Oh No! Another Park Gameplan Post!

[Tallen234]

Hi All,

We are going to be at Universal Orlando next week for a family vacation. We are a veteran Disney family, but have never been to Universal Orlando (actually I lied, I've went there about 40 year ago!). We did have a trip to Universal Hollywood about 4-5 years ago. Our kids are 10 and 12, they both like rollercoasters and Harry Potter. We are staying “off campus” because my wife has a conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek. We bought our tickets through Dreams Unlimited, so we have early access. We are going for two days and have both Park to Park as well as the Universal Express Unlimited tickets as well. We will be going to the park on Wednesday and Thursday. SO….with that preamble, I am trying to get a game plan together. I was thinking:

Take a Lyft/Uber to the Park (10-15 min trip to Park) - Get tickets at Kiosk, line up

Wednesday (am) - , 1. Hagrid’s early entry “rope drop”

2. Explore Hogsmeade, (Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, etc.).

3. Lunch reservations at Mythos (made the reservation before thinking about a plan).

4. Hogwarts Express to Universal Studios

Wednesday (pm)
1. Explore Diagon Alley (Escape from Gringotts, The Fountain of Fair Fortune for butter beer).

2. San Francisco – snack at Pastry Company, watch Drum guys

3. New York – Jimmy Fallon, Race through New York, cross fingers for Mummy

4. Production Central (Despicable Me, Hollywood Rip Ride, TRANSFORMERS)

5. Hollywood – (explore – Bourne Stuntacular show, make up show(?)

6. Springfield - The Simpsons Ride,

7. World Expo – Men in Black

DINNER- Leaky Cauldron?

Thursday (am) 1. Early Entry – VelociCoaster, Explore Jurassic Park

2. Skull Island - Kong

3. Toon Lagoon (see if Kids want to do this)

4. Marvel – (The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Storm Force Accelatron, Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

5. LUNCH -maybe before Marvel Depending on Time, Thunder Falls? Go to City walk?

6. Seuss Landing

7. Lost Continent

8. Dinner – Three Broomsticks?

So, other than critiquing my plan, I do have a couple of questions:
1. If we take a LYFT/UBER from the hotel to the park, where should I have them drop us off? How much time should I allow to get tickets in the Kiosk and line up?
2. Is it worthwhile to attempt to leave the park to hit City Walk for Lunch/Dinner?

I know I will probably think of scores of other questions after I hit "post", but thanks in advance for any guidance or advice!

 

[AJA]

That reads like “Disney” planning.

Spending mornings and late evenings in the Wizarding World is the best plan when the parks are busy.

After you tour Harry Potter its a good idea to know what rides you want to make a priority. Use the Universal app to help with rides wait times….then just go with the flow.

If you have Express you really don’t need much of a plan.

I would not go by a set schedule. If Simpsons has a hour wait and Men in Black is just 20 mins then ride it first, the Express lane should be moving quickly, don’t worry about a schedule.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Note that the water rides in Toon Lagoon will leave you soaked. Not just wet, but legit soaked. If you aren't planning on bringing a change of clothes, just know that you will have wet underwear until you can air dry. This can be especially problematic if you are eating while still wet... Don't get me wrong, these 2 rides are super fun - as long as you are properly understanding that it isn't a "maybe I'll get a little wet" type deal. Jurassic Park River Adventure is in the "somewhat wet, but not soaked" category, so you can ride that one at your leisure.

I'd probably recommend the lunch at CityWalk on Thursday to give a bit more of a break. Or plan on a solid hour or so lunch break. Thunder Falls & 3 Broomsticks are both tasty BBQ but pretty much the same menu, so I probably wouldn't opt to do them both the same day. Thunder Falls is faster & less crowded. Once you're near the front of the parks, it's quite a quick walk to most of CityWalk. I find it totally worth exiting for lunch. Especially if it coincides with switching between parks.

If it's feasible, consider hopping in line for Hagrids again at night - it is even better in the dark!

 

[UOAP-Naples]

Keep in mind the weather. Plan to ride the outdoor rides in the morning or at night as much as possible because of afternoon storms. Studios has 3 rides that close for inclement weather. IOA has 10 or 11.

Maybe focus on IOA on day 1 in case there is inclement weather during your trip. You can always leave for Studios if the weather gets bad. That would give you a chance to try again at IOA on day 2 and hope for better weather. If you plan everything at IOA on day 2 and the weather is bad all day, you'll end up back at Studios for most of both days.

You should have time to ride everything that you want with express for 2 days. We always ride things multiple times when we have express pass. It's easy once you've put everything in the locker already. We've done things like: Hulk, Storm Force, Hulk, Doom, Spiderman, Doom in about an hour with express.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I would reccomend the food near Simpsons. They have a Taco Truck that is amazing, and other options nearby as well. The banana icees near Kong are fantastic.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Oh also, I see neither Florean Fortescue's ice cream nor the Lard Lad (Springfield area) donut sundae on your itinerary.... Or maybe they're included in exploring

 

[UOAP-Naples]

Oh also, I see neither Florean Fortescue's ice cream nor the Lard Lad (Springfield area) donut sundae on your itinerary.... Or maybe they're included in exploring

Harry Potter’s Strawberry, Peanut Butter, Chocolate sundae is my favorite. Our nephew is convinced that the butterbeer soft-serve ice cream is the best food he’s ever tasted in his life.

