Qs from a newbie to US/IOA

[DisGirl819]

I am considering adding on a day to US or IOA for our trip in July. My kids (age 3 and 5) love the Marvel superheros, specifically the Avengers and SpiderMan. Can they M&G those characters somewhere?

How does one get to IOA from a Disney resort, we're staying at AKV?
If I take a cab, do my children have to have car seats since they ride in them at home in our car? We never take car seats on vacation to Disney since we only ride buses.

Explain Universal's fastpass system to me since I've never been.

Would half a day (opening to early afternoon) be enough to see and do some things in IOA (not doing major coasters) including the Seuss land, meet some superheros and Harry Potter world?

Any other advice or tips? And I apologize if I used Disney terminology for any of this...I'm totally clueless about Universal.

 

[RMulieri]

They can meet some of the characters like Spiderman ,Captain america,Green Goblin, Dr Doom, Storm,Cyclops, Wolverine and a few others..There is a character sticky at the top ( no Iron Man , Thor,black widow).
Mears offers bus service, You can take a cab ,rent a car or hire a towncar.All will cost and vary.Mears or a cab arre probably cheapest


Universal has Express PASS..There is NO free version of this for dayguests.If you stay one night onsite at one of the Unviersal Delux hotels ( Royal Pacific, Portofino Bay or Hard Rock) you get 2 days of express passes FREE.
You can BUY the express pass, but the cost depends on the projected crowds.The higher the crowds the more it will cost ( in addition to park tickets).The purchased express pass is good for ONE ride( onsite guests get unlimited rides) thru all the shows and attractions EXCEPT: Pteranodon Flyers, Ollivanders Wand Shop and Harry Potter Forbidden Journey.You simply enter the express pass line,show your pass( they scan it) and it is a much shorter wait( 15 mins or less).
If you get there for opening , maybe..The parks are going to be very crowded in July and onsite guests also get early entry so will already be in the park when dayguests are let in.But I would plan on being there most of the day..The heat and lines zap the strength out of you.

 

[DisGirl819]

They can meet some of the characters like Spiderman ,Captain america,Green Goblin, Dr Doom, Storm,Cyclops, Wolverine and a few others..There is a character sticky at the top ( no Iron Man , Thor,black widow).
Mears offers bus service, You can take a cab ,rent a car or hire a towncar.All will cost and vary.Mears or a cab arre probably cheapest


Universal has Express PASS..There is NO free version of this for dayguests.If you stay one night onsite at one of the Unviersal Delux hotels ( Royal Pacific, Portofino Bay or Hard Rock) you get 2 days of express passes FREE.
You can BUY the express pass, but the cost depends on the projected crowds.The higher the crowds the more it will cost ( in addition to park tickets).The purchased express pass is good for ONE ride( onsite guests get unlimited rides) thru all the shows and attractions EXCEPT: Pteranodon Flyers, Ollivanders Wand Shop and Harry Potter Forbidden Journey.You simply enter the express pass line,show your pass( they scan it) and it is a much shorter wait( 15 mins or less).
If you get there for opening , maybe..The parks are going to be very crowded in July and onsite guests also get early entry so will already be in the park when dayguests are let in.But I would plan on being there most of the day..The heat and lines zap the strength out of you.

Thanks for the info! I am thinking that we would do IOA, meet some characters (too bad there's no Iron Man, that is my DD's favorite), spend some time at Seuss land and in Harry Potter world. DH and I would do Forbidden Journey but that would probably be the only big ride, oh and some time in the Jurassic Park area since that is my all time favorite movie/book. Too bad they don't have a free version of the express pass...I looked up prices and it would be extremely cost prohibitive for us.

 

[Lynne G]

In July,
the Universal parks will be busy. I am not sure how much a cab would be, but you can always ask the cab company to send a car with child car seats.

Universal does not have free fast passes. At Universal, they are called express pass, and are good for one time use of the express pass line on most rides, but not the headliner Potter ride or the Pteranadon Flyers ride. The price of the express pass can be seen on the Universal website. Usually, if the price is $50 or less, it's not going to be a busy time. You can buy the express pass before you come, or you can buy in the park. We all generally say to wait to see what the crowds are like before you buy. This is because they are date and park specific, with no refunds. Price generally does not change, but may, always raised.

With your kids ages, unless they are very tall, I would not get the express pass.

They do have characters around, and just walking around and looking at the Potter area is really neat. Try eating lunch at the Three Broomsticks (great place to look and decent food) or try Thunder Falls in the Dinosaur area, it's a good place for food too. If you want a sit down, Mythos is a reasonable priced place to eat in IOA and good food.

The best thing to do is to get there about 1/2 hour or so before opening. The onsite resort guests will be in the Potter area 1 hour or so before opening, so be prepared for that. Otherwise, the rule of early bird applies to Universal too. You can get alot done in the early hours.

