Universal Vacation Questions

[KandD]

Everytime we go to Orlando we do a "Disney" vacation but with the deals going on we are thinking of a 5 night trip to Universal. With the FOTL pass, are the parks still an all day thing? Does the FOTL really speed up the wait or do you still have a long wait for most rides? Do Universal and IOA have shows like Disney and if so, what are the ones not to miss?

Overall, if staying on Universal property with FOTL passes, how long do you think we need in each park? (We are thinking of Seaworld or Aquatica for the other days we are there).

Thank you in advance for you advice!!
(BTW It will be just two adults, no kids)

 

[ky07]

Everytime we go to Orlando we do a "Disney" vacation but with the deals going on we are thinking of a 5 night trip to Universal. With the FOTL pass, are the parks still an all day thing? Does the FOTL really speed up the wait or do you still have a long wait for most rides? Do Universal and IOA have shows like Disney and if so, what are the ones not to miss?

Overall, if staying on Universal property with FOTL passes, how long do you think we need in each park? (We are thinking of Seaworld or Aquatica for the other days we are there).

Thank you in advance for you advice!!
(BTW It will be just two adults, no kids)

If you stay onsite you do get FOTL and it really does speed everything up and you don't have to stay in the parks all day if you don't want too and just an example is when wait times can be 60 mins or longer with the FOTL you will only have to wait 10 to 15 mins and in some cases you can walk right on .
So yes you could even squeeze in seaworld and aquatica

 

[Lucky'sMom]

You will really enjoy your Universal vacation! I think 3 days is the perfect amount for a US/IOA trip. One day at each park, and then the 3rd day to go back to your favorites. What time of year are you going? We have been there in the winter, and most recently last June, and the wait times for the FOTL do depend on how busy the parks are. We waited an hour in the FOTL for Ripshaw Falls in June, but that is not the norm for most rides. We were on the Mummy within 10 minutes. With FOTL, I'd say you won't need a "full day" at each park. You'll have plenty of time for an afternoon break (in summer when the parks are open later) or to relax in the evening (when the parks close earlier in winter). Citywalk is alot of fun, and makes for a nice evening. With a 5 day trip, you should be able to plan 2 days to do other Orlando attractions, like Aquatica, Sea World, etc. You will really enjoy the on-site hotels, we've stayed at PBH and RPR and have loved both of them. The boat ride to the parks is so relaxing. Have a great trip!

 

[minniejack]

Once you experience FOTL, you will hate standing in line at any amusement park.

We went to Kennywood, PA and Cedarpoint, OH last year and were complaining about 20 minute waits in the offseason.

 

[girlsx2]

Hi MinnieJack!! Glad to see a fellow WVian!!

This will be our first trip to US/IOA too this year with the girls. I am excited. I got a free 7 day/two park pass from the superbowl commercial thing, that I hope will come before we leave. I am staying over at Disney though. Had reserved myself to go to Disney so we rented points over there. But after the free ticket and the great prices on tickets anyway at US/IOA, I just couldn't pass it up!! I think my girls will love it too.

 

[Metro West]

Once you experience FOTL, you will hate standing in line at any amusement park.

 

[minniejack]

Hi MinnieJack!! Glad to see a fellow WVian!!

This will be our first trip to US/IOA too this year with the girls. I am excited. I got a free 7 day/two park pass from the superbowl commercial thing, that I hope will come before we leave. I am staying over at Disney though. Had reserved myself to go to Disney so we rented points over there. But after the free ticket and the great prices on tickets anyway at US/IOA, I just couldn't pass it up!! I think my girls will love it too.

Welcome to the Darkside and I don't mean Manchin's shadow.

 

[jewell]

Hey minniejack and girlsx2, I'm another WVian!!!! I live near Summersville!

Are you guys driving down to FL or flying. I guess we will be driving, I checked the flights, but the tickets are just too much at this time. Do you guys drive straight through or stop? We usually stop somewhere in GA, at least going down.

 

[KandD]

Thanks for all of your help! If we do decide to book (vacation time is iffy right now for my DBF) I'm sure I will have lots more questions!

