Please help me plan a universal day

[mom-of-twins-2002]

DH & I are taking our 4 kids (9,9,5,3) to universal for 1 day during our trip to disney late-September. We are only going to universal because our oldest girls LOVE Harry potter & are looking forward to this more than anything. They've read every book at least twice & are obsessed!

I realize it's a lot of $ to go just for a day (we're staying at the poly), but we'd like to make the most of it. Any ideas for how we should plan our day?

Just to add another element to this, my kids don't like roller coasters or any fast/thrill rides. :/

I'd appreciate any input out there! Thanks in advance!!

 

[damo]

DH & I are taking our 4 kids (9,9,5,3) to universal for 1 day during our trip to disney late-September. We are only going to universal because our oldest girls LOVE Harry potter & are looking forward to this more than anything. They've read every book at least twice & are obsessed!

I realize it's a lot of $ to go just for a day (we're staying at the poly), but we'd like to make the most of it. Any ideas for how we should plan our day?

Just to add another element to this, my kids don't like roller coasters or any fast/thrill rides. :/

I'd appreciate any input out there! Thanks in advance!!

The Forbidden Journey ride is a thrill ride. How do they feel about Dinosaur at AK? FJ is more intense than that.

Other than that, there are two large coasters and one small coaster as the other rides in Wizarding World. Then there is also the Ollivander's attraction and lots of stores.

Of course there are other rides in IOA as well and Universal for them. In late September you shouldn't need any special planning but you may want to consider doing both parks if you find you have enough time. You can always upgrade your 1 park pass to a 2 park pass.

 

[mom-of-twins-2002]

The Forbidden Journey ride is a thrill ride. How do they feel about Dinosaur at AK? FJ is more intense than that.

Other than that, there are two large coasters and one small coaster as the other rides in Wizarding World. Then there is also the Ollivander's attraction and lots of stores.

Of course there are other rides in IOA as well and Universal for them. In late September you shouldn't need any special planning but you may want to consider doing both parks if you find you have enough time. You can always upgrade your 1 park pass to a 2 park pass.

We've not done Dinosaur at AK. We have done soarin' in epcot--I think I read something about those two being comparable? Is that right?

I'd imagine we'll spend a good amount of time in the wizarding world stores. What about restaurants at universal? Any you'd recommend as " can't miss"?

Also, I haven't purchased our tix yet. Is there anyplace to buy them discounted online or do we buy them at the gate? Is it cheaper to buy the park hopper option upfront or to upgrade when we get there?

Anyone done stroller rental there? Opinions??

 

[superwy]

The Harry Potter ride flies like Soarin' but the comparison ends there. It is intense. My 7 year old loved it and can't wait to do it again this year at 9. My daughter turns 7 just before we go and I am not sure how she will do. It is an amazing ride.

 

[Bonniec]

I agree, it's very intense and I would certainly classify it as a thrill ride, so be careful. It's my favorite ride of any park. Hippogriph is a coaster as well, but it's a very mild easy one. Beyond that the shops and general theming is nice and you will like just walking through it. Butterbeer is amazing and non-alcoholic, try the frozen and regular.

Most of Islands of Adventure is thrill rides. Dr. Suessland is pretty awesome as is Spiderman.

You might want to get a hopper and jump to Universal.

 

[annie1995]

I agree, it's very intense and I would certainly classify it as a thrill ride, so be careful. It's my favorite ride of any park. Hippogriph is a coaster as well, but it's a very mild easy one. Beyond that the shops and general theming is nice and you will like just walking through it. Butterbeer is amazing and non-alcoholic, try the frozen and regular.

Most of Islands of Adventure is thrill rides. Dr. Suessland is pretty awesome as is Spiderman.

You might want to get a hopper and jump to Universal.

Intense in what way? We are planning on going next year, so I'm trying to figure out what we will like there...We LOVED Soarin!!

 

[SarahWeasley]

Forbidden Journey is like Soarin' in that it's a simulation, but not a great comparison in terms of thrills. Instead of gliding over canyons and golf courses, you're racing on your broom--sometimes stopping, dipping and jerking around--through Hogwarts and a Quidditch game and the Forbidden Forest (and briefly encountering giant spiders and Dementors right up close to you).

I don't ride roller coasters (except BTMRR, which to me is just thrilling enough without being scary) or intense scary rides, especially anything with big drops, but I like FJ. Since they're such big Potter fans, if your 9-year-olds are up for SOME thrills, I would lean toward giving it a shot, and tell them that if they get scared, look down at their knees to remind themselves they're just on a ride and it's all fake. That's what I do But if they really don't like any thrills at all, I wouldn't risk it.

