First timer...one full day, two half days or two full days, one half day

[bakerjay]

Hi -

I have been to this site many times before when planning Disney trips and the advice I've gotten is invaluable. Now I need a little help with Universal planning for our upcoming trip in April! I haven't bought tickets yet or booked a hotel but we are def staying onsite to take advantage of EP, likely Hard Rock. We are 6 people: 4 adults, 2 kids (11, 15). We have never been to Universal before and none of us are Harry Potter fans (not to say that we don't want to do the Harry Potter stuff but it's not the reason we're going and we don't really have a clue other than the basics). Knowing that little bit, here's where I need help. Our options are as follows:

• Arrive 4/12 late morning and hit the parks after lunch. We would then have all of 4/13 and up until 3pm on 4/14 to continue either at whichever park we did not go to on 4/12 or bounce around as we see fit. For this option, I would purchase the 3 Day, 2 park to park tickets. The price I was quoted for this through AAA is $1985 for 4 (my parents make up the other 2 adults and will be staying elsewhere)
• Arrive 4/11 night and then have all of 4/12 and 4/13 to visit the parks plus up until 3pm on 4/14. For this option, we'd purchase either the 3 Day, 3 park to park tickets ($2,427) or 3 Day, 2 park to park tickets ($2,302).

So, the price difference isn't huge but it's big enough to consider whether or not it's worth it to have two full days vs. just one full day. And, also if we went with the second option, if it's worth it to include Volcano Bay given the amount of time we have?

Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[bchbetha]

I’d price out tickets on Undercover Tourist too. If you’re a Costco member, see if they have any packages.
I’d probably skip Volcano Bay. The pools are neat enough and better fit the time you have. If you love water parks though, that changes things.

 

[nkereina]

You're there during Spring Break season so it's inclined to be busy, even with EP. Because of that, I'd lean towards having the two full days arriving on 4/11. Especially since the price difference isn't drastic. I personally would skip Volcano Bay since I think it would be very busy, and just take advantage of the pool at Hard Rock which is awesome. As a guest at HRH, you can also pool hop to any of the other Universal hotel pools. You can make a day of just doing that if the parks don't take you long, and you'll still have the option to visit a park at night or for dinner or whatever you want. Plus with extra time, its easier to go at a leisurely pace and not feel rushed.

For your parents staying elsewhere, will they be staying at a Universal hotel as well? Keep in mind the pool is for guests only and EPs are only offered as part of the stay at the three deluxe properties.

 

[TommyJK]

Is the cost you're noting in the first post including the hotels?

Definitely check out Undercover tourist for Park tickets.

They currently have a 2 day P2P with an extra day free deal (so 3 days in total). Total on that on UT is $1582 USD taxes in.

Definitely worth it more to have 2+ full days in the parks

 

[bakerjay]

Is the cost you're noting in the first post including the hotels?

Definitely check out Undercover tourist for Park tickets.

They currently have a 2 day P2P with an extra day free deal (so 3 days in total). Total on that on UT is $1582 USD taxes in.

Definitely worth it more to have 2+ full days in the parks

Yes, the costs I indicated include the hotel.

I did look on UT but I didn't see the option to include EP? Or does that come with hotel stay regardless of where your tickets come from?

 

[bakerjay]

You're there during Spring Break season so it's inclined to be busy, even with EP. Because of that, I'd lean towards having the two full days arriving on 4/11. Especially since the price difference isn't drastic. I personally would skip Volcano Bay since I think it would be very busy, and just take advantage of the pool at Hard Rock which is awesome. As a guest at HRH, you can also pool hop to any of the other Universal hotel pools. You can make a day of just doing that if the parks don't take you long, and you'll still have the option to visit a park at night or for dinner or whatever you want. Plus with extra time, its easier to go at a leisurely pace and not feel rushed.

For your parents staying elsewhere, will they be staying at a Universal hotel as well? Keep in mind the pool is for guests only and EPs are only offered as part of the stay at the three deluxe properties.

My parents are FL residents so I'm not sure what their plan will end up being...but yes, we know that the pool and EP are guests only. We've been through that with them at Disney, it's their choice

 

[bchbetha]

Yes, the costs I indicated include the hotel.

I did look on UT but I didn't see the option to include EP? Or does that come with hotel stay regardless of where your tickets come from?

You don’t need to buy Express Passes!! Stop! Your hotel gives them to you. You just need regular admission tickets.
Grandparents will need to purchase EPs though.

 

[bakerjay]

You don’t need to buy Express Passes!! Stop! Your hotel gives them to you. You just need regular admission tickets.
Grandparents will need to purchase EPs though.

Ahhh, ok. I thought you had to purchase tickets with your hotel stay in order to get EP. That changes things!

 

[nkereina]

Ahhh, ok. I thought you had to purchase tickets with your hotel stay in order to get EP. That changes things!

Not at all! We have APs and frequently stay at HRH. The EPs are a perk of the hotel stay, and you don't need tickets tied to it. Before we had APs, we also purchased tickets from Undercover Tourist. They have the best prices, but make sure you order in advance because it can take a week or two for you to receive them in the mail. They will also be paper tickets, so I also recommend lanyards - one side with your ticket and the other side with your room key card for the EP!

 

[macraven]

Ahhh, ok. I thought you had to purchase tickets with your hotel stay in order to get EP. That changes things!

If you stay at rpr, PBH, or hrh, the free unlimited express pass will help you avoida long line waits
The other onsite hotels do not offer this perk

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I vote fort at least two full days. Since you have not been there you will want the time to check everything out then be able to redo things that you really like. Like pp said it will be spring break and it will be busy even with EP. I am a huge water park fan and love VB but if I were you and water parks aren't that important I would skip it.

 

[bellarinah]

I also vote for two full days. In my book, longer is always better than shorter!! Joking aside, when I went the first time, I had three full days at the parks and barely had enough time to do everything I wanted. I would skip Volcano Bay if I were you. Maybe do that on your next trip.