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for all of your help! If we do decide to book (vacation time is iffy right now for my DBF) I'm sure I will have lots more questions!

Certainly...we would be glad to answer any and all questions you might have.

 

[macraven]

I stay onsite at the hotels and this year will do a 6 day stay.

I must do things different. I go solo and if I don't have 4 full days for just the parks, I miss out on too many things.

I do more than just the rides and rerides.
I go to all the shows, I check out all the shops, I love to watch the characters that preform and greet you in the parks. Really enjoy having conversations with them. They all talk to you and pose for pictures.

I could do a morning of just the water rides then go back to the hotel to change and have lunch there. When done, then return to the parks.

I don't rush myself thru the parks at all. I take the time to look at the way each island is decorated and set up.

If I go to city walk and have lunch, it's a break from the rides in the park and a leisure afternoon for me. If I stay in the park to have lunch, I never rush especially if I am at Mythos.

I sometimes hit the cinema for a late or early evening movie after dinner in city walk.

Some afternoons, just hang out around the pool or pool hop to one of the other hotel pools. It is encouraged. Dive in movie nights are really a lot of fun at the pools.

Don't do just the parks, include time in city walk to browse, eat or shop.
Check out the other hotel lobbies, take the water taxi to them.
Enjoy the pool games and activities and dive in nights.
Take in one of the club lounges such as the one in HRH. The last Thursday of each month, they do special entertainment there. well worth it!

Gee, I sound like a commercial.....
I do more than just the park rides and attractions, I try to take it all in as a complete vacation for myself.


And, I do this annually.......been going since 1992


If you want to do different things on your Universal stay, they do offer free shuttles to Wet & Wild and to SeaWorld.
For a $10 fee pp, you can take the Universal transportation bus from the UO hotel to Busch Gardens for a day.

 

[Darcy03231]

I stay onsite at the hotels and this year will do a 6 day stay.

I must do things different. I go solo and if I don't have 4 full days for just the parks, I miss out on too many things.

I do more than just the rides and rerides.
I go to all the shows, I check out all the shops, I love to watch the characters that preform and greet you in the parks. Really enjoy having conversations with them. They all talk to you and pose for pictures.

I could do a morning of just the water rides then go back to the hotel to change and have lunch there. When done, then return to the parks.

I don't rush myself thru the parks at all. I take the time to look at the way each island is decorated and set up.

If I go to city walk and have lunch, it's a break from the rides in the park and a leisure afternoon for me. If I stay in the park to have lunch, I never rush especially if I am at Mythos.

I sometimes hit the cinema for a late or early evening movie after dinner in city walk.

Some afternoons, just hang out around the pool or pool hop to one of the other hotel pools. It is encouraged. Dive in movie nights are really a lot of fun at the pools.

Don't do just the parks, include time in city walk to browse, eat or shop.
Check out the other hotel lobbies, take the water taxi to them.
Enjoy the pool games and activities and dive in nights.
Take in one of the club lounges such as the one in HRH. The last Thursday of each month, they do special entertainment there. well worth it!

Gee, I sound like a commercial.....
I do more than just the park rides and attractions, I try to take it all in as a complete vacation for myself.


And, I do this annually.......been going since 1992


If you want to do different things on your Universal stay, they do offer free shuttles to Wet & Wild and to SeaWorld.
For a $10 fee pp, you can take the Universal transportation bus from the UO hotel to Busch Gardens for a day.

This is my plan for this summer. We're doing 5 nights/6 days, although I'm not going solo. I'm taking 4 teens. Last time we went we stayed off-site and while we had a great time (we were in the Orlando area for 16 days) and spent a lot of time between US/IOA (7 days), I feel that we really missed something. With the FOTL we won't feel that we have to rush from ride to ride and try to get everything in. While we did all the rides and saw all the shows, we didn't take time to see the street performances, see all the characters and to enjoy City Walk. I'm really looking forward to going back.

