Monthly Archives: January 2019

Tips for beating the queues at Universal Orlando

After saving your hard earned money for your once in a lifetime trip to Universal Orlando; the last thing you want to do is wait in line to get on your favourite ride. Over the years I’ve discovered lots of tips to get you on that ride a little bit quicker. Some of you, like myself, will be crossing the Atlantic and most likely will spend more than a few days at Universal but others may only have one or two days there. Standing in a long queue in Florida’s heat can be exhausting combined with walking miles around the parks.

The Circus McGurkus Cafe at Seuss landing

9 Tips to help reduce ride waiting times at Universal Orlando

  • Buy an Express Pass –  Most rides and attractions have an express queue as well as the regular line. The only rides that don’t take them at the time of writing are Pterandon Fliers at Islands of Adventure and Fievel’s Playground at Universal studios. You wont necessarily get on the ride immediately but you shouldn’t have to wait much longer than 15 minutes. They last for one day only and prices vary according to the season. There are a few choices of pass. The basic Express Pass is valid for use at all participating rides once only, whereas the Unlimited Express Pass gives you unlimited use at participating rides. You can buy a pass for each park separately, or for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure together. You can also buy an Express Pass for Volcano Bay. Prices are on top of your general admission tickets. Universal Orlando also sell the complete package with Park tickets and Express Pass combined. Express passes are scanned in the queue so there can be no queue jumping. These Express passes are not valid at Halloween Horror Nights which is a separate ticketed event and also has it’s own Express Passes.
  • Stay at a Universal Premier Hotel – Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel or Royal Pacific and you automatically get an Unlimited Express Pass included for each guest booked into your room for the length of stay. Just join the Express Riders queue and get your room Key card scanned. Yes, it is expensive to stay at a premier Hotel but it compares favourably to staying at a cheaper hotel and buying everyone a pass each day. One night gives you two full days to use your pass. This is our favourite way to eliminate waiting times and we usually stay at the Royal Pacific.
  • One hour early entry – for all Universal Hotel guests with park tickets. Each day you get early entry to the Wizarding World of harry Potter at whichever Park has early opening that particular day. Also early entry to Volcano Bay. This gives you chance to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey or Escape from Gringotts an hour before the general public are admitted. Even when the general public are let in you’ll have a head start on the other rides and will be one of the first to take the Hogwarts Express train to the other Park. Note: You need Park to Park tickets to ride the train as tickets and fingerprints are checked before boarding.
  • Buying your tickets in advance – means you can go straight to the turn styles rather than queue to buy tickets then queue up again to enter the park. At the turn styles the bar code on your ticket is scanned and your fingerprint. This much match at subsequent visits. Downloaded tickets usually have a bar code also.
  • Single Rider Line – Many of the rides have a separate queue for single riders. Last year we couldn’t get in at a premier Hotel to get the free Express Pass so it was the first time we experienced the single rider queue. We are normally joined at the hip but when we saw the wait times for Escape from Gringotts we gave it a try. We rode three times in about twenty minutes. Single riders are used to fill the seats on a ride; for example if there are four seats in a row and a family only has three members. We get to queue together and are only separated for the ride which is only for around three minutes at the most.
  • Visit during term time – There isn’t really a quiet time and of course some parents will take their children out of school to go but its definitely going to be busier when the kids are on holiday. We generally go in September as the weather is still hot but it is a little quieter. However it can get busy when Halloween Horror Nights is on and the fact that universal Studios closes at 5pm for this event means less time in the park. This results in a queue for the Hogwarts Express to get to the Islands of Adventure if you have tickets for both parks.
Hogswart Express
  • Ignore the rain – A few of the rides may close if inclement weather is due but the majority of them stay open. Many visitors will head home leaving the queues a little shorter. You can always take in a show or grab a bite to eat till the rain passes. An inexpensive plastic poncho comes in handy. They sell them throughout the parks but are expensive. Dollar shop ones work just as well.
  • Be there early or stay late – The queues are shorter the earlier you get there and as it gets nearer to closing time those who took advantage of early entry will be ready for home and waiting lines get shorter again. We’ve often grabbed that extra ride on our way to the exit.
  • A ride breaks down – It’s bad enough when a ride breaks down when you’re on it as has happened to us four times now over the years; but when you’ve queued for what seems like forever only to be told the ride has broken down, don’t despair. There’s usually a team member guiding you back to the entrance or a short cut to the exit and they’ll offer you a coupon with an Express Pass to one ride …Yippee. We’ve also been offered an Express Pass when riding Escape from Gringotts after it stopped at a crucial point for a while then carried on. Not exactly the best way to obtain an Express Pass when you’re wondering if you’ll ever be rescued; as there’s no way of getting out with your legs and body pinned down in the seat and you might need the bathroom.

