Plan of Attack for Universal - Please Critique!

[kbmartin]

Last year when my DH and I went to Universal, I got sick from the heat, and we had to cut our day short! I am hoping that that won't happen again this year. We really only got to these attractions... Hogsmeade (did it all), Diagon Alley (missed the shows and Florean Fortescue's but did everything else), the Hulk coaster, Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley, and the Mummy.

I really want to try to do as much as possible this time around.

We are not eligible for early entry, but we'll get there at Rope Drop (well, we'll be there at least 15 min. before RD). Here is what I am thinking as far as a plan...

• Start with Minions and Rip Ride Rock-it
• Take Hogwarts Express to IOA
• Anything in Hogsmeade with low wait times (will return to it later)
• Hulk coaster and Spider-man
• POSSIBLY one of the water rides... I remember going on Ripsaw Falls years ago and being soaked to the brim
• Jurassic Park
• Try Hogsmeade attractions again
• Lunch at Cowfish (maybe this will be around 1 pm?)
• Walk to Universal Studios Florida
• E.T., Simpsons Land, Men in Black, Disaster, Mummy, Twister (we would be willing to give up Simpsons, Men in Black, and/or Disaster if things weren't timing out well)
• Get water cups before going into Diagon Alley (we learned from that mistake last time and ended up buying very expensive "Gilly Water" )
• Diagon Alley - all shows, Gringotts, shops, Florean Fortescue's (will spend a LOT of time here)
• Take Hogwarts Express to IOA
• Hogsmeade - everything (will spend a LOT of time here)

Do you think we can really do all of this in one day? The parks will be open from 9 am - 9 pm. We are going on a Thursday in August when Express Passes cost $89.99 if that helps anyone judge the crowd level.

Thank you in advance for any critiques!

 

[damo]

I think you are being a tad ambitious but nothing wrong with setting your sights high! Minions will probably be almost an hour out of your schedule first thing. I would skip the sit down lunch at Cowfish and do something quick instead.

 

[Lynne G]

First, you will get somewhat wet to pool wet on the IOA water rides. If you're going to do them, and not stay onsite, I'd bring a change of clothes and put in a paid for locker. I'd also wear clothes to start that I would not mind getting soaked in. Shoes included. I wear flip flops on the water rides, wet shoes are not my idea of fun. Also, you can get a free glass of cold water from any place that has food, but not at the carts unless they have a soda fountain. Otherwise, you can ask for a cup and get free cold water from the freestyle machines. We never carry bottled water with us. Since early entry for the onsite guests is into the potter areas or areas (I think in the summer both) I'd focus on the hitting the rides that take long and are popular, like Minions and Hulk,. Get there before rope drop, as most of the time, they open about 15 minutes early. The crowds don't get started until around 10:30 or so, so you can get a lot done in the morning. I'd do DA later in the day, as DA is much larger than Hogsmede. Also, to beat the heat, find places with AC, like Disaster, the Sindbad and Horror Make Up shows. Parts of DA are not shaded and all the stores have AC.

Finally, use single rider is the line seems bad. Works well where there is a single rider line.

So, I think you list is doable. Just take time to enjoy the details and stay in AC or the shade when you need a break from the heat.

We love USO when it's hot. Due to High School sports, we are visiting in the fall. No more late summer for us for the next couple of years.

 

[macraven]

The parks will be open from 9 am - 9 pm. We are going on a Thursday in August when Express Passes cost $89.99 if that helps anyone judge the crowd level.

Thank you in advance for any critiques!

is that the price for p2p express tickets?
if so, sounds reasonable.

 

[kbmartin]

Do you guys think the Minions are worth it? DH hasn't even seen any of the Despicable Me movies. I have. I think they're cute, but I'm not obsessed with minions or anything. If it will already be an hour wait at Rope Drop, I don't know that I'd want to do it. I was thinking it would be a half hour or less at that point...

I am also concerned with the heat. At WDW we can go back to our hotel halfway through a park day, but not so at Universal. That's why I thought a break at a sit-down restaurant at lunch might be nice, but I can also see that it would take away from park time.

Thoughts?

 

[damo]

Do you guys think the Minions are worth it? DH hasn't even seen any of the Despicable Me movies. I have. I think they're cute, but I'm not obsessed with minions or anything. If it will already be an hour wait at Rope Drop, I don't know that I'd want to do it. I was thinking it would be a half hour or less at that point...

I am also concerned with the heat. At WDW we can go back to our hotel halfway through a park day, but not so at Universal. That's why I thought a break at a sit-down restaurant at lunch might be nice, but I can also see that it would take away from park time.

Thoughts?

Skipping Minions will free up a lot of time. The wait is at least half an hour during early entry! For a bit of a cool off break, I'd suggest spending a bit of time in the Jurassic Park Discovery Centre. You could also ask if you can tour Hogwarts if it is open for tours. You'll have lots of indoor queues to be helping to keep you cool. I also found that Diagon Alley is considerably cooler than the rest of the parks.

 

[schumigirl]

I wouldn't wait an hour for any ride if I'm honest.......but, see what it's like on the day you go........

As for lunch you can eat fairly quickly in the park without heading out to Citywalk.......Thunder Falls Terrace is a good option, it's counter service. Mythos and Confisco Grill are excellent choices.

 

[kbmartin]

I think what made me sick last year was waiting for hours in outdoor queues.

We waited about two hours outside for Gringotts (then an hour indoors... but it sounds like wait times are MUCH better this year, thank goodness). We also waited about an hour for Hulk because their single-rider line was not open. About halfway through the queue they opened the single-rider part.

Never again. I think a half hour outside is my max in Orlando's August heat and humidity.

 

[Robo56]

Ditto on Mytho's and Confisco Grill. These are both in IOA and Mytho's is a treat. Nice and cool and the food is yummy.

Stay well hydrated and factor in some rest breaks out of the direct sunlight and have a great trip

 

[johde]

If you can get into line right at park opening the line for Minions might not be too bad. But, it will build quickly. I'd play that one buy ear. Like everyone else is recommending, I'd hit Cowfish for a late dinner/night cap after the parks close.

 

[flateacher]

When are you going? Like pp said stay hydrated and take breaks from the heat. I am used to it but I see ppl all the time at theme parks getting very sick. We have been having terrible weather lately - rain. every. single. day. all day... ugh! Hopefully this pattern stops before you get here. Unfortunately it is still very hot and muggy before and after it rains. So I agree with taking the lunch breaks inside at say Mythos etc.

The water rides - like pp said - totally absolutely need to change your clothes wet... might want to skip that one... or bring a change of clothes... although if it is raining like it has been it won't matter!