Universal info?!?

[Guittech]

Hey guys, as you may have read in my other posts, I am planning a trip to Disney for next Sept for my parents and sister/Brother in law. It's got its own issues, one of which was the wife and i wanting to hit Universal for a day or 2. but realizing that it wouldn't be friendly for the rest of our group.

So, with a little vacation time coming up, we decided maybe a whirlwind 3-4 day trip to Universal is in order, so we can mark it "done" and not feel the need to go next year.

BUT WHERE DO I FIND INFO ON UNIVERSAL!?!?!?!

Disney is SOOO easy to plan, with tonnes of websites and strategies etc, Universal seems pretty much a closed book, much less info out there and lots of it conflicts.

Anyone know a good site for info?

I've looked into booking direct, but i know there are promo codes i *could* be using. I looked into booking through a local travel provider and it seemed to just add a quick $1000 to the ticket i looked up direct. Even with exchange, that is crazy

I wouild love to stay on property, maybe even in a club level resort if i could round up the $$$. But am not against one of the hotels in the immediate area.

Thanks in advance DIS-ers!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

You can use the Universal forums here for lots of information and as a good place to ask questions. I find Universal a little easier to plan because you don't have to do as much - pick dates, book a resort, buy tickets, show up, and have a great time!

 

[polyesther]

I also use Orlando Informer and Orlando United for researching info on Universal.

 

[Detailor]

As mentioned already, there's a Universal/Islands of Adventure Board down below on the Forum list here at DisBoards. Many, many nice people visiting down there who I'm sure will want to help you.

Dick Taylor

 

[Guittech]

well now i feel like a tool for not scolling down that far! lol thanks!

 

[Brenda Kim]

As pp stated, Orlando Informer and also Touring Plans has things on Universal. As far as who to use to book, I just go with their website, although it is hard to navigate. I have stayed both onsite and offsite and some perks of staying onsite is: early entrance to the WWoHP, so nice to leisurely walk through the shops after riding a ride and not be bumping elbows. Also if you stay at Royal Pacific, Hard Rock or Portofino you get express pass to all rides that use express pass.

Think FP from Disney only you can use as many times as you want and don't have to book a ride time to use. If you have any questions while you are in process just ask here in the forum.

The two parks and Citywalk are so close together it is easy to park hop and also to leave the park and eat at CityWalk and then go back into the parks. I have found I like the restaurants at CityWalk better than in the park.

 

[Guittech]

Hmmmm, Thanks everyone, the research has begun! Thank god it does seem that Universal is signifigantly simpler to plan than Disney (Just get your tickets and show up) I am considering a club room because it would make breakfasts easy, but since the wife and I are trying to do a quick (and less expensive) trip, I may just consider buying a box of muffins on the way to the hotel, with a few assorted juice boxes. That would make a pretty simple breakfast before the parks. The research i have done so far has pointed to the dining plan not being a great deal though.

 

[bas71873]

My biggest piece of advice to stay on property at one of the deluxe hotels so you get the FOTL pass. We stay at the HRH. There is a fridge in the room, so we hit the grocery store for bottled water, breakfast items and juice and eat in the room. We stayed club level once and it was nice to have breakfast, but we rarely took advantage of the other offerings because we just weren't there at those times.

I would personally NOT do the dining plan. We like to leave the parks and eat in City Walk then go back to the parks.

One tip too is that if you are HP plans and plan to ride the Hogwart's Express between parks, you HAVE TO HAVE the park to park ticket. Saw lots of people turned away in the line because they had just a one park ticket.

US/IOA is total relaxation compared to a Disney trip. No minute by minute planning needed .

ETA: We book through cheaptickets.com. I got a 20% off code that beat the APH rate and the AAA rate.