Tell me about Universal....Please

[kimmyann]

I am planning our vacation for next June and am having a hard time deciding on where to go. A little background to my family....we are theme park junkies, really. So far we've done, Busch Gardens Williamsburg (we have season passes), Tampa, Seaworld, Dollywood, Disney (all 4), and Kings Dominion. I really want to go back to Disney, BUT the tickets are just so darn expensive.

I really do want to go to Universal (it helps the tickets are about 1/2 the price of Disney), but we are really more into the themes, even more so than Disney stuff. So, a few questions I guess, to seal the deal. Oh, I've also got Hershey Park & Cedar Point in the running here.

Also, we will be renting a townhouse (probably Windsor Hills).

1. Do you really have/need to buy the front of the line passes? We always get to a park at opening and tackle the major rides, then slow down the rest of the day for sightseeing & show.

2. Do we need two or four days for both parks? I'm leaning towards 4 days just in case we miss anything.

Any other suggestions would be awesome. Thanks

 

[plutotek]

1. Do you really have/need to buy the front of the line passes? We always get to a park at opening and tackle the major rides, then slow down the rest of the day for sightseeing & show.

2. Do we need two or four days for both parks? I'm leaning towards 4 days just in case we miss anything.

Any other suggestions would be awesome. Thanks

1. We went mid-June last time, and didn't buy the passes. The worst we had was late in the day, 90 minutes at Spiderman. (call us spoiled due to fastpasses, but we refuse to pay for them at ANY park).

2. The week we went was for DS' HS graduation, and spent 3 days there. Honestly, by the 3rd day, we were fairly bored as we had done everything by the end of the 2nd day. By everything, I mean the majors and did them at least 2x.

 

[Planogirl]

1. We usually stay offsite and we've been to Universal in June a few times. We have never purchased Express passes but I would definitely recommend at least 3 days. The problem is that the popular rides can get backed up during busy days and if you have at least one extra day you can get back to that missed ride or any favorites. You can always pick up Express passes while you're there if you need them but I personally hate to spend the extra money.

2. I would say at least 3 days depending on how you tour. We like to arrive early, hit the headliners and then have a quiet lunch at Citywalk or a nice place in the parks. Then we wander a little and likely leave for a bit to freshen up and change clothes. I've been known to nap a little too. Then refreshed we head back to the parks for a few hours of just doing whatever we want. The parking pass is still good and even if we don't make it past Citywalk or we just ride one ride, it's still fun.

 

[kimmyann]

Thank you both for your input. I think we will do 4 days, just so we can relax and do everything. I know how hot it is down there so we plan on leaving mid day for a break then come back in the evening. I have kids on totally different levels of everything so I have to make sure everyone gets to do what they want, plus we've never been.

Thanks

 

[Metro West]

Thank you both for your input. I think we will do 4 days, just so we can relax and do everything. I know how hot it is down there so we plan on leaving mid day for a break then come back in the evening. I have kids on totally different levels of everything so I have to make sure everyone gets to do what they want, plus we've never been.

Thanks

If you arrive and find the lines are too long for you, purchase the EP at either park. You do NOT have purchase it ahead of time.

 

[indimom]

Since you are theme park junkies (like us), I would do four days. We stayed a week and never got bored. There was plenty to do and see.
We did half our trip off-site and half on-site (with Express Pass). We loved the EP, but did fine without it as well. We were always there at park opening, and filled up the afternoon with the lesser attractions and the shows.
Have fun!

 

[kimmyann]

Yeah, def 4 days. I've been looking at all of the pictures on here and can't wait, I think we will love Universal. So, I will probably be on here with some questions now and then, especially the closer to the trip I get.