slo’s THURSDAY 7/27 poll - Universal Studios

[leebee]

We went to Universal California in early 1993. I really liked it, but I was also familiar with their properties. Jaws, Earthquake, Murder She Wrote, Psycho house, Backflash (I think), ET, etc. It was pretty fun. I've been to UOrlando/IoA twice: Once for HP when it was just Hogwarts and again for Hogwarts/Diagon Alley. LOVE the HP part but the rest of USO leaves me cold. I don't ride big coasters or anything with a drop, or screens, and I'm not familar with a ton of Universal properties, so I don't really get the theming for a lot of these parks. Overall it is meh, at best, saved by Harry Potter, but don't know that we'll spend the money just to go to the HP parts of the park again.

@Micca If your granddaughter is a Harry Potter fan, she'll love these parks. DD found the Harry Potter part of Universal to be captivating. We went when she was... 15, maybe? (oooh, memory glitch!), as part of a 9 night Disney trip. We were at the front of the line at opening (even though staying at DIsney) so we were at Hogwarts almost immediately; there was no queue so we walked thru the castle quickly, to get to the ride. Once she got off Forbidden Journey, we got in line to go through the castle again, so we could see all of it. We then poked around the land, rode a couple of rides, had a butterbeer, etc. Set out to see the rest of Universal and... it just wasn't our cup of tea. She rode Jurassic Park water ride, and then did Hulk 3 times in a row, single rider. She is a true thrill ride/coaster girl! HOwever, after that? She just wanted to go back to Hogwarts, so that's what we did. We spent several hours wandering around, watching mini shows, and just taking it all in. She was mesmerized, and still is; she and her DH are going back to DIsney this fall as a 30th birthday/graduation celebration, and they bought 1 day/2 park tickets to Universal ($$$ on top of Disney) just to do both HP parks!

 

[MamaMermaid]

We’ve been to the FL park this year and go again next week

 

[KPeterso]

I have been to Universal Studios Hollywood twice. Once as a child (in the 80s sometime) and then in May of this year. I had fun both times but I am probably good for another 20-30 years before I go again. I might consider some day going to universal Orlando, but I live close to Hollywood and have only been once in the almost 18 years I have lived here.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Been to Universal Hollywood once, 1992. Thought it was great.

The I had a Universal/IoA annual pass for about 5 or 6 years in the early 2000's. Back then, renewals were like $99 a year. I was doing Disney twice a year and would take one day out for USF/IoA each trip. Good parks, pretty high tech. Never did their coasters but the other stuff is pretty darn good. No Harry for me either.

 

[1420Elexismc]

Been to Universal Orlando a few times(half our honeymoon was there) and LOVE it there
Hoping to make it to Universal Hollywood next summer when we head out to Disneyland for the first time

 

[fla4fun]

I used to get free tickets to UO once a year as a perk of my job. It’s been a while since I used them though. HP wasn’t even built yet on my last visit. I am not a huge fan of the Universal IP or thrill rides, so there isn’t a lot there that interests me. Their hotels are nice though.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Went to Universal Orlando about 6 years ago, which was my first and only time so far. Different from Disney, but also very enjoyable. Spent 3 days in the two main parks. Loved the Harry Potter sections most of all; they are so well-done, really amazing.

I went to Universal Studios in California as a kid sometime in the 1970’s, before it was a theme park. No rides back then, just the tram tour through the studio backlots.

 

[CGB]

We've done one-day excusions to Universal as part of bigger Disney vacations over the years. We (and especially DD) are HP fans, so we definitely hit the new worlds/rides when they opened. We even waited like 5 hours to ride Gringotts. I think that's our record, actually.

In 2017, due to a rescheduled summer trip, we spent Thanksgiving weekend at Universal, staying at the Hard Rock with express passes, with no Disney visit. (We had just visited Disney two weeks earlier.) I assumed we would get bored quickly, but it was incredibly relaxing and so easy going. We took the time to do restaurants/rides we'd never consider. We had a blast. Covid & life changes have changed our traveling, but I could see us doing another holiday weekend at Universal again soon.

