Planning Help

[mikeysmom]

We are normally a WDW family but we thought we would be adventurous and try out Universal/IOA and Sea World. We have never been to any of this parks and are very excited to try something different.

Here's the thing I don't even know if what I am thinking is right.

My plan is this:
May 8th arrive in Orland at 4pm rent a car and drive to hotel (not sure which one).
I definitly want to stay onsite at Universal to use the FOTL benefit. I don't know which one though. When we stay at WDW we are usually deluxe people for the atmosphere.
My family consists of Me (31) my husband (32) and my son (6) so room size really isn't an issue. My husband likes to have a balcony and my son and I like a nice pool. I am leaning toward the RPH because of price. I got a price online of average $220 per nt. I am thinking the best deal is this and the tix online for unlimited $85.99

We are staying until the 11th so 3 nts.
Has anyone ever been over mother's day weekend and are the crowds crazy? Will we really use FOTL???

Our plan is to go to US all day Friday (9th) and
IOA Sat (10th) I read that IOA closes early that friday (9th) for elementry grad nt or something like that.

On Sunday the 11th (Mother's Day) we are planning on going to Sea World

and then after Sea World we are driving to Ft. Myers Beach (4 hrs) until the 17th.

My other concern is we have never been to SW and I want to know how long of a day is it and if we get there before opening will we have seen everything by 5pm? There is no time limit on when we have to get to Ft. Myers but I really don't want to be driving in the middle of the night on roads we have never been on. The park closes at 7pm that day. Are there end of the day shows like in wdw that we would miss?

Also, do you guys think that SW will be crazy that day because it's Mother's Day? How about my plan for Universal. Will we have enough time? We have the first nt too to go to a park or city walk.

Thank you in advance and sorry for the long post.

-Meg

 

[bubba's mom]

My plan is this:
May 8th arrive in Orland at 4pm rent a car and drive to hotel (not sure which one).
I definitly want to stay onsite at Universal to use the FOTL benefit. I don't know which one though. When we stay at WDW we are usually deluxe people for the atmosphere.

all onsite hotels are 4 star hotels....better than Disney deluxes

My family consists of Me (31) my husband (32) and my son (6) so room size really isn't an issue. My husband likes to have a balcony and my son and I like a nice pool. I am leaning toward the RPH because of price. I got a price online of average $220 per nt. I am thinking the best deal is this and the tix online for unlimited $85.99

first, you most likely will not get a balcony at RPR....if they have ANY, it's very few...
second, your rate sounds good....was it AAA rate? Park tickets are a good deal!

We are staying until the 11th so 3 nts.
Has anyone ever been over mother's day weekend and are the crowds crazy? Will we really use FOTL???

have never been at Mother's Day...but, yes, not only will you USE fotl, it will SPOIL you

Our plan is to go to US all day Friday (9th) and
IOA Sat (10th) I read that IOA closes early that friday (9th) for elementry grad nt or something like that.

On Sunday the 11th (Mother's Day) we are planning on going to Sea World

and then after Sea World we are driving to Ft. Myers Beach (4 hrs) until the 17th.

your roomkey (fotl) is good the entire day you checkout...and you'll have the 7 day tickets...I'd plan on revisiting your favorite things that day you checkout before you head to SW.

My other concern is we have never been to SW and I want to know how long of a day is it and if we get there before opening will we have seen everything by 5pm? There is no time limit on when we have to get to Ft. Myers but I really don't want to be driving in the middle of the night on roads we have never been on. The park closes at 7pm that day. Are there end of the day shows like in wdw that we would miss?

sorry...can't help here...but someone else might be able to....(or the SW boards)

Also, do you guys think that SW will be crazy that day because it's Mother's Day? How about my plan for Universal. Will we have enough time? We have the first nt too to go to a park or city walk.

Thank you in advance and sorry for the long post.

-Meg

As long as you're staying onsite, and have fotl, you have enough time at Universal.

Don't forget if you have AAA, show your card at shopping and dining for discount

 

[mikeysmom]

Thanks for the quick reply!!!

I do have AAA and the rate I got was on the universal website, it was a supersaver rate. The AAA rate was a little higher.

Do you know if the other hotels have balconies?

Thanks again!

 

[bubba's mom]

Do you know if the other hotels have balconies?

Thanks again!

I think at the PBH, just the suites and higher value rooms.

I don't know if any at Hard Rock do....like I said, if they do, they are few and far between.....

 

[mikeysmom]

yeah, I told my husband that he is just going to have to deal with out a balcony for 3 nts. When we go to Ft. Myers we are staying on the beach at a beautiful resort and our room overlooks the gulf and we will hav a huge balcony there.
I am going to book rph just for the price aspect. I am sure it's beautiful.

Thanks again for you help

 

[debandbill]

I think you will be very pleased with RPR (even without balconies)...its very nice and fun. Don't worry that you might be missing out by not booking the higher priced HRH and PBR...they are really nice but not enough to even give second thoughts to. You will be very happy with your decision.

Deb

 

[mikeysmom]

thanks! I am going to book today.

 

[msr709]

The last time we went to SW they did have a end of the night show, which if I remember correctly was the biggest show but it was just longer, than the one during the day with Shamu. I think now its "Believe" show that is shown at the end of the day. SW can take you all day if you want to do every single thing but you can cut it down if you have in mind the biggest shows, The Manatees exhibit, the Shark Encounter, Dolphin Show, Clyde & Seamore (seal show) and of course, The Shamu show are the biggest I can remember, we weren't interested in the horse one. For more insight, I would go over to the SW threads. HTH

 

[AlexandNessa]

Just to reaffirm, RPR and HRH = No balconies at all.

PBH: only, I believe, 6-9% of the rooms have balconies. You can try to request one, but it is not guaranteed. You can sort through the sticky up top on PBH room assignments to figure out what rooms people have stayed in with balconies.

It's been my experience that there are lots of school groups early/mid May, so I'm pretty sure you'd welcome unlimited express (aka FOTL) during that time.