Some help planning UO w/ P2P and EPA?

[Rick T]

Hi there. So, after pouring over what seems like an endless trove of Universal insight and information I find myself even more confused than I was when started. Was hoping some kind universal expert on this forum can help me figure out a plan for my family's upcoming visit to UO.

First some details:

- Visiting Jan 5 (one day)
- Staying at Royal Pacific (early access and express passes)
- We have park to park passes
- Me, wife, 6yo girl (48"), 4yo boy (43" with shoes)

My loose/notional agenda:

1) IOA / HP Forbidden Journey (little one to Hippogriff, round 1)
2) IOA / HP Flight of the Hippogriff (round 2 with all)
3) IOA / Hogsmeade Express to Diagon Alley
4) US / visit Ollivander's and Diagon Alley
5) US / HP Escape from Gringotts
6) US / Mummy (little one to Minions for first time)
7) US / Minions (second time with everyone)
8) US / Transformers?
9) US / Hang out at Curious George, Woody Woodpecker, decompress
10) US / Lunch at Leaky Cauldron? Or wait for 3 Broomsticks at IOA?
11) US / Simpsons
12) US / Men In Black
13) Hogsmeade Express back to IOA
14) IOA / JP River Adventure
15) IOA / JP Pteranodan Flyers
16) IOA / Bilge Rat Barges
17) IOA / Rip Saw Falls (tbd if little one can go)
18) IOA / Spider Man
19) IOA / Storm Force

We'll ride things multiple times that the kids really like, and Spider man and Storm Force will fall off if we run out of time. Some of my key questions:

- Should we focus our time at US or IOA first? I'm kind of assuming US so we can do Diagon, etc
- Are there things you NEED to see early due to crowds? Besides HP?
- Ollivanders first or the HP rides (Escape Gringotts/Forbidden Journey/Hippogriff)?
- If Ollivanders, go to IOA one even tho its smaller? To do IOA HP rides before heading to US.
- If we do HP rides first, assuming go to US Olli's after rides?
- Is it better to focus on IOA or US in the AM before the crowds? Does it even matter?
- What am I missing?

Thanks in advance for any help, really appreciate it.

Best,
Rick

 

[pcstang]

IOA appears to have early entry on Jan 5th. What day are you checking in?

 

[Rick T]

We're flying in the night before, staying nearby, then coming over and checking in on the 5th. Basically we'll be "checking in" as early as possible, like 7am or whatever (I called and asked) and then heading to the park for early access that same day. Friday we'll probably just chill at the hotel/pool in the morning and then head out (assuming it isn't freezing)

 

[Rick T]

Ah, reading more on early access, I think I get where you're going with this... we can't get to US or most of IOA during the early access period. Okay, so, assuming we have an hour to kill at IOA, should we hit Ollivander's at IOA or do the rides first?

And I just read a little about Skull Island, which isn't even on the Universal online maps I've been using to try and figure out the park...? I'm assuming I should add that to the list?

 

[pcstang]

Download the universal app, kong is on there. I would definitely do Spider-Man. It's a lot of people's favorite ride. I would do olivanders in US as it has 3 rooms and the one in IOA only has one. Go straight to FJ and the do hippogriff, then dueling dragons if you are up for that. The kids can't ride DD so I'm not sure what you are up for. I noticed you didn't include any coasters in your list but if you want to do them the child works great at USO. Anyway, once you explore hogsmeade get in line on the bridge to get released and head for kong. Both parks are each one big loop around a lagoon. We go a lot and stay for about a week at a time so I have no reference for doing it all in one day. However, I have done both parks in one day many times when it's just my oldest and me. Keep in mind too that there is an very cool playground in the Jurassic area and and fun ball shooting area in Curious George area (it's in the very back of that area) that you may have to pry the kids away from. Don't forget about E.T. either. It's in that area before woody woodpecker. My youngest (4) loves that ride although he has no idea who E.T. is. Also, the rafts and Dudley WILL soak you so be prepared for that.

 

[pcstang]

Can you swing 2 days? You get express on check in and check out day. One night stay equals 2 days of unlimited express. They're is so much to see and do. You didn't includ of Dr. Seuss land. There is a talking fountain in IOA that the kids will love too.

 

[Rick T]

Awesome, thanks for the help. Yeah, I love coasters, but at 6 and 4 the kids aren't tall enough yet, and I don't care enough to take time away from their ride... I've been to UO before, I'm sure we'll go again when they get older, better to make this all about them and things they can do or go on.

Yeah, I realized I forgot ET... I think that was kind of subconsciously intentional. The last time we went the ride was sooooo dated, you could see the lines in the carpet! However, you're right that they'll probably love it, so I'll add it and Kong to the list. Still don't know about Spidey, but it's on there, so we'll see where it falls.

