Advice on when to do Universal...

[madmumof2]

A little logic puzzle for you here!!

I'm trying to draft up an itinerary but am out of the loops with best times so thought I'd post here!

We're staying in a villa for 2 weeks and have three children who will be 9, 6 and nearly 2 (who will need one nap a day, we can split up for naps and certain days).

We go on the 11th (Thursday) and come back on the 25th so both of those days can't be used for a park.

We have Discovery Cove booked for the 14th so that day is also out.

We need to do Universal and IO on consecutive days as we're staying in HRH for one night for this. Not yet booked, can't book until we know what dates to go.

We need to go to all 4 disney parks, at least one of the water parks, and seaworld, one day for I drive/shipping and a few rest days thrown in.

What order would you do all this in if it was you??

 

[madmumof2]

Forgot to say, we'll be in Kissimmee with a car so very flexible

And we don't want to do Universal or IOA on weekends really as they'll be too busy!

11. Travel day
12.
13.
14. Discovery Cove
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25. Travel Day

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I would do Universal first.

That way you have your villa stay free to co-ordinate your other park days as you see fit, without the pressure of knowing you have to do a certain park on a certain day.

Must admit we rarely plan each day, and that works well with a villa stay having that flexibility.

Or are you planning your Universal hotel stay midway through your holiday?

 

[madmumof2]

We're not really fussed when we do Universal

We do like to have a plan though, the kids loved knowing what we were doing the next day, when we were doing MK etc so we wanted to do that again, maybe a bit more flexible though

Good idea doing it towards the beginning or end like you said, I'd automatically put it in the middle but it would be better at the beginning

 

[madmumof2]

Actually what would that mean for picking up villa keys? I'll have to drive from Sanford, to the villa key place, then to the allocated villa, so guessing we'll have to stay in the villa the first night anyway?

Then have to re-pack to go to HRH...

Unless I bung it at the end?

 

[Elise79]

You could just pack an overnight bag for HRH?

I would just pick the cheapest night and go from there if you have the villa booked the whole time.

Personally don't plan much anymore. Usually a character breakfast pre-opening first morning. Always Epcot on a Tuesday evening to catch the OL wine evening meet. ADR for lunch in MK on our last day and stay and watch the afternoon parade before leaving for the airport. That's all the plans I do now as we just go where we feel like. By hitting parks at rope drop every day we get done all we want and never stay past lunch!

 

[Karenpowley]

We always do ours at the end of our holiday - we've booked 12 days at OKW and
Our last 2 nights at HRH - we love it, especially as the parks are within walking distance away! and you've automatically got the fast track tickets with your hotel key - so you don't have to rush to get to the parks if you don't want to.

 

[Kath2003]

I'd do it at the end - save the best til last!

 

[madmumof2]

No doubt this will change a little over the next few moths but can anyone see anything wrong with any of the below?


Wednesday 10. LONDON HOTEL
Thursday 11. TRAVEL DAY
Friday 12. Disney Park
Saturday 13. Disney Park
Sunday 14. DISCOVERY COVE
Monday 15. Rest day
Tuesday 16. Disney Park
Wednesday 17. Water Park
Thursday 18. Disney Park
Friday 19. Rest day
Saturday 20. Seaworld
Sunday 21. Shopping
Monday 22. Rest day
Tuesday 23. Universal Studios
Wednesday 24. IOA
Thursday 25. Travel Day

OH and baby will probably skip a couple of these days (baby will need more rest days) and they'll do something together, and when we do Universal they can both go back to the hotel for a rest while me and the older two stay since baby will need mor rest and PH isn't a coaster person! lol

 

[wilma-bride]

Just my opinion, for what it's worth, but I wouldn't do a park on a Saturday - instead, I would use the Saturdays as your rest/shopping days. The other thing is that Discovery Cove is actually quite a relaxing day so you probably dont need a rest day after it.

Are you buying 14-day Disney tickets or MYW?

I presume, from your countdown, that you are going in October? No idea what park hours are for this month but I would change it around alittle bit. How about this?

Wed 10 - London Hotel
Thur 11 - Travelling
Fri 12 - Disney Park
Sat 13 - Shopping
Sun 14 - Discovery Cove
Mon 15 - Disney Park
Tue 16 - Disney Park
Wed 17 - Rest Day
Thu 18 - Water Park
Fri 19 - Disney Park
Sat 20 - Rest Day
Sun 21 - Sea World
Mon 22 - Disney Park
Tue 23 - Universal
Wed 24 - IOA
Thu 25 - Travelling

The other thing to note is that it is not necessarily a bad idea to go to Universal/IOA on a weekend (say Fri/Sat) on the basis that you will have the FOTL access and early entry to IOA.