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

A tip while in Diagon Alley, although the line for the Hoppin' Pot usually moves fairly quickly, you can go around the corner across from the restrooms and get butterbeer at the Fountain of Faire Fortune, where it's air conditioned.

 

[Tallen234]

Oh also, I see neither Florean Fortescue's ice cream nor the Lard Lad (Springfield area) donut sundae on your itinerary.... Or maybe they're included in exploring

This is the exact content I’m looking for! Added to the list!

 

[nolatravelgirl]

it would have been cheaper to buy a deluxe hotel for one night which would have garnered you two days of Express Pass Unlimited rather than pay for it for two days times 4 people. You wouldn't even have to stay in the room or you could use it as a place to change clothes after being soaked in Toon Lagoon.

 

[Tallen234]

it would have been cheaper to buy a deluxe hotel for one night which would have garnered you two days of Express Pass Unlimited rather than pay for it for two days times 4 people. You wouldn't even have to stay in the room or you could use it as a place to change clothes after being soaked in Toon Lagoon.

Shoot. I priced out two nights because I thought you needed two nights to get two days of Express Pass. Oh well....

 

[UOAP-Naples]

Shoot. I priced out two nights because I thought you needed two nights to get two days of Express Pass. Oh well....

The deluxe hotels give you express pass for checkin and checkout days. You basically get a free day of express at the end of your stay. Now you know for next time.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Oh also, I see neither Florean Fortescue's ice cream nor the Lard Lad (Springfield area) donut sundae on your itinerary.... Or maybe they're included in exploring

I agree with you on Florean Fortescue's ice cream. It is amazing. I have never had the Lard Lad donut.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I agree with you on Florean Fortescue's ice cream. It is amazing. I have never had the Lard Lad donut.

The donut sundae is half a donut, soft serve, the other half of the donut, & toppings. Exquisitely simple & delicious. My only complaint is that it is in the same park as Floreans, creating tough decisions.

 

[Skywalker3]

Sounds like a great plan, kinda busy/packed in on the Universal afternoon/evening. While express will get you through lines a LOT faster, some rides still may take a while to load. In the past, we've had to wait a bit at Rip Ride Rocket, and the Dr Seuss trolley.

Agree with all the previous posters: toon lagoon rides like Bilge rat barges, and Ripsaw falls, will get you soaked, probably all the way soaked. Bluto's is like a water park ride. They are super fun, but plan accordingly.

Also may need time for meet/greets/pictures if y'all do any of those, At random times, Marvel characters show up in IoA, and in Universal might see Doc brown, beetlejuice, Scooby and the Gang, and others. Oh yeah, MUST get ice cream at Florian's, and as much butter beer in all the various ways as possible!

Plan for weather issues. One day when we were there in March, strong rainstorm in the afternoon , shut down all outdoor rides for a bit. And it'll be HOT as Hades next week. Also have alternate rope drop plans. If Hagrids is down for an extended period, just have an idea/plan on what to do instead. And not everything is open during EE. Only Hagrids, Hogsmeade, FJ, Hippogriff,Ollivanders, and VC. If you rope drop VC, you'll likely be on /off quickly. Should have time for a second ride, or position self where you want to head next. Maybe start looking at the app/tracking wait times, just to get an idea of the trends.

A few queues may be worth stand by lines if not too long. MiB is fun (although we're also good with single rider there, and get multiple rides. LOVE MiB!) Gringotts is good, Forbidden Journey. Spider man is good both queues, regular and Express. Not sure what all they refurbed on Mummy. Hope it's open when you go.

DH and kids enjoyed Thunder Falls on the last trip. We have also left to eat on CW, and would be a good escape from the heat, but if time is limited, just stick w in park eating.
Have an awesome time!!! lots of great info/threads here on the Forums. We hadn't been for a few years, before our last trip in Oct, and learned so much here.

 

[ClapYourHands]

I just want to make sure you know that the Hogwarts Express is a different storyline in each direction. I don’t know if your family cares enough about HP for this to make a difference, but thought I’d mention it. And the Kings Cross station is well themed with an optical illusion that allows you to watch people “disappear” through the wall at platform 9 3/4.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I guess OP had a great trip.
Hope he returns with his trip report update soon!
In the meantime I plan to go next week and will def try ButterBeer Ice cream and the Taco Truck and the Kong Banana Icee!
Thanks!

 

[MickeyT]

I guess OP had a great trip.
Hope he returns with his trip report update soon!
In the meantime I plan to go next week and will def try ButterBeer Ice cream and the Taco Truck and the Kong Banana Icee!
Thanks!

If not I thank you. We're veteran WDW travelers going for a one day, test the waters, trip later this month.
Great info.