What to bring into Universal Studios with you (ideas)......

[pookadoo77]

Ok, so I have been looking and looking for this answer and cannot seem to find it. What do you plan to bring or have you brought into US that helped out or saved money? I have a group with 3 kiddos so stretching a buck is not new for me. We last went to US 2 yrs. ago. Some items are for those like us that do carry a lot into the park with small kids, some not. Below I will list some handy items we used. If you have any other ideas of acceptable items please share them here.

1. A autograph book - I got a dollar tree brag book with removable cover photo and replaced it with one I made trip themed for the characters to sign. For pages I just inserted index cards, or you can print fun ones and cut to size. They do sell these in the parks. I believe they are around $10.00.

2. Ziploc bags - for phones and electronics. I bring a few extra in case some tear or wear out. Great for wet rides. Cheaper than buying waterproof cases.

3. ponchos - the cheap camping $1.00 ones that fold very small. Great for water rides if kids or you dont wanna get wet on a ride. Easy to pack. Also, it rains most afternoons around 4-5pm in florida from my experience.

4. sunscreen- I have a little redhead. This is a frequent must. It is at the parks too, but pricey.

5. Quarters and new pennies - I put these in a cleaned old prescription pill bottle, label removed. It is for the penny stamping machines. Better than having to try and get change everywhere. These machines are everywhere at the parks and a cute cheaper souvenir. Newer pennies (IMO) make better ones.

6. child info. sheet - I printed out my info and coated the sheet in clear packing tape. Then put these sheets in my kids back/fanny packs, or pockets. If they forget my phone number someone can call me if they get lost.

7. small sharpie - write on child's inner wrist my phone number. Also, can seal with liquid bandage to make it last. Spray sunscreen will dissolve sharpie on skin. Learned this as my kids are on a swim team.

8. camping magnetic fan - put this on hood of stroller to keep lil one cool. got from walmart i believe.

Any other ideas or tips on what to bring??

 

[rowan555]

Great list! I love that you mentioned the pennies/quarters. We never have change handy, and my daughter loves those penny press machines. I'll be sure to bring tons of quarters, and I'll start setting aside all the "new" pennies we end up with!

 

[wookiebeck]

Welcome to the forums!

I would love to help you out, but my kiddies are teens now. So many of the US rides forbid backpacks and fannypacks that we go very, very light. Pocket items only. Oh and sandals or flipflops because you will get wet.

I found a pressed penny booklet for keeping your pennies in five below once. It is like a bill fold and my son still has it!

 

[rowan555]

How many different penny press machines can be found at Universal'a parks?

 

[RMulieri]

Great list...We go with little to nothing though.Several of the rides do not lalow bags or backpacks and I HATE the lockers

 

[hydrotony]

How many different penny press machines can be found at Universal'a parks?

Here's a link to a list of Universal pressed pennies at one web site.

http://www.pennycollector.com/Details.aspx?location=1587

http://www(dot)pennycollector(dot)com/Details(dot)aspx?location=1587

replace the (dots) with periods if disboards blocks the link.

 

[rowan555]

WOW. What an amazing site. I had NO idea there were that many to choose from! I think I will tell my daughter she can get 10 pennies at each park and a few more among City Walk and Sea World. Better start collecting quarters and pennies, lol!

 

[macraven]

old pennies work better than new shiny pennies.

as time goes by, those shiny pennies don't show up as nice due to the material in them.

 

[pookadoo77]

oh, no fanny packs? don't remember. Most of what we did was child swap and with a stroller so a little extra was not a issue. I also brought a stroller lock, just in case...

 

[rowan555]

old pennies work better than new shiny pennies.

as time goes by, those shiny pennies don't show up as nice due to the material in them.

Interesting - thanks.

 

[hydrotony]

old pennies work better than new shiny pennies.

as time goes by, those shiny pennies don't show up as nice due to the material in them.

