Tentative Itinerary for a Multi-Family Trip

[HannaBelle]

I am planning a trip for my extended family, a total of 14 people ages 7 to 70. We do not share accommodations, but we do like to tour together during the day for at least a few hours and we do like to have 1 table service meal a day together. We have done WDW 2X, DL 1X and a non-Disney trip to Hawaii together, so we are looking for another adventure! (My SIL has horrible motion sickness or we would be on a cruise in a heartbeat!)

Here is my tentative plan and I would love some feedback / suggestions. The plan is to travel in June 2015, preferably June 13 to June 21. I have not been to any of these parks or hotels. What do I need to know? What should I consider?

• Day 1 – Saturday – Fly into MCO (I need to figure out transportation from MCO to RPH) and check in to Royal Pacific at Universal, then head to Islands of Adventure to check out the WWoHP, allow my kids to shop and buy as much HP swag as they can afford.
• Day 2 – Sunday – Islands of Adventure with early entry – Brunch at Three Broomsticks and dinner at Mythos
• Day 3 – Monday – Universal Studios with early entry – Brunch at Leaky Cauldron and dinner at Lombard's Seafood Grille
• Day 4 – Tuesday – Check out of RPH, store bags with the bell hop, head to Universal for early entry for a half day, rent cars from Hertz at the RP, grab our bags and drive over to the Hilton Grand Vacation Suites at SeaWorld to checking. Relax that evening, maybe swim?
• Day 5 – Wednesday – Discovery Cove with dolphin swim
• Day 6 – Thursday – SeaWorld
• Day 7 – Friday - Legoland
• Day 8 – Saturday - Aquatica
• Day 9 – Sunday – Check out and fly home

I am considering moving our Discovery Cove Day to Saturday because I would assume Saturday will be the busiest day for SeaWorld, Aquatica and or Legoland. Anywhere I can find crowd calendar predictions for these parks? Since Discovery Cove is very limited in attendance, I don’t think crowds will be an issue, and I read on their website that you can enter the other parks before you go to DC.

Can I make advance reservations for Lombard's Seafood Grille and Mythos? Will they allow 14 people to sit at the same table? (That is one of my biggest peeves about WDW!) When should I call ahead?

Do I need a day and a half at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios if we take advantage of early entry and have the express pass? We want to ride and see everything since it is our first time. We will want to ride some things multiple times I am sure. (I am secretly afraid this express pass is going to spoil everyone! LOL)

Does Universal/IOA have night time shows or fireworks? We are not interested in the Blue Man Group and may or may not visit City Walk. We are not Downtown Disney fans.

I really dislike changing hotels, I feel like it wastes so much time, but I think it will be well worth it in this situation. This is a correct assumption or wishful thinking?

What is the earliest date I can book rooms or a package for June 2015? One of the CS people I spoke to this week said to call back in March of 2015. Surely that cannot be correct?

 

[Lynne G]

I don't know all the answers to your questions, but you can reserve the two TS restaurants via opentable.com. Each restaurant has a different time from which you can start making ressies. I think some can be 6 months, but most seem to be less than that. You can also call the restaurant closer to when you are going to be there.

I think 2 and 1/2 days at Universal is a good start. You will be spoiled with the unlimited express pass you get with your hotel stay. I'd take some time and enjoy the resort too. It has nice grounds and a great pool area.

To get to Universal, most book a towncar service. Since you want to rent a car for the Busch parks part, I'd check the price of picking up the car at the airport and add the cost of the parking fee at PPH (2 nights at about 22 dollars a night) versus the cost of getting from the airport via towncar or one day rental, and picking up the car after doing universal. It might be cheaper or just about the same to keep the car the whole time you are in FLA.

I hope you will enjoy Universal. The easiest is to book the hotel and tickets separately. Check undercovertourist and maple leaf for tickets. Both are authorized resellers. Real tickets and undercover's includes tax, I am not sure about Mapleleaf. For the hotel, for the past several years, including this one, there's a stay more, save more discount. AAA also will give you a discount at RPH. Finally, you may want to check for Annual Pass room discounts. If there is one (use APH in the code box on Loews website and you may see a AP discount closer to your stay) you can buy one AP, even a power pass (but check the blackout dates) and then you get the discount on the hotel. For June next year, there may be AP discounts, but it's much to early to check now. You can buy the AP after you make the AP discounted room ressie. You can present the AP at the hotel when you check in or some time during your stay.

