Universal newbie questions

Universal Orlando Resort
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I am thinking of visiting the shadowy place for the first time ever!

If I have 3 full park days, how would you allot your time if the following are our trip priorities:

All things Harry Potter
Jurassic Park/World
Nintendo
How to Train your Dragon

I was thinking about doing a split stay so that we could stay in a hotel that offers the express passes and also at Hellios so that we could utilize the special entrance and early hour.

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I can’t help with the majority of your question, but I have seen zero evidence that the price difference at Helios is worth the “special entrance.” Any/all other Universal Hotels have access to the early hour. You can walk from Stella Nova for like 1/6 of the price of Helios.

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Unfortunately the other 2 epic hotels don’t have rooms for 5 people.

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Well I can let you know how Epic rope drop via bus from Cabana Bay goes in about 2 weeks then!

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Perfect! Thank you!

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My goal is to do a single day for these two. We are skipping Ministry of Magic but depending on when you go, hopefully you could do the entire park in one day. :crossed_fingers:

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How can you never have been to UOR?!

Well, no time like the present! (Or 2026, as it were …)

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I also opted for Helios. Another liner reported that it was nice looking at the park from their park view room at night and mentioned how easy it was to walk back to the hotel to put something down, pick something up, etc. I think I’ll appreciate the convenience! Well, next year I’ll appreciate it :rofl:. Not going until then.

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:raising_hand_woman:

Highly unlikely I will go

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It seems that half the time at the north campus and half at Epic U would be ideal.

If that’s not practical I would do one day at each park. But EU would seem like a long, busy day. And USF would be the shortest day. IOA would probably be a normal length day.

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I think the tickets we will have will be a 3 day, 3 park pass so I think 1.5 days at IOA/USF and 1.5 at Epic would work then!

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Nice!

Will hopefully get other opinions, if that plan is best.

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If you can all five fit in one room that’s an excellent choice to do the split stay imho. It’s what would I would do to get the included Express at the old parks since it’s cheaper than buying it outright for that many people. Since my adult kids aren’t sharing a room with us and I have to get two rooms it’s cheaper to buy the express pass which is what I did. We’re doing three days too but since we’ve visited this shadowy place before we are doing 2 days in Epic with a group VIP tour one day (that comes with express pass after) and the 2nd day with express pass and then a combo day in the old parks with express pass unlimited. If I were brand new though I’d devote two days to the existing parks and do something like IOA rides one morning and shows in USF in the afternoon plus Diagon Alley after dark. Then flip it and do a morning in USF for rides and then train over to IOA doing Hogsmeade wands after dark (the wands work better at night and Hagrids is better at night). Then I’d do a day in Epic with Express pass or the group VIP tour if it’s in your budget so you can squeeze in the three lands there you are most interested in. I’d try to ride MCM during early entry then use express pass for everything else and when you’ve done it all hop in line for BatM (sounds like single rider isn’t awful if your kids are old enough to split up).

*We’ve elected to stay in Helios too. I will say I love a hotel in a park. It was completely fantastic in Disneyland Paris. I could be back in my room in 5 minutes any time. Could use my own bathroom. It was nice!

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Thanks for your advice! We are definitely splurging on EP for Epic so it may be possible to squeeze it into one day!

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I feel like IOA with XP would actually not be a full day since it’s all rides but USF is a full day because of shows which take up so much more time. But that’s only if you’re doing it all of course. If you focus on rides alone and maybe a single show or two you could knock out USF in a half day.

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Nice! I’d just play around with the plans to see what you can fit it but def try to do Diagon Alley in the evening and 2nd ride on Hagrids before the park closes. It really is so much better at night. I’m planning on my non VIP day to just use early entry from Helios to try and be at the front of the line for BatM so we can hopefully get a 2nd ride on it. If you’re going after me I’ll let you know how that goes.

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Thanks, I’ll take all the intel I can get. We will likely go mid March but may have to move it to summer or fall depending on when we can coordinate the visit with DS starting college this year.

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Kk I’m going in Dec so ill trip report how these things go for us. I’m also working around college schedule which is nice cuz they get out a week before high school so cheers to “grown up” kids! Lol

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I wish I could cash that in but I am a teacher so…. I am stuck with elementary breaks for life :joy:

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:heart:
My momma was an elementary school music teacher so I have mad respect! The early morning bus duty ugh. But it was wonderful for us as her kids cuz she spent summers with us taking us to all kinds of things like concerts for kids like Joe Scruggs, etc. So your kids are honestly really lucky! As I am sure are your kids in school to have you as a teacher! I mean a teacher who loves Disney has to be a fantastic teacher :wink:

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