First time at Universal

[soma151]

Hi i used this board when i planned my Disneyland trip and you guys where very helpful. We are going to Orlando this time and want to do it all, how much time will we need? Two grandparents and 3 grandsons 10, 9, 5..When is the best time to go? Best hotel? Best Flights ( Oregon ) Was thinking of going next Feb.? I know these questions have been asked a million times so sorry if i ask again.

 

[Robo56]

I think maybe narrowing down what you consider all would be helpful for everyone that can help you. What did you have in mind. Disney, Universal, Sea World, Legoland? How long did you plan to stay? Are you just planning Universal while in Orlando?

 

[soma151]

I think I'm on the wrong forum?

 

[pcstang]

Are you visiting Universal Orlando? If so, you found the correct forum.

 

[macraven]

I think I'm on the wrong forum?

well, this is as good as it gets....
so consider this the forum to be in now....

if you are going to the motherland, then you missed the turn at the last intersection.

if you are planning to go to the darkside, go ahead and ask more questions.

to answer your first post, i would say give UO a 3 day visit.
take your time and catch all the shows, rides and street atmosphere.

with the grands at those ages, you will find something for all of them to do together.
with the 5 yo, use the child swap program for rides.

 

[soma151]

Ok yES Orlando…We would like to go to Universal and Disney-world, want to take it slow and easy lots of time to see every thing and have lots of pool time and water park? So 3 days is enough at Universal? We where thinking 7 to 10 days for both parks and water parks? Is staying in on site hotels worth the money? We wont have a car. Don't want to cook but would like to have some healthy snacks in room?

 

[macraven]

.

 

[christophfam]

Best hotel - any of the three onsite deluxe hotels- just go by what pictures/theme/price appeal to you. They are all wonderful! If you stay onsite deluxe, you will get express passes for your whole group which will allow you to go through most of the lines with minimal waits. The grandkids can ride multiple times in a row without lines which will be a big thrill after coming from Disney. Well worth the additional cost. Not to mention the convenience of a short walk or water ride to the room for park breaks.

February will be awful cold for a waterpark, but I'm from SC so maybe my blood is just too thin. Early march the weather will be better, but crowds will pickup.

Three to four days minimum at Universal for a relaxing stay with pool time.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Ok yES Orlando…We would like to go to Universal and Disney-world, want to take it slow and easy lots of time to see every thing and have lots of pool time and water park? So 3 days is enough at Universal? We where thinking 7 to 10 days for both parks and water parks? Is staying in on site hotels worth the money? We wont have a car. Don't want to cook but would like to have some healthy snacks in room?

For the first time I would say 4 days maybe three If you do the express pass for Universal

 

[Robo56]

Soma 151. I' am a grandparent also. I have enjoyed taking my grandchildren on vacation when they come to visit to Disney and Universal. Universal has become our destination of choice when they visit now. Are you specifically locked into the idea of February? It is a cooler time of year in Florida. I live about 2 hours south of Orlando and the temps can drop down into the upper 30's and 40's at night then during the day time go into the upper 60's to low 70's. It was warmer this Christmas. The 80's. Which is a little warmer then it has been that time of year. We are usually a bit warmer than Orlando. All that said if February is a definite time you have to go I would just watch the weather. You can usually get reports 10 days out and pack accordingly. Also I' am not sure if the pools are heated at the resorts. You might give them a ring and find out. I do swim year round, but the pools are heated were I live. Even if it's in the upper 60's to mid 70's you can still get sunburned in Florida. Bring your sun screen. If you have 10 days I always count the first day as check inn day and pool day. If you are not going to have a car. You will have your first day of arriving by plane, getting car service, ( I would follow macravens thought and head to store for snacks and beverages for your room), get checked inn and settled. When we were at Disney we would head to Downtown Disney for a fun meal. Day 2 we head to The Magic Kingdom (which is quintessential Disney) Day 3 Hollywood Studios, Day 4 Animal Kingdom, Day 5 Epcot and then other days water parks. The perks of staying on site at both Disney and Universal is the transportation is provided to parks as well as the convienence of taking a break during the day and going back to hotel pool then resting and going back to parks. We had stayed at Pop Century the last couple of stays and I did our laundry in the laundry area by the pool that looks like gym lockers the evening before we went to Universal Studios. The day we check into Universal is again a free day to check inn and get settled, pool city walk etc. I love Universal Studios. It is our destination of choice now. We usually stay at Portofino Bay. They have a fun beach pool for the kids. There are 4 resorts onsite now. Cabana Bay is a 50's and 60's themed resort and is a moderate price (does offer early admission, one hour before open to general public as a guest, but not express pass) then there is Royal Pacific (RPH) Hard Rock (HRH) and Portofino Bay (PBH)( they also offer you as a guest early admission and they offer express pass). If you go to Universal site at the bottom of the page is a option to download and look at the site map of both parks. Near each ride is the height restriction value as well as the icon that tells you whether it is a express ride as well as other information. Why is express pass a value? Because it allows you to go into a different line and get on the rides quicker then if you purchased a regular entry ticket. The express pass is a perk to you as a guest of the RPH, HRH and PBH. If you tried to buy a express pass option in addition to your ticket for the parks it would expensive. There is a kiosk in the three hotels were you get your picture taken for your express pass. Everyone will get one. There is boat that takes you from these three hotels to the parks. My grandchildren like this. There are also paths you can walk from these hotels to parks. As noted above the parks are right next to one another and are more compact than Disney. There are two Harry Potter Themed parks Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. You need a park to park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Hogsmeade is in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios. Seuss Landing in IOA would probably be fun for your 5 year old and Woody Woodpeckers kids zone at US. I bought my 4 day Universal Park to Park tickets from AAA and enjoyed the discount perks with my AAA in areas of the park were it applied. They also give discounts for Annual Pass holders, and American Express. Hope this helps. Have fun and enjoy making memories with your grandchildren. They will never forget it.

