Universal Studios Newbie looking for recommendations

[scrappinginontario]

Hi,

I'm asking this on behalf of a friend whom I'm helping book a Disney trip.

Family is mom (Harry Potter freak! ), Dad, 2 kiddos 6 and 5.

I believe the main things they want to do are the Harry Potter portion of the parks.

How many days do you recommend? What type of ticket(s) should they purchase?

Looking at resort availability as this is kinda a later booking (looking at going late September) I'm thinking of booking them into Disney for their entire stay then helping them figure out how they can get to Universal for a day or two.

LOL - whole new world here for me!! I help family and friends book about 15-20 Disney trips each year but have never stepped foot into Universal.

Appreciate any help you can offer!

TIA

 

[tink1957]

I would book 1 night at an onsite deluxe hotel for 2 days of Express access and get at least a 2 day park to park ticket so the HP nut can ride the Hogwarts Express between parks.

There's so much more than Harry Potter to enjoy in the parks so don't skip the rest of US and IOA. There's the Jurassic park play area that the kids will enjoy and the discovery center.

There's lots of info on the hotels and parks in the stickies at the top of each section so I would start there.

 

[bchbetha]

(At least) 2 nights onsite in a Deluxe hotel. Don’t make them have to commute- that’s lame. it’s nice to wake up at the park, roll out of bed, get to the parks 5-10 minutes later, enjoy those Express Passes, let them head back for a pool break midday then more parks. Rinse and repeat a 2nd day (at least). That's the best way to do Universal! Oh and get park to park tickets.

 

[scrappinginontario]

The problem with adding 1 night deluxe is not only finding availability but adds A LOT to the cost of their trip!! It's easy to say 'just stay deluxe) but it would DOUBLE the price of the trip they can book at Disney that includes dining! not an option given their budget.

I've confirmed with her that Harry Potter is really all they want to do at Universal. What my question was, do they need to purchase park-to-park tickets or, can they purchase 1 park tickets? Would she miss out on Harry Potter activities in only 1 park tickets were purchased?

 

[bchbetha]

It’d be a big loss to get a single park. They would be unable to ride the Hogwarts Express and they would have to choose between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
What about Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls? Early entry is nice and, again, the perk of being onsite is really nice.
What Disney hotel are you comparing the Universal ones too?

Uber or Lyft are the cheapest, most convenient ways to get between the parks (assuming they don’t have a car) as that seems to be your plan.

Is this trip a surprise or can you loop them in to budget decisions and options?

 

[Lionsfan]

There are less expensive hotels near the park entrance- a doubletree and a homewood suites I think. If they like Harry Potter, they will want the park to park tickets to experience Hogswart Express. Each park offers something different for Harry Potter fans.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks for the info about the park to park tuck. I’ll be sure she knows about that at Higwart Express is a must I’m sure!

Thanks for your help! Greatly appreciated.

 

[macraven]

I would book 1 night at an onsite deluxe hotel for 2 days of Express access and get at least a 2 day park to park ticket so the HP nut can ride the Hogwarts Express between parks.

There's so much more than Harry Potter to enjoy in the parks so don't skip the rest of US and IOA. There's the Jurassic park play area that the kids will enjoy and the discovery center.

There's lots of info on the hotels and parks in the stickies at the top of each section so I would start there.

This is what I would have said and Tink said it well!

Stay one night at the deluxe hotels and get that extra day with unlimited express.......they will be able to see everything that is about Potter then. They could uber back to wdw early evening on that second day at UO.


HHN will make the parks crowded on the weekends so encourage them to go to UO on the weekdays.

 

[skylock]

Well, my suggestion is going to be controversial especially among the HP nuts around here but if I was budget worried I would get a one day one park ticket and just do Diagon Alley on the Studios side.

That train ride would add $60 per ticket so X 4 would be $240, and it is just not worth that cost. I know this is throwing some people here into shock, but That train ride can not be more than 5 min. You see a screen as your window and there are a few shadows you can see in the and a couple of people whispering. If anyone in your car is talking, you will not even hear that. You can check the whole thing out on youtube.

The HP area on the IOA side is small. Really small. There is really only 2 rides that are potter on that side. One a small roller coaster and then the one in the castle and while I really like that one, it causes a lot of people to have motion sickness. I find it to be a very smooth ride and I have no motion sickness, but in all honesty, I could skip it and not be bothered.

