Never done Universal.... So Confused!!

[amscherm]

We have never been to Universal but we will be in FL at the end of July (I know... HOT)... and thought I would schedule 2 days at Universal for us before my son heads off to college... But I am utterly confused... What park? What Hotel? He is a huge Marvel fan, he would love to see whatever The Simpson attraction is.. I just don't know where to start planning this... Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[macraven]

Take a look at the stickies and trip reports for over all
basic info

You will gain a lot of info quickly

Your son will love UO and hope you will too!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

In 2 days, you will be able to hit the 2 parks (the water park Volcano Bay is optional). Simpsons area - called Springfield USA - is in Universal Studios. Marvel Superhero Island is in Islands of Adventure. You can do one park per day or get park-to-park tickets to wander between the parks at will.

If you are planning to stay onsite (which is very convenient), you can choose between the premier hotels Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort, or Portofino Bay Hotel - these three will grant you express passes for all the rides except the new Hagrids coaster, and presumably the soon-to-be-open Jurassic Velocicoaster, on both check in and check out days - which is also rather convenient especially for a 2 day trip. Otherwise, those and other onsite hotels also come with early admission to one or both parks (likely both in July) and consistent reliable transportation to the parks.

Download the Universal App for an overview of the rides, park maps, menus, etc. It will also be your pathway to the virtual queues which are in use for certain rides during high capacity days. You can pop out easily to eat at any of the restaurants at CityWalk for lunch or dinner, or there are obviously options within the park as well. Don't discount the CityWalk options though, they really are super easy to get to and there are some really tasty places to try.

The level of detail in each of the sections is just mind-boggling, enjoy your planning and your trip!

 

[martikus]

Stay at one of the premiere hotels that offers express passes and nothing further needed. Show up and enjoy. It is wonderful and the hotels are so close you can go back to enjoy pool
In afternoon.

 

[cschaaf]

That's a lot to try to unpack in a single thread.

There are two parks: Islands of Adventure (IOA) and Universal Studios Florida (USF). A third if you count the water park: Volcano Bay

Universal has 8 hotels (they are actually owned and operated by Loews. The three premiere resorts (Hard Rock, Portofino, and Royal Pacific) are pricey, but come with an amazing benefit - unlimited Express Passes for IOA and USF.

All of the hotels get you Early Park Admission (1 hour before opening at one park - it's usually the same park every day for a set period like a month at a time. At busy times, they sometimes open both parks for hotel guests). One negative is that only a few rides are usually open for that extra hour.

All of the hotels also have transportation to the parks - some have buses only, others have access to water taxis. The transportation system is kvery efficient and the hotels are all close to the parks. Most of the hotels also have walking paths to the park.

Two days is tight, but if you have Express Passes, you can get a lot done in those two days. Without Express Passes, you'll have to be a little more careful at how you spend your time.

Head over to the Universal website and look under Things To Do to see all of the attractions.

Park hopping is very easy, the parks are right next to each other.

Overall, it's a different experience than Disney - especially if you have Express Pass. There is little to no planning needed. You usually don't need advanced reservations at restaurants (COVID times have changed that a bit - may be different by the time we hit July).

 

[amscherm]

In 2 days, you will be able to hit the 2 parks (the water park Volcano Bay is optional). Simpsons area - called Springfield USA - is in Universal Studios. Marvel Superhero Island is in Islands of Adventure. You can do one park per day or get park-to-park tickets to wander between the parks at will.

If you are planning to stay onsite (which is very convenient), you can choose between the premier hotels Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort, or Portofino Bay Hotel - these three will grant you express passes for all the rides except the new Hagrids coaster, and presumably the soon-to-be-open Jurassic Velocicoaster, on both check in and check out days - which is also rather convenient especially for a 2 day trip. Otherwise, those and other onsite hotels also come with early admission to one or both parks (likely both in July) and consistent reliable transportation to the parks.

