Universal Orlando Reopened June 5th! CityWalk Reopened on May 14th

[dawnball]

The TM’s the one time I saw her ask a child to put on his mask (I think the family took it off to give him a break- he was 4 as she asked-and just forgot about it) the TM was very friendly and sweet and got down on his level while the mom put his mask on and adjusted it, then cheered and clapped when he had it on. The lil guy didn’t fuss putting it on- probably because the TM made it a positive experience.

Thanks! That's about what we're doing here, lots of praise and positive reinforcement, so I'm glad we can keep that routine going. It really isn't a matter if "if" it comes off a 3-year old, just strategies to get it back on.

 

[tony67]

Any update on bars?

Strong Water and Backwater in particular, but also the bar area in Antojitos and Finnegan's

Bigfire is still closed I assume.

I've heard the bar at Aventura roof is open - but its not very good IMO

 

[Polyonmymind]

Day 2 was our first chance to experience Studios. Really low crowds and they didn’t seem to be using VQ at all. We rode Minions 2X, Gringotts 2X, ET 2X, MIB, Woody Rollercoaster, and Mummy, using ride switch each time except for ET (2X = 3 or 4 actual rides). We elected to each walk the queues versus going up the exit, everything was nearly a walk-on. We could have easily rode every ride despite moving very slow. We also spent a lot of time in Diagon Alley.

How is the weather? I'm debating a quick trip Saturday but the advance weather out look doesn't look all that sunny. Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[C&Jx2]

Packing is definitely a little different this year

 

[Monykalyn]

Day 2 was our first chance to experience Studios. Really low crowds and they didn’t seem to be using VQ at all. We rode Minions 2X, Gringotts 2X, ET 2X, MIB, Woody Rollercoaster, and Mummy, using ride switch each time except for ET (2X = 3 or 4 actual rides). We elected to each walk the queues versus going up the exit, everything was nearly a walk-on. We could have easily rode every ride despite moving very slow. We also spent a lot of time in Diagon Alley.

did the kids get to use their Wands? My middle who collects wands didn’t bring hers this time! And there’s no one waiting to do spells so I’m kinda ticked - and that gives her an excuse to talk me into another collectors wand for her Yes if you look at my signature that would be the 17 year old,

Horror Makeup is now running shows.

Yup - I saw a video of that yesterday.

Also a rumor that there may be a soft opening for Bourne soon

welp. I wasn’t planning on another visit back but I’m here til the 19th. If Bourne soft opens WFH be dammed lol

Any update on bars?

Strong Water and Backwater in particular, but also the bar area in Antojitos and Finnegan's

Bigfire is still closed I assume.

I've heard the bar at Aventura roof is open - but its not very good IMO

Backwater Jacks looks like outdoor seating open

 

[chad_1138]

Well, we are getting closer and closer to getting AP's for Universal.

We still have a Disney trip on the books for July 5-17 and are waiting to hear where we get moved to (currently at POP). We were excited yesterday about the prospect of where we could end up, but after a day of thinking, we are still not sure we want to drop $4000 for 6 days of parks.

Just booked the Drury in near UO for $732 for July 20-29. Looking at getting the Premier Passes (2 park) for the 4 of us, which would put us just over $3000 for the 9 nights at Drury + AP's. Also, with the 15 month deal, we would get 2 fall break trips out, which would mean 2 free HHN tickets for each of us.

Really leaning toward UO at this point...

 

[macraven]

The Drury Inn is very popular and not a bad drive to the parks.

If you use their shuttle is the only drawback as it might not fit your schedule.

I have stayed at that chain many times but not the one in Orlando.
It worked good for me.

 

[poohj80]

We stayed at the Doubletree just across Kirkman Dr from City Walk for $65 per night last week. It was really nice and convenient especially for that price!

 

[yorkieteacher]

Packing is definitely a little different this year View attachment 500450

I have packed 3 travel bottles of hand sanitizer to attach to our lanyards, a big bottle to refill those, three different kinds of masks, for a total of 26 in all for three of us for two days of theme parks, a can of Lysol and sanitizing wipes for our hotel room because of reviews on TripAdvisor even though they say they are following Covid guidelines, and daily prayers for safety! But I am going to have fun with y grandson after three miserable months!

 

[osufeth24]

We stayed at the Doubletree just across Kirkman Dr from City Walk for $65 per night last week. It was really nice and convenient especially for that price!

That Doubletree in my opinion is by far the best hotel that's right next to Universal.

 

[only hope]

Well, we are getting closer and closer to getting AP's for Universal.

We still have a Disney trip on the books for July 5-17 and are waiting to hear where we get moved to (currently at POP). We were excited yesterday about the prospect of where we could end up, but after a day of thinking, we are still not sure we want to drop $4000 for 6 days of parks.

Just booked the Drury in near UO for $732 for July 20-29. Looking at getting the Premier Passes (2 park) for the 4 of us, which would put us just over $3000 for the 9 nights at Drury + AP's. Also, with the 15 month deal, we would get 2 fall break trips out, which would mean 2 free HHN tickets for each of us.

Really leaning toward UO at this point...

I’ve read that the free HHN tickets are only one time per annual pass term. I haven’t tried going two different times in different years during the same pass period myself as I have no interest in HHN.

 

[chad_1138]

I’ve read that the free HHN tickets are only one time per annual pass term. I haven’t tried going two different times in different years during the same pass period myself as I have no interest in HHN.

Thanks for the heads up on the HHN tickets. We will at least get 2 fall break trips down out of the 15 month passes. Really looking forward to this if it is the route we go. I haven't been to Universal since my senior trip in March of 1997, and my wife and our sons have never been. Should be a blast!!!

 

[chad_1138]

The Drury Inn is very popular and not a bad drive to the parks.

If you use their shuttle is the only drawback as it might not fit your schedule.

I have stayed at that chain many times but not the one in Orlando.
It worked good for me.

Thanks for the heads up on the shuttle. We are planning on getting Premier passes, so we will most likely drive each day except our first day so we don't have to pay parking when we process our passes.

 

[osufeth24]

Looking at pictures of the parking lot, today may be the day they hit capacity, or at least come close

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Welcome to Saturdays...

 

[ricosuave]

I was just checking park hours for our trip and it shows Citywalk being closed starting July 1st. Does anyone know why??

 

[TommyJK]

Looking at pictures of the parking lot, today may be the day they hit capacity, or at least come close

Reading elsewhere, it seems they did hit capacity today at both USF and Volcano Bay.

Also yesterday they got called out by one of the Florida House of Representative members for seemingly not enforcing social distancing measures at VB:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1271849348788301824

 

[poohj80]

Has anyone seen how guests know when parks hit capacity and won't allow new guests in? Is it in the app? Trying to gauge how early we need to arrive to ensure entrance.

 

[osufeth24]

Has anyone seen how guests know when parks hit capacity and won't allow new guests in? Is it in the app? Trying to gauge how early we need to arrive to ensure entrance.

It's in the app. If you click on park hours, has list of all the park hours, and it says VB is closed due to capacity

 

[atricks]

I wasn't there today, but folks that were said it was by far the busiest day since reopening, and the studios quit letting in people for a while (Based on the new lower capacity number) And Volcano Bay was slammed and also closed to capacity. Aquatica also hit capacity.

Really odd since this past Monday/Tuesday it was super dead.