Universal virgins....Help!!!

[Disneymooners]

We will be spending 3 days at the RPR on our Honeymoon from Dec 8-10 before moving on to WDW.

We are from the west coast and this is our first trip ever to Universal/IOA. We are early risers and want to be at the parks first thing in the a.m..

Could someone please help us with some sort of a game plan so that we won't miss the "must see" rides and attractions?? We will be doing Universal (early entry) the first day and IOA (early entry) on day two........day 3, I guess back to do our favorites


It would be greatly appreciated

Happy Turkey Day!!!!

 

[fboy9287]

head left in ioa
head right at universal

 

[NCRedding]

Congrats on the wedding and the honeymoon. As for Universal, are you ride anything people or do you have some limitations? The great thing for you is that you'll have Front of the Line Access which will make it so much easier to ride things quickly. I would recommend getting a guide book, and recommend Kelly Monahan's book, which I think is posted up in the "important" items on this forum. We used his book to decide what rides to do, and what restaurants to try. Have a great trip.

 

[gschmerl]

By statying on site you have automatic express access, so it shouldn't be any problem at all for you to see everything you want to see in three days. Do you ride roller coasters, like thrill rides. want to see shows...???? We could halp you more if we know your preferences.

 

[Disneymooners]

We love everything from roller coasters to the silliest of shows, we want to experience it all!!

 

[gschmerl]

If you love coasters then the Hulk and Dueling Dragons are a MUST! Most people go to the left to Marvel Super Hero Island when the park opens. I go to the right and head back to the Dragons. That way I can ride the front row of both Fire and Ice many times before the rest of the people make their way back. Than I go and use the wonderful express access that your room key gives you and I ride Hulk. Spiderman is one of the best rides EVER! Just work your way around the parks. With the express access you shouldn't have any problems. Try visiting Universal's website. They give detailed descriptions of the rides there.
Get a map and show schedule when you enter the parks and plan from there.
Have a GREAT time!

 

[kellymonaghan]

You didn't say if you are staying on-property, but you really should. The express perk is the best, one that Disney just can't match (too many on-site hotels!).

Enjoy your visit. Then come back here and tell us all about it.

 

[calgarygary]

We were just there and did not have the perk of the express pass as we stayed at Vistana Villages. At the time of year you are going, you will find that it is a perk you don't really need. Do not ride the IOA water rides without a change of clothes or you will waste time going back to your room to change. Do not miss the Grinch and Whoville's Christmas Celebration. This show is great and the make up is amazing. Do bad Universal doesn't give it the theatre it deserves.

Gary

 

[mzmickey]

You seem to be following us! Or maybe we are following you!

We will also be at the RPR from the 7 - 10th and then on to the Wilderness Lodge, although we just have a woodsview room and not the honeymoon suite like you guys! But then again, we are only celebrating our 2nd anniversary. I can tell you this, Disney knows how to treat you right on your honeymooon! And don't forget to wear your wedding ears, especially on the Pirates of the Caribean

See you in Universal in about a week!

 

[Disneymooners]

No way!! I think we are following each other we will be at the RPR from the 7-10 and the WL from the 11th -18th but we don't have the Honeymoon Suite, we have a court yard view. I couldn't justify the money when we aren't going to be in our room that much.

I hope we get a chance to say "HELLO" after all, we are two brilliant minds that think alike

Kelli
Disneymooners

 

[mzmickey]

Kelli,

I have to agree with you, we are two great thinkers! I am a little nervous that the Universal FOTL access will spoil us for Disney's fast pass, but you still can't beat the Disney magic.

I thought that I had read in another of your posts that you had the honeymoon suite at WL, but then again, there are quite a few couples spending their honeymoons at WL that week! We will have a woodsview room. I can't wait to see the Water Parade!

You will know us if you see us. We will be that couple standing at the gates on 12/7 to IOA. When the gates open, you will see my DH grab my hand and make a bee line for the HULK! I do warn you, don't get in his way or you might get run over. Me, I am pretty much along for the ride. the Universal part of the trip was for him, I am too much of a Disney Lover!

Hopefully we will bump in to each other! By the way, when are you getting married?

Good luck and Congrats!
Darci

 

[Disneymooners]

Darci,


We will be IOA with you at the crack o dawn... Maybe we will take your lead and head for the Hulk we are pretty cluless as to where to go..

