with lines.

Best tip I got from these boards if you're not staying onsite is to arrive before the park opens, do the big headline rides first thing, then catch everything else. Parks will start to fill up around 11 or 12. A day at US is not the day to sleep in!!

Agree with Immelman- this is not Disney, but a whole other experience. And a good one at that. We spent one day at each park which gave us enough time to enjoy everything.

Yes there's many fast thrill rides, but there's also much to do for those who don't do the rollercoasters. We had our 3 kids (11,7,3)with us, and there was something for all of them to enjoy.

Pack change of clothing and try to go when it's a warmer day, as many of the rides and attractions will get you wet. When a sign says you may get wet, it's not a joke!!

Don't pass by the curious george attraction just because your children are older. Past the water "town" area, there's a two level nerf ball area where the kids can shoot air cannons at those below, large cages full of balls drop down every 4 minutes and all sorts of other things. I think my older ones had more fun at this than the little one.

Spiderman and MUMMY were my 7yo son's favorite rides. Along with the talking/squirting fountain.

You can bring small, soft , collapsiable(sp?) coolers into the parks, despite all the warning signs in the parking lot and walkway to park

Purchase tixs ahead of time.

Check out www.IOAcentral.com , especially Barry Backwater's Barstool reports on what to see with kids, along with threads here at DIS.

Everyone's Favorite rides-MUMMY, Spiderman, Bilge rat barges, Men In Black Jurassic Park River Adventure

My favorite-Hulk coaster. I was the only in the family that went on!! It is a roller coaster in every sense of the word, and ranks right up there with any that I've ridden at Cedar Point. Intense!!!

So-so rides/attractions-Poseidon's Fury, Back to the Future(you'll get banged around on this one) , Earthquake was good , but the preshow was boring. ET adventure. Jimmy Neutron-go on only if your kids are really into this. Jaws-very predictable

Only place we ate onsite was counter services which were alright.

 

[Mandabella]

Step 1. Turn off the disney gene (I've got one too) and repeat after me...

"Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are a completely different experience than WDW". repeat all the way to the gates.

This one sure does need emphasizing!

 

[Firestorm]

One thing you may wish to consider is staying at Universal after Disney.Back in 2002 we stayed at the Hard Rock for five nights befoe going on to WDW and it was very relaxing.Nice walk through the gardens to the parks and in the evening sitting by the pool.One night was spent watching Harry Potter on a big screen whilst floating in the water and the best night, watching Santana in concert whilst relaxing on a sun bed! with a couple of beers. We then went on to Disney.
This year it's two weeks at the Riverside followed by a week at the Hard Rock hotel which gives you some time to chill out after Disney.

As already said,lots of help,advice and ideas on thses board's which hace helped me over the years.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I will join the bandwagon for doing Disney first then heading over to UO. The FOTL will spoil you! A trip to UO is sooo relaxing with that perk. No need to get out of bed crack at the of dawn to catch a tram, bus, whatever so you can start waiting in lines. Plenty of time to see all of the attractions that you want to see and still head back to the hotel to relax before an evening at City Walk or a return to the parks if they have evening hours. It will be hard to do the hustle bustle that is a Disney "vacation" after that.

Regarding your Q on the character breakfast--we did the one at Confisco with the Suess character. Very interactive. We had a good time. Food was only so so, however.

 

[Big Payne]

Disney and Universal are both really great parks.

Universal appeals to a slightly older crowd but can also be enjoyed by young

One thing that universal does that seperates it from Disney is that if you stay at one of the 3 onsite hotels you can use your Room Key as a Universal Express or an "unlimited Fast-PAss" in disney terms. You can use it on almost every ride at anytime with no prior warning. We rode Spiderman 8 times in one hour in normal to above average crowds. It's awsome!!!!!

One thing you have to remember is that Universal is much newer. Although it doesnt have classics like SLPSH Mtn. or Space Mtn it makes up for in newer rides with technology unmatched by Disney

 

[Fastcars]

We are planning a trip this Oct. Will there be long lines at UO? We thought about staying at CRC for the week and just driving over couple of days. The price of Hotel hopping was adding too much to the budget for this trip.

 

[gigi1313]

thanks all for your comments... the part that will be the hardest for me is de-disney-fying! LOL! but i like the mantra and will continue to repeat it!

we're planning to go late august/early september which is low crowds at wdw and presumably at universal as well...

i'm not sure i understand the do disney first sentiments, i kinda wanna save what i know/best for last but it seems to be contrary to advice from all you veterans, hmmmm... that's something to think about...

i've been reading these boards, been thru the hotel threads (decided on either hard rock or royal pacific, most like rp) and thru my company belong to the "fan club" so we can get some discount on tickets (unless buying a package proves to be a better deal)

i'm still confused as to how many days we will need for universal... 2? 3? 4? i will gladly take recommendations

 

[Immelman]

we went to the MK yesterday because it's been about a month since our last time. we left around 5:00 to go home for the superbowl. my wife tried to convince me the whole monorail trip out to go to US to take a ride on the mummy. different parks, different experiences. I think most people recommend 3 days at the parks. 1 for each, then a 3rd for your favorites. it''s a good formula. but that time of year midweek, you could do both parks in 2 days and have a blast.

