New to Universal and need help w/ Touring Plan for My 17 y/o Boys...

[lorilclevelandrn]

Hi there,

We have been a Disney family since having children. Our boys are now 17 and we have a 4 y/o daughter. The boys have informed me they would like to go to Universal for 2 days while we take little one to Disney. We leave on 6/5. Anyone out there who would like to help me come up w/ a “tentative” game plan to tackle the parks w/out Mom and Dad? They are very mature for their age and oldest will turn 18 on trip. I just don’t have time to read and research the best park strategy while working 12 hour shifts for next 3 days and on call night before we depart.

Thank U to anyone in advance! Also, do u recommend I purchase Express Pass?

Have a blessed day!

 

[macraven]

I suggest you buy the EP for them for at least one day

Less line waiting for the newbies
Next day they will know the park layout better

Pull up the website and see where rides, rest rooms, first aide, eateries are located in both parks

This will help your teens get an idea of locations for needed places while at UO

 

[skylock]

What type of plans do you think they need?

Give them tickets, (to ride the HP train they will need park to park tickets). They can put the Universal app on their phones (probably won't need really).

Give them some money to eat with and tell them where to be when it is time to pick them up. (city walk hub area?)

Express pass would be nice, but is pricey.

 

[Disxuni]

I do not know if you're wanting to stay on property and spend the money, but that would be an option to stay at one of the resorts with unlimted EP (Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort, or Portofino Bay Hotel). You'd technically only have to stay one day at the resort in order to get unlimited EP for both days, as you get it starting check in day and the check out day (even though you checked out you get it the whole day). They can enjoy the perks of early entry on the first day too if guys get there early enough.

Also, while they're responsible I'm sure, it might be nice knowing (or at least will be more convenient) that they're on property already. That way all they have to do is walk out the room and walk, ride a bus, or get on the boat to the parks (which would only be a few minutes away), where as you two can do your own thing, or be the ones to make the drive to Disney with the little one, which still isn't too far off.

That way they'll definitely have time to get their fill of Universal in two days and figuring things out.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

We went a few years ago with our older boys, we split up in the park cause our little kids did not want to ride any adventure rides. I'm sure they can figure it all out its not like Disney where you need fast passes set up months ahead of time. they open at 9 but there's a long walk to the gate through city walk. so if they got there earlier it would be fine. The express passes are nice but it depends on the day you go if you need them. I have been there on days where it would have been a waste. So check out a crowd calendar online and it should give you an idea. I would have your boys do all the leg work looking stuff up.
https://touringplans.com/universal-orlando/dining/menus for prices to see how much they need.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

I'd probably make sure they had tickets and money and just let them go. You don't need a touring plan to do Universal, other than to plan out if you want to do the HP stuff at park open or park close. We try to do the HP stuff after dinner on Sat / Sun (less crowded time bc it's frequently a travel day), and do the rest of the stuff whenever. We did decide up front which places we wanted to eat for sure (Three Broomsticks, Simpsons food court, Cowfish) and what snacks we really wanted (a Big Pink, VooDoo Donuts to take back to the condo), and that was about it.

I bet they have a blast.

 

[lorilclevelandrn]

Thank everyone for their advice. Do u have to have the Park-Park ticket to ride train? I’m thinking yes. Definitely considering HR hotel. I think I’ll feel much better knowing they have access to a room if needed. I have now turned over park planning to them so they can become familiar w/ park before they set off on their adventure.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

Thank everyone for their advice. Do u have to have the Park-Park ticket to ride train? I’m thinking yes. Definitely considering HR hotel. I think I’ll feel much better knowing they have access to a room if needed. I have now turned over park planning to them so they can become familiar w/ park before they set off on their adventure.

Yes you do have to have park to park to ride the train, todays prices are buy 2 days get three free
groupon has a great price of 220. for 5days.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Thank everyone for their advice. Do u have to have the Park-Park ticket to ride train? I’m thinking yes.

The train does require park to park, and tbh, it's what we did even without the Hogwarts Express. It's just nice to be able to change parks if one is more crowded than the other. You can check that on the Universal App; it has wait times right there for you.

 

[lorilclevelandrn]

@CindyLooWho...

Thank U for food recommendation! Great idea visiting HP on travel day afternoons!!

 

[CPanther95]

Knowing the parks, and thinking back to when I was 18 - I'd say give them tickets, money and don't wait up. They won't really need a plan.