Universal/Sea World Question

[Gortatlea]

Hi

More info needed from you Disney/Universal guru's!

We're staying a week at Swan and a week at Hard Rock Universal what I want to know this time is.......... How far is sea world from Universal and is a bus provided from hotel - also as we'll have FOTL (Im getting the terminology (i think!!!)) due to staying at Universal is there any need to get up at unearthly hours to be at the parks early or can you really walk on the rides (utopia)! with little waiting time?

As i'm at it does anyone know if Arabian Nights would be far from Universal - we'd have to get a cab AND what is the best dinner show

Thanks for all the help

 

[peewakio]

Not sure if the hotel provides transport to Sea World (most do)
You are at one end of I Drive whereas SeaWorld is at the opposite end. If you are not driving then a cab will cost about $10 each way or the trolley is literally pennies.
Sorry don't know about the virtues of FOTL.

 

[XAVIER]

FOTL at Universal is FAB!
If you have to wait as long as 15 minutes for a ride you will be dissapointed! We stayed at the HRH 3 years ago and loved it but the best bit was definitely the FOTL. You can easily pop into any of the parks for a couple of hours and do all the rides you want to.
We are back at Universal this year, at the RPR this time. The FOTL perks are easily worth the extra cost.
I believe there is a bus to SeaWorld but getting a taxi is less hassle.

 

[sunshine state]

We have never used FOTL before because we never stay onsite, however my friend used it last year and he said it was amazing, he hardly waited for any rides.

 

[vernon]

FOTL is a huge bonus to staying on site. It really worked well for us when we stayed there.

As a day guest (more recently) it was VERY noticable that the queue line for the rabble i.e. people like me who weren't FOTL , increased DRAMATICALLY early afternoon as the hotel guests filtered into the park. It didn't alter the queues for the FOTL by much, maybe 5-10 minutes, but it does alter the queues for the other guests, maybe pushing them from 15 minute queues to 30-40 minute ones. Obviously it's going to vary from day to day when the FOTL guests decide to enter the park, but it does seem the majority of the USF hotel guests realize they don't need to get into the parks as soon as they open, so they take their time, get up a little later, enjoy brekkie or maybe spend a couple of hours round the pool before going into the parks. Certainly next time I stay at a USF hotel I'll be looking to start ( and finish) the days (nights) much later than at WDW. The club/restaurant/entertainment area really buzzes at night.

 

[pauldents]

There are buses around the back of the hotel. If you come out of the hotel main exit/entrance, take a left down the stairs to the car park, then take another left (heading in the direction of Universal Studios). Alternatively you could always walk or up to I drive and catch a bus there or ask one of the one of the valet guys to run you up to SW.

FOTL is the best perk for staying on site at Universal. We have stayed at the Hard Rock several times (50+ nights in total) and we have never queued for more than 5 minutes on any ride. The Hulk and spidy have always been walk on. We queued for about 5 minutes for The Mummy ride. I would advise you head to the parks for 9am and stay till 11am. You will do most of the rides in them couple of hours at one of the parks. Try and get the water rides done, then head back to the hotel for a few hours to take full advantage of the pool. (the pool area is usually quieter in the middle of the day) Then, late afternoon, head back over to the parks again. The parks are usually emptying out and you will have the run of the place.

 

[Gortatlea]

Thanks so much everyone, FOTL really does seem a brilliant perk - really looking forward to swanning on all the rides!!

Its great to be armed with some information before we tackle parks etc. Wont feel such a fool on arrival now!!!

 

[paulh]

FOTL acces best thing about staying onsite there would not reqomend the dinner show at Arabian Nights food a load of s*** tates like rubber if you ar set on a dinner show try lahu at seaworld food and show perfect
Paulh

 

[Gortatlea]

Thanks Paulh - again it good to hear other peoples opinion! Think I will try Sea World - read up on it a little and it does sound good

 

[sunshine state]

Thanks Paulh - again it good to hear other peoples opinion! Think I will try Sea World - read up on it a little and it does sound good

Yeah Seaworld is a really good park, Kraken and Atlantis are brilliant rides..