Holidays at Universal

[cheetara]

Has anyone gone to Universal for the Christmas Holidays?
I'm really interested in going and read on the boards about Grinchmas and wondering how bad the crowds really are?

Please any help and tips would be great. I really want to take our kids during that time since they have saved so hard for their tickets.

TIA
Julie

 

[Metro West]

As long as you stay away from the week between Christmas and New Year's, the crowds aren't bad at all. During that week the crowds are insane and there is no way to enjoy yourself. Here are a few pix of the parks during Christmas I thought you'd like:

 

[yaytezIOA]

I second that, its nuts. But the Macy's parade is really good, and I have heard they are bringing back Grinchmas at IOA this year.

 

[cheetara]

Thank you both and the pictures are great! Both DS went wild over the decorations and the possiblity of Grinchmas. I was afraid that would be the case of the crowd leaves at Universal.

 

[dsmom]

We went last Dec14-17th and it was wonderful! We stayed at RPR. The crowds were nothing, the weather was cool, the decorations were beautiful!! We are going back the same time this year. My husband did the Macy's parade(balloon handler) and he had a blast. The resort decorations were great too.

 

[Aisling]

As long as you stay away from the week between Christmas and New Year's, the crowds aren't bad at all. During that week the crowds are insane and there is no way to enjoy yourself.

I just booked that week! Our time is limited, so we basically had to go that week or not at all. I'm going to plan the best I can to make the best of the crowds. Staying onsite should help.

 

[cheetara]

I thought I was the only one crazy enough to go that weekend! I'm in the same boat that our time is limited too and this is the only time we could go. Not sure about staying onsite, the pricing scared me. My kids really want to go at christmas (12/22 - 12/29) time.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I second that, its nuts. But the Macy's parade is really good, and I have heard they are bringing back Grinchmas at IOA this year.

Really? Really really? I hope they do!

 

[holcomb-mania]

If that is the time you're going, I'd seriously consider staying onsite for Univ Express.

We had a lot of fun getting our picture taken with the Grinch. The performer was outstanding!

 

[cheetara]

If that is the time you're going, I'd seriously consider staying onsite for Univ Express.

We had a lot of fun getting our picture taken with the Grinch. The performer was outstanding!

Please bear with me on this. The Univ Express (FOTL) i understand the concept of it and I believe from what I read it's unlimited times you can ride and it would be everyday correct of your hotel stay? So the express pass is not the same correct? It's a one time ride per ride for that day only. . . .

I don't know the $482 anight shocked my DH last night; I'm just so confused and we are on a budget to say the least (isn't everyone) so how does everyone afford to stay onsite?

 

[Aisling]

Please bear with me on this. The Univ Express (FOTL) i understand the concept of it and I believe from what I read it's unlimited times you can ride and it would be everyday correct of your hotel stay? So the express pass is not the same correct? It's a one time ride per ride for that day only. . . .

I don't know the $482 anight shocked my DH last night; I'm just so confused and we are on a budget to say the least (isn't everyone) so how does everyone afford to stay onsite?

If you stay on-site, you automatically get Universal Express (FOTL), which is all day, every day of your stay, with no limits on how many times you can ride. If you don't stay on-site, you can buy the Express Pass which is limited to once per ride.

Staying on-site is a lot of money, but it's so worth it, especially at very busy times of year. I know we wouldn't even go to Universal if we didn't have the Universal Express, the waiting on long lines kills the fun for us.

We afford it by planning far ahead, and just putting money aside. We'd rather cut back on souvenirs and sit-down restaurants to be able to afford staying onsite. If you have AAA, you get a discount on most food places. And we bring our own soda and snacks to keep in the room.

Hope to see you there at Christmas week!

 

[Aisling]

I thought I was the only one crazy enough to go that weekend! I'm in the same boat that our time is limited too and this is the only time we could go. Not sure about staying onsite, the pricing scared me. My kids really want to go at christmas (12/22 - 12/29) time.

How about cutting out a couple of days, say, go on the 24th instead of the 22nd? That's almost $1000 saved right there on room fees, and you'll still have 6 days to enjoy. We're going the 26th to the 30th.

Are you driving or flying down? I'm still playing the waiting game with our air, hoping for decent fares.

 

[cheetara]

How about cutting out a couple of days, say, go on the 24th instead of the 22nd? That's almost $1000 saved right there on room fees, and you'll still have 6 days to enjoy. We're going the 26th to the 30th.

Are you driving or flying down? I'm still playing the waiting game with our air, hoping for decent fares.

