Tell me about Universal...

[Wobbles]

Originally Posted by Jennywren

The only other tip I would add is think about your wardrobe, if you wear a Disney T shirt or baseball cap to Universal you will have to put up with comments from cast members like "Excuse me Sir do you realise you have a rat on your head" etc but it's all done with good humour.

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As they say in the Horror Make Up Show (another must do)

"This ain't Disney, we don't have to be nice to you"

(Also said in good humour)

[moosha]

As others have said, it feels more relaxed at Universal and we’ve gone from being disappointed in our one day out of the Disney bubble at Universal in 2012 to a weeklong Universal only (plus Disney Springs ) trip last year. When we first went Edith very young children it didn’t have as much appeal as it does now they’re teenagers especially as there are lots of thrill rides.

We love staying at the Hard Rock for our Universal parks part of any trip. We love the feel of the hotel and that it only takes a couple of minutes to walk to CityWalk and Universal Studios.

The Express Passes included in the deluxe hotel stays are worth their weight in gold. It’s just so much more relaxing to pick a ride and pretty much not have to wait for it rather than how it was pre-2020 at Disney with booking FP+ and trying to coordinate those slots with other attractions’ standby waits and the ADRs you have booked.

We love the Harry Potter areas in both parks. Gringotts has been known to make me emotional and Hagrid’s is the best ride in Orlando imo. We also love The Mummy and always lose count of the number of times we ride it each trip.

We tend to eat quick service in the parks and don’t really have an opinion on whether food is better at Universal or Disney, although we have dietary restrictions as we’re vegan so can’t talk more generally about the food.

I always say the entire Universal Orlando resort has a real ‘holiday’ feel to it. We love CityWalk (Hard Rock Cafe and The Cowfish being our favourites for dinner) and I love walking around the resort from the hotels to CityWalk via the Garden Walks as they’re so pretty. We tend to have a few chill days at the start of each trip staying at Sapphire Falls and I love the walk to CityWalk from there (takes about 20-25 minutes and brings you in by Royal Pacific / Islands of Adventure.) I think it’s the beautiful Garden Walks with the lovely trees and plants and the relaxed atmosphere plus being able to stroll around the whole of Universal that gives me that lovely ‘holiday’ feeling.

I also have plenty of Universal in my trip reports including February 2020’s Universal-only holiday.

[CCFCRJ]

If you stay at one of the hotels that offer the express pass can you check in early and use the pass that day...then get your room key etc later in the day? Would be good to make use of the full day if we could and choose to do that. Very tempted to do a couple of nights in one of their premium hotels for the pass.

[moosha]

Originally Posted by CCFCRJ

If you stay at one of the hotels that offer the express pass can you check in early and use the pass that day...then get your room key etc later in the day? Would be good to make use of the full day if we could and choose to do that. Very tempted to do a couple of nights in one of their premium hotels for the pass.

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Yes we usually get there early in the morning and they’ll give you Express Pass keys there and then so you can go straight to the parks and then they’ll attach your room key to them later.

In the past we’ve got a text advising us of our room number and then just gone straight to the room when we get back to the parks without having to go back to reception.

And it’s the same on check out day, it’s valid all day so you can get two full park days with just a one night hotel stay.

[aqualiv]

Molly from all ears has done a recent universal vlog - she’s entertaining and knows her stuff