So quite a few tips there to help you get on your favourite ride a little quicker. However there are a few cons. On some rides the Express queue and single rider queue take a completely different route to the general queue, which means missing out on some of the fantastic theming. It’s worth taking the general queue if its short especially on a ride like Escape from Gringotts where the queue is like a ride in itself; (not wanting to give anything away to those who haven’t experienced it yet).

Transformers – The Ride

Have you any more tips for beating the queues at Universal Orlando ? I’d love to read your comments.

Fun Photo Spots at Universal Orlando

Apart from getting a photo with your favourite Universal Character there are numerous locations to capture that all important holiday snap. As we’ve visited Universal so many times now it’s hard to distinguish one years photos from the next. However we are always finding new fun spots that we’ve missed. For those making a once in a lifetime special trip it’s easy to miss those opportunities. Here are my favourites.

17 Fun Photo Spots at Universal Orlando

The Shark from Jaws

This is a nod to the Jaws ride that closed in 2012. The shark was at the entrance to the ride which was demolished to make way for Diagon Alley but is now found in the San Francisco area between Richter’s Burger Co. and Chez Alcatraz, at Universal Studios. As it’s just off the beaten track there is usually no queuing for a photo op.

Lard Lad Donuts Boy

Springfield area of Universal studios


Barney Gumble in Moe’s Tavern

Springfield, Universal Studios. Order a Flaming Moe for another great photo.


Marmaduke

Toon Lagoon Universal Islands of Adventure

Curious George goes to Town

Children’s ( adults ) play area at Universal Studios

Millhouse

Outside Kwik- E- Mart, Springfield Universal Studios

Bubba Gump’s Bench

Outside the Bubba Gump Restaurant at City Walk. Complete with shoes, box of chocolates and suitcase.

Universal Orlando’s Horror Make up Show

Universal Studios. The one time they allow your fellow guest to take a photo or video during a show and get your 15 minutes of fame. I’d been dreading being picked to participate for years.

The Mystic Fountain

Islands of Adventure. Great opportunity to get a fun photo or video of your youngsters getting wet especially if they don’t know what’s coming. The Mystic Fountain will have a conversation with you and soak you with its numerous jets when you least expect it. It also enjoys soaking adults.

Splash Zone

At the end of Jurassic Park River Adventure in Islands of Adventure.

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Jurassic park, Islands of Adventure.

Mel’s Drive – In

In Universal Studios. Based on the diner from the film American Graffiti. For classic car fans there’s usually a selection of classic American cars outside. During Halloween Horror Nights the sign changes to Mel’s Die – In.

Pile of Burgers

Near Wimpy’s quick service kiosk in Toon Lagoon Islands of Adventure. Based on the character Wimpy in the Popeye cartoons. I think Hubby has had one too many.

Blues Brothers Car

In Universal Studios. The Blues Brothers show runs a few times daily and they usually but not always arrive in their car. You can get a good photo whilst the show is on or you may be lucky and get one with Jake and Elwood.

Mythos Restaurant

In Universal’s islands of Adventure. Amazing rock formations and waterfalls surround the restaurant. This carving is to the rear.

