We just got back from our trip to DL and we did 4 day hoppers and Sunday 6/29 we went to US for 1 day. I didn't want to go, but the rest of my family did. I would have preferred to wait until we went back to Florida in a few years, but I made a concession and did UH instead of another day at DL.
As for cost, buying tickets is cheaper online. I was going to buy tickets the day we checked out of PPH but I couldn't get into my account and it costs $$ to go into PPH's business center to open the email and print the tickets (at least $10). We stayed at the Camelot Saturday night and I asked the desk clerk about tickets and he gave me a pamphlet from discountticketsandtours.com which sells both online and right down the street (hours are 8am to 10 pm). I bought online from them and printed out the tickets with no problem and no charge at Camelot! These tickets allowed us to walk right to the turnstiles. So here's what I found:
Universal Studios online $87 /adult
Discountticketsandtours.com $83 /adult
It says the tickets are even cheaper if you go to 1 of their locations: Ramada Maingate or Anaheim GardenWalk. I'd call to see their in-person pricing 714-490-6100
Parking at either site is $16 for "regular"
$25 for preferred
The last time I checked the UH site for hours before we left it opened at 9:00 am but when we got there it was 8:00 am! Double check before you go!
We arrived by 8:50 and it was ok with the crowds, but it got soooo crowded! One of the workers said it was the most crowded they have seen in a long time. great!
As for the rides, there aren't a lot of roller coasters. Most are 3D rides like Star Tours but add Soaren's big screen. There aren't a lot of rides at all, especially no roller coasters. I was disappointed. Here is the order of the rides we went on and what they were like:
The Simpsons - 4 D simulator (cars of 8 people - the front seat of 4 is much better)
Despicable Me - 3D? a giant room of people with sections of seats that move
Transformers - 4D ride ride along in cars, not bad but I expected to be wowed!
The Mummy - closest thing to Space Mountain, we rode this again in the single rider line with a 5 minute wait. Loved this ride the most!
Jurassic Park - boat ride - you will get wet!
Lunch around 11:00 at Jurassic Park - got busy fast with one 1 side open!
Studio Tour - wait was 45 minutes and ride is 50-60 minutes long. However, their is a double rider line so we split up, 2 and 2 and waited no more than 5 minutes. We still got to sit with a family member and it was a great tour! Godzilla 3D was great and so was our tour guide.
House of Horrors - a real walk through "haunted house" that left me screaming several times and dragging DS12 along behind me! Although DS12 did go through a 2nd time and wasn't scared once he knew what to expect. Actors jump within a foot of you or run right in front of you - it was good!
Then we tried to fit in the shows but they all run at the same time once an hour - so we wasted time in between.
Visual Effects Show - good
Animal Actors show - good
Simpsons Ride - we won a free "fastpass" at the Simpsons trivia which we used for the ride then headed to Waterworld as it was at the front of the park
Waterworld show - good
In between we got pictures with,
Bumblebee - Transformer
Yellow & Purple Minions
Bart & Lisa Simpson
SpongeBob
Monster Characters
You need to watch the times for character meets as they come and go.
We left about 7:30 and did every ride and show and like I said, it was crowded! I think we were all a bit disappointed and expected more. IMO, I can't imagine having a season pass to here, there just wasn't a lot to do. I know we were glad we experienced it, but we all agreed, we wouldn't go back to the USH one.
