Info on Universal in FL

[Missing B'dos]

Hey guys, we're going to be in Orlando for some meetings of Jimmy's in late January, so we are planning to spend a day at Universal, doing the Islands part (the Studio Tour part we are too familiar with having lived in California for a while and 'been there-done that' enough), and we plan to do CityWalk for a movie and some food after the park closes, because they say it closes at 6 pm then, pretty early.... ANYWAY is anyone familiar with this theme park?

We haven't been there in about ten years and it was much smaller and we were at a private party there, so a limo took us and we ... can't REMEMBER -- where is the parking in relation to the parks? Is it so you walk through CityWalk and turn left for Islands or right for Studio Tour? Is it behind the parks? They have maps but none of them show where the parking is vis-a-vis the actual parks and resorts!! the reason for this is we are trying to decide to drive or take a cab, and where the car would be to not have to move it and access both areas easily.

I might be suffering from theme park panic.
thank you....

[z-man]

Universal Blvd runs north/south through the center of the Universal property.
Hollywood blvd crosses Universal near the south end of Universal property.
Take Hollywood Blvd East from Universal it will take you to the toll booths to pay for parking ($11)
you will be directed into one of two parking garages; follow the signs from the garages to the central atrium,
then take the moving sidewalks into Citywalk.

the movie theatres will be on your right as you enter CityWalk
if you proceed straight, you will pass a stage on your left, then Emirils on your left, them Margaritaville on your left
continue straight ahead, you will go over a small bridge then come to the entrance to Islands of Adventure.

Best plan is to arrive as early as possible, and when you enter the park go past the entry buildings, turn left,
and go straight to the Spiderman ride.
It is considered by many to be the best ride in town, and by going there first you will find the line as short as possible.

After Spiderman, following the circular pattern of the park in a clockwise direction will give you a pretty good day in the park.

[Missing B'dos]

Thank you!!!
We won't be arriving at the park until noon, as he has meetings in the morning, should we still follow this plan? Or would it be better to leave Spiderman until just before it closes in this case?
Is there anything equivalent to a FastPass?
What is your favorite restaurant in CityWalk?
We were thinking of 5 pm drinks and starters at Mythos in Islands, then the movie, and dinner after the film... maybe getting one of those movie and dinner for one price packages, which we tried once at the CA CityWalk and it worked alright... and then one of the clubs after that.

[catsway]

Our 'keet works at IOA, so we have been several times. A cab would be not be needed. Parking is located in a multi-level garage about 500 yards from the entrance to City Walk. There are moving sidewalks to get you from the parking area to the entrance quickly. As you arrive at City Walk you'll pass Hard Rock, Bob Marley's, Cigarz (highly recommend bar), Margaritaville and several other bars, restaurants and gift shops. After passing Margaritaville, you head straight to the IOA gates. The "Studio" is to your right. Honestly, when we went last time in October, we discovered you can do both parks in one day and hit every ride if its not too crowded and use their Fast Pass system. If you have "young ones" that may slow you down, but we rode every ride at both parks, had lunch at Mytho's ( Theme Park Insider.com has voted Mythos Restaurant as the “Best Theme Park Restaurant” for an impressive sixth straight year. ) and then finished with dinner at Margaritaville all before 9PM. If you ride the Pteranodon Flyers in Jurassic Park (http://www.universalorlando.com/amuseme ... lyers.html ) say hello to Chelsea, when you board the ride. That's our newly engaged 'keet. That's our $.02 worth. Have a fun and safe time!

[z-man]

Thank you!!!
We won't be arriving at the park until noon, as he has meetings in the morning, should we still follow this plan? Or would it be better to leave Spiderman until just before it closes in this case?
Is there anything equivalent to a FastPass?
What is your favorite restaurant in CityWalk?
We were thinking of 5 pm drinks and starters at Mythos in Islands, then the movie, and dinner after the film... maybe getting one of those movie and dinner for one price packages, which we tried once at the CA CityWalk and it worked alright... and then one of the clubs after that.

There is Fast Pass available
Mythos is an excellent choice
the dinner and movie passes are available
We like Margaritaville (obviously) John Frinzi plays 5-9PM on the porch every Wednesday and Thursday
Pat O'Brians, Bob Marleys, or the new karaoke place are all fun clubs

[Missing B'dos]

Thanks! We always used to love Pat O'Briens in NO, maybe we will try that, this'll be a Saturday, so think we will have to plan and reserve as much ahead as possible to avoid lines. Jimmy does not like lines.
Again thank you for all your help.

