Touring Plan for Nov.

[wholesomejoe]

I'm putting together my budget and touring plan for our Universal trip coming next month.
We are visiting for 4 days. Nov. 9-12 Most of the crowd calendars I've looked at list this as a slow period so we are not going to get express pass, and we are staying off site. Right on I-drive at the Monumental Hotel. We've heard it's close enough to walk, and if it is we'll be walking in lieu of driving with the possibility of taking a shuttle back at night.

The last time I went there was no Diagon Alley only Hogsmeade so that's where we started. I want to know if that plan is still valid or if we should start with Diagon Alley first instead? It's just going to me and my partner so no kids to deal with this trip.

Also, the refillable cups.. has that changed? What is the cost currently? Is it refillable all 4 days we are there with ONE cup?

 

[Grumpy247365]

I just got back and the only rides that were busy were the HP rides and Despicable Me. Everything else was at most a 15 minute wait. With that said, the HP rides were slower in the morning, and gradually got more crowded as the day went on. I would definitely hit up Diagon Alley first (since you haven't experience it) and then take the Hogwart's Express over to Hogsmeade. Have fun.

 

[johde]

$5.99 per day is the newer Freestyle cups. If you have the older refillable cups, it's $.99 per refill. I'm still using my red refillable mug (they had handles back then) from 2006.

 

[pcstang]

$5.99 per day is the newer Freestyle cups. If you have the older refillable cups, it's $.99 per refill. I'm still using my red refillable mug (they had handles back then) from 2006.

I noticed the red cups are no longer being sold. They are still refilling them right now. I have a feeling they will try to faze them out

 

[snoopboop]

FYI last summer I stayed at the Monumental while attending Leaky Con.... It was awful. Mold everywhere, seriously understaffed, in need of lots of repairs, and just.... awful. If you are able to change your hotel, I would highly recommend doing so. :-/

 

[snoopboop]

^^^In re-reading your post.... the Monumental on I-Drive (the big white one that looks sort of like a castle or something) is definitely NOT in walking distance. Is there another Monumental on I-Drive???

 

[wholesomejoe]

The one we are booked at is really close according to the map.. the address is..

6233 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819

Looks like all we have to do is take a left on Universal Blvd, walk over the bridge and we're there.. 20-25 minute walk maybe? You might be talking about the Monumental Hotel Orlando, which is not the same one as the Monumental Movieland.

 

[snoopboop]

Definitely not the same hotel. Whew.

 

[wholesomejoe]

I was able to book it at 25.00 a night on hotwire.. which is INSANE, even for a lower quality hotel. I read most of the reviews first and while they were mixed. You usually can't go by the reviews on tripadvisor because what one person is OKAY with, another person will think is horrible. As long as the AC works, there's a pretty okay bed, and a place to shower I'll be fine. I'm not going to be there to do anything but sleep anyway. Being able to walk to the park and safe myself some money is a bonus when I already got it DIRT CHEAP to begin with lol.