Never stayed here before need lots of info

[kelmac284]

Hi we have been to IoA once before in 05 but only for one day and I need lots of help and info from those of you who know. Ok here is what we want to do and I hope you guys can help me out.

We are planning on flying back the Thurs before Thanksgiving in 2008 so that would be Nov 20th 08. We would want to stay at one of the hotels at or near Universal the first 2 nights as the rest of the time we will be staying in a timeshare but we can only stay Saturday to Saturday so we need a room for Thursday and Friday and we want to go to IoA and possibly Universal on Friday and possibly Thur evening or Fri evening maybe even Saturday morning.

So here is my dilema. It is going to be my husband and myself, my 2 daughters 7 and 8 and my mom. We can stay in one room or 2 but obviously we are on a budget so the cheaper the better. We like the idea of one of the Universal hotels and we CAN pay the more expensive prices but obviously would prefer not too and was wondering about deals. I am hoping to use AAA and was wondering if they can get deals on those hotels. Also was wondering about deals on some of the other hotels in that area like Doubletree etc.

I read that if you stay at one of the Universal ones that you can get a front of line pass. Would I need that going on a Friday? Also We probabaly would only be going one day and really only want to go to IoA as we have Universal in Hollywood and have been many times and I don't want to buy a 3 or 4 day ticket. Do they even sell a 2 day 2 park or better yet a 1 day 2 park?

Any and all advice would be much appreciated. We don't HAVE to go to Universal but thought if we had extra time there are a few things that Universal Hollywood doesn't have and we might like to check out but if it is WAY more expensive then we don't want to do it. Also if it is WAY more expensive to get more than a one day pass we don't want to do that either.

We really only want to go one day but since we will be there THurs eve ALL Fri and possibly part of Sat we COULD go part of those days if we got a deal on a 2 day ticket. Also I need info on what the best deal would be for 5 people for a room.

HELP!!! I need your guys wisdom. Again we have AAA to help us but anything you can think of would be great!! TIA for any help!!

 

[ky07]

Hi we have been to IoA once before in 05 but only for one day and I need lots of help and info from those of you who know. Ok here is what we want to do and I hope you guys can help me out.

We are planning on flying back the Thurs before Thanksgiving in 2008 so that would be Nov 20th 08. We would want to stay at one of the hotels at or near Universal the first 2 nights as the rest of the time we will be staying in a timeshare but we can only stay Saturday to Saturday so we need a room for Thursday and Friday and we want to go to IoA and possibly Universal on Friday and possibly Thur evening or Fri evening maybe even Saturday morning.

So here is my dilema. It is going to be my husband and myself, my 2 daughters 7 and 8 and my mom. We can stay in one room or 2 but obviously we are on a budget so the cheaper the better. We like the idea of one of the Universal hotels and we CAN pay the more expensive prices but obviously would prefer not too and was wondering about deals. I am hoping to use AAA and was wondering if they can get deals on those hotels. Also was wondering about deals on some of the other hotels in that area like Doubletree etc.

I read that if you stay at one of the Universal ones that you can get a front of line pass. Would I need that going on a Friday? Also We probabaly would only be going one day and really only want to go to IoA as we have Universal in Hollywood and have been many times and I don't want to buy a 3 or 4 day ticket. Do they even sell a 2 day 2 park or better yet a 1 day 2 park?

Any and all advice would be much appreciated. We don't HAVE to go to Universal but thought if we had extra time there are a few things that Universal Hollywood doesn't have and we might like to check out but if it is WAY more expensive then we don't want to do it. Also if it is WAY more expensive to get more than a one day pass we don't want to do that either.

We really only want to go one day but since we will be there THurs eve ALL Fri and possibly part of Sat we COULD go part of those days if we got a deal on a 2 day ticket. Also I need info on what the best deal would be for 5 people for a room.

HELP!!! I need your guys wisdom. Again we have AAA to help us but anything you can think of would be great!! TIA for any help!!

first you could use your aaa card for discount on the onsite hotels but if you stay on a friday i think the prices are a little higher but check out the rates for the rpr because its cheaper than the other 2 and if your on a budget like we are then all 5 of you can stay in the same room and if you want to stay off site since your a aaa member try thier site cause we stayed at the double tree on major blvd and it was a good hotel and reasonable rates through hotels.com.
yes universalorlando.com offers a 1 day two park deal.
if you can i would suggest you try universal park also i have read alot and people say universal orlando is bigger than universal hollywood.
hope this helps.

