Touring Plans

[tanyab2]

We are going December 20-24th.
Family of 3 with a 13 year old boy.
Staying onsite at Royal Pacific
3 day park to park tickets
Unlimited express pass
Early entry to parks

I remember when we went to disney. I was able to create or find touring plans.

I found one place that recommend doing both parks each day. Should I focus on 1 park a day or combine them per day?

Any recommendations for universal touring plans?

Any recommendations for table service restaurants for dinner at Universal or Royal Pacific?
Should you make reservations ahead of time?

Thanks for any help you can provide!!! Feeling overwhelmed

 

[RMulieri]

If you are staying onsite, you really don't need that much of a plan.You will have express pass for just about everything.The only thing you really should have a plan for is Harry Potter stuff.For dining , it isn't like Disney.You don't need to decide months in advance and book ressies.You can book ressies thru opentable.com but the timeframe depends on the restaurant and they really aren't all that necessary.We enjoy our meals at Mythos in Islands of Adventure( keep in mind that the restaurant often closes well before the park and it is not unusal to have the last seatings around 330-4pm)

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

Close your eyes and imagine the following...your at Disney, you have a fast pass for every ride, and you can walk into any restaurant without a reservation you made 180 days ago. You are staying at a deluxe hotel with the best of amenities and you can walk (not catch a bus) to any of the other great hotels and swim in their pools or sample their amenities without breaking the rules. You can take a short stroll to Downtown Disney or the Boardwalk and eat and shop, realizing that you are now just a few hundred yards away from two parks. Now open your eyes and realize you are at Universal.

It's really that great. You can walk end to end in about 20 minutes, if you want. Your hotel is awesome, and you are encouraged to check out the other hotels and their amenities as well. With the exception of Harry Potter, you have front of the line (which is awesome, especially if it crowded the week of Christmas). So, feel free to lose that overwhelming feeling, you already did the most important part by staying on site with three days to explore.

Two things to do: study the maps on Universal's website (City Walk map as well) and check out the sticky of restaurant menus on this forum. The one thing similar to Disney is that there is meh counter service (it is a theme park) all the way to top notch fine dining, and plenty in between. There is really good dining in the parks, and some of the City Walk restaurants are phenom! Also, keep in mind that you can walk (or take a nice boat ride, with one changeover) over to the Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Bay and try their restaurants as well. It might be nice to check them out, since you will definitely want to make a return trip, and you will know your options!

My family does enjoy Disney,no doubt, but Universal is the only place we have been to yet that we have an awesome time and feel relaxed when we get home. With the Express Pass and enough days, no need to commando the parks from open to close, we can enjoy the shows and casually shop and sit by the pool...I digress, you can just take your time and enjoy.

Have a blast, we leave in 15 days!!!!!