springtime
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2016
I am usually a researcher for trips, and lay out our entire days. For some reason I was under the impression that a Universal vacay took less planning than a Disney trip, and went with the idea to go with the flow. I found out I am not a go with the flow person. While we had a great time at Universal (staying at Royal Pacific), there are a few things I wish I had known.
1. Lanyards. Coming off a recent Disney vacation, I cannot express enough how much easier it was to have a Magic Band. Going into the park, they scan your ticket. Opening a locker, you need to scan your ticket or hotel card. Riding express pass, scan your hotel card. Hogwarts Express, scan your ticket THEN your hotel card. Early entry, you need your ticket THEN your hotel card. I was constantly digging for one or the other throughout the day. I wish we had a lanyard for each member of my family. Of course, you can buy them, bust most people have a lanyard lying around at home.
2.Make your e-ticket easily accessible. I first had it on my email, took too long to find. Then took screen shots and saved to photos, same problem. Finally found saving it to my Notes was the easiest way to access them.
3. Signage is terrible. Could not, for the life of us, find the tiny pathway with the tiny sign in the dark to our hotel. Familiarize yourself with the park layout and its relation to your hotel. Maps are not freely available throughout the resort, and I found the map on my phone difficult to navigate.
4. Limited workers. I am not sure if it is just because of the pandemic, but we really had to search to find people to help or ask questions. More than once we received completely wrong answers that led us astray. Again, very different from Disney where I felt there were people everywhere and they were all well-versed in park information.
5. Your best help is a person with a radio. In line for the Velocicoaster there was a large group that was clearly line jumping, and not just one person. We spoke to two workers who did nothing, and finally left the line out of frustration. Spoke to another employee in another line who said that employees are not empowered to do much, the person to speak to is the one with the radio.
6. Premier resort was worth it. We really debated staying at a premier resort. We are rarely in the hotel and we thought we were there during an off week. We don’t need fancy amenities, so I worried it would be a waste. The parks were crowded and the lines were longer than expected, even on an off week. We could barely move in Hogsmead. The Express pass was worth its weight in gold, and the ability to walk to the park was a huge plus (once we found the sign). If you can afford it, totally worth the extra expense
7.Hagrids Magical Motorbike Adventure and early entry. I knew it was not available for early entry, but figure we would hop in line as soon as we saw one forming. Got to Hogsmead at 8:15 and there was no line. Took 15 minutes to cast some spells. Went back to get in line and barriers had materialized out of thin air, and people were wrapped back through Poseidon’s Fury set. No idea how they got those barriers up so fast, but be warned that things can change in an instant. Still only waited 45 minutes, but it was a surprise.
8.Bilge Rat Ride…you will be soaked. My poncho was no match for that ride. I made the rookie mistake of not sitting on the poncho, and water came up over the sides to soak me, You cannot take off your shoes either, so if you don’t want soaking wet feet, bring an extra pair. My kids were drier, but they were able to tuck their legs under their ponchos. Super fun water ride, but you will not be just a little wet.
1. Lanyards. Coming off a recent Disney vacation, I cannot express enough how much easier it was to have a Magic Band. Going into the park, they scan your ticket. Opening a locker, you need to scan your ticket or hotel card. Riding express pass, scan your hotel card. Hogwarts Express, scan your ticket THEN your hotel card. Early entry, you need your ticket THEN your hotel card. I was constantly digging for one or the other throughout the day. I wish we had a lanyard for each member of my family. Of course, you can buy them, bust most people have a lanyard lying around at home.
2.Make your e-ticket easily accessible. I first had it on my email, took too long to find. Then took screen shots and saved to photos, same problem. Finally found saving it to my Notes was the easiest way to access them.
3. Signage is terrible. Could not, for the life of us, find the tiny pathway with the tiny sign in the dark to our hotel. Familiarize yourself with the park layout and its relation to your hotel. Maps are not freely available throughout the resort, and I found the map on my phone difficult to navigate.
4. Limited workers. I am not sure if it is just because of the pandemic, but we really had to search to find people to help or ask questions. More than once we received completely wrong answers that led us astray. Again, very different from Disney where I felt there were people everywhere and they were all well-versed in park information.
5. Your best help is a person with a radio. In line for the Velocicoaster there was a large group that was clearly line jumping, and not just one person. We spoke to two workers who did nothing, and finally left the line out of frustration. Spoke to another employee in another line who said that employees are not empowered to do much, the person to speak to is the one with the radio.
6. Premier resort was worth it. We really debated staying at a premier resort. We are rarely in the hotel and we thought we were there during an off week. We don’t need fancy amenities, so I worried it would be a waste. The parks were crowded and the lines were longer than expected, even on an off week. We could barely move in Hogsmead. The Express pass was worth its weight in gold, and the ability to walk to the park was a huge plus (once we found the sign). If you can afford it, totally worth the extra expense
7.Hagrids Magical Motorbike Adventure and early entry. I knew it was not available for early entry, but figure we would hop in line as soon as we saw one forming. Got to Hogsmead at 8:15 and there was no line. Took 15 minutes to cast some spells. Went back to get in line and barriers had materialized out of thin air, and people were wrapped back through Poseidon’s Fury set. No idea how they got those barriers up so fast, but be warned that things can change in an instant. Still only waited 45 minutes, but it was a surprise.
8.Bilge Rat Ride…you will be soaked. My poncho was no match for that ride. I made the rookie mistake of not sitting on the poncho, and water came up over the sides to soak me, You cannot take off your shoes either, so if you don’t want soaking wet feet, bring an extra pair. My kids were drier, but they were able to tuck their legs under their ponchos. Super fun water ride, but you will not be just a little wet.
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