Questions!!!

[katyringo]

Hello! Our trip is over a year away (we are actually headed to Disneyland in a couple
Months so my planning has focused on that)...

Anyway we are going November 2018

We are staying at the royal pacific. It's just my husband and I!!!! (Kid free yo!) it's a joint celebration of our 30th birthdays.

Anyway. We've been once before but only for about 6 hours as part of a cruise excursion and that was before the second HP area opened. Looks like our room comes with the unlimited express pass. How does that work?

What are the things I must know before our trip? Spam me!

We booked a Harry Potter package and the dining package. When we booked it had us pick times for our leaky couldron and broomstick meals but I don't remember the times and I can't find where to see them?!?

Where can I find info on what meals and snacks are included in the dining plan?

Lastly- are dinner reservations a thing at universal like they are at Disney?!

Sooooo many questions! Thanks in advance!

 

[schumigirl]

Honestly.......read the stickies and posts on here.......fabulous stuff on there about everything.

There’s a sticky with restaurant menus for every place in the parks, Citywalk and hotels. Also the UO website has info on most things.

At the moment your EP has gone back to being your room key, it’s issued to you when you check in, you show it and it’s scanned at every ride. Seperate queue at rides for EP.

It had changed to a picture EP for a few years, but your trip is so far away who knows.

No need for dining reservations unless it’s a major holiday.

 

[macraven]

You have 13 months before your darkside vacation

Way to early to need to lock in eateries date and time
If you were required to do that when you booked, you can change date/time prior to your trip

You will be able to do that the month before you go or while you are at UO

Like schumi stated, read the stickies and you get a better understanding of the ins and outs of UO

Trip reports forum is also very helpful
Many give details and include pictures

Take a look at the park maps online
Get familiar with where things are located
(Eateries, first aide, restrooms, rides, parade routes, guest services, etc)

You'll be a pro about the parks even before you get there!

 

[Hobbes]

DH and I have spent the last 6 months watching various "Walk round Universal"type videos on Youtube-they are usually 30-45 minutes and give you a real flavour of where everything is. DH is partiuclarly pleased that I have played "Spot the restroom" as I watched..."You never know when you'll need to go" is my mantra!

 

[damo]

For our current vacation, we have not made one single dining reservation. I'll keep you posted on our wait times.

 

[bchbetha]

A few days before your trip is enough time if you really want a dining reservation. It’s just not like Disney. You can use Open Table to make some CityWalk and hotel restaurant reservations. For the ones in the park, use their website.
I’ve never booked a HP package (didn’t seem necessary) so I can’t help there.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

DH and I have spent the last 6 months watching various "Walk round Universal"type videos on Youtube-they are usually 30-45 minutes and give you a real flavour of where everything is. DH is partiuclarly pleased that I have played "Spot the restroom" as I watched..."You never know when you'll need to go" is my mantra!

Where can I see those videos? Any specific ones most helpful?

 

[cschaaf]

Dinner reservations are typically not necessary at the Universal and City Walk restaurants. We've been to the Uni 5 or 6 times and have never made an advance resi. We did a 'day of' resi once for Vivo shortly after it opened. We wanted a specific time, so we set that up in the morning. We probably didn't need it.

Your room key also gets you to the front of the line at many of the restaurants. So, in the odd chance that you go somewhere and it's busy, show them your room card and see if it bumps you up the list.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

You may want to plan to get a reservation if you want to eat around the time the parks close. Last year both Cowfish and Jimmy Buffets had 45 min waits when we left the park. We didn’t know about telling them we were on site though (and they didn’t ask).

 

[macraven]

When the parks close, city walk eateries start to have wait lines

Best to hit city walk for dining 30 minutes before park closure


Or go to city walk later in the evening
When I go later in the evening it's usually about 9-9:30 and no issues with being seated

 

[cschaaf]

You may want to plan to get a reservation if you want to eat around the time the parks close. Last year both Cowfish and Jimmy Buffets had 45 min waits when we left the park. We didn’t know about telling them we were on site though (and they didn’t ask).

According to this, Cowfish doesn't accept reservations. But you could use their app to get on a waitlist.

This also shows which restaurants have priority seating for on-site guests.
https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/dining-reservations/

 

[bumbershoot]

We booked a Harry Potter package and the dining package. When we booked it had us pick times for our leaky couldron and broomstick meals but I don't remember the times and I can't find where to see them?!?

LC and 3B are counter service, not table service, so it remains a mystery to me how and why packages have you make reservations for them. I’m not sure it matters...