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We are headed to the "dark side" at the end of April! Just Husband and me, no kids to cramp our style, two full days and park-to-park tickets. Staying at Royal Pacific so will take advantage of early entry at least one of the days and using the Express Pass. We are very much looking forward to Harry Potter, Springfield, Minions, Spiderman, and roller coasters! What are your best tips for maximizing time? Where are the good places to eat? What should we avoid?
Thanks!
Do one park at a time to get the best ...you must do kong and harry potters gringotts
And eat at toothsomes which is on the boardwalk..that is an amazing restaurant
If you partake in adult beverages you have to stop at Moe's for a Duff's beer (Springfield) and Hog's Head Pub for a Fire & Strongbow (HP IoA). For a snack the Apple Fritter ($6) at Lard Lad Donuts (Springfield) is quite yummy but could serve 4 people as could the the Giant Pink donut.
I would also recommend doing one park each day, but make sure to take HE back and forth since the trips themselves are both different. With Express you should have no problem doing everything in both parks in two days and should even have time for some re-rides of your favorites.
Vivo is very good as well as Antojitos, while Toothsome is more of an overall experience. I do not recommend HRC after a bad experience we had there.
A little off topic but is there any way to get good discount tickets for Universal Studios in Hollywood...Thanks
FOOD:
Vivo Italian is one of my favorite places in CityWalk to eat.
Sal's Pizza at Portofino is very good, as are their sandwiches.
Quick Stuff In the parks:
Studio's I usually grab a shake at Mel's, a loaded baked potato at the street stand near London. Not a huge fan of Leaky Cauldron, but the Egg, Leek, and Mushroom Pastry is good.
IOA is a kebob at Doc Sugrue’s Kebab House in Lost Continent, chicken and ribs in 3 Broomsticks or Thunder Falls Terrace and next trip will be a cotton candy the size of a beach ball at Honk Honkers in Suess Landing.
For sit down meals in the parks I was not impressed with Lombard's. Mythos is good, but service can be spotty, Confisco's is usually good as is Finnegan's.
I think Margaritaville and Bubba Gumps in CityWalk are overrated.
The Kitchen at Hard Rock has a nice buffet breakfast and dinner is always good there as well.
Nanc
Park Tips:
Most offsite people leave around 4-5pm. If the park is open until 7, stick around and enjoy the Potter areas with MUCH lower crowds. We usually leave mid afternoon and eat our big meal over at CityWalk or one of the hotels. Then when we see the mass exodus (really, that is what it looks like), we head back into the parks until closing. When it gets dark early, Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are gorgeous lit up.
Do not miss Monster Make-up Show, it is a hoot.
Pull up a bench and really LOOK at the themeing in the different areas. Talk to some of the Team Members, they can give you great tips and tricks that will work at that specific time.
Ride the Hogwarts express both ways.
The Simpson ride can cause motion sickness LOL
Nanc
Royal Pacific Resort:
Rooms are very nice and were just redone in the last year or so.
At the Pool they have Cups and Ice Water, and sunscreen that is complimentary. Food at the Pool Bar is good and the Nachos are HUGE.
You can bring your own small floats
You can pool hop to any other resort.
It can be faster to walk to IOA than to take the boat.
Nanc
Not Really. Technically, that is a different company than UORQuote:
Originally Posted by luvdiznee
Nanc
Nanc, you're a wealth of information as always! It's true you can now use Express Pass for the two Harry Potter rides? Park hours are posted, they are only open until 6 p.m. Why close so early?
Yes, express pass works for Forbidden Journey, Gringotts and the Hogwarts Express!
Universal does a lot of private after park events. I do not know your dates, but end of April has Grad Bash nights, the last 2 being the 27th and 28th.
Their parks are never open as late as WDW parks except during peak season
Nanc
Aha, that explains it. We are there the two Grad Bash nights. I didn't know those still happened at theme parks! We will just get up early and leave when the hoards of teenagers gets unbearable. Thank goodness for Express Pass!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tink1
Another vote for Mythos at IOA....And if you think you may get motion sickness from some of the simulator rides, take a Bonine each morning! I did and it was a lifesaver....
The wettest rides I've been on, IOA. JP, Dudley and Popeye. Whew, you will be soaked. Great rides, great themes. Love them all. Dudley is amazing on how wet you get. Make sure your wallet/phone are in a ziplock bag. Something I always bring to places with water rides, though useful too if you caught in the showers in Fla.