Universal Newbie Here...I need help!

[FTWFAN]

Hey everyone! I have been a WDW person for years! Now I am making my first venture to Universal Studios this summer. Still staying on property at WDW, but gonna spend a day at Universal.
My questions to you experts are this......If you were only visiting Universal for 1 day, which would you visit? Studios or Island of Adventure? And why? Your responses will decide how I spend my day! I will be travelling with my husband, our son (16), daughter (14), my sister, and my mother-in-law, who is 74.
Tell me your best advice. Please and Thank You!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Are you set on only doing one park? These parks are not like Disney's you can walk from park to park! I would not do just one, I would do the two of them.
Here is the run down.. if you are coaster fans, thrill ride lovers.. & a Harry Potter fan.. do IOA If you are more into movies, and more tame attractions, then do the Studios.. these are the reason I would do both. Each park gives you a different experience.

IOA does get the heavier crowds, that I will say. The Studios has less crowds..

hmmm tough choice.... I honestly think you should do a 2 park pass if you can swing the extra money.. you can walk back and forth as I stated before.. they are not like Disney's parks.. and you do not have to get your bags checked each time.. you get them checked once prior to going into CityWalk.. once you are done with the bag check.. you are done with it for the day/night... no hassle each time you switch parks...

 

[macraven]

i suggest you avoid doing the darkside parks on a saturday.
it can get crowded on that day.

go to www.universalorlando.com and check out both parks.

look over each ride and section and see what appeals to all of you.

if you have a list of rides/attractions at both parks you want to explore, buy a one day hopper park ticket.

 

[Selket]

We went to US/IOA 2 years ago rather than Disney (was utterly depressing to me but the kids loved it just as much - sadly).

I think ALL of us - however - liked IOA better than US - no contest. IOA is worth it just for the Harry Potter ride - and the kids like the coasters there fine. The HP ride is one of the best I've ever been on (better than anything at Disney even - and I hate saying that). The rest of the park they can stuff but the HP ride is the only thing that made the whole 3 days we spent doing US/IOA worth it for me.

There is literally nowhere to sit down in the whole place - not even a ledge. Ok - that isn't true but compared to Disney where you can sit about a million places just to wait for someone on a ride, in a store, etc. My husband can't do the HP ride and the area had NOWHERE to sit - even in places they could put a bench they didn't - and there was precious little shade. He ended up sitting on the ground (concrete) with all of our stuff piled around him while we'd ride. I'd get a wheelchair for your MIL if she plans to stay with you.

We went 1 week after the HP area opened so the crowds were horrible. However we stayed at one of their 3 on-site hotels so we had express pass unlimited - otherwise the whole place would have been unbearable. You might consider spending one night over there at their hotels (Hard Rock is nice) just to get 2 days of express pass - and spending 2 days there and doing both parks. Your kids are the ages they will see those roller coasters and go .....oooooooooohhhhhhh...

I know I'm a little ray of sunshine aren't I? I think I honestly hate both of those parks. Can you tell the kids want to go back there this summer? LOL!

 

[jkshel]

I know I'm a little ray of sunshine aren't I?

Thanks for the info about no seating areas/benches...I hadnt heard about that one yet. And thanks for being so honest!!

 

[damo]

We went to US/IOA 2 years ago rather than Disney (was utterly depressing to me but the kids loved it just as much - sadly).

I think ALL of us - however - liked IOA better than US - no contest. IOA is worth it just for the Harry Potter ride - and the kids like the coasters there fine. The HP ride is one of the best I've ever been on (better than anything at Disney even - and I hate saying that). The rest of the park they can stuff but the HP ride is the only thing that made the whole 3 days we spent doing US/IOA worth it for me.

There is literally nowhere to sit down in the whole place - not even a ledge. Ok - that isn't true but compared to Disney where you can sit about a million places just to wait for someone on a ride, in a store, etc. My husband can't do the HP ride and the area had NOWHERE to sit - even in places they could put a bench they didn't - and there was precious little shade. He ended up sitting on the ground (concrete) with all of our stuff piled around him while we'd ride. I'd get a wheelchair for your MIL if she plans to stay with you.