Mythos Restaurant

Universal’s islands of Adventure. This carving is to the left of the entrance to the restaurant.

Hogwarts Castle

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Islands of Adventure. This view is taken from the bridge from Hogsmeade to Jurassic Park. It’s a busy spot as everyone is trying to get a shot. There are so many great photo points here which deserve a future post of their own.

Have you any favourite photo spots ? I’d love to read your comments.

14 Reasons why you should stay at a Universal Resort Hotel

Pool at Loews Royal Pacific

This year 2019, Universal Orlando Opens it’s seventh Hotel; Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites. There are four grades of Hotel – premier, preferred, prime value and value, ensuring a choice for any budget.

For a few years we stayed in hotels on International Drive and though we were happy with the rooms and facilities we found we were spending most of our time at Universal Orlando. We had seen the boats pulling up at City walk and wasn’t too sure if they were only for an elite class of guest. So i did some investigating prior to arranging our next holiday,

We had always hired a car so that involved paying for parking at Universal and arriving at the central hub with everyone else, going through queues at security, taking the moving walkways into city walk then continuing on to either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure. We were getting exhausted at our age before we’d even hit the parks and then had to spend time queuing for the rides in the Florida heat. We decided to opt for the Royal Pacific as it was in our budget, close enough to the parks to walk there and knew we could get the boat back at any time of day. This convenience meant we could return mid day for a swim or a nap and hit the parks again later. After booking and doing some more research I found the best perk of all was the free unlimited express pass which almost eliminated any queuing ; plus making us feel like royalty every time we used it.

There are parking charges to pay at the Hotels which were $22 a night at the Royal Pacific at our last stay but we would have had to pay to park at the central Universal parking garage any way. Hint – I plucked up courage to ask if there was any discount on parking when we stayed at Cabana Bay last year for eleven days and the kind gentleman on the front desk knocked me fifty percent off. Worth a try.

Premier Hotels

  • Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
  • Hard Rock Hotel
  • Loews Royal Pacific Resort
View of Islands of Adventure from our room at Royal Pacific

Preferred Hotels

  • Loews Sapphire Falls resort

Prime Value Hotels

  • Universal’s Aventura Hotel
  • Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach resort
Pool at Cabana Bay

Value Hotel

  • Universal’s Endless Summer Resort- Surfside inn and Suites

14 perks to staying at a Universal Orlando Resort Hotel

  • Close to Universal City Walk, Islands of Adventure and Universal studios. Many rooms have views of the parks.
  • Within walking distance along landscaped paths except Universals Endless Summer Resort which has a free shuttle bus.
  • Free regular shuttle buses to and from City walk where you will go through security.
  • Free boat ride from all hotels except Cabana Bay, Universal’s Endless Summer Resort and Aventura hotel. You will go through security prior to boarding. Each hotel has its own boats which run approximately every 15 to 20 minutes from one hour before early opening time until 2am. Hint- For those staying at Cabana Bay and Aventura Hotel just walk the path to Sapphire Falls and catch the boat from there.
  • The walking paths connect all hotels except Universal’s Endless Summer Resort. It’s not uncommon to come across joggers keeping fit. The paths are abundant with tropical plants and types of bamboo. We’ve come across wildlife such as snakes , rabbits, squirrels, ducks and tiny lizards. Also fish and turtles in the waterways and lakes.
  • One hours early entrance to either Hogsmeade in Universal’s Islands of Adventure or Diagon Alley in Universal Studios whichever has early opening that particular day, before the general public.
  • Staying at one hotel allows you to use the facilities and pools at Universal’s other hotels on production of your room card.
  • The best perk of all for those staying at a Universal Premier Hotel – free Unlimited Express pass for Universal Islands of adventure and Universal Studios. Most rides have an Express queue including Escape from Gringotts and Harry potter and the forbidden Journey. The pass is now incorporated into your room card. This gives a saving of up to $89 a day each. This is a better alternative to staying in a cheaper hotel and then paying for an Express Pass for each person. Staying for one night gives you 2 days Express Pass.
  • All rooms, public areas and all parks have free WiFi.
  • Purchases made in the parks can be charged to your hotel room card.
  • Free delivery to your room of items bought in the theme parks.
  • Free entry to select Universal City Walk Clubs by showing your room card.
  • Priority seating at certain restaurants in the parks and City Walk.
  • One hour early entry to Volcano Bay. Guests at Cabana Bay also have their own short cut path and entrance. It’s literally next door.
View of Cabana Bay from Volcano Bay

