Universal here we come!!!

[JungleCruiser]

OK, been there...going back....now it is time to try Universal for the first time. Any suggestions for this Disney family?

 

[tinaluis]

Are you staying onsite? Any children in your party? Ages? That will help us in recommending certain rides over others.

 

[macraven]

when are you going?

how many days are you planning to be at UO?

staying on site??


i'll be glad to help but need a bit more info first so i can direct you better.

 

[JungleCruiser]

OK, we are going to be in Orlando (not onsite but in a timeshare condo) for a week. We have two middle school aged kids and we will be there the week of Thanksgiving.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[macraven]

OK, we are going to be in Orlando (not onsite but in a timeshare condo) for a week. We have two middle school aged kids and we will be there the week of Thanksgiving.

Thanks for all your help!

when you say middle school aged kids, i am assuming you mean like junior high level.....ages 11,12,13 range?

perfect ages for an UO trip.

if you are at UO during thanksgiving time, you will find crowds. i'm talking the big T day
if you come the week before, it should not be bad for crowds.

be at the garage early to park. if you arrive at universal around 8:30/after, you will have a wait for parking in the garage.

i would advise you to come, park your car by 8 at the latest.
be at the ticket gate by 8:15 so you will be one of the first to get into the park.
do the main rides in the front such as the hulk, spidey at IOA first, then head towards the back where it will be empty.

check the show times when you get there and try to do the first shows of the day. you will enjoy horror make up show at the studios. if you start at ioa, do the coasters first. if you start at the studios, head towards mummy, then mib.

have lunch/dinner at an off time to avoid the crowds. eat around 11:15 for lunch or after 1:30. have dinner at the park when it is not the main dinner hour time or go have dinner at city walk.
if you beat the dining crowd, you will save more time for rides and attractions.

check the uo website for the meal deal. check the menus for them on allearsnet website or the other one. name escapes me at the moment.
if the 6 places have food your family would enjoy, it might be worth it for you if you plan to be at the park from the time it opens to when it closes.

if you have AAA, bring your card with you. show it everywhere you shop or eat and receive a 10% discount off of food and merch. if you don't have AAA, you can show your MC and some places will honor it with the discount also. they did for me. orlandomagic card will also get you some discounts at a few places. it is free and you can download and print the card from home/or request one to be mailed to you.

if you have the entertainment book 07, there is a coupon for a discount for a few of the resturants in the park.

i'm sure i will think of more tips later.
i will come back and list them.

 

[MidgeD79]

I'm going to hop on this too. My kids (not me) 25, 12, 11. Staying at Nick Hotel and going to Universal 1 day. Which park would be best?

 

[kirbsam]

get there early and have a plan.

 

[macraven]

I'm going to hop on this too. My kids (not me) 25, 12, 11. Staying at Nick Hotel and going to Universal 1 day. Which park would be best?

nick hotel is nice. when you say your kids not you, do you mean A) you are not 25 or B) you are not going to the parks........

first, drive and be at the garage by 8, be at the ticket line at the entrance 8:15 if you can.

if the 12 and 11 have never been to universal, it would depend on what type of rides they prefer.
if they are interested in the movies, go to the studios. if they like coasters, do ioa. studios has the mummy ride which is a coaster, so both sides do have that type of ride entertainment.

men in black/mib is great.....all ages love it. it is based on the movie.
animal planet might seem dorky to some but it is good and based on the tv show.

when are you planning the day trip for universal? if you list it, i might be able to give better advice on coming up with a touring plan. also, tell us the type of rides/attractions your kids enjoy.

i think any 25 year old would love everything at both parks at universal.
unless they are a ride weinnie and don't do coasters.
yup, there are some out there. i went with a friend once and i would wave to her when i was on all the kewl rides........she would wait until i got off.

ps.......dueling dragons is my favorite..

 

[MidgeD79]

My dd is 25, I am a ride wqeenie and will staying at the hotel for the younger kids to enjoy the poll etc. The 25 & 11 year old love roller coasters. the 12 year-old has to check it out first and may decline. The date planned is is June 21,2007. They WILL be there at park opening with tickets in hand.

 

[macraven]

My dd is 25, I am a ride wqeenie and will staying at the hotel for the younger kids to enjoy the poll etc. The 25 & 11 year old love roller coasters. the 12 year-old has to check it out first and may decline. The date planned is is June 21,2007. They WILL be there at park opening with tickets in hand.

you will have crowds on june 21st. lots of families but since it is a thursday they will be there, it is doable. i haven't had too bad of crowds on a weekday there. i have been to universal at that time of the year with my kids.

be there early.
be at the gate 8:15. you don't know how many times i have been there at that time and let in at 8:30. universal tends to let people in if the line is long.
you will get a head start on everything then.

if coasters are the favorite, go to IOA first.
do the hulk in the early morning. it is an experience they will never forget.
the mist at the bottom of one drop is fantastic. if they like it, they can repeat it without crowds.
go to spiderman then. if the single line is open have them go that route.
the single line ususally opens when it is crowded. some days it opens earlier than 11 for the single rider line. from there, go to dueling dragons.

people tend to start in the front of the park and go to the back once they have finished all the rides there. if they do that, they will find crowds with them. skip around the park in order to have shorter lines.

venture over to seuss land before noon. even the 25 year old will enjoy it there.
do lunch after 1:30. if they have the hopper tickets, go over to the studios at this point and hit T2, then mummy, mib and horror make up show.

i believe if they start early, they can do the entire park with time left over.
if the 12 year old is not sure of the coaster rides, have he/she sit in the model seat that is outside the entrance to the ride. he/she will feel more secure knowing it is safe and confining.

hopefully, they will have the day ticket that allows them to do both parks.
there was a short cut way to the other side behind hard rock cafe. i used that last year and every year i have gone to UO. with blue man group coming in, it might be set up different with that back way in to the park.

 

[JungleCruiser]

and where should we eat?

 

[macraven]

and where should we eat?

list the type of foods your family enjoys.
i can then list places that would suit the family's needs.

for sit down or counter service i can come up with a few.

city walk has some very good places. inside the park there are quite a few that has great food. not all of it park type food.

finnegans is safe for a family. it has an assortment of choices on the menu.

 

[damo]

Going at Thanksgiving will be rough. Try to get to the park about 45 minutes before it opens to get as many rides done before the crowds show up. It may be worth it to actually book one night's hotel onsight to get two days of express access.

 

[JungleCruiser]

but with the kids, probably we should avoid Pan-Asian Fusion Experimental gourmet. LOL - that was a joke, but you know what I am talking about.

We like to take a break that allows us to feel like we escaped the parks a bit...i.e. no counter service. We don't really mind paying extra $$$.

Something nice and memorable. Oh, and our daughter LOVES seafood. And our son is all about the dessert!

We will try to go to the park any day that week except Thanksgiving or the day after. You have motivated us to get there early!

 

[t-and-a]

For table service, I would suggest Margaritaville or Hard Rock Cafe, both are memorable dining experiences. There is also Bubba Gump's, which we have not had the chance to try, but lots of folks rave about it.

 

[macraven]

i second t-and -a statement........

 

[JungleCruiser]

oooh, that sounds yummy! Can you just show up or do you have to do priority seating like Disney?