First timer!

[Chicago Mo]

Help!!!
Hello all.
First time looking into Universal. My Son Matt sprung it on me yesterday he wants to go to universal. then of course talked his siblings into it as well.
we plan on going to Disney in Sept 2014 drive from Chicago probably go to Universal First then drive to WDW.
I am at a loss i have no idea in how universal works! Does Disney and universal have a combined package?
One park one day and the other another day? then drive down to WDW?!?!
im so confused. is that enough time?

how big is are the parks?

do you recommend a good planning book?

I am one of the crazy planning freaks so to go to the unknown has me out of my mind

any and all help would be SO appreciated.

please remember i know NOTHING about universal. do they have the dining plan?

 

[damo]

I suggest you read through the stickies posted at the top of this forum to get as much information as possible. Also go to www.universalorlando.com for direct info about the parks.

Universal and Disney are two separate companies that don't interact. I suggest you book your hotel through www.loewshotels.com and buy your tickets through www.undercovertourist.com to get the best deals.

The dining deal is not recommended as it just involves a few counter service restaurants from each park and there are much better dining establishments.

Staying onsite at Universal gets your early admission each day as well as unlimited express passes (think fastpasses without a time interval) for check in day and check out day. Staying onsite in the heat is very nice since you can walk back to your hotel for a mid-day break.

 

[RMulieri]

First, Disney and Universal are direct competitors.They have nothing to do with each other.Universal is 2 themeparks- Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure. They are connected and surrounded by Citywalk .Second, Most of us on the boards recommend staying onsite.There are currently 3 resort hotels which are dleuxe reosrts and not cheap .The 4th resort opens next year and will NOT have all the perks that most people stay onsite for.Staying onsite( at the 3 current resorts) gets you a beautiful resort within walking distance or a short dedicated boat trip.It gets you early entry every day into Harry Potter at Islands of adventure.also gets you the resort guest Express pass..Express pass is kind of like fastpass, but the difference is it is good on ALL but 2 rides, has no pieces of paper, no time limits and is unlimited( this is the perk people stay onsite for and will not be available at the new hotel).There is no dining plan like disney.There is a meal deal, but it only includes Counter service eateries and only a couple and not really the good ones.Dining is not neccessary to book like it is at Disney, but for the compulsive planners, reservations can be made at Opentable.com..Keep in mind that restaurants vary in when you can book them anywhere from 7 days to 90 days before your trip. For a good book, I recommend Universal Orlando by Seth Kubersky and Kelly Monaghan.

 

[Chicago Mo]

First, Disney and Universal are direct competitors.They have nothing to do with each other.Universal is 2 themeparks- Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure. They are connected and surrounded by Citywalk .Second, Most of us on the boards recommend staying onsite.There are currently 3 resort hotels which are dleuxe reosrts and not cheap .The 4th resort opens next year and will NOT have all the perks that most people stay onsite for.Staying onsite( at the 3 current resorts) gets you a beautiful resort within walking distance or a short dedicated boat trip.It gets you early entry every day into Harry Potter at Islands of adventure.also gets you the resort guest Express pass..Express pass is kind of like fastpass, but the difference is it is good on ALL but 2 rides, has no pieces of paper, no time limits and is unlimited( this is the perk people stay onsite for and will not be available at the new hotel).There is no dining plan like disney.There is a meal deal, but it only includes Counter service eateries and only a couple and not really the good ones.Dining is not neccessary to book like it is at Disney, but for the compulsive planners, reservations can be made at Opentable.com..Keep in mind that restaurants vary in when you can book them anywhere from 7 days to 90 days before your trip. For a good book, I recommend Universal Orlando by Seth Kubersky and Kelly Monaghan.

This is a HUGE help thank you TONS! I just bought the book you had recommended will post back after i have a little knowledge in my noggin!

Thanks again!!!

 

[RMulieri]

This is a HUGE help thank you TONS! I just bought the book you had recommended will post back after i have a little knowledge in my noggin!

Thanks again!!!

I also forgot to mention that unlike disney, there is NO free version of express pass.If you don't stay onsite, it can be purchased but price depends on the projected crowds and the pass is DATE specific, PARK specific and non-refundable.It also is only good for ONE ride per attraction ( unless you purchase the unlimited, which is pricey)..also Touringplans now has Universal coverage

 

[Chicago Mo]

I also forgot to mention that unlike disney, there is NO free version of express pass.If you don't stay onsite, it can be purchased but price depends on the projected crowds and the pass is DATE specific, PARK specific and non-refundable.It also is only good for ONE ride per attraction ( unless you purchase the unlimited, which is pricey)..also Touringplans now has Universal coverage

you are my HERO... seriously. I am reading the book now and getting an understanding of what is going on there. Price depends on crowds??? Like Disney??? do they give out promotions like Disney gives the 40% off resorts? I see you have to pay to park and i am looking at Hard Rock right now. thinking of staying one night?!?! if all goes well 2 nights. then i can have 2 1/2 park days?? i have been reading and watching videos all day because of you!
my boss is not going to be happy with you... because it's you fault! Hey i have to blame someone! i just mentioned you on my PTR.. a big thank you!

 

[RMulieri]

you are my HERO... seriously. I am reading the book now and getting an understanding of what is going on there. Price depends on crowds??? Like Disney??? do they give out promotions like Disney gives the 40% off resorts? I see you have to pay to park and i am looking at Hard Rock right now. thinking of staying one night?!?! if all goes well 2 nights. then i can have 2 1/2 park days?? i have been reading and watching videos all day because of you!
my boss is not going to be happy with you... because it's you fault! Hey i have to blame someone! i just mentioned you on my PTR.. a big thank you!

