totally clueless

[eeyoreiscute]

Hi, my TA just directed me here, but I am overwhelmed! Where do I start to plan a trip to Universal? I have been to WDW before and plan on splitting next summers trip between the two parks.

Is it worth moving hotels? We will have a car.

Is two days enough in summer with lines?

What else should I be thinking of?

Thanks.

 

[macraven]

If you want a TA, suggest you go with a company that specializes in UO

I do split stays each time i do Orlando
Easy to change resorts for me

Ready the hotel forum stickies for info which hotel to book

Www.universalorlando.com for finding out what is in the parks

Going in the summer 3 days would allow you to cover a lot at UO
Also gives you time to try exploring city walk eateries and entertainment

Stay at the deluxe hotels and receive the hotel perk of unlimited express pass for the rides and shows

 

[damo]

I suggest you take a good look through the website www.universalorlando.com to get a feel for the parks.

Then come back and go through the stickies at the top of this forum and the hotels forum.

THEN, fire away at us with questions!

 

[eeyoreiscute]

Thanks for the quick responses. I'm so ready to know everything! Our TA knows Disney a lot more than universal ,not much info coming from there.

 

[macraven]

Well....... We can be your TA.....

 

[littlejimmy]

take a deep breath and relax. absorb much of what is being asked on the universal forums here. after a few weeks of reading, you will gain a ton of knowledge. then see what you still need to know. and ask. if you have some knowledge, it is so much easier to understand the answers.

 

[SharkyGoddess]

Speaking only for UO...

Yes, changing hotels will be worth it. Staying on site at UO at one of their three choice hotels (HRH, RPR, PBH) will get you an express pass allowing you the opportunity to experience more rides by bypassing the longer que lines.

Keeping the above in mind, two days will be fine.

Anything else? Just this, you know all of that rigid planning you do for Disney (ADRs, FPPs)? Forget them. At UO ADRs are rarely necessary and "fast passes" are included with your (above mentioned) on site resort stay. And transportation... Everything is close enough to walk to!

Happy trip planning

 

[eeyoreiscute]

thanks again for quick responses. I was checking prices of the hotels and wowza, is the express pass upcharge worth it?

 

[schumigirl]

thanks again for quick responses. I was checking prices of the hotels and wowza, is the express pass upcharge worth it?

Absolutely worth it. We use EP even when it's not busy......hate queueing.....

Even in so called quiet times, some rides just have long queues always.......Despicable Me is one of them.......queues last September averaged a 70-110 minute wait. We were on in no time with EP. Usually more or less walked straight on, sometimes had a 5 minute wait if we had just missed the EP line entering. Longest was just under 15 minutes when the regular queue was 2 hours.

So, for us we wouldn't be without it........others say they manage just fine without it.........

 

[gotomu212]

I agree with others. The big decisions with Universal is 1. Where to stay and 2. How many days to go. Once you decide that there is almost zero planning (unless you like to plan and then add some time thinking about restaurants and rides- although there's no insane ADRs or Fastpasses to plan so a lot of us wing it). I've found Universal to be one of the more stress free vacations!

 

[eeyoreiscute]

Thanks for your input. I guess i am so used to making a Disney spreadsheet, i am not ready for an easy vacation.

 

[khgreen]

I am a planner. I mean every vacay has a binder with tabs haha. Accepting that Universal didn't need much of a plan was hard. But it was true. We stayed off site, so no early entry and no express. We went during a slower time. And of course we arrived prior to park opening! We started at a different park each day and did the headliners first (at the time it was WWOHP and Despicable Me) then we just toured as we wanted. I think over 2.5 days we skipped maybe 3 rides because of long lines. And these were rides that we had already experienced at least once. I mean I was a bit of a nervous wreck at first. I felt naked without my touring cheat sheet. But it all worked out wonderfully and we had an amazing time.

This year when we return to Universal we are stepping it up and staying on-site for EE and Express. This is only due to the fact that we have less time at the parks and we want to have more resort time at a nicer hotel.

 

[CalKhat]

thanks again for quick responses. I was checking prices of the hotels and wowza, is the express pass upcharge worth it?

When you say "express pass upcharge" do you mean buying the add on for the park tickets? That is expensive. It's usually better just to stay in one of the hotels that include the Unlimited EP, rather than buying it.

 

[schumigirl]

When you say "express pass upcharge" do you mean buying the add on for the park tickets? That is expensive. It's usually better just to stay in one of the hotels that include the Unlimited EP, rather than buying it.

I took it to mean she meant the extra expense of booking a deluxe hotel to get the EP.

 

[eeyoreiscute]

Correct. Hotels are 300+ a night with early entry and unlimited express pass. I thought that was high. Plus parking charge.

But buying a pass at 120 a person for four for the two or three days is really going to add up.

Weighing pros and cons.

 

[damo]

Correct. Hotels are 300+ a night with early entry and unlimited express pass. I thought that was high. Plus parking charge.

But buying a pass at 120 a person for four for the two or three days is really going to add up.

Weighing pros and cons.

If you can control when you go, you can often get Royal Pacific for under $200/night with the stay more save more rate or the annual pass rate. Last September, we got Royal Pacific for $164/night.

 

[nkereina]

Agree with PPs that it's absolutely worth moving hotels. Not only is the express pass worth it if you stay at one of the three deluxe resorts, but the resorts are also very nice with awesome pools, dining, and amenities. As for the amount of time, we always do 3 days but 2 days can be enough time if you will have express pass.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

Planning a Universal trip is MUCH easier than planning a Disney trip. I would highly recommend staying in one of the hotels that has the express pass. In my opinion, the express pass is worth it, and the higher hotel price will be less than paying for the express pass. That said, many people get plenty done at Universal without it.

Now, on our first trip, we only did one day, and we drove over from Disney. It was a LONG day (the park had extended hours, and we stayed the whole time). It was a good introduction to the parks, but it convinced us to do a whole vacation around Universal later.

Universal's peak times are the same as Disney's, so if you are expecting heavy crowds on the Disney part of the trip, you will be happy you have the express pass. If you think Disney will be slow, you probably don't need the EP for Universal.

 

[eeyoreiscute]

Thanks. Our trip dates are limited with graduation and summer school dates, so peak season it is. I think you have all convinced me to stay on property. The express pass included will be worth it. Now to pick a final date and get a reservation made. Oh husband.....

 

[Lynne G]

Oh, and don't forget, you get the unlimited express pass with your hotel key, and it is good the day you check in and includes the day you check out. So even one night will give you 2 days of the unlimited express pass, and early entry. Plus, while there is a parking fee, it is per night, so even the day you check out, as long as you move your car by midnight, no additional parking fee. I value staying close to the parks, so when I can afford it, I always stay at Royal Pacific or Portofino, as those are the 2 we really like of the 3 that give the unlimited express pass. I really like the ease of walking or taking a boat to the parks, and I just add the cost of parking into my room fee. Just means, my 200 dollar room is really 225 or so dollars, but that's fine with me. Convenience is a value to me, and being able to come and go as I please is also a value. So, while I don't like a parking fee, at least there is no resort fee, and the parking is a contractor, not the hotel.

I hope you enjoy your stay at Universal. And welcome to the darkside.