US First-timer - Need help planning

[aprilmommy0205]

Please help!

My family and I had the WDW thing pretty well sealed up. We knew where we wanted to stay, made all our dining reservations at the 180 mark, knew the ins and outs of fast pass. After several trips to Disney, we've decided to head to unchartered territory - Universal. So much to learn. Can someone give me the crash course?

Here's our pertinent info. Family of 4 (two kids who will be 12 and 9 at time of travel). We will have 4 days/3 nights available in mid August (this is part of a longer vacation). We have stayed at Disney Deluxe hotels before and made use of Magical Express and the Deluxe Dining plan. I am assuming we need to stay at one of the deluxe properties at US so that we get one of those Universal Unlimited Express passes since the crowds will be high. What hotels do you recommend?

Does US offer a dining plan?

I know US doesn't offer a service like Magical Express. Do we need a car if we are staying on-site?

Besides disboards, are there any other websites you recommend for learning all about US?

 

[Catrinabeach]

All of the onsite hotels are great. Our favorite is HRH but we like them all. They are all within walking distance of the parks and city walk or you can take their boat. We do a combination of both usually. HRH is the closest to Universal and RPR is closest to IOA.

They have a dining plan but it is nothing like disney's. It is strictly counter service. It is only worth while if you are big eaters since you need to eat 3 meals to make it pay for itself. We usually just OOP since we don't do that many meals in the parks. It doesn't include sit down meals.

We have stays Concierge and loved it. They had a continental breakfast, appies at dinner time, beer and wine, desserts in the evening, drinks all day. Our kids loved it.

Rooms at Universal sleep up to 5. Which is great. We have 3 kids lol

You can pool hop at all resorts too. So you are not limited to just your pool at your resort. We never did as each pool was awesome so we just stayed at our resort.

To get there we usually booked a shuttle service. Like Florida Magical Tours. We have them pick us up at the airport and take us back to the airport. They include a grocery store stop if you want to stop for snacks. We usually pay about $130 for 5 of us.

We don't bother renting a car as we can walk everywhere. If we want to go shopping on International drive we will walk there or take a cab for $5-10. Parking at Universal is $18 a day so I'd rather get a cab than pay to park every day when we don't need a car.

Universal is a very laid back enjoy trip. No over planning, no figuring out where you want to eat or what rides you want to ride before you go. You can pick where to eat and what to ride while you are in the park. If you want to go somewhere else to eat you can easily. There are some good buffet places on International drive

 

[heidijanesmith]

Please help!

My family and I had the WDW thing pretty well sealed up. We knew where we wanted to stay, made all our dining reservations at the 180 mark, knew the ins and outs of fast pass. After several trips to Disney, we've decided to head to unchartered territory - Universal. So much to learn. Can someone give me the crash course?

Here's our pertinent info. Family of 4 (two kids who will be 12 and 9 at time of travel). We will have 4 days/3 nights available in mid August (this is part of a longer vacation). We have stayed at Disney Deluxe hotels before and made use of Magical Express and the Deluxe Dining plan. I am assuming we need to stay at one of the deluxe properties at US so that we get one of those Universal Unlimited Express passes since the crowds will be high. What hotels do you recommend? HRH for sure. We love HRH, our favorite on-site hotel! HRH is 3-5 min walk to US and 5-7min walk to IOA.
The unlimited Express Pass is amazing and the hour early entry to IOA or US will be very helpful when touring, especially now that HP2 will be open.
We found touring in August to be great crowds, but the heat! The heat is intense. Tour early AM, take a break and then go back out in the evening.
We rented a cabana at HRH, totally worth it. HRH pool is super fun, your kids will not want to leave it. HRH pool can be very crowded and a cabana is a great way to get some shade, wonderful service and comfy chairs.


Does US offer a dining plan? We would not get the US dining plan, it's new and not very many City Walk restaurants and no Hotels restaurants participate. We like WDW dining plan, but US one would not work for us. We eat at HRH at least x1 a day and City walk x1 a day.

I know US doesn't offer a service like Magical Express. Do we need a car if we are staying on-site? We did not once use our rental care the 1st year, plus you pay for parking at US onsite hotels. We started using a towncar service. PM me if you want the name. They pick you up at baggage claim and take you right to your hotel, you can schedule a grocery stop too. We use gardengrocer.com

Besides disboards, are there any other websites you recommend for learning all about US?

