combine a universal parks trip with a gulf coast visit.... questions please

[WendyLovesPeter]

1. would you use orlando airport in and out or would you use orlando in and one of the other airports (have to research how far they all are) out? We are looking at Destin Beach or possibly further south down the coast like Venice beach.... I don't know the airport situation in these areas.

2. is 3 days enough for the parks? do they have a hoppers like disney parks? It will be hot summer - I assume it will as busy as disney parks and the delays and lines will be the same also - CROWDS!?

Feel free to comment or offer insight on your own experiences

 

[IdesOmarch]

Hi this is exactly what we do, we stay in the Destin area (Ft. Walton actually) which is about 5-10 minutes from Destin. Best place in the area is either waterscape, or the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort, in Destin there is a good Holiday Inn on the beach, but IMO the others in Ft. Walton are much better, better pool etc.

There are park hopper tickets available, 3 days is good, although we usually take about 5 at the parks. We drive, but there is a good airport in Destin, you could take a cab to Ft. Walton from there, should be a short drive. The drive from Destin to Orlando is about 6 hours, you may want to fly into Destin, rent a car for the rest of the trip. It is hot in the summer, if you stay at the onsite hotels at Universal, you get free front of the line access to almost all the rides, great perk for managing the crowds, its unlimited, only thing not applicable I believe is FJ in Harry Potter, and that could change I think not totally sure. We spend about 1 or 2 days at the beach in Destin/Ft.Walton then the rest of the time in Orlando, on the way back we stay at Ft. Walton again for another day.