Universal Newbie needs help

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Can someone help me? We did the disney thing this year and are considering just Universal & Sea World next year for something different. Plus Universal has better pricing. If we did this how much time do you recommend in Universal (both parks)? Two days? Should I go for the online special for 5 days or is that too many days in Universal?

I should probably mention that we will be staying off site at my parents house for about a week. They are about a 1/2 hour drive away from Universal. Our children are ages 9 and 5. The 9 year old is a dare devil, loves thrill rides.

 

[aztecgoods]

No amount of time is too much. I am planning on living there for 2 and 3 months out of the year soon, but I am a full fledged fanatic freak for theme parks with Universal being the best and my fav. I recommend at the absolute minimum 2 days, 4 or 5 is the most ideal time to spend at Universal, probably just 1 day at Seaworld. But you could spend 7 days straight at U and never get bored. I just love staying at the onsite hotels there too, so staying with family and not at the onsite hotels you will miss a little of the experience but you will save lots of $$$$ so I don't blame you there. It does get a little expensive staying on site. Plus there is the City walk you could probably spend at least a half day at and return to eat (has lots of restaurants) But 2 days at each U park is the most ideal way to go, for a normal week long vacation, longer if you have the time.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

I am pretty much a Disney Freak. My parents have done Disney and they were not impressed because they love Universal. They keep telling me that I need to try Universal because it is much better. Since we just did Disney, I do want to try some thing new, sounds like I need to Universal a try. Thanks for the information.

 

[aztecgoods]

I will bet you almost any amount of money you won't regret it and will probably take your parents and my feelings on it after you go. I love Disney too, but Uni has just taken the whole theme park experience up several notches, its awesome.

 

[riu girl]

Should I go for the online special for 5 days or is that too many days in Universal?

.

Are you talking about the buy 2 days, get 3 days free, PLUS kids free (for all five days) tickets??

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't these tickets have to be activated by December 31, 2006, therefore, not good for anytime next year.
I wouldn't want you to purchase tickets that will not be good for 2007.

Total newbie to all things Universal so I could be totally wrong about this.
Perhaps someone could clarify one way or the other.

 

[DizneyDogs]

Hello

Another newbie to Universal as well. My DH and I are going in Dec 06. A couple of questions. We are staying on Disney Property at Pop Century and will have a rental car about how far is it to Universal? Are there any online maps of the parks? We want to eat for sure at the Hard Rock do they take reservations?

Thanks!

 

[aztecgoods]

I don't think you would need reservations to eat at the HR unless you happen to be going at some super busy time or something. I am not sure for I have never eaten there, but I have eaten at just about every other spot on U property and from what I have heard if it is a normal time, I think the main Emerils at Citywalk is the only place you may need a reservation. I have eaten at the new Emerils at the Royal Pacific and didn't need one there nor any place else I have eaten at on U property.

I think it is about 15 miles between the parks, look on www.mapquest.com and punch in the destinations and it will tell you with street maps etc.

 

[robvia]

There's no way to tell what ticket plans will be available for next year, so I'd wait on that. Most consider 3 days the correct amount of time. You visit one park each day, and then visit favorites on the 3rd, although you can bounce back and forth between the parks. I usually visit one park early in the morning, leave for lunch, then drive to another park (like SWF).

I have a page with directions from Disney to the IOA parking garage.
http://www.nogodforme.com/directionstoioa.htm

For eating at the HRC or Margaritaville, show up before the crowd hits. For lunch, try to get there at 11:30pm, and for dinner, try to be there around 05:30pm. Peak wait times are 1 hour at 8pm. For onsite guests, the wait will be reduced to half an hour. Think of going to the most popular restaurant in your neighborhood, and it's the same thing at Citywalk. Go at the busy time and you're going to wait 1 hour, so try and go a little earlier.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Are you talking about the buy 2 days, get 3 days free, PLUS kids free (for all five days) tickets??

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't these tickets have to be activated by December 31, 2006, therefore, not good for anytime next year.
I wouldn't want you to purchase tickets that will not be good for 2007.

Total newbie to all things Universal so I could be totally wrong about this.
Perhaps someone could clarify one way or the other.

Yes, you are correct. I was just looking for a reference of what they are offering right now. I am aware that this offer may not be available in 2007. I was more interested in knowing if that was just too much time for Universal. We are very unsure on what we want to do. I am a Diser I like to plan ahead.

 

[calena]

We bought the free kids deal five day tickets last year. We LOVED Universal and IOA. What I found is it was much less crowded than WDW so we could ride everything as often as we wanted. (we went in late Feb.) I also really liked the theming at IOA. We went three days out of the five. Our tickets expired within a certain number of days from the first use so we spread those three days out. We are just not parks every day day after day people. Even at WDW we do one day parks, one day relax at condo, one day parks, etc. We like to go all day when we go and rest the next day. We did one day Universal only. One day IOA only and one day going on our favourite rides at both places. Park hopping there is right next door so that was great. Our son, then 4, could have moved into Seussville and stayed! He loved it. DD, then 9, wanted to do the thrill rides and DS, 7, was thrilled about meeting Spidey. I especialy enjoyed the Mummy, Men in Black, Jaws and One Fish, Two fish!!!
DH missed the Disney magic but we will go back to Universal. Loved it.
Deb