Without seeing/knowing park hours and EMH, it is impossible to tell whether my suggestions would work for you but I would definitely have rest days and shopping days on Saturdays as the parks tend to be a lot busier then.

I also remember reading somewhere (and can't say I've ever tested the theory) that MK is busiest on a Sunday/Monday since most people tend to arrive on a Saturday or Sunday and do that first.

Hope this helps a little

No doubt this will change a little over the next few moths but can anyone see anything wrong with any of the below?


Wednesday 10. LONDON HOTEL
Thursday 11. TRAVEL DAY
Friday 12. Disney Park
Saturday 13. Disney Park
Sunday 14. DISCOVERY COVE
Monday 15. Rest day
Tuesday 16. Disney Park
Wednesday 17. Water Park
Thursday 18. Disney Park
Friday 19. Rest day
Saturday 20. Seaworld
Sunday 21. Shopping
Monday 22. Rest day
Tuesday 23. Universal Studios
Wednesday 24. IOA
Thursday 25. Travel Day

OH and baby will probably skip a couple of these days (baby will need more rest days) and they'll do something together, and when we do Universal they can both go back to the hotel for a rest while me and the older two stay since baby will need mor rest and PH isn't a coaster person! lol

 

[madmumof2]

That's fab thank you!

Yes I agree I didn't want to do parks on a Saturday

Your plan looks much better than mine

Wed 10 - London Hotel
Thur 11 - Travelling
Fri 12 - Disney Park
Sat 13 - Shopping
Sun 14 - Discovery Cove
Mon 15 - Disney Park
Tue 16 - Disney Park
Wed 17 - Rest Day
Thu 18 - Water Park
Fri 19 - Disney Park
Sat 20 - Rest Day
Sun 21 - Sea World
Mon 22 - Disney Park
Tue 23 - Universal
Wed 24 - IOA
Thu 25 - Travelling

it is then for now!

This means I can get HRH booked now Yay!

 

[Rach78]

Hi,
I wanted to say that I fly out on the same day as you from London! We fly into Tampa though with BA. What about you?
Your plans look good. One thing to remember about Seaworld is that although the weekend will be busy, they have their Halloween Spooktacular on Sat and Sun which will probably be good for the kids to experience. I am going on Sunday 21st to Seaworld as well! See you there!
Rach xxx

 

[madmumof2]

Hi,
I wanted to say that I fly out on the same day as you from London! We fly into Tampa though with BA. What about you?
Your plans look good. One thing to remember about Seaworld is that although the weekend will be busy, they have their Halloween Spooktacular on Sat and Sun which will probably be good for the kids to experience. I am going on Sunday 21st to Seaworld as well! See you there!
Rach xxx

OOh fab, might see you there!

Just noticed a flaw :S

If we book HRH for the 23rd (get there in the morning,do Universal,sta over night, do IOA...I'd still have to then travel back to the villa for our last night.

We can move it up a day because then we wouldn't get a full day in IOA if it's our last day...

 

[JohnnySharp2]

OOh fab, might see you there!

Just noticed a flaw :S

If we book HRH for the 23rd (get there in the morning,do Universal,sta over night, do IOA...I'd still have to then travel back to the villa for our last night.

We can move it up a day because then we wouldn't get a full day in IOA if it's our last day...

So you are booking the villa for the entire duration, even though you are planning 1 night at Universal?
To be honest that's why I suggested doing it first, if that's feasible - for me it would be too fiddly the last couple of days.

As for your overall plan, you can change and be flexible when you are out there, you don't have to stick to a strict having to be in one place on a certain day.

 

[madmumof2]

And there was one too many disney parks lol

Since we're going to have to travel to and from HRH anyway whatever day we go, how about this...


Wed 10 - London Hotel
Thur 11 - Travelling
Fri 12 - Disney Park
Sat 13 - Water Park
Sun 14 - Discovery Cove
Mon 15 - Universal
Tue 16 - IOA
Wed 17 - Rest Day
Thu 18 - Disney Park
Fri 19 - Disney Park
Sat 20 – Rest day
Sun 21 - Sea World
Mon 22 - Shopping
Tue 23 – Free day
Wed 24 - Disney Park
Thu 25 - Travelling

 

[madmumof2]

So you are booking the villa for the entire duration, even though you are planning 1 night at Universal?
To be honest that's why I suggested doing it first, if that's feasible - for me it would be too fiddly the last couple of days.

As for your overall plan, you can change and be flexible when you are out there, you don't have to stick to a strict having to be in one place on a certain day.

