Orlando Vacation Question

[manutdfan1]

I am having SUCH a hard time deciding what to do on our upcoming vacation to Orlando this August 12-15. We plan to arrive around 2pm on the 12th, giving us a half day in the parks that day and 2 full days on the 13th and 14th, leaving the 15th with no visits to parks that day.

I'm deciding between two options:

1/2 day at USF on the 12th, a full day at IOA on the 13th, and a full day at the MK on the 14th (so 2 day base ticket to Uni and 1 day base to the MK)

-or-

3-day park hopper to UOR.

I'm feeling like it's coming down to deciding whether we want to rush the parks while going to more or taking in more of USO.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which would be a better option for two college aged guys? Would we be able to do everything worthwhile in USF in that half day? Thanks for the advice in advance!

 

[HTF]

I am having SUCH a hard time deciding what to do on our upcoming vacation to Orlando this August 12-15. We plan to arrive around 2pm on the 12th, giving us a half day in the parks that day and 2 full days on the 13th and 14th, leaving the 15th with no visits to parks that day.

I'm deciding between two options:

1/2 day at USF on the 12th, a full day at IOA on the 13th, and a full day at the MK on the 14th (so 2 day base ticket to Uni and 1 day base to the MK)

-or-

3-day park hopper to UOR.

I'm feeling like it's coming down to deciding whether we want to rush the parks while going to more or taking in more of USO.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which would be a better option for two college aged guys? Would we be able to do everything worthwhile in USF in that half day? Thanks for the advice in advance!

A couple of questions before I give my feedback. How long since your last Universal visit? What are the ages in your party? Is your budget loose or tight?

 

[manutdfan1]

A couple of questions before I give my feedback. How long since your last Universal visit? What are the ages in your party? Is your budget loose or tight?

It's been 2 years since my last trip to UOR. 3 years since my last visit to WDW. There are two people in our party: 21 and 22 and we enjoy all rides(we like immersive rides, such as Haunted Mansion just as good as rides like The Mummy). Budget is tight(college kids...), which is another reason that I'm leaning toward getting a 3-day park hopper to UOR.

Thanks HTF in advance. I know you'll give good advice!

ETA: my friend that I'm going with has never been to UOR, and he has not been to the MK since he was 8!

 

[HTF]

Given the age group I highly recommend spreading your trip to 3 full days at Universal.

First is price as I was a college kid too at one point lol. A 2 day park to park ticket at Uni is $147 plus tax, then add in a 1 day MK ticket at $95. Add those together plus tax and your in the $265 range per person. Now instead of doing that you could just do a 3 day park to park at Uni for 159.99 plus tax which will put you in the $171 range per person. Just by cutting out the MK you save enough to cover the cost of a base MK plus pay for a third day at UNi. So three people going that's a savings of 283 dollars group wide. Money that could easily be used for food, gifts, and or hotel accommodations.

Second is your groups age bracket. Yeah the MK has some great immersive rides but just how many rides will your group flock too? I have family literally all over the world and guess who they stay with or meet up with when in town? Hotel HTF of course. So family always asks me where they should go and I always ask budget and age group with what kind of limitations physically. If there is a young child ages 2-10 I will recommend a day or two at Disney with a side trip to Universal. But given your groups age bracket you simply cannot go wrong with 3 days at Universal. It's a resort aimed directly at your demographic. Also as for your friend I assure you he will want to stay a third day at Universal over a day of insane lines and crowds for rides aimed at children. For the record every single person I've taken to both resorts above the age of 13 has preferred Universal over Disney hands down.

Finally is offerings within the resort itself. It's been three years since your last visit and roughly 13 since your friends last visit to the MK. All your missing is a mermaid Omnimover, a pork shank, and a decent sir down in B&tB. For your friend add in Milf, interactive queues, two new scenes at the haunted mansion, and............yeah that's it. Oh yeah Jack Sparrow (rollseyes) At Universal just in your two years! Lets see, the new parade, nighttime show, Despicable Me, Transformers, Spider-Man overlay, Springfield USA, and numerous resort upgrades including food and beverage upgrades as well as new Meet and Greets.

In the end to each his own but I hoped I help sway your party into 3 days of fun at Universal for a near 100 dollars cheaper per person with 5 times the new offerings vs a switch out for a MK day for 95 dollars more per person that includes a mermaid and some princess meet and greets. Regardless though have fun!

 

[Jeffxz]

If you decide to stick with only universal, you might want to consider 2-day VIP tickets which allow for unlimited front of the line privileges and should be comparable in price to your 2-day UOR + 1-day MK option. Your first half day could be used to explore city walk or downtown disney or some of the other cheap/free options in the area.

 

[BransonJ]

Given both your ages... Universal the whole trip.

 

[themeparkfanatic]

I am having SUCH a hard time deciding what to do on our upcoming vacation to Orlando this August 12-15. We plan to arrive around 2pm on the 12th, giving us a half day in the parks that day and 2 full days on the 13th and 14th, leaving the 15th with no visits to parks that day.

I'm deciding between two options:

1/2 day at USF on the 12th, a full day at IOA on the 13th, and a full day at the MK on the 14th (so 2 day base ticket to Uni and 1 day base to the MK)

-or-

3-day park hopper to UOR.

I'm feeling like it's coming down to deciding whether we want to rush the parks while going to more or taking in more of USO.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which would be a better option for two college aged guys? Would we be able to do everything worthwhile in USF in that half day? Thanks for the advice in advance!

I would recommend 3 day UOR. For immersive rides, Transformers 3-D the ride is the new king of the hill and you will want to ride it several times. In August, the entire Springfield USA area will be open which will be definitely worth your time. And of course the Mummy and Rockit (be sure to lookup the secret playlist) coasters along with MIB. Over in Islands of Adventure the Wizarding World, Marvel Island and Toon Lagoon are all favorites. The good news is the the summer crowds will have subsided by then so you should not have excessive wait times, Transformers being the only exception.
You will definitely have a blast.

 

[Glasgow]

Agreed. Transformers is AMAZING

 

[danpam1024]

We sat at Moe's Tavern for 90 minutes alone! I would say Uni all the way- it is still a busy time and there is a lot to see and do. Rides are completely different when you ride them after dark too! City Walk is great for night time entertainment. Will you be staying on property? It's worth it!

 

[manutdfan1]

Thanks for the help everyone! I'm definitely leaning hard towards 3 days at Universal.

@danpam1024, we will not be staying on property unfortunately, but our hotel is a 20 minute walk to the parks.

Now I just have to wait a month and same change to get down there. I'm so excited! And I can't wait to bring my friend back to Orlando.

 

[JillC LI]

I agree with the others about 3 days at Uni for your group - unless you know that you will feel like you missed out on seeing WDW when you were so close. Only you can know that.

 

[Alexis]

I would do the full 3 days of the park, so you don't have to worry about rushing and crunching your time. I don't know when your last visit was, because if it was recent, maybe you could do a half day at USO since you've done the rides before.
Best of luck!