I just discussed this issue, copper vs. zinc pennies, with my friend while at Universal last week. He collects pressed pennies for every attraction he goes on, so we made a lot. He agreed that copper pennies look better but that newer machines seem to be under powered and tend to have trouble pressing the older, denser copper pennies. Because of this, he only does newer zinc pennies now. Zinc pennies do come out shinier and he likes that look. Some zinc pennies are badly layered and some pressed ones have uneven coloring which happened a few times. I am a traditionalist and prefer copper pressed pennies, no layering irregularities and I like the darker shading. To each his own.

 

[RMulieri]

oh, no fanny packs? don't remember. Most of what we did was child swap and with a stroller so a little extra was not a issue. I also brought a stroller lock, just in case...

Usually fanny packs are the only thing allowed, but it depends on the pack and on the TM.If the pack is the size of a preschooler, than no.It needs to be small and not effect the restraints on the rides.It also depends on the TM..My neighbor just got back and was told she couldnt have ANYTHING including her waistpack on a few of the rides.

 

[pookadoo77]

thanks for the pack info. and all the science of pennies,lol. never thought about it much, i guess they will turn out different. i just thought they would be shinier a bit longer. i usually dont have too much time to think about it much with 3 little boys mommy, mommy, mommy, lol....

 

[macraven]

I just discussed this issue, copper vs. zinc pennies, with my friend while at Universal last week. He collects pressed pennies for every attraction he goes on, so we made a lot. He agreed that copper pennies look better but that newer machines seem to be under powered and tend to have trouble pressing the older, denser copper pennies. Because of this, he only does newer zinc pennies now. Zinc pennies do come out shinier and he likes that look. Some zinc pennies are badly layered and some pressed ones have uneven coloring which happened a few times. I am a traditionalist and prefer copper pressed pennies, no layering irregularities and I like the darker shading. To each his own.

i use the pre 1982 pennies.
when i get older pennies now, i hang on to them for when i hit orlando.


i started doing penny presses when i first discovered the machines.
the shiny pennies that i used around 1994-2001, have turned in color now.
the older pennies that i used back in those years are still looking good today.

 

[kittengal13]

I apologise in advance if this is a totally stupid question- but, do you have to provide the pennies?

I haven't used these machines in YEARS so my memory is foggy. And they are a quarter to use?

Thanks

 

[pookadoo77]

yes, you provide the penny to use. I think they are .50 to .75 cent. Mcraven (sp.? sorry) prob. knows... saw a few machines that are more expensive that press quaters you provide. most are pennies though...

 

[wookiebeck]

thanks for all the science of pennies,lol.

I was going to give more info on pressed pennies, but found a full website devoted to it instead.

Happy reading.

http://www.parkpennies.com/pennycollectingtips.htm

 

[steveknj]

Welcome to the forums!

I would love to help you out, but my kiddies are teens now. So many of the US rides forbid backpacks and fannypacks that we go very, very light. Pocket items only. Oh and sandals or flipflops because you will get wet.

I found a pressed penny booklet for keeping your pennies in five below once. It is like a bill fold and my son still has it!

That's a great tip. As I usually enjoy taking pictures with my DSLR, I wear a backpack with lens and stuff. Now I'm rethinking that and may get a small bag to carry around with. Will they allow you to bring on a small camera bag? What do you do with a backpack if you bring one?

 

[macraven]

yes, you provide the penny to use. I think they are .50 to .75 cent. Mcraven (sp.? sorry) prob. knows... saw a few machines that are more expensive that press quaters you provide. most are pennies though...

hydrotony posted the sites for the penny presses, not me.
got to give credit for the homie that did post that in the thread.

 

[RMulieri]

That's a great tip. As I usually enjoy taking pictures with my DSLR, I wear a backpack with lens and stuff. Now I'm rethinking that and may get a small bag to carry around with. Will they allow you to bring on a small camera bag? What do you do with a backpack if you bring one?

The only thing that is allowed is a small waist pack.ALL other bags need to be locked in a provided locker by the attraction.The locker is free for the length of the ride