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Hodg mega 3 week trip starts here. Got limping DH with his dodgy hip & mid 80s in-laws thru Heathrow & mco ok & just checked into SN. Do cool to see it all after watching YouTube's for so long! Going to pop to epic for a few hours & for dinner.

3:21pm on 4/23/26 by hodg

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Oh boy you are gonna have a blast. Do you stay at SN the entire trip?

3:54pm on 4/23/26 by clyde4242

Nope- 1 night here, check in Helios tomoro for 2 nights- too expensive to do 3! Then PBH 7 nights- 3 days are a conference for me, then wdw, then Wish.

4:11pm on 4/23/26 by hodg

You made it ! Vacation is here ! So fun ! Happy to travel along with you.

7:32pm on 4/23/26 by snelvis

Awesome, we just had a short trip and did similar, 3 nights Portofino and 2 nights Helios

9:36pm on 4/23/26 by clyde4242

Epic is so pretty & theming amazing. Nice to arrive late afternoon & take it slow to look around not RD rush. Did MU, SR - 1st time front row, 2nd in dark- just fantastic! HWG & met toothless. Ate at stakehaus- was v good.

10:04pm on 4/23/26 by hodg

Need to set up TPs to work out time frame for next 2 days without pushing dmil too hard- she fell in garden last week so is sore & slower than DH & his hip.

10:06pm on 4/23/26 by hodg

Have a great trip - excited to follow along and take notes for our first UOR trip in July! We also have an afternoon start at Epic which sounded so much more relaxing than RD! Wld be interested in your thoughts on best RD approach from Helios!

2:20am on 4/24/26 by NTEI

Moved over, dropped bags, hot coffee in Helios lobby all easily. Very straight forward down the path to the rope. Stunning hotel! We may not be best parameter for RD strategy as in-laws are not walking quick after dmil fall last week. DH can motor w stick

8:28am on 4/24/26 by hodg

IT'S TIME!!!!!! WHOO!!! FOLLOWING ALONG!!! Thank you for posting! This is going to be an amazing vacation! 7 days at PBH sounds like an absolute dream!! ENJOY! Smell the roses, friend!

9:46am on 4/24/26 by browndalmatian

Loving Epic but we have enough time that there's no pressure. Currently sat watching fyre drill with a cider in hand. Going to leave Mario till tomoro RD, then do ministry agsin sun am before we move to PBH

11:58am on 4/24/26 by hodg

Did BatM, CotW, MU, carousel, early links at spitfire grill, heading to dragon show now. Not sure if I'm up for getting wet on fyre drill after that

12:00pm on 4/24/26 by hodg

I'm so excited to follow along!

12:11pm on 4/24/26 by mmmartin

Loved dragon show. Now we're sticking it thru a longish line for fyre drill. Think plan will then be ice cream, see if rooms ready at Helios & pool

1:37pm on 4/24/26 by hodg

Hooray! I'm closely following along!

4:06pm on 4/24/26 by popupcamper

In laws got soaked on FD, DH & me did ok for once. Came out of park after, got our rooms at Helios- sadly opposite ends of same floor as yhere aren't many king rooms but all good. Now poolside with a froze until dinner at flora taverna later

5:22pm on 4/24/26 by hodg

Planning on watching fountain show from the room and tomoro we need to hit Mario at RD

5:23pm on 4/24/26 by hodg

Happily following along on this adventure!

5:34pm on 4/24/26 by brerbeer

Also interested! Traveling with your group sounds fun and I like that you are enjoying the experience!

6:59pm on 4/24/26 by whenuwish

Had a nice chill few hours at the oool, dinner was good. But they can't put the music into the Helios rooms for the "fountain" show yet. So we watched from lobby level- it's just lights thru the park & fountains back by carousel currently so a bit meh.

9:48pm on 4/24/26 by hodg

Ready for RD again- much busier at Helios gate today & MoM is down so sadly that's going to push up the Mario crowd. Oh well, guess we'll do a bit of a line today.

8:47am on 4/25/26 by hodg

Here we go

8:59am on 4/25/26 by hodg

Have a fantastic day! So fun to follow along.

9:01am on 4/25/26 by WendyMarie

Dfil survived minecarts- just. Mario carts is down so doing yoshi. Not what TP tells us to do but we're def on the minimise walking approach

9:45am on 4/25/26 by hodg

Starbucks break to let DH sit a bit. Mario back up so we're braving the line- we weren't quick enough spotting it reopened & getting over so likely 60. Hoping not more!

12:01pm on 4/25/26 by hodg

Hmm. This was an error. Over 90 minutes & we're not quite to 1st preshow. None of us are this into Mario!

1:08pm on 4/25/26 by hodg

So late lunch at gobelet noir- decent & nice & quiet. Cirque arcanu- we queue jumped as they saw DH's walking stick & put us into EP line & in with wc users- not sure why but not complaining! Now back for a swim, Bar Helios tonight.

4:07pm on 4/25/26 by hodg

Doesn't look like MoM is coming online today- we weren't planning to ride but so tough if this is your 1 day here.

4:09pm on 4/25/26 by hodg

Sounds like a great start to the trip!!

1:22am by NTEI

Last epic RD this am. Got main luggage into bell service last night, dropped small cases in now, all set to hopefully get MoM, couple of dragon rides, SR & off to PBH. Have 2 physical EP given by a passing stranger yday so that's cool.

8:41am by hodg

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I hope your day is great! Can't wait to hear your next report.

