New to Universal feeling very overwhelmed

[NJOYURLIFE]

We have never been to Universal even though we have been to Disney many many many times. I just booked 1 night at Portofino Bay because the main reason we are going is for Harry Potter. We will already be in Orlando the night before, so we hope to get 2 full days of early admission and front of the line access.

After checking out the ticket prices, I am seriously considering getting annual passes with the flex pay option. Even though we will only be onsite for 1 night, we will be in Orlando for about 2 weeks this trip and will probably be back in Orlando next June. We always get Disney annual passes and use them for at least 2 trips. My question here: Is there enough to see and do at Universal that would make it worthwhile to head there for more than the 2 full days that we already have planned for there?

and my last question: what book would you recommend getting in order to get myself up to speed on Universal and all it offers?

Thank you in advance! I am very excited, but also very nervous.

 

[damo]

The is the best book...http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Orl...0905/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311374891&sr=8-1

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

Thank you!

 

[Metro West]

After checking out the ticket prices, I am seriously considering getting annual passes with the flex pay option. Even though we will only be onsite for 1 night, we will be in Orlando for about 2 weeks this trip and will probably be back in Orlando next June. We always get Disney annual passes and use them for at least 2 trips. My question here: Is there enough to see and do at Universal that would make it worthwhile to head there for more than the 2 full days that we already have planned for there?

You can easily spend three days doing both parks and then having a day to relax by the pool and/or returning to the parks for the favorites. Plus the AP discounts for the onsite hotels are well worth it.

 

[Melanie230]

We have never been to Universal even though we have been to Disney many many many times. I just booked 1 night at Portofino Bay because the main reason we are going is for Harry Potter. We will already be in Orlando the night before, so we hope to get 2 full days of early admission and front of the line access.

After checking out the ticket prices, I am seriously considering getting annual passes with the flex pay option. Even though we will only be onsite for 1 night, we will be in Orlando for about 2 weeks this trip and will probably be back in Orlando next June. We always get Disney annual passes and use them for at least 2 trips. My question here: Is there enough to see and do at Universal that would make it worthwhile to head there for more than the 2 full days that we already have planned for there?

and my last question: what book would you recommend getting in order to get myself up to speed on Universal and all it offers?

Thank you in advance! I am very excited, but also very nervous.

If you can manage Disney you can breeze Universal Studios! It is a much more relaxing vacation (IMHO)! Here is a video from the site: https://www.universalorlando.com/vacationplanning/vacationplanning.aspx

Also if you scroll to the bottom of the page you can print maps. You are going to love it! Have a blast!

 

[carmiedog]

After checking out the ticket prices, I am seriously considering getting annual passes with the flex pay option. Even though we will only be onsite for 1 night, we will be in Orlando for about 2 weeks this trip and will probably be back in Orlando next June. We always get Disney annual passes and use them for at least 2 trips. My question here: Is there enough to see and do at Universal that would make it worthwhile to head there for more than the 2 full days that we already have planned for there?

YES! Especially if you have kids. We spent a full week on-site, and kept ourselves busy. Besides doing the rides multiple times (so nice to be able to tell the kids "yes" instead of "sorry, we don't have time."), our kids spent hours in the Jurassic park area and Curious George ball factory (older kids and adults, too!). They spent a long time on Olive Oyle's ship squirting people on the rafts down below. You could spend a good while in Toon area with all the photo opportunities. etc., etc. At Disney, even with fastpass and a touring plan, we don't have much time for "play." There was still a lot we DIDN'T do. I've started planning our next Orlando trip which is to Disney, but keep wishing it was time to do Universal again instead. I can't say how our experience would have been if we had stayed offsite, but the posted wait times still looked manageable compared to our home park Cedar Point.

 

[nytimez]

Agree with all the previous posters -- just want to add: Don't feel overwhelmed. Universal is a much more compact and manageable experience than Disney. Three hotels, two parks and they're all more or less within walking distance.

Don't feel you have to go commando (but do take advantage of Harry Potter early entry at least once) and don't feel the need to overplan -- with Express Pass, you'll get to do everything with little wait (except for FJ and Rip Ride Rockit).

In other words... relax and enjoy.

 

[CampbellScot]

We did the exact same thing...one night at Portofino Bay so we could make use of the FOTL passes and early entrance into Harry Potter!!! This is going to be a "check it out" trip for us. We'll get our Harry Potter high on, do the big roller coasters and get the lay of the land. Then we are heading to Disney for a week! This is the first year the kids are old enough to really appreciate and enjoy the large coasters. I'm the big Harry Potter dork of the family so that one is mostly for me (can't WAIT to get my hands on a Butterbeer!!!), but everyone is VERY excited for the new experience! This quickie stop at Universal will help us decide what we want to do next year.

Wishing you all a wonderful and exciting trip!!!

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

Thanks everyone! I am also the Harry Potter fan in our family, which is the big reason for the Universal visit.