 

[Metro West]

This is my plan for this summer. We're doing 5 nights/6 days, although I'm not going solo. I'm taking 4 teens. Last time we went we stayed off-site and while we had a great time (we were in the Orlando area for 16 days) and spent a lot of time between US/IOA (7 days), I feel that we really missed something. With the FOTL we won't feel that we have to rush from ride to ride and try to get everything in. While we did all the rides and saw all the shows, we didn't take time to see the street performances, see all the characters and to enjoy City Walk. I'm really looking forward to going back.

 

[KandD]

I stay onsite at the hotels and this year will do a 6 day stay.

I must do things different. I go solo and if I don't have 4 full days for just the parks, I miss out on too many things.

I do more than just the rides and rerides.
I go to all the shows, I check out all the shops, I love to watch the characters that preform and greet you in the parks. Really enjoy having conversations with them. They all talk to you and pose for pictures.

I could do a morning of just the water rides then go back to the hotel to change and have lunch there. When done, then return to the parks.

I don't rush myself thru the parks at all. I take the time to look at the way each island is decorated and set up.

If I go to city walk and have lunch, it's a break from the rides in the park and a leisure afternoon for me. If I stay in the park to have lunch, I never rush especially if I am at Mythos.

I sometimes hit the cinema for a late or early evening movie after dinner in city walk.

Some afternoons, just hang out around the pool or pool hop to one of the other hotel pools. It is encouraged. Dive in movie nights are really a lot of fun at the pools.

Don't do just the parks, include time in city walk to browse, eat or shop.
Check out the other hotel lobbies, take the water taxi to them.
Enjoy the pool games and activities and dive in nights.
Take in one of the club lounges such as the one in HRH. The last Thursday of each month, they do special entertainment there. well worth it!

Gee, I sound like a commercial.....
I do more than just the park rides and attractions, I try to take it all in as a complete vacation for myself.


And, I do this annually.......been going since 1992


If you want to do different things on your Universal stay, they do offer free shuttles to Wet & Wild and to SeaWorld.
For a $10 fee pp, you can take the Universal transportation bus from the UO hotel to Busch Gardens for a day.

Thank you....you actually answered a question that I didn't ask but was thinking about. I didn't know if Universal offered as much "atmosphere" as Disney or if it was mostly a rides only type trip. Your info gives me a lot more insight into the trip. Thanks!

 

[girlsx2]

Welcome to the Darkside and I don't mean Manchin's shadow.

Gotta love it!!!

 

[girlsx2]

Hey minniejack and girlsx2, I'm another WVian!!!! I live near Summersville!

Are you guys driving down to FL or flying. I guess we will be driving, I checked the flights, but the tickets are just too much at this time. Do you guys drive straight through or stop? We usually stop somewhere in GA, at least going down.

Hi Jewell!! We are in Charleston. We usually drive. On the way down we stop, but by the end of the week we just want to get home so we drive straight through. However, this year it will be just me and my girls and I was all set to drive but Allegiant came out with some awsome fares so we are now flyng. I have to drive to Huntington, but it will be well worth it not to be on the road for 12 to 14 hours. I was going to rent a car $300, and then a hotel room down and back $200 for both not including gas for the car. My round trip tickets cost me about $400 for the three of us. I am going to rent a car in Florida as we are staying over at Disney but this will be a Universal vacation this time.

 

[jewell]

Hi Jewell!! We are in Charleston. We usually drive. On the way down we stop, but by the end of the week we just want to get home so we drive straight through. However, this year it will be just me and my girls and I was all set to drive but Allegiant came out with some awsome fares so we are now flyng. I have to drive to Huntington, but it will be well worth it not to be on the road for 12 to 14 hours. I was going to rent a car $300, and then a hotel room down and back $200 for both not including gas for the car. My round trip tickets cost me about $400 for the three of us. I am going to rent a car in Florida as we are staying over at Disney but this will be a Universal vacation this time.

OMG, the prices I checked on from Charleston were being priced at around $320 a piece! So do you have a website for Allegiant? I'd love to have it, I could definitely do that price. Thanks!

 

[macraven]

Thank you....you actually answered a question that I didn't ask but was thinking about. I didn't know if Universal offered as much "atmosphere" as Disney or if it was mostly a rides only type trip. Your info gives me a lot more insight into the trip. Thanks!

glad i could help.