Returning member with Universal questions!!

[mya1k9]

I'm trying to plan to take my 10 year old twins to universal, I am over the top excited, they have never been there and it's been a really long time for me. I have many questions for the experienced people but I'll try to keep it to a minimum!!! My first is should we go over spring break or the second week of June? My husband is adamant that they are not taken out of school so those are my choices, I looked at the crowd calender but am looking for real peoples opinion on crowds and wait times. For both parks, number of days a first timer should purchase to see everything?? Also, is it worth it for the early entry or should I save money on a cheaper hotel?? Harry Potter is a primary destination. Last question of the day, I had hoped to also do Discovery cove and SeaWorld, will I need a rental car or are there shuttle buses to get you to and from?? Thank you so much for any and all advice!! Looking so forward to reading this board!!

 

[damo]

I'm trying to plan to take my 10 year old twins to universal, I am over the top excited, they have never been there and it's been a really long time for me. I have many questions for the experienced people but I'll try to keep it to a minimum!!! My first is should we go over spring break or the second week of June? My husband is adamant that they are not taken out of school so those are my choices, I looked at the crowd calender but am looking for real peoples opinion on crowds and wait times. For both parks, number of days a first timer should purchase to see everything?? Also, is it worth it for the early entry or should I save money on a cheaper hotel?? Harry Potter is a primary destination. Last question of the day, I had hoped to also do Discovery cove and SeaWorld, will I need a rental car or are there shuttle buses to get you to and from?? Thank you so much for any and all advice!! Looking so forward to reading this board!!

If you are going to stay onsite, it doesn't really matter when you go, because your express pass will be a huge help. If you aren't staying onsite, I'd go second week of June. I would do 3 days at the parks. There is a shuttle from Universal to Seaworld, you just need to book the day before.

 

[tony67]

I think there are shuttle buses to seaworld on a first come first serve basis- I suspect someone will have details on that but I think you get a ticket the night before from the concierge - Uber is also a reasonable option I assume

I'd probably choose June over spring break - but it will be hotter and you could get June bugs I'd assume

Since many of the HP rides don't have express pass the early entry is a good option if your sure you can get there at least 20 - 30 minutes before the early open time. I was just here and the early open was 7AM - Just way too early.

Also - You don't get express pass at Cabana Bay or Sapphire - so keep that in mind.

It you only want to do HP then two days is more than enough...I'd try to do three though - there is a lot more to do than HP and the weather can affect things.
For example the Dueling Dragons was closed for a few hours because of the storms in the area - there are a lot of people that were only there for the day that were pretty annoyed.

 

[bumbershoot]

When is your spring break?

We always stay onsite. For our first trip we thought we were going for Harry Potter. And then we fell in love with the whole place. Having the express pass is too good to give up, so we have yet to stay at CB or SF. It's the big three hotels for us.

 

[bumbershoot]

For example the Dueling Dragons was closed for a few hours because of the storms in the area - there are a lot of people that were only there for the day that were pretty annoyed.

. One imagines they would have been more than annoyed to be hit by lightning!

 

[tony67]

. One imagines they would have been more than annoyed to be hit by lightning!

True..but that does not stop them from complaining to the poor cast member that has to tell them...for me it was an excuse to have a few pints in the pub..so no problem there..expect the prices....

 

[mya1k9]

Thank you very much, we would be doing spring break from April 9 to 15 or something like that. I am so new to this that I don't even know the big three hotels, I was just looking at the Holiday Inn with funjet because it seemed the cheapest but early entry may be the way to go. Keep the advice coming, thanks for taking the time to respond!!

 

[Squirlz]

Shuttle goes to Seaworld, reserve it the day before as others have said. We used Uber to get back, and also to get to DC and back. Less than 8 dollars each trip.

 

[bchbetha]

June. Spring break Easter week is awful. Even with express passes, crowds will be an issue. Like, good luck getting through Hogsmeade crowded. Not enjoyable. What about things like MLK Jr or Presidents Day? Any longer but less popular holidays you could use for vacation? They'll still be crowded but better.

 

[mya1k9]

Thank you, I thought of those holidays but they won't be long enough, I was hoping for 6 to 7 days and they would miss a few days of school, which, according to my husband is the end of the world !!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you very much, we would be doing spring break from April 9 to 15 or something like that. I am so new to this that I don't even know the big three hotels, I was just looking at the Holiday Inn with funjet because it seemed the cheapest but early entry may be the way to go. Keep the advice coming, thanks for taking the time to respond!!

That timing means the week before Easter. I'm not sure if that's the busiest time or if it's the week after. Either way, though...since many other people have spring breaks around that time (not everyone, though, which is why I asked...the schools in my area tend to have spring break in March not April), it means that all of those people are looking to travel somewhere. And Orlando is a big attraction.

The three that include early entry to Wizarding World AND unlimited Express Pass are Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel, and Portofino Bay Hotel. The other two, which only include early entry, are Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls.

If you're going to stay offsite, by popularity with people I trust immensely here, and looking into their perks, look at the Drury Inn closeby.

Thank you, I thought of those holidays but they won't be long enough, I was hoping for 6 to 7 days and they would miss a few days of school, which, according to my husband is the end of the world !!!

Have you found out why he feels that way? How do the kids' teachers feel? Many teachers are happy when kids travel because they know how great it is. How do the KIDS feel about missing school?

 

[angryduck71]

Royal Pacific is the cheapest of the "big three." You will get express passes there and it's a short walk or boat ride to parks. You can get stay more, save more if you stay 3 nights or more. You can also get an annual pass discount if one of you gets an annual pass (check universal website for the different kinds of annual passes). I have already booked for the last week of May/first week of June under stay more/save more. I may rebook if it's cheaper to do an annual pass discount. I noticed the rate is already higher than when I booked, so if you decide to stay, book. You can always rebook it you find a better rate.

 

[ohiopugmom]

Hi! I am no expert, but a similar situation to you guys! I was deciding between spring break and early june, and am going with early june for crowds and costs....I am doing a split stay - RPR for universal for express pass and early entry and Residence inn orlando for the seaworld part of the trip because there are some good packages and it is so much cheaper than the universal big 3!

 

[Andysol]

Thank you very much, we would be doing spring break from April 9 to 15 or something like that. I am so new to this that I don't even know the big three hotels, I was just looking at the Holiday Inn with funjet because it seemed the cheapest but early entry may be the way to go. Keep the advice coming, thanks for taking the time to respond!!

At least for the universal portions- I highly highly highly recommend staying on-site for the express passes alone- early entry is overrated for me as I prefer the Harry Potter areas in the evening once the crowds clear.

I've always had express passes except this Labor Day weekend at sapphire falls- which was a holiday weekend- and while enjoyable, it was way more stressful and I had to have a touring strategy to ride anything without a significant wait. Express passes all the way.

 

[mya1k9]

I really appreciate the on-site advice, I will look more into that!!! In reply to Bumbershoot, that's just the way my husband is, very type A. The kids, nor I or the teachers care if they missus school, they are good students but I will coincide this because I know how much he hates the amount of money this trip will cost!

 

[bumbershoot]

I really appreciate the on-site advice, I will look more into that!!! In reply to Bumbershoot, that's just the way my husband is, very type A. The kids, nor I or the teachers care if they missus school, they are good students but I will coincide this because I know how much he hates the amount of money this trip will cost!

Well I'm not sure how being type A correlates to not skipping school (seems that planning it out and having homework schedules planned out etc would be fun for a type A), but if money is his language, going when it is NOT a common school break time will be much cheaper!!!

And it might be easier to get the vacation time off for the one or two of you that work.