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Universal Orlando (Studios/IOA) : General Discussion

Excalibur said:
The amount of investment ComCast are churning out is mind blowing! Just Wow!
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I really worry about the rate of investment so far.

I’m not saying there’s stupid people running the company, they don’t get there if they were, but the same could be said for Disney and look what happened to them in the 90s..
 
Maelstrom said:
As of this morning Hagrids now accepts express pass. The app has been updated to reflect that it is now accepted.

Will be interesting to see how it changes the length of the normal line, which still hits 150-200 mins during the onsite hotel early entry period most days, 6 years after opening. Last August I did get on within 30 mins during early entry on two mornings (however when you factor in the time you have to get to the park and wait outside the gates you are really waiting a lot longer!).

I found late morning 11-12pm was a good time last August and often had dropped to between 55-70 mins at this point.
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We will be doing Velocicoaster on early access (hopefully twice) and then go do Forbidden Journey once.

Not going to waste morning in queue for Hagrids. We will risk it and hope the queue drops as you said.
 
In my experience of Universal, express pass is generally quite limited as well as being rather expensive for what you get. The issue I think will be that most annual passholders get 1x free express pass on every ride after 4pm, so I think we’re almost certainly going to see the queue times for Hagrid’s shoot up even higher than they currently are.
 
looking at the queue data last weekend and first part of the week hagrids averaged around a 100.min queue across the day, mid week dropped to around 80 mins average.the two days so far with express the average is 140 mins fri and 150 mins sat. Peaking at around 190-210 mins thoughout the day,

cast members have told guests express is about 50% shorter wait, with some guests saying they where waiting about 90 mins in express on Friday.
 
Skyscraper said:
Another change at Universal Orlando, this time covering all four parks. As of yesterday (May 15th), all in-park smoking areas have been removed and guests must now leave the parks to smoke.


From: https://x.com/AshleyLCarter1/status/1922829727292596677


A very positive change indeed!
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I think they brought it in as I not been to Disney since 2016 but it was brought in May 2019 after Cast members got angry guest reactions after they told them to move to the designated areas and Security had to be called to solve the issue. Thats the reason why it’s outside the park so it’s easily managed and if you’re stupid enough to do it in the park then you have your tickets cancelled and maybe even a ban.
I guess the same will apply at Universal parks.
 
Am I right in thinking that Fast and Furious Super Charged is set in LA, but it's in the San Francisco area of the park? If they are building a Fast and Furious roller coaster in the New York area, I hope it is set in New York, though. Universal has done some incredibly immersive areas, so it always feels like a shame when they step away from that.
 
They can easily theme fast and furious coaster in into a different city like New York. Should mean the end of the supercharged which although only opened in 2018 has the lowest guest satisfaction scores out of all of universals rides.

Reading the notes on the video I think it is just a concept based on the project area in permits (ie the permits show the land a new ride will take up) and not from any actual footer plans etc, which from what understand have not been submitted or available anywhere to the public at this point. so the actual ride could be very different, might not even be a drifting Intamin coaster.
 
some early construction walls have gone up in areas around Rip ride rocket- in areas that can start work that doesn’t effect the current ride operation. What is interesting there are some signs on the walls make reference to Ghost Busters.

While could just be because they are in the New York area near the building inspired by the firehouse from the film it could also be a hint to the theme of the new ride.

On another note the resort released a new trailer for the studios park this weekend. It features all of the parks rides inc older ones etc however as you would expect doesn’t feature Rip ride Rocket but also there is no mention or any footage whats so ever of the Simpsons, or the two Simpsons rides, fast and furious is also left out. All of which are rumoured to be on the chopping block soon for replacements. Might be unconnected but seems odd to not feature the Simpsons when they include everything else.
 
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Ground clearence around the perimeter is very much underway now, images courtesy of bioreconstruct:

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Had my last ride at the start of the month. Roughest back row ride I've probably had on it as the send off, but it'll never deter from the sentimental value it holds. Tally ho.
 
I must admit, I’m mildly sad to see HRRR go. Not because I think it’s a particularly brilliant ride, but more because of the sentimental value it holds.

It was one of the first properly “big” coasters I ever rode when I rode it for the first time as an 11 year old. It was the first time I can ever clearly remember feeling notable airtime on a coaster, and at the time, it absolutely blew me away!

I was much less impressed last time I did it in 2023, but the way it once made me feel is always something I’ll treasure no matter how many coasters I go on to ride in the future. For that reason alone, I do feel slightly sad to think that I’ll never ride it again.

With that said, I do trust that the replacement will more than do it justice!
 
Is anyone good with the most economical way of buying tickets for Universal if you don't want the full 14 day tickets?

