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Best one day EPIC Universe Strategy. No early entry

2:37pm on 12/2/25 by WorldTraveler34

Plan to rope drop what time should get there ??

2:38pm on 12/2/25 by WorldTraveler34

Anyone ??? Thursday is the big day

12:24am by WorldTraveler34

Is Hulk still rough to ride? Does it bash your head like it used to, or has it gotten better?

11:35am on 11/24/25 by nrice1980

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I think it is significantly smoother since the the big refurbishment (about 10 years ago).

5:24am on 11/25/25 by TenMileMom

I find it rough, but still love it.

6:09am on 11/25/25 by WendyMarie

Back rows still throw your head around a bit on the last corkscrew sections. I sept h from riding arms up to bend my elbows and put hands eother side of my head there- largely to protect my head from earring trauma. Just don't do that at photo spot

2:20pm on 11/25/25 by hodg

Sept h = switch

2:20pm on 11/25/25 by hodg

I miss the days when I didn't need to worry about a neck injury from a rollercoaster. Thank you all, we are here now and daughter is wanting to ride it. I'm scared.

3:10pm on 11/25/25 by nrice1980

I had earring trauma last trip @hodg! Bleeding and everything. I need to remember to take my hoop earrings out.

5:15pm on 11/25/25 by WendyMarie

Omg I didn't even think of that! I'm wearing some now. New fear unlocked. That's awful.

6:10pm on 11/25/25 by nrice1980

I too suffered earring trauma on Hulk! I've only ridden it twice but I have to say RnR at WDW got me way worse once! That's when I started leaving my earrings off at WDW lol

7:25pm on 11/25/25 by sneezy93

Yes, still pretty rough for me. ASK FOR FRONT ROW. It's much smoother.

9:44am on 11/26/25 by browndalmatian

Got it! We go back to the parks tomorrow. I am an admitted rollercoaster chicken.

1:24pm on 11/26/25 by nrice1980

Oh let us know how it goes! I am as well but I will say I've ridden everything on property at least once. You will have fun!

1:57pm on 11/26/25 by sneezy93

I wldv thought hoop earrings wld be ok? Ive usually got studs in on holiday so it's the sharpish end that stabs me

2:29pm on 11/26/25 by hodg

Yessss @hodg! The studs are what got me good lol whew that hurt.

2:40pm on 11/26/25 by sneezy93

@sneezy93 as one chicken to another, am I gonna die on Velocicoaster? I do Hagrids fine. That top hat has me worried!

4:34pm on 11/26/25 by nrice1980

Full disclosure I had to ride VC a second time to be "sure" I didn't like it so I think you'll do good! I keep my eyes closed tho the whole time. It is so smooth and DH's fav coaster after EU's SR.

5:22pm on 11/26/25 by sneezy93

Excellent! I'll report back.

8:41pm on 11/26/25 by nrice1980

I died on Velocicoaster. This is my ghost writing. I felt my soul leave my body. :)

10:09am on 11/27/25 by nrice1980

Ha! Thank you for making me laugh!

12:34pm on 11/27/25 by PrincipalTinker

There's room for one more over at MK..

12:35pm on 11/27/25 by hodg

Oh no! Well no harm in trying one more ride sounds like?? I wish I liked it but I'm just too scared of .... well everything that happens!

5:52pm on 11/27/25 by sneezy93

I was amazed at how often my butt was not touching my seat! Just straight up hanging upside down, fully lifted out. I think I can't do upside down stuff. I'm that age now.

11:01am on 11/28/25 by nrice1980

That's my least favorite part! Feeling like I'm going to fly into the sky when I'm supposed to be in a seat haha I was 9000% sure I was coming out of that thing! It is very smooth tho.

11:42am on 11/28/25 by sneezy93

On VC I did grip the seat with my legs 1st ride. But the only one I've been worried about falling out of was the vertical climb on RRR- RiP

3:01am on 11/29/25 by hodg

@hodg I saw what you did there... LOL! WELL DONE! LOL!!

10:42am on 11/29/25 by browndalmatian

@hodg my whole entire was clamped down on anything and everything I could SO HARD and my head plastered against the headrest that my ponytail holder almost slid all the way out of my hair by the end!

1:00pm on 11/29/25 by sneezy93

I had ridden VC like 3 times when my kids were talking about the raptors out in the paddock on the ride and I said, what dinosaurs? I was so overwhelmed by sheer thrill/terror I never saw them!

1:06pm on 11/29/25 by Buckeye86

Ha- didn't plan to do anything but I'll take it :-)

5:13pm on 11/29/25 by hodg

@hodg I was referring to your MK "room for one more" comment. :P LOL!

8:42am on 12/1/25 by browndalmatian

Ah. I'm being slow!

3:15pm on 12/1/25 by hodg

Ok so I did plan on doing VC one more time, but we never got back that way. I had to watch a video of the ride later on bc I forgot all of it. I blocked it from my mind. It was fun and also I hated it. Husband did Hulk, God bless him. I chose a good man.