 

[RMulieri]

I like 3 days for the parks minimum.One day for each park and the 3rd day to re-ride favorites or hit rides I missed.It is hard to do the studios in one day if you are interested in all the shows too.Alot of the rides are longer ( example : Disaster is 26 mins long not including any wait time for it to start ).Shows only run certain times of day and often at the same times..I have been to universal 2x now ( 4 days each on each trip) and I have yet to see the Animal actors show.
There is a nighttime cinema show on the lagoon of the studios.You need to see if it is running while you are there,

You can book restaurants on opentable.com
KEEP IN MIND...Mythos often closes ALOT earlier than the park ( often as early as 3-4pm most times of year except peak season times).

DO NOT book a package..They rarely if ever save you anything and they come with penalties and fees for changing or modifying anything.Book the resort thru Loews.com and get your tickets anywhere ( we use Undercover tourist).When you book your resort, one night deposit is due with balance at check in/out

Staying at a Universal resort is the BEST thing ever and will absolutely spoil you for anything else

 

[hermionesnape]

You can check into the hotel as early as you want and they will store you luggage. I would arrive on an early flight so you could be in the parks by lunch time.

Look at getting an annual pass for one member of your party. You get a great hotel discount. You are going into the parks for 4 days anyway and need park to park tickets to ride the Hogwarts Express. The cost difference would be paid for with just one nights stay. Right now for example the RPR seasonal rate is $247 in June I believe and the AP room rate is $214 a night. You can book up to two rooms at that rate with one pass.

 

[HannaBelle]

I like 3 days for the parks minimum.One day for each park and the 3rd day to re-ride favorites or hit rides I missed.It is hard to do the studios in one day if you are interested in all the shows too.Alot of the rides are longer ( example : Disaster is 26 mins long not including any wait time for it to start ).Shows only run certain times of day and often at the same times..I have been to universal 2x now ( 4 days each on each trip) and I have yet to see the Animal actors show.
There is a nighttime cinema show on the lagoon of the studios.You need to see if it is running while you are there,

You can book restaurants on opentable.com
KEEP IN MIND...Mythos often closes ALOT earlier than the park ( often as early as 3-4pm most times of year except peak season times).

DO NOT book a package..They rarely if ever save you anything and they come with penalties and fees for changing or modifying anything.Book the resort thru Loews.com and get your tickets anywhere ( we use Undercover tourist).When you book your resort, one night deposit is due with balance at check in/out

Staying at a Universal resort is the BEST thing ever and will absolutely spoil you for anything else

If we book through Loews, can I take advantage of the AP discount if we opt to buy a couple of APs?

 

[HannaBelle]

You can check into the hotel as early as you want and they will store you luggage. I would arrive on an early flight so you could be in the parks by lunch time.

Look at getting an annual pass for one member of your party. You get a great hotel discount. You are going into the parks for 4 days anyway and need park to park tickets to ride the Hogwarts Express. The cost difference would be paid for with just one nights stay. Right now for example the RPR seasonal rate is $247 in June I believe and the AP room rate is $214 a night. You can book up to two rooms at that rate with one pass.

Are you booking your room through Universal directly?

Is the express pass/early entry tied to the room key and therefore separate from the park ticket? Do you have to show your room key to use the express pass? Is it the size of a credit card so we can just wear it on a lanyard?

Is pretty much everyone at Universal just as nerdy as most everyone at WDW/DL so it won't matter too much if we are all geeked out?

If we opt to buy a meal plan at Universal, is it also attached to the room key?

 

[pixeegrl]

Are you booking your room through Universal directly?

Is the express pass/early entry tied to the room key and therefore separate from the park ticket? Do you have to show your room key to use the express pass? Is it the size of a credit card so we can just wear it on a lanyard?

Is pretty much everyone at Universal just as nerdy as most everyone at WDW/DL so it won't matter too much if we are all geeked out?

The EP ~ there is a kiosk at the hotel where you will scan every one's room key and they will each get an EP with their picture on it. They are the size of a credit card so yes you can keep them in your lanyard. I carried my ticket, hotel key and EP in my Lanyard. Oh, and I wore a different HP or Seuss shirt everyday...Geeks Rule! To check for AP discount on your room go here http://www.loewshotels.com/en/booking/uo?hotel=UEPBH,UEHRH,UERPR and enter APH in the code box. Remember in can't be CB for the EP's. Here's a great site for photos of the resorts http://www.oyster.com/search/?qa=location:universal-orlando-orlando-295

 

[jaoconnor]

I would not move Discovery Cove to Saturday (your last day) just in case of bad weather. Discovery Cove will move your reservation to a different day if there is a weather issue, but that would be impossible if you're leaving the next day!

Something to think about...

 

[HannaBelle]

I would not move Discovery Cove to Saturday (your last day) just in case of bad weather. Discovery Cove will move your reservation to a different day if there is a weather issue, but that would be impossible if you're leaving the next day!

Something to think about...

Excellent point, TY!