Novice needs help planning NYE trip to Universal

[ErikaG28]

All,

We are planning a surprise trip for our boys (9 and 12) between the dates of 12/28 and 1/2/21 to Orlando. The plan is to stay five nights and hit the following: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studies and Universal Studios. My older son's birthday is 1/1 so we want to be in one of the parks and ring in the New Year/his birthday in a big way. Our initial plan was to stay at the Hilton Tuscany Village and do Epcot on 12/31 simply because Epcot will be less insane than Magic Kingdom. However, upon researching it more, it seems while Epcot will be less of a madhouse, we'll still need to plan on spending most of the day there and getting back to the hotel will take a while (we are not renting a car and planned on using the hotel shuttle...not that it matters as I hear traffic is nuts on NYE).

Because I am fairly certain my kids wouldn't enjoy hanging out at Epcot (or any park for that matter) for 12+ hours (not to mention the wait to get back to the hotel) I started looking into other options. At this point I stumbled onto Universal hotels which are quite a bargain compared to Disney. I am now considering staying at Endless Summer (Dockside) and doing Universal Studios on 12/31, assuming that we can walk home from the park. That said, I have the following questions - if anyone can help me out, I'd appreciate it.

1. Google maps says the walk from the park to Endless Summer is about 35 minutes. Does anyone know if this walk is 'safe' (i.e., I don't need to cross a 10 lane highway or something like that)?

2. I believe I'd need to go through CityWalk in order to get home. CityWalk does a 21+ party on NYE - any idea whether we could pass through CityWalk in order to get home once the festivities are done?

3. How early would we need to get to Universal on 12/31 in order to get into the park? Or do I need to plan on camping out there all day?

4. How do the NYE celebrations within Universal Studios stack up? It seems like there is a show/music and all that...

Thanks for your help and all suggestions welcome!

 

[TommyJK]

The new Endless Summer resorts really aren't that walk-able to and from the parks. There are many multi-lane roads you would need to cross and really isn't that advisable. The resort has free park shuttles though that run very frequently.

That being said, NYE is a madhouse at Universal (I've never been but have read enough reports). But I'm not sure what you mean about "how early would you need to get to Universal....)? I guess perhaps you are asking if the park will reach capacity and if you need to get there early enough to ensure you get in? They do indeed reach capacity during the day but how early typcially I'm not sure.

If you're looking to walk/be closer, and are on a tight budget I'd perhaps have a look at either Cabana Bay or Aventura hotel. Both are much closer than Endless Summer and walk-able along a garden path that connects the hotels to the parks (although their buses are also quick and plentiful)

 

[macraven]

You have to walk through City Walk to reach your hotel bus
Bus runs back and forth regularly from specific hotel to City Walk

All the onsite hotels have free bus transportation to and from each hotel to the parks

Only onsite hotels that also have the water taxi from hotel to city walk are PB, HR, RP and SF
( they also have free shuttle bus service)

City walk crowds will gain more peeps in it once it is about 9 pm

At 11, it will be crowded
Live music in City Walk around that time makes large crowds there

December 31 is a very crowded time in the parks

I’ve started trips on January 1st and crowds were there in the afternoon in the parks

I hope you to ring in the New Year with your son for his birthday!
It will be an event he will always remember

I have to agree with @TommyJK that Cabana Bay would be a good choice

 

[Lynne G]

One year we did 28 to 31 December. Good thing is we stayed at Royal Pacific. The parks were packed, and even the express lanes were long, and some were closed, at times, as too many people. We found the best to ride the most popular rides, with the longest lines, was during the early hours, starting with the early entry hour. From around 10am or so, the crowds started to build. After the parks closed, CityWalk was also wall to wall people. Busy time of year for all the parks. Most kids are out of school at that time. So yeah, I'd stay where it's easy to get in and out of. If you are not going to want to pay the rate for Royal, I'd also see the price of Sapphire Falls. With SF, you get the water taxi. Not going to have to enter through CityWalk, is a good thing. Most of the time, the line for water taxis are not as long. Also, with SF, and Cabana, you have a walking path, that goes past Royal Pacific. If the boat line does not look long, I'd then hop on the boat for the rest of the way.

I hope you have fun, I love the decorations in the parks for the holidays.