New to Universal. Wow. Questions

[Piglet99645]

OK forgive me in advance please if questions are dumb. I'm an experienced WDW and DL traveler, but have never been to Universal.

Harry Potter requires me to branch out.

We are considering a 10 day trip to Orlando. I plan to get 8 day tickets to Disney, staying on property at Disney for teh whole 10 days, and planned to work in one day at Universal to visit WWoHP and one day to the Kennedy Space, a must-do for my 12yo boy. (Coming all the way from Alaska so have to squeeze things in).

Now that I know there are two parks at Universal...... I'm wondering if I will be sorry not to hit them both. Harry Potter is the big draw for us....and I definitely want to get there early before the lines get long, and then be there in the evening.

Can someone here compare the two Universal parks to the DL/California Adventures layout? Similar? Close together, or crazy far apart?

Debating between just buying one park for one day (doing WWoHP and whatever else is there), vs. buying the Universal equivalent of a "parkhopper" for the day. I'm thinking that driving to Universal for two days out of my 10 day vacation might defeat the purpose of staying "on property" at Disney, not having to park and worry about a car, etc.

Sorry for the elementary questions. If somebody can explain Universal Orlando in "Disneyland" language, that would be helpful.

Thanks!

P.

 

[couturelover]

I can't do a DCA/DL comparison for you, as I have never been. However, the distance between IOA and USO is quite small. They are about 5 minutes from one to the other at a relatively medium pace. So, you do not have to get out and drive to go from one to the other! In fact, you could hop between the two as much as you want.

As far lines and dealing with WWOHP, many of the more experience people who are on this board will tell you that the Express Pass may be worth purchasing. This totally depends on the time of year on whether it is necessary or not. Also, they will tell you to NOT purchase them until the day of! Please note that they are not valid for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, but you can use them on Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge.

I hope I helped a little!!

 

[Piglet99645]

I hope I helped a little!!

Yes, thank you!

Also I see this "HHN" thing is happening, which sounds like it would not be of interest to my party. I assume it goes through the end of October. (We are looking at Oct. 19-29) and I keep seeing references to the park closing at 5:30, but it appears to be open until 7 or 8 pm every day. So I am confused by that as well.

Trying to figure out what day would be best if only going to Universal once during my time frame. Sundays and Tuesday, WEdnesday, Thursday all seem to get thumbs up in various threads. Can anyone shed light on my specific week?

Thanks so much. I know how annoying it is to have someone totally clueless answering questions on the boards.......

ASKING questions I meant, not answering. LOL

 

[damo]

When are you going? The parks might not be open in the evening and that will really not give you enough time to tour both parks properly.

 

[Piglet99645]

When are you going? The parks might not be open in the evening and that will really not give you enough time to tour both parks properly.

Tentatively planning Orlando October 19-29. One day at Universal. The official calendar has it open 9-8 or 9-7 each day. Is it ever open later?

 

[damo]

Tentatively planning Orlando October 19-29. One day at Universal. The official calendar has it open 9-8 or 9-7 each day. Is it ever open later?

It is open later in high times like Spring Break, Christmas, Easter and Summertime.

I think 2 days are the way to go.

Costco sells a 3 day, park to park ticket that is good for 3 years. That might be a solution for you.

IOA and The Studios are a tad further apart than DL and DCA but not much.

 

[Piglet99645]

It is open later in high times like Spring Break, Christmas, Easter and Summertime.

I think 2 days are the way to go.

Costco sells a 3 day, park to park ticket that is good for 3 years. That might be a solution for you.

IOA and The Studios are a tad further apart than DL and DCA but not much.

Thanks!

I'll check out that Costco option. That may solve a few things.... then we can decide while we are there if we "need" a second day on this trip.

 

[macraven]

probably go on a monday or tuesday as there will be no hhn those nights at the studios.

because of that, there is a chance of less crowds those 2 days.

if it were me, i would chose tuesday for your day in the parks.

 

[Metro West]

Also I see this "HHN" thing is happening, which sounds like it would not be of interest to my party. I assume it goes through the end of October. (We are looking at Oct. 19-29) and I keep seeing references to the park closing at 5:30, but it appears to be open until 7 or 8 pm every day. So I am confused by that as well.

Just to be clear...IOA is open until until 7 or 8pm in October but the Studios closes at 5pm on nights when HHN is staged.

 

[Piglet99645]

Thank you for that clarification.

I'm so excited to go to Universal for the first time!

 

[Batesl49]

Even if you are able to do both parks in one day, you will want to repeat WWHP again. There is no doubt in my mind that everything you will experience will be worth going back another day. WWHP has so much to see, hear, and do that you would be depriving yourselves some great/wonderful memories.