There are three water rides in IOA and a water play area in the Suessland. Your kids may want to get wet, as it will be hot when you go.

Also, the Pteranadon Flyers is a very slow loading ride. Kid with adult per ride vehicle. Really fun for the kids. Get there early. Otherwise, the line is really slow and no shade. We generally ride that as soon as its open as I hate waiting and I don't like standing for a long time in the sun.

Go on the Universal website. It's a great place to see what rides and places you are interested in, and gives height requirements.

One day is almost as expensive as one day at Disney. It will be a very expensive day. However, my family really enjoys Universal. My older kids love the rides and the other things to do in the parks. We stay onsite though, as onsite not only gets early entry to Potter area, guests get unlimited use of the express pass lines. My kids have been known to do Spiderman more than a few times in a row.

Have a great vacation whatever you decide!

 

[RMulieri]

The express passes arent always cheap, and when they are, they aren't really needed, which is why most of us stay onsite..Universal has really started to become a destination vacation, much like Disney,It becomes cheaper the longer you stay.If you don't have express passes, Get to the park BEFORE opening and be ready to gnsite guests also get early entry so once the park is opened, it will already have plenty of people in it( especially Harry Potter).Since you aren;t planning on being there till closing, you should go to Harry Potter first, do ollivanders if it appeals, and then Forbidden Journey ( use the single rider line if you guys can).Even if the kids can't ride, the walk thru the castle is worth seeing.Child Swap also is different here..At Universal, the whole party waits in the line and at the ride boarding area is a swap room where one parent waits with the kids while the other rides..the room is air conditioned and shows movies.

 

[DisGirl819]

The express passes arent always cheap, and when they are, they aren't really needed, which is why most of us stay onsite..Universal has really started to become a destination vacation, much like Disney,It becomes cheaper the longer you stay.If you don't have express passes, Get to the park BEFORE opening and be ready to gnsite guests also get early entry so once the park is opened, it will already have plenty of people in it( especially Harry Potter).Since you aren;t planning on being there till closing, you should go to Harry Potter first, do ollivanders if it appeals, and then Forbidden Journey ( use the single rider line if you guys can).Even if the kids can't ride, the walk thru the castle is worth seeing.Child Swap also is different here..At Universal, the whole party waits in the line and at the ride boarding area is a swap room where one parent waits with the kids while the other rides..the room is air conditioned and shows movies.

Seriously!? That ride swap sounds amazing! That is great info!

 

[macraven]

another way to travel from the motherland to the darkside would be to book the Mears Shuttle at your ak hotel lobby.

adults are $19 rt, children $16 rt.
don't know if there is a charge for the 3 yo.


book this in advance and choose your travel pick up times.

 

[DisGirl819]

Would it be stupid to fly in a day early in the morning and do US for that day, stay at a US hotel and do IOA that day. After IOA take shuttle back to MCO to meet grandparents and have everyone take DME to AKV?

 

[macraven]

Would it be stupid to fly in a day early in the morning and do US for that day, stay at a US hotel and do IOA that day. After IOA take shuttle back to MCO to meet grandparents and have everyone take DME to AKV?

not stupid but a brilliant idea and plan!

 

[DisGirl819]

not stupid but a brilliant idea and plan!

Really? Lol who knew I was smart? now to convince DH.

 

[housemouse]

Would it be stupid to fly in a day early in the morning and do US for that day, stay at a US hotel and do IOA that day. After IOA take shuttle back to MCO to meet grandparents and have everyone take DME to AKV?

Will Disney let you take DME the day after you land? I don't know, we've never used it, it's just a thought that ran through my head. However, you could always take a shuttle/cab/car to AKV and meet the grandparents there. That way you won't have to make a trip back to MCO just to turn around and make a trip to Disney.

 

[macraven]

Will Disney let you take DME the day after you land? I don't know, we've never used it, it's just a thought that ran through my head..

yes, this is done all the time.

when you schedule your ME, list the date that you will be using that transportation.

what you need to do is look up arrival times and flight numbers of airlines that in the the ME program.

list that flight for the date set up you will need the ME.



fly into ORD, transport to the darkside hotel.
when you check out, return to ORD for the ME bus ride.

don't put the yellow tags on your luggage when you leave home.


there are town cars at the onsite hotels that will take you to MCO for $50.

 

[housemouse]

yes, this is done all the time.

when you schedule your ME, list the date that you will be using that transportation.

what you need to do is look up arrival times and flight numbers of airlines that in the the ME program.

list that flight for the date set up you will need the ME.



fly into ORD, transport to the darkside hotel.
when you check out, return to ORD for the ME bus ride.

don't put the yellow tags on your luggage when you leave home.


there are town cars at the onsite hotels that will take you to MCO for $50.

Ah, good to know for future trips. Thanks!