The three-peat...WWoHP early entry 9/25

[Hedy]

Dear Disney People Who are considering their first Universal trip:
Consider me your warning. Two years ago, I was on my first Universal trip, and I wasn't coming back until I could do Harry Potter with my Nephews in 2011.
Then the Superbowl promotion came, and it was too good to resist. And the next time I would go back wold be in 2011 with my nephews.
Enter February 2010. I was at work, and Dr Doom was on TV. A thought occurred to me "I miss Universal," I was kind of taken aback at the thought, as I've never been on Dr Doom's Fearfall. I had bought a 7 day ticket before the prices went up for my trip in 2011. About three days before they announced the opening date, I bit the bullet and booked a Wizarding World of Harry Potter Package. My TR from my trip last year is unfinished owing to the fact that while I was in UO, my cat was at home and sick (in the care of my mother/multiple vets). I got off the plane home in Boston, and drove to put her down. Ergo, I need a do-over.
Now, I've read all the Harry Potter books and the Tales of Beedle the Bard, but I'm not a hardcore Harry Potter fan. I wanted to see it anyway. So, we have the:
Who: Moi, myself, me! I'm Heather, better known to you as Hedy. I'm 26, and I like my solo trips. If you are in any way opposed to self-deprecating humor, alcohol, or sarcasm, click out of this TR now. I will be joined on one day by a high school friend. I am also inviting my FL-living godmother (who joined me on our trip in 1996, and hasn't been to Orlando since) to join me for a day.
What: A fourth trip to Universal Orlando, and my third annual one since 2008, with brief detours at the outlets and DTD. I got the Harry Potter package because I wanted to be able to said I had it.
Where: I priced out all three hotels. I stayed at HRH on my first trip, and liked it. However, I fell in love with RPR last trip. I wated the closeness to IOA, so I went with them.
When: August 5-10, 2010.
Why: See above
How: I'm taking JetBlue there and back, using a taxi for transport.

 

[marivaid]

Can't wait to read all about your trip ! I think we may actually meet in Universal too if you go there on the 5th or 6th.

 

[nmartin]

I am too reading the Harry Potter books for my up and coming trip at the end of August. Can I ask what Tales of Beedle the Bard is?

 

[Hedy]

I am too reading the Harry Potter books for my up and coming trip at the end of August. Can I ask what Tales of Beedle the Bard is?

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a book which J. K. Rowling released in 2008. It's some classic wizarding tales which are referenced in the later books. I thought the stories were snooze-worthy, but Dumbledore's discussion of various versions of the tales was interesting. It's under 100 pages, so it's much lighter than the harry Potter books.

 

[nmartin]

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a book which J. K. Rowling released in 2008. It's some classic wizarding tales which are referenced in the later books. I thought the stories were snooze-worthy, but Dumbledore's discussion of various versions of the tales was interesting. It's under 100 pages, so it's much lighter than the harry Potter books.

Boy, for not a hard core HP fan, you certainly do your homework! Thanks for the info.

 

[Hedy]

Thursday: Go to Logan after work. Have dinner at Johnny Rockets. Fly to MCO. Land. Check into the Hyatt (Oh, Hyatt MCO via Hotwire, how I love you!). Have them get my bags (you can do this for a $10 fee)

Friday: Get ready to go around 6am. Take taxi to Royal Pacific Resort (RPR). Check in, get keys for FOTL. Be in line to enter IOA by 7:30. Hit WWOHP. Do more IOA. Grab lunch at Pastamore (new!). Head over to catch a few shows at US. Head to RPR for Torch Lighting. Grab dinner at the pool bar (new!)

Saturday: Start at US for Mummy, MIB etc. Lunch at Finngans. Head over to do some stuff at IOA (by which I mean Spiderman a zillion times, followed by Popeye a billion times). Diner at Bice, possibly (new!).

Sunday: Shopping day! Go to Premium Outlets (and possibly Prime as well). Take cab to DTD. Have lunch at Paradiso 37 (new! And kind of free thanks to a $20 OpenTable check). Go up in Characters in Flight (new!). Head home at RPR. Eat at the Kitchen at HRH.

Monday: IOA early. Lunch at ?. US in the evening. Dinner at Tchoup Tchoup (Once again aided by a $20Opentable Cheques).

Tuesday: Breakfast at Three Broomsticks. A little IOA, a little US. Cab to MCO to go home.

My more detailed WWoHP plan will be in the next chapter.

 

[TyRy]

We haven't been back to Universal the last couple of trips. DFIL wants to eventually go to WWoHP, but I said to give it a year to die down. Can't wait to hear about your adventures...not sure if we'll hit the "old" Universal or not this trip.

