New to Universal - I need some help planning my days!

[Stephen's Mom]

Hi - we are doing a split stay between WDW and Universal in August. We will be checking out of Saratoga Springs early on the 24th and will be driving to the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal. We are spending 2 nights there and then leaving the evening of the 26th to check in at the Polynesian in WDW. We want to do all 3 parks at Universal but I keep flip flopping on what order to do them in and it's making me crazy!

Even though I want to leave early on the day we check out of Saratoga, my family tends to be a little poky so I don't think we'll get to the Hard Rock in time to get an early start at US or IOA so I thought maybe it would be best to try VB that day. Our room won't be ready when we get there so I thought we could come with our bathing suits on under our clothes, leave our bags at guest services at the hotel and spend the day at VB until our room is ready that afternoon.

I'm not sure about which order to do the other 2 parks. Are there more water rides at IOA than US? If so, I think I would do that park on the 2nd day while we still have our hotel room to go back to and change if we want. We will have to check out on our last day and leave our bags at the hotel while we tour the 3rd park so I was hoping not to get drenched that day (well, other than sweat!).

Am I missing anything? If anyone thinks a different strategy would be better I would love to hear it! My family has no opinion - they just told me to do what I want. We don't have a lot of time and we've never been to Universal so I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I thought I would reserve Premium seating at VB and maybe buy EP for there so I need to be sure which day to pick. Sorry for the long post!

 

[pcstang]

Sounds like a good plan. There are no water rides at US. You are almost guaranteed to get drenched on at least two of the three water rides at IOA. I think your plan sounds solid. Not sure about express at VB as nobody knows how it will be yet.

 

[mjhtvchick]

I agree with pstang - sounds like a good plan to me and can't really offer any input re VB.

While there are no water rides at US, there is water in the Kids Zone area if you have little kids and are planning to visit that area. All the rides where you will get soaked - Dudley DoRight, Blutos and Jurassic Park River Adventure - are at IOA. So sounds like you will want to do those either early on Day 2, then head back to the hotel to swim, eat, get changed and then head back to the parks or do them last thing in the day before you head back to the hotel.

 

[Stephen's Mom]

Thanks very much! My boys are 18 and 13 so no need to worry about the Kids Zone area! I had to laugh at my username - probably should change it since I set it up a long time ago when we only had one kid .