 

[soma151]

Thank you all very much, have been looking at best time to go and Sept looks good? We like the rain but will be warm and slow. Now i really don't want to move rooms if i don't have too? So would like a get a hotel that works for getting to both parks? With no car?

 

[macraven]

.

 

[Bluer101]

Soma 151. I' am a grandparent also. I have enjoyed taking my grandchildren on vacation when they come to visit to Disney and Universal. Universal has become our destination of choice when they visit now. Are you specifically locked into the idea of February? It is a cooler time of year in Florida. I live about 2 hours south of Orlando and the temps can drop down into the upper 30's and 40's at night then during the day time go into the upper 60's to low 70's. It was warmer this Christmas. The 80's. Which is a little warmer then it has been that time of year. We are usually a bit warmer than Orlando. All that said if February is a definite time you have to go I would just watch the weather. You can usually get reports 10 days out and pack accordingly. Also I' am not sure if the pools are heated at the resorts. You might give them a ring and find out. I do swim year round, but the pools are heated were I live. Even if it's in the upper 60's to mid 70's you can still get sunburned in Florida. Bring your sun screen. If you have 10 days I always count the first day as check inn day and pool day. If you are not going to have a car. You will have your first day of arriving by plane, getting car service, ( I would follow macravens thought and head to store for snacks and beverages for your room), get checked inn and settled. When we were at Disney we would head to Downtown Disney for a fun meal. Day 2 we head to The Magic Kingdom (which is quintessential Disney) Day 3 Hollywood Studios, Day 4 Animal Kingdom, Day 5 Epcot and then other days water parks. The perks of staying on site at both Disney and Universal is the transportation is provided to parks as well as the convienence of taking a break during the day and going back to hotel pool then resting and going back to parks. We had stayed at Pop Century the last couple of stays and I did our laundry in the laundry area by the pool that looks like gym lockers the evening before we went to Universal Studios. The day we check into Universal is again a free day to check inn and get settled, pool city walk etc. I love Universal Studios. It is our destination of choice now. We usually stay at Portofino Bay. They have a fun beach pool for the kids. There are 4 resorts onsite now. Cabana Bay is a 50's and 60's themed resort and is a moderate price (does offer early admission, one hour before open to general public as a guest, but not express pass) then there is Royal Pacific (RPH) Hard Rock (HRH) and Portofino Bay (PBH)( they also offer you as a guest early admission and they offer express pass). If you go to Universal site at the bottom of the page is a option to download and look at the site map of both parks. Near each ride is the height restriction value as well as the icon that tells you whether it is a express ride as well as other information. Why is express pass a value? Because it allows you to go into a different line and get on the rides quicker then if you purchased a regular entry ticket. The express pass is a perk to you as a guest of the RPH, HRH and PBH. If you tried to buy a express pass option in addition to your ticket for the parks it would expensive. There is a kiosk in the three hotels were you get your picture taken for your express pass. Everyone will get one. There is boat that takes you from these three hotels to the parks. My grandchildren like this. There are also paths you can walk from these hotels to parks. As noted above the parks are right next to one another and are more compact than Disney. There are two Harry Potter Themed parks Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. You need a park to park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Hogsmeade is in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios. Seuss Landing in IOA would probably be fun for your 5 year old and Woody Woodpeckers kids zone at US. I bought my 4 day Universal Park to Park tickets from AAA and enjoyed the discount perks with my AAA in areas of the park were it applied. They also give discounts for Annual Pass holders, and American Express. Hope this helps. Have fun and enjoy making memories with your grandchildren. They will never forget it.