 

[disneyseniors]

There's no place on the poll to say which Universal you go to, if you mark when you went. We went in 2020 right before everything closed down to the Orlando park. Loved the parks and will be back to Universal soon

 

[fly girl]

I have been to Universal in CA and FL. CA was eons ago in the early 90's and I just remember parts of the backstage tour and Jaws.

Florida, several visits with the last one being July 2022. I prefer WDW theme parks to Universal. But for water parks, Volcano Bay crushes Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

 

[Uncle Coaster]

My last trip was in 2021. I’m not a fan but always wanted to do an on property stay. I enjoyed the boats and being able to walk from the parks to my hotel. The Harry Potter section in the studios park is arguably the most impressive looking area of any park I’ve been to. I LOVE both E.T. and the indoor Dr Seuss ride and Velocicoaster is a top tier coaster.

Outside of that, it isn’t for me and I don’t have plans to return.

 

[CynBeth]

I have been to Hollywood twice once as a kid and once as an adult and Orlando approximately 3 or 4. Our last time was in 2021 where we for the first time stayed for 2 nights on property at Portofino before a Disney trip and loved it!

 

[CdnCarrie]

Have you been to Universal Studios?
If yes….which one? California or Florida?
When was your last visit?
(multiple choice)



For Me…...My DH and I went to Universal Florida in January 2019.
We really enjoyed it (me more than DH since I’m a big Harry Potter fan). We’d like to return so my DH can see the new Minion Land (I’m not a Minion fan, but he is) and for us to ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (this opened shortly after our trip).

View attachment 780708

We visit universal when we visit Disney.
So about 10 times to Florida and I think 3 to California.

 

[E&Cmom]

I have been to both Universal Florida ( 2018) and Universal Hollywood ( 2000). On our Orlando stay we did a split stay 3 nights at Universal prior to our 7 night at Disney. We loved Universal especially Harry Potter. We just did a Disneyland trip and due to time constraints did not go to Universal. I am sure it has changed so much in the 23 years so it would be nice to go back. Super Nintendo World is definitely something my DH and daughters would like to see.

 

[Moliphino]

I have been to both Universal Florida ( 2018) and Universal Hollywood ( 2000). On our Orlando stay we did a split stay 3 nights at Universal prior to our 7 night at Disney. We loved Universal especially Harry Potter. We just did a Disneyland trip and due to time constraints did not go to Universal. I am sure it has changed so much in the 23 years so it would be nice to go back. Super Nintendo World is definitely something my DH and daughters would like to see.

Well the Waterworld stunt show is still there, so not everything has changed.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I love Universal!! (especially the Harry Potter parts, but really all of it )

I've been to the one in Orlando recently (this past March) and a few times 2018 and prior.

 

[E&Cmom]

Well the Waterworld stunt show is still there, so not everything has changed.

Wow ! It is still there. I remember getting soaked at that show. Do people still remember the movie?

 

[Kitty 34]

We went a couple of times with the boys. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel back when we would have front of the line privileges'. That was sooooo worth the price we paid for the rooms. I will always be a diehard Disney fan but Universal was fun. Loved Spiderman and Jurassic Park.

 

[design_mom]

I have been, but it was a long time ago. I wouldn't mind going back sometime to see all the newer stuff... and I think the"kids" (now officially adults) would enjoy the bigger rides, but we generally fly to Disney and use Disney transportation through the week. Arranging transportation to Universal seems like a hassle, so we haven't.

 

[ford family]

Haven't been to Universal Hollywood since about 1981.
Went to Universal Orlando when the children were teenagers so maybe last time 2004 or 2005.
Have been to Universal Singapore a couple of times more recently, say 2018 and 2019.
Not huge fans of the Universal offering, much prefer Disney where we go every year (DVC BWV owners) and have also been to Anaheim, Hong Kong and Tokyo (and Aulani!)

ford family