Where to eat....

[Tikitoi]

So when we do our one day at US/IOA for one meal, we plan to go to Emeril's for lunch. We were going to do Bubba Gump or Margaritaville for dinner. But if either park has a nicey nice sit down for dinner, I'd be open to suggestions.

TIA

 

[Badge]

Well, if your only doing one day at Universal, I suggest not eating any sit down meals to save time. You will have a lot to see and do at both parks in only one day.

However, if you must take an hour or two out of your day for a meal, then I suggest Jaks at Royal Pacific or The Kitchen at Hard Rock. If you want to eat inside the parks, then I suggest Mythos. Never had a meal at Citywalk before.

 

[nytimez]

Well, if your only doing one day at Universal, I suggest not eating any sit down meals to save time. You will have a lot to see and do at both parks in only one day.

I second this, especially since Universal parks tend to close early-ish. I'd suggest a quick counter-service meal or the like and a sit-down dinner at one of the hotels or at CityWalk after the parks close.

 

[Badge]

Yep, since most (or all) of the Citywalk places serve dinner until 11pm or later, it better to eat a quick lunch in the park and then enjoy a nice dinner at night AFTER the parks close. You are going to be spending $112 per person for a one day ticket...why waste the time to have a meal? You eat (hopefully) three meals a day, 365 days a year, but you only have one day at Universal. Make the most of your time riding rides and seeing the show and save the nice meals for any of the other 364 days you have left in the year

 

[Tikitoi]

Thanks all. I didn't realize US/IOA closed early. Where can I find their hours. Maybe we will just do Emerils for a late dinner.

So then what are the good qs's in US/IOA that may serve other than burgers. Or just more choices. I think we are going to try to do IOA first.

TIA

 

[Metro West]

Thanks all. I didn't realize US/IOA closed early. Where can I find their hours. Maybe we will just do Emerils for a late dinner.

So then what are the good qs's in US/IOA that may serve other than burgers. Or just more choices. I think we are going to try to do IOA first.

TIA

When are you visiting? I don't think you mentioned in your original post. The parks close anywhere from 6pm to 10pm all depending on when you're visiting.

 

[Tikitoi]

When are you visiting? I don't think you mentioned in your original post. The parks close anywhere from 6pm to 10pm all depending on when you're visiting.

Yes, you are absolutely right, I forgot to mention that we will be there in September. It would be either on the 27th or 28th (a Tuesday or Wednesday). So hopefully too that may make for a less crowded park.

I did go to their site, but only saw for the months of June. So, I guess I have to wait to find out for September.

 

[Metro West]

Yes, you are absolutely right, I forgot to mention that we will be there in September. It would be either on the 27th or 28th (a Tuesday or Wednesday). So hopefully too that may make for a less crowded park.

I did go to their site, but only saw for the months of June. So, I guess I have to wait to find out for September.

During that time of year, the Studios will probably close around 6pm and IOA around 7pm...those can change of course. Either of those days would be fine crowd wise except for WWoHP...no one really knows how busy it will be. But the Studios and the rest of IOA should be fairly quiet.

 

[Tikitoi]

During that time of year, the Studios will probably close around 6pm and IOA around 7pm...those can change of course. Either of those days would be fine crowd wise except for WWoHP...no one really knows how busy it will be. But the Studios and the rest of IOA should be fairly quiet.

Uh, oh...WWoHP is the primary reason we are going to IOA. So, I geuss it's going to come down to if IOA is open later then we may save that til later and maybe HP will be somewhat calm by then. Or we could try first thing in a.m.

Thanks everyone.

 

[francie57]

According to Universal's website the hours for those two days is IOA 9-7 and Universal 9-6. The hours may change if the crowd level warrants it. I would save the sit down meal until after the parks close. For quick service meals in the parks we like Thunder Falls Terrace in IOA and Richter Burger in the Studios.

 

[Badge]

Uh, oh...WWoHP is the primary reason we are going to IOA. So, I geuss it's going to come down to if IOA is open later then we may save that til later and maybe HP will be somewhat calm by then. Or we could try first thing in a.m.

Thanks everyone.

If HP is the main reason for visiting Universal and you only have ONE day, visit HP first thing in the morning! Whenever I go, the parks tend to be open until 8 or 9, so the crowds start to die down around 6 or 7. Since the park is only open till 7, I have no idea if it will die down enough. It is much better to arrive at the time the park opens to enjoy HP for a bit before the crowds roll in than to wait and not get to see everything.

My plan of attack for you would be:

Arrive about 15-30 minutes before IOA opens. Do everything you want to do in HP and then explore the rest of the park. Hopefully you will be done around noon. Then, head over to the Studios and grab a quick lunch from a quick service place. Then, ride everything you want to experince in the Studios. Finally, around 5 I would head BACK to HP if you want to see it at night (or at least with the sun going down) and buy some items from the shops. This will give you about 5 hours in each park, which is not enough time to do/see everything. The T2 3D show alone takes about 30 minutes. Finally, after your day in the parks, go enjoy a nice sit down meal...just don't have a nice sit down meal while the parks are open!

 

[Metro West]

According to Universal's website the hours for those two days is IOA 9-7 and Universal 9-6. The hours may change if the crowd level warrants it. I would save the sit down meal until after the parks close. For quick service meals in the parks we like Thunder Falls Terrace in IOA and Richter Burger in the Studios.

Agree with everything said...except I would choose Louie's over Richter's.

 

[Tikitoi]

If HP is the main reason for visiting Universal and you only have ONE day, visit HP first thing in the morning! Whenever I go, the parks tend to be open until 8 or 9, so the crowds start to die down around 6 or 7. Since the park is only open till 7, I have no idea if it will die down enough. It is much better to arrive at the time the park opens to enjoy HP for a bit before the crowds roll in than to wait and not get to see everything.

My plan of attack for you would be:

Arrive about 15-30 minutes before IOA opens. Do everything you want to do in HP and then explore the rest of the park. Hopefully you will be done around noon. Then, head over to the Studios and grab a quick lunch from a quick service place. Then, ride everything you want to experince in the Studios. Finally, around 5 I would head BACK to HP if you want to see it at night (or at least with the sun going down) and buy some items from the shops. This will give you about 5 hours in each park, which is not enough time to do/see everything. The T2 3D show alone takes about 30 minutes. Finally, after your day in the parks, go enjoy a nice sit down meal...just don't have a nice sit down meal while the parks are open!

This sounds like a good plan. We will be doing more at US, so if we can get in and out of IOA we will try. Then a nice late dinner at Emerils will be deserving.

Thanks everyone!