8:40pm on 12/1/25 by nrice1980

"If was fun and also I hated it" describes me on VC too! LOL SDR, on the other hand, I describe as just "I hated it." Too far, too scary for me. LOLOL

10:12am on 12/2/25 by browndalmatian

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I didn't get to do SDR but I agree. I used to love coasters, but I hit 40 and now they terrify me. I don't know what happened! I'm so uncool now.

11:54am on 12/2/25 by nrice1980

I'm being slow agsin. Whats SDR?

3:10pm on 12/2/25 by hodg

Sauteed Deer Rectums - a McButterpants family favorite! We enjoy them as a part of our authentic Thanksgiving meal.

6:28pm on 12/2/25 by Fatty McButterpants

Planning on traveling a year from today - for anyone at EPIC now (and over the next week), I'd love to hear your experience!

10:09am on 11/22/25 by Ofmiceandmen

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Mario side for RD either but not quite as terrifying.

10:30pm on 12/1/25 by Buckeye86

We saw an actual fight at RD! An overly aggressive man pushed in front of an ECV user and she ran into him. He then yelled at her, and she let him know that today was not the day to start something. It was, dare I say, epic.

11:59am on 12/2/25 by nrice1980

LOL Well played, nrice1980

5:29pm on 12/2/25 by Buckeye86

We have to go to the Orange County convention center for a tournament. Well, I love Universal hotels, they are a little pricey if I'm not going to get to go to Universal. Does anyone have any suggestions for where to stay?

1:56pm on 11/17/25 by Buckeye86

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Or maybe we would try to stay at a universal hotel that has suites that is not a deluxe hotel. Any suggestions on that as well?

2:07pm on 11/17/25 by Buckeye86

For my conference next year I've ended up just booking at PBH the full 7 nights- planned 4 nights for parks then 3 nights moving to conference hotel- but 7 nights PBH was cheaper than 4 nights. UOR math.

6:27pm on 11/17/25 by hodg

The two bedroom suite at either Surfside or Dockside are value and are my go to. Even when there are only two of us!! Has microwave, mini fridge plates etc.. Has a bedroom separate from the main room. Three beds in total.

7:00am on 11/18/25 by ladyortramp

Surfside is a smaller resort with limited food choices. Dockside is larger with more food choices. There is always Cabana Bay too!

7:01am on 11/18/25 by ladyortramp

I hate staying off property. But I one there are a lot of nice hotels to stay at in the area. I've always wanted to try Margaritaville!!

7:02am on 11/18/25 by ladyortramp

I second Dockside three bed suite. Check your tournament housing site for discounted rates or use an AP discount. Uber is quick and inexpensive to OCC...sometimes cheaper than paying to $25 to park at OCC

4:46pm on 11/23/25 by scroogemcduck

Dockside

1:31pm on 11/29/25 by Buckeye86

Thank you

1:31pm on 11/29/25 by Buckeye86

I'd say it depends on several things. How many people with you? All your family? Schedule like during the tournament days? (Will there be time to hit CityWalk at night, etc.)

8:55am on 12/1/25 by browndalmatian

I might go for SF or CB as they're a little closer, but even those are not super close and there are really, really nice hotels close to OCCC. Dockside is just down the street though and is a decent idea I bet! Never been myself but it sounds good!

8:56am on 12/1/25 by browndalmatian

That said my favorite idea is what @hodg said and staying at PBH the whole time would definitely be my preference too!

8:57am on 12/1/25 by browndalmatian

Can't go wrong! Tho I'm still worried DFiL/MiL will get lost at PBH.

3:13pm on 12/1/25 by hodg

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That's true, PBH is huge! Some of my best memories are late at night just walking around exploring with my kids. And that random baby grand piano they have down the hall from the lobby, we all loved playing it! :)

10:14am on 12/2/25 by browndalmatian

Their best hotel event was in Melbourne aus 21 yrs ago as ds21 was a baby. They'd been to spar so wearing just robes, got in the residents elevator, not hotel guests, to get down to our floor so ended up in the lobby as didn't go to our floor....

3:13pm on 12/2/25 by hodg

... glass door stopping them going to correct elevators. Waving madly at hotel staff at desk to open the door. Guy calmly walks over & straight thru the gap in the door to them- no glass in it at all.

3:16pm on 12/2/25 by hodg

NUR (Is that a thing? Not Universal Related) but you guys know everything. My family is looking for a vacation destination for New Year's week. Parents and 22 yo twins. Somewhere in the southeast. We know Orlando, looking for what else is out there. TIA!

4:25pm on 11/30/25 by TenMileMom

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We like adventure/outdoors, amusement parks (obviously), drinking is okay but not a must. We're very active.

4:26pm on 11/30/25 by TenMileMom

I love Bald Head Island in NC. This time of year most things are closed for the season, which in my opinion makes the island even better! You have to take a golf cart around the island -no cars. You take a ferry there from Southport

6:02pm on 11/30/25 by ahlott86

I love this post and think we should do more NUR stuff here. I really like the answers/opinions/thoughts from you all so I might ask NUR stuff too from time to time. Great idea @10MM! :)

8:39am on 12/1/25 by browndalmatian

I almost always stay home for New Year's Eve, sorry, can't be much help! We have been thinking UO might be fun to try one year though. We did do WDW (Ft. Wilderness) in 2019-2020 and it was a lot of fun.

