Planning first trip to US/IOA: should we go late 2010?

[disney-super-mom]

Hi US/IOA experts.

We're VERY new to US/IOA. For that matter, we're not exactly WDW experts either, although DH and I have been to WDW twice now, and our boys (currently ages 10 and 6) have been to WDW once. (Being from Washington State, we're all Disneyland experts. I think even my kids could plan a trip to Disneyland. )

We recently just returned from Disneyland, and although we love Disneyland (and WDW) we're getting a bit Disney'd out. However, on our trip we spent one day at Universal Studios Hollywood and we all had the most awesome time! I hadn't been there for 30 years (literally, exactly 30 years), same for my DH, and it was our boys first time. Not to mention, our boys, well, they're boys. They walked into Universal Studios Hollywood and saw all of their favorite characters (even Crash Bandicoot, one of their favorite video game characters, which thrilled them) and experienced attractions based on their favorite movies (Terminator, The Mummy, Jarassic Park, Shrek, etc). Of course I had to take lots of pictures, and we even bought a couple of ride photos. It was a whole new experience for us.

I think our boys would be blown away at US/IOA because it seems to offer many more attractions, restaurants, etc.

So, being Disney'd out, and having such an wonderful time at Universal Studios Hollywood for a day, we're all in agreement that we should make the long flight and plan to go to US/IOA on our next vacation.

I know there's construction going on right now for a whole new area themed to Harry Potter, but I'm not sure if anything else is planned that perhaps we should wait until completed before visiting US/IOA?

Anyway, if you were us, making your first trip to US/IOA, but knowing what you know (since you're all US/IOA experts) when you would plan to go? Late 2010?.....or ?

 

[SNylund]

If you were already planning late 2010, thats probably about right. I think HP was scheduled to be open in mid 2010, but I think those closer to the situation say it could be fall or maybe even later in 2010. But also things can change and get behind schedule for the opening of HP that no one could predict as well.

I think now HP is about the only big thing planned, they just finished a new roller coaster in the main park as well as the Simpsons ride, so I doubt that anything else is on the near future list of new things. I'm guessing with these 3 new things (HP, RRR, and Simpsons) they may not do anything new at all for several more years.

BTW, I've been to Universal LA as well, and you will absolutely love Universal Orlando. It blows the LA one away, mainly because of the whole other 2nd park Islands of Adventure which is actually my favorite park in the world, not just Orlando. It is off the charts cool. And of course with the new HP land it will be even more off the charts. You'll have a blast, I'd plan for late 2010 and just take whatever comes on HP. I'm guessing its not totally out of the realm of possibilities that HP could have problems and delayed into summer of 2011, so you woulldn't want to hang in there that long, just plan on going in 2010 and you'll have fun either way, with or without HP.

 

[damo]

The contracts state that the Wizarding World will open between Dec. 2009 and June 2010. Not sure exactly what the ramifications are if that contract is broken.

 

[cbsnyber1]

I will bet Universal will do everything in its power to have HP open by early summer next year - even if the ride attraction parts of it aren't ready. They for sure want to avoid another RRR fiasco. It is possible they could have the village and the castle open and not run any ride attractions that might not be ready.

That said, I agree a late (Oct - early Dec) trip has a good chance of including HP - just maybe not all of it. We're going in December this year and were hoping (slim) it might be ready but there is no way it will be. Oh well, just a good reason to go in 2010.

 

[damo]

There is a big press conference on Sept. 15. We should know a lot more then.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I think now HP is about the only big thing planned, they just finished a new roller coaster in the main park as well as the Simpsons ride, so I doubt that anything else is on the near future list of new things. I'm guessing with these 3 new things (HP, RRR, and Simpsons) they may not do anything new at all for several more years.

Thanks for the information so far everyone. I really appreciate it.

SNylund, you mentioned the new Simpsons ride; we rode this attraction twice at Universal Hollywood, and we all loved it. So fun!

We rode The Mummy twice too. Another favorite of our family.

We also really liked the Terminator 2 3D show, and of course the backlot tour was terrific.

DH and I got drenched on the drop of Jarassic Park, but it was so hot and humid that it felt really good. Our boys wore ponchos.....wet clothes whimps.

