New to Universal

[tguz]

We have never been to Universal Orlando before, always Disney. We are thinking about changing our Nov Disney vaca to Universal. Are the Dockside and Surfside Inn's similar to Disney's All Star Resorts? It looks like if we buy 5 day tickets with a package, we can only go to Epic on 1 day. Is that correct? Any other comments or suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I like Dockside & Surfside, and for the price they really can't be beat. The bus transportation is very smooth and frequent. Hotels are pretty new, finished within the last few years, and clean.

Yes, only one day at Epic with any 2025 tickets.

 

[Orsino]

I'm also trying to plan a trip to Universal and don't know what I'm doing. I looked at a package and if you buy the tickets with the room, it appears that you can go into Epic more than one day, but I'm not 100% sure. Seems silly to buy a 5 day ticket and only be able to go into epic one day. (We are going for fewer days so the restriction isn't as bad for us).

Edit to add: I went to the website and checked. With a package you can get tickets that are good all days for Epic. For a 5 Day trip that seems like the way to go, especially if you are already planning to stay on Universal property. We only want 2 days, so we might get the restricted ticket anyway.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

With a package you can get tickets that are good all days for Epic.

Is this 2026?

 

[tguz]

I'm also trying to plan a trip to Universal and don't know what I'm doing. I looked at a package and if you buy the tickets with the room, it appears that you can go into Epic more than one day, but I'm not 100% sure. Seems silly to buy a 5 day ticket and only be able to go into epic one day. (We are going for fewer days so the restriction isn't as bad for us).

Edit to add: I went to the website and checked. With a package you can get tickets that are good all days for Epic. For a 5 Day trip that seems like the way to go, especially if you are already planning to stay on Universal property. We only want 2 days, so we might get the restricted ticket anyway.

Thanks. I don't know what I am doing either. We have never researched Universal at all. I'm trying to figure things out.

 

[Orsino]

Is this 2026?

Yes

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Yes

Multi-day tickets for 2026 aren't restricted to one Epic day. Only 2025. Packaging makes no difference.

 

[Orsino]

Multi-day tickets for 2026 aren't restricted to one Epic day. Only 2025. Packaging makes no difference.

Oh! Interesting. I could have sworn that I was reading verbiage that said only one entry to Epic on the 2026 tickets I was considering.

 

[titojackson84]

I’m a big fan of surf side (haven’t stayed at dock side). The price is good, the food court area was good, you can walk across the street to Walgreens (milk is much more expensive at the hotel). The bus ride to and from the parks is short), they have suites that have an extra bedroom if you need it.

I haven’t stayed at the all stars but have stayed at pop and would say it’s somewhat similar to that. Surf side doors are internal though.

I liked it so much more than Aventura. I’m staying at stella nova in August to try it out since it’s close to epic, otherwise I would stay at surf side again.