1st Universal Trip...

[Tinkerfan4ever]

Hello all,

We did it, we are going to Universal! We are huge Disney fans and have been there every year, but decided to take a break this year and are switching it up going to Universal! It will be myself, DH, DD14 and DD8.

We booked our hotel and are staying for a week in Oct 2015 (Oct 24-31) at the Hard Rock Hotel. We haven't purchased tickets yet, but are 99% sure we are going with the Orlando Flex Ticket which gets us into US, IOA, Sea World, Wet n' Wild and Aquatica.

Anyone have any tips, info, places to eat, etc to share?

We are considering a rental car, but not sure if it is worth it since you have to pay for parking at the hotel. Boo.

DH says if we have an open day, we could consider going to the beach. I don't know if it would fit in, and this beach day plays into us getting a rental car. If we do go to a beach - any recommendations?

The only Disney thing we are considering doing is dinner at Hoop-de-Doo Review.

I am pretty darn excited and looking forward to this new experience!

 

[danpam1024]

You will absolutely LOVE HRH!!! Room service is delicious. Be prepared, your kids may not want to go back to WDW once they get to go on "real" rides at UNI LOL! The nice thing about Uni is you don't have to plan EVERY SINGLE DETAIL of your trip. You can just take it all in or chill by the pool all day- like a vacation SHOULD be. With the parks literally being steps away, it's much easier to go to the parks, relax at the hotel, and go back to the parks in the late afternoon. Since you have EP, you can pretty much do whatever you want. CW has PLENTY of dining options, I'm looking forward to CowFish next month. One thing you may want to consider is the parks will be closing early due to HHN on some nights. We drive up (live close) and the pay for parking sucks, especially since we have NEVER used our car once we get there. If we leave property, we take a cab- so we both can enjoy our time with a few cocktails and no worries. Don't forget, the Eye, Madame Tussaud's and that whole new area will be up and running by then, I don't think you'll have time for the beach.

 

[danpam1024]

https://www.officialorlandoeye.com/

 

[SAV]

If we do go to a beach - any recommendations?

I love the Gulf Side beaches of Clearwater Beach down to St. Pete Beach. Warm water and white sand. It is 1.5 to 2 hours away, depending on traffic around Tampa.

Clearwater Beach is more of a touristy beach town. They have Pier 60 which has nightly craft shows on it and some great beach side dining. We love the Palm Pavilion restaurant. They have the traditional strip of beach stores with T-shirts, souvenirs, etc. I have found the hotels are a bit more expensive in CB and the beach is a bit more crowded. Parking is quite expensive as well. There is Sand Key state park just over the bridge from CB, but it is away from the main CB "stuff".

We have stayed in St. Pete Beach as well and it was less crowded. Same sand and water as CB.

I think my favorite place is Madiera Beach/Treasure Island. There is an ice cream place right in front of the Residence Inn that is just amazing. Both of these places have the Beach stores, but it isn't on a touristy strip like CB. But we do always take the short trip up Gulf Blvd and go to Clearwater Beach at least one time each trip.

 

[Tinkerfan4ever]

You will absolutely LOVE HRH!!!

Originally we had been looking into Cabana Bay, but the express pass was something we really wanted. I then just started looking around and was able to get HRH for a great deal. I am really happy about it! We have put off Universal for a few years, as we wanted DD8 to be tall enough to do most of the rides. She finally has reached that point!

I am going to enjoy not making dining reservations. (Not that I mind making them at Disney, but sometimes it is nice to just go with the flow) And I believe staying at HRH we get priority seating anyway, so that should come in handy.

I love the Gulf Side beaches of Clearwater Beach down to St. Pete Beach. Warm water and white sand. It is 1.5 to 2 hours away, depending on traffic around Tampa.

I think the DH was hoping to do Gulf side - so these are some great recommendations. We probably will end up with a beach day if we don't do both Aquatica & Wet n' wild. We are from WI so we go to WI Dells often enough for water parks.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

It's a shame you can't actually do one night at the beach. If you could, you could join the Loews rewards club thing and get points at both HRH and the Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach. It is a stunning 1920s Grande Dame Resort. I think a couple of days at a Uni Deluxe and a night or 2 at The Don CeSar is a great Central FL vacation that rivals a Disney vacation.

 

[Tinkerkelle]

We'll be there the week before you! Staying a week in disney then a week at HRH.

Stayed there in 2013. HRH is amazing. The hotel, itself, is fab and you can't beat the location. The express passes save so much time-we were back at the hotel by 7 every day and my boys loved jumping in the pool and watching a film. Exp pass queue takes a bit longer than at disney but still a lot quicker than standby. You miss some of the cool queue theming which could be worth a look if the standby queue low-Spiderman for example. Early entry can be mad as so many people are entering the park and all going to the same few attractions. Get to the turnstiles that bit early for early entry if you want to beat the crowd heading in. The HP attractions don't have Exp Pass so try during early entry or later in the evening when the crowds have moved on. HP areas are gorgeous when it's dark, great photo ops.

Kitchen at HRH does an amazing buffet breakfast. Pricier than those on Idrive but so much deliciousness! Am with danpam on the Cowfish in City walk. Have read so many good things about this place and menu makes my mouth water. Hotdog hall of fame and red oven pizza on our list too.

