Pls talk to me about Universal parks

[juneau]

We're going back to Florida in Oct 2018. Last time we did the Disney parks and this time we intend to visit the three Universal parks, while staying at a Universal hotel.

The idea is to this during the first three days of our holiday and then moving onto a SC apartment for the rest of the trip (when we intend to do other things).

My questions are:

1. Are the tickets really £200 pp per day????? For the four of us for three days in the parks that comes to an eye-watering £1476 and that's without accommodation, food, etc.

2. Which is your favourite Universal hotel and why?

Hi, I've been to Florida universal 2x with my kids. Buy passes before you leave to save £. We found undercover tourist cheapest. £249 each for 7 days across 3 parks. Don't get individual park tickets if you want to ride the Hogworts express (you will).

Check crowd trackers to assess if fast passes are needed. They are included in some on site hotels so price up and see what's best for you.

We had a big brekkie and took lunches in them stopped at mythnos or another sit down place (book) for an early meal as it meant a rest in the shade.

Get there before opening to ensure low crowds, Harry Potter can get mad. If your kids are fans of hp endure you allow adequate time to spend In the 'world' not just rides. Interactive wands are expensive but offer a lot of play value.

Let me know if I can help with anything else

Our fav hotel is hard rock - good food, lots of space, huge shady pool free fast passes and my kids are teens so love it

Thank you macncheese, that's very helpful.

If you stay at one of the Universal hotels are express tickets/passes included or should you still book the tickets separately? It looks like that's what you did.

I think our kids will be VERY into the HP stuff. Older DS will be almost 11 when we go and he's read all the books and seen all the films and been to HP studios here in the UK. Younger DS will be 7.5 and I suspect I'll have read him the first book or two by then as well (if only to get him in the mood for our trip!).

Would you say that three days is enough to cover the three parks? I realise we can always blow off Volcano Bay if we want more time in the theme parks. The tickets I've seen are the same price for 2 days or 3, so the third day is essentially 'free' anyway.

If they are that age and love HP I think you'll need to put aside $50 for an interactive wand and at least 2 hrs to do all the incidental stuff at HP world.

The staff were lovely with my nerdy ds who is HP obsessed and got very upset that a loud annoying family blocked his view on the Hogwarts express / they saw him stressing out and me calming him, came over and quietly arranged a VIP round trip for us- we didn't ask- so chat to staff and they'll be helpful.

We bought tickets in U.K. and used the free fast passes that came with HR hotel. The prices of fast passes vary and we were there at peak time so they were $89 each making HR good value. In oct FP may not he needed (check crowd trackers) and will be cheaper.

We did a lot of research and it was worth it - we barely queued and saved a lot.

Yes, 3 days is enough - get up early!

I last went in June 2015. We were staying on International Drive, but found it better value to stay in one of the Universal hotels for one night to get the early entry and fast pass access across two days (make use of the perks on check in and check out day).

Use the early entry (an hour before official park opening) to ride the Harry Potter ride at whichever park you are visiting that day as in 2015, the Forbidden Journey and Gringotts rides were excluded from the fast pass system.

The previous visit in 2010 was late September/Early October and we wouldn't have needed fast passes in any of the parks we visited.

Agree with dining in Mythos at IoA - great value. You pay similar prices to the less formal food court type restaurants, but the food is far nicer and you get to rest and relax more. There's a similar style restaurant in Universal Studios too, I think it's called Lombards and has more fish options, but still burgers and other specials.

Good shoes are essential HP world at both parks is the far side of the park from the gate. DD was 11 and used to regularly walking several miles and was okay, but tired at end of day. We did 23,000 steps each day on two consecutive days in the parks.
We also bought one of the cups that you can top up everywhere and shared ( you can refill every 10 minutes) whilst first day at around $15 you break even subsequent days at $7 for unlimited top ups is far cheaper than $3 for each drink.
If you are going to ride hog warts express more than twice ( we rode it 11 times DD loved it so much). Lanyards to save you getting tickets out are a must.
We didn't bother with a wand DD wasn't that bothered.
Single rider lines really cut your queuing two of you are likely to be on the same ride just not sat next to each other. A confident independent 7.5 year would cope with this the 11 year old will be fine.

Thanks lonecat - all good tips. We walked miles last time we went to Florida too. We did five consecutive days in the Disney parks (and were sick to death of shuffling hordes of people by the end). DS2 was only 4.5 at that time and we ended up renting a stroller, because the walking was too much for him and carrying him was too much for us. It was well worth the $15 per day.

We stayed at the Hard Rock recently, lovely hotel. If you stay you get express passes with your stay, these are fab at universal as you can ride as many times as you want, no forward planning needed. You still need to purchase universal tickets, the 3 park ticket covers universal, islands of adventure and volcano bay. All Harry Potter is now included, if you go on the train, ride it both ways as the story changes. My children loved universal more than the Disney parks they are 8 and 12.

We did both parks in 2 days and rode many things twice/three times with the express passes. We left our bags in the luggage room at the hotel on arriving, went to universal, they text us once our room was ready. Would have preferred another day at Hard Rock just to make use of the pool. We also ate at Hard Rock cafe (the largest in the world) it was great, we got a money off voucher at check in You can ask at all counter services in Disney and universal for free iced water, saved us buying it, it comes in a regular soft drink cup with straw and lid.

We went yesterday. Hot and very busy.
The HP train ride was good and very short wait times.
Put the universal app on your phone to book a place on the virtual line for Jimmy Fallons race through New York.
Saves queuing.
The big HP ride was a nightmare to get on.
The locker area was rammed with no free lockers to put a bag in.
The Simpsons ride is ace as is Transformers.

"The big HP ride was a nightmare to get on."

It was the first time DD went on it, but the second time it was very late in the day and she went on her own (I went on the ride the first time and regretted it). Splitting the party up for rides massively saves queuing time.

We couldn't even get a locker before going on the ride.

We went in August peak time. WW of HP on both sides was busy especially late morning/early afternoon but with the free express passes from staying onsite we didn't queue for more than 15/20 minutes for anything ever (including enjoying the queue experience where relevant) We always had a non-rider who took bags for the riders which helped. As said above, with the benefit of express pass, Universal doesn't require the level of pre planning that Disney does to make the most of it. Jimmy Fallon was walk on in the evening.
My best tip is take swimwear (yes really) or at least full poncho and flip flops for the water rides in Toon Lagoon. Unlike Disney rides you get total head to toe drenching and we had to chuck out shoes!