So excited!!!!!

[dgr1973]

Hi everyone! I am so excited, last night my husband and I decided to take a last minute trip to Orlando and we are going to Universal for the 1st time! We are going the 1st week of November and decided since the airfare is low we should just do it. We went last year the same week and the weather and crowds were awesome, but I'm a little freaked out because we have only gone to Disney and I usually have at least 6 months to plan those trips and now I only have 6 weeks! Anyways I just wanted to share my excitement and looking forward to spending the next few weeks getting as much info as I can from all you experts here!

 

[TaylorsDad]

Dont worry, the great thing about Universal is you dont have to plan 6 months in advance. Everything is a much more relaxing vacation. I would recommend staying at one of the onsite hotels. With an onsite stay you get unlimited express pass to all the rides and the parks are within walking distance.

 

[dgr1973]

I have heard that Universal is much more laid back and relaxing then Disney. We love Disney but when we get home we need another vacation! We won't be staying onsite this time because I found a hotel on travelzoo.com for 35 per day and since it's so last minute that's all we really can afford. I am hoping it won't be too crowded so we won't need the pass.

 

[Metro West]

I have heard that Universal is much more laid back and relaxing then Disney. We love Disney but when we get home we need another vacation! We won't be staying onsite this time because I found a hotel on travelzoo.com for 35 per day and since it's so last minute that's all we really can afford. I am hoping it won't be too crowded so we won't need the pass.

You should be fine crowd wise that week. You probably won't need to invest the EP.

 

[dgr1973]

I have a question, we are not Harry Potter fans at all (never read a book or seen a movie) will WWoHP still be fun for us? Do you need to know alot about the stories to get it? I've read alot of opinions about how cool it is and how awesome FJ is but is it because they are fans? Still plan on doing everything that's there because it looks really fun!

 

[Clifton]

I have a question, we are not Harry Potter fans at all (never read a book or seen a movie) will WWoHP still be fun for us? Do you need to know alot about the stories to get it? I've read alot of opinions about how cool it is and how awesome FJ is but is it because they are fans? Still plan on doing everything that's there because it looks really fun!

I'm the same way, but I went the week after it opened and really enjoyed it. The FJ attraction is a must

 

[Disney Padawan]

I have a question, we are not Harry Potter fans at all (never read a book or seen a movie) will WWoHP still be fun for us? Do you need to know alot about the stories to get it? I've read alot of opinions about how cool it is and how awesome FJ is but is it because they are fans? Still plan on doing everything that's there because it looks really fun!

You won't need to be fan to have fun on the rides but it does enhance your experience 10 fold. If you can, I would suggest renting the movies, there are 6 in total and should be watched in order. Buy them if you find them really cheap because they're all very well made if you like fantasy movies. I would also recommend watching other movies to get you in the mood like, Jaws, Men in Black, The Mummy 1&2, Jurassic Park, E.T., Simpsons movie or cartoons, Shrek 1&2, Jimmy Neutron boy genius movie...etc. If you're pretty familiar with the stories or characters of the movies above then that should be enough, however I would highly recommend watching the Harry Potter movies since you've never seen them.

You don't have to plan that much at all with UO, that's the beauty of it. You got your hotel room, buy your tickets online, pack and you're ready to go! Hope you have a great time and tell us how it went ok?

 

[derekw]

Congrats on your trip! We'll be down there the same week. Hoping the crowds aren't bad though it is 'Jersey Week' but I don't expect the bump up to be too significant.

 

[macraven]

congrats on doing a spur of the moment trip to the Darkside.



read some of the stickies, check out the interactive park map on the UO website.

that should be enough to get you thru the basics for this trip.


i'm not a parry hotter fan and will do that section.

i'm intrigued by FJ and the frozen butterbead comments others have made.