I'm trying to fit it at the beginning but I can't see an easy way to do it. I'll have to drive from Sanford to get the villa keys, then find the villa and drop our bags off, THEN go straight to HRH after around 18 hours of travelling :S

Unless I could somehow arrange to not collect the villa keys until the 12th?

We work better with a plan, I know when we're there we have the option to change it around, and probably will, but writing a plan means we won't forget anything, which we would do if we didn't! lol I don't want to leave then realise we forgot to do a park :S

 

[Cyrano]

And there was one too many disney parks lol

Since we're going to have to travel to and from HRH anyway whatever day we go, how about this...


Wed 10 - London Hotel
Thur 11 - Travelling
Fri 12 - Disney Park
Sat 13 - Water Park
Sun 14 - Discovery Cove
Mon 15 - Universal
Tue 16 - IOA
Wed 17 - Rest Day
Thu 18 - Disney Park
Fri 19 - Disney Park
Sat 20 – Rest day
Sun 21 - Sea World
Mon 22 - Shopping
Tue 23 – Free day
Wed 24 - Disney Park
Thu 25 - Travelling

This is how we did USF/IOA on our first Orlando visit.
Packed an overnight bag and left our condo.
Aim to get to HRH early. Even though your room will most likely not be ready you will get your room key. Therefore you can get into the park early on two days and if you want Harry Potter.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I'm trying to fit it at the beginning but I can't see an easy way to do it. I'll have to drive from Sanford to get the villa keys, then find the villa and drop our bags off, THEN go straight to HRH after around 18 hours of travelling :S

Unless I could somehow arrange to not collect the villa keys until the 12th?

We work better with a plan, I know when we're there we have the option to change it around, and probably will, but writing a plan means we won't forget anything, which we would do if we didn't! lol I don't want to leave then realise we forgot to do a park :S

So the villa is already booked for 14 and you are looking at a Universal stay whilst already at the villa? - sorry if I missing it, a bit slow today!

If that's the case go to Universal half way through then, thus avoiding any panic either at the beginning and end of the holiday and also benefit from 6/7 settled days either side.

 

[madmumof2]

So the villa is already booked for 14 and you are looking at a Universal stay whilst already at the villa? - sorry if I missing it, a bit slow today!

If that's the case go to Universal half way through then, thus avoiding any panic either at the beginning and end of the holiday and also benefit from 6/7 settled days either side.

Yes, sorry everything is already booked, this will be an add on

That's what I've been trying to work but it just won't work at the beginning or end because of picking up villa keys, also if we do Universal straight from the airport we won't get a full day either, and will be shattered lol

I THINK I've got it now, changed the water park day (was right next to Discovery Cove) and put Epcot on a Saturday, even though I didn't really want to, figuring we'll still be up early enough for rope drop because of jet lag, and Epcot was the park we did the most last time too

Wed 10 - London Hotel
Thur 11 - Travelling
Fri 12 - Disney Park – Magic Kingdom
Sat 13 - Disney Park- Epcot
Sun 14 - Discovery Cove
Mon 15 - Universal
Tue 16 - IOA
Wed 17 - Rest Day
Thu 18 - Water Park
Fri 19 - Disney Park – Animal Kingdom
Sat 20 – Rest day
Sun 21 - Sea World
Mon 22 - Shopping
Tue 23 – Free day
Wed 24 - Disney Park – Hollywood Studios
Thu 25 - Travelling


How does that look? Finger ready on the book button for HRH!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Yes, sorry everything is already booked, this will be an add on

That's what I've been trying to work but it just won't work at the beginning or end because of picking up villa keys, also if we do Universal straight from the airport we won't get a full day either, and will be shattered lol

I THINK I've got it now, changed the water park day (was right next to Discovery Cove) and put Epcot on a Saturday, even though I didn't really want to, figuring we'll still be up early enough for rope drop because of jet lag, and Epcot was the park we did the most last time too

Wed 10 - London Hotel
Thur 11 - Travelling
Fri 12 - Disney Park – Magic Kingdom
Sat 13 - Disney Park- Epcot
Sun 14 - Discovery Cove
Mon 15 - Universal
Tue 16 - IOA
Wed 17 - Rest Day
Thu 18 - Water Park
Fri 19 - Disney Park – Animal Kingdom
Sat 20 – Rest day
Sun 21 - Sea World
Mon 22 - Shopping
Tue 23 – Free day
Wed 24 - Disney Park – Hollywood Studios
Thu 25 - Travelling


How does that look? Finger ready on the book button for HRH!

That looks good to me, either go with that or go to Spain instead?