Give me something to do!!!

[ready4mouse]

I am totally lost...

We have decided to do a Universal vacation this year instead of Disney- we're really getting excited.

However...it's 6 months until we go. Usually, I have spreadsheets for different dining options all over my dining room table. At 6 months, I am quickly dialing the phone to make our ADR's. And then I change them again and again.

At 6 months out, I am starting to put our Disney planning binder together. I am coming up with strategies for collecting FP's and mapping out various ride order options.

At 6 months out, I am waiting for park hours to be released so that I can figure out which parks I will visit on which days to avoid the crowds.

But, now--- I've got nothing to do. We've looked at the website, we've seen all the rides, we've booked our hotel (Portofino Bay).

What do you suggest? How can I pass the next 6 months? What do you do to get ready for US/IOA? Am I missing something important?! Maybe I do need a "game plan"?

 

[Bluer101]

There is only one more thing to do, RELAX and have FUN! It's a Universal Vacation!

 

[damo]

Bluer101 is right. What you need to do, RIGHT NOW, is sit back and relax. No planning needed! However, if you are really anxious, you can search for youtube videos!

 

[jheigl]

If you are really desperate and want to try to plan better, you can look at the following site for the wait times and get a good feel what time of the day each ride is mostly a short wait:

http://secure.universalstudios.com/MobileWeb/ParkMenu.aspx

 

[Bluer101]

If you are really desperate and want to try to plan better, you can look at the following site for the wait times and get a good feel what time of the day each ride is mostly a short wait:

http://secure.universalstudios.com/MobileWeb/ParkMenu.aspx

That's a good idea but they are staying onsite at PBH so the wait would not matter for almost all attractions. It's so nice to get up when you want, have a nice breakfast at your pace, then wander over to the parks and walk on the rides with almost no wait.

 

[macraven]

pass your time by reading the 3 UO forums.

the trip report forum usually has pictures in their trippies.

 

[bas71873]

Ditto on everything already said and take it from us (we went for the first time at the end of August), no planning is needed. It really is true. My DH still talks about how much he enjoyed our US/IOA vaca. (While he liked Disney and will go back, he asked if when we do, we can do WDW for 4/5 days and then spend a week at US/IOA to rest before we go home ...works for me!).

We just did what we wanted, when we wanted, slept when wanted, swam when we wanted. DH even took a day and just lounged in the room, napped, watched a movie (I think he may have snuck over to CW to buy a watch I had my eye on at Fossil and mentioned wanting....all while DD and I hit the parks for some rides), something he rarely does....the workaholic that he is.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[jheigl]

That's a good idea but they are staying onsite at PBH so the wait would not matter for almost all attractions. It's so nice to get up when you want, have a nice breakfast at your pace, then wander over to the parks and walk on the rides with almost no wait.

D'oh! Now that you say that...I read that they were staying onsite, but for some reason the EP never came to mind! Thanks!

 

[Coach81]

RELAX!!! This is not Disney.. all you really need to do (especially with the FOTL pass) is show up, and have a great time!!! You will be very pleasantly surprised!!

 

[karensi]

D'oh! Now that you say that...I read that they were staying onsite, but for some reason the EP never came to mind! Thanks!

Since we usually "do" Disney, I'm not really sure of this, but can't you buy FOTL passes at Universal?
We will be staying off site and will be going mostly to Disney, but the one day we are going to Uni I thought we would buy the FOTL passes... is this possible or do you have to stay on site?

Thanks,Karen

 

[Metro West]

Since we usually "do" Disney, I'm not really sure of this, but can't you buy FOTL passes at Universal?
We will be staying off site and will be going mostly to Disney, but the one day we are going to Uni I thought we would buy the FOTL passes... is this possible or do you have to stay on site?

Thanks,Karen

You can purchase Express Plus passes at either park but the difference is: onsite guests have unlimited access and the EP that you pay for is only for one time through each attraction. If you're only going to be there a day or two, that should work fine for you w/o having to stay onsite.

BTW...there is no such thing as a FOTL pass. FOTL is only used on the DIS to describe the unlimited Express access.

 

[karensi]

Thank you Metro West, that is what we will do.

Karen

 

[Metro West]

Thank you Metro West, that is what we will do.

Karen

You're welcome.

 

[patster734]

To the OP, How many days will you be staying and are you anticipating doing any extra activities besides the parks?

