Is there enough to do at Universal on a solo trip?

[Candice30]

i am starting to worry about getting bored after a couple of days of the parks. it's one thing when i an with the kids but is there enough to fill the days over a 5 day trip alone? there is tons of posts on the disney boards about going there solo but i don't see many trip reports from people doing universal solo. what gives? do people do universal solo?

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Hmmmmm? Let me think...

Day 1
My driver meets me at MCO and after a quick trip through the grocery store for my favorite munchies and a few magazines, its off to HRH (that is what you decided on, isn't it?) to check in. Nothing like lunch at Margaritaville to set the tone for the vacation! Too soon for coasters, but I can't wait to try the McMonkey McBean ride newly opened at IOA. Wow! It's nice to have a new ride over here. Stomach still not ready for the coasters, off to the Studios to catch the Horror Make Up Show. While I am over that way, do ET. Decide to dedicate time to riding all of the rides in both parks this trip! By now it is getting hot. Shrek before heading back to the hotel--my room must be ready by now! Get settled in and decide to go down to the pool. Splash around for awhile and ride the slide several times. Grab a lounge chair and read my magazine. Oh, yes. I'd love a drink. Make it a Sweet Home Alabama. Back to my room to shower and some snacks. Time for the Hulk! Do all my favs at IOA. Over to the Studios for the fireworks. Back to HRH. Ice cream at Emack and Bolios. (I did not have dinner!) and off to bed. watch cable TV--we don't have this at home so it is a treat.

Day 2
Try as I may, I can't sleep much past 7 or so. Linger over coffee, newspaper and news channels on cable. Decide to head to IOA to do water rides. Hit some of my "dry" favs before getting drenched on the water rides. Grab a slice of pizza at Cafe 4 before heading back to HRH. Relax in my room for awhile and decide to head over to PBH to enjoy the pools over there. Stop by Mandara to schedule a massage for tomorrow. Play at the Beach Pool for awhile--love the slide here. Head over to the Villa Pool. Stop at the Thirsty Fish for a cold one. Back to HRH. Catch the last half of an old movie that always makes me laugh. Shower. Off to the parks. Still on my mission to ride all of the rides this trip while riding my favs as often as possible. Late dinner at Thunder Falls Terrace. See fireworks show again. Back to the hotel for the night.

Day 3
Still not able to sleep late. Coffee, newspaper, cable. Time for my massage! Ahhhhhhh! (Was that you, Dark Marauder?) Browse the shops then decide to have lunch at the Kitchen. After lunch, put on my swimsuit under my shorts and tee and head off to IOA. Still working on hitting all of the rides and shows. When I need to get out of the heat, I head over to RPR to hang at the pool. Head out and stop at the Lone Palm for a margarita and to people watch. Pop into the Studios to ride Mummy, decide to do Jaws. Back to the hotel to get a good lounge chair for the dive in movie. Drinks and apps from the Beach Club. After the movie I have a crazy thought to finally use the City Walk Party pass I have had for 4 years--no expiration date. Sit at the bar at Pat O'Brien's and listen to the dueling pianos. Head over to Bob Marley's to listen to the band over there. Check out the action at Margaritaville. That's enough for me! Time for bed.

Day 4
I can sleep late! I just need a night of clubbing! Coffee, newspaper, cable. Shower and head out to the parks. When the heat gets to me, I decide to go to a movie on City Walk. After the movie I go to the Studios to see the Horror Make Up Show again. After that show, it is about time for the Blues Brothers Show. I remember that the lady who sings R-E-S-P-E-C-T and the guy who plays the sax are better than the brothers themselves. Wander into Finnegans for a black and tan. The Irish Singer is there. I hang for awhile. A few more rides. A slice of pizza at Louies. I remember that I am leaving tomorrow and decide to pick up the souveniers I have been eyeing the past three days and head back to the hotel. They are having a beach party down at the pool! I have fun playing the games and listening to the tunes. Don't think I can handle another night at the clubs so I head off to bed--after a stop at Emack & Bolios!

Day 5
Back to my up early routine. Today is the day to get to IOA early for my front row ride on Hulk and a spin around the parks on the P-flyers. I call the front desk for a late check out and head to IOA. I ride all my favs, say goodbye to IOA for awhile and head to The Islands Dining Room at RPR for their yummy breakfast buffet. Eat way too much. But that's okay...it is a travel day and I am not sure when I'll eat again! Back to HRH to check out. Stow my luggage with the bell personnel and off I go to the Studios. Ride all my favs and say goodbye to that park for this trip. Sadly trudge back to HRH to meet my driver. The pool looks especially inviting today...wish I had just one more day.


