Newbie needs help!!! at Univ for only part of a day (on a cruise) w/ lvl 10 crowds!

[gumbo1009]

We're looking at our Universal visit primarily as a way to get off the cruise ship, stretch our legs, and enjoy some family time. One adult (40s), two Seniors (70s), and a child (age 9).

Crazy, but we will arrive late in the day on a crowd 10 day (12/22) - we will probably only be there for about 6 hours, from about 2-8pm. One concern is that (on a crowd 10 day) they might close the parks. QUESTION1 - is there a website that will warn me if they close the park? [Forewarned=forearmed]

Goal #1 - My mother would like to see Harry Potter "stuff" and wander around. Goal #2 - I would like to hit 3-4 rides with my child (they don't have to be new rides, since they will ALL be "new" to us).

If the parks are NOT closed to new arrivals, then QUESTION2 - which park has (1) a better Harry Potter setup for "wandering," and (2) rides that have shorter lines and/or single rider lines (my child particularly enjoys roller coasters).

My child and I are experienced with WDW but we have no clue about Universal!!! Any help/guidance/advice would be MOST welcome!!!

 

[johde]

First off, while Touringplans.com may list it a "10" day express pass prices are not at there peak. So, I don't think it's going to be at he insane level that day. I don't think you'll need to worry about the park closing to capacity. What Tickets are you planning on getting? I am torn on which park to recommend. A park to park ticket would probably be best but that's extra money on such a short visit. My 2 park "best of the best" with reasonable lines plan you be. If you and your daughter are willing to ride separately, I've noted the rides with Single Rider Lines.

USF
Revenge of the Mummy - Dark Ride/Coaster (Single Rider Line)
E.T. - Dark Ride / Whole family can enjoy.
Men in Black - Interactive Dark Ride (Single Rider Line) Spinning may be much for grandparents.
Diagon Alley - Wander Around possibly do Olivanders Plan on leaving about 4:15-4:30

Take Hogwarts Express to IOA
Everyone take Castle Tour of Hogwarts then you and Daughter Single Rider Forbidden Journey (only ride I'm going to highly suggest Single Rider) Ride may be too intense for Grandparents
Dinner at Three Broomsticks (could save for later)
Circle Lagoon to through Jurassic Park and Toon Laggon to Marvil and Spiderman (Single Rider) May be too intense for grandparents
Cat in the Hat. fine for everyone.

If Time if up exit from IOA otherwise
Return to WWOHP and take return Hogwarts Express trip to USF. (trip is different in each direction)

 

[gumbo1009]

What Tickets are you planning on getting? I am torn on which park to recommend. A park to park ticket would probably be best but that's extra money on such a short visit. My 2 park "best of the best" with reasonable lines plan you be. If you and your daughter are willing to ride separately, I've noted the rides with Single Rider Lines.

Thanks! The Grandparents are footing the bill for this ENTIRE trip, so I am thinking we may pick one park (and my HOPE of 6 hours may even turn into 5 hours, depending on how long it takes the cruise ship folks to load us onto buses).

Based on what you summarized, sounds like there are potential rides for DD and I at both parks (thanks to our recent trip to WDW, she is now an old pro at single rider lines, even waiting on line without me while I wait in the gift shop).

Perhaps I will show my Mom descriptions of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and see which one interests her more... then we can pick the park based on that??

I am SO happy to hear that a park closing is unlikely that day (would be a bummer to get off the bus only to be turned away).

Thanks again!!!

 

[acpalmer]

I would make sure to check height restrictions for the big coasters. A 9 year old might be tall enough for all of them, but also might not be, so in order to avoid any disappointments/surprises you'll want to make sure to do that. Several of the Universal height restrictions are taller than Disney's.

 

[atricks]

We're looking at our Universal visit primarily as a way to get off the cruise ship, stretch our legs, and enjoy some family time. One adult (40s), two Seniors (70s), and a child (age 9).

Crazy, but we will arrive late in the day on a crowd 10 day (12/22) - we will probably only be there for about 6 hours, from about 2-8pm. One concern is that (on a crowd 10 day) they might close the parks. QUESTION1 - is there a website that will warn me if they close the park? [Forewarned=forearmed]

Goal #1 - My mother would like to see Harry Potter "stuff" and wander around. Goal #2 - I would like to hit 3-4 rides with my child (they don't have to be new rides, since they will ALL be "new" to us).

If the parks are NOT closed to new arrivals, then QUESTION2 - which park has (1) a better Harry Potter setup for "wandering," and (2) rides that have shorter lines and/or single rider lines (my child particularly enjoys roller coasters).

My child and I are experienced with WDW but we have no clue about Universal!!! Any help/guidance/advice would be MOST welcome!!!

Before Christmas shouldn't be as bad as the week between Christmas and New Years. With Diagon open, level 9-10 crowds are pretty probable. They may be using the timed ticket system for entering the Diagon area that day (actually pretty likely those two weeks) The Studios park has considerably larger capacity than Islands of Adventure, so you should be ok there. Even if it does reach capacity they won't close it the entire day (only stop people from entering until enough people have left the park)

 

[gumbo1009]

I would make sure to check height restrictions for the big coasters. A 9 year old might be tall enough for all of them, but also might not be, so in order to avoid any disappointments/surprises you'll want to make sure to do that. Several of the Universal height restrictions are taller than Disney's.

Thanks for the heads up! I will definitely make a listing of what she doesn't qualify for.

