Need your help planning a Univ trip!!!!

[ms.ojo]

OK, We finally decided we WILL add some extra days to include US/IOA in our Dec trip. here are our options. Please help me choose. I'm so wrapped up in it I can't think straight anymore, and dh is leaving this up to me. I've already discovered some nights the hotels we want at Disney are unavailble at the AAA rate so I need to get this booked ASAP. We are a family of 4, cihldren will be 6 and almost 3 when we travel. We are arriving the week AFTER Thanksgiving. THANK YOU!!!

Option #1. Do WDW first. Travel Mon 11/28-Su 12/11. Allows us to end Disney w/ Spectro on Sat. and still enjoy MVMCP the following week. US will be the something to look forward to after a week at the conf. Going on the 10th US Christmas displays will be up by then. $440 premium over our current reservations w/ no Univ. trip.
Mo: Arrive WDW
Tu: WDW Park
We: WDW Park
Th: R&R (tour WDW hotels and DTD)
Fr: WDW Park
Sa: WDW Park
Su: Change hotels to Gaylord Palms for Conf. At Gaylord Palms til Friday, 12/9. Plan to do MVMCP from Gaylord on Tu or Thurs night.
Fr: Change to Hard Rock Hotel in the afternoon, possibly tour, or just explore grounds and swim.
Sa: Tour US/IOA w/ a 1day hopper pass.
Su: Swim and pack. p/u for airport is at 11am

Option #2. Do US in the middle. Travel Mon 11/28-Su 12/11. Allows us to use Disney free transport to and from airport. We end the trip w/ Disney! Probably won't see US christmas stuff ready at this time. $540 premium over our current reservations w/ no Univ. trip.

Mo: Arrive WDW
Tu: WDW Park
We: WDW Park
Th: R&R (tour WDW hotels and DTD)
Fr: WDW Park til 6:30 to see Osbourne lights then change hotels for late check in at Hard Rock Hotel.
Sa: US/IOA
Su: Could buy a 2day ticket and tour some more this morning, or just have the 1day hopper for Sat and spend today poolside before we change hotels to Gaylord Palms for Conf. At Gaylord Palms til Friday, 12/9. Plan to do MVMCP from Gaylord on Tu or Thurs night.
Fr: Change to WL in the afternoon. (Swim, tour Disney hotels, DTD, etc)
Sa: WDW Park
Su: Swim and pack. p/u for airport is at 11am

Option #3. US in the middle but later. Travel Wed 11/30 - Tuesday 12/13. Allows us to use Disney free transport to and from airport. We end the trip w/ Disney! Will see US christmas stuff ready at this time. Only 1 night at Hard Rock $400 premium over our current reservations w/ no Univ. trip.

We: Travel check-in ASMo
Th: WDW park
Fr: WDW Park
Sa: WDW Park
Su: Change hotels to Gaylord Palms for Conf. At Gaylord Palms til Friday, 12/9. Plan to do MVMCP from Gaylord on Tu or Thurs night.
Fr: Change to Hard Rock Hotel in the late morning. (Swim, tour hotel or possibly 1/2 day touring parks)
Sa: Check out and hold luggage. Tour US/IOA. LATE check-in at POFQ.
Su: R&R
Mo: WDW park (should be able to end w/ Spectro on Mon night)
Tu: p/u at 11am for airport

B]Option #5. US w/ no FOTL access. [/B] Travel Mon 11/28 - Sunday 12/11. Allows us to use Disney free transport to and from airport. We end the trip w/ Disney! We tour Univ mid-week but w/out the benefit of FOTL access since we'd be taking a shuttle over from our Disney hotel. Perhaps wouldn't need since mid-week?? Wouldn't see US Christmas stuff. $340 premium over our current reservations w/ no Univ. trip.

My biggest questions:
What exactly IS Universal's Christmas decorations/extras. Is it worth it?
W/ a young family, and touring on the weekend I think staying on-site at Univ is a must. but it is Dec....perhaps we don't need to?

Thanks for your help. I'm posting on the WDW planning trip board too!!

 

[robvia]

First of all, if you are staying in town that long, rent the car. Then you can do whatever you want. If you are going to a conference, I'm surprised it's not paid for by your company. Next, for some reason, people think they need to spend an entire day at a park, and do nothing else. If you have the rental car, you can stop in to a park for a few hours, visit in the morning, go back to your hotel to rest, then go back to a WDW park.
I know some people like to go slow and hang out, but with that much time, you can see more. And definately do USF at the end because of the FOTL.

Mo: Arrive Disney, visit Publix, get groceries, styrophome cooler, beer, juice, doughnuts, snacks.
Tu: WDW park
We: WDW park
Th: WDW park
Fr: WDW park
Sa: Sea World of Florida
Su-Th: at Gaylord Palms: Visit IOA/USF one of those mornings or afternoons and get your 2 day get three days tickets. Tour one of the parks and look around.
Fri: Check out of Gaylord early, head over to HRH, have them hold luggage, pre-check in at 8am, go to parks with your magic keys (FOTL), check into your room at 4pm, kids will live at the pool going down the slide for the evening if it's not cold out.
SA: Spend all day at USF/IOA
SU: Check out, head to airport

 

[ms.ojo]

Having a car would mean $8/day at Gaylord Palms...and I won't be doing any touring while dh is at the conference....Wouldn't dare go to Disney w/ 2 young kids w/out him. So basically we have the time before the conf...and then the time after the conf. We have the towncar stop at the grocery store as we're coming in usually, though this trip w/ all the hotel hopping may just bring some food from home and use the Disney transport to/from airport.

Yes, dh's office is picking up the transport to Gaylord Palms and all expenses that week. That's separate.

Absolutely agree in terms of not needing to do a full day at the Disney parks. W/ young kids we always come back for the afternoon break! It's a life saver. I'm leaning towards doing US at the end as you suggest w/ FOTL. Plus it will be more of an "experience" trying out Hard Rock too.

Anyone else???

 

[hannahouse]

I'd do Universal last - more relaxing w/fotl, especially with small children. Do check in early Friday - you can go to the parks, then come back to the hotel to rest in the afternoon, and swim or go back to the parks. It sounds like a great trip - I'm sure you are going to have a blast!

 

[ms.ojo]

I can't believe I was able to talk dh into adding the extra week so we could do WDW & US at a more leisurely pace. I'm really looking forward to the trip! And being able to see the Christmas decor at BOTH parks!!!!

 

[jpeltier]

I'm with HannaHouse. Do Universal last and fotl.That's what we're doing May 29-June 3. 5 days at WDW then 3 days of relative calm due to the fotl access.

 

[ms.ojo]

We'll be staying at WDW for the 1st week...then going off site to Gaylord Palms for the Conference...and checking into Hard Rock Hotel on Fri 12/9-12/11!!! Should have the Christmas stuff up by then too. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!