Download the Universal App for an overview of the rides, park maps, menus, etc. It will also be your pathway to the virtual queues which are in use for certain rides during high capacity days. You can pop out easily to eat at any of the restaurants at CityWalk for lunch or dinner, or there are obviously options within the park as well. Don't discount the CityWalk options though, they really are super easy to get to and there are some really tasty places to try.

The level of detail in each of the sections is just mind-boggling, enjoy your planning and your trip!

Thank you... If we only decide to do 1 park.. which would you recommend?

 

[amscherm]

Stay at one of the premiere hotels that offers express passes and nothing further needed. Show up and enjoy. It is wonderful and the hotels are so close you can go back to enjoy pool
In afternoon.

So if I book at one of the hotels then I don't have to buy park tickets? It's included in my hotel room?

 

[martikus]

So if I book at one of the hotels then I don't have to buy park tickets? It's included in my hotel room?

No you need to buy tickets. I meant no planning needed like Disney requires.

But express passes included with hard rock, rpr or portofino which is like a fast pass for every ride and unlimited.

 

[ksanftleben]

We have never been to Universal but we will be in FL at the end of July (I know... HOT)... and thought I would schedule 2 days at Universal for us before my son heads off to college... But I am utterly confused... What park? What Hotel? He is a huge Marvel fan, he would love to see whatever The Simpson attraction is.. I just don't know where to start planning this... Any help would be greatly appreciated!

The best guide for planning a visit to Universal Studios that I know of is Orlando Informer - https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/vacation-planning

It's served us well.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

If we only decide to do 1 park.. which would you recommend?

You can have a blast at either - both are so much fun! So, check out the themes/rides at each park and see which as a whole you are more interested in.

 

[NVF]

So if I book at one of the hotels then I don't have to buy park tickets? It's included in my hotel room?

sorry to say thatt but you can't to just one park at Universal. I always see 2 parks as one and park -to park at Universal is a must.
first of all parks much smaller and you can cover a lot if you skip certain rides (we only go for our faves)
Second, Hogwards express is a great experience by itself and saves you miles of walking from one park to another by taking you from the back one park to the back of another one, one HP world to another HP. but you only can take HE if you have park-to park option. lines always go fast there
its a fun place!! dont limit yourself to one park. each park has something good to offer!!

 

[nkereina]

If you are spending two days there, there is no reason to do only one park. IOA has the Marvel stuff but as two adults, this park takes us less time to get through than Universal. For this reason, we always get park-to-park tickets so that we can hop between both parks at our leisure. You also need a park-to-park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express train.

As PPs mentioned, the three premier resorts at Universal include unlimited express passes which is the equivalent to Disney's Fast Pass. IMO, Universal's unlimited express passes are better - it allows you to ride almost every ride (except Hagrid's, because its new) as often as you want with little to no wait. Its truly unlimited, no trying to book a timeslot. You can really maximize your time at Universal with EPs and it helps you avoid waiting in what can be long, hot lines in July. Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Portofino Bay are the resorts that include these passes, and you can't go wrong with any of them. They're all within walking distance or a free water taxi ride away. RPR is often the cheapest of the three, HRH is the closest walk of the three.

When price comparing resorts, keep in mind that the three premier resorts include the cost of the unlimited EPs. When you subtract that cost, their rates aren't as hard to stomach. There are cheaper resorts on Universal property that provide transportation, but those would not include the EPs. You do have the option to purchase EPs on your own if you want and can do that how you want to - buy them for only one day of your trip, buy the one-time-use EPs (which are cheaper) rather than the unlimited ones, wait until you get there to see wait times and decide to buy EPs then if you think its necessary. But keep in mind that the premier resorts include the top of the line unlimited EPs from your check in day until your check out day. Price-wise, its rarely cheaper to stay elsewhere and buy EPs on your own.

 

[Rileygirl]

Stay at one of the premiere hotels that offers express passes and nothing further needed. Show up and enjoy. It is wonderful and the hotels are so close you can go back to enjoy pool
In afternoon.

