Can you look at my plan for Universal Please

[waydownunder]

Hi All,

Hubby and I are doing our 1st time at Universal in September. We have 4 nights booked at Royal Pacific and 3 day park to park tickets. Do you think this plan will work?

8th Sep Flight lands in Orlando at 7.00pm. Book into resort then dinner at Bubba Gumps at City Walk. Early night as we are arriving after a 20 odd hour flight from New Zealand.

9th Sep EE Universal Studios then leave around lunch time get a taxi to the Orlando International Premium Outlets. get taxi back to RPR around 5.00pm for Wantilan Luau.

10th Sep EE Universal Studios then leave about lunchtime to get a taxi to Florida Mall (need my American Girl Fix). Taxi back to RPR and head over to Toothsome at City Walk for Dinner.

11th Sep Full day at Universal Parks. Three Broom Sticks for lunch and Lombards Seafood Grill for dinner.

12th Sep Leave early morning to move to WDW part of trip.

This is the only part of the trip we will have the chance to do any non park shopping and I know to a lot of people this would be a waste of park time but I can't come to the US and not shop LOL

Harry Potter is probably the biggest part for us as I am a huge fan.


Your thoughts would be great

Thanks

 

[mmmagique]

I would check trip advisor for reviews on Lombards. I have not been reading good things about them recently.

 

[chabs]

The outlets are usually open very late. Why don't you plan to go there after the parks close?

 

[schumigirl]

We do quite enjoy the Luau, but you're only there a few days........not sure I'd rush to lose valuable Park time to see it.

On the 9th I would spend longer in the parks, and go later to the outlets.....they open till 10 or 11pm.

I'm not a fan of Bubba Gump or Lombards.......not what I'd call seafood options. But, I understand why folks want to eat there........Lombards has disappointed us most recently.

 

[bchbetha]

Well, it's not an itinerary I'd like. I personally think outlets are worthless in this day and age. You can find deals better on EBay, TJ Maxx and clearance racks. I'd just go to the mall and skip the outlets. Its just not enough park time. At the very least, could you hang in longer than until lunch time? 3 hours total in the park on your shopping days just seems like too little. At the end of the day, be flexible and stay in the parks if you're having fun. Im sure we can find you shopping deals. ETA- the main reason I'm dismissing the outlets is because they often simply carry cheaper versions made exclusively for the outlets. So, while you might get "the brand", you'd be better off finding the not-made-for-outlets original stuff on sale somewhere.

 

[imprint]

Since you are a huge Potter fan, you could spend the first two mornings in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Be sure to ride the Hogwarts Express both ways. Then with your full day, you could hit the other rides/shows you want to check out.

 

[macraven]

With your plans, you will miss out on a lot that the UO parks have to offer a visitor

I would do the parks all day and take advantage of the ep you will have for staying at rpr

Maybe go to the malls for shopping in the evening
(6-9:30)
Return back to UO and do a late dinner at city walk around 10 pm

 

[janicept]

Wow you must really like shopping to pay for a three day ticket and not spend more time at the parks. To each his own.

 

[gigi from canada]

I love shopping but I think you need to shift your shopping during the evening and compromise on your dinning. I like going to the outlets as well and I found we had our fix from 5 to 11. I would do the American Girl store in the same afternoon. I would skip the Luau and spend it in the parks.

Print off the outlet map and highlight the stores you want to go to. Stick to those. Also register online for the discounts and get your discount book at the customer service counter.

 

[waydownunder]

With your plans, you will miss out on a lot that the UO parks have to offer a visitor

I would do the parks all day and take advantage of the ep you will have for staying at rpr

Maybe go to the malls for shopping in the evening
(6-9:30)
Return back to UO and do a late dinner at city walk around 10 pm

I like your idea of shopping later in the day that could work for us, Thanks

 

[waydownunder]

I love shopping but I think you need to shift your shopping during the evening and compromise on your dinning. I like going to the outlets as well and I found we had our fix from 5 to 11. I would do the American Girl store in the same afternoon. I would skip the Luau and spend it in the parks.

Print off the outlet map and highlight the stores you want to go to. Stick to those. Also register online for the discounts and get your discount book at the customer service counter.

Yep think we will skip the luau and shift shopping later in the day, thanks for your suggestion.

 

[waydownunder]

Wow you must really like shopping to pay for a three day ticket and not spend more time at the parks. To each his own.

I don't think 2 half days is excessive for shopping as this will be the only shopping we will be doing for our whole trip to the US. I thought it was better to do the 2 extra half days than only have 1 day at universal.

 

[imprint]

Much respect for following up a 20 hour flight with a next morning Early Entry!

 

[waydownunder]

Much respect for following up a 20 hour flight with a next morning Early Entry!

We are just 2 crazy Kiwi's trying to do as much as possible in a limited amount of time. This will be our first visit and who knows when we will have the opportunity to come back again. We have 10 days booked at WDW after the universal part of the trip. Who needs sleep anyway!!!!

 

[bchbetha]

I'd suck time away from your Disney portion to shop. They just have 4 parks and 2 water parks= 6 days. With 10 days, one of them being your full or 2 of them being your half days to shop would be just right. Yoo wouldn't have to give up/ cut into a short Universal trip.

 

[christophfam]

I'd suck time away from your Disney portion to shop. They just have 4 parks and 2 water parks= 6 days. With 10 days, one of them being your full or 2 of them being your half days to shop would be just right. Yoo wouldn't have to give up/ cut into a short Universal trip.

Great advice... you're also staying at one of the nicest resorts in Orlando with an awesome pool while at Universal. I'd shop while at Disney since you are there so long and take advantage of all Universal has to offer both in the parks and at your resort while there since your time is so limited. I also suggest just eating at RPR your first night. Great options right there and you'll be exhausted after that flight. You could even catch the movie by the pool after dinner.

 

[waydownunder]

I'd suck time away from your Disney portion to shop. They just have 4 parks and 2 water parks= 6 days. With 10 days, one of them being your full or 2 of them being your half days to shop would be just right. Yoo wouldn't have to give up/ cut into a short Universal trip.

I planned it this way because Universal closer to the shopping than WDW and as we are using Taxis/cabs I thought they would be cheaper from Universal. I am not sure how much dearer it will be from Universal than WDW. I will definitely look into this though we do have a full schedule at WDW but will re-look at it and see if it is possible. Planning this trip has been far more complicated than I thought it would be, I can feel the stress building. Thanks for your suggestion

 

[bchbetha]

Try Uber or Lyft (app based ride sharing). Lots cheaper than taxis.
Think about the cost analysis too of how much park tickets and your Universal resort costs...transport to shopping might be $ but it might balance out (probably in favor of staying at Universal more than shopping ).
Do try Nordstrom Rack as well!