How often do YOU visit USF/IOA?

[usfkid14]

i go there every year or 2 years if im not lucky. i luv universal out of all the parks there

 

[Judge Doom]

sounds like me. i've been doing that for almost 4 years...

I'll have 5 years in December

 

[BarryHom]

Originally posted by Judge Doom
I'll have 5 years in December

Do you get a watch after 5 years?

 

[Judge Doom]

Do you get a watch after 5 years?

HAHA I get a silver globe that says Universal and 5 right below it to wear on my nametag.

 

[Molokai Gram]

Whenever I can find really cheap ways to go
We actually have always liked Universal better than the Disney parks since we started visiting the California ones. We first went to UO in 1994 - with one DGS; repeated in1999 with 2 DGS; then 2001 - only me and DH (and Barry LOL); and then this year at MG where I went solo, but stayed at HRH with Renee.
Ohai and I love Mardi Gras at UO and would go every year if we could. WOW, almost evey year, maybe they made the RPH in our honor?? LOL (I tried this reasoning on Ohai when trying to convince him that we NEEDED to go again in 2003) But I think we have run out of luck and I have nothing planned because I can't find any more really cheap fares for us. It is at times like this that I really miss the Web Cam!!!!
Also, I am still trying to figure out a way to get to US Japan. It would actually be closer for us to go there. Because not only does it cost alot to go to UO, the flights are horrid and the 5 to 6 hour time difference makes jet lag a given.
We do love UO and envy you that live close by, so think of us and if you go to MG, catch us some beads!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by Judge Doom
HAHA I get a silver globe that says Universal and 5 right below it to wear on my nametag.

but you gotta settle for the woody woodpecker pin for now. i just think they should have a 3 year pin...

 

[DocBosch]

From my calculations, since about seven or eight or so years ago, I started visting Universal at a moderatly average rate.

My family normally went to Orlando during the holiday season, many times taking in USF and a Disney park. Then later that summer, with out of the country family, we would again drive up to Orlando, and, thanks to me, experience Universal on atleast one day. In fact, it was an odd time when we would be in Orlando and NOT go to Universal.

Then in the last couple of years, maybe three or four, my dad an I started taking more trips just by ourselves. HHN became a yearly event for us, and after IOA opened, my average Universal Orlando attendace became five or so times a year, counting school trips and all.

Last year, finally with my independence in tow, I visited USF by myself for the first time on the way up to Shreveport for a BTTF convention, IOA with two friends, USH/DL on a trip to LA, HHN in october with a female friend, IOA/MK with my mom and aunt for Christmas, and IOA with my best friend a week later (I had three two day passes with one more day left from the Christmas trip).

This year started off kinda slow, when I visited Orlando for the second BTTF convention event, but negelcted to visit USF. I started to cacth up half way through the year, by purchasing my Annual Pass in June (right on my b-day, BTW). Thanks to that, I'm on a current pattern of visiting Universal about once month. Currently I have plans of attending HHN about three times next month. I will also most likly be at USH come December.

I live in So Fla, so with the minimal 2.5 hour drive up (robvia, whats this talk of 3.5 hours?), I could technically go to Universal every weekend, but once a month seems better to me. I would hate to become spoiled of Universal, and start taking it's charm for granted. Then again, maybe if I go with more frequentness, I could begin enjoying the park on a different, more layed back level. I have always said, if I lived in Orlando, I would go almost everyday, and just hang out; maybe read a book, or do some work.

I'm currently planning a one (or two) night stay at the Royal Pacific maybe next month, a weekend stay at the Hard Rock sometime this year or next, and a weeklong getaway at the Portofino sometime down the road.

-Kevin

 

[pauldents]

We go to UO twice yearly. My first trip was to USF, over ten years ago. Its amazing how much the place has grown now !! Our next visit is in 5 days and we will be staying at the HRH for 12 nights with length of stay passes for the duration.

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by pauldents
We go to UO twice yearly. My first trip was to USF, over ten years ago. Its amazing how much the place has grown now !! Our next visit is in 5 days and we will be staying at the HRH for 12 nights with length of stay passes for the duration.

I'm just curious...wouldn't annual passes be more economic???

Karen

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by MsDisney
I'm just curious...wouldn't annual passes be more economic???

Karen

Yes, and I would think the Power Pass would be even more so.

 

[pauldents]

Karen, we usually book through Virgin Holidays and length of stay passes come included in the package if you are staying at a Universal hotel for a minimum of 5 nights. Otherwise if we booked independently, without a tour operator, yes it would be cheaper to buy Annual passes.

regards

Paul

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by pauldents
Karen, we usually book through Virgin Holidays and length of stay passes come included in the package if you are staying at a Universal hotel for a minimum of 5 nights. Otherwise if we booked independently, without a tour operator, yes it would be cheaper to buy Annual passes.

regards

Paul

Ah, well that makes sense!
Do you find it's less expensive, or just more convenient to book a package like that? I always found that packages, while convenient, cost a LOT more to do than if you did the bookings on your own...so I'm just curious, I have no experience with having to deal with international flights/cost, etc.

Karen

 

[pathubia]

nhrenee,

We will overlap by 1 1/2 days!!! Where are you staying, we'll be at the RPR. Hope we like it. DH has been second guessing my plans and wants to go back to the HRH, but there are no discounted rates for our dates. (Now we will definately have to go back for Mardi Gras )

I cant wait.

Patty

 

[pauldents]

I have found if you book a trip independently to Disney/Florida, yes, it can be a lot cheaper over the package deal. However, If you are going to Universal, Virgin Holidays offers some great discounts on their packages. As an example, for this upcoming trip, i managed to get a 40% discount off the brochure price (10% discount for booking online, 10% for being frequent Virgins and another 20% for clickng a link on their website which took me to their Universal special offers ( At the time Virgin were trying really hard to promote Universal Hotels over here). Combine these discounts with the Length of stay passes and it works out a lot cheaper than booking independently, plus its a lot more convienient. The one thing Virgin do TRY to rip us off with, is the car insurance. Fortunatley American Express has a policy at half the price

Regards

Paul

 

[Straycat]

I have been to USF/IOA hundreds of times. Granted it is only 45 minutes from my driveway to the parking garage.
I used to homeschool my son and we could go a couple times a week or so to the parks. but now, he is public school and I am in college fulltime which really limits how often we can go now.
My annual pass expired in February 2002 and I did not renew it until the end of August this year (got in on the 2 year deal). That was the longest I have been without an annual pass to a themepark in the last 16 years. I really really really missed IOA the most. It is so good to be back.

 

[Judge Doom]

but you gotta settle for the woody woodpecker pin for now. i just think they should have a 3 year pin...

Most people in my department don't wear their service pins anyway. I don't even wear my woody pin...

 

[All Aboard]

About a dozen times a year, we live in Miami.

 

[nhrenee]

Patty,
I'm not sure if we're still going now. We were thinking Oct 23-oct 30).

We'll see!

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by nhrenee
Patty,
I'm not sure if we're still going now. We were thinking Oct 23-oct 30).

We'll see!

Karen