US & IoA - What do you do to actually enjoy the parks?

[johnandmaz]

Bit of a left field question but...

I was just watching a Tim Tracker Video of US where he was watching a street show in US park. It struck me that in all our 27 years of visiting, sadly we've never really stopped and smelled the coffee at Universal. Always gone from ride to ride with small interludes like the Blues Brothers or something to eat.

So as we're going with another couple, no kids for the first time, staying at Portofino for 8 days, it might a great opportunity to spend a couple of days actually pausing and enjoying the surroundings and the street shows and have a beer or 2 without rushing to the next stop.

What street shows are there to enjoy and hang around? What bits of both parks should we look out for, that most people like myself never notice? No suggestion too daft or remote.

[grottyrotty]

We went as a group of 4 adults - me, DH and our adult offspring who were 23 and 25.

We thought we'd do more shows etc, but ended up going from ride to ride again. We only saw the shows that went on around us as we were walking to the next ride

And we were still wiped out at the end of our time in the parks, so went back to the villa, usually eating enroute, and chilling around the pool. I suppose the only difference was us footing the bill for their alcohol

Deb

[Unexpectedpenny]

You may have already done these but things that I don’t see mentioned much or are over looked are the Horror Make up show and looking around Williams of Hollywood prop shop behind Mel’s restaurant (if only I had room for the cow from Twister!)

Not quite relaxing with beer in hand but good to do. I can’t actually think of anything else as we’re normally rushing about too!

[debojahh]

We really enjoy the Horror Makeup show. Every time it is different depending on the cast. We once had both female hosts and everyone was in hysterics!
We like to sit by the lake in Springfield and watch the world go by too.
For IOA it is nice to look around the Discovery Centre in Jurassic Park and we did Poseidon's Fury which is something a bit different!

[familyofthree]

As we have a 5 year old we are a little more leisurely going round the parks. We have enjoyed in Universal the builders street show on the corner where beetlejuice show used to be, a acrobatic fish catching show on the street right by the edge of the pond again by where the entrance to beetlejuice show used to be. Animal actors show is good too, in the shade and nice to have a bit of a sit down, it is between Simpson's area and kids area where ET ride is.

IOA our favourites are the harry potter stuff, frog chorus is good on the little stage by ollivanders and the entrance to hogsmede. The talking fountain is a right giggle our DS loves having a chat with it, it is set back a little by the toilets as you walk from poseidens show towards Jurassic park area. Raptor experience is good and discovery centre is a nice escape from the heat with some nice interactive experiences.
You dont realise how much other stuff there is to do until someone asks the question!

[Cinderellabella]

We always find it entertaining people watching at the talking fountain at islands of Adventure

[Moorlandman]

Last August there was little entertainment after 6pm apart from queuing for the rides.

It’s no Disney

[HEMANCLOFTY]

Camp Jurassic was a fave when DS was younger - exploring the climbing nets and getting into water fights with the other kids. DH and DS always ended up soaked to the bone.

Also love getting soaked by the big splash whilst watching Jurassic Falls and squirting riders on Blutos Bilge Rat Barges.

Bit of a water theme for us 😀

[16offtodisney!]

Straight out of food truck is fantastic ( was there in 2015) i think all the street performers are fantastic, we love grabbing a cinibon on Citywalk watching everyone come into the parks. The harry potter shows are fantastic especially the frog chorus x i love Universal xx

[Wobbles]

Another (very big) vote for the horror make up show. It just gets better and better.

A beer and people watching The Simpson's bar.

The band and dancers first thing in the morning whilst sharing a pastry at Beverly hills. They really interact with the kids.

The chair acrobats at IoA, again with a beer from Backwater Bar.

Sharing a dessert at Toothsome, Frozen yoghurt at Menchies or nachos at Margaritaville.

The shows in Diagon Alley and Hogsmead.

The talking fountain at IoA

Love taking the Hogsmead express

Beetlejuice always cracks us up if you see him around