I had heard we didn't really need it with express pass here but I definitely should have done more research on the rides, restaurants, how to check in, etc. we really missed our magic bands that first day. And y'all told me not to bring a back pack...
9:46am on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
Hello! :) Please tell us what you regretted and what your likes/dislikes/concerns are. I bet we can help with some tips or suggestions!!! It's going to get better! Where are you staying? What's next on the agenda?
9:47am on 5/13/26 by
browndalmatian
...but we drink SOOO much water I didn't listen. Day 2 no backpack. I'm probably going to get a UTI now but I'm avoiding the lockers so it'll be worth it. Luckily my wonderful travel agent sent us lanyards so we have those - extremely helpful.
9:48am on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
Staying at royal pacific which is very nice and I'm glad we're so close. We've gone back to the room both days to rest and get out of the rain. Jacks food and service weren't great. Tuk tuk food and service was much better and cheaper. We enjoyed the...
9:50am on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
...burgers, music and vibe at the earthquake restaurant (I don't know what it's called) and enjoyed leaky cauldron. We couldn't believe how expensive butter beers were. My relief band has been a blessing. I forgot it in the room the first night and boy...
9:53am on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
...howdy I missed it. Today we'll reride what we want, and tonight will be shopping, wands, and cinesational. Syfy network has Harry Potter marathon so that's been fun when we're in the room. The kids (18 & 20) brought their old wands. Will they...
9:56am on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
...work just fine or should we buy the new ones?) I'm planning on getting the Mario ones when we get to epic on Friday. But we eat most meals in the room so I can splurge on experiences if it's worth it.
9:58am on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
I must ask, what is a relief band?
10:18am on 5/13/26 by
clyde4242
@clyde, it's like a watch that somehow makes motion sickness better. I turn it on when I get on the ride. It's expensive but my DD used it on a fishing trip and it helped her too.
https://reliefband.com/
11:20am on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
The wands should work. And if they don't, you can take them to the wand shops for "repairs" (and they'll replace them).
11:50am on 5/13/26 by
TenMileMom
Ok, I have heard of those. Do they work well? My wife won't do much because of motion sickness. Thanks
11:50am on 5/13/26 by
clyde4242
Yes, they're amazing. I did gringotts and transformers without it when I forgot for example and had to close my eyes. Second day I remembered it and rerode both and enjoyed them much more.
12:18pm on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
Thank you @10mile!
12:19pm on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
Bathrooms here have been so much cleaner than Disney and easier to find. Never had a wait either. That's probably been my favorite thing - not to bash the others but that's how great we've found the bathrooms. lol!
1:03pm on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
Super heavy rain storm hit while we were on hogwarts express. We got off and headed to forbidden journey while getting soaked to the bone. (No ponchos since no backpack). When we got there it was posted 25 but chained up and not open. Do yall think the...
4:03pm on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
...TMs didn't want to get wet? (Or were told to get out of the rain?) Hagrids was letting people get in line even though it was pouring and posted delayed. We came back to the hotel.
4:05pm on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
Do y'all know if we can find wizarding world magnets anywhere? We've been checking shops and haven't seen any yet.
4:14pm on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
We found a few magnets. An amazing shop keeper in diagon alley knew off the top of her head what magnets were at what stores. Also we saved $15 using the AP discount on 3 different purchases. We tried to watch cinesational but it started raining again.
9:56pm on 5/13/26 by
popupcamper
Thanks for the watch/band suggestion! Going to look into those! FYI if your wands are really old they might not replace them. My son asked the other day. :( I don't know if that's the case for every store and every wand though. Definitely worth asking!!
8:49am on 5/14/26 by
browndalmatian
Sounds like your vacation is getting better. Sorry it was off to a rough start. Drink water please! :) What's next on the agenda!? Also, where did you get the magnets!?
8:56am on 5/14/26 by
browndalmatian
Was Cinesational still running in the rain? It's a great show!
8:56am on 5/14/26 by
browndalmatian
It started raining after the show started but it seemed to have finished. We heard it continue even after we left. We ended up with a hogwarts magnet at madame something's in diagon alley. Yes the trip got better. I blame myself. I know I like planned...
9:48am on 5/14/26 by
popupcamper
...trips. I get frustrated when we go to non Disney places with friends who want to fly by the seat of their pants. Not sure why I thought I would like not planning here. Today we check out of royal pacific and uber to Helios. I guess we'll head back to..
9:50am on 5/14/26 by
popupcamper
....studios via bus? I'm going to stop by the ticket center and be sure I understand what tickets I have for the rest of our stay. I have 11 pieces of paper for the four of us.
9:52am on 5/14/26 by
popupcamper
I am like your friends, seat of the pants all the way. LOL! But you can still plan at UO, of course. Now you know for next time! :) How many more days do you have?
