So exciting!!! First time going to Universal! Let me know your favorites!!!

[mickeymom22]

We are a die hard Disney family, but for Christmas this year, hubby and I are going to surprise the kids with 2 days at Universal. I booked one night the week before Christmas at Portofino Bay. We are looking forward to all the Harry Potter experiences and seeing the holiday decorations.

Please share some must-do's that you love. I would to hear all about them!

Thanks!

 

[MarcIsMe]

Don’t know the ages of your kids, but catch the Shrek 4D show before it leaves for good in January. The Mummy ride (a little intense) is also scheduled for a temporary closure in January. Make sure to catch all the little details in the Studios side of Harry Potter including the dark alley in the left back side and pay a visit to the rest room to catch Moaning Myrtle. Explore the side alleys (left side walking towards Hagrid’s) on the Islands side also for the kitchen antics. Lots of neat little details in both areas. Make sure to use the app to check for showtimes in Diagon Alley.

 

[georgina]

We are a die hard Disney family, but for Christmas this year, hubby and I are going to surprise the kids with 2 days at Universal. I booked one night the week before Christmas at Portofino Bay. We are looking forward to all the Harry Potter experiences and seeing the holiday decorations.

Please share some must-do's that you love. I would to hear all about them!

Thanks!

Not sure if character meets will be going on, but if the talking Grinch is meeting, that is a great meet. He is very funny. The Grinchmas Who-liday show in Seuss landing is also great.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Depending on the line/time, if you are serious Harry Potter fans, consider doing the full line of Forbidden Journey because the express pass skips parts of the castle. If they are happening, all of the Harry Potter shows are worth seeing once. The ice-cream is Diagon Alley is wonderful. Bumblebee Man's Taco Truck is great. The banana icees near the King Kong ride are fantastic. If you want a sit deal meal, I enjoyed Mythos, but that was years ago and I've heard it's changed.

I'm a ride coward, so there are some attractions I skip. I love Minion Mayhem, Men In Black, ET, Forbidden Journey, and the King Kong ride. The themeing of the Harry Potter areas and the Simpsons area are fantastic, so walk through and enjoy the detials.

 

[mickeymom22]

Don’t know the ages of your kids, but catch the Shrek 4D show before it leaves for good in January. The Mummy ride (a little intense) is also scheduled for a temporary closure in January. Make sure to catch all the little details in the Studios side of Harry Potter including the dark alley in the left back side and pay a visit to the rest room to catch Moaning Myrtle. Explore the side alleys (left side walking towards Hagrid’s) on the Islands side also for the kitchen antics. Lots of neat little details in both areas. Make sure to use the app to check for showtimes in Diagon Alley.

Thanks for sharing! My kids are older so I am sure we will be riding all the roller coasters and intense rides. Thanks for sharing the great details not to miss. Moaning Myrtle etc! Exactly what I was looking for!

 

[mickeymom22]

Depending on the line/time, if you are serious Harry Potter fans, consider doing the full line of Forbidden Journey because the express pass skips parts of the castle. If they are happening, all of the Harry Potter shows are worth seeing once. The ice-cream is Diagon Alley is wonderful. Bumblebee Man's Taco Truck is great. The banana icees near the King Kong ride are fantastic. If you want a sit deal meal, I enjoyed Mythos, but that was years ago and I've heard it's changed.

I'm a ride coward, so there are some attractions I skip. I love Minion Mayhem, Men In Black, ET, Forbidden Journey, and the King Kong ride. The themeing of the Harry Potter areas and the Simpsons area are fantastic, so walk through and enjoy the detials.

Thank you so much for all your suggestions! Ice cream in Diagon Alley sounds like a great idea!

 

[erinburrsir]

If you're going between parks on the Hogwarts Express, try to catch it both ways - there's a show that's different depending on if you're going from Islands to Universal and vice versa!

If you have any thrill seekers in the family, the Velocicoaster just opened this past summer and it's one of the best coasters I've ever been on so I highly recommend that!

 

[Skippyboo]

Totally recommend Hagrid’s motorbike and VelociCoaster Those 2 aren’t included in your express pass so you want to rope drop them. I also like Mummy and MiB . You can buy an interactive wand that you can do spells in both HP sections that trigger effects sort of like Sorcerers of the Kingdom at MK..

