How much time do you spend at US/IOA?

[redmomof4]

I'm planning and booking and over planning...

We haven't been to US since 1999! because we are all about Disney. Well, hubby is a bit Disney'd out so he'd like to branch out. My kids are 17, 14, and 12. We will be doing a couple of beach days, then checking into the YC Tues am and checking out Friday am (I think...) I planned a resort day Tues, MK and Epcot on Wed and Thurs and then Friday maybe a waterpark. Now the questions...

We will check into Portofino Bay on Friday. Do I try to hit a Universal park that day or just save it for Sat, Sun or Mon? We will fly out early Tuesday. Do I get three days worth of tickets or will that be too much for what there is to do? Or is there lots? We aren't opposed to anything really! We can hang at the resort too, but if that's the plan, maybe I only buy two day tickets. Also, I read that we can upgrade when there, so maybe I just buy two day base tickets and upgrade to P2P or 3 day if I change my mind?

Suggestions? I'm a bit overwhelmed branching out, although I know we will love it, I just don't want anyone to get bored!

Thanks,

 

[bumbershoot]

Let me put it this way. On our last trip, my son and I were sick so didn't hit the parks much. But our PLAN had been to hit them a lot. And to do that, we stayed onsite for 8 nights. And from our previous long trips, we knew that we would still feel like we hadn't been there long enough.

We are big re-riders, we like taking it slow, we like just looking around. And then ride Men In Black 4 times in a row, LOL.

If you guys are a "one and done" family that might not work for you. If you don't like the luxury of relaxing at the resort, knowing that you have an unlimited express pass to get you on ALMOST everything in a rather quick amount of time, it might not work for you.

We will check into Portofino Bay on Friday. Do I try to hit a Universal park that day or just save it for Sat, Sun or Mon?

I would be checking out of WDW early that morning, skipping the waterpark, and going to Universal. Check in, stash the bags, and go over to the parks! Hopefully early enough for Early Entrance to Wizarding World, and play play play. Once tired, go to the resort and swim and have dinner and drink it all in. Wash rinse repeat!

 

[schumigirl]

Don't over plan........it's not necessary at Universal.

Yes you can upgrade your tickets if you want to add an extra day. Staying for the number of days you are will give you a nice timescale to take advantage of some resort time if you find 2 days enough for the parks.

We never get fed up.......like Bumbershoot we are people who like to re ride things over and over and even after 18 days we are never ready to leave. We never ever go to water parks so can't advise on those, but I wouldn't bother. Spend some time pool hopping if you feel like it. It is encouraged at the resorts.

There is so much to see at Universal, the theming is incredible......take some time to stop and smell the roses.

Things like the Talking Fountain in IOA........I sit for ages just watching it interact with everyone.....it's so funny. We never get bored at Universal.

The character interaction is fantastic, spend some time getting pictures with them, they are always around the parks.

We have plenty of time to enjoy everything Universal has to offer and the resorts are a big part of that. They are all beautiful in their own way.

But enjoy not having to plan your day down to the last minute.......we plan absolutely nothing and always have an amazing time........I'm sure you will too and I doubt anyone will get bored

 

[RMulieri]

We do a week , 4 FULL park days and we could easily do more, but cant get the time off work.No planning involved and we love the relaxed trip it is.We go where we want to go, ride when and what we want to ride, eat when and where we want to eat..We also love to ride and re-ride our favorites too..

 

[helenb]

I guess we're on the lower end of the scale! We normally take 2 days at the parks, but since we're going right about the time Diagon Alley is supposed to be open (June 21-23) we have 3 day hoppers for this trip. We normally arrive mid-morning at our onsite hotel, then go into IOA and ride everything except WWoHP as many times as we want. You will be amazed at how much you can do with Express Pass! And yes, there are some rides (like the Hulk Coaster) that we ride over and over and over.The second day we do early entry and go to WWoHP. After we are finished there, we go over to US and ride everything we want there.

Now that Diagon Alley is open, I'm not sure what we'll do, but I think the plan is to have one morning early entry at Diagon Alley (do the rides there, then take the Hogwart's Express over to the WWoHP) and hang out there and one morning early entry at WWoHP (taking the Hogwart's Express over to Diagon Alley, since it's a different experience) and then seeing what we can do with a smaller wait at DA. I don't think we'll need to fuss too much over Forbidden Journey or the other WWoHP rides since I'm guessing the majority of the crowds will be at DA. But we may just have to wing it!

