Park Question

[Seewhatimesdone]

My best friend and I will be coming down to Florirda in January and while we'll be staying on Disney property I love Universal and really want to make a stop there. My best friend has never been to Florida so I want her to see everything! I have usually been able to do the Universal park in about a half day and then I go to Citywalk or IoA. But with Dueling Dragons down now and it being January (i'm assuming crowds will be a lot lower) i'm thinking maybe we can fit both parks into one day. What do you guys think?

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Also, do you have any food recommendations for the parks and Citywalk? I really like Universal but i'm no expert

 

[sportzboy698]

Crowds will most definetly be at a low. If you want to see both parks, it's going to be tough. They typically close at 6 during that time of the season. But, it can be done. First, buy an Express pass. It will keep you away from every long line. Secondly, start at Islands of Adventure first (if it closes earlier or at the same time as Universal). Hit up the main attractions in the front (hulk, spiderman), then proceed counter-clockwise through Seuss Landing. After getting through the park (you should be out no later than 1:30, or 2), walk right over to Universal and proceed counter-clockwise there, starting with Terminator.

In terms of restaurants, there are plenty of great eateries on CityWalk. In fact, it has my favorite restaurant located there, Emiril's. It's expensive but most definetly worth it. NBA City is great for a quick bite and servicable for dinner. Hard Rock and Margaritaville are ideal restaurants for theme and entrees. I've never been there, but many complain about Bubba Gump, so stay away from there. Besides that, you guys are golden!

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Crowds will most definetly be at a low. If you want to see both parks, it's going to be tough. They typically close at 6 during that time of the season. But, it can be done. First, buy an Express pass. It will keep you away from every long line. Secondly, start at Islands of Adventure first (if it closes earlier or at the same time as Universal). Hit up the main attractions in the front (hulk, spiderman), then proceed counter-clockwise through Seuss Landing. After getting through the park (you should be out no later than 1:30, or 2), walk right over to Universal and proceed counter-clockwise there, starting with Terminator.

In terms of restaurants, there are plenty of great eateries on CityWalk. In fact, it has my favorite restaurant located there, Emiril's. It's expensive but most definetly worth it. NBA City is great for a quick bite and servicable for dinner. Hard Rock and Margaritaville are ideal restaurants for theme and entrees. I've never been there, but many complain about Bubba Gump, so stay away from there. Besides that, you guys are golden!

Wow thanks a ton! Is express really necessary with the low crowds though? I suppose I can always survey the crowds and then decided to get a pass. We're planning on getting there for the opening which we've never done so we should be able to get on the big attractions without a wait. I'll take your clockwise and counterclockwise directions! Emiril's sounds great so maybe we'll stop there. Thanks again!

 

[Metro West]

My best friend and I will be coming down to Florirda in January and while we'll be staying on Disney property I love Universal and really want to make a stop there. My best friend has never been to Florida so I want her to see everything! I have usually been able to do the Universal park in about a half day and then I go to Citywalk or IoA. But with Dueling Dragons down now and it being January (i'm assuming crowds will be a lot lower) i'm thinking maybe we can fit both parks into one day. What do you guys think?

The crowds in January are usually light so an Express Pass isn't always needed. However...if you find the lines are getting longer than you'd like, you can always purchase an EP at either park. If you only have a single day to do both parks, go for it...but it's not recommended. If you get there at or before opening, you should be able to do some of the bigger attractions without a wait.

Also, do you have any food recommendations for the parks and Citywalk? I really like Universal but i'm no expert

My recommendations for food would be:

CityWalk - Margaritaville or HRC

IOA - Mythos and Thunder Falls Terrace

Studios - Louie's or Finnegan's

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

The crowds in January are usually light so an Express Pass isn't always needed. However...if you find the lines are getting longer than you'd like, you can always purchase an EP at either park. If you only have a single day to do both parks, go for it...but it's not recommended. If you get there at or before opening, you should be able to do some of the bigger attractions without a wait.

My recommendations for food would be:

CityWalk - Margaritaville or HRC

IOA - Mythos and Thunder Falls Terrace

Studios - Louie's or Finnegan's

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for the suggestions!

Certainly...if you have any other questions, just ask!

