Spending 1 day there and have never been to Universal

[StephN52]

We are staying at Surfside 8/16 and going to the park 8/17 for the day before we head to my mother in laws . Our flight lands the evening of 8/16.
I have never been to this park nor has my 17yr old. My husband went probably 8 years ago.
Can I have suggestions on places to eat and well not to eat at lol? Rides is there certain ones to go to right away? We plan to do early entry that day . Characters to see and where we can find them?
Is there anything that is a waste of time or a better way to do something?
What are the options for getting to the that park?
We don’t have express pass . My husband is trying to get a disability pass he is type 1 diabetic and cancer so we are down in Florida for his surgery. We wanted a fun day before he has to spend time recovering in Tampa. So I am hoping the process for this pass is not to complicated. He is getting the information for doctors together for them. The heat is hard on him so I’m sure we will be having breaks but want to be able to have some fun with out it being to much for him also
Thanks for the help

 

[SPAM]

I am assuming you are doing both parks that day? You would want to start with IOA, Hagrids and Velocicoaster are the most popular rides and are both open for early entry which you will get staying onsite. You will want to get to the gates early before early entry to be towards the front of the pack. I recommend both Harry Potter restaurants, they are both good and have a nice ambience. I also like Green Eggs and Ham in IOA and the crepe stand in Studios.

 

[lisam70]

Do you have park to park tickets?
The only way from surf side to the parks is by bus.
Defining what’s worth it for food and attractions is subjective. Start by reviewing attractions and restaurants and see what appeals to you and prioritize those things. For example, if HP is important for you to see than do that first as it is the most crowded/ popular sections in each park.
Having disability pass will change the way you tour the parks so if you get it you should have no trouble seeing most attractions.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Characters are not as big a thing at Universal as they are at WDW. They do exist, so it's about who/what do you want to meet. The Raptor Encounter makes for a great photo, and I had a fantastic interaction with the entire Scooby gang near the Mystery Machine.

I would skip Fast and the Furious because the ride is kind of a waste/dissapointment.

In terms of rides, what is your party's tolerance, and does anyone have any specific ride relatated perferences or issues? Are you ride cowards, thrill seekers, or something in between? Any issues with drops, coasters, motion simulators, and similar/related things? Any Harry Potter fans/superfans in the party? Any franchises that someone is fan of (Minions, Jurassic Park, Marvel)? The answers to these questions will help you get better recommendations from the wonderful and knowledgable people on this board.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Maybe you can start by telling us a bit about what kind of things you and your husband like? Any particular type of ride? Are you interested in shows? Do you have a particular affinity for some of the IPs featured at UO?

Even with early entry, it's going to be hard to get in "everything," especially without express pass. The disability pass will speed things up a bit, but I imagine your husband's condition will also slow you down.

Getting to the parks is easy. You'll take the free bus from the resort to City Walk, go through security in the hub, and proceed to either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure. Since IoA has early entry, you'll probably want to start on that side. Usually the Harry Potter section is fully open, as well as Velocicoaster.

 

[StephN52]

Do you have park to park tickets?
The only way from surf side to the parks is by bus.
Defining what’s worth it for food and attractions is subjective. Start by reviewing attractions and restaurants and see what appeals to you and prioritize those things. For example, if HP is important for you to see than do that first as it is the most crowded/ popular sections in each park.
Having disability pass will change the way you tour the parks so if you get it you should have no trouble seeing most attractions.

I do have park to park tickets . Thank you for the help

 

[StephN52]

Characters are not as big a thing at Universal as they are at WDW. They do exist, so it's about who/what do you want to meet. The Raptor Encounter makes for a great photo, and I had a fantastic interaction with the entire Scooby gang near the Mystery Machine.

I would skip Fast and the Furious because the ride is kind of a waste/dissapointment.

In terms of rides, what is your party's tolerance, and does anyone have any specific ride relatated perferences or issues? Are you ride cowards, thrill seekers, or something in between? Any issues with drops, coasters, motion simulators, and similar/related things? Any Harry Potter fans/superfans in the party? Any franchises that someone is fan of (Minions, Jurassic Park, Marvel)? The answers to these questions will help you get better recommendations from the wonderful and knowledgable people on this board.

I would say ride tolerance is my husband and daughter love roller coasters and fast stuff .myself I am good with less crazy but 1 or 2 not to intense roller coasters are fine. My husband is a big super hero person I would be more the Harry Potter . My daughter is a go with the flow type person. She loves minions etc . I want to head by Dr. Seuss. I was hoping to see Grinch but that is only at Xmas time. Our plan was to go later in the year, but with his health issue we are coming to Florida sooner for his treatment.

 

[schumigirl]

I would say ride tolerance is my husband and daughter love roller coasters and fast stuff .myself I am good with less crazy but 1 or 2 not to intense roller coasters are fine. My husband is a big super hero person I would be more the Harry Potter . My daughter is a go with the flow type person. She loves minions etc . I want to head by Dr. Seuss. I was hoping to see Grinch but that is only at Xmas time. Our plan was to go later in the year, but with his health issue we are coming to Florida sooner for his treatment.

The Grinch is out every day in Seuss, not just at Christmas.

His meet and greets are several times a day and they are very good!

 

[StephN52]

Omg really that is awesome!! I can not wait for that

 

[erinch]

As you probably know, universal has a brandnew accessibilty system run by a 3rd party provider, which you can, and should, do right now to have time for processing.
https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/accessibility-information

Since your husband was there 8 years ago, ask what he liked best. Much new since then, but place to start. If you don’t get the disability pass, can you afford the express pass add on, or possibly upgrade to one of the 3 premium hotels for EP?

In any case, I would be at IOA 45 minutes before the start of early entry to make it into the front wave for Hagrid, only attraction without EP. If you have EP or Disabilty pass, I would then do rest of Wizarding world, to save steps, then go to velocicoaster, and make way around to Jurassic Park, Kong, Superman and Hulk. That will have brought you all the way around the lagoon.
It would then be time for lunch! Carole on this board likes Confisco. We love Mythos, or Green Eggs and Ham for Quick serve tots. Then do Seuss trolley and cat in the hat, and if line is not backed up go to Hogwarts express.

If not yet hungry, or only eating a snack, do Seuss attractions, the train to studios. We like Finnegans best of the studio sit-downs, haven’t tried Minion Cafe yet, but getting mixed to good reviews.

In studios, we work our way from Despicable Me to Mummy to Gringotts in Diagonal Alley to Men in Black to ET and then see Horror Makeup show, (must do) and Bourne if time.

In both parks, we skip the water rides in IOA, and Simpson, Jimmy Fallon and Fast and Furious and Transformers in IoA if short on time. I ride Rockin coaster, my husband does not.

For dinner, a nostalgic favorite is the porch at Margaritaville, with Cowfish, Bigfire or Antonitos (maybe for guacamole and quest and margs). If you don’t have Disability pass or EP watch wait times in the app and do a little bit of the above.