Someone please encourage me!

[NoleLover]

We are taking our first family trip to US/IOA - HRH in 2 weeks. I am worried that we are not going to enjoy ourselves. I am reading about all the closed attractions! It does not seem that there is enough to do for 4 days. Someone please tell me different, I have a 8,4 and 3 year old very excited about this trip. I am thinking that we need to hit Disney one day to give us enough to do..........

 

[JessicaR]

NoleLover,

You are going on vacation to a wonderful hotel and theme parks, dont worry be happy!

I know my family is not the "norm" but we spent 10 days 2 adults 2 kids ages 4 and 8, visiting universal and IOA (no disney). We didnt run out of fun things to do! You could always see when you get there and do Disney if you want for a day! How about SeaWorld?

4 days should be wonderful for you to be able to spend the time not running through the parks and really enjoying the details and all the kids areas fully. One day spent by the pool and taking advantage of HRH is always nice too

Whatever you do, dont worry now that you wont enjoy yourselves before you even get there. You are going to have a ton of fun. The kids are so excited, let some of that rub off on you and just enjoy!

 

[damo]

DS and I spent 4 days there in December. The parks were empty and we did everything many times. We gladly would have stayed another 4 days! Take advantage of the time and visit ALL areas of the parks. There are so many minor attractions and shows and playgrounds, etc that you will absolutely love it.

 

[gschmerl]

Take time to notice all the wonderful little touches in the theming throughout the parks. See all the show, and ride your favorite attractions over and over. Your children will love the play areas in Universal Studios. You will all love the HRH and would enjoy just lounging around the pool.

 

[NoleLover]

Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I feel better now!!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

During the slow season, one of the best things to do is explore. How many people can honestly say they've gone down to Sneetch Beach and looked at the sneetches and listened to the Beach Radio? Or how many have walked through the NY Nazarman's Plaza and looked at all the different posters and whatnot. There's plenty to look for if you do it right, and it's fun!

 

[JessicaR]

the Dark Marauder,

I love hearing about places I may have missed. I just added these to my list for my trip in March. Do you have any others? Thank You!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Just take the roads less travelled. On each Island of IOA, there's what I call a "quiet zone". These areas are also great areas for viewing fireworks (when they have them). The areas are found as follows:

Port of Entry: just keep going forward toward the lagoon.

Marvel Superhero Island: behind Cotton Candy. You can see stuff like "Stark Enterprises" on the back of one building.

Toon Lagoon: around the Me Ship, The Olive play area.

JP: behind the Discovery Center. Quite possibly the most serene area in IOA.

Lost Continent: on the side of Mythos. f you look closely, you'll see Atlas holding up part of Mythos.

Seuss Landing: Sneetch Beach. You can also see a huge Olive Oyl painted on the Meship smokestack.

With USF a lot of it is just looking closely at the different areas, especially in New York and the Hollywood area. Just the silly little facades are cool looking.

 

[JessicaR]

Excellent! I'm very excited to check these area's out. Sometimes we visit these parks and just fall into the normal routes. I'm at the point where we take the time to seek out new interesting areas that we may have missed. Thanks so much for some fresh ideas

 

[DocBosch]

A place that I just recently discovered is in the Beverly Hills/Central Park area of USF. I got used to passing by the old AT&T exhibit building in that area and not really noticing it. This last time, I realized that there were walkways that allowed one to just walk up to the Beverly Hills apartment facade. While your walking down that area, towards BTTF, if you turn right into the "apratment complex" not only will it provide a shortcut to the KidZone area, you can also walk up some stairs, to the second floor, to a nice little secluted place.

A couple of years ago, on one of my first trips to IOA, in Port Of Entry, while my family was getting some grub at the Crossiant Moon, I wondered outside and found a small, open gate gate with a "Navigator's Club" sign on it. I went on inside, then up a flight of stairs. At the top, there was a small hallway with a little window towards the park. On the opposite side of the stairs were some glass paned doors, which were locked. The view out the little window was cool. For a second, it almost felt like it was my own little apartment in the middle of the park! Later I realized that the locked glass paned doors led to some sort of VIP room.

Now, granted, I made it a point to make sure that non of these places were locked or ropes off. The way I figure, if Universal didn't want me in these places, they would make sure I understood they didn't want me there.

The New York alley has always been one of my favorite parts of USF. It's there for no other reson then to give people something neat to stumble upon. Another great spot to visit are the docks in Amity. The docks in the San Francisco area are pretty much outdoor dinning areas, but the ones in Amity are simply there for atmosphere, and a neat little place to stroll through.

These hidden away places, like the New York Alley, Sneech Beach, Central park, and the others, are one of my favorite things about Universal, and any other park that happenes to have any. In fact, my dream is for there to be an entire park who's midway, in a large part, would be composed of small, secluted areas and passagways.

I have one question, though. What secluted area, that you mentioned, exists in the Hollywood area?

-Kevin

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I didnt mention a secluded area in Hollywood. I mentioned how looking at the facades was a cool part. I'm not too sure if there is one in Hollywood. I'll have to look around more. There may or may not be some.

 

[Robinrs]

What great observations, guys! I swear, I learn so much from you regulars!

JR, I guess I'm not the norm either. Out of all the days I spent in Orlando last year I spent one day at Disney, and that was because it was free!

NoleLover: I hope you have a great tim!

 

[JessicaR]

Very cool DocBosch!

"A place that I just recently discovered is in the Beverly Hills/Central Park area of USF. I got used to passing by the old AT&T exhibit building in that area and not really noticing it. This last time, I realized that there were walkways that allowed one to just walk up to the Beverly Hills apartment facade. While your walking down that area, towards BTTF, if you turn right into the "apratment complex" not only will it provide a shortcut to the KidZone area, you can also walk up some stairs, to the second floor, to a nice little secluted place."

My list is growing!

Since this thread wasnt intended originally for all this wonderful info I would like to start a new thread and include all this great info...would that be ok? I would love to hear from others that can add to it! Thanks so much...keep it coming.....PLEASE

 

[DocBosch]

Originally posted by the Dark Marauder
I didnt mention a secluded area in Hollywood. I mentioned how looking at the facades was a cool part.

Oh, I know what you mean. In the Hollywood area, there's an auto supply shop facade that has different brand names printed on it's canopy. When ever I'm there with somebody new, I like to point out that I visit so frequently, they even put my name up.

And JessicaR, starting a new thread would be a great idea. I was thinking about doing a similar thing, but never got around to it.

-Kevin "German for fuel injector" Bosch

 

[jeannej]

We were there a week ago. We did all we wanted in two days. However, ideally I would have loved to stay on property and relax at the hotel for a day or so. My husband and I were talking and it seems to us, anyway, that if you spend the kind of money for a deluxe hotel one should make some time to enjoy it.
Just my opinion.

jeannej

 

[karin037]

We (Me, DH, DD21, DD16 & DD14) stayed for one week (3 nts PBH, 3 nts HRH) and we were never bored. There are shows we didn't even get to see. There were plenty of things to do.