I did most of my research on this web site. US does not really need much planning, not like WDW. We plan for WWoHP area 1st thing and then just tour using the Express Pass as we go where we want.

We don't make reservations a head of time, we just decide where to eat on the fly and show our HRH card to get priority seating.

Enjoy US!

 

[aprilmommy0205]

Thanks for the informative replies.

Do you think it is necessary to have the US version of a park hopper, or is the base ticket fine? When I was playing around with the reservation system, it gave me a price that included a 2 day base ticket. I figured we would just plan on one park per day.

We've been to Disney in the brutal August heat so we know what to expect. We're early risers on vacation so we'll make use of the early opening time.

I was leaning toward the Royal Pacific because it was a couple of hundred cheaper, but I will check out HRH if you think the price difference is worth it.

 

[macraven]

They have a dining plan but it is nothing like disney's. It is strictly counter service. It is only worth while if you are big eaters since you need to eat 3 meals to make it pay for itself. We usually just OOP since we don't do that many meals in the parks. It doesn't include sit down meals.

the meal deal, you are referring to above, at the darkside was discontinued.
the dining plan that is used now is a counter service program, that the credits must be used within 14 days of first use.

this new plan is explained on the UO website.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Thanks for the informative replies.

Do you think it is necessary to have the US version of a park hopper, or is the base ticket fine? When I was playing around with the reservation system, it gave me a price that included a 2 day base ticket. I figured we would just plan on one park per day.

We've been to Disney in the brutal August heat so we know what to expect. We're early risers on vacation so we'll make use of the early opening time.

I was leaning toward the Royal Pacific because it was a couple of hundred cheaper, but I will check out HRH if you think the price difference is worth it.

I have not stayed at RPH, only PBH and HRH. We like staying at HRH so much as it's super close to the parks and easy walking distance for us. Especially as we take mid-day breaks every day.

The teens like the vibe at HRH. They really enjoy the atmosphere and pool area. PBH was very quiet (even in July) and the teens thought it was boring.

For us staying at HRH is worth it

We also get the park hopper pass, as we like the flexibility of going to WWoHP for early entry and then walking to US for morning touring. I think with the HP2 area opening at US and utilizing the Hogwarts Express you will have to have a park-to-park option.

 

[RMulieri]

Thanks for the informative replies.

Do you think it is necessary to have the US version of a park hopper, or is the base ticket fine? When I was playing around with the reservation system, it gave me a price that included a 2 day base ticket. I figured we would just plan on one park per day.

We've been to Disney in the brutal August heat so we know what to expect. We're early risers on vacation so we'll make use of the early opening time.

I was leaning toward the Royal Pacific because it was a couple of hundred cheaper, but I will check out HRH if you think the price difference is worth it.

If you are interested in riding the Hogwarts express ( part of the new harry potter expansion opening at the studios this summer), you will need a PARK TO PARK ticket.You will not be able to ride it with single day tickets

 

[glocon]

I would say save the money and stay at RPR. We have only ever stayed at HRH but are going to the RPR this time around. All resorts are beautiful (I have walked around all 3) and deluxe, so you will not go wrong staying at RPR.

Use the money you save by not switching resorts to get the park hoppers, that way you can enjoy all of the WWoHP, since you need a hopper for riding the new Hogwarts Express.

 

[aprilmommy0205]

Do you think a 2 day park to park ticket is enough? I plan to get us on an early flight so we could probably hit the park the first day. I was sort of planning on that being a day at the pool.

Also, someone suggested buying the tickets separate from the hotel in case we are offered any type of discount, and also safeguards us from price increases. Would I still get that Unlimited Express Pass?

Also, has anyone used Mears from transportation from the airport to the hotel? I am curious if I reserve an SUV will that expedite our wait.

 

[macraven]

Also, someone suggested buying the tickets separate from the hotel in case we are offered any type of discount, and also safeguards us from price increases. Would I still get that Unlimited Express Pass?

if you are staying on site at one of the 3 main hotels, you will receive the hotel perk of unlimited usage of the express lines.

park tickets are not the reason a person is given the express pass.
it is a hotel perk from hrh, pbh, rph.