Excited, but Where to Start?

[andyman8]

So my DW and I have been planning out our budget for next year and we have allotted enough money for four vacations in 2012! I am very excited, and we've decided that three of the four will be in-state (FL Residents) and one to CA. Although I am thrilled, I do not know where to begin.

The first trip next year will be to Universal Orlando at Portofino Hotel for three nights during spring break with the family and my mother. We are Universal Veterans and really want to let my mom see it for we have to get her on Disaster! (UOR Vets know why!) and may also plan a day at Wet n' Wild.

The second trip will be to Disney World in early June (five night/four day stay with day at water park) and staying at GFR&S. I am really excited for we have never stayed here and we will try it once as a 'splurge.' This will just be the four of us (just our family).

Finally, our last trip is to CA and we are still a bit unsure about how much time we want to spend there, but we are planning on spending the majority in SoCal. We will spend one day with PH passes at DLR (FYI: We plan on spending the day after at a beach to relax). I really just need help with the DLR part for I have only been once, and need help figuring out how to do it.

So, I am calling all Universal and Disney vets everywhere to help! Any tips or suggestions on where I should begin. If it helps we have a 13 year old girl and 15 year old boy. We are booking in January for credit card cycle reasons. Any tips are appreciated. Thanks. Happy Holidays!

P.S. Posted this on Disney Trip Planning Boards, also. I need all the help I can get!

 

[macraven]

you ask where to begin for your universal trip.

make the room ressie first.

go over the UO website to checkout what it has to offer you and your family.
read some of the basic stickies in the forums for the darkside.

in your above post, you stated:


The first trip next year will be to Universal Orlando at Portofino Hotel for three nights during spring break with the family and my mother. We are Universal Veterans and really want to let my mom see it for we have to get her on Disaster! (UOR Vets know why!) and may also plan a day at Wet n' Wild.


after rereading your question, i'm not sure if it is help for the california trip you are asking viewers about??

i'm a tad confused.

 

[cbsnyber1]

Ask specific questions = you will get specific answers.

It sounds like you want board members to plan you entire trip!

 

[andyman8]

Ask specific questions = you will get specific answers.

It sounds like you want board members to plan you entire trip!

Ha, although that would sure be helpful, I'm just asking for suggestions or insider tips on all there destinations. I know it is not super specific, but I'm just looking for tips on where to begin, when to make ADRs, where to eat, what to ride and more. Sorry for any confusion!

 

[macraven]

there have been a lot of threads about what you stated you are interested in.
what rides to do, where to eat, etc.
i always tell peeps to check out the maps on the UO website to find the rides and all the info about them.
pick up the guide maps when you enter the parks for show times and character meets.

since you have ap's for universal, i assume you are familiar with the layout.

i ususally use the search button to pull up the threads if i can't figure out in the title for a thread i need to read.


universal doesn't have the adr system that disney does.
many times you don't need to make a reservation in advance for a restuarant.
some use open table for city walk or mythos, but they can be made the morning of your visit to the parks.

there is a kiosk in city walk for making day of or later reservations for restuarants.
i only used it once a couple of years back.


i read on the motherland side that you have been going to disney for quite a few years.
so, i am assuming you need info on the hotel you are staying at when you do that vacation.
hopefully, you will get many responses from those that have stayed at the grand floridian.

there is a thread under the resorts forums for that hotel.
if you post there, you will get many responses to help you with your hotel questions.

hth!