The PBH has a SPA, Mandara Spa. My wife did this a couple weeks ago while I did HHN and she loved it. http://www.universalorlando.com/Ove...pa.html&expID=13-5737&contentID=13-3508&seq=1

At the RPR, they have an authentic Hawaiian Lua. We did it on our last trip and liked it, but it did seem short and rushed at the end. http://www.universalorlando.com/Ove...au.html&expID=13-5789&contentID=13-1240&seq=1

At Citywalk, there are various shows to pre-book if you want to see them:

1. Blue Man Group http://www.universalorlando.com/Shows/blue_man_group_overview.aspx#
2. Hard Rock Live http://www.universalorlando.com/Shows/hard_rock_live.aspx#
3. The various Citywalk restaurants and bars will have live entertainment in the evening but those don't usually require reservations, but they can still be researched for information

.

 

[ready4mouse]

To the OP, How many days will you be staying and are you anticipating doing any extra activities besides the parks?


[/LIST].

Thank you everyone- I want to believe you and relax...really I do! It's just so hard- and I have the possibility of WWOHP lingering/scaring me...we'll be there at the end of April so it's anybody's guess. Hopefully, most of the crowds will just be at WWOHP and not the rest of the park!

Anyways- right now I have 5 nights booked at PBH. We have 3 boys ages 4(he'll be almost 5), 6(he'll be 7 then), and 11. I was thinking our week might look like this:

-Sunday: Arrive; Blue Man Group at 7
-Monday: Universal Studios at opening/come back to hotel for swim/no idea what to do at night
-Tuesday: IOA at opening/ no idea what to do at night?
-Wednesday: Sleep in (gasp! is this possible on vacation?)- then head to whichever park they want
-Thursday: same as above (unless WWOHP is open- then we'll get up early and do just that area at opening)
-Friday: up early; check out; rent car at PBH; go to Sea World; drive to Ft. Lauderdale to meet up with family.

Would there be anything you would change? Any ideas for night time or just swim/relax/dinner?

 

[lachica]

Catch a movie at CityWalk,
Go out of the resort (gasp!) and try WonderWorks Museum with the kids
Drop off the kiddies at the camp and have a date night at CityWalk

 

[bas71873]

Thank you everyone- I want to believe you and relax...really I do! It's just so hard- and I have the possibility of WWOHP lingering/scaring me...we'll be there at the end of April so it's anybody's guess. Hopefully, most of the crowds will just be at WWOHP and not the rest of the park!

Anyways- right now I have 5 nights booked at PBH. We have 3 boys ages 4(he'll be almost 5), 6(he'll be 7 then), and 11. I was thinking our week might look like this:

-Sunday: Arrive; Blue Man Group at 7
-Monday: Universal Studios at opening/come back to hotel for swim/no idea what to do at night
-Tuesday: IOA at opening/ no idea what to do at night?
-Wednesday: Sleep in (gasp! is this possible on vacation?)- then head to whichever park they want
-Thursday: same as above (unless WWOHP is open- then we'll get up early and do just that area at opening)
-Friday: up early; check out; rent car at PBH; go to Sea World; drive to Ft. Lauderdale to meet up with family.

Would there be anything you would change? Any ideas for night time or just swim/relax/dinner?

I think this sounds fine, but you can be 100% flexible. We swam every night (pool was open til midnight and we were dragging our 6 year old away). Don't kill yourself to be at the park at opening, there truly is no rush, especially staying on property. I honestly have to say after staying on property at HRH, the thought of just planning a Disney vaca and having to wait in lines just sounds exhausting to me. I was SPOILED by US/IOA

 

[Kath2003]

The best part with a Universal vacation is that you're NOT tied in - we walked up to Hard Rock Café at 7pm during SPRING BREAK and were seated within 20 minutes. At Disney I'd need to know where I wanted to eat six months out; Universal we had this conversation:

Me: I'm hungry.
BF: Me to.
Me: Hard Rock Café does good food; you've never been so we should go.
BF: Looks busy.
Me: We can have a drink at the bar, or try somewhere else if it is.
BF: Sure.

Job done.

EVERYTHING is within 15 minutes walk at Universal. EVERYTHING is easily accessible to EVERYONE. Very little planning. It's actually a VACATION rather than a military operation.

We stayed offsite, but within 15 minutes walk of the park gates. I love it. Nowhere I'd rather be. I'm counting the days/weeks already

 

[ChrisFL]

EVERYTHING is within 15 minutes walk at Universal. EVERYTHING is easily accessible to EVERYONE. Very little planning. It's actually a VACATION rather than a military operation.

so true

 

[ChrisFL]

ready4mouse: One thing you could do is get more familiar with the movies that are featured in the parks again.

The Mummy movies, Jaws, Twister, Jurassic Park, Blues Bros., Shrek, Terminator, E.T., An American Tail, etc.