Universal Newbie.....definitely need some tips

[apulk]

Have been to WDW way too many times -- 20/21 or so over the past 20 years and still love the place but.....after our week in Hilton Head (mid July) we want to drive to Orlando to keep the vacation going and decided that we really should do US and IOA. We've never been able to afford to do both WDW and US/IOA in the past and so just went with the comfortable option.

Kids are now 19, 17, 12, 10 and we will stay at Downtown Disney but not buy Disney tickets. We're getting the special $99 ticket that's good for both parks over 7 days. We'll have about 4 1/2 days if we want to go that often. I have detail plans memorized for getting the most out of every WDW park but have nothing for this new adventure (which makes it a little more fun). I don't want to be following the herd of people that just show up and have no plan so any advice you can offer would be appreciated. Also -- if I am making this harder than it has to be let me know. For WDW you MUST have a plan during the busy season or you will end the day having been on 4 rides and waited 90 mins for each of them. I'm a little concerned about not having a fast pass alternative (can't afford any other options at this point).

So -- if you have any advice or have other free resources I should check out please, please send them my way. With two kids soon to be in college now we're starting to realize that we may not have many more chances as a family so we want to maximize our enjoyment and minimize our stress (aka, 90 mins waits, etc.).

Thanks all
andy

 

[Metro West]

When are you going? The Express Plus passes are priced based on the anticipate crowd level. If the passes are cheaper, then the crowds shouldn't be too bad. If you're going over the summer, the parks will be fairly busy and the waits can get long. If you aren't going to purchase the EP's, make sure you get there at opening having picked which park you want to tackle that day. The crowds won't usually arrive until 10:30am or 11am so you should have some time to hit the bigger attractions w/o much of a wait.

You don't have to worry to much about dining...it's nothing like Disney and having to make an ADR seven years prior to your trip. You can make reservations that morning if you want w/o too much trouble.

Check out the interactive map on the website to get an idea of the layout and plan some of the attractions you definately want to do. Also...check YouTube for ride videos...most should be on there.

If you have any specific questions, the Proud Redheads would be happy to help!

 

[ky07]

Have been to WDW way too many times -- 20/21 or so over the past 20 years and still love the place but.....after our week in Hilton Head (mid July) we want to drive to Orlando to keep the vacation going and decided that we really should do US and IOA. We've never been able to afford to do both WDW and US/IOA in the past and so just went with the comfortable option.

Kids are now 19, 17, 12, 10 and we will stay at Downtown Disney but not buy Disney tickets. We're getting the special $99 ticket that's good for both parks over 7 days. We'll have about 4 1/2 days if we want to go that often. I have detail plans memorized for getting the most out of every WDW park but have nothing for this new adventure (which makes it a little more fun). I don't want to be following the herd of people that just show up and have no plan so any advice you can offer would be appreciated. Also -- if I am making this harder than it has to be let me know. For WDW you MUST have a plan during the busy season or you will end the day having been on 4 rides and waited 90 mins for each of them. I'm a little concerned about not having a fast pass alternative (can't afford any other options at this point).

So -- if you have any advice or have other free resources I should check out please, please send them my way. With two kids soon to be in college now we're starting to realize that we may not have many more chances as a family so we want to maximize our enjoyment and minimize our stress (aka, 90 mins waits, etc.).

Thanks all
andy

July will be a busy time at the parks but it is still very doable.
You just have to get there as soon as they start letting people in or as most say at the rope drop and do all the major rides cause at 11 am both parks start getting packed and since you are going to do 4 1/2 days then you should be able to do and see all you want.
You will find you don't have to do as much planning for universal as disney since both parks are right there and within walking distance
Just don't go expecting a disney experiance cause universal is a totally diffrent place and relax and have fun

 

[apulk]

We will be there the afternoon of Sat. July 18th - Tuesday July 22nd. This needs to be the lowest of low budget trips so we can't add on to the tickets. I have no idea which park to tackle first or then which ride/section to start in, etc. We will be there by park opening....early awakes are not a problem for us. Have checked out the ride videos and know that for the most part we'll all hit everything (except for the Suess stuff probably).

Are there better days to do one park vs. the other?

 

[schumigirl]

...it's nothing like Disney and having to make an ADR seven years prior to your trip.

