Tentative plan for Universal, Discovery Cove, SW, and Aquatica...

bcbmommy · Mar 1, 2015

Okay, so this is a last minute trip, so I don't have it all perfectly planned yet. Our flight arrives around 1:00 p.m., on March 11, and we leave around 6:00 pm. on the 17th. Thinking of getting the 2+1 free Undercover Tourist tickets, and spending either the first 2 1/2 days at Universal, or the last 2 1/2 days. The middle 3 days will be spent at DC, SeaWorld, and Aquatica. Will we regret just doing one park per day? That's what we usually do at Disney.

We've never been to any of these parks, so how does that sound? Anything I need to tweak? Still looking for lodging for our non-Universal days.

macraven · Mar 2, 2015

if you stay onsite at one of the 3 deluxe hotels at UO, you can use the free shuttle from your hotel to sea world and aquatica.
you sign up in the hotel lobby the night prior to guarentee your seat.

only problem others have posted about is the return shuttle from SW back to the hotel.
quite a few recommend taking a cab for about $15 to avoid the bus crowding.

can't help you with DC.
no info on that.

if you rather try for a cheaper room than UO, there are some lovely places near SW you could book.

you will run into higher prices as spring break will be upon you when you are in orlando.

Lynne G · Mar 2, 2015

oh, and if you are interested in riding the Potter train, you must have park to park tickets. You can upgrade, but since the parks are more like Disneyland, and much closer together, I'd go for a park to park. If you stay onsite, at the three deluxe hotels, you get an unlimited express pass. That may be worth staying at one of those three hotels for 2 nights, as you get the pass the day you check in and the day you check out. For the Busch parks, I'd move closer to those, and stay the nights there. DC, SW and Aquadica are very close together. We stayed at the Fairfield at SW and the Residence Inn at SW. Both were not deluxe, but fine for what we needed. them for. Springhill Suites is right next to the Fairfield and many have enjoyed their stay there. I'd check Trip Advisor for more recent reviews. You can go on SW's website and also look at their "neighbor" hotels and google to see where they are, to help you decide.

Have a great trip!

bcbmommy · Mar 2, 2015

macraven said:
if you stay onsite at one of the 3 deluxe hotels at UO, you can use the free shuttle from your hotel to sea world and aquatica.
you sign up in the hotel lobby the night prior to guarentee your seat.

only problem others have posted about is the return shuttle from SW back to the hotel.
quite a few recommend taking a cab for about $15 to avoid the bus crowding.

can't help you with DC.
no info on that.

if you rather try for a cheaper room than UO, there are some lovely places near SW you could book.

you will run into higher prices as spring break will be upon you when you are in orlando.

Thank you! I didn't realize that about the shuttle. Was planning on staying at one of the deluxes for 2 nights, so we could get EP, but maybe we could just move to Cabana Bay for our SW/Aquatica/DC days since it would be cheaper. We have 6, so need 2 rooms. Makes for an expensive vacation!

bcbmommy · Mar 2, 2015

Lynne G said:
oh, and if you are interested in riding the Potter train, you must have park to park tickets. You can upgrade, but since the parks are more like Disneyland, and much closer together, I'd go for a park to park. If you stay onsite, at the three deluxe hotels, you get an unlimited express pass. That may be worth staying at one of those three hotels for 2 nights, as you get the pass the day you check in and the day you check out. For the Busch parks, I'd move closer to those, and stay the nights there. DC, SW and Aquadica are very close together. We stayed at the Fairfield at SW and the Residence Inn at SW. Both were not deluxe, but fine for what we needed. them for. Springhill Suites is right next to the Fairfield and many have enjoyed their stay there. I'd check Trip Advisor for more recent reviews. You can go on SW's website and also look at their "neighbor" hotels and google to see where they are, to help you decide.

Have a great trip!

I'm not understanding why we need park-to-park for the Potter train. Is that the only attraction that we would need that for? Thank you!

CyndiLooWho · Mar 2, 2015

bcbmommy said:
I'm not understanding why we need park-to-park for the Potter train. Is that the only attraction that we would need that for? Thank you!

The HE runs between the two parks, and the only way you can ride is if you have park to park tickets. We have not been there since Diagon Alley opened, but I understand they check for PTP tix before they let you in the ride line.

scoobydooby · Mar 2, 2015

It might be worth you moving to a Sea World hotel for you days at SW and discovery Cove. I believe then you also get front of line to SW attractions in that park. The hotel I can visualise but not name sorry is across the road from SW and you could walk then to Discovery Cove. I bought my kids front of line passes to the SW rides (not shows) a couple of years ago. Much cheaper than the Universal equivalents and they had an absolute blast. 8 goes each on the two big roller coasters plus walked onto everything else they wanted. We managed to fit in all the shows they wanted using stand by. I can't stand SW so it was worth it to me to only have to spend a single day there. A tip for DC. Arrive as early as possible and get an early dolphin swim. You can then enjoy the rest of the park uninterrupted for the day. Don't miss the yummy breakfast though!

Tentative plan for Universal, Discovery Cove, SW, and Aquatica...

bcbmommy

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macraven

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Lynne G

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bcbmommy

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bcbmommy

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CyndiLooWho

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scoobydooby

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