 

[the kabuki]

We went in the first week in Jan- a slower time, and 2 days was perfect for us, one day for each park. Just remember to get there when they open or a little earlier.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Because we are going at a busy time of year (July, but not 4th of) - we're going to do Disney first, then Universal for two days, then we're headed on a cruise. Talk about saving the best for last I want to do Universal after WDW b/c of the FOTL - I can't imagine having FOTL for two days then going back to standing in endless lines in the heat of July!

 

[maggiew]

I will join the bandwagon for doing Disney first then heading over to UO. The FOTL will spoil you! A trip to UO is sooo relaxing with that perk. No need to get out of bed crack at the of dawn to catch a tram, bus, whatever so you can start waiting in lines. Plenty of time to see all of the attractions that you want to see and still head back to the hotel to relax before an evening at City Walk or a return to the parks if they have evening hours. It will be hard to do the hustle bustle that is a Disney "vacation" after that.

I want to second this. This is exactly how we felt. I dearly love Disney, but we had a great time at Universal. My family HATES to get up at the crack of dawn to do Early Entry at Disney - but that is really the only way to ride all the big name rides without wait. Even with Fast Pass at Disney you have to wait in a line. AT Universal it was so relaxing. We slept in until we woke up!!! Then we headed to the parks and rode all the rides no matter what the time with NO wait. And I mean NO wait. My younger DD and I rode the unicorn ride 5 times in a row. Each time we would get off, go around and walk back up to the front and get on the next car! Pretty much the same with Spiderman ride. We may have had to wait for a second car, but not more than that!! Then we would go back to the resort to swim (we swam in all 3 pools - Portofino, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific - pool hopping is allowed!). We would have lunch by the pool. Then go back in the afternoon for another round of rides at IOA or US. Then head to CityWalk for dinner! It was so relaxing. My family only wants to do Universal now because they were spoiled!!

So I would recommend staying at a Universal resort for at least 1 night. That will get you 2 days of FOTL access at the parks (arrival day and departure day). You could probably see the highlights in 2 days. We went for 5 days (we had the bonus passes) and it was great! We went in August, by the way.

Maggie

 

[Corporal_Radar]

i am a universal freak myself.... and i already explained this to someone else... but i am going to sum it up for you...


1> at universal, get there before the park opens... depending on who is there, they might let you in early... go do everything at the back of the park((more towards MIB, back to the future, and jaws and what not...)) those rides get packed once when it hits 12... you are talking about 45 min. waits...

2> go to universal before islands of adventure, ioa is less packed in the afternoon than it is in the morning... vise-versa for univeral.

3> save the shows for last... some shows are good (ghostbusters, i love lucy, and beetlejuice graveyard revinue)

4> get some thing to eat AFTER ou go on the Hulk... trust me... i had some experience with that... not to good!!!

5> the bast place to eat at universal is Mel's diner... they have got soem great chilly fries^____^

6> the best place to eat at IOA has to be that big interactive dinosaur adventure dig/resturant/fun-for-kids zone/gift shoppe thing... i forget what it is called, but get a burger... they have got some great burgers....
also at IOA, try the Circus McGirkus((however you spell that...)) they have got a wide variety of food, and if you have any kids, they would like to eat at that place... the burger/dino thing is located at Jurassi park ((the third island if you make a left to go through marvel super hero island, and the third if you make a right to go through seuse landing.)) the circus Mc. is located on the island known as seuse landing.(( the first island on your right, the fifth island if you take a left to go through marvel super hero island...

7> do deuling dragons before the hulk... dd is less intence...

8> I HOPE YOU HAVE FUN!!! because i love universal so much... i got a season pass... buy one year, get the other year free...

 

[gigi1313]

wow, lots of great advice... while i was thinking that i'd still do disney last, i am definitely changing my mind... now to decide how many days to allot to what... LOL! thank you everyone!

 

[Universal FReak]

7 words: YOU MUST RIDE REVENGE OF THE MUMMY

 

[damo]

Over And Over And Over (five more words)

 

[cheerdancer11]

That sounds like an awesome perk! How do the Universal Resort prices compare to disney's? I don't know- i could see disney copying this idea to some extent, maybe just for certain rides/resorts. It wouldn't work as well though since more ppl stay at disney.

Michele