Need some help with Planning Universal

[MouseGirl]

No, unfortunately with the buy one adult get one child free ticket offer the tickets expire five days after the first use, so you couldn't use them on a future trip. Check out details on the www.universalorlando.com ticket details section - it has all the info on each type of ticket and any associated restrictions.

 

[Cass]

I stayed at both the Hard Rock (6 nights) and the Royal Pacific (4 Nights) and liked them both very much. Slight edge to the Hard Rock for the dive in movies which were very cool.

I suggest you stay where you get the best rate. you won't regret staying on property to get the FOTL access.

 

[Cass]

I remember not thinking much of Circus McGirkus though.

Just the name is bad enough

 

[CdnMom2]

Sorry, for such a late response -- barely on these boards these days -- tax season & we can't afford to get excited about another trip after the biggie we just did!

There were 3 CS restaurants on the Meal Plan at each of the Universal Parks.
Participating restaurants at Universal Studios:
International Food & Film Fest (THE WORST I've ever eaten at)
Mel's Drive-In (best of the 5 we tried)
Louie's (forgot, didn't try it)

at IofA:
Circus McGurkus (& a close 2nd for THE WORST)
Comic Strip Cafe
Captain America's Diner

I think the Meal Plan would be a very good deal for those always growing, always eating teen boys. $-wise it did work out well, but really -- save your tummies, and your trip excitement enjoyment-level. Noone needs to be reminded that this slop exists at some "restaurants".

 

[CdnMom2]

I didn't know it did. Friday night mid-Dec05. I phoned Concierge (not Club level -- normal Guest Services) to find out about the times for the Hard Rock Dive-In movie. Had heard about these. Well, it turned out to be happening sooner than I could reasonably get family to it without really hustling AND paying for a cab so we decided to swim in our own well-loved RPR pool. Everyone tired & it was COLD. What a GREAT surprise when we got down there.
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" movie had just started playing as a Dive-In movie! (Kind of wish the Concierge had mentioned there was a movie playing at our own Resort when we went through the discussion of walk/boat/bus/cab to Hard Rock! -- Imagine how upset I would have been if I had bustled us all off!)

Kids had a fantastic time. One of our really magical memories of our before-Xmas trip.

I don't know how regular these are at RPR.

 

[Mortlives]

Participating restaurants at Universal Studios:
International Food & Film Fest (THE WORST I've ever eaten at)
Mel's Drive-In (best of the 5 we tried)
Louie's (forgot, didn't try it)

at IofA:
Circus McGurkus (& a close 2nd for THE WORST)
Comic Strip Cafe
Captain America's Diner

Of those restaurants, we tried Circus McGurkus, and maybe IF&FF. I didn't care for either of them. The chowder place in Amity wasn't bad, and we liked the Monster Cafe. I guess the meal plan restaurants are chosen because it's the only way they can get people to eat there.

The other one we really didn't care for was the walk-up counter associated with Margaritaville, which was kind of surprising because the food in Margaritaville was pretty good.

You know, thinking back over counter vs table service we experienced, I begin to understand why my credit card bill was such a shock when I got back.