THIS.
THIS.
I am not sure if you do Disney, but if you do, one of the hardest concepts of planning Universal is
If you stay at one of these three resorts, you don’t need a plan. You just go and have fun. Even dining reservations are not really needed!
imagine if your Mickeyband had a magic button, and every ride you wanted to go on you simply walked up at whatever time you please, and get into the (fast pass) express line. Want to do that ride again? Sure, you can get right back into the express line. Want to ride it 10 times in a row (like my kids did on the mummy?) sure, no problem. THATS MAGICAL.

These premier hotels can be pricey, but discounts can be had. Even a two day stay it might be worth it to buy one annual pass for hotel discounts if you plan to stay at a premier hotel.

I also second the person who said the Orlando informer is a great resource that is free for UO.

Final piece of advice, if you plan to do Disney on the same trip, do it first. UO with a premier hotel is like the best mini vacation because it is so stress free, you will love that after the Disney stress.

 

[puffkin]

I will third that if you stay at a Universal premier hotel, you really don't need to do much if any planning. I would not do Universal without a park to park 2 day ticket though.

 

[Gatrcruzer]

I agree with others that paying the extra money for one of the premier hotels is the way to go so that you can get the express passes (we usually choose whichever is cheapest, but all things being equal will prioritize Hard Rock). Here is how it works: you check into your hotel early on the first day (even 7 or 8am is okay) and even if your room isn't ready they will provide you with a fast pass that you can use that day and the next day, so 2 whole days. It is pure gold, particularly during busy times such as the summer. You can quickly and easily get into many rides, so as others have noted, you don't have to plan things out the way you do at Disney. It's also super easy to get from the hotel to the park - you go through a short line while you wait for the boat or at the entry between the hotel and City Walk. Very civilized. I agree with others that a 2-day park-to-park ticket is the way to go. You will want to do both parks, and this will allow you to return to rides you really like; not to mention the Hogwarts Express which you can only ride if you have park-to-park tickets. It is very doable to cover both parks in 2 days. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[macraven]

You summed it up quite nicely!

 

[SWDisfan]

We have never been to Universal but we will be in FL at the end of July (I know... HOT)... and thought I would schedule 2 days at Universal for us before my son heads off to college... But I am utterly confused... What park? What Hotel? He is a huge Marvel fan, he would love to see whatever The Simpson attraction is.. I just don't know where to start planning this... Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you... If we only decide to do 1 park.. which would you recommend?

Can’t recommend one over the other...Simpsons area is in UO and Marvel is IOA. Get a park to park pass and stay onsite with express pass! You’ll thank us ALL for that! If you really can only do one park I’d say IOA for us...we love Spider-Man, Kong, Jurassic area, and of course Hogwarts with Hagrids motorbike being the BEST ride in all of Orlando! Lol. Enjoy!

 

[macraven]

Dis thread of the day
3/19/21

 

[Erica Ladd]

Can someone link up to the thread about ‘this is how I plan a universal trip’???

I know it helped me a great deal and selfishly I’d like to read it again before my next trip lol!!

btw. Totally agree about a premier hotel, must go both parks and comparing regular tickets to any level of APs that can get discounts at the hotels, especially premiers. What cost us a few extra dollars on our first trip has allowed us to go back again and another trip coming in April thanks to our seasonal APs that got us a hotel discount and the enjoyment of knowing we can go again (and again) for the next year! Without planning. Did I mention the ‘we don’t have to plan’ part????

 

[schumigirl]

Can someone link up to the thread about ‘this is how I plan a universal trip’???

I know it helped me a great deal and selfishly I’d like to read it again before my next trip lol!!

btw. Totally agree about a premier hotel, must go both parks and comparing regular tickets to any level of APs that can get discounts at the hotels, especially premiers. What cost us a few extra dollars on our first trip has allowed us to go back again and another trip coming in April thanks to our seasonal APs that got us a hotel discount and hey enjoyment of knowing we can go again (and again) for the next year! Without planning. Did I mention the ‘we don’t have to plan’ part????

Here you go Erica......

https://www.disboards.com/threads/how-i-plan-a-universal-trip.3794121/