Well, today is the big day!!! I'm getting married at 5pm

Wish me luck and I'll see you at the park

 

[mzmickey]

Kelli,

Congrats on you marriage. I hope that everything went well! You will so enjoy having the week to recover and then leave for your honeymoon. DH and I did that and it was a very wise choice. I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off and then relaxed and prepared for the trip.

I am sure we will see you early in the morning. We'll be the other clueless couple running around the park. Once we get off the Hulk, we really have no game plan. I'll be the mature one, DH will be running around the Marvel Comic section like an 8 year old boy. By the way, DH is an EMT/Firefighter, so look for the goofball with some type of T-shirt that says "FIRE" or "Rescue" on it! And I hope that I can find some LGR in time, but it is not looking too good.

Darci

 

[Disneymooners]

Hey Darci

The wedding was beautiful and your right, I am so glad that I have the next 4 days to relax and pack

I just realized something, We are flying in on the 7th (late) and won't be at the park till the 8th so I think we are going to miss you by one day at IOA Darn!!! and I was so looking forward to seeing your hubby with his nose pressed against the gate.."open, open open" He he he

But, we are staying at the same hotel and hopefully will run into you sooner or later And if we do, I have a huge roll of LGR's and will gladly share.

Less the a week to go YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!

 

[mzmickey]

Kelli,

Glad to hear that the wedding went well! It is always such a relief when everything is settled!

You have such an accurate picture of my DH! That will definitely be him on Saturday morning, but I don't think you'll miss it because he will still be that way on Sunday morning as well. But if we do run into you guys, at least we'll have one day under our belts and perhaps we can give you guys some hints!

I am pretty sure we will bump into each other, as you said, great minds think a like so we will probably be heading to all the same places. Are you guys going to MVMCP on the 10th? We are planning for that night. I will be the over anxious one in DW that looks like a 6 year old kid, it is my favorite place in the world! My DH will be the one being dragged along. We will arrive at the WL on the 10th, check in, and head straight for MK, staying through to the MVMCP.

Like I said, look for a guy in a T-Shirt that has something to do with fire, rescue, or EMT. That will be my husband Russ. Today is the last chance I have to find LGR and there isn't any around PGH that I have found. Plenty of evergreen and red, but no lime. So I may take you up on that offer to share your LGR!(which by the way was very sweet of you to offer!)

3 days to go....wait, that means only 3 days to pack....better get working on my list!

 

[Disneymooners]

Hey Darci

Since we won't be getting to the RPR till 8 or so in the evening on the 7th we decided we would check out the City Walk and have a nice dinner at Pat O'Brians.

I just found out (i'm a little slow ) that hotel guest have Early Entry on certain days (8 a.m) so we will be going to Universal on Sunday the 8th and IOA on the 9th and back to our favorites on the 10th. We check into WL on the 11th and are doing MVMCP on the 12th.

I promise to cut plenty of LGR's and will keep them in my pack just in case we run into each other.... can't have you running around without your LGR's!!!

I will keep my eyes peeled for FIRE,RESCUE,EMT,HELP... or just two big kids having way to much fun...Hehehe

If you want, leave us a note when you check in and you might find some LGR's tied to your door knob

Mark & Kelli McCabe
Arriving : December 7th

See you soon

 

[mzmickey]

Disneymooners, I am sending you a PM before I get this thread totally off topic!

 

[laf0165]

Unless there has been a change, there is no more early entry to the parks and they have no intention of starting it up again. Does anyone have any information to the contrary?

It would be nice to have early entry as we will be there in January and the parks close at about 6pm.

 

[paulakim]

We were there last week and I asked about early entry and they said that they do not have it due to the convience of the room keys although on the 27th we were able to get in at 8:45. but we ran straight to nick studios. We were trying to get slime time tickets so I didn't notice if any of the attractions had opened yet. If you are staying onsite you really dont need early entry. If you aren't get there at about 8:30 and the lines shouldn't be too bad. We did this last year during christmas break (very busy) and rode all of the rides at IOA by noon without waiting very long had lunch and then just walked around and enjoyed the scenery and shopping. After lunch the lines were very long! I would still suggest the convience of staying onsite though.

 

[liquidsky88]

Just so you know Disneymooners, Universal is definitely no Disney. I find the parks to be dirty. I know last time I was at IoA, the trash cans were overflowing and the garbage wasn't being picked up. IoA reminded me of Great (Ghetto) Adventure in NJ. I might have been there on a bad day, but it left a sour taste in my mouth. I'm not sure if I would return again. Otherwise, have a great trip!