How many days to do Universal?

[jenandkam]

How many days would you suggest we need to really take in Universal? I will have with me DS(9) and DD(3).

TIA!

 

[DOOM1001]

Each park will require at least a full day,so I would suggest at least 2-3 days,if it's a busy peak time then you definitely want a third day.

 

[Planogirl]

A lot depends on whether you're staying onsite or offsite too. WWoHP can kill a lot more time if it's busy and you're staying offsite.

 

[Art 1]

2.

 

[Darcy03231]

Well, I can easily spend a week there, but I would say you will need at least 3 with WWOHP. Depending on when you go, you could spend most of one day just doing that small area.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I agree with the others.. one day per park.

 

[stepdisney]

We have 3 days and we are staying on site. We figure that the better part of one day will be spent with WWOHP. We decided to do park-to-park tickets because if it got too crowded we would hop on over to the other park and hop back close to closing so we can get the whole experience. We have been before and we pretty much know our way around the park. You will need a day for each park BUT you will have time to repeat rides you love if you stay on site. My DS who was 14 the last time we went, rode mummy 5+ times in a row with the FOTL access.

 

[Detailor]

Something to consider when planning for US/IOA, or any theme park, is that most rides have minimum height requirements. If it's just the three of you and you're going to only do rides/attractions that the three of you can do then your time requirement for the two parks may be quite limited depending on how tall your three-year-old is. I'd suggest that, as part of your planning, you look at the Universal website (www.usf.com) and check out the height requirements for the various rides.

Dick Taylor

 

[two*little*birds]

We went for the first time last year and 2 days were fine.

But if you were going during a peak time I would say 3 days.

 

[sjlupin]

We have been wondering the same thing. We're planning on being in Orlando for just a few days next February and want to do Universal and Sea World. No Disney this time. I am incredibly frustrated, because we wanted to stay at one of the onsite hotels, but I can't get any availability. Do they really book up that far in advance?

 

[Detailor]

We have been wondering the same thing. We're planning on being in Orlando for just a few days next February and want to do Universal and Sea World. No Disney this time. I am incredibly frustrated, because we wanted to stay at one of the onsite hotels, but I can't get any availability. Do they really book up that far in advance?

If your February stay is during Presidents' Week/Massachusetts and other New England states' school vacation then yes, it's very likely that Universal Resort hotels booked up really early. For prime times like that it's a good idea to book lodging, flights and car rentals earlier than you might usually book them.

Dick Taylor

 

[jenandkam]

Thanks so much for the advice. I think I'm leaning toward 3 days so we're not so rushed and my DS(8) REALLY wants to spend some time with Harry. We've never been so I have no idea what to expect.

We are going to be in Orlando for 14 days though so we've got some time.

 

[sjlupin]

If your February stay is during Presidents' Week/Massachusetts and other New England states' school vacation then yes, it's very likely that Universal Resort hotels booked up really early. For prime times like that it's a good idea to book lodging, flights and car rentals earlier than you might usually book them.

Dick Taylor

We are going over Presidents weekend. I wish we could go 'off-season' but with highschoolers now we don't feel that we can.

I wasn't totally suprised that the hotels were full that weekend (I know there are only 3), but when I was playing around online I could *never* find open rooms there - even in Septemper 2012! That is why I was wondering if maybe the fact tht we have 5 was messing up the search. Often times online searches fail if we have more than 4.

So, I'm thinking maybe one of the packages at a partner hotel would be the best option, so that we could at least get in an hour early for IoA?

 

[Beth D]

One full day at each park is probably good.

You will need several hours for WWOHP. There were lines to stand in to get in line for the ride, lines for butterbeer, lines to get into the gift shops (Ollivanders), lines for everything!

But that being said, the ride was the most amazing thing I've ever been on, and I've ridden some of the best coasters in the world!

I agree with pp, check height requirements. DS age 6 is tall for his age, and was exactly tall enough for the ride at 48", but a shorter child or younger one might not be able to get on everything. And then you will have the problem of who watches junior while you ride.

 

[BrerMama]

Thanks so much for the advice. I think I'm leaning toward 3 days so we're not so rushed and my DS(8) REALLY wants to spend some time with Harry. We've never been so I have no idea what to expect.

We are going to be in Orlando for 14 days though so we've got some time.

This. Our kids are teens, so height requirement isn't an issue. We're going to rent a house in Windsor Hills (probably) so offsite with no express pass or whatever Universal calls it. We have 7 day tickets (use as much as we want over 7 days). We have 14 nights, so 13 full days. Need to figure out how many Universal days because then I'll know how many Disney days we'll have.

 

[3kidsfordis]

We are going over Presidents weekend. I wish we could go 'off-season' but with highschoolers now we don't feel that we can.

I wasn't totally suprised that the hotels were full that weekend (I know there are only 3), but when I was playing around online I could *never* find open rooms there - even in Septemper 2012! That is why I was wondering if maybe the fact tht we have 5 was messing up the search. Often times online searches fail if we have more than 4.

So, I'm thinking maybe one of the packages at a partner hotel would be the best option, so that we could at least get in an hour early for IoA?

Have you tried calling the hotel? Sometimes that is the only way to book with 5. Their onsite hotels definitely take 5 in the room. I would highly recommend staying onsite for FOTL especially since you are going at a busy time.

 

[dtum]

We did 2 1/2. One full day for each part, then we went back one evening (when parking got cheaper) and just did the water rides and went back to Olivanders. That was plenty of time. Now with little ones, you may not be able to ride most of the rides so two days would probably be fine and do the water rides (if the height works out) at the end of the day (we were sooooo wet!)