 

[gumbo1009]

The Studios park has considerably larger capacity than Islands of Adventure, so you should be ok there.

Thanks, that's good to know.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for the heads up! I will definitely make a listing of what she doesn't qualify for.

And so you know, if she doesn't make the height for something, she can still go into the line with you if you want to ride it. She just exits just before or at the seating area and waits for you at the exit or giftshop.

Is there ANY chance you could just get off the ship on your own and zoom over in a rental car? A bit scary on the way back to the ship, but it would probably get you there quicker.

 

[gumbo1009]

Is there ANY chance you could just get off the ship on your own and zoom over in a rental car? A bit scary on the way back to the ship, but it would probably get you there quicker.

Unfortunately my parents would not be comfortable with that - my daughter and I have done things on our own on a prior cruise, but my parents would be way too nervous. I'm OK with having less time (especially since it's on THEIR dime).

Perhaps my daughter and I will just have to head back for a Summer visit (just the 2 of us) in a couple years... maybe we'll get back down when WDW has the Avatar section up and running and we can combine our visit with a Universal stay (especially since her height may be an issue on a couple of rides... although she may squeak by in sneakers...)

Thanks everyone!

 

[johde]

Thanks for the heads up! I will definitely make a listing of what she doesn't qualify for.

The list of troubling rides is pretty short though.
Hulk and Dragon Challenge - 54"
Dr Doom. 52"
Rip Ride Rocket 51"
Revenge of the Mummy 48"

Everything else is 44" or under.

 

[gumbo1009]

The list of troubling rides is pretty short though.
Hulk and Dragon Challenge - 54"
Dr Doom. 52"
Rip Ride Rocket 51"
Revenge of the Mummy 48"

Everything else is 44" or under.

Oh, then we're all good!! She's over 55" without shoes, so it looks like height won't be an issue. (Now we just have to see whether mommy has the guts to go on all the roller coasters ).

Thanks again to all the Disers! You all are such a wonderful resource!!

 

[johde]

Oh, then we're all good!! She's over 55" without shoes, so it looks like height won't be an issue. (Now we just have to see whether mommy has the guts to go on all the roller coasters ).

If you can handle TOT, Dr. Doom should be no trouble. If you can handle BTMRR and Everest the Mummy should be fine (it does have a launch though). Hulk, Dragon Challenge, and Rip Ride Rocket are 4 coasters bigger than anything at Disney. All of them but Dragon Challenge though have Single Rider Lines.

All that being said, unless you're daughter's a thrill ride fanatic, I'd drop Rip Ride Rocket, Hulk, and Dr. Doom off of your "A" list on such a short trip. There are better experiences in the park for your limited time (although arguably Hulk is the best Coaster)

 

[gumbo1009]

All that being said, unless you're daughter's a thrill ride fanatic, I'd drop Rip Ride Rocket, Hulk, and Dr. Doom off of your "A" list on such a short trip.

Well, her only coasters to date are from Disney - she would say her favorite rides at WDW are the Rock-n-Roll Coaster and Everest.

Perhaps I will research the Universal coasters and see if I can rank them from tame-to-severe so she can take a "stepwise" approach...

I do remember when she was 5 yrs old and we visited Great Adventure in NJ; she stared up at the big coasters and declared she wanted to go on them! (Thankfully, for me anyway, she was too short when she was 5! )

 

[lazer]

Well, her only coasters to date are from Disney - she would say her favorite rides at WDW are the Rock-n-Roll Coaster and Everest. Perhaps I will research the Universal coasters and see if I can rank them from tame-to-severe so she can take a "stepwise" approach... I do remember when she was 5 yrs old and we visited Great Adventure in NJ; she stared up at the big coasters and declared she wanted to go on them! (Thankfully, for me anyway, she was too short when she was 5! )

Those are my favorites too, I think Hulk is one of the best coasters I've ever been on. It's a not miss for me

 

[johde]

Those are my favorites too, I think Hulk is one of the best coasters I've ever been on. It's a not miss for me

I've been on over 100 coaster and although I normally prefer non-looping and even wooden coasters I agree Hulk is a great Coaster.

Well, her only coasters to date are from Disney - she would say her favorite rides at WDW are the Rock-n-Roll Coaster and Everest.

Perhaps I will research the Universal coasters and see if I can rank them from tame-to-severe so she can take a "stepwise" approach...

I do remember when she was 5 yrs old and we visited Great Adventure in NJ; she stared up at the big coasters and declared she wanted to go on them! (Thankfully, for me anyway, she was too short when she was 5! )

Comparing the Big coaster at Universal to Great Adventure, The 2 coasters of Dragon Challenge are line 2 intertwined Batman the ride. Hulk is most like Bizarro but with sit down instead of floorless trains and an uphill launch at the beginning, but the size and numbers of inversions are similar. Rip Ride Rocket is smaller than Nitro but has a vertical lift hill.

If you Daughter likes Rock'n' Roller Coaster, Everything below those should be fine. I'm not sure what order I'd "step wise" approach the big 3. They are all a good sized jump from a Disney coaster and each one has it's own area where it's the "most extreme" of the bunch.

 

[Asnell]

With only one day and a preference for one park, I'd recommend IOA for twol reasons:

-Hogsmeade has Hogwarts, and I think that's the seminal attraction any HP fan really has to see.
-Since DA is newer, Hogsmeade and IOA have a better chance of being less crowded.