Never Been - need help?

[ocalla]

We are thinking of changing our Disney Thanksgiving trip to Universal instead, and have never visited before. I would love to stay onsite, but don't know if it is worth the extra money for FOTL?

Do you need a week at Universal to see everything during this busy time? If you chose to stay offsite where would be close/affordable? Will the parks be as busy at WDW?

 

[macraven]

the day before and thanksgiving day is not too bad for crowds

but, the friday after and that weekend will be crowded.
weekends are also busy during the year at UO, especially around holiday times.

if you go during a busy time, the fotl will save you from waiting in long lines for rides and attractions.
that is if you stay onsite.

some people stay for a week, many stay for less time than that. i aim for 5 days and stay on site.

you can enjoy the parks, explore the other 2 hotels on site, pool hop to each hotel, shop in city walk, take in a show at the cineplex at city walk, have a fantastic dinner at the hotels and city walk..........

sometimes 5 days is not enough for me.

 

[Kimberle]

It is so "worth it" to stay on site. You don't need a rental car. You don't need an intensive "plan" like WDW. You can do what you feel like when you feel like. Your FOTH also included resturants. The resorts pools are WONDERFUL. You can really have a relaxing vacation.

Plus, there is a bus to Sea World and Wet & Wild.

 

[G8r4evr]

Definitely worth it to stay onsite...If this is your first trip, there will be plenty to see and do for 5-7 days!

 

[stwyatt]

we were there during thanksgiving week a couple of years ago. it was not busy at all leading up to the holiday(we knew better than to be there the weekend after the holiday)--so fotl is not necessary the first part of the week. having said that, we stayed onsite and loved it--it gives you some of that "magic" that disney fans talk about. we also moved to the crowne plaza universal later in our vacation. we got a great rate from hotwire, its very close to uo, and as a hotel is just as nice as the onsite hotels--except it does not have as many resort type amenities, as beatiful grounds, as nice a pool, etc as the onsites. after our vacation, we agreed that even though the crowne plaza was very nice and much less expensive, our preference would be to stay the entire time onsite. in fact, we are going this thanksgiving week and are staying at hrh the entire time. finally, how much time it takes at the parks depends on what you like to do. if hitting the rides until your tired of them and not casually checking out the rest of the park is what you do, you could be done in 2 days. but if you want to see all the parks, citiwalk, the resorts, it could take your entire time.

 

[stwyatt]

as i read your post i forgot to respond to your last question--is it as busy as wdw? we went to wdw the tuesday before thanksgiving during our mostly uo vacation. it was incredibly more busy. we have also gone to uo/wdw the first week in december, wdw was always much busier. hope that helps

 

[deedeetoo]

It is so "worth it" to stay on site. You don't need a rental car...

If you don't get a car, how do you get back and forth to the airport. Do the Universal hotels have something like Magical Express or do you get a limo?

If you don't have a car, that means you have to eat on-site. Is it just as pricey as eating on-site at WDW?

 

[Kimberle]

If you don't get a car, how do you get back and forth to the airport. Do the Universal hotels have something like Magical Express or do you get a limo?

If you don't have a car, that means you have to eat on-site. Is it just as pricey as eating on-site at WDW?

No ME. We use a towncar service. If you do have a car, there is a fee for parking ($10 per night I think).

No, I didn't think eating on -site was terribly expensive. (I am from the NYC area. ) What I really liked were the casual poolside resturants. You could grab a burger or salad in your swimsuit right next to the pool. To tired to walk over, a server will bring you wwwhhhhaaatttteevvveerrrrreee you want.

 

[Cass]

People have to be crazy to go to Universal and not stay onsite for FOTL, it's like being a VIP all the time, it is the BEST thing! nothing tops it so yes, yes, YES it's worth it.