Is this a crazy trip?

[CapHook]

I am thinking about an impluse trip to Universal from Texas.

We would be going to the parks Sun Nov 23 - Nov 26. Any idea what the crowds are like on Thanksgiving week? Would we be crazy to go and not stay at a Universial hotel for the "cut the line" passes,(whatever they call them).

What is the temperature like in Orlando that week. I remember getting wet on a lot of rides. Is that an issue at Thanksgiving?

If you go to the park before you stak at a Universal hotel that night, do you qualify for a "cut the line" pass?

I was in Orlando for business in early March. Went to Universal Studios for the first time. We have done several Disney trips with the family and I think they will love it since they are a little older now.

 

[CapHook]

Express pass. The cut the line passes are called Express passes.

 

[macraven]

cut passes/ FOTL/front of the line this is a perk for staying at the hotels. well worth it

it is all the same.



stay on site, it's a holiday time when you will be there.

holidays at parks always brings out the crowds

 

[Purseval]

I am thinking about an impluse trip to Universal from Texas.

If you have the time and the money why not?

We would be going to the parks Sun Nov 23 - Nov 26. Any idea what the crowds are like on Thanksgiving week? Would we be crazy to go and not stay at a Universial hotel for the "cut the line" passes,(whatever they call them).

If you can afford it the FOTL passes pretty much make the crowd irrelevant. Bear in mind it is high season and the hotels are probably close to full now so I wouldn't expect much in the way of discounts.

What is the temperature like in Orlando that week. I remember getting wet on a lot of rides. Is that an issue at Thanksgiving?

It is normally comfortable during the day but this past week has been unusually cold. Every time we've been in Orlando during Thanksgiving the weather has been beautiful. The pools at the hotels are heated and if you go to the water rides during the afternoon you won't be bothered if you get wet. The "lot of rides" you can get wet on are:

Popeye and Bluto Bilge Barges - totally soaked
Ripsaw Falls - a mild splash to nothing at all, depends on where you sit
Jurassic Park - mostly a concern for the people in the front
Jaws - a mild concern, not much

the first three are in IOA, Jaws is in US

If you go to the park before you stak at a Universal hotel that night, do you qualify for a "cut the line" pass?

You go to the hotel and check in, even if your room isn't ready or it's very early in the morning (it's best to check in before the parks open if you want to make the most of your time and money) they will give you your room keys which you use for FOTL. After you check out you get to keep your keys, which expire after park closing the day you check out. So you get 2 days of FOTL for the price of one day at the hotel.

I was in Orlando for business in early March. Went to Universal Studios for the first time. We have done several Disney trips with the family and I think they will love it since they are a little older now.

If they are into thrill rides they will have a great time, especially when they can ride as much as they want with little or no wait. Enjoy your vacation

 

[wicket2005]

I would definitely stay on site at Universal if you can. The FOTL passes are a definite bonus when we have used them in peak season (July and August). The other thing is you can just relax and not drive unless you want to. You can just get up when you want and stroll into the park, nip back for a relax by the pool and go back into the other park or Citywalk, it is all so handy.

 

[donaldduck352]

I would definitely stay on site at Universal if you can. The FOTL passes are a definite bonus when we have used them in peak season (July and August). The other thing is you can just relax and not drive unless you want to. You can just get up when you want and stroll into the park, nip back for a relax by the pool and go back into the other park or Citywalk, it is all so handy.

The only way too do it!!

 

[Metro West]

We would be going to the parks Sun Nov 23 - Nov 26. Any idea what the crowds are like on Thanksgiving week? Would we be crazy to go and not stay at a Universial hotel for the "cut the line" passes,(whatever they call them).

What is the temperature like in Orlando that week. I remember getting wet on a lot of rides. Is that an issue at Thanksgiving?

If you go to the park before you stak at a Universal hotel that night, do you qualify for a "cut the line" pass?

The temperatures for late November are 70s and 80s during the day and 50s and 60s at night. It's a great time to come! The crowds during that week aren't too bad but the weekend after are very busy.

As the others have posted...you would qualify for the unlimited Express access for staying onsite.