Universal/IOA Newbie - Any Tips?

[simonkodousek]

Hi Everyone!

We are huge fans of Disney World, and have never left the gates except at the end of our vacation. However, we will venture off-site on our next trip to Orlando (in August) and will visit Universal and IOA. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for first-timers? Do I have to plan our trip far in advance like Disney World, or is Universal a bit more relaxing to plan?

Thanks!

 

[Metro West]

Hi Everyone!

We are huge fans of Disney World, and have never left the gates except at the end of our vacation. However, we will venture off-site on our next trip to Orlando (in August) and will visit Universal and IOA. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for first-timers? Do I have to plan our trip far in advance like Disney World, or is Universal a bit more relaxing to plan?

Thanks!

To start...I would check the stickies at the top of the board and check out some trip reports do get you going. Universal is a lot more laid back than Disney.

 

[macraven]

To start...I would check the stickies at the top of the board and check out some trip reports do get you going. Universal is a lot more laid back than Disney.

excellent advice Metro !

also read some of the trip reports to see the pictures presented from the universal trips.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

Hi Everyone!

We are huge fans of Disney World, and have never left the gates except at the end of our vacation. However, we will venture off-site on our next trip to Orlando (in August) and will visit Universal and IOA. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for first-timers? Do I have to plan our trip far in advance like Disney World, or is Universal a bit more relaxing to plan?

Thanks!

I find it a lot more relaxing... I dont go crazy planning trip for Universal as I do with Disney. That is because I stay onsite and FOTL though so its a huge bonus.

Best tip I can think of would be to get there at park opening. You can get a lot done within first hour of opening usually before crowds come in.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

One thing I might suggest is ... if you plan to go on the water rides at IOA, I would bring a change of clothes or wear a poncho or clothes that will dry quickly & shoes that are condusive to getting soaked. You WILL get soaked on on Ripsaw Falls & the Popeye Barges. On our 1st trip we had no idea how soaked you got on these rides until we were there.

Another thought ... you may want to check out the menus of the various restaurants so that you'll have a general idea of where you may want to eat.

On our 1st trip I was a bit nervous because I didn't do near the planning I did for our WDW trips, but things went off without a hitch & we had a great trip. It was pleasantly, a much more laid back trip for us than WDW.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Scream on the rides. No really, do it. It'll make them even more fun!

Also, if you buy a refillable souvenir cup, it's refillable for life, for cheap!

 

[Pink Flamingo]

Scream on the rides. No really, do it. It'll make them even more fun!

Well, I must have more fun than anyone - I think I'm the queen of scream!!!

 

[Jonny_Duck]

Scream on the rides. No really, do it. It'll make them even more fun!

Also, if you buy a refillable souvenir cup, it's refillable for life, for cheap!

Good advice! Although I get weird looks when I do it on the caro-seuss-el.

 

[macraven]

Good advice! Although I get weird looks when I do it on the caro-seuss-el.

 

[GinaBean]

One thing I might suggest is ... if you plan to go on the water rides at IOA, I would bring a change of clothes or wear a poncho or clothes that will dry quickly & shoes that are condusive to getting soaked. You WILL get soaked on on Ripsaw Falls & the Popeye Barges. On our 1st trip we had no idea how soaked you got on these rides until we were there.

I agree. I could not believe how wet my family got (I didn't ride) on these rides. They looked like they had jumped over board. Even their socks and shoes were soaked, and they had to walk around like that all day.

Also, if you buy a refillable souvenir cup, it's refillable for life, for cheap!

Thanks for the tip. I am buying one the next time we go.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Good advice! Although I get weird looks when I do it on the caro-seuss-el.

Those elephant birds are wild animals, you know, so I don't blame you! And those cowfish.....