My Eyes hurt!.....

[annabug]

I have been reading these boards for days!!!!, I swear I feel dizzy, and my eyes hurt!

I am in the very early stages of planning our FIRST TRIP TO UNIVERSAL!!!
(We are Disney veterans...)

We are beyond excited!! May 2017 can't come quick enough.

Me, the hubs, 2 kids, girl 12, boy 8.

I am taking all and any advice!!!!

Where to stay...this is a biggie.....I can't figure it out...
Which ticket to purchase.... ( Im thinking the flex with sea world, and aquatica)
Meal plan??
Rent a car??

Im am planning on reading the harry potter books with my kids until we leave!!!! I like a subversive experience!!!!

I am also watching every episode of the Universal Edition of the DisUnplugged....thanks Craig, Ryno, and JL!!!!!! WHOOHOO!!!!!! beyond helpful.

 

[Parker Clan]

We are huge fans of Royal Pacific Resort! We like the short walk to IoA and of course the express pass, which I know others offer as well. We just really liked the resort, it's beautiful! The pool is awesome too!
Happy planning! We go to Universal every year right before Disney and it's amazing! Esp the Harry Potter lands

 

[annabug]

We are huge fans of Royal Pacific Resort! We like the short walk to IoA and of course the express pass, which I know others offer as well. We just really liked the resort, it's beautiful! The pool is awesome too!
Happy planning! We go to Universal every year right before Disney and it's amazing! Esp the Harry Potter lands

Thank you!!!!! I really like to look of Royal Pacific too!!! I still need to call and get some pricing to see where we stand with that!!!

 

[squirrel]

All onsite hotels offer early entry (1 hr before regular opening to at least one of the parks). The 3 deluxe hotels offer express pass. All hotels have parking fees.

You may wish to split your trip and stay at an official SeaWorld hotel to get the perks for SW and Aquatica. That is what I am doing in September for my trip. Cabana Bay and then Springhill Suites at SW.

 

[annabug]

All onsite hotels offer early entry (1 hr before regular opening to at least one of the parks). The 3 deluxe hotels offer express pass. All hotels have parking fees.

You may wish to split your trip and stay at an official SeaWorld hotel to get the perks for SW and Aquatica. That is what I am doing in September for my trip. Cabana Bay and then Springhill Suites at SW.

Great advice!! we definitely want to do Sea world and Aquatica. What are the SW hotel perks? is it really worth making the move to one of their hotels?

 

[bumbershoot]

For universal hotels just go to the Loews hotels site. No need to call. I mean, callings thoroughly pleasant but I've never gotten a different rate when calling vs using the site.

 

[CalKhat]

From what I'm reading on the dining plan, the best bet is to wait until you order- if your meal and drink come to $15-16 ask them to charge you for the meal plan instead. Then you get a card for an additional drink and snack that can be used at any time. It does not have to be used the same day or even by the same person.

If your meal + drink is $15 or less, you are better off just buying the meal and paying for snacks/ drinks as you want them. Not everyone in your group has to buy the card either. So if mom is having the $15 fishermans pie plus beverage, she may as well purchase the card. If dad is having the $9 Toad in the hole, better off just buying the Toad. I'm not sure how this translates for the kids though. (looking at kids version $14 per day, so using the same logic, if the kids meal plus drink comes to $7 or more, buy the plan?)

Disclaimer: I've never been- this is just what I've gathered from reading these boards.

 

[georgina]

Great advice!! we definitely want to do Sea world and Aquatica. What are the SW hotel perks? is it really worth making the move to one of their hotels?

We are doing something similar in Sept, RPR and then Springhill suites Seaworld. We stay at RPR for the Universal perks - express pass and proximity to the parks. At Springhill, there is free parking (RPR charges a steep daily fee), free breakfast, and free quick queue passes for Seaworld rides. If you don't have a car, free shuttles to the parks and it looks like Aquatica and Discovery Cove are walking distance (not sure about Seaworld, looks a little farther).

Here is a list of official hotel benefits: https://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/vacations/hotels/benefits/

We took advantage of the buy 4 nights get the 5th free (using Marriott points) and there are also food and merchandise discounts, early entry during peak season.

 

[wookiebeck]

Of the three onsite hotels with Express Pass, RPR will come in cheapest. It is also the smallest in terms of square foot per room. That's not to say it is tight. With the ages of your kids, you will fit nicely. We have stayed there an love the ambiance. The kids like the pool, too.

 

[annabug]

Hey Everybody!!! Thanks for all of your advice!!!!! I ended up booking Royal Pacific club level. I really really wanted to stay at Cabana Bay, I love the theme. However, it was almost 900$ just for the express pass!!!!!!
I hope I made a good decision! Im going to head over and start reading the RPR thread!!! Thanks again!!!!!

 

[Disneytam]

I know just how you feel! We have been Disney and Dis board regulars for years but our last trip to Universal was 14 years ago and I swear I feel like I'm reading a different language. I know we want to stay at PBH club level but after that I am still trying to figure out. Were to eat, what times to do different parks, should I get an AP? Tomorrow is my ADR day at Disney and then I have to really start researching on ways to save money for the 4 days that we will be going to the dark side!

 

[tinydancer09]

Hey Everybody!!! Thanks for all of your advice!!!!! I ended up booking Royal Pacific club level. I really really wanted to stay at Cabana Bay, I love the theme. However, it was almost 900$ just for the express pass!!!!!!
I hope I made a good decision! Im going to head over and start reading the RPR thread!!! Thanks again!!!!!

RPR is a great resort and you have a very quick walk to the park or you can ride the boat. I do both when I stay there. You can boat to all the resorts and eat at the restaurants. RPR has great ones right there. How many days are you staying? It might save you money to buy one annual pass and get the room discount. Those rates won't come out until 90 or more days out but can be considerable savings. Parking is 22$ a day for self. I don't mind it because I never have to see my car during the stay!

Don't stress too much. Universal is pretty easy compared to Disney. What are your dates in May? Also, you don't have to have an annual pass at check in when you book APH rates, just have to have it before you check out. When those rates come out check on them and see if it's worth it for you to upgrade your ticket. If you're doing flex that won't work though don't think.