Now Diagon Alley is pretty large with lots of areas to explore and enjoy. There is a wand store, a dining place and the better of the HP rides IMHO. Plus the fire breathing dragon on top of the bank.

If they are Potter crazy, they could take their savings and buy an interactive wand. $50. They only need one and they could take turns doing the spells.

If they really enjoy their potter day, They could make a special effort to save up for the next time and do it all. Plus the kids would be a little older to appreciate it more.

I think they could spend a whole day in Diagon Alley, while the IOA side is I would say a 2 hour deal maybe three with a meal and a big part of those hours will be waiting in line.

When you walk thru those bricks on the Studios side, it is like walking into a Potter village. Very nice.

Whatever they decide to do, I am sure they will have a good time.

 

[bchbetha]

Skylock, are you a big HP fan? Because I can’t imagine skipping Hogwarts(!!) if you were. For us, it wasn’t about the rides but seeing all the details and especially the castle. I doubt that Diagon Alley is fabulous and if you made me choose then I’d pick it. But, OP hasn’t said just how tight budget was. Surely they could give up something at Disney (like the expensive dining plan) to do Universal right vs shortchanging the Universal part.

 

[slpeters]

If the reason they're going is the Potter stuff and that's really kind of it--and it really is just a sideline to a Disney trip, I'd do one day with park hopper. There really are only 4 Potter rides--if you do Studios only you're missing 3 of them, 2 of them if you do IOA only. In one full day with Park to Park they should be able to do all the Harry Potter stuff (4 rides, 6 shows, maybe have lunch in one of the restaurants, explore both venues) --they may well have to give everything else a skip but they can do the Potter stuff. Don't get me wrong. We're doing Universal for 5 days with express this December and looking forward to all of it--but it's a Universal trip. We're doing a MVMCP during that trip--doesn't mean we think you can do WDW in 8 hours (we do a full week of park openings and park closings when we do WDW) just that a day to do one aspect of Disney is a nice sidelight to our Universal trip. Same thing for SeaWorld. We're doing a day and understand that we will see the holiday shows and anything else we do will be a bonus, and then we'll head back to our Universal trip. If that's the type of experience they are looking for I think one day park to park is sufficient--maybe they'll even have to time to take a round of each park and look at all the stuff they'll have to come back for on their Universal trip...

 

[scrappinginontario]

Skylock, are you a big HP fan? Because I can’t imagine skipping Hogwarts(!!) if you were. For us, it wasn’t about the rides but seeing all the details and especially the castle. I doubt that Diagon Alley is fabulous and if you made me choose then I’d pick it. But, OP hasn’t said just how tight budget was. Surely they could give up something at Disney (like the expensive dining plan) to do Universal right vs shortchanging the Universal part.

OP here. Thank you!!

This is what I was looking for. What do they need to do the HP section.

This is their first trip to FL theme parks and is a Disney trip with a 1 or 2 day side trip to do HP.

For those inferring they could save $ by giving up the Disney Fining plan, we’ve already done that.

I help 15-20 families and friends groups book Disney trips each year (incl 2 for ourselves this year) so I am VERY familiar with Disney in all kinds of scenarios and budgets.

My question has been answered. Thanks to all who took time to respond.

 

[bchbetha]

OP here. Thank you!!

This is what I was looking for. What do they need to do the HP section.

This is their first trip to FL theme parks and is a Disney trip with a 1 or 2 day side trip to do HP.

For those inferring they could save $ by giving up the Disney Fining plan, we’ve already done that.

The problem with adding 1 night deluxe is not only finding availability but adds A LOT to the cost of their trip!! It's easy to say 'just stay deluxe) but it would DOUBLE the price of the trip they can book at Disney that includes dining! not an option given their budget.

I've confirmed with her that Harry Potter is really all they want to do at Universal. What my question was, do they need to purchase park-to-park tickets or, can they purchase 1 park tickets? Would she miss out on Harry Potter activities in only 1 park tickets were purchased?

I help 15-20 families and friends groups book Disney trips each year (incl 2 for ourselves this year) so I am VERY familiar with Disney in all kinds of scenarios and budgets.

My question has been answered. Thanks to all who took time to respond.

I “inferred” the purchased dining plan part because that’s how I read your earlier post (posted out of order here).

Glad you got your questions answered. I hope they have a good trip!