Can you help me with trip planning?

[anita36]

Okay we have 2 girls 51/2 and 9 we are planning on going to disney for 3 days and universal for 2 days

what is the best plan for tickets- or should I go to universal for 3 days--

we would love to do a waterpark but wet n wild looks like it is for much older kids-

should we do universal for 3 days and disney for 2

never been to universal before so we don't know how long it will take to do the parks..

I am a novice at this
we already have our condo booked..

 

[MrsJ Henry]

It really depends on what you want to do. Disney has Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and MGM as well as the water parks etc....
Universal Also has two parks. I would suggest you look at all the parks and see which ones you are the most interested in and would want to spend the most time in. Also with DD's so young I would say spend more time at Disney. Magic Kingdom would be a MUST!!
If it were me I would spend one day at Universal and the rest of the time at Disney. It really depends on what your interests are though. This is a good board to get lots of questions answered!!!!!

 

[SpideyHulk24]

I would agree with the above post in everything except the following. I would spend at least two days at Universal. The parks are great and you won't want to miss out on all the new attractions. The studios has Shrek, Jimmy Neutron and the Mummy. IOA has Spiderman, Hulk, Seuss Landing, etc. (not new, but great.)

Stick around here, we will all be willing to help and answer questions you may have.

Have fun!

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

If you have the length of stay passes at disney you can go to blizzard beach or typhoon lagoon for no extra cost to you. To get the length of stay pass you have to get a three day package including rooms and tickets.

If you have hopper passes for disney with one flex feature you can use your flex feature to go to either water park. But if I were you and you were going to use your flex feature to go to the water parks I would make a day of it. The water parks are usually open 10am-6pm. You will definitely love the theming of the water parks. My favorite is blizzard beach. The play area for the younger kids is great.

If you are going to spend any time at universal stay on site. One night on site will give you 2 days of front of the line at both them parks. And not having to travel back and forth to the hotel is a definate plus.

 

[anita36]

This will be our 4th trip to Disney--

we are staying off- site at a condo

I know we aren't doing Epcot or Animal Kingdom..

WHat we want to do is Magic Kingdom and MGM

Universal and Seaworld.

I am just wondering if there are any ticket deals we could purchase --

staying on site is out of the question- we are off site people..

 

[damo]

Do you know about the benefits of staying onsite at Universal? Did you know that you get unlimited express line access? That means that you never have to wait in line. With two little kids, that is a huge plus. I would be less concerned about the passes (check out the site www.universalescape.com to see which ones are best) and more concerned about getting the best possible deal to allow me to stay onsite. Even if you booked for one night, you would get two full days (you can check in one morning and use your access until the next night) of express line access.

Also if you stay on site, you are within walking distance of both parks and all restaurants. This allows you to visit the park for a few hours, ride a whole bunch of rides, then go back to the hotel for a swim and then back to the parks for more rides.

Staying onsite at Universal is nothing like staying onsite at Disney(which really has no benefits). I would not hesitate to stay offsite at Disney but I would never consider staying offsite at Universal.

When are you going? That makes a big difference in how busy, etc.

 

[msr709]

Staying on site is a plus but if you have a condo booked already go with it. There is a 5 for 2 deal for USO tickets where you pay for 2 days but get 5, its on their website and don't hesitate to use the ETicket, I understand they work very well. Universal has plenty for your daughters to do. Universal has Curious George playground where the girls can get plenty wet and IOA as I mentioned before has two rides where you can get drenched, Dodley Doo Rights, Popeye Bilge, there is also One Fish, Two Fish where they get sprayed. The USO parks have water sprayers everywhere to keep you cool. Also, Seaworld has an ETicket (sort of) that you get a 10% discount if you use it, you print out the receipt and take it to the park and use as admission. I used this 2 years ago and worked fine. The best of ETickets is that you don't have to worry about losing or forgetting them! Have fun.

 

[anita36]

we are going at the end of Sept. 23rd to oct 2--

we stay off site at Disney because I do not think it was worth it-- the one time we stayed on site it really was no "magical" experience.

this is our first time at Universal- we do already have our condo booked so maybe next time we will stay at Universal..

thanks for the info-- I am going to check out the 2 for 5 deal-- that sounds great...

 

[Tigger&Belle]

That is a slow period so you should be fine staying offsite at Universal. Keep onsite in mind for your next trip!

I would spend at least 2 days at Universal. If you want to also do Seaworld I would do one day there, two at the Universal parks and two at WDW. How many park days do you actually have? If you can squeeze an extra day into Universal and WDW then do it--you can go back to your favorite parks and reride what you missed and what you want to repeat.

T&B

 

[anita36]

we have 7 full days at the parks and we might be able to squeeze on another 1/2 day.

we are doing seaworld- I think we will do Universal first then wdw- who knows- I am no good at planning ..

we usually just went down and decided what we were doing- I am a lost soul planning wdw trips!LOL

 

[damo]

Seaworld has come a long way. I really enjoy it now. The landscaping is beautiful. Your kids (and you) should really enjoy it.

 

[msr709]

Originally posted by damo
Seaworld has come a long way. I really enjoy it now. The landscaping is beautiful. Your kids (and you) should really enjoy it.

I agree, its a full day park and you won't regret it. The shows and the rides are great. Have a wonderful time! We'll be there 8/29 to 9/1 and we're trying to figure out which days we will hit all 3 parks. Most of the time Seaworld offers a 2nd day free and if you are staying on-site at USF hotels they have busses that go to Seaworld (I used it in 2002).