Trip Help Needed - Need ideas & critiques of our plans

[rascalmom]

Hi all - I am planning on a combo Universal/WDW trip with my daughters over Spring Break. I haven't been to Universal in a while & this will be our first time to do HP. That is a primary focus for this trip

Our plans right now & my questions:

Day 1: Fly into MCO, landing around 11:30pm. Go directly to Universal - planning two nights at one of the on-site properties (RPR on a good rate hopefully).

Questions - what is the best way to get from MCO to the on-site hotels? I am trying to budget a bit carefully on this trip, but DH will not be with us for the first portion of the trip.....so ease is important too. I have fibro, so I will be pretty wiped out after a day of travel. DDs are 19 & 23 - so they are definitely a big help.

Day 2: HP. We will likely be pre-purchasing one AP for the hotel discount, but what is the best way to get the tickets for the other two of us? I have read that UCT has good prices, but we also get a discount with the AP. Which is best and can I buy the tickets at the hotel the night before? We don't want any delays getting to HP first thing in the morning!

The remainder of Day 2 will be spent doing some minor touring at Universal, possibly a repeat of HP if the crowds aren't too bad. Back to hotel for a swim or a rest. Any recommendations for a great dinner?

Day 3: HP. (Yes - we're that obsessed!) We'll likely hit the attraction & then go check out of our room. Second day a repeat of the first - without the swim. HP repeat later in the day if the crowds aren't too bad. Later in the day, we will leave the Universal area & go check in at BLT (we're DVC). Best transportation? I am currently thinking rental car, but without hubby there to be a chauffeur I'm open to other good options.

The rest of the trip will be at WDW with hubby joining us mid-week, bless his work-a-holic self. If I go with the rental car option, is it better to return at the CCC and take Magical Express back to MCO, or just turn in the car at the airport?

 

[pixeegrl]

If you are not checking into the hotel until 11:30 pm I would save yourself some money and stay nearby offsite. You can check in as early as 7 am your second day and get your express passes (hotel keys). I know that you can pre-purchase your tickets online and use the kiosk at the hotel to retrieve them. Just have the credit card used to purchase them and the receipt. Others will chime in on your other questions

 

[Metro West]

Which is best and can I buy the tickets at the hotel the night before? Using the ticket kiosks would be the way to go to keep the wait to a minimum. You would need to purchase the tickets through the Universal website and have the credit card and confirmation # given for the transaction to pick up the tickets. Unfortunately in order to use the AP discount for the other tickets you want to purchase, you would have to stand in the ticket lines at the gate to get the discount. You can use the ticket kiosk either at the hotel outside the main gates but you would not be able to use the AP discount since the AP hasn't been activated.

Any recommendations for a great dinner? I would recommend Margaritaville or Hard Rock Cafe for dinner that night. Both are located in CityWalk. I can't help with the hotel restaurants.

My answers above.

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

Hi all - I am planning on a combo Universal/WDW trip with my daughters over Spring Break. I haven't been to Universal in a while & this will be our first time to do HP. That is a primary focus for this trip

Our plans right now & my questions:

Day 1: Fly into MCO, landing around 11:30pm. Go directly to Universal - planning two nights at one of the on-site properties (RPR on a good rate hopefully).

Questions - what is the best way to get from MCO to the on-site hotels?

I'd say that the best way from MCO to the hotels near Universal is to book a car service. There are shuttles through Mears, but the cost is per person and they're kind of a pain when you just want to get to your hotel. After a long day of travel, it's really nice to have someone meet you at baggage claim, help with your luggage, and take you directly where you need to go. With multiple people, you'll find it's cheaper than the shuttle, too, because you pay for the car, not per person.

The remainder of Day 2 will be spent doing some minor touring at Universal, possibly a repeat of HP if the crowds aren't too bad. Back to hotel for a swim or a rest. Any recommendations for a great dinner?

I'm going to second Hard Rock Cafe and Margaritaville, but if the weather is good, I also love Trattoria del Porto at the Portofino. You can sit outside and soak up the faux-Italian atmosphere. Some nights they even have live music being played. (Though they aren't open for dinner every night - you'll want to check in advance.)

Later in the day, we will leave the Universal area & go check in at BLT (we're DVC). Best transportation? I am currently thinking rental car, but without hubby there to be a chauffeur I'm open to other good options.

Unless you're already planning to rent a car for the rest of the trip, I'd just grab a taxi. Much less hassle.

The rest of the trip will be at WDW with hubby joining us mid-week, bless his work-a-holic self. If I go with the rental car option, is it better to return at the CCC and take Magical Express back to MCO, or just turn in the car at the airport?

Here again, if you already have a car rented, I'd go that route and just return it to the airport. If not, you can always book your car service for a round trip, to drop you off at Universal and pick you up at Disney. My problem with the Magical Express is that they want you to leave super early for the airport, when I'd rather spend that time soaking up the last bit of Disney Magic.

 

[rascalmom]

Thanks everyone!

I'm leaning towards just renting a car for the trip - by the time I add up car fees to get from MCO to Universal, Universal to Disney, a grocery stop & possible daytrip to one of the outlet malls, then back to MCO - I think I come out better than all the cab or car fares. Although having someone meet us at the gate & handling all the bags would sound heavenly at near-midnight on our arrival date.

Interesting that everyone recommended Hard Rock Cafe or Margaritaville. We've done both of those, both at CityWalk & Vegas. I will probably let the girls decide....we'll eat dinner together and then they can go have fun at CityWalk while Mom goes back to the hotel to rest.

Does anyone know the difference in the 2 day park-to-park pass price with an AP discount compared to what I could get from Undercover Tourist? Sounds like any costs savings might not be worth the hassle.

Also, does the room have to be reserved in the name of the AP holder? I am thinking of buying the AP for my 19 year old.....she has a possible 2nd trip planned with friends this summer. I would normally book the room in my name though.

 

[rascalmom]

 

[macraven]

Also, does the room have to be reserved in the name of the AP holder? I am thinking of buying the AP for my 19 year old.....she has a possible 2nd trip planned with friends this summer. I would normally book the room in my name though.

you need to be 21 to book the room.
that is on the Loews site.

i'm not sure but thought as long as one of the adults has the ap and will be a hotel guest in that room, the ap rate would be honored still.
that is if you put the ap in your daughter's name with you on the ressie.