How to get Best universal Orlando experience?

[bde]

Going to universal studies Orlando around 1. Of july 2015.

We are debating what wil give us the Best experience.
We are a group og 13 People's Ages from 4 to 64

1 full Day with Express passes and park to park tickets or
2 days with no Express passes.

With is your opinion?

 

[damo]

Is staying onsite a possibility? If not, I'd do 1 day, park to park, with express and get there way before the park opens.

 

[RMulieri]

Is staying onsite a possibility? If not, I'd do 1 day, park to park, with express and get there way before the park opens.

agree.
Universal Orlando is very busy in the summer and particularly around July 4th..For us the best experience would be staying at a deluxe resort that offers both express pass and early entry to the parks.
If not possible, get there super early

 

[tstottle]

Funny I just made that decision! I chose a one day Park to Park with Express passes. We haven't decided if we are staying in Cabana Bay and buying our Express passes (which will be $99 a person), or staying at one of the other 3 resort hotels and using the built in express pass. The price isn't much higher at all for the other three hotels once you add in express passes. The best answer to your question does depend on where you stay. You could stay one night at one of the 3 on sites and get 2 days of express pass out of it (they are good on check in and check out day.

Note, we are a family of six age 9-44, so we don't have a huge a range as you guys, which means there are LESS things that we will choose to do (for example we won't be doing any kiddie rides; we mostly like coasters and Harry Potter, we don't love shows). If you want to do it all at both parks, you might be better off with two days. You could always try Express Pass for the first day and use that to scope out your plan for the second day!

 

[sharona]

I second the advice above. Investigate and compare the cost to upgrade to rooms at RPR, HRH or PBH in order to get free express pass for 2 days vs. paying for single day express passes for everyone. having EP really makes your visit 1000% more enjoyable.

 

[atricks]

13 people? Two days. In groups that big you tend to need a lot of times. Bathroom breaks, food breaks (And if you have smokers, smoke breaks). If you split up, it won't be as bad. But with that many I'd take two days over trying to cram everything into one.

 

[johde]

Funny I just made that decision! I chose a one day Park to Park with Express passes. We haven't decided if we are staying in Cabana Bay and buying our Express passes (which will be $99 a person), or staying at one of the other 3 resort hotels and using the built in express pass. The price isn't much higher at all for the other three hotels once you add in express passes. The best answer to your question does depend on where you stay. You could stay one night at one of the 3 on sites and get 2 days of express pass out of it (they are good on check in and check out day.

Note, we are a family of six age 9-44, so we don't have a huge a range as you guys, which means there are LESS things that we will choose to do (for example we won't be doing any kiddie rides; we mostly like coasters and Harry Potter, we don't love shows). If you want to do it all at both parks, you might be better off with two days. You could always try Express Pass for the first day and use that to scope out your plan for the second day!

With a family of 6 I know it's tough because you're looking at a suite or 2 rooms at the Deluxe hotel. I would keep watching the Annual Pass holder rates for your dates and see if you can swing both 2 days and Express passes. Also, if time allows don't completely rule out the "kiddie rides". While you may not want to do One Fish Two Fish, or Kudo and Kang, E.T. and Cat in the Hat are both well done dark rides and the Sky High Seuss Trolley gives some good areal view of the park (of course you can get a good view on Dr. Doom as well but you can't take pictures).

 

[bde]

Staying onsite in NOT an option this time around ,even though we love portofino and have stayed there a few times.

Lodging is already settled . 13 people is extended family ,so technically we could split up.

While we are at it. Any god ideas about how to do universal in such a Big group .

 

[Darcy03231]

Staying onsite in NOT an option this time around ,even though we love portofino and have stayed there a few times.

Lodging is already settled . 13 people is extended family ,so technically we could split up.

While we are at it. Any god ideas about how to do universal in such a Big group .

We went with a party of 9 once.

I'd do two days, one in each park.

We found it was best for us to split up. Sometimes we'd meet up for a show or ride, but we had an age group of 3-75 with a group of 4 teens in the middle. The teens took off and did their thing. That left us 4 adults and a 3 y.o. We split again with 2 adults going off and 2 adults staying in the kiddie areas with the 3 y.o. and then we'd switch off. This let everyone see/do what they wanted to and kept the little one entertained in areas that interested her. We did have a lot more time than you did though. We were in the Orlando area for 16 days and spent 7 between US/IOA.

 

[johde]

Staying onsite in NOT an option this time around ,even though we love portofino and have stayed there a few times.

Lodging is already settled . 13 people is extended family ,so technically we could split up.

While we are at it. Any god ideas about how to do universal in such a Big group .

The question is not whether you'll STAY at a deluxe room onsite. The question is whether it's cheaper to GET a set of rooms onsite even if you don't sleep there. To get Unlimited express for 13 people in July is about $1,300+ tax for 1 day. For everyone to unlimited express with a hotel stay you would need 3 room. $1,300/3 = $433 per room. If the onsite room is cheaper than $433, it's cheaper to rent the rooms and let them sit empty. Additionally, you get the bonus of having unlimited express for 2 days (check-in and check-out). Right now, booking 3 standard rooms at Royal Pacific would be about $1,000 + a little extra for each adult over 6 (Early July non weekend). If an APH rate happens to come out it would be even cheaper (you'd need to upgrade at least 1 ticket to an annual pass). You could use the saving towards the second day in the park. So looking at the math of both options right now.

$1,911 (13 1 day 2 park passes)
$1,300 (13 2 park unlimited express passes)
-------
$3,211 for 1 day with unlimited express (+ tax

$2,595 (13 2 day park to park tickets)
$1,000 (3 hotel rooms at Royal Pacific to get Unlimited Express for 2 days)
-------
$3,595 for 2 day with unlimited express both days (+ tax) (could be slight higher with extra adults or slightly lower if an APH rate comes up)

 

[bde]

Wow johde
That is really a exelent suggestion,and something i would never think about myself.

You even did all the math for us.. Thx