Basically I am going in April, I'm short on annual leave so it is just going to be 5 nights (4 days) and one of them will be a Disney day. For Disney I am just buying a 1 day Park Hopper ticket and planning on doing either 3 or 4 of the parks and just hitting my favourites from each park. The main point of the trip though is Epic Universe and so far I can see a 14 day ticket including Volcano Bay (which I won't be visiting) for £447.00 and for some reason the 3 park ticket (excluding Volcano Bay) is not available on the dates I want but weirdly is available from October onwards? This is all on the offiicial Universal site.

If it comes to it I will just pay for the 14 day ticket but ideally I would just get a 3/4 day ticket which would provide me with access for the days I actually need.
 
Josh555 said:
Is anyone good with the most economical way of buying tickets for Universal if you don't want the full 14 day tickets?

Basically I am going in April, I'm short on annual leave so it is just going to be 5 nights (4 days) and one of them will be a Disney day. For Disney I am just buying a 1 day Park Hopper ticket and planning on doing either 3 or 4 of the parks and just hitting my favourites from each park. The main point of the trip though is Epic Universe and so far I can see a 14 day ticket including Volcano Bay (which I won't be visiting) for £447.00 and for some reason the 3 park ticket (excluding Volcano Bay) is not available on the dates I want but weirdly is available from October onwards? This is all on the offiicial Universal site.

If it comes to it I will just pay for the 14 day ticket but ideally I would just get a 3/4 day ticket which would provide me with access for the days I actually need.
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The 14 day ticket excluding volcano bay is only available from late October 2026 until march 2027 as that’s when volcano bay is closed for a 5 month refurbishment. The only UK ticket for next year outside this date is the one for 4 parks.

You can buy the USA tickets and buy less days. Undercover tourist is a good place to buy. However once you get to 3 days+ the UK tickets normally offer better value.

Ticket are date specific a random date in April a 2 park to park ticket with 2 days access plus 1 day at epic will cost $506 which works out about £383. An extra day at the existing parks so 3 days plus 1 day at epic for April is very similar to the cost of a UK ticket.
 
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Josh555 said:
Is anyone good with the most economical way of buying tickets for Universal if you don't want the full 14 day tickets?

Basically I am going in April, I'm short on annual leave so it is just going to be 5 nights (4 days) and one of them will be a Disney day. For Disney I am just buying a 1 day Park Hopper ticket and planning on doing either 3 or 4 of the parks and just hitting my favourites from each park. The main point of the trip though is Epic Universe and so far I can see a 14 day ticket including Volcano Bay (which I won't be visiting) for £447.00 and for some reason the 3 park ticket (excluding Volcano Bay) is not available on the dates I want but weirdly is available from October onwards? This is all on the offiicial Universal site.

If it comes to it I will just pay for the 14 day ticket but ideally I would just get a 3/4 day ticket which would provide me with access for the days I actually need.
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Volcano Bay is closing from October 2026 which is likely why you can't see the four park ticket.

If you want other options you will need to buy the US tickets from a reseller such as https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/universal-orlando-resort/, but its not always significantly cheaper than the UK ones. For September 2026 a "3-Park 3-Day (Park-to-Park) PLUS 1-Day Universal Epic Universe Ticket" is $489, about £358. A four day ticket is $518 about £380.
So still a saving on the UK tickets but its close.
 
jon81uk said:
Volcano Bay is closing from October 2026 which is likely why you can't see the four park ticket.

If you want other options you will need to buy the US tickets from a reseller such as https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/universal-orlando-resort/, but its not always significantly cheaper than the UK ones. For September 2026 a "3-Park 3-Day (Park-to-Park) PLUS 1-Day Universal Epic Universe Ticket" is $489, about £358. A four day ticket is $518 about £380.
So still a saving on the UK tickets but its close.
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Thanks - I assume that is September 2025 rather than 2026 as it's got the 1 day Epic Universe addition which will be redudant from 2026 won't it (they'll just be the usual all park tickets without limiting Epic to only 1 day).

The 14 day ticket that I saw had unlimited Epic, again as its the entire point of the trip I'll just pay the difference if it means I get the extra day or 2 in Epic Universe - just annoying that it costs the same for 14 days as it does for 31
 
Josh555 said:
Thanks - I assume that is September 2025 rather than 2026 as it's got the 1 day Epic Universe addition which will be redudant from 2026 won't it (they'll just be the usual all park tickets without limiting Epic to only 1 day).

The 14 day ticket that I saw had unlimited Epic, again as its the entire point of the trip I'll just pay the difference if it means I get the extra day or 2 in Epic Universe - just annoying that it costs the same for 14 days as it does for 31
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Nope, I selected Setember 2026, click on the link in my previous post and check for yourself. Undercover Tourist don't appear to currently offer tickets with more than one day at Epic Universe. Maybe that is a UK only thing right now?
 
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