For example:
Forbidden Journey (FB), has 3 ways to experience it, one is the tour of the castle and the ride, or take the castle tour with no ride so you can just take your time and see all the things you saw in the movies come to life for you (this is a seperate line), and the last is skip the castle tour and go right to the ride.

Ollivanders is such a cool experience, but always has a line, but you really should see it and experience it.

Sitting in the Owlery is the best way to soak up the attmosphere of Hogsmeade and they have the soundtrack playing, look into the rafters to see the owls.

Eating at the Three Broomsticks and having a butterbeer.

Check out the Ladies room across from the Owlery, you will find a fun surprise

Ride the Hippogriffe ride at night and see all of Hogsmeade and the castle with all the lights and the wonders you will behold

See the Triwizard Spirit Rally and Hogwarts Frog Choir

Not to mention all the shops and the Hogwarts express and it's conductor, the dragon ride and the Weasley's car at the whopping willow.

Ok, I have spouted off enough. I just would hate for you to come all the way from Alaska and leave disppointed because you did not really experience WWHP.

3rd trip this Nov/Dec 2012 going for 11 days.

 

[Piglet99645]

Even if you are able to do both parks in one day, you will want to repeat WWHP again. There is no doubt in my mind that everything you will experience will be worth going back another day. WWHP has so much to see, hear, and do that you would be depriving yourselves some great/wonderful memories.

For example:
Forbidden Journey (FB), has 3 ways to experience it, one is the tour of the castle and the ride, or take the castle tour with no ride so you can just take your time and see all the things you saw in the movies come to life for you (this is a seperate line), and the last is skip the castle tour and go right to the ride.

Ollivanders is such a cool experience, but always has a line, but you really should see it and experience it.

Sitting in the Owlery is the best way to soak up the attmosphere of Hogsmeade and they have the soundtrack playing, look into the rafters to see the owls.

Eating at the Three Broomsticks and having a butterbeer.

Check out the Ladies room across from the Owlery, you will find a fun surprise

Ride the Hippogriffe ride at night and see all of Hogsmeade and the castle with all the lights and the wonders you will behold

See the Triwizard Spirit Rally and Hogwarts Frog Choir

Not to mention all the shops and the Hogwarts express and it's conductor, the dragon ride and the Weasley's car at the whopping willow.

Ok, I have spouted off enough. I just would hate for you to come all the way from Alaska and leave disppointed because you did not really experience WWHP.

3rd trip this Nov/Dec 2012 going for 11 days.

Thank you! YOu have persuaded me to do two days. We are abandoning the Kennedy Center this trip....... so that makes room.

Speaking of the Forbidden Journey....... my daughter is only about 43 inches tall. ARe there any variations of this ride that she can do?

 

[RMulieri]

Thank you! YOu have persuaded me to do two days. We are abandoning the Kennedy Center this trip....... so that makes room.

Speaking of the Forbidden Journey....... my daughter is only about 43 inches tall. ARe there any variations of this ride that she can do?

She can walk thru the castle tour.But she has to be 48inches tall to ride , so there is no varaition of the ride she can do

 

[Piglet99645]

She can walk thru the castle tour.But she has to be 48inches tall to ride , so there is no varaition of the ride she can do

I get it now. The three variations were not all ride variations. I am slow this morning!

 

[Maytrix]

Do the two days at the end and stay onsite. It's so worth it for express and you will enjoy being able to walk back and forth to the hotel when you want rather than having to drive each day.

Only downside is your trip being during HHN, rates may not be as good as they are other times. Check the Annual pass rate - it might be worth getting one just for the discount.

And as far as comparing Universal to Disney? It's a difficult comparison. I haven't been to Disney in years. We used to do both each trip, but Disney just wasn't as enjoyable. Plenty of rides and attractions I like, but they were all so far spread out I could spend a day and maybe do 6 things. Way too much time spent waiting or going between rides/attractions at Disney. Haven't been to either in about 3 years and while I wouldn't mind a few days at Disney, we only take 2-3 days in Orlando and that means Universal for the best bang for the buck and IMO the most fun

 

[Piglet99645]

Do the two days at the end and stay onsite. It's so worth it for express and you will enjoy being able to walk back and forth to the hotel when you want rather than having to drive each day.

Seriously considering doing this for the last 4 days of our trip.

So just so I don't screw this up.... I can get discounted tickets thru my husband's work.

If I book the hotel separately, and get my discounted tickets, I still get the early entry because we are staying on site. Right?

So I don't need to purchase this "express pass" I'm seeing as an add-on.?

 

[Maytrix]

Correct, staying onsite is what gets you early access.

 

[Piglet99645]

Correct, staying onsite is what gets you early access.

Thanks very much for your quick answer!