how many days?

[Partridge4ever]

We're going in July. Staying onsite. We'll have 3 day tickets. I'm getting 1 AP. We will arrive around 4-5 pm on our first day. I'm a bit surprised that the park closes at 10 even on weekends. So I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to spend just the evening in the parks and then the following 2 full days. Or should we do something else on our arrival day so that we'll have 3 full days? And I'm also trying to decide if we should stay on site 2 nights for the convenience ($189 a night, plus taxes) or stay off site the first night and then get up extra early that morning to check in so that we can have 2 full days of FOTL.

Our to-do list includes at IoA all of Harry Potter, Hulk, Spider Man, Cat in Hat, Dr. Doom, Storm Force; at Universal Hollywood Rockit, Simpsons, Mummy, Men in Black, Shrek, Jimmy Neutron, Blues Bros. Show. Is 2 1/2 days, including 2 w/FOTL going to be enough or should we plan for 3 full days?

 

[Metro West]

We're going in July. Staying onsite. We'll have 3 day tickets. I'm getting 1 AP. We will arrive around 4-5 pm on our first day. I'm a bit surprised that the park closes at 10 even on weekends. So I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to spend just the evening in the parks and then the following 2 full days. Or should we do something else on our arrival day so that we'll have 3 full days? And I'm also trying to decide if we should stay on site 2 nights for the convenience ($189 a night, plus taxes) or stay off site the first night and then get up extra early that morning to check in so that we can have 2 full days of FOTL.

Our to-do list includes at IoA all of Harry Potter, Hulk, Spider Man, Cat in Hat, Dr. Doom, Storm Force; at Universal Hollywood Rockit, Simpsons, Mummy, Men in Black, Shrek, Jimmy Neutron, Blues Bros. Show. Is 2 1/2 days, including 2 w/FOTL going to be enough or should we plan for 3 full days?

Since you are coming down this summer, I would think three full days would be the minimum so you aren't rushing around trying to see everything. Plus this isn't Disney...you don't have to go commando especially if you decide to stay onsite. You can actually relax and enjoy the parks.

 

[bubba's mom]

i agree ^

3 days at least. You have to figure probably at least 3-4 hours in the HP area alone (to see most of it anyway).

I say go to IOA your first night there. Either peek in HP land or do the other things there you want to do. You don't want to go to the Studios, that park closes at 9 (last i checked anyway).

2 full days might not be enough...esp w/ hitting both parks.

Heck...we normally recommend 3 full days even when HP wasn't there!

 

[Partridge4ever]

HP is the major reason for venturing over to Universal this trip. Last summer we splurged on premium APs for Disney that expire July 31 so I'm already feeling like I'm spending money unnecessarily by going at all. My "master plan" was to save Universal for next summer but the lure of HP is just too great. DD14 is a bit obsessed and who knows if it'll be as thrilling for her next year. We've been to Universal every few years so this time we are ok with just hitting the major rides since our younger DD is finally tall enough. We've done the shows and the stuff w/smaller height requirements.

So here's the revised plan based on the advice you guys gave: stay at the Hampton across the street the first night and go to Downtown Disney. Get up early on day 2 to check in to RPH for 2 nights. 2 full days at Universal/IoA. Then if on the 3rd day we feel we need to stay the full day, we can. How does that sound?

 

[mjohnson96]

So here's the revised plan based on the advice you guys gave: stay at the Hampton across the street the first night and go to Downtown Disney. Get up early on day 2 to check in to RPH for 2 nights. 2 full days at Universal/IoA. Then if on the 3rd day we feel we need to stay the full day, we can. How does that sound?

That sounds like a good plan Is there a reason you want to go to Downtown Disney? There are alot of fun places on Citywalk to go to and it will be closer.

Staying onsite will help you make the most of your trip and just relax and enjoy yourself.

 

[Partridge4ever]

Is there a reason you want to go to Downtown Disney?

We always go to Goofy's Candy Co., check out the Art of Disney, and get souveniers at World of Disney. We might also go to Disney Quest that night if we feel like it. We don't usually have PAPs, so this trip I really wanted to do DQ and both water parks, but the Universal jaunt is cutting into that. So much fun to be had, so little time.

My $189 room disappeared over the weekend though. I had to go with a Bay view at Portofino for $239 July 10th and $219 July 11th.

 

[bubba's mom]

Sounds like a good plan

Fri & Sat nites are higher at the hotels...in case you can stay NOT one of those nights. That helps w/ the $$.

 

[Partridge4ever]

Yeah, I spent awhile debating staying midweek because it's so much cheaper plus I'd read the crowds are lower, too. But then we'd be splitting our Disney stay and I hate to have to change hotels that often. We're already doing a Hampton Inn for one night, then Portofino, and then the as yet to be determined Disney hotel.

 

[glocon]

What if you went to Universal at the end of your trip? Would the resort costs go down then?

 

[bubba's mom]

If you are visiting both Disney & Universal (staying onsite) it is recommended that you visit Disney first. Simply because if you visit Universal first and enjoy NOT standing in long lines, you will HATE standing in lines at Disney (after being spoiled at Universal).

 

[Partridge4ever]

What if you went to Universal at the end of your trip? Would the resort costs go down then?

Thanks, but I checked that too. The second weekend is actually quite a bit higher.

 

[Partridge4ever]

If you are visiting both Disney & Universal (staying onsite) it is recommended that you visit Disney first. Simply because if you visit Universal first and enjoy NOT standing in long lines, you will HATE standing in lines at Disney (after being spoiled at Universal).

I don't know about that. The pixie dust is pretty strong here. My friends who like Disney are in awe and the ones who don't are convinced I'm crazy. We've been to WDW 2-3 times a year for the last 8 years. Although this trip the thing my older DD is most excited about is HP, so we may be slowly converted. I want to do it first thing so she's not wishing her vacation away looking forward to that. I've tried to follow the "go to MK last" advice too, but none of us feels like we're REALLY at WDW til our feet hit Main Street.

 

[bubba's mom]

I don't know about that. The pixie dust is pretty strong here. My friends who like Disney are in awe and the ones who don't are convinced I'm crazy. We've been to WDW 2-3 times a year for the last 8 years. Although this trip the thing my older DD is most excited about is HP, so we may be slowly converted. I want to do it first thing so she's not wishing her vacation away looking forward to that. I've tried to follow the "go to MK last" advice too, but none of us feels like we're REALLY at WDW til our feet hit Main Street.

Then I wish you luck my friend. ...and if she complains about standing in line, remind your daughter she was the one who couldn't wait to see HP...

We are the opposite. After UO, my DH can't even bear to stand in line at the airport to check in luggage! Yep...he's spoiled!

 

[glocon]

Go to MK last? People actually recommend that? MK IS Disney....it's what you think of when you say Disney. It's our one must do out of the four, and ususally our first! Not that all the parks aren't wonderful, but still! But knowing how my son and husband feel about standing in lines, we do go to wdw first, or they would be miserable at the happiest place on earth after the fotl at universal. Two weeks from yesterday... here we come!!!