bluecruiser
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2008
- Messages
- 2,047
Looking for some info/advice for my niece and her family who are contemplating a side-trip to Universal on their next WDW trip in February 2018. It will be my niece, her husband, and their 5-year-old (almost 6 by then) son who is 44 inches tall. They will be staying at Fort Wilderness Cabins, without a car. Her son's favorite attractions at WDW are Test Track, 7 Dwarves Mine Train, Toy Story, and Buzz Lightyear. Magic Kingdom is his favorite park, but he doesn't care much for "kiddie" rides; he wants to be as "extreme" as he can. None of them are much familiar with Harry Potter. They have been to WDW a few times but this is their first Universal trip. They are interested in USF and IOA but not Volcano Bay.
1. Based on height restrictions and his desire for extreme rides, do you think it's worth it for them to visit Universal now, or would it be better if they waited until he's tall enough to ride everything?
From the height restrictions on Universal's website it looks like there are 5 rides their son can't ride - Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Revenge of the Mummy, Doctor Doom's Fearfall, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Incredible Hulk Coaster. One other ride might be iffy depending on how they measure - Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls is right at 44 inches. There are 16 other height-restricted rides that he will be able to ride, some more extreme than others.
2. Can they do it all in 1 day or should they plan 2 days? Park-to-park or single park tickets?
3. They might consider one hotel night at Universal, but it would likely be at Cabana Bay. Is it worth it to stay at Cabana Bay?
It looks like Cabana Bay doesn't get the free express pass that the pricier hotels get, but it would save about 30 (?) minutes travel each way and make it easier for them if they want to take a mid-day break. Are there any other benefits that would make it worthwhile for them to stay at Cabana Bay?
4. What transportation option would you recommend for them to get from WDW to Universal? Shuttle, taxi, rental car, ?
5. Thoughts on timing - should they do Universal first or WDW first?
Thanks in advance! It's been over 20 years since I visited Universal so what information I remember is woefully out of date.
1. Based on height restrictions and his desire for extreme rides, do you think it's worth it for them to visit Universal now, or would it be better if they waited until he's tall enough to ride everything?
From the height restrictions on Universal's website it looks like there are 5 rides their son can't ride - Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Revenge of the Mummy, Doctor Doom's Fearfall, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Incredible Hulk Coaster. One other ride might be iffy depending on how they measure - Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls is right at 44 inches. There are 16 other height-restricted rides that he will be able to ride, some more extreme than others.
2. Can they do it all in 1 day or should they plan 2 days? Park-to-park or single park tickets?
3. They might consider one hotel night at Universal, but it would likely be at Cabana Bay. Is it worth it to stay at Cabana Bay?
It looks like Cabana Bay doesn't get the free express pass that the pricier hotels get, but it would save about 30 (?) minutes travel each way and make it easier for them if they want to take a mid-day break. Are there any other benefits that would make it worthwhile for them to stay at Cabana Bay?
4. What transportation option would you recommend for them to get from WDW to Universal? Shuttle, taxi, rental car, ?
5. Thoughts on timing - should they do Universal first or WDW first?
Thanks in advance! It's been over 20 years since I visited Universal so what information I remember is woefully out of date.