Universal Recommendation

[Beejie]

I just got a coupon in the mail for discount tickets to Universal. I've never been and am considering going because my DS 9 wants to ride the wild coasters. Which of the two parks would you all recommend for a one day trip. We're FL residents and live 90 minutes away so we can do one day trips easily.

Also, could someone recommend an innexpensive hotel near Universal. Just need to sleep and shower. Don't need anything fancy at all. Just me and DS for his birthday trip. If he earns a promotion to 4th grade our second day will be Disney Quest.

Thank you.

 

[Ragnrok23]

If it's thrills you seek at Universal, go to Island of Adventure

 

[Robinrs]

You can find all and more of what you need to know on the Universal boards but in the meantime I'll give you my 2 cents.

My son and I are BIG Universal fanatics, 33 trips since IOA opened in 1999, and continue to be to this day. We've stayed at plenty of the properties in the area but prefer onsite now because of the "FOTL" access they give you. If you go in off season this perk is not necessary but since we can only go during high season when he's out of school I try to get one or two days there to get 2 or more days of FOTL.

One way to get a cheap hotel near the park is www.hotelkingdom.com Do a search on "universal" I've stayed on Major Blvd, Kirkman Rd and Vineland Rd, all of which are very close to Universal. The Doubletree is right across the streeet, gets mixed reviews nowadays but it was the very first hotel I stayed in in Orlando so I have a nice memory of it.

The Holiday Inn next door gets mixed reviews also, but I liked it when we stayed in a one bedroom suite a few years ago. And the TGIF downstairs is awesome! Kids eat free one time a day, too!

I've stayed at the Hampton Inn Universal (good), the Suburban Suites Universal (good), the Red Roof Inn (good) and the Holiday Inn I-Drive (not good). There's a nice Comfort Suites on Major Blvd, I haven't stayed there but have heard good things about it. I also haven't stayed at the Clarion but friends of mine have and say it's fine for a bed and a shower.

Hope that helps!

 

[mbb]

Like Robin said, lots of really great info on US/IOA, and a for hotelkingdom..

So I'll zip your thread over there for some more help on the parks

Feel free to ask about hotels here, though, anytime!!

 

[ChrisFL]

If it's thrills you seek at Universal, go to Island of Adventure

agreed, there's also some great water rides so you may want to plan accordingly