Okay, okay – you’ve been to multiple Orlando Informer Meetup weekends in the past. You already know about all the unlimited food service, about the little to no waits for the various attractions, and about the Universal Orlando Resort hotel discounts.
That’s great to hear, but I have some news for you: you’re only getting started.
It’s time to retire from novice status and level up to pro, and that means you’ll need to know the more advanced tips and tricks of the trade. The good news is that you won’t have to complete hours of study in an undergraduate program in order to start this advanced course (in fact, newbies could stand to benefit a great deal from these strategies, too!); the even better news is that we have two honest-to-goodness masters to help provide their advice.
Jill and Kevin Levett joined the Orlando Informer Community on Facebook back when it first opened, in early 2016, and they’ve remained some of the most engaged (and engaging) members since. The cute British couple is constantly flying across the pond to spend time at their home away from home, Universal Orlando, and they make it a point to be at (nearly) every single OI Meetup, to boot. Who better to teach this master’s class?
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1. Make a fluid plan
Even though the Levetts, at this point, know the Universal parks like the back of their hands, and even though they can tour them rather easily thanks to the pretty sparse crowds at the Orlando Informer Meetup, they still like to have even just a basic idea of what they’re going to tackle that night.
“To make a fluid plan is always a good idea,” Jill told me, in order to “decide ahead which things you want to do and see. But as the evening wears on, you may get distracted – we often do!” There can be a fairly good amount of surprises to be had at the OI Meetup, whether that be a rare character sighting or, on occasion, one of the exclusive pieces of entertainment that we may line up – such as the Levetts’ personal favorite thus far, the Voodoo Lounge. “We spent a good couple of hours soaking [the Lounge] all up,” she said, and that can throw your entire gameplan off.
Speaking from personal experience, I can attest to this; as I’ve discussed previously, I prefer devoting one night of the Orlando Informer Meetup weekend primarily to rides and the other mostly to food, thereby allowing me to concentrate on – and maximize – just one facet of the fun at a time. You’d be surprised at what a difference such a simple choice can make.
2. Eat like a pro
Make no mistake: unlimited food and non-alcoholic service is a huge draw of the OI Meetup. But it pays to be smart with how you go about eating your way around the universe.
I’ve heard from more than one Orlando Informer Community member about a pretty simple – and all-too-tempting – mistake: gorging oneself on the various bites and sips offered, and then hopping on a thrill ride. Knocking out even just one or two of the bigger attractions first can do wonders to your stomach – and, besides, “We tend to eat later than when the food opens so as to avoid the immediate rush,” the Levetts conspiratorially whispered to me. It’s true: waiting even just a little bit pays off in some rather big ways.
But wait – there’s more. “We usually eat as the mood takes us,” Kevin said, “so if we pass somewhere and feel peckish, we’ll stop by and sample some of the offerings.” Jill and Kevin try to place a particular emphasis on those items they wouldn’t normally get during an ordinary visit to the parks – call this an extra bang for your OI Meetup buck!
3. Do both nights
Yes, I know – this sounds self-serving, but it’s the honest truth: the Orlando Informer Meetup is that much more flexible and enjoyable if you’re able to make it both nights of the weekend. And I’ve got the Levetts to back me up on this.
While it’s true you’ll have plenty of time to check a whole bunch of experiences off your list – hitting your favorite attractions, trying certain drinks, enjoying the peace and quiet of a nearly empty theme park – you’ll still be surprised at how quickly time flies. By doing both nights, it “enables you to try even more of the food offerings and even more rides.” (Remember my personal strategy of dividing the weekend between the two?)
It’s like having two Christmas mornings in a row, and what’s better than that?
Orlando Informer Meetup tickets are limited. Learn more and secure yours today.
Questions? Email meetup@orlandoinformer.com or call/text us at (855) 245-4636.
OI Meetup tickets are limited.
Learn more and secure yours today.
Questions? Email meetup@orlandoinformer.com or call/text us at (855) 245-4636.
Universal Orlando is excited to enhance your experience with the latest local health and safety guidelines. Learn all you need to know by visiting www.universalorlando.com/safetyinfo.
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