 

[Parker Clan]

I think 7-10 days total is good for both. We always do a combo Disney / Universal trip. Last year we stayed two nights at Loews Royal Pacific & there's a walkway to the parks which was phenomenal. We didn't use our car at all those two days. Staying on site IMO is worth it- we got the unlimited express pass which correct me if I'm wrong is around $100 each? We got on soooo many rides several times with it, minus the Harry Potter ones of course. We always get our Park tickets at AAA before- this year they had a deal buy two days Park to park and get one free.
As for Disney, my home away from home, lol, we stay on site as well. That's where we spend the most time obviously and we drive down to FL every year, so staying on site is nice because we get a free parking pass voucher for the parks.
Since we go in August and it's hot hot hot, we take plenty of pool breaks in the afternoon during times when it's hottest. Helps reserve our energy for the whole trip
Have a great trip!!!!

 

[christophfam]

Thank you all very much, have been looking at best time to go and Sept looks good? We like the rain but will be warm and slow. Now i really don't want to move rooms if i don't have too? So would like a get a hotel that works for getting to both parks? With no car?

September will be much better weather wise albeit a bit hot. I'd go for the later part of the month. I think it would be very difficult to not move resorts. Stay onsite Disney for the Disney portion then move to Universal onsite for those days. I always drive so I can't help with how to make that work without a car, but many do. Someone else may be able to help with that portion.

 

[soma151]

Wow this is a little overwhelming. Looks like both parks have the same kinds of stuff, we are coming from Portland Oregon so both travel days are just that. Looks like 4 days at each park is what we will do? Now where to stay? We really wanted to stay at the Wilderness lodge at DW but its booked? I see i have lots of home work to do?

 

[christophfam]

If you wouldn't mind skipping Disney, you could stay at Universal the whole time. Do SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Wet and Wild, and Universal.... no Disney. This would be a very relaxed vacation and the Universal hotels have shuttle service to those I just mentioned. Just an idea if it is getting too overwhelming for you and you want to make this simpler. There is a car service macraven has mentioned in past posts and could probably tell you about that could pick you up from the airport, stop at a grocery store for snacks, then to the resort for your stay. Then you'd be set. With the boys the ages you mentioned, I'd stay at RPH because of the pool and if you ask for tower 1 you'll get a renovated room with a fridge. Just an idea!

 

[macraven]

.

 

[soma151]

Now i am looking at staying at a off site hotel and getting rental car? You really can save on the hotel staying off site? I am seeing lots of really nice hotels for under $100. Do they have Disney friendly hotels like Disneyland? Where i can get in early at the park and use buses to get around Disney and just drive to UO? Or we can stay around UO and drive to Disney? We are going to skip all the other stuff and just do the Disney and UO. I have email alerts for good deals and sales but is there any place i can get coupons? Discounts meals? Any thing that can help me save $$$$? We just added two more families so looking at time share rental with made service and nanny.

 

[gunderda]

3 days is more than enough at universal. Even with no fast passes.

We are here now. Have done both parks in 2 days and gone on nearly every single ride with no fast passes and only spent about 6 hours there each day.

Tomorrow we are going back because the only ride we haven't done is despicable me because the wait is crazy. So we're doing that and spending more time in Harry Potter and maybe going back to some stuff. We have two younger kids, 10 and 6 and I think both feel completely satisfied with all we've done.


*sorry I meant express passes instead of fast passes. My iPad is stupid and I can't select that area to fix it.