Can you think of any other advantages to staying at a Universal Resort Hotel ? I’d love to read your comments or try to answer any questions you may have .

Doing the wet rides at Universal Orlando

                        Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges

Universal has it’s share of wet rides.  I have to admit they are my favourite kind  especially on a hot day as most days are. 

Almost everywhere you’ll find some element of the watery type of fun whether its a full drenching or just a refreshing spray.  

There are three rides where you will get soaked although two of them depend on where you are sitting and the luck of the draw .  Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges is a little like a game of Russian roulette- one of you may stay dry but it’s unlikely.

                             People drier

I don’t recommend the huge people dryers which are conveniently situated near the wet rides.  I kept feeding them with dollars but I think it would take all day to get dry and the sunshine is free.  However they are good for a photo opportunity.  I would advise doing these rides all on one day and dress in clothes which will soon dry in the sun or rent a locker for the day so you can get changed afterwards.  Lockers are situated at the main entrances of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.  Take a spare plastic bag to put your handbag or purse in whilst you ride or a Ziploc bag to protect your phone.  On the Bilge-Rat Barges there is a covered central compartment to put your belongings.  I use this but still use a plastic bag.  Don’t try to stash your shoes in here as they won’t set off until everyone has their shoes on. This year a fellow rider tried three times but got spotted and gave up in the end.  I assume it’s a health and safety issue.


My favourite wet rides

  • Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges.  A white water rapid type of ride. You have to wear safety belts, very bouncy, you will get very wet.  Water comes from all directions and from water guns that the observers can use.  Quite a long ride.  My all time favourite.  If you’ve a sense of humour you’ll be laughing all the way.
  • Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls .  Another ride in the Toon Lagoon area of Islands of Adventure.  Roller coaster and flume with a huge drop at the end.  A bit of a tight squeeze for someone my size but worth the effort.  There’s a dummy seat that you can test before you ride to see if you fit.  You will get soaked.
  • Jurassic Park River Adventure.  I call this a bit of everything ride.  Combining a boat ride adventure with a flume ride.  Complete with a huge Tyrannosaurus Rex.  You will probably get wet and possibly soak your bottom half.  Nice and relaxing till you get to the end.  My other half and I just happened to be right at the top of the drop when it broke down.  Luckily we survived and didn’t get eaten.
                                   Camp Jurassic
  • Camp Jurassic.  Not really a ride as such but a great place to cool off and have loads of fun often at the expense of other park guests.  Apologies if we ever soaked you.  We only discovered this by accident on our third holiday and it appears it’s not very well known about so we usually have it all to ourselves.  It’s situated near the Pterandon Flyers and is an adventure   type playground with hidden caves, walkways and is great for kids ( and grownups ) to explore.  If you follow one of the paths it leads to a dinosaur containment area complete with high Jurassic Park style security doors.   Behind some rocks there are dinosaur heads which are actually water cannons shooting upwards.  This area is well themed and landscaped with heavy tropical foliage so anyone wandering through this area won’t realise that above you on a higher level is another area with water guns aiming down.  This is where we set up camp and soak the unfortunate unsuspecting passersby below.  They then spot the dinosaur head water cannons and retaliate and everyone gets soaked.  A great way to pass the time and cool off.
  • The Mystic Fountain.  Again not a ride but one of my favourite places to have a rest and be entertained.  This is an interactive fountain which responds to passersby by engaging in conversation and rewarding them with a squirt or fountain of water from various jets.  I assume there’s a staff member hidden close by  listening with a hidden camera operating the water features and answering the questions.  I’ve had a good look round and there’s nothing obvious.  Children and adults enjoy the banter which is most entertaining.  There are no seats but there’s a wall at sitting height with some shade if you want to cool off but not get wet.
                           The Mystic Fountain