8:41am on 12/1/25 by browndalmatian

We almost always vacation that week and have done WDW and UOR so many times. That's why we're trying to branch out this year. I love the idea of an island getaway. I have a restless DH and will need to make sure there's plenty to do. Thanks for the ideas!

1:42pm on 12/1/25 by TenMileMom

@10mm I don't mean to hijack but how do you like UOR for NYE? It's looking like it would be pretty darn expensive but I wonder if it's something we should try one year.

1:59pm on 12/1/25 by browndalmatian

I thought of something in the SE that is fun, but I am not at all sure if it's good for NYE. ST. AUGUSTINE. We took our kids there recently (a few weeks ago) for just a few days and it was LOTS of fun AND wayyyyy cheaper than UOR. lol :)

2:00pm on 12/1/25 by browndalmatian

Not sure if there are any NYE stuff things to do there, though. But we definitely enjoyed it and there was a lot to do and see. :)

2:00pm on 12/1/25 by browndalmatian

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Thanks for the help. We don't really need anything NYE-ish. Just general fun stuff. We have loved the parks at NY's. But you have to be ready for CROWDS. It's hard to describe how packed they can get. Shoulder to shoulder getting drinks at a bar crowded.

10:15pm on 12/1/25 by TenMileMom

Thanks! I wonder if it would be fun to be at the hotels too. I'm okay with the crowds if I know it going in and prepare myself. LOL

10:10am on 12/2/25 by browndalmatian

I have seen the really fancy (and expensive) party on the plaza at PBH. And the really loud party in the lobby of HRH. Both seemed fun in different ways.

2:13pm on 12/2/25 by TenMileMom

Totally random question but has anyone heard from Jadesfire? I know she said she was taking a break. She keeps coming to my mind lately and I hope she is ok. She was like a guru here for me before my first trip years ago. If I know her outside it this,

10:34pm on 12/1/25 by Buckeye86

Wish her well for me.

10:35pm on 12/1/25 by Buckeye86

*if you know her,

10:35pm on 12/1/25 by Buckeye86

I echo that and honestly wanted to ask the same thing! I miss her insights and hope she's ok. I had checked on DLR chat some and didn't see anything either.

10:45pm on 12/1/25 by sneezy93

Thanks for asking. I have not heard from her on a while (only know her on here too though). It took a minute but I found her chat/post here about taking a break and that was a very, very long time ago. Just bumped it. Hoping she's doing well too.

10:06am on 12/2/25 by browndalmatian

So I'm taking a break from chat for the next little while. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

2:18pm on 12/13/24 by Jadesfire21

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Happy holidays Jades! I look forward to your return. You have such great info!

5:53pm on 12/14/24 by JuniperMB

Come back soon @jades. Hope all ok

3:13am on 12/16/24 by hodg

@jades BUMP, not meaning to be nosy, but we are hoping all is well with you!!! :)

10:05am on 12/2/25 by browndalmatian

How wet do you get on Fyre Drill compared to other Uni water rides? Not a fan of getting drenched so just curious! :)

10:08pm on 12/1/25 by sneezy93

We wore ponchos. It depends. Unfortunately, another boat aimed at us and spent the entire time trying to hit us so we would have been wet. Rise was frustrating bc in the position we were, we couldn't shoot back. Didn't work like I thought it would.

10:25pm on 12/1/25 by Buckeye86

So it depends on those shooting at u. U can get quite wet but might get lucky.

10:25pm on 12/1/25 by Buckeye86

Gotcha! We will poncho up if we decide to ride. Thank you!

10:48pm on 12/1/25 by sneezy93

If I have express for epic on 12/20 do I have to stress about getting there EE or can we be more leisurely in the am?

8:29am on 12/1/25 by FrozenInMa

BUMP here for others... I'm sorry I don't know much about Epic. If it was the other two parks I'd say you can be more leisurely about it, but not sure about Epic.

8:51am on 12/1/25 by browndalmatian

I don't think EP works for Battle at the Ministry, so you will want to Rope Drop that one. Or wait until later maybe after doing everything else.

8:44pm on 12/1/25 by nrice1980

Express now good for all epic rides except dragon racers rally.

9:48pm on 12/1/25 by redboy42

You'll probably be fine with late start with ExP, especially if stay until closing so can take advantage of the reduced waits in last hour or 2.

9:51pm on 12/1/25 by redboy42

No sign of Black Friday deals on Amazong photo packages yet? Can't remember how close to Black Friday it was when I bought it before

5:57pm on 11/17/25 by hodg

I was wondering, as well.

9:54pm on 11/17/25 by Ofmiceandmen

I keep checking- don't want to be looking in wrong place tho!

2:16am on 11/18/25 by hodg

Still nothing :-(

4:33pm on 11/27/25 by hodg

Maybe new year sale instead

3:15pm on 12/1/25 by hodg

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