Jump to content

Menu

Last minute Universal Studios tips


JustEm
 Share

Recommended Posts

We are leaving for Orlando tomorrow night and will be there for 5 days. We're staying at Universal's Cabana Bay hotel and we'll be in the park 3 of those days.

I've never been but have researched a bunch. So, does anyone have any tips, must does, etc for me? Also, what am I forgetting to pack? Come on, we all know I'm the last one to know what I've forgotten:-P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We really enjoyed our meal at Mythos. Despite what everyone said about the various Harry Potter eateries, we found them disappointing. Or, at least, not anything that couldn't be skipped, though obviously getting various butterbeers is a must.

I always forget a hairbrush.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Farrar said:

We really enjoyed our meal at Mythos. Despite what everyone said about the various Harry Potter eateries, we found them disappointing. Or, at least, not anything that couldn't be skipped, though obviously getting various butterbeers is a must.

I always forget a hairbrush.

 

Oh my gosh!  I love the Harry Potter eating places.  I even like the food!  But I really love the atmosphere.  It is well worth it IMO.

Do you get front of the line with staying on property?

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, DawnM said:

 

Oh my gosh!  I love the Harry Potter eating places.  I even like the food!  But I really love the atmosphere.  It is well worth it IMO.

Do you get front of the line with staying on property?

Yeah, I seem to be in the minority... the food was fine. Reasonably priced even, but far from anything special. The theming was just okay to me. They were both fast foodish. I think they probably should have gone all in and made a really fancy Be Our Guest level dining experience because you know people (me included probably) would spring for it. Instead it was like Boston Market with some mild theme elements, IMHO.

This is not a knock on the place in general though. Diagon Alley genuinely blew me away.

  • Like 1
  • Confused 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Huh, I didn't think that at all.

Here is the menu for the Leaky Cauldron, which is my favorite.

 

Leaky Cauldron Lunch And Dinner Menu And Prices

For lunch and dinner, Leaky Cauldron serves the kind of menu items that you might find in a British pub. The average meal price is $12 to $14. The Ploughman's Platter, which costs a little more and is advertised as serving two, is best for sharing. Lunch and dinner entrees on the Leaky Cauldron menu include:  I put the meals I have tried in bold.

  • Soup and Salad: $9.49
  • Toad in the Hole: $9.49
  • Banger Pub Style Sandwich (with wedge fries): $12.49
  • Specialty Chicken Sandwich (with wedge fries): $11.99
  • Fish & Chips: $13.99
  • Bangers & Mash: $12.49
  • Beef, Lamb & Guinness Stew: $13.49
  • Cottage Pie: $12.49
  • Fisherman's Pie: $14.99
  • Mini Pie Combination: $13.49
  • Ploughman's Platter (scotch egg, cheese, bread, cornichon pickles, apple beet salad): $19.99
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Farrar said:

We really enjoyed our meal at Mythos. Despite what everyone said about the various Harry Potter eateries, we found them disappointing. Or, at least, not anything that couldn't be skipped, though obviously getting various butterbeers is a must.

I always forget a hairbrush.

Yes! we used to have annual passes and Mythos was our favorite. it's a real sit down place with really yummy food. Make a reservation when you get there though. 

On men in black, as you get to the big "bug" and Will Smith is talking, listen to your gun. It will tell you when to press the red button for a 100,000 point bonus 🙂

If it is hot there is a water/splash area for littles in the Seuss area. 

Make time to watch the Grinch show. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Farrar said:

We really enjoyed our meal at Mythos. Despite what everyone said about the various Harry Potter eateries, we found them disappointing. Or, at least, not anything that couldn't be skipped, though obviously getting various butterbeers is a must.

I always forget a hairbrush.

 

Dh has been to Universal before and he really like Mythos so I'm sure we'll be eating there one day.  Butterbeer is obviously a must!

And funny thing, a hairbrush was one of the things I hadn't packed, thank you.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, DawnM said:

 

Oh my gosh!  I love the Harry Potter eating places.  I even like the food!  But I really love the atmosphere.  It is well worth it IMO.

Do you get front of the line with staying on property?

No we do not get front of the line passes staying at this hotel.  It considered this greatly but decided the cost difference wasn't worth it since we'll be there on weekdays and for 3 days.  Had we just done 1 or 2 days we probably would have gotten the fast pass.

 

9 hours ago, DawnM said:

Huh, I didn't think that at all.

Here is the menu for the Leaky Cauldron, which is my favorite.

 

Leaky Cauldron Lunch And Dinner Menu And Prices

For lunch and dinner, Leaky Cauldron serves the kind of menu items that you might find in a British pub. The average meal price is $12 to $14. The Ploughman's Platter, which costs a little more and is advertised as serving two, is best for sharing. Lunch and dinner entrees on the Leaky Cauldron menu include:  I put the meals I have tried in bold.

  • Soup and Salad: $9.49
  • Toad in the Hole: $9.49
  • Banger Pub Style Sandwich (with wedge fries): $12.49
  • Specialty Chicken Sandwich (with wedge fries): $11.99
  • Fish & Chips: $13.99
  • Bangers & Mash: $12.49
  • Beef, Lamb & Guinness Stew: $13.49
  • Cottage Pie: $12.49
  • Fisherman's Pie: $14.99
  • Mini Pie Combination: $13.49
  • Ploughman's Platter (scotch egg, cheese, bread, cornichon pickles, apple beet salad): $19.99

Oh, some of those sound yummy!

 

7 hours ago, Ktgrok said:

Yes! we used to have annual passes and Mythos was our favorite. it's a real sit down place with really yummy food. Make a reservation when you get there though. 

On men in black, as you get to the big "bug" and Will Smith is talking, listen to your gun. It will tell you when to press the red button for a 100,000 point bonus 🙂

If it is hot there is a water/splash area for littles in the Seuss area. 

Make time to watch the Grinch show. 

Thanks for the tips.  We certainly won't miss the Grinch show

 

10 hours ago, MrsMommy said:

We stayed at Cabana Bay this summer, and it was the most amazing vacation ever...I hope you have a wonderful time!

thank you

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, hjffkj said:

No we do not get front of the line passes staying at this hotel.  It considered this greatly but decided the cost difference wasn't worth it since we'll be there on weekdays and for 3 days.  Had we just done 1 or 2 days we probably would have gotten the fast pass.

 

Ok, given that info, here is a tip.  We used single rider on every ride that allowed it.  It saved HOURS.  We could wait in line together, but we weren't guaranteed to ride the actual ride together.  I believe the min. age for single rider is 7, but I would need to double check.    One year the Forbidden Journey ride was 90-100 minutes and we did single rider and rode it 4 times in less than 90 minutes.

 

Another tip?  Snack during regular meal times and eat larger meals during off-times when it is crowded.  We would eat breakfast before going, take snacks along, and then have a late lunch around 2 or 3.  

Edited by DawnM
  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...