Cooling off at Universal Islands of Adventure

All the above rides are in Islands of Adventure however Universal has managed to slip some watery element into most of it’s rides and areas. 

  • Subtle splashes at The amazing adventures of Spider-man
  • Skull Island -Reign of Kong 
  • Water play area for kids at If I ran the zoo at Seuss Landing
  • One Fish, Two fish, Red fish, Blue fish ride at Seuss landing. 
  • Several water features at Toon Lagoon making great photo points
  • Misting fans and splash pads in the Marvel areas.
  • Splash Zone at the end of Jurassic Park River Adventure 
                                                                     Toon Lagoon
                                          Splash Zone at Jurassic Park Adventure Ride

Cooling off at Universal studios

Universal Orlando’s Horror Make Up Show
  • You will get splashed at  Shrek 4-D
  • The Simpsons Ride
  • Despicable Me Minions Mayhem
  • Transformers-the ride
  • Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
  • A few areas in Diagon alley especially if you have an interactive wand.
  • Fievel’s Playground has a raft slide where you may get wet and a playground where your kids can splash about.
  • Curious George goes to Town is a huge water play area where you can get seriously wet.  Every so often a huge bucket tips over when it gets full drenching anyone underneath. 
  • Universal Orlando’s Horror Make Up Show.  Another favourite of mine where you may get wet.   I’ll give details in a more relevant post as it deserves more than a few lines.  Take the time to see a show and cool off in the air conditioning; sit down and give your feet a rest. 
  • One place not to cool off is in the waterways and lakes in the Universal Resort.  Don’t think there’s no natural wildlife in these waters.  This sign is by the beach at Loews Royal Pacific. 

Have you any thoughts on keeping cool at Universal Orlando ? I’d love to read your comments.

Making the most of your first visit to Universal Orlando

My other half and I have made Universal Orlando our go to holiday destination for the last 12 years.  I can still remember the first visit.  Those were the days when most people still had 35mm cameras which only took 36 photographs at the most on one film and then you had to wait to get them developed, usually after you got home.  Now I read all the latest blogs, get the Universal app on my iPhone, check the hurricane tracker and consider myself fully prepared.

If like myself you live on the UK side of the pond there’s also the fact that just being in the USA is a little different.  So many lanes of cars, traffic lights and street names hung over the roads, chips that are fries, crisps that are chips, petrol is gas, car boot is the trunk, toilets are restrooms (which I think is nicer) – I could go on.

Your first visit will be magical, enthralling, exhausting  and you’ll probably miss half of the good stuff.  One of the things I love most about Universal is the attention to detail in every area of their parks.  Even on this years holiday I still found new photo opportunities and secret places.  It’s so easy to head straight for the nearest ride that you miss the journey which is pretty awesome.

Our first visit was for our Silver Wedding and we tried to fit in too much visiting not only Universal but Seaworld, Busch Gardens, Kennedy Space Centre and most of the attractions on International Drive. Now we stay at one of the hotels in the Universal Resort and can spend 7 out of 12 days just at Universal taking everything in.   Then I never want to come home.