 

[kelmac284]

Thanks for all your help!

 

[damo]

You can get unlimited passes for $87 that will allow you to go as you please within a 7 day window. I would suggest you get a deluxe room at the Hard Rock which has two queen beds and a pull out couch. You can get AAA rates on it. Call reservations and ask. If you are going any time around Thanksgiving, it is nice to have the Front of the Line passes. It makes the trip a lot more enjoyable and you get a lot more done. AAA rates won't be out for Nov 2008 for quite a while though. If you really want these unlimited passes, you would probably be wise to buy them soon because that deal is not going to last forever.

Although you can certainly stay off site, you won't have nearly as good a time.

 

[kelmac284]

Thanks for the great info. When do you think the Nov 08 rates would be available and can I go through my AAA agent or should I go directly through the Hard Rock? Also where do you get the passes? Online? Thanks!

 

[goofy!]

We were there Sat through the following Sun during last year's Thanksgiving week. Sun through Tuesday, you probably would not have needed FOTL, especially during the early mornings. However, Wednesday, the crowds started pouring in. Thursday (Thanksgiving) was busy, but still manageable if you planned your day well. The Friday after...well, I would not have wanted to be there without FOTL. It was wall to wall people.

With younger children, I would definitely recommend staying onsite over a holiday weekend!

As for accomodations - if you want absolute budget busting, get a 2 queen room at the Royal Pacific. You can bring a cheap air mattress ($20.00 at Target) for one of the children. Royal Pacific will bring you extra blankets and pillows for it. It would be pretty tight, but manageable for one night. We have had 5 people in an RPR room for a week at a time and it was doable. It all depends on how well you all get along However, I must admit, now that our kids are older (teens) we do the larger rooms. I would have to agree with Damo that the Deluxe at HRH would be the best bet. Or you could look into the Deluxes at the Portofino. Most of the 2 queens also have a pull out sofa.

 

[bubba's mom]

To make you aware, if you stay onsite, dont' get the 1 day park ticket. Get the ticket damo recommended (I think it's only about $12 more for 6 more days )...but, when you stay onsite, your room key gets you the FOTL express the day you check IN and the day you check OUT....so, you'll get 2 days of express for 1 night stay.

 

[kelmac284]

Thanks guys!! That's why I needed your help cuz although I know a LOT about Disney I know nothing about UO and I knew I could count on you guys!!

 

[bubba's mom]

Been there, done that Kelly....I felt the same way when we took our first trip to UO last year.... always glad to help!

 

[damo]

Kelly, you can purchase the tickets at www.universalorlando.com or through AAA or Dreams Unlimited.

 

[Catrinabeach]

Kelly don't miss Universal. I've been to the Hollywood one too and the Orlando one is NOTHING like the Hollywood one. It has so many rides and my kids love it.

They chose the Orlando one over the Hollywood one now.

The rides are alot different between the 2 as well. Unless they did alot of changes to the Hollywood one since 2004.

The backlot tour at Hollywood had the Jaws, Earthquake in that building in it. In Orlando Jaws and Earthquake are separate rides.

The Planet Live show was better in Hollywood than Orlando though. We were just back there in Sept and went to see it again and still thought the Hollywood one was better lol.

I'd grab those 7 day tickets now before they go off sale and then you can go each day you are there if you want to.

We also did the off site last time and then onsite this time. Those FOTL passes were the greatest. And now we only want to stay onsite. It was so great to not have to wait forever in line.

 

[goofy!]

Thanks guys!! That's why I needed your help cuz although I know a LOT about Disney I know nothing about UO and I knew I could count on you guys!!

As Bubba's Mom said - been there done that. Actually, in my case, it is being there, doing that.

It has been a long time since we have spent any length of time at Disney. However, in March, we are required to stay with our daughter's cheer team onsite. (Although the rest of the family will be at the Portofino and drive over for the actual competitions).

However, since we are onsite, we might as well make the best of it. I feel totally out of my element.

So, we understand. Ask away. Many here (not myself - but many others) are extremely knowledgeable and extremely helpful. They are a great group of people always willing to help.

You will be a Universal expert in no time!