9:11am by TenMileMom

RD worked well today- on & off MoM quickly, we just don't keep up to the front of the crowd but even so it's fine. Chilling a bit now so we're sat at Cafe Sirene streetside with breakfast. They have done Paris so well :-)

9:45am by hodg

Sat watching the offsite tidal wave come through- very amusing. Surprised the crowd reached Paris by 9.50am tho- seems unfair on onsite guests looking to enter another line before the 10am rush. Tho I guess other portals opened at 9.45.

9:59am by hodg

It's a while since I used the amazing picture website. Have a photo package, can log in & see photos, but can't work out how to get into photos on my phone. I can click & it downloads- but I don't know where to! iPhone.

12:11pm on 4/25/26 by hodg

I see mine on my iPhone if I search "downloads". - it's a little search option near the bottom of the screen.

1:32pm on 4/25/26 by WendyMarie

That works- thanks! Sure it wasn't that difficult before.

3:04pm on 4/25/26 by hodg

Doing this as a separate thread re Dfil ability to cope w rides. He's ridden HPFJ in past but won't go in now. Sort of rides SpiderMan but not sure if he ever opens his eyes. Didn't like old 3d minions.

10:08pm on 4/24/26 by hodg

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MU is my favorite Epic attraction. It did make me queasy my 1st ride and that is the only attraction that has ever done that to me. I found leaning my head back helped on other times on the tide.

10:47am on 4/25/26 by PrincipalTinker

We didn't find MOM very aggressive. In fact a bit disappointed.

11:49am on 4/25/26 by snelvis

I have found FJ a bit icky before- but only time it was bad was when our sound didn't work - really odd without the soundtrack-then they put us straight back on so back to back rides

12:40pm on 4/25/26 by hodg

I am looking for liners with experience staying at Stella Nova. The website states that all rooms have in-room safes. Did your room have one? I ask because Aventura says the same thing and in Oct. my room did not have one.

7:21pm on 4/4/26 by PrincipalTinker

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Yes there was a safe

11:50am on 4/25/26 by hodg

Thanks @hodg.

11:58am on 4/25/26 by PrincipalTinker

Yes safe. 2 bedroom queen room if it matters

12:07pm on 4/25/26 by snelvis

I usually order groceries through water butlers but doesn't look like they deliver to Universal. Where do y'all order from? Looks like Garden Grocer delivers but I have to be there to accept.

4:19pm on 4/24/26 by popupcamper

I think you always have to meet the delivery at Universal?

9:14pm on 4/24/26 by PrincipalTinker

You always have to be there to accept. I just use Instacart and meet the driver at the main entrance.

11:48am on 4/25/26 by madamelynn

But I use water butlers too at Disney following liner recommendations.

11:50am on 4/25/26 by madamelynn

Important question. Is frosty moon squirty soft serve or proper scoop ice cream like honeydukes?

1:44pm on 4/24/26 by hodg

Or even fortescues

2:24pm on 4/24/26 by hodg

No experience but in looking at reviews it appears Frosty Moon is soft serve, Fortescues has both.

4:08pm on 4/24/26 by popupcamper

It was soft serve. We went for poolsode frozes instrad :-)

5:20pm on 4/24/26 by hodg

So, DH thinks I should book through a TA. I've planned WDW trips for 20 years and for me it's half the fun. This is our 1st US trip. Is there a huge learning curve? I love research and I have plenty of time to do it. There's 6 adults and 2 teensThoughts?

11:45am on 4/21/26 by winnie79

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We can be your TA if you want. LOL! :) I mean, you can ask questions here, tell us about your family, likes, dislikes, etc. and we can help. However, yes, as others said, super easy and laid back at UO compared to others! You're going to have so much fun!

9:29am on 4/23/26 by browndalmatian

It is so much less complicated than planning Disney. Enjoy!

5:39pm on 4/23/26 by Buckeye86

I book through a TA but do the planning myself. My TA just watches for sales and discounts.

4:10pm on 4/24/26 by popupcamper

I'm losing my mind! Where on the site can I find the dated to do checklist. What to do each month, week and days before your trip. Does it not exist for Universal planning?

4:53pm on 4/22/26 by winnie79

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I use the app, not the website. Did not know this existed. We're planning a WDW trip in December. I will definitely check it out. Thanks for the question!

6:41am on 4/23/26 by TenMileMom

I don't think I've seen that before! It sounds helpful! But I agree with @screemlikeagirl in that you don't need as much planning for UO. :) Still that list sounds helpful so if you find it please let us know! :) You're going to have a great time!!

9:22am on 4/23/26 by browndalmatian

I think maybe the Disney side has a checklist like that. But there's a lot more planning with Disney.

12:20pm on 4/24/26 by mmmartin

Quick query for tomoro- 9am early entry, going in from Helios. Shld we be lining up at entry 7.45 or is 8 ok? And is BatM open early? We will be slow walkers

9:45pm on 4/23/26 by hodg

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@hodge, did you go to dark universe? We were at the portal opening on Sunday around 9:48. I think that off site were released around 9:50.

11:29am on 4/24/26 by PrincipalTinker

Yep we went to sit by the portal 9.45 & they opened about 30 seconds later

11:56am on 4/24/26 by hodg

Yep MoM was essentially walking thru till last bit. We did elevators to reduce steps for DH which might've been a bit slower when i was timing wait from the point we stopped just walking

12:13pm on 4/24/26 by hodg

Trying to understand the way the tickets work for Epic. If we have a 7 day park to park pass does it only allow one day in Epic Universe?

4:37pm on 4/22/26 by winnie79

Our U.K. 14 day tickets allows multiple entry and hopping into all the parks including multi entry to epic now

3:27pm on 4/23/26 by hodg

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