Planning to Cross Over to the Dark Side- Need Your Help

[3smithboys]

I know we have a lot of time, but I am a planner! We have gone to Disney so many times, I could plan a trip there in my sleep.... But next August we are ready to visit Universal! We are going on a cruise on the Disney Dream August 12-16th and want to visit Universal for a few days either before or after (depending on which a is better price.)

Just to give some background... we are a family of 5....me, DH, and 3 DS (they will be 13, 8, and 8 next summer.)

We want to stay onsite and are thinking that 3 nights should be enough??? Some questions we have about how the park tickets work - Do you get into the parks early (like EMH at Disney)? Do you get the front of the line pass by staying onsite every day? Which of the 3 onsite hotels would you recommend for a family of 5 and why?

Is there a dining plan like at Disney and do people even bother with it? (I heard about something with wristbands and was wondering about that!?!?

We also have AAA - do we need to book through them to get a AAA discount? When is the best time/does Universal ever run specials for the summer??? (I just book Disney myself, not through an agent.)

Sorry for all of the questions...I feel lost, but we are really excited to cross over to the "dark side" next summer!

 

[phamton]

I'd start with this sticky thread first: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1353733 Some of your questions are answered there. But some of your others aren't. I'm sure you will get lots of help to plan your first trip. Welcome to the board.

 

[3smithboys]

Thanks! I've read through the sticky....hopefully, others will help out!

 

[damo]

I know we have a lot of time, but I am a planner! We have gone to Disney so many times, I could plan a trip there in my sleep.... But next August we are ready to visit Universal! We are going on a cruise on the Disney Dream August 12-16th and want to visit Universal for a few days either before or after (depending on which a is better price.)

Just to give some background... we are a family of 5....me, DH, and 3 DS (they will be 13, 8, and 8 next summer.)

We want to stay onsite and are thinking that 3 nights should be enough??? Some questions we have about how the park tickets work - Do you get into the parks early (like EMH at Disney)? Do you get the front of the line pass by staying onsite every day? Which of the 3 onsite hotels would you recommend for a family of 5 and why?

Is there a dining plan like at Disney and do people even bother with it? (I heard about something with wristbands and was wondering about that!?!?

We also have AAA - do we need to book through them to get a AAA discount? When is the best time/does Universal ever run specials for the summer??? (I just book Disney myself, not through an agent.)

Sorry for all of the questions...I feel lost, but we are really excited to cross over to the "dark side" next summer!

Your boys will love it! I wouldn't bother with the dining plan. It is just counter service and there are much better restaurants. You can book AAA through AAA or you can book through the normal reservations line. You can start looking for good deals at the beginning of th year. Just keep watching on the Universal hotels board. People tend to post new threads when good rates come out. There were some great deals this summer. If you check out the dates and rates thread on the Universal Hotels board, you can take a look for yourself and see if those rates are what you had in mind.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2245251

 

[3smithboys]

Thanks so much! It was very interesting to be able to see what others were paying this summer.... We are hoping there will also be good deals going next summer too! Does US let you change or give changes to ressies if better deals come out later? The boys (and DH and I) are excited to go, so I really hope we can make it work! (With the cruise we have to get a good deal...)

 

[damo]

Thanks so much! It was very interesting to be able to see what others were paying this summer.... We are hoping there will also be good deals going next summer too! Does US let you change or give changes to ressies if better deals come out later? The boys (and DH and I) are excited to go, so I really hope we can make it work! (With the cruise we have to get a good deal...)

Yes. You can change your rate just by giving them a call.

 

[3smithboys]

Yes. You can change your rate just by giving them a call.

Excellent! Thanks!!!

 

[La2kw]

Think about buying one AP, you will probably save money if the AP rates continue to be as good as they have been in previous years. HP may change all that. I don't like staying less than 4 nights, but 3 is fine too. Staying onsite gives you unlimited Universal Express pass for most of the rides, so think of it as an instant unlimited fastpass. That alone is worth the cost of the room, IMO. You can actually relax on vacation, unlike a WDW vacation. Keep in mind though, that they can change availability of the express pass. For example, Forbidden Journey is not offering it year, and sometimes it is limited to once per day. Skip the dining plan. It's only good at the worst of the fast food places (probably because no one else wants to eat there). The exception is Louie's Pizza which is pretty good. Definitely eat at Finnegan's Pub and Mythos and don't forget to use your AAA card everywhere for discounts. Snack stands, restaurants, shops, etc. all give you a AAA discount, unlike Disney which doesn't give many discounts ever.

My favorite resort is the Royal Pacific, which also happens to be the cheapest. We love the atmosphere and location, but we have stayed at the other two and like those as well. I recommend breakfast at Islands at least once. Also, Margaritaville and Hard Rock Cafe at Citywalk are very good, as is Tchoup Tchop at the RPR. Have fun planning, but it won't take you too long. Vacationing at Universal Orlando really is a vacation and doesn't require deciding where you want to eat 6 months ahead of time in order to make reservations, or getting up early to beat the lines, etc. Be prepared to relax, sleep in if you want, walk right onto the rides when you feel like it, etc. The only exception is Wizarding World, I do recommend getting to the park early for that, but who knows what next year brings as far as crowds or express pass, etc.

Oh, and I don't consider Universal the dark side. That would be WDW, which has done nothing but cut back on value year after year, while offering you less for your money as well.

 

[3smithboys]

Thank you for your help! I am happy to hear that planning for US is not as intense as planning for WDW... It will be a nice change to be able to not have to go commando! We are going to stay on site for use and most likely RPH will win out since it is the cheapest, and we are 5 people...

I know I have a lot of time to keep gathering info! Thanks again.

 

[Planogirl]

The Royal Pacific is a great resort and one nice thing, you can use the amenities at the other resorts. Yes, you can pool hop! I recommend staying at RP and visiting the Hard Rock pool while you're there. However, all three resorts are great. The Portofino is romantic but even it would be nice.

It's so easy to eat at Universal. Citywalk and the resorts are all within walking distance and if you get tired you can always ride the boat shuttle if you'd rather. There are a lot of good selections both in and outside the parks.