Please help plan our first visit - 2 days with kids

[mirak]

We are visiting the Universal parks for 2 days next week. Got the park-hopper pass and we are staying one night at the Royal Pacific for express passes. I have three boys ages 2, 5, and 8 and grandparents to help watch the younger ones on some of the height-restricted rides, but we won't be doing any of the "real" roller coasters.

On Day 1, We fly into Orlando, rent car, and head directly to the Royal Pacific. We should reach the hotel by 11am. Then we head to the parks. On Day 2, we plan to do early admission and spend most of the day in the parks, then head out after dinner.

Questions:
1. When we arrive at resort on Day 1, what is the best strategy to expedite getting our express passes and getting into the parks?
2. Which park would you go to first on Day 1, given our late morning arrival time? Would you just walk there from the Royal Pacific?
3. Which park would you do early admission on Day 2, and what would be the strategy from there?
4. We're looking for 2 lunches and 2 dinners in the parks - suggestions?
5. We'll probably head back to resort for a "break" at the pool at some point during the two days - what is the best time to do that?

Here are the rides and activities I think the boys will like...

Studios
- Despicable Me
- Shrek 4D
- Transformers
- Gringotts and Diagon Alley exploration
- Hogwarts Express
- Men in Black
- Simpsons
- ET
- Curious George/Fievel (good area for younger boys for a bit)

Island
- Spider Man
- Bilge-Rat Barges
- Ripsaw Falls
- Jurassic Park (Camp Jurassic for younger boys)
- HP Forbidden Journey and Hogsmead exploration
- Cat in the Hat
- Caro-Seuss-el and other Seuss area exploration for younger kids
- Poseidon's Fury

 

[macraven]

When you check into the onsite hotel
Rpr, the TM will give room keys to all on your reservation
Take that card and use the kiosk located to the right side of the check in counter, and create your photo id express pass

It is used for unlimited usage of all express lines in the parks

Go to the park that has EE
Show your hotel card room key and use the designated " hotel" line to enter the park early
Go to potter vile

A couple of other rides will be open also for that one hour period

All rides are open when the park officially opens

On the first day either park will be fine
If Kong is open I guess more crowds would be hitting that new ride
This leaves less lines for other rides

Check the website and see what rides are in the park and read up in it if your family would want to do them
Your list looks promising
Use the park Map online to plot the way to reach them

Use the chiild swap system since you have some littles that won't meet the height requirements

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

Mac hit everything on the head as usual.

Just a few addtl viewpoints - I see you have the water rides on the list, excellent! But know you are going to get soaked, like walk into the shower with your clothes on soaked! Last week, we put on swimming trunks and headed over. We rode Bluto about 15 times straight just to see the dry people who had no idea what they were doing get soaked. One lady had designer jeans, fancy silkish shirt, and a designer hat on, full makeup, the works - it was great! She ended being a good sport which was good to see. Since I can't be there in person to watch, I will give the heads up. Bring a change of clothes, and spend time thinking about shoes, because they take a long time to dry out. The kids will love it!

We arrived at 11:30, checked in, got our Express Passes, and were on our first ride (ET) by 12:10. Basically a full day in the parks. Start wherever you want, but focus on the Express Pass rides. Head to one of the Potter areas about 6:30 or so (after dinner), the crowds start to thin out for a little.

As for meals - look at the food sticky, and don't forget to consider City Walk, especially for dinner. Great choices, very close. One thing I love about Universal counter service, it's not all the same stuff, although you can find burgers, dogs, chicken most places. Louie's is great for quick Italian. I strongly recommend Confisco at I of A for either meal - it is a table service restaurant near the entrance - we have never been disappointed and the menu is better for the picky eaters in my group than Mythos is. Also, the food at Bula Bar in the pool area of RPR is very good, if you find yourself there in the afternoon or evening. The nachos might feed the entire group.

 

[angryduck71]

Another note -- you could do as we do -- after the water rides, take a break and change at the hotel. We usually dedicate the afternoon to those and then take a break.

I'd do Potter either in the morning or evening. I'd maybe hit Diagon Alley first evening and get wands then at that Ollivander's if you are doing that show as it will be less crowded.

 

[tinkermomto3]

Try to hit the hippogriff roller coaster and/or the woody the woodpecker one. Hands down those were my kids favorites. we rode them both 4-6 times. My kids are 4, 6, 8. We spent a lot of time in the Harry Potter areas doing magic with the interactive wands also.
Our best in park meals were the Springfield area and Thunder Falls. We left one day around 6 and went back to the pool for about 2 hours, and we also went back around 2 in the afternoon. It was actually more crowded that night than the 2 in the afternoon trip. Neither were terribly crowded though. It was crazy hot during the day though and we preferred swimming after dinner. I second the nachos posted about above. We ate them as a "snack" after an early dinner and then swimming and it was great.
I would probably start at IOA, we spent more time in the Studios than we did at IOA. Walking from Royal Pacific to IOA is quicker than the boat in my opinion. The boat puts you closer to the Studios.

 

[mirak]

Thanks for advice so far. That's good to know about the water rides.

The schedule says that both parks are doing early admission the same day next week.

I guess with the unlimited express passes I don't have to strategize so much - just kinda go in a loop from ride to ride.

My big issue is how to best tackle the HP stuff because there's no express pass for the big rides. I can use early entry for one of them (which one?). For the other, I can either take the HP train first thing to try to beat the rush from the regular admission guests, or I can go later in the evening on Day 1. What would you do?

 

[schumigirl]

I would do Diagon Alley in the Studios early entry........then do Hogsmeade later in the evening........it does quieten down, but mainly for the castle.......

It is stunning at night and well worth being in Hogsmeade after dark.......truly beautiful.

 

[mirak]

I would do Diagon Alley in the Studios early entry........then do Hogsmeade later in the evening........it does quieten down, but mainly for the castle.......

It is stunning at night and well worth being in Hogsmeade after dark.......truly beautiful.

Ok this is good idea. We won't be staying into the evening of Day 2, so Hogsmeade might be best for evening of Day 1.

So I'm thinking Day 1 we'll hit IOA immediately after arriving at resort, do some rides, head back to resort mid-afternoon to hit the pool and check into room, then return to IOA in the evening for Hogsmeade.

We could even hit the water rides mod-afternoon right before returning to resort.

 

[macraven]

Schumi stole my thunder
My same thoughts as her

 

[mirak]

Ok so next question is food. I went ahead and made a reservation for dinner on Day 1 at Mythos.

Where's a good spot to get a quick relatively inexpensive lunch on the way into the parks on Day 1?

And on Day 2, what's a good relatively inexpensive way to do breakfast that'll be open in time to eat before early entry?