That really made me laugh out loud

 

[macraven]

i suggest you read the stickies for the parks and trip reports to get an idea of what to expect.

the interactive map is fantastic for a newbie.
read all you can on the UO website.
you can get more details on the type of rides, locker locations, dining areas, show areas, etc from that site.



the above places will help you a lot in understanding UO and what it has to offer.



test will be later..........

i kill myself sometimes.....

if you do read up now, you will discover the lay out of the parks and discover the main rides and attractions.
you can also see menus for the park fare and city walk.

since you will be driving, be in the line to park the car in the UO garage around 7:30ish.
the garage opens at 8 (or one hour prior to park opening)
if you are in the line to park, you can be at the turnstile by 8:12.

many times the guests are allowed in around 8:30ish if the lines for entry are long. the official opening time of the parks will be 9:00.

if you start your day early, you will accomplish a lot before the crowds tend to form around 11ish each day.

 

[Tank]

Go to your local library and see if they have any guidebooks you can take a look at. That will give you a good idea of each attraction so you can get a better idea of what you want to hit first. These parks are much easier to walk around than Disney and you can get a lot done in a day.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Apulk - I'm a WDW fanatic...but kids getting older...we've done US/AI all in one day the last 2 trips ('08 / '06) and I feel that was all it took to know what's up with those parks...

at least from a teen perspective...

Both trips right at Fourth of July and for some reason...NO waits (really - not compared to WDW) at any rides...don't know if we're just lucky or what...

We sleep in but somehow get there before the crowd shows up....skip Shrek, Mummy is our Fav. Twister is good. Disaster is Good, Simpsons is new and a "Must See", I love MIB. I'm missing something in US but I'll glance at the map in my car tomorrow and see....Head to AI...

AI....we usually run through Seuss to get to Mythos which is a REALLY cool (yet expensive) restaurant we all love. Leave there and enjoy shops on the way to Dueling Dragons. Jurassic is a must see. Popeye - well just the kids did that last time - they got soaked. Spiderman is THE FAV for AI. Kids and DH do the Hulk. Then we're done.

It's a fun time albeit without the magic of Disney...but we do it in one day and that has been enough....

Hope you have a great time - feel free to ask questions...as I said ...my map is in the car. I'm running down there for one day with DS17 5/26 to do US/IA and BLue Man Group! I"M SO Excited!

Mary

 

[La2kw]

We will be there the afternoon of Sat. July 18th - Tuesday July 22nd. This needs to be the lowest of low budget trips so we can't add on to the tickets. I have no idea which park to tackle first or then which ride/section to start in, etc. We will be there by park opening....early awakes are not a problem for us. Have checked out the ride videos and know that for the most part we'll all hit everything (except for the Suess stuff probably).

Are there better days to do one park vs. the other?

Don't skip Seuss Landing. It's very charming and the Cat in the Hat ride is a great darkride that may surprise you the first time. Walking through the land brings back a lot of memories of the books you may have read when younger.

 

[apulk]

Good tips and encouragement here. I would have missed the 7:30am at the parking lot......I was thinking 8am/8:15am. We'll see if we can mobilize the group. Sounds encouraging too that with 3 1/2 days we will have more than enough time to see everything AND hit the favorites a time or two extra. We have been thru the lay of the lands on the web site and I does sound like everyone is saying that it actually is smaller than it looks. I guess I'm so used to having my Tourguide Mike plans in my hands that I should be doing something like that. Then again, just going with the flow sounds pretty relaxing. We will get there early -- and if we have had enough or the crowds get too large -- leave after lunch/mid afternoon. Maybe we just plan to have 3 half day visits.

For the Disney Magic we just changed our ressies and booked 2 rooms at Pop Century vs. the Downtown Disney Doubletree. I'm thinking too that after a day and a half we may find that we don't even need to go the last day (Tuesday) and can just sleep in, swim, maybe rent boats, do some mini-golf, etc.

Any tips on days to attend/avoid? We'll be there Sat, Sunday, Mon and Tues -- anything like "don't do IOA on Sundays" etc.?

Thanks all

andy

 

[macraven]

weekends are way more crowded than weekdays. do get there before opening time to avoid large crowds that start around 11ish every day.


the best days of the week are tue, wed and thurs for universal.
monday is also a fine day as long as it is not on a holiday weekend.