Offsite 5 days in June ..

[maggiew]

is it doable?? What will the crowds be like? Will we get to see everything??

We went to Universal a couple years ago and stayed at Portofino. We really LOVED the trip because it was so relaxing. We went to the parks mid morning, came back to the hotel to swim, went back to the park, then dinner at City Walk.

But this time I am thinking of staying offsite. I was reading another thread about a decent hotel for $55 per night. Plus with the BOGOF tickets, the trip could be around $500. If we stay onsite, it would be more like $1100.

What do you think? Go with the cheap version or does FOTL win??

A couple points that may influence your decision - I will NOT be able to get my family up and ready to be at park opening!! My kids are lazy and like to sleep in! Second, we are heading out for a cruise after Universal. Our main vacation is the cruise, and I am squeezing the Universal (or Disney) in. Price wise, we could afford either, but saving is nice too.

Maggie

 

[lindalinda]

I have done it both ways, on and off site. I am utterly spoiled. I would say of course you can do it. And if thats the way you can afford it, go for it. 5 days is enough, esp. if you dont try to push it and just let yourself wait in the lines and dont stress about it. But if your kids got the FOTL perks before, I bet they will whine big time waiting in those lines. I personally, wont stay off-site again. It was just tooooo great and tooo easy at the on-site hotels. (I just scrimp and save and go once every 18 months or so). But thats just me.

 

[macraven]

just a suggestion. you say you have 5 days for universal.

book one night on site and you will have the fotl for 2 days. the day you check in and the day you check out your fotl is valid until park closing.

spend the next 4 nights off site then.

stay on site the first night. off site the next 4 .
with 2 days of fotl, you will accomplish a lot.

 

[robvia]

Or you look into buying the express booklets.

That's really too bad the kids won't wake up early. You'll be arriving at about 11am when everyone else does. It means you'll be waiting in long lines for the major attractions. You could stay until closing, and then try the coasters as most people file out. Some people have done this, show up late, and stay until the very end.

Depending on when you go in June, the park stays open until 8, 9, or 10pm the last week.
http://themeparks.universalstudios....o_park_hours.html&year=2006&month=6&year=2006

If the kids complain about the long lines, tell them they need to wake up like a school day and arrive the park at 8am. If you do that, you'll get a lap of walk on rides.

 

[tbird89]

just a suggestion. you say you have 5 days for universal.

book one night on site and you will have the fotl for 2 days. the day you check in and the day you check out your fotl is valid until park closing.

spend the next 4 nights off site then.

stay on site the first night. off site the next 4 .
with 2 days of fotl, you will accomplish a lot.

I totally agree with macraven. Book for only 1 night and get FOTL for 2 days. I do this every year.

 

[maggiew]

I guess if I book one night at RPR, I might as well book all 4 there. The kids would probably be disappointed without FOTL.

Maggie

 

[maggiew]

Well I asked DH if he would stay offsite if I could get a REALLY cheap deal. And he said, "Universal isn't Universal without FOTL." I guess if I'm forced to stay at RPR, I can live with it.

Maggie