Lot of the rides you have to store your bags and loose items in lockers. So go for a smaller park bag if possible. I love Cowfish at Citywalk (burgers and sushi).

 

[DizneyFamof4]

The Grinchmas Who-liday show is wonderful and WDW really cannot compete when it comes to rollercoasters, especially Hagrid’s motorbike, VelociCoaster, Hulk and Ripride Rocket. My DD's also enjoyed Mummy, Spiderman, Shrek 4-D. Jimmy Fallon ride is also pretty good.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Jimmy Fallon ride is also pretty good.

It's always nice to find someone else who likes that ride. I enjoy it but I know tons of people hate it.

@mickeymom22-One big difference bewtween Universal and Disney are ride lockers, but some people make way too big a deal over it. There are many rides where you have to put your bags in a locker, but it is not something you need to think too much about. The lockers are incredibly close to the line for the ride, or are right before you board. It's not something you need to worry about as long as you don't have a massive backpack. I take the same crossbody bags to the park that I use for my day-to-day life and I have never had a problem fitting them into the locker.

 

[mickeymom22]

Totally recommend Hagrid’s motorbike and VelociCoaster Those 2 aren’t included in your express pass so you want to rope drop them. I also like Mummy and MiB . You can buy an interactive wand that you can do spells in both HP sections that trigger effects sort of like Sorcerers of the Kingdom at MK..

Lot of the rides you have to store your bags and loose items in lockers. So go for a smaller park bag if possible. I love Cowfish at Citywalk (burgers and sushi).

Thanks for the tip about park bag size! Cowfish at Citywalk! Got it!

 

[mickeymom22]

The Grinchmas Who-liday show is wonderful and WDW really cannot compete when it comes to rollercoasters, especially Hagrid’s motorbike, VelociCoaster, Hulk and Ripride Rocket. My DD's also enjoyed Mummy, Spiderman, Shrek 4-D. Jimmy Fallon ride is also pretty good.

I am a big Jimmy Fallon fan so I will have to check out that ride!

 

[mickeymom22]

It's always nice to find someone else who likes that ride. I enjoy it but I know tons of people hate it.

@mickeymom22-One big difference bewtween Universal and Disney are ride lockers, but some people make way too big a deal over it. There are many rides where you have to put your bags in a locker, but it is not something you need to think too much about. The lockers are incredibly close to the line for the ride, or are right before you board. It's not something you need to worry about as long as you don't have a massive backpack. I take the same crossbody bags to the park that I use for my day-to-day life and I have never had a problem fitting them into the locker.

Thanks for the info about the lockers. I usually just carry a crossbody too!

 

[Skippyboo]

You also will want to buy a lanyard with a pouch either ahead of time or at the park when you get there. You have to use your park ticket for the lockers and your room keycard is your express pass so the lanyard is super useful. You can bring it on the rides just have to tuck it in your shirt.

 

[theFoof]

The Mummy, Velocicoaster, Spiderman, Hagrid's (but really all Potter stuff), Jurassic Park River Adventure, and then I'm assuming they will have the Holiday tribute store this year again so definitely that. I'd probably throw ET in there too being an original attraction. Have fun!

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

Don’t know the ages of your kids, but catch the Shrek 4D show before it leaves for good in January. The Mummy ride (a little intense) is also scheduled for a temporary closure in January. Make sure to catch all the little details in the Studios side of Harry Potter including the dark alley in the left back side and pay a visit to the rest room to catch Moaning Myrtle. Explore the side alleys (left side walking towards Hagrid’s) on the Islands side also for the kitchen antics. Lots of neat little details in both areas. Make sure to use the app to check for showtimes in Diagon Alley.

Also be sure to spot Kreacher at Grimmauld Place.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

FYI, they have 2 sizes of lockers, make sure you use the "free" small ones. The bigger ones will cost you $$. We are leaving today and after or 3 park days, the Velocicoaster and Hagrid Motorcycle were our family favorites. Also, if your family are into HP and has wands, at night the "Death Eaters" characters wander the crowds in Hogsmead (IOA) and interact with people and have wand wars with them. Our 2 daughters were shy at first but then got into it and had a great time. I will say that after this trip, US has come very close to being even to WDW. We decided to do spring break there instead of WDW. I know my wallet is happier. LOL