 

[macraven]

hey fist shaker, how you doing??

stick with the suggestions by metro west.
he is local and very knowledgeable and always on the mark.

i go annually and have hit most of the months at universal but never venture there or disney in january or december.
it is too difficult for me to predict the weather out of chicago in flying.
delays and weather go hand in hand here.

you'll get some info from posters that just copy what others have said.
stick with the regulars and locals for solid advice. you can't go wrong then.

a quick way to know in advance if the express pass would be beneficial is to check the price for them for the date you will be at universal.

whenever they sell for $20, you can guess it is a low attendance day.
express passes are non refundable. once you buy them, no exchanges even if you have not used them.
the express pass is only valid in the park you designate them for.

since you will be staying at disney, arrive at the parking garage before 8.
you can enter the garage until the 8:00 opening time but you will be in and parked by 8:05.
i suggest since you are doing both parks in one day to start at ioa as they can open early around 8:30ish if there is a long line to enter.

you will find 4 rides open at that time.
for the studios side, the rides open at 9 with a few having a late opening.

i agree with what metro west advised you to do.
he goes to universal frequently in all the months.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Certainly...if you have any other questions, just ask!

Thanks! It's been a while since i've been but Universal has some kick as rides! I'm really looking forward to the Simpsons ride - I went on it in Hollywood and it's out of this world. I'm sad Dueling Dragons won't be open but at least I get to see some Harry Potter construction

hey fist shaker, how you doing??

stick with the suggestions by metro west.
he is local and very knowledgeable and always on the mark.

i go annually and have hit most of the months at universal but never venture there or disney in january or december.
it is too difficult for me to predict the weather out of chicago in flying.
delays and weather go hand in hand here.

you'll get some info from posters that just copy what others have said.
stick with the regulars and locals for solid advice. you can't go wrong then.

a quick way to know in advance if the express pass would be beneficial is to check the price for them for the date you will be at universal.

whenever they sell for $20, you can guess it is a low attendance day.
express passes are non refundable. once you buy them, no exchanges even if you have not used them.
the express pass is only valid in the park you designate them for.

since you will be staying at disney, arrive at the parking garage before 8.
you can enter the garage until the 8:00 opening time but you will be in and parked by 8:05.
i suggest since you are doing both parks in one day to start at ioa as they can open early around 8:30ish if there is a long line to enter.

you will find 4 rides open at that time.
for the studios side, the rides open at 9 with a few having a late opening.

i agree with what metro west advised you to do.
he goes to universal frequently in all the months.

I'm good! Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to check the express pass price. We'll get there early too so we can check things out. I'm so excited; I love the Universal atmosphere! I remember going 8 years ago for my tenth birthday when IoA was new! One of the best theme parks ever IMO

 

[macraven]

one thing i always do is sit on the bricks around the mystic fountain and watch what happens.

who would think watching a stone fountain could be entertaining....

i love it when the smart aleck kids do the na na na to the fountain and get squirted then.

main reason i sit on the side to stay dry......

since your time will be short at the parks doing it all in one day, you would be better off eating inside the parks.
do a lunch there and then when the parks close, have dinner at city walk.

on allears, there are menus for the city walk and park places.

come back here and ask if the menus are dated prior to this year.

i have eaten at most of them and hopefully can remember the general menus.
some places are really good and some are just okay.
i have never had a bad meal in the parks.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

one thing i always do is sit on the bricks around the mystic fountain and watch what happens.

who would think watching a stone fountain could be entertaining....

i love it when the smart aleck kids do the na na na to the fountain and get squirted then.

main reason i sit on the side to stay dry......

since your time will be short at the parks doing it all in one day, you would be better off eating inside the parks.
do a lunch there and then when the parks close, have dinner at city walk.

on allears, there are menus for the city walk and park places.

come back here and ask if the menus are dated prior to this year.

i have eaten at most of them and hopefully can remember the general menus.
some places are really good and some are just okay.
i have never had a bad meal in the parks.

Haha I didn't know the fountain was so active! I'll definately do that. I really want to eat at Mythos - we passed it years ago and I thought it looked so awesome. And I have to stop into Dr. Suess Land for a peanut butter cookie (the best cookie i've ever had in my life!). I've eaten at the Hard rock - really cool theme; i've found that their food is the same quality all over the U.S. but I like the atmosphere. We might check out Emiril's.

 

[macraven]

most people rave about emerils and others say Tchoup Tchoup, it's lower cost counterpoint, is better or the same.

if you want one of them, make a ressie for them the day you are at the park.

depending on the time of the year and day of the week will determine if those places will have crowds.

i found the lunch menu more favorable to my tastes than the evening menu.

i do like every meal i have had at HRC. the one in chicago was identical in menu.
you are correct. the food is the same all over in that chain.

the HRC in orlando is the largest of them all.
i have a brother that lives in honolulu and i have eaten there only twice though. he makes me eat at local places when i go see him, not all that bad but i like hrc ...

that one in HI is sooooo small.....you will be taken back on how large the orlando one is if you have been to other hrc.

you can't go wrong with mythos.
they have a habit of early closings unless it is at high level attendance time in the park. 3:00 is typical of them closing for fall months.

you are going to have a swell time at universal!