jmicha Posted July 22, 2007 Posted July 22, 2007 I have been to Universal Studios Orlando three times in the past four years, and my family has always visited during the third weekend of January. We wanted to go again this coming year, but I am going to college, and do not have vacation at this time. We decided that we would visit during the beginning of my Christmas break. This would mean we are leaving on Wednesday, December 13th, and would be at the park on the 14th, 15th, and 16th. My question is, how will crowds at this point in December (before Christmas vacation) compare to those in late January? Thank you in advance.
thefitness Posted July 22, 2007 Posted July 22, 2007 Last year my family and I went to Universal on Christmas day, and the day after. IMO, In December it's really just luck of the draw with crowds. If your family is staying at one of the On-Site Hotels then you should be absolutely fine, because of Express Passes. Also Keep in mind that December is a busy(not exactly meaning big crowds) time for Universal, because of The parade and Grinchmas, Which I heard was returning this year! Hope this helps!
SharkTums Posted July 22, 2007 Posted July 22, 2007 That should be the last weekend of 'slightly above normal crowds' before all hell breaks loose for the holidays! Get Express Passes and don't worry about it at all!
jmicha Posted July 22, 2007 Author Posted July 22, 2007 Thanks you two. Luckily, this year we're staying at the Royal Pacific Hotel, so we'll be able to have Express Passes for basically every major ride there.
BarryH Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 ^Well, that settles it! If you're staying onsite, then you have unlimited Universal Express usage with your room key. Just flash your room key at the Team Member stationed in front of the Universal Express entrance and you're all set! Even when I stay onsite, I usually get to IOA at opening to ride the things that you can't use Universal Express: Pternandon Flyers and the front row of Fire and Ice on Dueling Dragons. Pternandon Flyers is a credit, so ride it early to avoid a ginormous line. I can usually get 3-4 front row rides on Dragons before the crowd comes in. Don't forget to eat at Mythos. I would have the tortilla soup, the BBQ chicken wrap, and the Bannana Gooey Cake. You can eat something else, but ignore my suggestions at your peril!
jmicha Posted July 24, 2007 Author Posted July 24, 2007 Lol, thanks for the suggestions. It's funny, in the three times that I've visited (a total of eight full days at the parks), I've never eaten at Mythos. My family is more of the "budget eating" family when on vacations, due to the fact that my older brother is in college, I'm going to college for six years (architecture at University of Cincinnati) and my younger brother will start shortly after my older brother ends. Pizza and soda is the typical meal for us. In fact, now that I think of it, the last two times I visited, we had lunch all three days at the pizzaria in the New York section of Universal Studios. When we go, we generally will start the first day at IoA and then head over to US for the second half of the day, and the second and third day are spent doing the opposite. This allows us to get on Pteranadon Flyers once or twice during the vacation and allows for as many rides on Mummy and MiB as humanly possible. Last time we went, we rode Mummy so many times that the ride ops knew we were coming and held the back row for us. I think last time we were there my younger brother and I got in 35 rides on Mummy and 32 rides on MiB in the three days we were there! Lol, I'm going to stop talking now, I'm getting too excited. I honestly think that if I lived closer to Orlando (I live in Ohio), I'd be visiting the park every week. I just can't get enough of it.
BarryH Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 If you like eating pizza on vacation, you need to order a pizza from Flipper's Pizza. It's the best pizza in Orlando! Check them out at: www.flipperspizza.com They do deliver to the onsite Universal hotels. I believe the one on Universal Blvd. is closest to Universal.
jmicha Posted July 24, 2007 Author Posted July 24, 2007 Thanks, maybe we'll do that one night for dinner.
Brad Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 a quick question... If you stay at an on-site hotel for one night, which day(s) do you get access to the express pass? If we stay for say a Saturday night, do we get express passes for both Saturday and Sunday?
thefitness Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 ^Yes, Your Express Passes are valid through your Check In to Check Out date.
BarryH Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 ^^Your room keys are valid from around 7 am on the day of your check-in to midnight of the day of your check-out. So you get 2 days of Universal Express access for a night's stay. I've checked in as early as 7 am and gotten my keys for Universal Express usage. The room might not be ready, though. If the room isn't ready yet, you can leave your bags with the bellhop. At around 4 pm, you can call the hotel to get your room number. The keys you got at check-in will open your room door. There's no need to obtain new keys at the front desk.
Brad Posted August 15, 2007 Posted August 15, 2007 If a Universal Orlando season pass is lost, do you simply go to guest relations and get a new one? What is the process?
BarryH Posted August 15, 2007 Posted August 15, 2007 If you lose your AP, go to Guest Services to obtain a replacement. In the past, they used to charge $10 for a replacement. Now that the APs are going to a paper version, I don't know if there's still a replacement fee. Bring an ID with your mugshot and name to verify your identity.
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