(Just an added tidbit - my ten year old son, Ryan, found out he did not like the smell of baby powder while riding The Simpsons.....the part where giant baby Maggie sucks your vehicle like a pacifier and it smells strongly of baby powder. What a weird time to find out you don't like the smell of baby powder - LOL.)

 

[lachica]

my ten year old son, Ryan, found out he did not like the smell of baby powder while riding The Simpsons.....the part where giant baby Maggie sucks your vehicle like a pacifier and it smells strongly of baby powder. What a weird time to find out you don't like the smell of baby powder

He is not the only one. I'm just glad the smell got milder from opening day. I almost gagged the first time I rode it, and hubby that's over 6ft rode the back. Let's just say that it wasn't a good 1st ride for us.

 

[damo]

Thanks for the information so far everyone. I really appreciate it.

SNylund, you mentioned the new Simpsons ride; we rode this attraction twice at Universal Hollywood, and we all loved it. So fun!

We rode The Mummy twice too. Another favorite of our family.

We also really liked the Terminator 2 3D show, and of course the backlot tour was terrific.

DH and I got drenched on the drop of Jarassic Park, but it was so hot and humid that it felt really good. Our boys wore ponchos.....wet clothes whimps.

(Just an added tidbit - my ten year old son, Ryan, found out he did not like the smell of baby powder while riding The Simpsons.....the part where giant baby Maggie sucks your vehicle like a pacifier and it smells strongly of baby powder. What a weird time to find out you don't like the smell of baby powder - LOL.)

You'll be happy to hear that the Mummy ride at Universal is different and the Jurassic Park River Adventure is slightly different as well. They are just as good but different.

 

[donaldduck352]

I have seen the youtube of the Mummy in LA and the one here in Orlando is bigger.Looking at the website they dont have Jaws,MIB,Disaster or Jimmy Neutron or Horror Make up Show in Hollywood.These are all great rides-and Twister.
But IOA will nock your socks off with the theming!!

If you do wate for HP to open,buy ticks now.I see the prices just going up and up when it does.Its gonna be A HUGE people drawing attraction.
Remember if you buy now when they are still cheap they wont activate the tick till you use them.

 

[disney-super-mom]

If you do wate for HP to open,buy ticks now.I see the prices just going up and up when it does.Its gonna be A HUGE people drawing attraction.
Remember if you buy now when they are still cheap they wont activate the tick till you use them.

Ooh, good tip. So the tickets are good until we use them, no matter when that is? An expiration date for the tickets won't kick until until we activate them?

If that's the case, I definitely want to buy our tickets now. Are they still something like $99 per person for a week?

 

[ky07]

Ooh, good tip. So the tickets are good until we use them, no matter when that is? An expiration date for the tickets won't kick until until we activate them?

If that's the case, I definitely want to buy our tickets now. Are they still something like $99 per person for a week?

Donald is rigt if you buy the tickets now they will not expire until the first day of use and then they will expire within 6 days cause I still have a 2 park unlimited ticket from earlier this year that has never been used and plan on getting 1 or 2 more before next years trip

 

[SNylund]

Thanks for the information so far everyone. I really appreciate it.

SNylund, you mentioned the new Simpsons ride; we rode this attraction twice at Universal Hollywood, and we all loved it. So fun!

We rode The Mummy twice too. Another favorite of our family.

We also really liked the Terminator 2 3D show, and of course the backlot tour was terrific.

DH and I got drenched on the drop of Jarassic Park, but it was so hot and humid that it felt really good. Our boys wore ponchos.....wet clothes whimps.

(Just an added tidbit - my ten year old son, Ryan, found out he did not like the smell of baby powder while riding The Simpsons.....the part where giant baby Maggie sucks your vehicle like a pacifier and it smells strongly of baby powder. What a weird time to find out you don't like the smell of baby powder - LOL.)

The LA Universal is similar to the main (old) Universal Park in Orlando, it has the Mummy, Simpsons, T2 etc. Orlando is still better and I do believe has more attractions, LA actually has some Orlando doesn't and vice versa, like Orlando does not have Waterworld.

BUT.....the IOA park is the best and is where you may want to plan on extra time there since you have already done alot at the main park. But you will also have fun riding some of the same rides and comparing them to the LA version. Some will be slightly different I imagine, some will probably be the same. But Universal Orlando is worth the visit just to go to IOA in and of itself.