Universal Studios in 1 Day

[Tigger&Belle]

I think that we're going to take a day at Universal Studios in early December. It will be a weekday the week of December 6th and we won't be staying onsite so no FOTL.

It will be me, my almost 5yo, my sister, and our 81yo mother. My mother has never been to Orlando before and she's the reason we'd be going to US since I think she'd like it a lot and be able to do most of the rides and shows. The rest of us have gone several times.

We'd want to do most everything. My sister and I would do the Mummy. We probably wouldn't do BTTF and I would probably bring my son to Barney while my sis and mom do Terminator or go to the Lucy exhibit (it's still there, right?). I won't torture my mom and sis with Barney...

My thinking is that we'd get to the park before opening and go straight to Shrek. After that go to Neutron and then do a counter clockwise lap of the park. If the lines are long for Mummy or MiB we could get express passes and then come back. Is there a single rider line for Mummy?

Assuming the lines are not long I would think that we'd be able to get everything done in one day. Does this sound feasible. If something has to give we can skip Terminator, but I think we'd want to do everything else if there is time.

Is there anything besides Mummyand BTTF that my mom probably shouldn't do? I think she's be ok with MiB.

Thanks, T&B

 

[Motherfletcher]

As much as I can't stand Barney today, I actually teared up at the reaction my kids had when they were 5 y.o. Your Mom might like it and it gives us old people a place to rest!
I think you have a good plan. Mummy does have single riders. Your Mom might not like the jerky bumpiness of Jimmy for the second attraction of the day. Lucy's still there.

 

[robvia]

I wouldn't let her go on MIB either, the spinning might be too much.
She can do Shrek, Jimmy in the front row, T2, ET, Barney, the Animal Planet Show, and then watch the kid in the playground while you run off to do the Mummy and MIB.
The kid will stay in the playground for a couple hours. Bring a change of cloths and tell your mother to bring a good book.
After that, the kid will be zonked and you'll either push him around in the stroller to the Beatle Juice show, or leave.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My mom probably wouldn't mind sitting down for Barney...but I made my sister watch it last Feb, though, and she might not forgive me (in all fairness, she did make me sit through It's a Small World, so we were even ).

I was wondering about MiB and know that there is some spinning, which does my husband in. Maybe see how she handles other rides first.

I only wish that my son would go to sleep in the stroller after playing for a couple hours. LOL I think those days are over and he can outrun us all before falling asleep in the car leaving the park. I will keep my fingers crossed, though.

I'm glad that Lucy is still there--I know my mom will enjoy that!

Do you think that this is possible in one day?

Thanks, T&B

 

[phamton]

You should be fine on early December and should be able to do everything. I would suggest doing Mummy right after Shrek though and then hit Jimmy Neutron.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Thanks!

I suppose that I could leave my mom and son sitting with a snack while my sister and I go to Mummy. My mom will not be able to back track without getting worn out and she is much too stubborn to rent an ECV or wheelchair. At least that is her current thought, maybe she'll change her mind after a day in the parks.

How long of a wait do you think Mummy would have first thing after Shrek?

Is there a day of the week that should be slowest? I'm thinking Monday, Dec 6th, but that could change as I work out the details of the trip.

T&B

 

[phamton]

I would guess about 15 minute wait as long as you do Shrek as soon as you get in the park. the park usually opens 15 minutes before stated time so be at the gate no later than 8:45. You could also go get an express pass for Mummy before hitting Shrek.

 

[rihard2000]

T&B,

Your plan sounds like a good one to me.

I agree with what everyone suggests as far a MIB and the spinning. I would use some caution with Shrek too. The seats in the theater shuffle forward and back quite a bit and could be a problem if your mother has a bad back. Consider the stationary seating if that is a concern.

MIB= spinning
BTTF= violent shaking,tilting (AVOID)
Jaws= mild tilting side to side
Earthquake= shaking and tilting, not too bad
Jimmy N= shaking,bouncing
Twister= one subtle bounce

Oh, and I had the same reaction to the Barney show as Motherfletcher(and I don't even have children). Barney makes such a grand, magical entrance and the children just beam. It was so touching.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

All you softies with the Barney show! I never would have guessed...

My mom is a pretty wild one and her health is good in general. She is on heart medicine to regulate the beat (I think) and has had hip replacement surgery in both hips. She has to be careful what type of vehicles she gets in and out of (I don't think she'll do Test Track at Epcot since it would be hard for her to get in and out of the cars).

I think as long as she knows the seats move at Shrek she'll be ok and can brace herself. It's not too rough I don't think.

Her biggest issue will be the walking around. She doesn't have a clue how exhausting it is. My sister and I went to WDW and Universal in Feb and went every day for a week (also slow season with short park hours) with my 4yo. We got to the parks at opening and pretty much toured all day and we were so tired every evening and I'm in my 40's and my sister is 60yo and we're both used to walking and are healthy. I keep warning my mom...

We will schedule a rest day in there for a day or two, which will help. We used to go to Disneyland when I was a kid and we'd go from park opening to closing, but that was a few years ago.

I don't think that I've ever been more excited about a trip, though!

T&B