JC Butterfly
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 8, 1999
Hello All-
Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me weigh the pros and cons of this debate. I just don't have a personal point of reference so I need HELP!
I have been to Orlando approximately 7 times. A shuttle picks me up at the airport, takes me to Disney, I have a faboulous time being escorted by the Disney bus to every attraction, and when I'm done the shuttle takes me back to the airport! Everything feels "all-inclusive" and I never question my safety.
A couple of months ago, my favorite group NSYNC decided to have their celebrity basketball game at the TD Waterhouse and to nominate Universal Studios as their "weekend hangout" (who knew there was another theme park in Orlando?!). So now I am planning a relatively quick trip to the area (I usually start budgeting 1 year in advance . . . this is like 4 months in advance).
So I have been desperately reading these boards trying to find out everything I can about Universal. The trip is the end of July which in my opionion is the most miserable time of year to go because of the heat & crowds but NSYNC didn't ask me! So now I see that all of these hotels are w/in a couple of miles of Universal. When I think of that in Disney terms, I can't think of a single off-site resort that I would consider within walking distance (except maybe Downtown Disney).
So I'm wondering,am I asking for disaster by expecting to walk from an off-site place to the theme parks?
Is it safe to walk from City Walk to one of the "off-site" hotels late at night as two young women? I don't question Pleasure Island much at all but I'm not sure about City Walk.
I have found the Crowne Plaza, Comfort Suites, and others in a $60-$70 a night price range. My budget can handle this pretty OK. I have never stayed in a hotel that cost more than $100 a night so I simply have no point of reference for what I might be missing out on.
I will arrive on Thursday July 25th around 6:00. I will have all day Friday to spend at the parks. Saturday I will leave mid-day for about 3 hours for an NSYNC event and Sunday I will be busy all morning & afternoon, returning to the parks around 5:00. I will have all day Monday at the parks.
Based on crowd levels, would I have enough time to see everything without having an all day Express pass?
Since this is peak season I could stay at the RP for $129 a night or the HRH for $167 a night and I'm just not sure I can justify the cost.
But if all of you think I will be miserable trying to see the parks in the heat or not all that safe, I will have to seriously reconsider (after all, what's a little more credit card debt?)
Thanks so much for all of your advice & opinions!
Brenda
Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me weigh the pros and cons of this debate. I just don't have a personal point of reference so I need HELP!
I have been to Orlando approximately 7 times. A shuttle picks me up at the airport, takes me to Disney, I have a faboulous time being escorted by the Disney bus to every attraction, and when I'm done the shuttle takes me back to the airport! Everything feels "all-inclusive" and I never question my safety.
A couple of months ago, my favorite group NSYNC decided to have their celebrity basketball game at the TD Waterhouse and to nominate Universal Studios as their "weekend hangout" (who knew there was another theme park in Orlando?!). So now I am planning a relatively quick trip to the area (I usually start budgeting 1 year in advance . . . this is like 4 months in advance).
So I have been desperately reading these boards trying to find out everything I can about Universal. The trip is the end of July which in my opionion is the most miserable time of year to go because of the heat & crowds but NSYNC didn't ask me! So now I see that all of these hotels are w/in a couple of miles of Universal. When I think of that in Disney terms, I can't think of a single off-site resort that I would consider within walking distance (except maybe Downtown Disney).
So I'm wondering,am I asking for disaster by expecting to walk from an off-site place to the theme parks?
Is it safe to walk from City Walk to one of the "off-site" hotels late at night as two young women? I don't question Pleasure Island much at all but I'm not sure about City Walk.
I have found the Crowne Plaza, Comfort Suites, and others in a $60-$70 a night price range. My budget can handle this pretty OK. I have never stayed in a hotel that cost more than $100 a night so I simply have no point of reference for what I might be missing out on.
I will arrive on Thursday July 25th around 6:00. I will have all day Friday to spend at the parks. Saturday I will leave mid-day for about 3 hours for an NSYNC event and Sunday I will be busy all morning & afternoon, returning to the parks around 5:00. I will have all day Monday at the parks.
Based on crowd levels, would I have enough time to see everything without having an all day Express pass?
Since this is peak season I could stay at the RP for $129 a night or the HRH for $167 a night and I'm just not sure I can justify the cost.
But if all of you think I will be miserable trying to see the parks in the heat or not all that safe, I will have to seriously reconsider (after all, what's a little more credit card debt?)
Thanks so much for all of your advice & opinions!
Brenda