What your family can do, regardless of whether any of you ride or not, is take the "castle tour" where you can walk through the castle and look at everything without having to wait in the ride line. Just ask any of the employees around Hogwarts where to go for that.

Other non-extreme rides around IOA:
-Everything in Seuss Landing
-Ripsaw Falls (similar to Splash Mountain)
-Bilge-Rat Barges (similar to Kali River Rapids, although a lot better, from what I hear -- I've never actually ridden KRR)
-Spider-Man (same thrill level as FJ)
-Pteranadon Flyers, which I think only little kids can ride, which is why I don't know anything else about it!

 

[Bonniec]

Intense in what way? We are planning on going next year, so I'm trying to figure out what we will like there...We LOVED Soarin!!

Soarin is very slow moving and relaxing. Forbidden Journey is fast and scary. It's dark with dragons, giant spiders, and ghosts. I would recommend watching some you tube videos on it though they are hard to see because it's so dark. I really do love this ride, it's awesome. But it's definately a thrill ride.

The chairs move a lot. You don't go upside down but they do tip back far enough to slide you out of your seat.

This is probably the best video I've seen on it. Obviously this is a spoiler alert but it might give you the scare factor for the kiddos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91jmC8eJ3o8


The ride also has a really nice child swap too should they change their minds.

 

[mom-of-twins-2002]

Soarin is very slow moving and relaxing. Forbidden Journey is fast and scary. It's dark with dragons, giant spiders, and ghosts. I would recommend watching some you tube videos on it though they are hard to see because it's so dark. I really do love this ride, it's awesome. But it's definately a thrill ride.

The chairs move a lot. You don't go upside down but they do tip back far enough to slide you out of your seat.

This is probably the best video I've seen on it. Obviously this is a spoiler alert but it might give you the scare factor for the kiddos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91jmC8eJ3o8

The ride also has a really nice child swap too should they change their minds.

Thanks for the link. They've seen most of the HP movies so I think they'll be fine, especially if I remind them they can just look at their knees! ;o)

We're trying to figure out where to go for lunch. Dd's are such HP fans that we're thinking three broomsticks. However, I think lunch might be our only meal at universal, since we'll do breakfast at the poly & I don't know if we'll all last til dinner. Should we stick with that or is there someplace else that's a "don't miss"?

 

[Bonniec]

Three Broomsticks has been hit and miss for me. The first time I ate there, it was fantastic! But last weekend it was awful. I'd probably give it a whirl since you are HP fans. It's counter service though kinda pricey.

Mythos is a TS restaurant and is really good with a great price. So you might want to consider that too.

You could also just get some snacks around the park.

Don't forget the butterbeers!

 

[mom-of-twins-2002]

Three Broomsticks has been hit and miss for me. The first time I ate there, it was fantastic! But last weekend it was awful. I'd probably give it a whirl since you are HP fans. It's counter service though kinda pricey.

Mythos is a TS restaurant and is really good with a great price. So you might want to consider that too.

You could also just get some snacks around the park.

Don't forget the butterbeers!

Thanks for your insight! I'm anxious to try the butterbeers to see what they taste like!

 

[Bonniec]

Like cream soda mixed with butterscotch. (And they are non-alcoholic)

They have a soda version and frozen. I love both. If I had to choose I'd go soda but I think most people prefer frozen. We usually get one of each. They are around $5 or you can get them in a souvanier mug for $11. You can buy them at Three Broomsticks or they have two places outside in the land.

Here are some pics from Three Broomsticks:

And Mythos:

 

[mom-of-twins-2002]

Yummo! Thanks for the pics!

 

[damo]

There is a big difference between Soarin and Forbidden Journey. Forbidden Journey actually moves along a track through the ride building. Each ride vehicle is a huge robotic arm attached to a base that is on the track. In some scenes, the are things like animatronic spiders and dragons and in other scenes there is a domed screen with the Harry Potter characters flying, etc. It is a big mixture of simulation and non-simulated rooms. At the same time as you are moving through the different rooms, your robotic arm is moving you to avoid the obstacles the are coming your way. It is great fun but also thrilling as you are moved around a lot and you encounter many of the things that make the series great, like Dementors, the whomping willow and other such stuff.

 

[Jonesloonybin]

I was reading this thread and had a question. Hope you don't mind.

Can you see the ground or edge of the screen like on Soarin? I find that if I am feeling sick, I can look to the edge and I will feel better.

Thanks.

 

[Bonniec]

Sometimes, but mostly you are being flipped around so much you don't have time too.