I got it! I got it! Thank you all!!!

[CTFamilyCruisers]

FWIW the big reason for doing Universal at the end of the trip is that it is a very relaxing way to end the vacation. The front of the line access will have you spoilied in no time. That combined with the fact that the hotels and parks are all walking distance to each other. No need for rope drop, or worrying about transportation.

Great point, IMGONNABE40! (BTW, Imgonnnabe40 this year, too!) I find it hard to believe that a day at an amusement park can be "relaxing", but FOTLA will sure help!!!!! No need for rope drop, huh? Excellent point, as well. I'm so trained to be at every RD, I hadn't even considered NOT being there, even with FOTLA. The more I think about it, though, you are exactly right. No worries about when my next FP window opens either!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Either way, I am sure it will be great. We chose Hard Rock for the kids, plus it is slightly more centrally located. Have you found any good places for dinner at US? I'm thinking Mythos at IOA only because I keep hearing about it. Not sure what to do the other 2 nights.

I'm still reading restaurant reviews. Mythos does keep popping up. I think someone mentioned good pizza at one of the Italian restaurants. I have to check more into this. Some of the places I am looking at are Hard Rock Cafe, Margaritaville, and possibly the NBA place. DGS likes sports and music.

Question: I actually find the Universal booking site somewhat confusing. Do they only let you book packages if staying onlsite? I was wondering if they have room only bookings and tickets purchased separately so we wouldn't have to deal with the 45 day cancellation policy. I am wondering if a package is the only way to get the line break tickets. Looks like I have more reading to do.

Update: after much difficult exploring of the Universal site, I discovered you can book room only and avoid the 45 day cancellation policy. However, there is no way to tell if you book the room only onsite, do you still get the line cutting privelege when you try to buy your tickets? I'm sure after much digging I will find this info, but they do not make it easy.

 

[CTFamilyCruisers]

Question: I actually find the Universal booking site somewhat confusing. Do they only let you book packages if staying onlsite? I was wondering if they have room only bookings and tickets purchased separately so we wouldn't have to deal with the 45 day cancellation policy. I am wondering if a package is the only way to get the line break tickets. Looks like I have more reading to do.

I agree it is confusing. I just booked the package and figured I would pay it ahead of time. I have trip insurance so that helps with the cancellation policy. I didn't see any other options to book room only like at WDW. Perhaps you could go directly to the hotel website?

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I agree it is confusing. I just booked the package and figured I would pay it ahead of time. I have trip insurance so that helps with the cancellation policy. I didn't see any other options to book room only like at WDW. Perhaps you could go directly to the hotel website?

Ok, sorry to bug you, maybe I should go to the Universal board with these questions, but in the package deal, they say 2 parks 2 days for a 3 night stay? That doesn't make sense. I would need 3 days of parks for a 3 night stay. Ok, UPDATE: I think the package deal gives you only 2 day tickets, even though many people would need 3 days. I'm thinking that they want you to add on days on your own, but I'll check it out.

Also, they say "day departing" for the day you arrive at Universal and "day returning" for the day you leave to go home? Very confusing or at least that is not the way I'm used to seeing things done. It's usually "day arriving" and day departing."

And I know once I figure it all out, this won't be a concern at all.

Well, I'll go to the hotel website, like you said. Good idea. Either RPR or HRH. Oh, and trip insurance sounds like a good idea for a trip like this. Thanks for your advice!

 

[Stormin'theCastle]

Ok, sorry to bug you, maybe I should go to the Universal board with these questions, but in the package deal, they say 2 parks 2 days for a 3 night stay? That doesn't make sense. I would need 3 days of parks for a 3 night stay. Ok, UPDATE: I think the package deal gives you only 2 day tickets, even though many people would need 3 days. I'm thinking that they want you to add on days on your own, but I'll check it out.

Also, they say "day departing" for the day you arrive at Universal and "day returning" for the day you leave to go home? Very confusing or at least that is not the way I'm used to seeing things done. It's usually "day arriving" and day departing."

And I know once I figure it all out, this won't be a concern at all.

Well, I'll go to the hotel website, like you said. Good idea. Either RPR or HRH. Oh, and trip insurance sounds like a good idea for a trip like this. Thanks for your advice!

Sorry, but I've been lurking on this conversation b/c I'm considering a Universal or WDW/Universal trip as well. The Universal site has me stymied too! The "day departing" and "day returning" seemed really odd. Glad it's not just me!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Sorry, but I've been lurking on this conversation b/c I'm considering a Universal or WDW/Universal trip as well. The Universal site has me stymied too! The "day departing" and "day returning" seemed really odd. Glad it's not just me!

No, it is definitely not just you. In fact, I have had trouble on almost every aspect of trying to fake-book a trip. If I try to price the Harry Potter package with a stay on property, the USO site will take me to a page full of Orlando hotels where I have to sift through 5 pages of off-site hotels to find one of the three on site resorts. Then you have to wonder if you are still booking the Harry Potter package because all the Harry hoopla seems to have disappeared from the page!

Very very confusing. It just seems kind of odd to me that for every vacation stay, they always offer you park tickets with the package for all but one of your days. Example: with a 4 night package you get a 3 day ticket, with a five day package you get a 4 day ticket. I must be missing something in the logic of that. Granted, you can go to the confusing page where you can change your ticket, but if you try to remove their default ticket, a warning comes up telling you if you remove the default tickets, you will lose the Potter package. They sure make it difficult.

Still, I'm sure once I figure it out... well, it is going to eventually make sense, right?

Well, I better post on the Universal board. I don't want to hijack CTFamilyCruiser's thread with my Universal booking vent.