Yes. I think I could do a 5 day solo trip to Universal! Thanks for the chance to take one...if only via my key board .

 

[F-L-A]

Five days? Just at Uni? Ehh... that's stretching it a little. You'll probably be done with the parks after 2-3 days.

 

[robvia]

I go on trips alone all the time and enjoy them.
Are you renting a car?

If you stay onsite, you can probably tour USF/IOA in 2 days, and see most attractions. The 3rd day would be to go back and do favorites.

You could visit Sea World of Florida one morning. They have a free shuttle bus. If you have a rental car, that's even better because then you can arrive the parking lot at 08:30am and be first into the park. Or, you can drive the 75 miles west to Busch Gardens Tampa, and tour that park. And if you really got desperate, you could always drive down to Disney.

The cool part about going alone, is you can go where you want, when you want. You can also get on the coasters faster, because if an empty seat is available, you can usually move up and take it.

What you have to watch out for, is after 3-4 days, you'll start to miss the kids and people at home. The fantasy of the parks will wear off, and you'll wonder what you are doing there. Don't worry about it, because this usually happens on the 3rd day. So it's normal to miss family back at home. You'll perk up, get back into touring the parks, exploring, and before you know it, the trip will be over and you'll be wondering how it ended so fast. 4-5 days is fine, but a week would start to play with your head.

 

[macraven]

what's this about someone saying, after 3-4 days you'll miss the kids back home?........................

my last 3 trips have been solo, this sept/oct will be solo trip #4.

i go to disney and stay for 10 days, transfer to universal on site hotel for either 4 or 5 nights. i stay at disney longer since it is cheaper for me at the hotel. i start there in value season and it carries over until i check out. the universal hotels have a rate change when the seasonal rate increases.
can do lots of side trips to orlando for dinner shows, events, etc when staying at disney.

at universal, i find plenty to do in 4 full days and nights with a 5th day until 6 pm. i take my time at the parks. i thoroughly go thru everything once then start the repeats. i have the fotl when staying at hrh so no line waits.

i take my time eating and shopping. boy, that's an understatment, shopping.

i hit the parks when they open and stay until they close. i take time out to go to city walk. sometimes hit the cineplex.

i always go in october as completely and totally addicted to hhn.

yes, even with being at the parks from open to close, i do not get bored.

if boredom would become an issue, i would go to the mystic fountain at ioa and listen and watch. i blew off 3 hours last year doing that.......not all at once though. it was marvelous, a real hoot.

my 15 days a year is to go out and do what ever i wish to by myself.
the entire family stays home. my life is hectic and stressful so this is the one time each year i have no responsiblities to anyone.

i have met up with a few people on the dis boards to share a meal with.
other than that, i am on my own.

if you do NOT like to eat alone, go on rides alone, then start out with a small trip by yourself. get comfortable in doing things alone.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

my wife thinks I'm insane for going to the parks solo. she could never do it. I like it. I can use single rider lines, and do whatever I want. I take my Ipod just in case, and just have a relaxing day. no 'magic' at UO, my butt. 4 days might be a stretch, but I'd like to try it.

 

[macraven]

mr mcbean.........leave wifey at home and go for 4 days.

you will love it and want to do it again...............




just think, you can sleep when you want, eat when you want, have ice cream for breakfast and don't have to wear clothes that match.............



there is a lot to do going solo and enjoying the parks

 

[Sylvester McBean]

if I tried to stay overnight alone in Orlando my wife would drive over and hunt me down. when I go over solo for a day she says I'm going over to meet my girlfriend. so I tell her she's right, Imhotep is my girlfriend. I'm totally relaxed sitting on the steps on Delancey street in the sun with a cold adult beverage, just watching the people. she thinks I'm insane.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

don't have to wear clothes that match........

I was with you up until that point !

If memory serves me, Candice30 has already done a shorter solo trip. And when she does not go solo, she brings either a nephew and/or a neice. She is a terrific aunt, but I don't think she has full time responsibility for kids of her own. So I still say...go for it!

