First Timer has Questions

NALA 24

Mouseketeer
Joined
Aug 21, 2000
Messages
247
:confused: I am planning my family's first trip to Universal for the end of July and I have a few questions. It will be myself, my DH and DD's ages 11 and 14.
1. Is there a Universal Touring Plan available online?
2. What Universal Planning Book would be the best to purchase?
3. We will be driving in from an overnight stop in Savannah and hopefully arriving at Universal in the early afternoon on a Saturday, staying at the RPH and leaving for WDW on Monday Morning. What type of tickets should we purchase and where should be purchase them? online? AAA? at the park?
4. Which park should we visit first?
5. What is the park meal plan?

Thank you for any information you can give me. After reading another post on this board, I think planning is necessary!

:thanks:
 
NALA 24 said:
:confused: I am planning my family's first trip to Universal for the end of July and I have a few questions. It will be myself, my DH and DD's ages 11 and 14.
1. Is there a Universal Touring Plan available online?
2. What Universal Planning Book would be the best to purchase?
3. We will be driving in from an overnight stop in Savannah and hopefully arriving at Universal in the early afternoon on a Saturday, staying at the RPH and leaving for WDW on Monday Morning. What type of tickets should we purchase and where should be purchase them? online? AAA? at the park?
4. Which park should we visit first?
5. What is the park meal plan?

Thank you for any information you can give me. After reading another post on this board, I think planning is necessary!

:thanks:

Hi, I can't agree with you enough that planning ahead when it comes to Disney is essential, but if you're staying at the RPR and you'll have express passes, you don't need a touring plan. It's one of the great things about Universal that is not so of Disney. I just stayed at the HRH last month and I'm used to mapping out every second of my day. It was nice to have a relaxed time for a change. (And to not have to get up with the sun to make the rope drop!) You should check on whether or not your express passes are good all day, as Universal sometimes has blackout hours during busy periods.

I would recommend the Universal book by Kelly Monahan. I don't remember the exact title, but you should be able to find it on Amazon without a problem. It's a great book with lots of detail about the parks and the hotels.

Do you think you'll be returning within a year? If so, I'd go for the 2-park power pass. It's $119 for a year's worth of admission with a few blackout dates. If not, you can usually get 2-day 2-park passes online at AAA or Universal, and they often include an extra day.

This past trip was my first time at US/IOA, and I was sure that I would be doing one park one day and another the next. What I didn't realize is that both parks are so close together that you can just walk from one to the other. You don't need to decide ahead of time which to do first. I prefer IOA, but both are great parks.

I think the meal plan is kind of lousy. It's $20 pp and you can eat all the counter service you want in the park all day. This doesn't include breakfast, so basically you're paying $10 each for lunch and dinner. I haven't gotten the meal plan myself, so others might be able to comment on whether or not they thought it was a good deal. It doesn't seem like it to me, but everyone is different.

I'm sure you'll love Universal. Have a great time!
 


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