[digitalprintman]

You may want to check out the Valet Parking at Universal. It's not all that much more than the regular parking $12 and even pretty close to the cost of Preferred Parking. The Preferred Parking does get you closer than the regular parking but it really is not a bad walk at all from the regular site. The regular is usually towards the top of the ramp. They have escalators from floor to floor in the ramp and moving sidewalks near the park, with the upbeat music to keep the crowd moving. The Valet Parking costs are $20. There are very good directions to the parking area once you get onto the Universal Property. Just in case you haven't checked out Universal's Site:

http://www.universalorlando.com/hours-i ... ation.html

By the way the Hurricanes are every bit as good at Pat O'Briens in Orlando as they are in New Orleans.

Have a great time. Do stop by the Porch of Indecision or the Lone Palm Airport. Or you might stop in to the Bar at Margaritaville and checkout the Big Blender during Volcano.

[blackjack]

Unless I'm reading too fast, I don;t see where you are staying.

If you are staying at one of "their" resorts Hard Rock, Royal Pacific or Portifino Bay, you get "front of the line" access with your room key.

[carolinagirl]

When we were there this past July, the Fast Pass system was no longer in existence!

It was replaced by a system in which you had to purchase more expensive tickets to get to go in the fast pass line. That may only be the case in the summertime, so do check it out.

I highly recommend making a reservation for the restaurant as soon as you arrive in City Walk, before you visit the park. That way you DO get a "fast pass" and don't have to wait an hour and a half like you would if you just show up. Again, I may be thinking summertime overcrowded situations, which is when we have gone to Universal.

I would recommend still starting with Spider-Man, you don't want to miss this ride no matter how long the line is, or the Hulk if you're into GREAT roller coasters, and continuing around the park clockwise. I love the Comic Strip area of the park. Pose beneath your own message bubble.

[Missing B'dos]

We will look into the 'Fast Pass' gate entry ticket... it may cost more, but the base ticket is already $75 and we only have the one day and don't expect to do this when we are back in Orlando again in October for a week. Thanks for the information.
No not staying there, at the Rosen Plaza as part of the conference (downtown Orlando, near Convention Centre).
I was actually going to call the restaurant ahead, both Mythos, and whichever restaurant we chose in CityWalk, as soon as I knew what film we wanted to see, and I have myself on automatic notification of what films are each week from the AMC there, so I should be able to do all that before we even arrive, and all we would have to do is get the movie-dinner actual tickets when we walk in.
As I mentioned, Jimmy doesn't like lines... so any line-avoidance tips are tremendously appreciated. Jimmy DOES like coasters... unfortunately his coaster pal, the younger child unit, will not be in Florida with us, being as she is technically an educated grown up now, and actually has a job and a city of her own to live in, so he will have to go alone and I will "smile and wave". When we were still out in SoCal about a year and a half ago, they did hit the CAL Universal and rode "everything" at resident ticket rates.
Thanks for all the tips... we can sure use 'em, and we'll save them (I am printing all this stuff off) for October as well, in case any friends attending the main conference want to go there!!

[gottagofishin]

We just returned from a week in Orlando and did Universal for 1 day, Disney for 5. Universal was OK but it's not Disney. Hulk was a great coaster and Dueling dragons was not bad either. Spiderman was really good. If you don't like to get "SOAKED" don't do the River Rats or the Dudley Do Rights log flume. You will need a total change of clothes after going on these rides. You can definately do everything in 1 day.

My biggest problem with Univerasl is that they don't do a good job handling large crowds. The other is the "pay to play" ticket options. The base ticket allows you to wait in the long lines, Pay $50 more for the express pass and get the fast pass or pay +/- $100 more for the VIP and get in the front of the line.

At least at Disney everyone is on a "level playing field" for one price.

Universal

[Missing B'dos]

If I read you right it's $75 plus $50 or $125 each per day with a 'fast pass' and $75 plus $100 or $175.00 each per day to go to the front of the line.... isn't that a little high for a theme park ?
Last time we did Universal FL was when the conference was last in Orlando, and they closed the park to the public one night and opened it only to conference attendees an hour later (this is a large conference)... maybe we should wait till the main conference in October and hope that they will do this again this time?
We have some two-day no-expiration Disney passes bought some time ago, which we were going to use one-day-of in January and one-day-of in October.... maybe we should just use the second day of those in January as well, and leave Universal for October and see if they do what they did last time...
--they also closed the Magic Kingdom part of Disney to the public back then and reopened for only the conference attendees one evening, same deal--
hmmm!
Eventually we will move back to SoCal and get resident rates on the one there again. Wonder if the cost of this is worth it? Has anyone gone to both and can compare 'em?
We're real pros at Disney and very good at using their systems because we have been to the Disney parks so many times we have lost track.
Heck, our hotel suite at conference rates is only $185 a night. I can't imagine spending $175 EACH for a park pass. As the Trinis would say, "steeups!"

[gottagofishin]

Express Pass ranges from $26 to $51 in addition to your regular admission. VIP is $149.99 and it includes the park admission. It is very pricey for what you get. Islands of advenure only has about 8 rides for adults. We've done Disney 5 times now and this is the first time we did Universal. We probably won't go back.