The biggest open item now is really the questions... here's an update:

- Assuming we should do early access at HP world IOA and then take the train to US when it opens?
- Should we immediately go to Ollivander's at US or do the HP rides? We may get sucked into Diagon, and my worry is the Escape Gringotts line... but I don't want to get stuck in an Olli's line either!
- Should we stay at US and do the stuff over there after HP first or go right back to IOA after doing Escape and Olli's/Diagon?
- Is there anything on my list that is totally not worth it?

Thanks!
Rick

 

[Rick T]

Can you swing 2 days? You get express on check in and check out day. One night stay equals 2 days of unlimited express. They're is so much to see and do. You didn't includ of Dr. Seuss land. There is a talking fountain in IOA that the kids will love too.

No, unfortunately. We're going to a family wedding in Eustis and need to get out there to visit with family and spend time with folks. So this is kind of a one day treat while we're in town.

I'm assuming we'll hit a lot of that other stuff as we walk around... the fountain is, if I remember, just kind of there, not a ride? So no rush. Dr. Seuss land I just kind of forgot to include as I was going through IOA. I'll post an updated agenda shortly.

 

[pcstang]

Awesome, thanks for the help. Yeah, I love coasters, but at 6 and 4 the kids aren't tall enough yet, and I don't care enough to take time away from their ride... I've been to UO before, I'm sure we'll go again when they get older, better to make this all about them and things they can do or go on.

Yeah, I realized I forgot ET... I think that was kind of subconsciously intentional. The last time we went the ride was sooooo dated, you could see the lines in the carpet! However, you're right that they'll probably love it, so I'll add it and Kong to the list. Still don't know about Spidey, but it's on there, so we'll see where it falls.

The biggest open item now is really the questions... here's an update:

- Assuming we should do early access at HP world IOA and then take the train to US when it opens?
- Should we immediately go to Ollivander's at US or do the HP rides? We may get sucked into Diagon, and my worry is the Escape Gringotts line... but I don't want to get stuck in an Olli's line either!
- Should we stay at US and do the stuff over there after HP first or go right back to IOA after doing Escape and Olli's/Diagon?
- Is there anything on my list that is totally not worth it?

Thanks!
Rick

Gotcha. I personally would stay at US after you take the train there. I would do the HP ride and then the wand show. I rarely see a line for the show in DA. You'll have express, which kong offers, so you should be fine hitting it whenever you make it back. Yes, the talking fountain is just that, you are correct. I was just pointing things since your day is kid centric. My kids are 11, 7 and 4 so I can relate! The ball pit area can suck up a lot of time so be careful. The curious George area will soak the kids too. Honestly, I would stop after you ride woody woodpecker and head out of that area if I only had one day. I agree as far E.T. goes...extremely dated but my two youngest love it so,yep, we ride.

 

[Rick T]

As promised, revised agenda as follows, again, just a loose itinerary:

IOA (early access)
1) IOA / HP Forbidden Journey (little one to Hippogriff, round 1)
2) IOA / HP Flight of the Hippogriff (round 2 with all)
(burn time on rides until Express opens to US)
3) IOA / Hogsmeade Express to Diagon Alley

US
4) US / Escape from Gringotts
5) US / visit Ollivander's and Diagon Alley
6) US / Mummy (little one to Minions)
7) US / Minions (second time with everyone)
8) US / Transformers?
9) US / ET
10) US / Curious George, Woody Woodpecker coaster, etc
11) US / Simpsons
12) US / Men In Black
13) US / Lunch at Leaky Cauldron? Or wait for 3 Broomsticks at IOA?
14) Hogsmeade Express back to IOA

IOA
15) IOA / Jurassic / River Adventure
16) IOA / Jurassic / Pteranodan Flyers
17) IOA / Kong? Still not sure where the hell it is!
18) IOA / Toon / Bilge Rat Barges
19) IOA / Toon / Rip Saw Falls (tbd if little one can go)
20) IOA / Marvel / Spider Man
21) IOA / Marvel / Storm Force
22) IOA / Seuss / Cat in the hat
23) IOA / Seuss / One Fish, Two Fish
24) IOA / Seuss / If I Ran the Zoo (hang out)

Some of the open options:
- Do Escape Gringotts or Ollivander's first when we get to US?
- Where we eat... assuming an HP counter spot? 3 Broomsticks or Leaky?
- Reverse the IOA order? I followed the loop), could do seuss first (clockwise instead)

Thanks!
Rick

 

[pcstang]

Kong is just past Jurassic River Adventure if you are coming from HP land.i would still do Gringotts first and then the wand show. I've only been to Leaky Cauldron once and didn't care for the food so I can't give you my opinion on either choice. Lots of people like both places though. I would do Finnegans, Mythos or Confisco instead.

 

[bumbershoot]

Why are you doing rides with the younger one and then with everyone?

Kong is towards the end of Jurassic as you get near the Dudley doright ride I believe.

 

[damo]

Pteranodon Flyers can have a really long wait, so you might need to adjust there. They do not take express passes.