Park tickets, # days, options ?

[caroline1851]

We're heading there in a few weeks (12/10 for 5 nights). It's my mom, dad, me, ds9 and dd6.

2 rooms so 2 of us will get the AP for the room discount. Now for the other tickets.....

Will we be bored with US and IOA for 4 days?
Shuold we plan on doing Sea World for a day?
Is there a shuttle from RPR to sea World?

I sort of wanted to go and see the Macy's parade on 12/10 arrival night but that would use up one of our days.....Leaving us only 3 more but with 4 days. If we decided not to do Sea World or something else for a day and wanted to add a 5th day, is that possible? I cant' seem to find any info on the Universal website giving this info.

Is it typically warm enough to swim in December?

Thanks so much for any help, advice or input of any kind.

 

[macraven]

all the onsite hotels provide a bus shuttle to SW for its guests.

sign up in the lobby concierge the day prior for your seats on the bus.


the rt transportation is free.



i go solo and never have run out of things to do at universal.
i stay 8 days.

spend time at each park for rides, shows and attractions.
take time for pictures with the characters.

if you take in all the shows and attractions (ie JP discovery center) you won't have time to hit all the rides.
you could easily spend 2 days in each park.

if you only rush through the parks and do highlights of certain rides, you will have time to spare. but, you will have missed a lot of what the park has to offer.

IOA: seuss section has alot of fun things to do and see.
don't over look the stores in that section
harry potter could take a couple of hours if you have crowds at the time you do this area.
sinbad show, mystic fountain, shops can become time consuming.

rest of the park has more for you to do and see.
take your time.

you still have the studios side of universal to visit, city walk shops/stores and cinema, hotel exploring, pool hopping to the other 2 parks if the weather is warm, dining in the hotels/citywalk, etc.


plan on 3 park days before you make a decision of returning for a 4th park day or seaworld.

 

[caroline1851]

Thanks for your input and ideas-awesome and helpful.

More questions:

Okay, so i buy the 4 day pass to include going at night for the parade on 12/10, then go on 12/11, 12/12 and 12/13. If I decide I want to go back to US or IOA on the 12/14, can i add another day pass to my already 4 day pass?

Also, If i'm having to buy 2 AP to get the rooms at a discount, do i need to buy the passes prior to check in or prior to check out?

Thanks!

 

[macraven]

if you are going to buy 2 AP's, do it the first day at guest services.
or buy them online which would be the best.

if you buy online, you will get a voucher.
the voucher is exchanged at gs for getting the ap

once you have the actual ap, you can get discounts.
you can get discounts for buying the other park tickets at the gate for a good discount.
you can get 10% off of food and merch in the parks and at the hotels.

so, if you are going to get the ap in order to get a discount for the room, buy the ap right away before you go into the parks.

why waste money .....
get it early in your trip and use it for discounts.

i don't think uo has the 5 day park passes, well, they didn't have that last month when i was there.
but, you can add days onto your present tickets at guest services.
call gs and ask them before you go.
see if you can add on to a 4 day park pass.

if not, you can get a discount at the gate for single day tickets by showing your ap.

you can book your room with the ap discount w/o actually having it at that point.

list yourself for one room and your husband in the other room so you get two discounted ap rooms.

you do not have to stay in separate rooms though.
your parents can stay in one and you and spouse in the other room that has been booked.

came back to edit.
no spouse on the trip.
who are you going to put on the second ap you buy?

 

[macraven]

try to do the parade, it is kewl.

i think the concert is on the 10th.
that will bring crowds into the park.

i know there has been a map put up by dark marauder before on the parade route.
i'll try to find it as if you stay in one section while others go to line up for the evening concert, you should be okay crowdwise.

 

[dolphindolls2]

Thanks for the info... we are going August 2012.

I've been crunching the numbers and it seems right now that the AP will not benefit me as I would have to spend $260 for one and I would only realize 10% discount on dining as the stay and save seems to be the better rate on site at RPH. (or am I missing something). So basically I will be spending $100 more to save 10% at restaurants. So to realize the savings vs what I spent, I would need to spend $1K in the restaurants and shops and I don't see that happening.

I will have to purchase tickets for the 2 kids but that will only save me $6.25 each w/15% off.

Will someone let me know if I'm missing something here... I'm trying to be cost efficient.

 

[macraven]

i would drop the ap rate and go with the smsm.

that is what i would do.

if you have the AAA card, you also can get 10% discounts on food and merch in the park.