Newbie needs HELP?????????

[englishrose47]

I am researching/ planning a trip for my DD next year !!!I have heard some stuff that I want to find out for sure from you Universal experts !!
1. What can you take into the park ?
2. Do you have to rent a locker at each ride and lock up cameras etc ?
3. What rides for an 8 year old that doesn't do coasters etc ?
4. I s the meal deal worth it ?
5.If renting a car some restaurant of sight ideas please !!!
6. What grocery store is reasonablw en route from MCO to Universal ??
7. What are the shuttles and water taxis like ?

My daughter wants to stay onsite and I have been looking at The Poyal Pacific . It looks great !!!! I am sure they would eat 1 meal in the park prolly lunch but with a car could go off site for supper !!
Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated !!!

 

[Claire-Bear]

I can only answer a couple since I don't stay at hotels there

1. Everything apart from proper food (although you can take snacks) and proper drinks (you can take bottled water though). Sometime they check your bags at entry.

2. You only need to locker up your items for thrill rides i.e. Hulk, Dragon Challenge, Forbidden Journey etc. where things have the possibility of falling out, and they offer free locker for your ride (located next to the rides they apply to along with in the Port of Entry). If you prefer, you can rent a locker for a day for around $10.

3. Universal Studios - all rides apart from Rip Ride Rockit and potentially the Mummy.
Islands of Adventure - all rides aside from Hulk and Dragon Challenge (there's Flight of Hippogriff a tame coaster and if they don't mind water drops and are tall enough, there's Jurassic Park and Dudley Do Right's).
Apart from that there's all the shows.

4. Unless you're planning to eat a good couples of meals at the park, you could just buy a meal and bring snacks with you. I'm going to get one of the refill mugs, 6.99 for .65 refills as often as you like without expiring (so can be used as many days as you like).

 

[englishrose47]

I can only answer a couple since I don't stay at hotels there

1. Everything apart from proper food (although you can take snacks) and proper drinks (you can take bottled water though). Sometime they check your bags at entry.

2. You only need to locker up your items for thrill rides i.e. Hulk, Dragon Challenge, Forbidden Journey etc. where things have the possibility of falling out, and they offer free locker for your ride (located next to the rides they apply to along with in the Port of Entry). If you prefer, you can rent a locker for a day for around $10.

3. Universal Studios - all rides apart from Rip Ride Rockit and potentially the Mummy.
Islands of Adventure - all rides aside from Hulk and Dragon Challenge (there's Flight of Hippogriff a tame coaster and if they don't mind water drops and are tall enough, there's Jurassic Park and Dudley Do Right's).
Apart from that there's all the shows.

4. Unless you're planning to eat a good couples of meals at the park, you could just buy a meal and bring snacks with you. I'm going to get one of the refill mugs, 6.99 for .65 refills as often as you like without expiring (so can be used as many days as you like).

Thank you for the info on the $6.99 mugs with 65c refills that will save a bunch !!!
Can you do 1 park in 1 day?????

 

[Claire-Bear]

I like going for 3 days - 1 at IOA, 1 at US, and 1 to catch up on fave rides from both.
But 1 park can be done in one day, as I've done that before, as long as you get there really early and are prepared to stay really late

 

[rpbert1]

You could do a park in one day staying onsite.
Have never used shuttles , as we always have a car, the water taxis run regularly , but we usually walk from RPR its only 7 mins and a nice walk along the path way to Citywalk.
There are lots of ofsite options, especially if you have a car, as I'Drive is only a few minutes by car, our fav place where we would eat a few times when there is Bahama Breeze, they do not take ressies , but you can call ahead and put your name down and they tell you how long, then just turn up, saves waiting.
We eat at Citywalk and at RPR , the Bula Grille would be good for lunch at the pool, and The Islands is a lovely restaurant.
We never buy the meal deal, as we do not eat enough to justify the price, we do not usually do breakfast, maybe something at the pool and a late dinner .

 

[englishrose47]

You could do a park in one day staying onsite.
Have never used shuttles , as we always have a car, the water taxis run regularly , but we usually walk from RPR its only 7 mins and a nice walk along the path way to Citywalk.
There are lots of ofsite options, especially if you have a car, as I'Drive is only a few minutes by car, our fav place where we would eat a few times when there is Bahama Breeze, they do not take ressies , but you can call ahead and put your name down and they tell you how long, then just turn up, saves waiting.
We eat at Citywalk and at RPR , the Bula Grille would be good for lunch at the pool, and The Islands is a lovely restaurant.
We never buy the meal deal, as we do not eat enough to justify the price, we do not usually do breakfast, maybe something at the pool and a late dinner .

Thanks for all your help!!! I know Disney well and am used to the dining plan, looking at the prices at some of the restaurants is a littlewith 4 kids !!!!!!!!!
Where do you buy the refillable mugs for $6.99!!! ?? Also what sort if any counter trype service is at the resorts!!??? Boy I have a lot of ??????