 

[torinsmom]

We stayed a week in 2009 and found lots to do. I bought us APs this year, as we are going in August. We'll be going back in June next year and may possibly make it in October(2011)for a quick trip as well. Using PL for a hotel and having APs already, it would be a cheap trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

Wait, flex pay is for anyone? I thought it was FL residents, and now I'm even more bummed that I didn't do APs for our December trip.....aughhhhh.

Sorry OP for my breakdown there LOL, you've obviously already researched this more, and more clearly, than I did for our December trip (and our upcoming September trip, for which we get to buy new tickets).

Universal's fabulous. You'll have a great time!

 

[Phypher]

We pretty much skip Disney now (except Epcot) and just do Universal and Seaworld. Islands of Adventure is definitely somewhere you can visit on concurrent days without getting bored because the rides are simply so fantastic. Even without HP, the Hulk, Spiderman, Jurassic Park are fabulous and definitely run round and get back on rides!!
Universal Studios itself is pretty good for a day, though I could do Terminator and Simpsons again and again, and Shrek once or twice.
Nearly a year till we go again :-(((

 

[macraven]

to the darkside!

hope you return soon..


i just love it when a newbie makes their first post on the darkside forums..

 

[damo]

Just a little extra info about flex pay.

When you do not use flex pay, there is a significant discount when you renew. It is about $70 cheaper to renew. However, flex pay people do not get the renewal...they continue to pay the same monthly price they always pay.

If you want to get the renewal discount for the second year, you need to stop your flexpay by notifying them within 30 days of your last payment. Then you need to tell them you want to renew but pay the cost normally in its entirety.

Also remember that flexpay continues to charge unless you notify them. So you will automatically continue paying your monthly fee into subsequent years.

 

[torinsmom]

Just a little extra info about flex pay.

When you do not use flex pay, there is a significant discount when you renew. It is about $70 cheaper to renew. However, flex pay people do not get the renewal...they continue to pay the same monthly price they always pay.

If you want to get the renewal discount for the second year, you need to stop your flexpay by notifying them within 30 days of your last payment. Then you need to tell them you want to renew but pay the cost normally in its entirety.

Also remember that flexpay continues to charge unless you notify them. So you will automatically continue paying your monthly fee into subsequent years.

So once I activate, I need to cancel by the 11 month mark, correct? I don't plan on renewing. We are using our APs for our August trip and a June trip next year. I figure we will then get new APs for 2013-2014 if we think we will be going back(DS graduates HS next year, so I don't know if he will go with me every year)

 

[damo]

So once I activate, I need to cancel by the 11 month mark, correct? I don't plan on renewing. We are using our APs for our August trip and a June trip next year. I figure we will then get new APs for 2013-2014 if we think we will be going back(DS graduates HS next year, so I don't know if he will go with me every year)

Yup, as long as you let them know by the 11 month mark, they will cancel at the end of your first year.

 

[Anc96]

I also thought that flexpay was for Florida residents only. How can I do the flexpay? I'd like to buy an annual pass to stay a night on property. With the money I'd save on the hotel (about $70) and parking (for the 4 days we plan on spending at the parks, $15 a day = $60), and of course 2 days of express pass! an annual pass is well worth it.
When I try to find it online, it keeps giving me the Florida resident page. It makes me put in my zip code and it tells me it's not valid for the offer

Any help is appreciated! We are so excited to finally be seeing the Harry Potter park!

Also, if I have an annual pass, can I get a discount on a multi-day ticket?

TIA

 

[Planogirl]

I just want to add to be sure to enjoy those amazing resort pools. If you have extra time you can hop on the boat transport and check out the other pools. Yes, you can pool hop and it was one of DH's and DS' favorite things to do when we stayed onsite.

 

[torinsmom]

I also thought that flexpay was for Florida residents only. How can I do the flexpay? I'd like to buy an annual pass to stay a night on property. With the money I'd save on the hotel (about $70) and parking (for the 4 days we plan on spending at the parks, $15 a day = $60), and of course 2 days of express pass! an annual pass is well worth it.
When I try to find it online, it keeps giving me the Florida resident page. It makes me put in my zip code and it tells me it's not valid for the offer

Any help is appreciated! We are so excited to finally be seeing the Harry Potter park!

Also, if I have an annual pass, can I get a discount on a multi-day ticket?

TIA

Here you go--this is the link I used--

http://www.universalorlando.com/Tickets/Annual_Passholders/non_fl_annualpass.aspx?ComponentId=12956&SourcePageId=7805#5

I believe it's a 15% discount on multi-day tickets. You also get free parking.

 

[Anc96]

Here you go--this is the link I used--

http://www.universalorlando.com/Tickets/Annual_Passholders/non_fl_annualpass.aspx?ComponentId=12956&SourcePageId=7805#5

I believe it's a 15% discount on multi-day tickets. You also get free parking.

I must be missing it I click on the tickets and find the annual passes, then if I go to the flexpay option and choose purchase, I get a "state of residency" which won't accept anything but a Florida answer, and zip.
Maybe I'll try calling tomorrow. Too tired tonight.

Thanks for trying to help