Please Help 1st trip ever

[Disneyfanatic36]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to plan our first ever trip to Universal. We have been to Disney 11 times in the past 13 years and want to try Universal this time. We are going March 2010 and plan on visiting Disney while we are there for the biggest portion of the time. My DD 16 and DH love roller coasters but I am a big chicken. Motion simulaters like Star Tours, Body Wars, Mission to Space make me very sick to the stomach. Is there anything there that I will like? I am willing to sacrifice a little for their enjoyment but am just wondering if there will be anything for me to do.

Finances are a concern, but I have heard it is worth the money to stay onsite for front of the line privaleges.

our tenative plan is to check in to Royal Pacific for one night so we can enjoy 2 days worth of front of the line privaleges ( the day we stay and the day of checkout) Does this really work that way. We then plan to move to Port Orleans French Quarter for the Pay 4 stay 7 deal without dining.( again, I love dining but cost is a concern). The tickets to Universal for 2 day are 99.99 or you can buy the 7 day at Costco for 119.99. Are there any better deals? The night at the Royal Pacific is 294.00 before taxes plus parking. Will I be able to get a better deal? The total cost of Disney is 1785.18.
I figure another thousand for food and spending money. Can any budget minded people tell me if this is OK. What can I do different.
Any comments of advice is welcomed.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[schewy]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to plan our first ever trip to Universal. We have been to Disney 11 times in the past 13 years and want to try Universal this time. We are going March 2010 and plan on visiting Disney while we are there for the biggest portion of the time. My DD 16 and DH love roller coasters but I am a big chicken. Motion simulaters like Star Tours, Body Wars, Mission to Space make me very sick to the stomach. Is there anything there that I will like? I am willing to sacrifice a little for their enjoyment but am just wondering if there will be anything for me to do.

Finances are a concern, but I have heard it is worth the money to stay onsite for front of the line privaleges.

our tenative plan is to check in to Royal Pacific for one night so we can enjoy 2 days worth of front of the line privaleges ( the day we stay and the day of checkout) Does this really work that way. We then plan to move to Port Orleans French Quarter for the Pay 4 stay 7 deal without dining.( again, I love dining but cost is a concern). The tickets to Universal for 2 day are 99.99 or you can buy the 7 day at Costco for 119.99. Are there any better deals? The night at the Royal Pacific is 294.00 before taxes plus parking. Will I be able to get a better deal? The total cost of Disney is 1785.18.
I figure another thousand for food and spending money. Can any budget minded people tell me if this is OK. What can I do different.
Any comments of advice is welcomed.

Thanks in advance for any help.

First, you and your family will love Universal Orlando. My family has been several times and we always stay on site. I have stayed at the Royal Pacific for most trips. I have also stayed at the Hard Rock too. The Royal Pacific is usually less expensive. If you stay on site you have a seperate entrance to most rides and shows. You just show you hotel key and they let you in the seperate entrance. I once rode the Mummy ride 3 times within 30 minutes when the main line was 90 minute wait. It is worth it to me to pay extra not to stand in line. If you stay offsite you can purchase fast pass type tickets that will let you enter the special lines one time each. Not good if you are repeat riders like my family. If you go in March, you may run into the spring breakers and the parks can be crowded. Staying onsite during this time is a must.
Your thinking is correct on the day you check in and the day you check out, receiving 2 days.
Check the price of season passes. My family has had 2 park 2 annual year passes and they were cheaper than purchasing tickets twice if you visited the parks at least twice in two years. Plus you got a discount on food and drinks in the parks.
Be aware that all Universal Property hotels charge you to park at their hotels.
I also get motion sickness from the same rides you described at Disney. I have not experienced motion sickness on any rides at Universal except the Simpson ride. It is similar to Star Tours.
Universal Studios is more like DHS. They do a a few roller coaster. Islands of Adventure is more thrill rides. They are seperated by an area like DTD with entrances on opposite sides.
Whichever you decide I am sure your family will have fun.