Two Days - Me and my son- Some questions

[1974]

Hi everyone.

My son and I are visiting Orlando from June 30-July 7. While I know it's going to be unbearably hot and crowded, we were given a free place to stay (sleeps 8 and there is just two of us! We can spread out. hahahah) and a free pass to Discovery Cove on July 4th - doing the dolphin swim. So while it's not the best time of the year necessarily, it's what I've got to work with.

So having said that - My son is DESPERATE to go to Universal Studios (oh wait, it's me who is DESPERATE - but I like to blame him for it).

I have been reading through the forums and looking at Universals Website. I've come to the conclusion that I should get a ticket to Universal Studios for one day and IOA for the other day.

I also think I should splurge and get the Express Pass Plus - but I'm kind of confused as to when I should buy these things. Is it better to get them now or wait a few weeks and get them right before we go? Since it's a holiday week - are the express passes likely to go up again in price? With the express passes is it possible to get through each park in one day? I do understand that a few rides do not have this options.

Is the meal plan worth it for each of us? Is it possible to just buy one of these things and have him share it with me? Since he's ten, I have to pay adult prices, but he doesn't each like an adult yet. I don't want to scam the system, but I don't want to pay $25 for something that isn't worth it.

Also any suggestions with an itinerary to maximize our time. I see a lot of two days trips or two parks in one day trips, but not a one park one day trip. If that makes sense - of course it's possible I'm blind as as a bat and just didn't read it right.

I am so excited about this trip that there are days I just want to jump around and do a dance all day long.

Thanks in advance for your help. Doing my happy dance -

 

[Metro West]

I also think I should splurge and get the Express Pass Plus - but I'm kind of confused as to when I should buy these things. Is it better to get them now or wait a few weeks and get them right before we go? Since it's a holiday week - are the express passes likely to go up again in price? With the express passes is it possible to get through each park in one day? I do understand that a few rides do not have this options. Normally I wouldn't suggest buying EPs ahead of time but in your case, I would go ahead and purchase BUT...remember they are park and date specific and non-refundable. Once you purchase there's no going back. You should be able to do everything you want to do with the EP. Remember to arrive early and stay late each day so you aren't rushed. It will be very crowded and very humid so drink plenty of water and hit the water areas when you can.

Is the meal plan worth it for each of us? Is it possible to just buy one of these things and have him share it with me? Since he's ten, I have to pay adult prices, but he doesn't each like an adult yet. I don't want to scam the system, but I don't want to pay $25 for something that isn't worth it. You can't share on the meal deal so you should skip it and just purchase meals that you can share. The portions are generally quite large but sufficient for two people.

My answers above....

 

[1974]

My answers above....

Thank you The non-refundable part always kills me, but I get why they do it. We have season passes to our local amusement park so I never have to worry about what I have to fit in in a day - I just go and if I get mad at the crowd, I leave

I'll just go suck it up and pay what I gotta pay.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've come to the conclusion that I should get a ticket to Universal Studios for one day and IOA for the other day.

So a two day, one-park-per-day, ticket. Not two individual one-day tickets. right?


The info on UO's website for the meal deal is decent. There are very few restaurants that participate. If you don't want that food all day, don't get it.

I have a hard time without a "park to park" ticket because we like getting a Butterbeer each day. Can't do that if I can't go into IOA. But maybe you guys won't like Butterbeer.


The Express Pass does NOT cover Forbidden Journey, Ollivander's wand shop show, or Pteranodon Flyers. I'm going to bet that you won't be able to ride the Flyers anyway, as a 10 year old is probably taller than the max height.

The purchasable EP gives you one ride on each EP ride, unless you buy the unlimited EP option with your tickets. But that raises the price quite a bit on those tickets.



And, I have to mention this...make sure to look at the total you're spending on two EPs for each of your days. And compare it to the cost of one night of an onsite hotel room.

If by any chance the price of the onsite hotel room for one night is the same as or less than the cost of the two EPs for the two days, and assuming you are doing UO two days in a row, you might consider booking that hotel room for the night.

Booking the onsite stay gives you *unlimited* Express Pass for you guys, for your whole stay from the moment you do the checkin process until the parks close on checkout day. So if the price was the same or better, it would make a lot of sense to do that. It also gives you early entrance to Wizarding World from the moment you check in to the day of check out, which would allow you to hit FJ and Ollivander's with lower crowds.

 

[macraven]

if you buy the express pass now for one of your future days, and it rains that date, the parks will thin out.


ep are non refundable, date and park related.

 

[1974]

Thank you all the suggestions.

Ultimately, I've decided to do one park a day, with EP. I found a great promo code that I called on and was able to essentially get one person's EP for free. Which for my budget it awesome!

My son wants lots of souvenirs so I had to decide where to spend the money. Going any other way takes the souvenir budget completely out. Which is no fun at all!

He's busy researching the best way to go through each park and maximize time using the EP. We'll see if it works.

Maybe someday we'll be veterans - right now, I'm just excited to be going.

We have Kings Island where we live, and while it's not Universal or WDW - we think it's pretty spectacular and kind of live there during the summer. We love Roller Coasters and with The Beast and Diamondback - we're usually pretty happy most of the summer - This is just icing on the our cake. We're very blessed!

Thanks again!