Anyhow, in short, for our experience, the only thing you need to plan is the HP part of your trip. The rest of the park should be easy walk on, ride as many times as you want, thanks to Express Pass. And because of this, we feel like we are 'done' at Universal in 2-3 days.

 

[rowan555]

We're making a second visit after going in August of last year, and we plan on 2 full open-close park days, plus a few hours the night we arrive, plus a 4th day during which we can stay as little or as long as we like. I'm thinking we'll end up spending at least 6 or 7 hours that day just re-riding our favorites and catching any shows we missed. I'd always allow 3 full days for any future visits.

 

[Seeker615]

We did 5 nights with 3 park days. (We went to Mickey's Christmas Party one of our days) I wish we had longer. There is just so much to do and you can be as active as you want or as laid back as you want.

Depending on what time you get there you could just spend the evening at Citywalk. It is so much fun and there are a lot of shops and a mini golf course and a movie Theater.

At the very least get 3 park to park hoppers.

If you have time check out the Blue Man Group. The show was a riot!

If you do stay onsite and get front of the line passes try and go through the regular line on a few of the attractions (Spiderman, The Mummy, Men in Black) They have really cool queues. (Only if the lines are short)

 

[johde]

Since it doesn't look like you're getting Park Hopper tickets at Disney, Another option to consider would be to purchase the 3 park unlimited ticket for Universal/Islands of Adventure/ and Wet and Wild and do your water park time over there instead of at Disney. Right now, the 3 park unlimited ticket is cheaper than the 4 day ticket at Undercover Tourist.

 

[redmomof4]

Since it doesn't look like you're getting Park Hopper tickets at Disney, Another option to consider would be to purchase the 3 park unlimited ticket for Universal/Islands of Adventure/ and Wet and Wild and do your water park time over there instead of at Disney. Right now, the 3 park unlimited ticket is cheaper than the 4 day ticket at Undercover Tourist.

I will be using leftover plus passes from our waterparks, plus and more from a few years ago. I looked at that unlimited ticket but am now leaning towards 3d p2p after hearing what every has to say. If it wasn't for the Hogwarts Express I wouldn't even do that. We never do hoppers at Disney, it just isn't our style!

 

[3CallmeMommy]

I LOVE Universal/IOA. Last year I covered both parks in 1 day. I was dead on my feet by the end of the day, but it was worth it.

Will be visiting again June 19 and cannot wait. It's such an amazing place with great coasters!

 

[schumigirl]

We never do hoppers at Disney, it just isn't our style!

I know what you mean..........but it's so much easier to hop if you do feel like it at Universal as the parks really are literally next to one another.

It takes 5 minutes to get from one entrance to the other.

Just something to consider when you're there as an option

 

[bumbershoot]

I know what you mean..........but it's so much easier to hop if you do feel like it at Universal as the parks really are literally next to one another.

It takes 5 minutes to get from one entrance to the other.

Just something to consider when you're there as an option

Agreed.

I'll leave IOA and get a veggie burger at Richter's in Studios. I'll leave Studios to snag a Butterbeer (hey, that likely won't be necessary anymore! woo!). It's just no big deal. It's like being at Disneyland. There's almost no reason *not* to hop, because it's not going to take an hour to do it.

 

[glocon]

I know what you mean..........but it's so much easier to hop if you do feel like it at Universal as the parks really are literally next to one another.

It takes 5 minutes to get from one entrance to the other.

Just something to consider when you're there as an option

And that 5 minutes is walking- not waiting for a bus or anything like that. You really cannot compare a UO trip to a WDW trip. In sooooo many ways it is different. The nostalgic feel of WDW vs the excitement at UO. The ease of getting into the restaurant of your choice vs making ressies 180 days in advance. Using unlimited express from staying onsite at UO vs making 3 ressies for rides 30 days in advance with FP+. The close walk between parks at UO. The ease of getting back to your resort for an afternoon swim- a 5-15minute walk or short boat ride away at UO vs waiting for a bus/monorail at WDW.

Don't misunderstand me- I love WDW and always will, but UO is a much more relaxed and easy to travel kind of place. It is much smaller than WDW so everything is closer and easier to travel between. The two are very different, and need to be enjoyed for their differences. Neither tries to be the other and needs to be enjoyed for what each has to offer.

What I am trying to say is..... what you might do at WDW is not necessarily what you would want/need to do at UO.