 

[rpbert1]

You buy them at the parks all the Counter service and carts sell them, and you can bring them back and use them next year, we have been using ours for 3 years.
Not aware of any counter service at the resorts,but i found kids meals are good value at the restaurants,[maybe because eating out where we live can be expensive]and the Bula Grlle at RPR pool , the kids meal would probably do 2 as my DD could not finish hers.
A lot buy the styrofoam coolers ,and fill them with ice, keeps milk cool and they bring their own cereal and would have breakfast in the room, this saves them buying it, and money can go towards a nice dinner. Also we would usually get our cups flled with water at the carts , rather than buy soda, only so much soda you can drink, and the waters free.
Not sure , but if i remember kids eat free at Pastamore in Citywalk[or they did as DDs meal was not charged] might be 1 free kids meal with every adult meal,although i am sure someone will confirm this

 

[englishrose47]

You buy them at the parks all the Counter service and carts sell them, and you can bring them back and use them next year, we have been using ours for 3 years.
Not aware of any counter service at the resorts,but i found kids meals are good value at the restaurants,[maybe because eating out where we live can be expensive]and the Bula Grlle at RPR pool , the kids meal would probably do 2 as my DD could not finish hers.
A lot buy the styrofoam coolers ,and fill them with ice, keeps milk cool and they bring their own cereal and would have breakfast in the room, this saves them buying it, and money can go towards a nice dinner. Also we would usually get our cups flled with water at the carts , rather than buy soda, only so much soda you can drink, and the waters free.
Not sure , but if i remember kids eat free at Pastamore in Citywalk[or they did as DDs meal was not charged] might be 1 free kids meal with every adult meal,although i am sure someone will confirm this

Wow I just noticed you are from Ireland !!! I am really from England as my Dis name states !!!! Do you have to lock up the cups when you go on certain rides ????

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Can you really reuse cups year after year? Is it still the red one?
Wowzers that's going to save us $14 buying new ones, figured they'd change the design so you'd have to buy one each visit.

 

[englishrose47]

Can you really reuse cups year after year? Is it still the red one?
Wowzers that's going to save us $14 buying new ones, figured they'd change the design so you'd have to buy one each visit.

How are the Cows in Milton Keyes !!!!????

 

[englishrose47]

You are all being SOOOO helpful!!! If you need any Disney Tips I will be happy to help !!! That is my comfort zone !!!!

 

[rpbert1]

Yep, they are still the red ones
DW and DD modeling them [They hate me post pics of them ]

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

How are the Cows in Milton Keyes !!!!????

Concrete.
I'm suprised they haven't shown up on a roundabout yet though.

 

[xApril]

Wow I just noticed you are from Ireland !!! I am really from England as my Dis name states !!!! Do you have to lock up the cups when you go on certain rides ????

Since it's a loose article and has the potential of falling onto ride tracks, you would have to store in a locker.

 

[englishrose47]

Concrete.
I'm suprised they haven't shown up on a roundabout yet though.

My nephew lives near there and I remember them from many years ago!!! There is another poster on the Disney boards from Milton Keyes !!!!

 

[rpbert1]

You are all being SOOOO helpful!!! If you need any Disney Tips I will be happy to help !!! That is my comfort zone !!!!

Thanks englishrose47, we did Disney the first time we went, but DD prefers Universal, and the rides, as well as Seaworld and Busch, have tried to convince her to go to any of the Disney parks for a day, but when we get there she decides she does not want to go.

 

[englishrose47]

Since it's a loose article and has the potential of falling onto ride tracks, you would have to store in a locker.

Thanks !!! My daughter is really set on Universal next year !! I am a Disney Fanatic but told her I would get her as much info as I could !!!

 

[rpbert1]

Cups and bags need to be put in lockers on MIB- Hulk-Dr Doom- The Mummy-Dueling Dragons. Sure someone will post if there is others.

 

[englishrose47]

Cups and bags need to be put in lockers on MIB- Hulk-Dr Doom- The Mummy-Dueling Dragons. Sure someone will post if there is others.

It prolly wont be a problem as DD and DGS don't dothe Thrill rides but the Girls do !!!! I think one of the rides sounds something like Soarin' at Epcot , that is one I would like !! The Monster make up show sounds good too !! I would also like the raft ride I think!! I love Dinasaur at AK so would like that one I think!!!But coasters and drops are OUT for me !!!!

 

[Claire-Bear]

If you don't like coasters or drops, there's still plenty of rides and shows for you there's also a mild coaster you may like - Flight of the Hippogriff (was Flight of the Unicorn).

You will have the new Harry Potter to look forward to!
Here's the new brochure: http://www.universalorlandovacations.com/pdf/2010_UNI_brochure.PDF

Also, just to add, on Popeye and Bluto's white water rafting, they allow you to put backpacks etc. in a sealed plastic container in the centre of each raft, so you don't need to worry about things getting wet