27 Tips for first timers at Universal Orlando

  • Universal Orlando Resort has three parks – Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and Universal’s Volcano Bay.   Between the parking lots and the parks is City Walk where you’ll find eateries, clubs, bars, golf, shopping and a cinema.  The boats from the hotels pull up here.
  • Go outside of school holiday dates
  • Check the latest hurricane forecasts especially in September and October.  Be prepared, though its not often the Parks close.
  • Stay onsite if you can afford it as there are perks depending on the choice of hotel.  Such as one hour early entry and free unlimited Express passes (theme park tickets required).
  • Buy a lanyard for each member of your family to keep your room key card and park tickets dry and within easy reach.
  • If you’re from the UK booking a package holiday is usually cheaper than organising a flight , room and car hire.
  • A compact hire car will usually fit more luggage than they imply.
  • Often your choice of  pre-booked hire car is unavailable at the airport and you’ll be offered an upgrade free ( we usually tip if this happens).
  • Pack plastic ponchos – buy them cheap from pound / dollar stores.  It rains – hard and  they’re handy for the wet rides.  Universal sells them throughout the parks but are very expensive.
  • Pack comfortable well used shoes, you’ll walk miles.
  • Carry a Plastic bag to put your handbag /purse in whilst riding Jurassic Park River Adventure ride and Popeye’s Bilge Barges.  You will get wet.
  • Download the Universal app on your phone.  This gives you wait times, show times, height restrictions, maps and much more.
  • All Universal Parks and hotels have free WiFi so if you live outside the USA switch off  your mobile data and roaming before you fly to save money. 
  • Universal Studios closes at 5pm during Halloween Horror nights.  This is a separate event not included in  the general park ticket. Closing times vary according to the time of year – more information is available on the Universal Orlando app or website.
  • The Wizarding world of Harry Potter is split between the two parks – Hogsmeade is in Universals Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios.  These are linked by the Hogwarts Express train but you must have tickets for both parks to board.
  • Take a photograph with your mobile phone of the area where you’ve parked- it’s easy to get lost when everything looks the same. 
  • If you’re staying at Cabana Bay there’s a very regular bus to the parks but you can also use the lovely landscaped walking path to cross the road to Sapphire Falls and catch the free boat transport or just continue along the path which brings you to city walk near to the entrance of Islands of Adventure.
  • One night at Universals Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay or Royal Pacific gives you 2 days free Express Pass unlimited. ( your room card now serves as the pass ).  These are the hotels that give you the Unlimited Express Pass as well as one hours early entry. 
  • Staying at one of Universals Hotels entitles you to use the facilities and pools at all the others.
  • There’s a shortage of places to sit down in the parks so take a break seeing a show or browse the gift shops for some air conditioning.
  • Buy a Universal refillable souvenir mug.  Offers and types of mug vary but with the classic refillable you can receive discounted refills at any participating locations (those with fountain drinks) for ever around $1.50 saving heaps as its thirsty work doing all that walking. 
  • Flag up any marks or dings  and try out your hire car’s air conditioning before you leave the airport.  Florida is Hot, Hot, Hot. 
  • Have some small dollars ready for the tolls from  the airports.  MCO is the nearest and busiest and about 20 minutes away.  Sanford is quieter and about an hours drive.
  • Ask before you leave the airport if you’ve to take your hire car back empty or full of gas.
  • Plan your itinerary to include a water park on alternate days to give your feet a rest.  If you stay at a Universal Resort Hotel you’ll be close enough to return for a mid day rest or swim and then hit the parks again.
  • Security is very strict at all parks. Arriving at the main hub after parking or getting dropped off be prepared for bag search which is now by x ray or inspection then visitors must pass through metal detection similar to airport security. You will also go though security prior to boarding the boats from your Universal Hotels or at the end of the walking paths. Finger prints are taken at your first visit when you present your ticket for scanning at each park gate and at subsequent visits when you present your finger this is checked with the original scan.
  • Restrooms are plentiful throughout the park and the ones I’ve used all had disabled access and cubicles and baby changing facilities. They are all themed according to the area of the park for example in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios the restrooms resemble old fashioned British lavatories and in Hogsmeade at Universal Studios you can hear Moaning Myrtle.

Boat from Sapphire Falls to City Walk