Price for the purchased express pass depends on projected crowds( another good way to determine crowd levels.In busiest times of year just the express pass access can cost $100+ that is NOT including park tickets), if you stay onsite you get the express pass as a perk..Resort pricing is largely seasonal.There are discounts out there .There is a stay more ,save more rate ( longer stays save more money), AAA, Annual passholder discounts.They also send out person -specific deals.Sign up on Universalorlando.com I got sent a 40% off resort discount .

Staying just ONE night at a Universal resort gives you 2 days of express pass access.It is true they charge a nightly parking rate for all guests, but so does Disney.Disney just builds it into resort costs and charges everyone for it and calls it a "perk".
If you are looking for my trip report from Jan 2012 you can access it on the Universal trip reports and go down to the bottom and change the dates to show all..

 

[Metro West]

I just bought the book you had recommended will post back after i have a little knowledge in my noggin!

You will enjoy that book immensely and you'll learn a lot!

 

[macraven]

suggest you also look at some of the trip reports as many have pictures in them.

there is a lot you can figure out by reading thru all the tabs in the uo website.
i find that very helpful tool for newbies.

since your trip is fall of next year, you'll be a pro about the darkside parks before your trip.


mid september is a great time to be there.
cheaper hotel rates too.


i did the drive from chgo to orlando twice.
from then on out, i started flying.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Price for the purchased express pass depends on projected crowds( another good way to determine crowd levels.In busiest times of year just the express pass access can cost $100+ that is NOT including park tickets), if you stay onsite you get the express pass as a perk..Resort pricing is largely seasonal.There are discounts out there .There is a stay more ,save more rate ( longer stays save more money), AAA, Annual passholder discounts.They also send out person -specific deals.Sign up on Universalorlando.com I got sent a 40% off resort discount .

Staying just ONE night at a Universal resort gives you 2 days of express pass access.It is true they charge a nightly parking rate for all guests, but so does Disney.Disney just builds it into resort costs and charges everyone for it and calls it a "perk".
If you are looking for my trip report from Jan 2012 you can access it on the Universal trip reports and go down to the bottom and change the dates to show all..

I will be looking for your trip report. i also read about the full day even on check out day yesterday! do you think we can do most of the parks in two days? I did sign up for on the universal site and have not received a confirmation stating i am signed up... may do it again.. Also i think i am going to sign up for AAA just for the discounts they give out!!!

You will enjoy that book immensely and you'll learn a lot!

The book is GREAT!!! really appreciate the help from all of you!!!

suggest you also look at some of the trip reports as many have pictures in them.

I have been looking through a few of them.. looking for one that will resemble what i will be doing..

there is a lot you can figure out by reading thru all the tabs in the uo website.
i find that very helpful tool for newbies.

Of course!

since your trip is fall of next year, you'll be a pro about the darkside parks before your trip.

You have no idea! HA HA! Last night the kids and i sat and you tubed US for an hour!!!

mid september is a great time to be there.
cheaper hotel rates too.

I figured on this.. I hate crowds. Disney is pretty much as empty as it can get and seeing the numbers of US v/s Disney crowds pretty much have the parks to ourselves!

i did the drive from chgo to orlando twice.
from then on out, i started flying.

I would LOVE to hear more about this!!!


it will be Me my husband and my triplets who will be 9 at the time of the trip. I have been such a WDW freak reading and learning anything everything i can to make the most out of out trips when this was thrown at me gives me something new to research! I do have over a year to plan and save for both places.
Like i had said earlier The kids and i You Tubed several rides and walk throughs they are all jazzed up and actually so am i.. I want to make the most out of this vacation as this will be the last time i can pay for them as child tickets. So i believe we will make US after Disney. JUST in case the kids like it better.
I am a little sketchy about the city walk I am sure i will get to that chapter in the book sooner then later and will have some clue then ask all of you my dumb questions you are SO PATIENTLY answering for me!!!

Again i want to thank you ALL for helping me. I was a little apprehensive on posting here! Which i cannot say enough good things about all of you...
But this board is Very blue!

 

[RMulieri]

In September you should be able to get both parks done in 2 days..I recommend 3 if you can swing it.One day for each park and then one day to re-do favorites.But if you can only do 2 days that will work.I also recommend doing Universal at the END of your Disney trip.A universal trip is very relaxing and not like disney.It will spoil you for waiting in lines at Disney.I simply can't go back to fastpass after staying onsite at universal..LOL..I love Universal resorts, very relaxing and so close to the parks.you don't realize how close everything really is till you are there..You can also pool hop
to any of the resort pools
Citywalk is kind of like what Pleasure Island at disney was( not really but best comparison..now that I think of it ..Maybe more like DTD)..During the day its alot of restaurants and stores, mini golf and a movie theater .At night some of the venues are quite lively and adult in atmosphere, though we had a blast with our 9 yr old just listening to the loud music and walking around just people watching with an adult beverage..We are going to use a babysitting service this upcoming trip to go out and enjoy some of it.When we were last there , the mini-golf was still being built so we are trying it this time

Be aware that AAA discounts at Universal have changed in the last few weeks..You need to spend a $50 minimum to get the discount.
If u are looking for more info, there are other forums and websites out there.Just google Universal orlando information and they should come up