how many days is ideal

[jama]

How many days would you suggest as the ideal amount for a Universal vacation? We are planning a 10 day trip and I don't know if we should stay at universal the whole time or switch to disney resort for half the time. Thanks! Jama

 

[damo]

We have stayed as little as 3 and as long as 6. It really depends on how much time you have. I'd say three minimum and definitely stay on site.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I would JUMP at the chance to spend 10 days at Universal resorts! My question would be whether to spend the entire time at HRH or split my time with one or both of the other two resorts. I hear from others who have done so, that the hotel staff work hard to make the transition from one UO resort to another as seamless as possible.

With 10 days and FOTL you could really enjoy the parks at your convenience. (FYI--if you haven't already thought this through, you will probably do best to get an annual pass for that length of stay. There is a thread on a AAA AP special which would be ideal, even if you only used it for the one trip).

You could spend lots of time at the hotels pools and even rent a cabana for a few days. If you are there in the warm weather, Wet n Wild might be worth a try. If you are looking for a longer trip, the Kennedy Space Center might be fun.

With 10 days, you would not have to worry about hitting parks early each day and may want to check out the Citywalk clubs and sleep late the next day.

If $$ permits, Discovery Cove sounds like it would be an awesome compliment to your Universal Vacation. If Citywalk and on-site restaurants get boring, there are a couple dinner shows
in the area worth a try.


Okay. So this would be my ideal 10 day Universal trip, and admittedly, my family has very little interest in Disney but wow, the thought of 10 days at Universal has me thinking I ought to look to see if such a trip is feasible for our schedule!


HAVE A BALL!

 

[robvia]

5 nights at Disney
2 nights at the Renaissance for SWF/DC
3 nights at USF.

 

[highlander447]

I say as much as possible we are staying 14 days next march and I can't wait

 

[CarolynNC]

I think it depends on the ages and tastes of the travelers. We've stayed 4 nights on our last 3 trips. That gives us 4.5 days in the parks. I think staying additional days would be too much. With front of the line we have plenty of time to do the parks throughly, lounge by the pool, play at City Walk, and we're ready to move on.

We added days at WDW to one of the last trips and my son (16) has requested we stay at US/IOA 3 nights on our next trip and add at least 4 nights at WDW. He doesn't think there is enough to do if he can't do WDW too. I'm glad because I also have not outgrown WDW!

Carolyn

 

[antmaril]

I agree with Carolyn NC - four nights is perfect - no more than five - IMHO. I would have to combine the trip with something else - either Disney or the Beach. I could not stay in the same hotel room for 10 nights. Our last three trips to Universal were three nights, four nights, four nights. Loved it -- and we are going again in February - four nights. FOTL gives you plenty of time for everything.

Just had to add my two cents!

 

[SpideyHulk24]

IMO, you could spend up to 10 or more nights at Universal to fully enjoy it as a destination. If you are just talking parks, you could do them fully in 4 days in my opinion. However, if you think of each of the resorts, Citywalk, and the offerings you could spend it longer. I am planning a week for next summer and still think I won't hit everything. We are going to stay 3 nights at HRH, 3 nights at Portofino, and we are doing the parks, renting cabanas, enjoying the spas, shopping, watching movies, having fabulous meals.....and the list goes on. Enjoy no matter what you decide to do. You will have fun no matter what!

 

[Tigger Woods]

I spent five days at Universal in July, and five days at Disney World in October. You definitely want to split your trip 60/40. Six days at Disney World is perfect. With 4 parks and Downtown Disney, you'll stay very busy. Four days is plenty of time to do USO, IOA and CityWalk. Get the 5 day Universal bonus pass for $89.00, so you can spend some time relaxing at your hotel (I highly recommend Portofino Bay) and tour the parks at your leisure. I've been going to Universal and Disney World for the last 20 years, and they are both very special places. A 60/40 split between the two would be my ideal vacation.

 

[Tigger Woods]

I spent five days at Universal in July, and five days at Disney World in October. You definitely want to split your trip 60/40. Six days at Disney World is perfect. With 4 parks and Downtown Disney, you'll stay very busy. Four days is plenty of time to do USO, IOA and CityWalk. Get the 5 day Universal bonus pass for $89.00, so you can spend some time relaxing at your hotel (I highly recommend Portofino Bay) and tour the parks at your leisure. I've been going to Universal and Disney World for the last 20 years, and they are both very special places. A 60/40 split between the two would be my ideal vacation.

 

[highlander447]

Have to say we are booked for 14 days&nights at RPR and I find it hard to believe we will be bored we intend to enjoy the resort and Orlando which incl the theme parks but have to say I don't think I could be bothered repacking to move locations

 

[the Dark Marauder]

3-4 days is perfect, even for commando types.

 

[Selina]

I spent 14 nights at the HRH and could have spent a month!!!! I would say a 5 day pass means you can do everything in a relaxed way and use your other 5 days to visit any other parks that take your fancy. I really wouldn't switch hotels though. My kids liked to go for a couple of hours in the morning to IOA while I had a relax by the pool after breakfast, then they would join me for a while, then perhaps about midday we would go to MK or Epcot on a non-Universal day and do the best bits - at Epcot stay for the fireworks sitting at the English Pub! Non-Universal days we would go and do the park then relax at City Walk for the evening entertainment.

 

[highlander447]

I'm beginning to see a theme to your posts Selina

 

[music]

Even staying off-site, is 4 days enough?

 

[SpideyHulk24]

If you buy the express passes, you will be able to do it all.

 

[mouseclick1]

We staye 6 nights at PBH for our first stay, which did start to feel a little long by our last day. Even my DS (13) said it felt like we were starting to do the same things over and over. I'm sure it would have been different if we had a car and were able to venture off-property for a bit. It was also a very slow time in Feburary. Many of the rides were walk-on even without FOTL. We went back and stayed 4 nights at RPR for our next visit, which felt just right for us. We are going again in December for only 3 nights at HRH; we'll see if we'll be able to fit everything in that we want to do! I think, for us, 4-5 days is perfect.