*bites*
Park maps can be found online at
www.universalorlando.com but if you want physical maps, that can be arranged.
For child swap, it's available at almost every attraction. Most attractions will have the whole group go through the main line, then split at the front. Some will split you from the beginning, but only Hulk does that.
Good places for lunch:
USF-Louies, Finnegans, Lombard's Landing, Monster Cafe, Boulangerie
IOA-Mythos, Confiscos, Cafe 4, Circus McGurkus, Comic Strip Cafe, Thunder Falls (if it's open)
CityWalk-Hard Rock Cafe, NBA City (they are both right by the enterances
), Pastamore, Margaritaville.
General tips:
-At park opening of USF, most everyone heads straight for Shrek and Jimmy Neutron. If you head towards the right, you'll be able to have zero wait for BTTF, MIB, and ET.
-At park opening for IOA, most everyone heads left, toward Hulk or Spider-Man. If you go left, you can go to Doctor Doom and Storm Force (if open) with no wait. If you go right, you'll get to experience all of Seuss Landing with no wait.
-Try to have an early or late lunch, as restaurants tend to get busy between 12-3.
-Dont miss the shows or character visits. The times are listed on the insert that goes with the maps.
-Maps are information powerhouses. Nearly everything you need to know in somewhere on the map.
Now for the big one-how express works...
If you're staying at RPR, HRH, or PBH, your room key is your express pass. You show it at the attractions and they send you through. Everybody needs their key (childern 2 and under shouldnt need one). There is no limit to how many times you can use it per attraction. You will have to show it at least two times (generally) and one of the spots will have a scanner. The scanner keeps count of how many people go through the line, that's all.
Express passes are also available for purchase. These passes cost between $10-$25 per person. They can be used once per attraction per day. They passes are dated and are park specific. USF passes cannot be used at IOA. IOA passes cannot be used at USF. During the off season, they may sell Combo express, which has express for both parks and is naturally more expensive. Again, they only have one use per attraction. They will also be scanned and shown twice (generally). They start becoming available 1hr after park opening. Quantities are limited.
The only other express is the free express. This express has the most limitations, but that's because it's free. Hours of distribution are limited. Generally, they run from 1hr after park open until they (A)run out for the day, as quantities are limited. (B)Reach their time limit. Express stops being distributed about 2-3 hours before park close. You can get one of these at a time by scanning your ticket in the machines near attraction entrances. Either the mag-stripe of the barcode. The machines are specific. You can get MIB express at MIB only. Jaws can only be gotten at Jaws. Shrek and Jimmy Neutron can be gotten from the same one. You can get one express pass every 1-2 hours. Everybody needs to scan their ticket, and everybody needs their pass. Passes also have to be shown twice, and are collected at the second point (generally).
If you're having problems with any of the express systems, check with the attendant at the nearest attraction. If there is an Express attendant (blue polos and khaki pants at IOA, green polos and khaki pants at USF), then check with them. They can help immensely. It is common for the 14-day flex tickets to have problems with scanning. Also, sometimes APs wont take. They usually need 24 hrs to be put into the system (new APs).
All of the express listed above is good for normal park hours only. For separately ticketed events (
HHN, Rock the Universe), express is limited to the paid express, if they have express for it. This year RTU allowed room keys and paid express as express. HHN last year and this year will allow paid express only. No free express or room key express. In addition, Day Express cannot be used for Mt Crumpit Snow Plummet or Meet the Grinch.
This should help.
