Combo Sea World/Universal Trip - Is This Doable?

[rowan555]

So this is what we're now considering. Am I nuts? Me and my 12 year old daughter, and we've never been to any of these parks. Planning for late August.

First leg of trip - Sea World partner hotel with free dining promotion - drive all day Monday, check in Monday night.
Tuesday - Sea World
Wednesday - Aquatica
Thursday - revisit Sea World in morning if we want to. Check out of hotel, on to Royal Pacific Resort.
Friday through Monday - stay on site and visit both Universal parks, City Walk, enjoy the resort pools. Start driving home Monday afternoon.


Originally we were just going to do Universal - but now I'm thinking since it's a 12 hour drive, perhaps adding Sea World and Aquatica would be a nice thing to do. But I don't want to overdo it either. HELP!

 

[Planogirl]

This sounds very feasible and a lot of fun! We often visit WDW for part of a trip and Universal for another and this sounds similar. Of course a lot depends on your own stamina and how much down time you prefer.

 

[GoofyWithGlasses]

We also do the same, and it can be quite intense, especially if you've not done it before, but it is definitely doable! Just be prepared and planned well is all I'd say

 

[damo]

Yup! Lots of people do this. SeaWorld is a nice variation from the UO parks.

 

[Metro West]

Sounds like a plan to me!

 

[agavegirl1]

Absolutely do-able. I am planning something similar for our second week of a two week Orlando vacation. I am currently pricing out the Orlando Flex Pass for this reason. One ticket, all those parks for 14 days. $288/pp + tax.

 

[rowan555]

I pulled the trigger, so now I can stop pulling out my HAIR trying to plan this thing! This is what I ended up doing (reversed the original plan due to availability):

8/19-8/22 Royal Pacific Resort - spend 4 days at Universal and Islands of Adventure

8/22-8/27 Springhill Suites at Seaworld - Do Sea World and Aquatica (with 2 days of free dining) 3 or so days - the tickets are unlimited during visit.

I'm getting annual passes to Universal in order to get the good discount on the hotel, and then if we want to return to Universal/IOA towards the end of our trip to hit our favorite rides again, we will be able to do that and to park for free (and then go back to Sea World and hit a few coasters there too, should we choose).

I think this will give us LOADS of flexibility, and the price is great. Only thing I still need to do is get the annual passes. Getting myself the regular one and my daughter the power pass, as I know for sure we won't be using them again within the year, so I'm not worried about blackout dates. I know we'll be going from a super deluxe hotel to a regular hotel, but I must say, the free parking/free wifi/free breakfast/fridge in room make Springhill a winner in my book any day

 

[rowan555]

Okay, here I am, pulling my hair out again...

Would you recommend 2 nights, or 3 nights, at Royal Pacific? We'll be doing 5 nights after that at Springhill Suites on a promotion. I don't want to overdo it with Universal, but it seems like 3 nights would allow us 4 full days to enjoy ALL of Universal/IOA before moving on to Sea World. Then again, perhaps 3 days would be enough? ACK! I hate planning things!

 

[macraven]

3 nights.

 

[damo]

3 nights.

That would be lovely.

 

[rowan555]

3 nights.

That's what I booked - awesome. I looked afterwards and noticed 1 or 2 nights would have been the same rate, so I began second guessing myself.

One other thing I like about our plan is that on the "last day" we can either go ahead and make the 12 hour drive home, or if we're just DYING for one more day enjoying the parks and aren't ready to go home, we can do that, then grab a quick motel a few hours out of town later that night. Although I have a feeling I will be ready to go home by then - who knows! I'll be missing my husband...but man, it's been 7 years since I got to ride rollercoasters, and those were the tame ones at Disney!

 

[Choozee]

You are going to have sooooo much fun!

 

[rowan555]

You are going to have sooooo much fun!

Now that I've booked it all, I can relax and start to get excited about how awesome it will be. Only thing I need to do at this point is book a cheap motel for our first night in town - which will be a breeze after figuring all these picky details out!

 

[Metro West]

Now that I've booked it all, I can relax and start to get excited about how awesome it will be. Only thing I need to do at this point is book a cheap motel for our first night in town - which will be a breeze after figuring all these picky details out!

 

[vacation_junkie]

I pulled the trigger, so now I can stop pulling out my HAIR trying to plan this thing! This is what I ended up doing (reversed the original plan due to availability):

8/19-8/22 Royal Pacific Resort - spend 4 days at Universal and Islands of Adventure

8/22-8/27 Springhill Suites at Seaworld - Do Sea World and Aquatica (with 2 days of free dining) 3 or so days - the tickets are unlimited during visit.

I'm getting annual passes to Universal in order to get the good discount on the hotel, and then if we want to return to Universal/IOA towards the end of our trip to hit our favorite rides again, we will be able to do that and to park for free (and then go back to Sea World and hit a few coasters there too, should we choose).

I think this will give us LOADS of flexibility, and the price is great. Only thing I still need to do is get the annual passes. Getting myself the regular one and my daughter the power pass, as I know for sure we won't be using them again within the year, so I'm not worried about blackout dates. I know we'll be going from a super deluxe hotel to a regular hotel, but I must say, the free parking/free wifi/free breakfast/fridge in room make Springhill a winner in my book any day

OK! You are pretty much planning what we are.

Glad to see someone else going insane with it too.

I am planning HRH & Residence inn.

We were tossed up between SpringHills and Residence Inn. I love SpringHills as it looks more modern. But at Residence in for about the same price we can get a 1 bedroom Suite. Then we will have a separate bedroom and living area.

Residence in has a bigger pool. Springhill pool is shared with the hotel next to it as well.

I have no idea how many days will be enough at Universal.

We usually just go to Disney and I have all that planning down to a "T"..this is stressing me out

 

[rowan555]

OK! You are pretty much planning what we are.

Glad to see someone else going insane with it too.

I am planning HRH & Residence inn.

We were tossed up between SpringHills and Residence Inn. I love SpringHills as it looks more modern. But at Residence in for about the same price we can get a 1 bedroom Suite. Then we will have a separate bedroom and living area.

Residence in has a bigger pool. Springhill pool is shared with the hotel next to it as well.

I have no idea how many days will be enough at Universal.

We usually just go to Disney and I have all that planning down to a "T"..this is stressing me out

I feel you! We went with Springhill because it's just me and my daughter - if all 4 of us were going, Residence Inn would have been great. I really like the look of Springhill from the photos, though. They both look nice.

Here's to hoping it all works out, for both of us! When are you going?

 

[vacation_junkie]

I feel you! We went with Springhill because it's just me and my daughter - if all 4 of us were going, Residence Inn would have been great. I really like the look of Springhill from the photos, though. They both look nice.

Here's to hoping it all works out, for both of us! When are you going?

I LOVE the look of Springhill.
So modern!
I'm still having a hard time deciding if I wanna stay at Residence.inn,
I goggle mapped both.
The walk from Springhill to Seaworld looks easier then Residence .inn.
I like the bedroom option at R.I. But the decor is pulling me back to Springhill.
I reserved at both..I have to cancel one as soon as I decide,

We don't go til January...so I'll wait until your trip report to decide