So tell me about "Wet and Wild". What is a must a Universal? ~and other questions~

[Lachesis00]

We're heading to Orlando in November. Hopefully thats a good time to go

How far is Wet and Wild from Universal. From what Im reading it's not onsite? Is it the only "water park" or rides that have water? Just curious.

What is "cool" to do at Universal? My son is 12 and is up for anything... We LOVED Universal in California (shhh better then Disney, but I think it's b/c Disney was *so* busy and Universal was not).
Anything that is a "must see"?

How far is Universal from Disney? Whats the drive like? We're small town Alaskans, never driven in big cities (well we do in Seattle but we both kind of know it). Im scared to let my husband behind the wheel LOL in a town we dont know.
If we don't drive, and do stay in a hotel do they drive you to both parks?

I see some of you mentioned scooters. I plan to rent one (arthritis in the hips and knees. I sure wish Disney offered them when we were there 2 years ago. It was funny watching my husband and I going down a hill *lol*.

Im so jazzed about this trip!!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

-November is a great time to go. The crowds are great and the weather is grand.

-Wet N Wild is a few miles away, but not that far. (Less than 5 miles). It's a water park, so everything is wet.

-Spider-Man, Back to the Future, MIB, Terminator, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Hulk, Dueling Dragons, Shrek, Jimmy Neutron, Earthquake, Ripsaw Falls

and more.

-It's like 10-15 miles (not sure specifically) from Disney. Travel time varies depending on the roads you take. Many hotels do offer transportation to/from the parks, but the pick-up/drop-off schedule is very specific.

-Scooters are available, but must be requested well in advance. They are not able to traverse most of the lines in either park, so transferring will be very common. Also, none of the rides can accomodate them, so transferring will have to happen.

 

[daywalker]

Actually I would be surprised if Wet n Wild is little more than half a mile from Universal. It is very close.

November is a nice time to go but it only seems to warm between 10am & 4pm so bear that in mind if you are in Wet n Wild, you'll soon feel the chill!

I would rec. everything in IOA! & Men In Black is excellent in US along with all the other major attractions, you will have a great time. (I hope)

 

[Disney Debbie]

That is a good time to go - and I bet a lot better then Alaska in November!!

It is very easy to drive to WDW from Universal. You just hop on I-4 and follow the signs.

 

[ChrisFL]

Wet'n'Wild:

Universal Bought this park at about the same time they did the huge expansion with IOA and the hotels, and there's a road that goes between the parking garage and the parks, this goes directly to Wet'n'Wild, just outside of the parking garages and the I-4 underpass. So it's RIGHT there.

Back in 1997, I left Orlando for a year, came back and could not believe how quickly all the roads had been changed to get to UO. It was incredible, but then again, it wasn't govt employees doing the work

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Just an informational note: When going from Universal to Disney, you take I-4 WEST (if you take I-4 at all, that is).

Disney to Universal you take I-4 EAST (if you take I-4, which I avoid when possible)

 

[Planogirl]

There are so many "must-dos" in the Universal parks! My 10 year old son and I enjoyed Men In Black, Back to the Future, Jaws, Twister, Earthquake, Terminator and Spiderman (the best!). The queue in ET is very cool and it's a cute ride, and if anyone isn't up for the coasters in IOA, be sure to at least walk through the queue of Dueling Dragons. The Cat in the Hat ride is cute too. Poseidon's Fury is fun to see especially the walk through the water tunnel and the theming of the area around the attraction is amazing. There's some good water rides in IOA but be prepared to get wet particularly in the Bluto Rat-Bilge Barges or whatever they're called. City Walk has a slew of nice restaurants and check out the Universal hotels if you like to explore hotels like we do.

Of course, Jimmy Neutron and Shrek will be open by then. I can't wait to hear about them!

 

[maepartner]

Rachel, Disney does rent scooter but you, of course can't leave the parks with them.....you should rent from an offsite firm,,,that allows you to take them back to your hotels,,,via bus, boat etc. If you decide to do a couple of days at disney, Randy's Mobility is a good place as they will probably transfer them over there for a small fee.

Another plus is that they don't have governors on them, so you can make time going from your Universal resort, to the parks. Just be careful you dont run down Sponge Bob!

 

[Cindy B]

You can get from Wet n Wild to the parking garage at Universal very easily if you take Sandlake road.. you can practically see the parking garage from Wet n Wilds entrance.

As for Wet n Wild, very very fun. My kids loved it... but if you have scooters/mobility issues, that could become a problem.

Most of the slides /tube rides have stairs to access the "rides". There are some places you can go.. I saw a father who was in a wheelchair that could go with his daughter in the "kids" area, but he didn't go on any of the other rides.

Look on Wet n wild website.. I think its www.wetnwild.com so you can see for yourself.

As for Universal/IOA.. its really fantastic. My friends, one of whom is in a wheelchair, said Universal Studios was wonderful to him and his family there... very accommodating.

 

[BarryHom]

Wet N Wild is at the corner of I-Drive and Universal Blvd. I believe the onsite hotels have shuttles to the water park.

 

[Cindy B]

Universal Blvd.. was the road I was searching for... thanks Barry.

Sandlake was in the front, Universal Blvd was the cross street... see, I got confused becasue the exit /entrance was on Universal Blved...

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a list of the places that DIS posters report renting ecvs (scooters) from:

Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

 

[robvia]

Check the WnW web site here to get current hours.
http://www.wetnwild.com/Orlando/Main/Main.asp?ContentID=6&CategoryId=4&SubCategoryId=1

If you're there before the gate opens, you can do the best slides with no wait.