We went 1 week after the HP area opened so the crowds were horrible. However we stayed at one of their 3 on-site hotels so we had express pass unlimited - otherwise the whole place would have been unbearable. You might consider spending one night over there at their hotels (Hard Rock is nice) just to get 2 days of express pass - and spending 2 days there and doing both parks. Your kids are the ages they will see those roller coasters and go .....oooooooooohhhhhhh...

I know I'm a little ray of sunshine aren't I? I think I honestly hate both of those parks. Can you tell the kids want to go back there this summer? LOL!

Lots of places to sit in the Owlery, in the front of Hogshead, right outside Hogwarts by the exit doors from Filch's, inside Hogshead and in the back of Three Broomsticks.

Owlery:

Behind Three Broomsticks

In Hogs head:

In Front of Hogs head:

Benches Outside Filch's:

More seating:

 

[RMulieri]

I didn't find it difficult to find places to sit either.Universal Studios is alot more shows and attractions, IOA is more thrill rides.We loved both but loved Universal Studios a little bit more.Much like Disney everyone has their favorites and not so favorite stuff

 

[cinabug]

Maybe we're not big sitters, but I can't remember having a problem finding a place to sit when we were at Universal. In any case, my vote would be for IOA if you really have to choose just one, but I think there wasn't much of a price difference in being able to visit both parks, and that was definitely doable at Universal.

 

[TxDisFans]

We are big WDW people and like you I was reluctant to embrace the dark side.... caved because of Potter, like everyone else.

Just got back, and I have to say... it was GREAT.

Agree with what PPs have said.... it's worth it even if you just go on the Forbidden Journey ride and leave! That ride is.... simply amazing.

 

[Selket]

Lots of places to sit in the Owlery, in the front of Hogshead, right outside Hogwarts by the exit doors from Filch's, inside Hogshead and in the back of Three Broomsticks.

The crowds definitely didn't look like that when we were there - exactly one week after the HP area opened. There was a wait to get into the eating places, etc. I only was able to get into one store in the HP area the whole 3 days we were there. I'm thinking more outside the attractions - especially the HP castle area. Believe me - I"m grown woman who likes to sit and I couldn't find a seat! And not just the HP area either.

I guess back to the original question - if the crowds are not estimated to be epic when you are there - I would go to IOA for the day - but consider a park hopper - especially if you are willing to send the kids off to run on their own and ride while you and MIL go more leisurely. I think the US/IOA parks have a great appeal for teens (and others) who like roller coasters so - if for NOTHING else (and maybe you will it - the HP ride is perhaps worth it on its own) - it is worth a visit to IOA.

I'm totally approaching it as a WDW fan who decided to spend 3 days at US/IOA and - in hindsight - wasn't worth it to me personally - but as a family the kids enjoyed it. DH dislikes any park!

 

[damo]

The crowds definitely didn't look like that when we were there - exactly one week after the HP area opened. There was a wait to get into the eating places, etc. I only was able to get into one store in the HP area the whole 3 days we were there. I'm thinking more outside the attractions - especially the HP castle area. Believe me - I"m grown woman who likes to sit and I couldn't find a seat! And not just the HP area either.

I guess back to the original question - if the crowds are not estimated to be epic when you are there - I would go to IOA for the day - but consider a park hopper - especially if you are willing to send the kids off to run on their own and ride while you and MIL go more leisurely. I think the US/IOA parks have a great appeal for teens (and others) who like roller coasters so - if for NOTHING else (and maybe you will it - the HP ride is perhaps worth it on its own) - it is worth a visit to IOA.

I'm totally approaching it as a WDW fan who decided to spend 3 days at US/IOA and - in hindsight - wasn't worth it to me personally - but as a family the kids enjoyed it. DH dislikes any park!