 

[Candice30]

thanks for the responses!! they were great. actually imgonnabe40 -- i have never done a solo trip. i kept planning one but my niece/nephews/mom/sister give me a sad puppy face and i end up treating them to a trip. for their enjoyment or avoiding going alone i don't know but we always have a blast.

that is what has me a little worried. never been anywhere by myself except maybe lunch in a small restaurant once. never even been to the movies alone so i have been a little panicky over this solo trip but i do definitely feel that it is time. i am already getting crazy looks from family and my co-workers.

by the way, you are correct imgonnabe40 i do not have kids nor am i married so i think that it is time to get some courage and go alone this time!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

by the way, you are correct imgonnabe40 i do not have kids nor am i married so i think that it is time to get some courage and go alone this time!

Oh, I hope you don't think I was implying that you are without courage, I just thought you were wondering about the length of your trip.

 

[jim and meesie]

5 days at Universal, without kids, hmmmm, The heck with the rides you can find me at the spa!!!! If you have a rental car a little retail therapy at the Outlet malls is always entertaining. Walking through the parks and browsing in the shops is good too and you can't forget lunch at Mythos, maybe every day!

I've never done Universal all alone but after traveling on business alone for years I prefer to have my husband along since I don't enjoy dining by myself! Every year my husband and I get away for 4-5 days in the fall and it's very restful. Outside of meals we often go our seperate ways, mostly reading, lounging by the pools, napping and the spa!

 

[ozarkmom]

As much fun as it is with my kids I would love to be able to do a solo trip.
Sleep when I want, eat when and where I want, ride what I want, go to the shows that I want, and actually just take my time and look around and shop without someone begging for stuff. Also I could take pictures without my husband saying come on we don't have time for that.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

thanks for the responses!! they were great. actually imgonnabe40 -- i have never done a solo trip. i kept planning one but my niece/nephews/mom/sister give me a sad puppy face and i end up treating them to a trip. for their enjoyment or avoiding going alone i don't know but we always have a blast.

that is what has me a little worried. never been anywhere by myself except maybe lunch in a small restaurant once. never even been to the movies alone so i have been a little panicky over this solo trip but i do definitely feel that it is time. i am already getting crazy looks from family and my co-workers.

by the way, you are correct imgonnabe40 i do not have kids nor am i married so i think that it is time to get some courage and go alone this time!

I've met some great people going solo in the parks. people from all over the world.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Add one more to the "I would love to do that" group. ozarkmom - I would do it exactly like you!

Candice30 - I hope you go and have the greatest time!

 

[Candice30]

Oh, I hope you don't think I was implying that you are without courage, I just thought you were wondering about the length of your trip.

NO..NO i know you weren't implying that...i just hear it in my head. i can definitely try the movie thing as no one ever wants to see what i do anyway but not sure i'm ready for the restaurant. i can definitely see myself doing outside table at hard rock cafe and even pastamore but inside with nothing to look at but stare at other people, not sure i would be comfortable. at outside tables there is just so much to stare at.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

if you do want to try the inside, try the bar at Emeril's or Margaritaville. have an appetizer. I'm betting the bartender will strike up a conversation.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

My suggestion is that you bring some reading material with you when you dine. Due to my crazy schedule at work, I usually don't get to lunch until at least 2 or 3 PM. I don't find many people able to wait that long for lunch, so usually I am alone. I order my sandwich and settle in to read reports, or the newspaper. If I were alone waiting for a meal at say, the Kitchen, I would likely bring along a magazine and read that until my meal arrived.

If this still seems too odd for you, you will save a bunch of $$ by getting a quick bite at counter service. You could also do carry out at most of the places on City Walk and head back to your room. For a splurge you could order room service.

I think you'll have a great time!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I like the idea of a book or a magazine to distract you. I bet you will find others dining alone and maybe after the first time you will be more comfortable.

All those that would like a trip alone could just meet you there, problem solved.

 

[macraven]

i have dined solo at mythos, finnegans and lombards. no problem, so relaxing...........

i don't like to take anything with me such as a book or magazine because then i would have to use a locker to hold my items when i go on certain rides.

what i do is take a couple of park maps and a pen. i stick them in my pocket. when i eat and to pass the time, i mark on the maps what i have done and when so i can add notes to my journal at a later point.

if i can stick it in my pocket, i take it with me. i like to have my hands free when walking around. don't carry any bags with me. just a lanyard to hold my hotel key and pass. some money in the pocket and i'm good to go.

the first time eating solo is the hardest. probably because we are so used to being around others and yaking at those times. i solved that, i just talk to myself.......