10:10am on 5/14/26 by
browndalmatian
I haven't done the bus for that route, but we used the bus system at VB and it was good. Let us know how many more days you have, what you want to do, etc. and let's see if we can help it continue to get better from here. :)
10:12am on 5/14/26 by
browndalmatian
Three days left. Plan is mostly Friday and Saturday at Epic. We have two days with express pass there. Where should we eat? Mostly fast food as we don't like to spend money on food.
10:27am on 5/14/26 by
popupcamper
I'm not as experienced with EPIC as the other parks, but we've been there two times. The Stakehouse (however you spell it) at Dark Universe was decent. "Good not great" IMO, but 100% worth walking into and looking around for the amazing ambiance...
10:57am on 5/14/26 by
browndalmatian
The butterbeer crapes are pretty great. Not exactly a full meal though. :) We ate at Atlantic and it was REALLY good but definitely not cheap. My wife and kids liked Pizza Moon. I thought it was okay.
11:03am on 5/14/26 by
browndalmatian
I heard the food at Helios was good but never been there myself. There's a Starbucks near Dark Universe and I like their egg bites. LOL :)
11:05am on 5/14/26 by
browndalmatian
Oak & Star Tavern was great! BBQ with live music and beers on tap. Very nice atmosphere with fast mobile ordering service. Highly recommend for low key dining in the park...
11:34am on 5/14/26 by
ladylauren84
Thanks we'll check those out. We ended up at universal since our room wasn't ready. Lunch in Springfield which was cute and not awful food. Now we're at the animal actors show. Planning on Bourne spectacular and et.
12:22pm on 5/14/26 by
popupcamper
Animal actors was the cutest! Second best thing after clean bathrooms. ET hasn't said all of our names at the same time yet after 3 rides but I really love that ride. Bourne was delayed so we're heading back to Helios.
1:53pm on 5/14/26 by
popupcamper
Okay Helios is the best thing about universal. This hotel is amazing.
3:33pm on 5/14/26 by
popupcamper
Helios is beautiful! We used the bus to go back to the OG parks and citywalk when we stayed there. I agree with Oak and Star. We also enjoyed Pizza Moon and Astropub. Bfast at the cafe in HP was good. The Mac and cheese cones in Berk were pretty tasty and
6:26pm on 5/14/26 by
sneezy93
Blue Dragon was very good but pretty pricey. Comet Dog had good dogs, I even tried the carrot dog and liked it!
6:31pm on 5/14/26 by
sneezy93
We've tried most meal places at Epic. We liked oak and star for both food and music. Mac cones were hit with kids in isle of berk. Atmosphere at Atlantic and blue dragon nice but food and service totally not worth the price IMO. I'd skip them or just get
10:24pm on 5/14/26 by
Buckeye86
drink or dessert. Had Buffett breakfast at Helios and which was good. Lunch and dinner menus there didn't appeal to my kids so we didn't try. Service there was good.
10:25pm on 5/14/26 by
Buckeye86
Helios bar is super cool but super pricey.
10:26pm on 5/14/26 by
Buckeye86
I ate at both TS restaurants at Helios. We loved Flora Taverna BUT QS at Epic is amazing. We loved Pizza Moon but honestly, you can't go wrong.
7:43am on 5/15/26 by
PrincipalTinker
We did flora taverna last night and watched the 9 o'clock show on the patio. This morning we've done all of Mario world and dark universe. So far I won't be reriding anything. My family liked the Frankenstein/dracula one. They're heading there again.
10:43am on 5/15/26 by
popupcamper
Next we'll head to Harry Potter for the goblet restaurant. Whatever that was called. I figured out this morning to add the paper tickets and express passes in the app so we haven't had to scan anything except our ticket at Helios.
10:45am on 5/15/26 by
popupcamper
The theming is great at Epic. Nice how you can't see other areas of the park from here.
10:46am on 5/15/26 by
popupcamper
I imagine we'll be done with epic shortly and will head back to USF and IOA. I need to do laundry so may head back to Helios and read my book.
10:48am on 5/15/26 by
popupcamper
It's 12:30 and the rest of the family is getting on the last ride at epic. There's nothing here I'll ride tomorrow. Even with the relief band everything made me sick (except yoshi but not wasting time on that.) I guess the line cart one didn't make...
12:35pm on 5/15/26 by
popupcamper
...me sick but it hurt. DS and I are going back to Helios, while DH and DD go to IOA and USF.
12:37pm on 5/15/26 by
popupcamper
We came to IOA and USF. Y'all. It's 8th grade grad night. We won't make it long in this chaos.
4:07pm on 5/15/26 by
popupcamper