We didn't bother with car hire but didn't venture off site as only at Uni for 4 days before moving to disney. Will be 7 at disney then 7 at Uni this year. Got the flex tickets and doing a day at seaworld and one at aquatica as well as a day enjoying the delights of the malls. Will use the hotel's shuttle bus service to the parks and will walk out onto I Drove for the trolley.

We enjoyed having krusty burgers and flaming moes in Springfield but then my lot are big Simpsons fans. Watch out for characters. Not nearly so much queue time needed and meeting Capt America made my son's day (coach your kids to tell the Capt that they are always good because it stumped him when my 6 year old said he wasn't. At least he appreciated his honesty )

Hope you have a fabulous holiday. I'm already on a countdown!!

 

[Jwhee]

Attending Halloween Horror Nights?

 

[Tinkerfan4ever]

Attending Halloween Horror Nights?

I looked into it, but have decided against it. I just think that DD8 would end up quite scared and I don't want to risk a years worth of nightmares. LOL

We also did think about the Blue Man Group, but are unsure on that as well (But not because we think anyone would end up scared!)

 

[JoeCamel]

BMG would be great but I would not take an 8 year old (or do you have 8 daughters?) to HHN.

 

[Tinkerfan4ever]

BMG would be great but I would not take an 8 year old (or do you have 8 daughters?) to HHN.

2 daughters - one will be 8 and one will be 14 when we go on the trip. LOL. I also didn't think HHN would be appropriate for the 8year old.

A friend recommended BMG and now I am seriously looking into it.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Smart move on the HHNs decision. BMG is a lot of fun.

One other activity to consider is an evening at I-Drive 360. It is getting ready to open in May. It will have The Orlando Eye, Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum, SeaLife Aquarium, King Bowl (similar to Splitsville) and a plethora of great eats. It will be quite nice.

 

[Tinkerkelle]

Smart move on the HHNs decision. BMG is a lot of fun.

One other activity to consider is an evening at I-Drive 360. It is getting ready to open in May. It will have The Orlando Eye, Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum, SeaLife Aquarium, King Bowl (similar to Splitsville) and a plethora of great eats. It will be quite nice.

Good to know. Was aware it was opening and the Eye would be a centre piece but didn't know about the others - will add it to my list of off-site must dos.

I looked into it, but have decided against it. I just think that DD8 would end up quite scared and I don't want to risk a years worth of nightmares. LOL

We also did think about the Blue Man Group, but are unsure on that as well (But not because we think anyone would end up scared!)

Never mind my 8 year old, I couldn't cope!! My husband is a fan of horror but I just can't watch it. My vivid imagination has me checking under beds, and behind shower curtains, for weeks after so I just don't do them. He took me to a preview screening of "Scream" years ago and said it was a comedic parody of horror and I'd like it. I didn't like what happened to poor Drew Barrymore, I really didn't like it! He would love to get tickets but doesn't wan't to go by himself and I'm afraid I'm absolutely not up for it and feel our 8 and 11 year olds are too young. Can you imagine the back to school essay "What I did on my holidays..."

 

[BrerJon]

Beach wise Daytona is quite nice too, and closer than Clearwater if time was short, but the Gulf side is nicer, no doubt.

As others have said, having Express and a nice long visit means you will be able to enjoy it all fully without having to make lots of plans, reservations etc.

Universal is a fantastic resort and if your family hasn't been there before I think they'll be blown away and have a great time.

 

[mazza moo]

Your hubby could always hang with us for one evening for the Horror nights. we are there 24-31 from the uk. lol

It would be a shame to miss it as it is the 25th Anniversary. I went in 2011 and the 3d maze had me lying on the floor for over 30 mins so that my heart rate would return to normal; it was hilarious.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

HHN is by far my favorite up charge event at any theme park anywhere. It is soooo much fun. But definitely too intense for an 8 year old.


But the 14 year old and Dad would have a ball. And it truly is the antithesis of "Disney". Who knew doing it wrong could be so much fun!

 

[Tinkerkelle]

Your hubby could always hang with us for one evening for the Horror nights. we are there 24-31 from the uk. lol

It would be a shame to miss it as it is the 25th Anniversary. I went in 2011 and the 3d maze had me lying on the floor for over 30 mins so that my heart rate would return to normal; it was hilarious.

Will just miss you! We UK too but our school hols are 2nd and 3rd weeks of October. He may decide to go solo. He's watched a few walk through videos and thought it would be a bit different to the usual park fare. Pity I'm such a lightweight!!

 

[danpam1024]

HHN is by far my favorite up charge event at any theme park anywhere. It is soooo much fun. But definitely too intense for an 8 year old.


But the 14 year old and Dad would have a ball. And it truly is the antithesis of "Disney". Who knew doing it wrong could be so much fun!

My son's firs HHN was age 7- at HIS request! When we walked through the houses, we "sandwiched" him between my husband and myself. HE LOVED IT! I was more scared than he was. When we walked through the scare zones, they would scare ME to make HIM laugh, and he really loved that. One zone had a Michael Myeres type guy with a mask and chainsaw. He saw my son, came up to him, took him by the hand, waited for a bunch of unsuspecting teenaged girls, then ran at them with my son and the chainsaw blazing. It was priceless. My son is not easily scared though. The only "bad" thing is we went back to the hotel around 10:30 as he was VERY tired. Didn't mind very much because so were we!

 

[JillC LI]

2 daughters - one will be 8 and one will be 14 when we go on the trip. LOL. I also didn't think HHN would be appropriate for the 8year old.

It isn't appropriate for me and I'm 46!