Best Universal Tips & Tricks

[mamakimberly]

Please add your best universal tips and tricks. (Even obvious ones, as they aren't always obvious to others!)

Here's mine:

1. Single Rider. Do it. Always. Even Forbidden Journey is worth doing single rider- just do the castle tour after you're done. It isn't a big deal to be 1 row away from your family.

2. Sometimes sit down meals are cheaper (& undoubtedly healthier!) options. For example, Finnegan's Irish Pub has a chicken salad chock full of chopped tomato, fresh (crisp!) lettuce, bacon pieces, grilled chicken, shredded cheddar, and topped with fried onions for $11.99. It is massive. And it comes with Irish soda bread and apple butter on the side. There is no way you could finish this salad alone. If you share this with 2 people, even with tip, you're looking at a cheaper and healthier meal than getting mediocre pizza. As a bonus, you'll get kickin' a/c, ice water with refills, and a nicer bathroom.

Please post your fave Universal tips here!

P.S. We saw the sneak preview of the 100 years of Universal fireworks/cinema/light/water show tonight. It was very cool!

 

[dave&di]

Please add your best universal tips and tricks. (Even obvious ones, as they aren't always obvious to others!)

Here's mine:

1. Single Rider. Do it. Always. Even Forbidden Journey is worth doing single rider- just do the castle tour after you're done. It isn't a big deal to be 1 row away from your family.

2. Sometimes sit down meals are cheaper (& undoubtedly healthier!) options. For example, Finnegan's Irish Pub has a chicken salad chock full of chopped tomato, fresh (crisp!) lettuce, bacon pieces, grilled chicken, shredded cheddar, and topped with fried onions for $11.99. It is massive. And it comes with Irish soda bread and apple butter on the side. There is no way you could finish this salad alone. If you share this with 2 people, even with tip, you're looking at a cheaper and healthier meal than getting mediocre pizza. As a bonus, you'll get kickin' a/c, ice water with refills, and a nicer bathroom.

Please post your fave Universal tips here!

P.S. We saw the sneak preview of the 100 years of Universal fireworks/cinema/light/water show tonight. It was very cool!

I didn't know FJ had a single rider line! Must be new?

 

[mamakimberly]

Yes, the single rider line is slightly hidden. As you walk in the castle, you have three things going on- on the right is the locker chaos; straight ahead is the regular line; on the left you'll see the single rider line. It is close to where the team member is standing inside the castle. It is pretty dark in that area and hard to see. I personally find the whole entrance a giant mess with that locker madness, the darkness, and clueless muggles running amok.

My other area of complaint with FJ is as you leave the ride into the gift shop there is another spot of pure doom. The team member directing you to the photos is completely in the way, everyone stops right there making a major logjam, and then you've got the whole locker madness to the right.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I didn't know FJ had a single rider line! Must be new?

It's been there since opening I believe. It is to the left of the main queue once you are inside (after the locker area). You go through a corridor with nothing special to see and then meet the rest of the queue in the Gryffindor Common Room. I tell people that the single ride line is great if you have been on the ride before. If it is your first trip there, then you should wait in line and take in the sights of the castle.

 

[dave&di]

Yes, the single rider line is slightly hidden. As you walk in the castle, you have three things going on- on the right is the locker chaos; straight ahead is the regular line; on the left you'll see the single rider line. It is close to where the team member is standing inside the castle. It is pretty dark in that area and hard to see. I personally find the whole entrance a giant mess with that locker madness, the darkness, and clueless muggles running amok.

My other area of complaint with FJ is as you leave the ride into the gift shop there is another spot of pure doom. The team member directing you to the photos is completely in the way, everyone stops right there making a major logjam, and then you've got the whole locker madness to the right.

I agree with you on the messy entrance, I was hoping to find it more organised when I'm there in Sept!

It's been there since opening I believe. It is to the left of the main queue once you are inside (after the locker area). You go through a corridor with nothing special to see and then meet the rest of the queue in the Gryffindor Common Room. I tell people that the single ride line is great if you have been on the ride before. If it is your first trip there, then you should wait in line and take in the sights of the castle.

Well I never! Didn't notice this in 2010! Handy to know!

 

[timeman]

If it is a busy day and you notice long lines at the turnstiles to get into Universal Studios or are even just coming from IOA take the path to the Blue Man Group theater and there is an entrance to the park right under the HRRR coaster with no turnstile and one castmember scanning your pass. There is never a line there as most people don't know about this entrance. You can also exit this way.

 

[fosse76]

It's been there since opening I believe. It is to the left of the main queue once you are inside (after the locker area). You go through a corridor with nothing special to see and then meet the rest of the queue in the Gryffindor Common Room. I tell people that the single ride line is great if you have been on the ride before. If it is your first trip there, then you should wait in line and take in the sights of the castle.

I wouldn't unless the line is 30 minutes or less. You can simply ask to do the castle tour (which is simply walking through the not-used Express line). Once you reach the final room, if there is not much of a line, you can ask to join the single rider line from there.

 

[fosse76]

If it is a busy day and you notice long lines at the turnstiles to get into Universal Studios or are even just coming from IOA take the path to the Blue Man Group theater and there is an entrance to the park right under the HRRR coaster with no turnstile and one castmember scanning your pass. There is never a line there as most people don't know about this entrance. You can also exit this way.

You know, I almost always exit the park that way, but never think to enter that way!

 

[dave&di]

If it is a busy day and you notice long lines at the turnstiles to get into Universal Studios or are even just coming from IOA take the path to the Blue Man Group theater and there is an entrance to the park right under the HRRR coaster with no turnstile and one castmember scanning your pass. There is never a line there as most people don't know about this entrance. You can also exit this way.

Great tip, never knew this, thanks.