Clueless at planning a Universal Vacation!!!

S

Spider

New Member
4 days at Universal sounds great. However, this is assuming that your idea of value for money is having 4 nice days rather than having enough rides and attractions to pack out each day. One of te advantages of Uni is that City Walk is located right outside the parks, and it is really nice to be able to step out of the parks and enjoy a drink/meal and soak in the atmosphere of this wonderful resort.

I last went to UO when I was around your sons ages. All of our family loved both parks, and indeed chose to return to IoA out of all the Orlando parks we visited on the last day of our trip. Pretty much all the rides at both parks we wanted to ride multiple times. In IoA the roster of thrill rides that teenage boys will never tire of includes Hulk, Dragon Challenge (which, don't forget, is two coasters), Spiderman, the water rides (though I think we could only manage one go on Bilge Rat Barges), and I'm sure Forbidden Journey would be added to that list now. Mixed with the secondary attractions such as Dr Dooms Fearfall and Cat in the Hat, I doubt that anyone would be bored with two full days here. A similar story at Studios. This park has changed a lot since I last went, but even then we easily filled a day (a lot of the rides are teenage boy friendly - I'd imagine three brothers could spend all afternoon trying to beat each other on Men in Black).

We also had a huge amount of fun, an could have spent a lot more time, in the lesser areas such as Camp Jurassic (which is an amazingly immersive area) and the playground at Uni, and with more time available you would be able to relax and let these things happen rather than feeling as if valuable time is being wasted. Such was my enthusiasm for the rides that we never even got to most of the shows, which would add further hours of entertainment.

To me, two days of hitting each park hard, and then a further two chilled days of informal visits in and out of either park sounds like a perfect time. Having said all that, our favourite park of the whole trip was Busch Gardens Tampa, and a day here would also be a great choice!
 
Doombuggy13

Doombuggy13

Active Member
Original Poster
Thanks guys for all your input. This trip to Universal is one we've considered for many years. Now that our kids are old enough and tall enough, it's our time to do it. I think we'll stick to our 4 days at the parks plan. That way we can experience it our way. We'll do a day at Aquatica because we've heard too much bad stuff about the condition of Wet n Wild and spend the evening in one of the parks. We'll try the meal deal for at least one day to determine whether it will be worth it. As far as Express Pass goes, we'll wait and see what the crowd levels are like. I'd like to do as much as we can at Universal this year because next year it's back to WDW, and my beloved Haunted Mansion and Typhoon Lagoon!
 
kimberlymautz

kimberlymautz

Well-Known Member
Doombuggy13 said:
Hey guys! After 8 WDW trips in the past 6 years, we have finally booked our first Universal Orlando Vacation. While I consider myself an expert on planning for WDW, I find that planning for Universal is a whole different animal. So hopefully you Universal experts can help me out.
We will be arriving Aug 26th for 6 days. Harry Potter package, off site hotel, early admission to IoA, Three Broomsticks Breakfast. We opted to get four one park per day tickets (no express pass yet) thinking that we would need two days per park to see everything. Now I'm reading that both parks can be done in one day, two days tops.

Is four days at the parks too much?

If I do wish to change this and only go for three days, will I easily be able to change this with their customer service?

We adore the Disney Waterparks and if we do drop down to three days we would go to one of the waterparks on International Dr.
Which non-Disney waterpark is the best, Aquatica or Wet n Wild?
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I went in 2010, only THREE DAYS after the Harry Potter world opened and saw both parks in one day. It took THREE hours to get into the Harry Potter world, then add on ride waits and what not. It was only two of us, so we skipped a lot, but we also did a lot of wandering.
 
ParentsOf4

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
kimberlymautz said:
I went in 2010, only THREE DAYS after the Harry Potter world opened and saw both parks in one day. It took THREE hours to get into the Harry Potter world, then add on ride waits and what not. It was only two of us, so we skipped a lot, but we also did a lot of wandering.
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Please don't take this the wrong way but I've done all 4 WDW theme parks in one day. My DS and I skipped a lot as well but we did all the "big name" attractions. Just imagine what you think a pre-teen would like to ride and we did them all. (Except Kali; we didn't want to risk getting soaked but that was a walk-on so we could have done that too.) Using WDW's public transportation to travel, we started at DAK at 8 AM and finished at MK at about 9:30 PM. The park was still open for another 90 minutes but the two of didn't need to stay any longer; we had done all we wanted to do and wanted to get back to the room for some cheesecake!

My point is that it's easy to blast through commando style at any theme park. It just takes a game plan and energy. However, theme parks are at their best when you slow down and enjoy all they have to offer, including the little things.

4 days at Uni is a lot, perhaps even too much, but it also gives someone a chance to slow down and take it easy. 4 days at Uni gives them a chance to treat a vacation like an actual vacation.
 
RTeker

RTeker

Active Member
lol, haven't been to Universal Studio's since 2000, just read this for idea's for myself since I got plans to be there for July 10 for 5 days 4 nights and I was thinking of Blue Man group as well. And that unlimited express, gonna see if I can upgrade the ticket deal I got through Costco's travel deals. I think I might have to get one of them 'Lifeproof' cases for my iPhone though with the water rides :D
 
BryceM

BryceM

Well-Known Member
kimberlymautz said:
I went in 2010, only THREE DAYS after the Harry Potter world opened and saw both parks in one day. It took THREE hours to get into the Harry Potter world, then add on ride waits and what not. It was only two of us, so we skipped a lot, but we also did a lot of wandering.
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Yes, it's possible to do both in one day. But that is if you rush, rush, rush. And if you skip a lot, like you said that you did.
 
RTeker

RTeker

Active Member
well i have this option of the bus to/from the airport/hotel THEN another yet random bus to/from the park/hotel or rent a car. my best bet might just be to rent the car. any opinions?
 

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