Lol, okay, so it wasn't that the park hadn't provided any places to sit, they just were occupied. The original info was misleading and I wouldn't want anyone to make a decision to stay away from the Wizarding World because of misleading information.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I usually don't have a problem finding a place to sit in either of Universal's theme parks.... and once again, I say get the two park pass if money allows it. I am a huge Disney fan, but I do love Universal Each of their theme parks offers unique experiences. Here are the official websites so you can check both out and see for yourself....

http://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Parks/Universal-Studios-Florida.aspx


http://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Parks/Islands-of-Adventure.aspx

and here is the link to compare the prices.... http://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/General-Admission.aspx personally, I would say 2 day 2 park, but that would be me.... (I'm an annual pass holder to Disney & Universal).

 

[Magalex]

We are also staying at WDW & jumping over to Universal. We are buying the 1 day park to park pass with the idea to upgrade to two days at guest services before we leave the parks. We have one 11 yr old DS. We waited until he was old enough to really enjoy Universal plus the addition to Harry. We are going the second week of June. Any counter service recommended?

 

[RMulieri]

We are also staying at WDW & jumping over to Universal. We are buying the 1 day park to park pass with the idea to upgrade to two days at guest services before we leave the parks. We have one 11 yr old DS. We waited until he was old enough to really enjoy Universal plus the addition to Harry. We are going the second week of June. Any counter service recommended?

Thunder Falls terrace at Islands of Adventure is great as is Louies in Universal Studios

 

[Selket]

Lol, okay, so it wasn't that the park hadn't provided any places to sit, they just were occupied. The original info was misleading and I wouldn't want anyone to make a decision to stay away from the Wizarding World because of misleading information.

I wouldn't want anyone to stay away - but perhaps someone who really MUST sit due to mobility issues might want to bring a seat with them (like a wheelchair if they are touring with MIL). But that goes for either park.

I will be back there in July again apparently - and I suppose the HP furor has died down (no lines that literally snake around inside the park just trying to get into the HP area this time right?) so it HAS to be better. I still think that comparing the two parks (not just the HP area but overall) that there are more places to sit at WDW - I'm thinking outside on the concrete ledge type areas - not just benches or indoors.

Even at WDW's most crowded times I seem to be able to find some place to park my backside in the shade - maybe because I've been there so much I know where to find a seat - ha ha!

 

[anorman]

Thunder Falls terrace at Islands of Adventure is great as is Louies in Universal Studios

Any opinions on Monster's Cafe? This one intrigues me.

 

[Bonniec]

Any opinions on Monster's Cafe? This one intrigues me.

That's my favorite CS at US. Love the place and the chicken salad is SO good. It's not always open though. AT IOA the best CS is Three Broomsticks. Mythos is a TS restaraunt and I highly recommend it. It's almost like a sognature restaurant at Outback prices. Very, very good.




I would choose IOA over US but both parks are great. I's recommend a full day at each park if you can swing it. I love Disney, but I also love US and IOA. I think I go to IOA just for the Butterbeer.

 

[damo]

Any opinions on Monster's Cafe? This one intrigues me.

We've had favourable reviews back so far. You can check out all the menus here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2681315

Monster's Cafe is open all the time now....since Jaws was demolished.

 

[Metro West]

Any opinions on Monster's Cafe? This one intrigues me.

My favorite restaurant in the Studios is Louie's so everything else with the exception of Finnegan's is second rate. That said...the food at Monsters Cafe is just your standard theme park fare but the atmosphere is fantastic! Personally I think Louie's and Finnegan's are better than Monsters Cafe but everyone has different tastes. If nothing else, make sure you stop by and take some pictures of the interior.

 

[anorman]

That's my favorite CS at US. Love the place and the chicken salad is SO good. It's not always open though. AT IOA the best CS is Three Broomsticks. Mythos is a TS restaraunt and I highly recommend it. It's almost like a sognature restaurant at Outback prices. Very, very good.

The theming at Monsters Cafe is what mainly attracts me to the place.....it's really good to hear that it will be open this time around. We already have reservations made for Mythos since we missed this one last year. We did get a chance to eat at Three Broomsticks, however, and the detail is absolutely amazing!