Help! Planning first trip to Universal and have many questions

[TivoQueen]

I am in the beginning stages of planning of planning our first trip to Universal and don't know where to begin. We will be coming to Florida the week before Thanksgiving and staying until the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. We will be in Disney the last 5 days and plan to do 2 days at Universal the Saturday and Sunday before Thanksgiving. How busy in Universal during this time in comparison to Disney which is packed? Is 2 days at Universal enough time to see and do both parks? I was reading about the express passes and disheartened to see that not only do you have to buy them, but they cost just about the same price as your ticket. Do people really pay $100 on top of their ticket price for the express pass? Is there any time during the year that Universal offers the express pass free or at a discounted price? For a family of 4, it will cost over $1,000 just to walk through the gates for 2 days, that seems insane to me. I am assuming they are necessary for the time of year we plan on going?

We are use to going to Disney and was expecting Universal to cost around the same and it seems like it is way more. Is the extra cost worth it?

Also, my husband is big guy, will he be able to ride all of the coasters?

I am sure I will have more questions, but that is all for now. Thanks

 

[schumigirl]

There are tests seats outside of the rides bigger folks usually have issues, have him try them. It's not a weight issue, it's about where and how his weight is carried.

Crowd predictions set the cost of EP. Busier the time of year the more expensive the EP is.

Folks sometimes find it's cheaper to book a room for the night, and that gives you 2 days of Unlimited EP. The hotels with Unlimited EP are Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel and Royal Pacific. You also get Early Entry.

Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay give you Early Entry only.

I suggest you read up on the stickies on these forums and www.universalorlando.com

They have so much information for folks who haven't been before or haven't been for a while.

 

[wookiebeck]

Your concern over cost is precisely why so many people book the onsite deluxe resorts at USO. Your family of four will all get the EP as a perk of staying at the resort. All you need is to check in at the hotel, get your (free) EP, have your park ticket with you and start enjoying the rides!

 

[tink1957]

Just book a night at the cheapest Deluxe for the EP, that will cover your 2 days usually for less than the cost of buying it seperately for 2. Plus you get to stay at an awesome hotel whatever you choose.

 

[Parker Clan]

We stay on site, our fave hotel is RPR, (as others mentioned there are cheaper I think but RPR is our personal fave) and the price for the hotels is so worth it to get the EP.
I wouldn't fret about Universal.. People have so many misconceptions about it and then love it. The best thing about it is how you don't need a plan like you do for Disney.

 

[Seeker615]

It always seems more expensive when you are doing such a short stay. If you booked a short stay at Disney you will find out it is more expensive then a longer stay.

Your best bet would be to book at Royal Pacific and get the express passes for free. If you can also buy an annual pass for one and look for annual pass rates for the hotels. We are saving over 200 dollars on our hotel stay by purchasing the annual pass.

If you don't want to do that then try and stay at one of the cheaper on site properties and use the early entry option. You can get a lot done before the crowds get too big.

You will love Universal. It's so much easier to get around if you stay on site. You can walk to everything!

 

[wagman67]

We are use to going to Disney and was expecting Universal to cost around the same and it seems like it is way more. Is the extra cost worth it?

You have to remember, Disney doesn't offer this much of a solution. It is a premium price, for a premium perk. If Disney offered it, they would be as much, or more.

Totally agree with other posters...if you only plan to visit for 2 days, stay onsite at a premium hotel for one night and that takes care of your EPs for both days. I also suggest booking the room separately from purchasing tickets...do not buy the vacation packages (unless it is a great deal and you are 100% committed to going on those dates), because you cannot get your money back from the packages unless you additionally purchase their insurance...but, you can cancel a separately booked room up too a few days before, without penalty. You also have to pay for the entire package up front, but if you just book a room, you only need to deposit one night's stay and you can buy the tickets later. So, if you cancel before you buy tickets, you are out nothing...if you cancel after you buy tickets, the tickets are still good for another time. If you do book a vacation package and cancel, your tickets are still good for later, but you will be out the cost of the room and the perk of the EPs.