 

[MagicStitch]

Hi! Very eager to ready your TR as I am planning my first ever Universal only trip for this October..... I would love to hear more of your thoughts on RPR too as this is where I am considering staying!! Thanks and can't wait to read!!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I'm in! We're going to RPR at the end of August -- I'll enjoy your TR and it will help build the excitement!

Maria

 

[Hedy]

I'm in! We're going to RPR at the end of August -- I'll enjoy your TR and it will help build the excitement!

Maria

Hi! Very eager to ready your TR as I am planning my first ever Universal only trip for this October..... I would love to hear more of your thoughts on RPR too as this is where I am considering staying!! Thanks and can't wait to read!!

I loved RPR. It's in a good location-not as close as HRH, but still walkable. There actually is customer service there, unlike the HRH. Staff were universally polite and helpful. The torch lighting ceremony is fun and free. My one big negative is that there really isn't a "counter service" type restaurant (I like to grab a soda on my walk to the parks). I preferred the HRH pool-the RPR's is nice, though, and you can pool hop at all three Universal Orlando hotels.

Any questions in particular?

 

[Hedy]

Slight changes to plan: I'm going to DTD on Monday rather than Sunday, so that I can have a DISmeet with Marivaid. w00t! am excited about almost being in the double digits.

 

[Hedy]

I’ve also added lunch at Emeril’s Tchoup Chop to my agenda. I may be canceling my Paradisio 37 reservation as I’ll be using my OpenTable check to fund the lunch, I think.

WWoHP touring plan wise, here’s what I’m thinking. I’m starting off at FJ as soon as possible after checking to see if I’ll fit, otherwise I’m just doing the queue. I’ll probably hit up the shops after that-you can’t ship stuff to the front of the parks in Hogsmeade, but you can have stuff you buy in Hogsmeade shipped to the front of the park from the gift shop at Sinbad’s: I’m planning on picking up a few Christmas and birthday gifts while I’m there. From there, I’ll probably do Flight of the Hippogriff and buy some Butterbeer.

When I ws in NYC this weekend, my camera's flash decided to kick the bucket. Thoughtful to do it before I kleft for Orlando, huh? LOL. I picked up my new (pretty! and Blue!) camera at Best Buy today. So plan on TR pPhotos being increased by some megapixels.

 

[MagicStitch]

oooohhhh! You are getting down to the wire now! Bet you are excited!! Can't wait to see the pics!! Sorry you had to go buy a new camera, but hey sometimes those things just work out right?! Thanks for the tips on RPR... have you ever stayed at the Poly before? If so... how do you think they compare?!

 

[PrincessV]

Hedy! Guess who's thinking about a Universal trip, too?! Well, not so much a Universal trip as a Universal day. But still, I need all the help I can get... GASP! Nope, I've never been. Ever.

Looking forward to hearing all about your trip!

 

[Hedy]

oooohhhh! You are getting down to the wire now! Bet you are excited!! Can't wait to see the pics!! Sorry you had to go buy a new camera, but hey sometimes those things just work out right?! Thanks for the tips on RPR... have you ever stayed at the Poly before? If so... how do you think they compare?!

I've only stayed at POR, POFQ, and POP (and the Dolphin). The theming is a lot like Poly, the room size is close to POFQ's, and there's no dedicated counter service restaurant.

Hedy! Guess who's thinking about a Universal trip, too?! Well, not so much a Universal trip as a Universal day. But still, I need all the help I can get... GASP! Nope, I've never been. Ever.

Looking forward to hearing all about your trip!

I'm here to give info Ironically, when you PTR'ed about going to the dark side (Hilton Bonnet Creek), I thought you meant Universal. LOL

 

[Hedy]

Five days! Eep! Piling up stuff in my livingroom to be packed has begun. Orlandocouons are printed. I need to print my docs (Universal sends you printable docs) and cancel my Hyatt reservation through Hyatt, as I have it through Hotwire.

 

[klacey1]

Joining in-- you're so close!! Yay!!

 

[dan-tot]

I will be at the RPH in December. This will be my first time at a universal hotel.
Maybe Harry Potter lines will be light. I will be there the third week in Dec. It will be after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, plus it will be after Pop Warner Football and all that entails.
I can't wait to see Harry Potter and it will be after the 7th movie comes out.
I don't know what they will be doing for the movie atWWOHP but I am sure they will probably do something.


Dan-tot

 

[Hedy]

Woohoo! This time tomorrow I'll be (almost) in Orlando! Follow me on mt trip at twitter.com/wdwnotjustkids

 

[PrincessV]

Yay - have a great trip!