I never really thought about it that way, but your right. If I waited a couple days or even stayed in an offsite those couple nights then transfered to RPR (my personal choice). Being this is a last minute idea (ok 6 months before going, but for me this is last minute since I have to plan/research). Thank you so much and I will look into it and see what happens. I have to get DH to agree to that strategy. I can't wait to go!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Please bear with me on this. The Univ Express (FOTL) i understand the concept of it and I believe from what I read it's unlimited times you can ride and it would be everyday correct of your hotel stay? So the express pass is not the same correct? It's a one time ride per ride for that day only. . . .

I don't know the $482 anight shocked my DH last night; I'm just so confused and we are on a budget to say the least (isn't everyone) so how does everyone afford to stay onsite?

In case you didnt know I wanted to tell you that those prices are only that high due to that week. Most other times of the year that same room would be half that price. I know time frames are a huge factor for when a family can travel but felt you should know these prices are so so so not the norm.

 

[cheetara]

In case you didnt know I wanted to tell you that those prices are only that high due to that week. Most other times of the year that same room would be half that price. I know time frames are a huge factor for when a family can travel but felt you should know these prices are so so so not the norm.

Thank you for that bit of advice, after you said that I happend to find the thread where everyone states when they are going and the pricing. I was quite amazed with the different pricing throughout the year. So I might have to re-think christmas time and either adjust the time of year we go.

I wonder how crazy the crowds really are though . . .

 

[mslclark]

We were at Universal the week before Christmas, we left on the 21st- 22nd (can't remember which). Anyway, the crowd levels were so low, there were hardly anyone there! We stayed at Disney, so we didn't have FOTL, but we didn't need it. It was great!

 

[SPOERLX3]

We were at Universal the week before Christmas, we left on the 21st- 22nd (can't remember which). Anyway, the crowd levels were so low, there were hardly anyone there! We stayed at Disney, so we didn't have FOTL, but we didn't need it. It was great!

This is what I was looking for, so thank you.
We are all set for the week of 12/15 thru 12/23, 2 of those days we want to do US & IOA. We are keeping our hotel on property at Disney and booking 1 night(so we can go 2 days to US/IOA & have unlimited Express pass) on property at RPR. I did some hard core figuring and by the time I added the taxi, to and from, the tickets, the meal deal and express pass for those two days~It came out to be about the same(I think it was $12 cheaper to stay on property) so we booked it.

Now my question~I am trying to decide whether to do US/IOA on Wednesday-Thursday or Thursday-Friday. Everything I find, says that Thursday-Friday are the 2 least busy days for both parks. Any thoughts anyone

 

[Metro West]

Now my question~I am trying to decide whether to do US/IOA on Wednesday-Thursday or Thursday-Friday. Everything I find, says that Thursday-Friday are the 2 least busy days for both parks. Any thoughts anyone

Weekdays aren't as busy as weekends so I don't think you'll have any problems whatever days you go...especially if you're going before Christmas.

 

[Lisa P.]

We are all set for the week of 12/15 thru 12/23, 2 of those days we want to do US & IOA....
...by the time I added the taxi, to and from, the tickets, the meal deal and express pass for those two days~It came out to be about the same(I think it was $12 cheaper to stay on property) so we booked it.

Are you going to be double booked, with rooms at both WDW and Univ during this time??? If you don't need FOTL or express passes (slow before Christmas), is it still a good deal to move mid-trip? OTOH, if you just want to try out the Univ hotels and enjoy them, that's great. Just thought that if your budget is tight, you may want to reconsider buying express passes for the whole family for 2 days or getting the more expensive rooms just for FOTL that you wouldn't necessarily need or use.

 

[SPOERLX3]

I was going to be double booked for 1 night since I thought the FOTL was so valuable. I really wasn't sure what the lines were going to be like and I wanted to make sure that I had the FOTL. Here is a comparison on what I was adding up:

Taxi to and from Universal= $60.00 per day= $120.00
4 passes = $345
4 FOTL passes for both days = $180.00
4 Meal Deals for both days = $160.00

GRAND TOTAL for Tickets = $685+ TAX = $730.00 + Taxi = $850.00

If we stay on property at the Royal Pacific with tickets and the meal deal, automatically you get FOTL = $767.00
Taxi = $60.00 (one way there on the 20th and one way back on the 21st)

GRAND TOTAL $827 that include taxes

So.................staying on property is actually cheaper but.......if everyone says that we may not need the FOTL, that would make our total $730.00 if we comuted back and forth?

I have just heard~~~NEVER, NEVER go to US/IOA without the FOTL. I am totally confused now.