Week after Christmas doable if staying onsite?

[Jenny-momof3]

Pondering the idea of surprising my family with 2 days at Universal right before our Disney trip. Would pay for one night onsite Dec. 28. to get 2 days FOTL access. We are all thrill ride junkies and I know my kids would absolutely love it!!

We are Disney AP holders and go 3-4 times a year and ONLY go during peak times due to kids schedules....Spring Break, 4th of July, Thanksgiving/Christmas. So we're used to crowds and know how to stay ahead of them at Disney with rope drops, fastpasses,etc. But I'm not sure if staying ahead of the crowds at Universal after Christmas is a possibility or not?

 

[Metro West]

We are Disney AP holders and go 3-4 times a year and ONLY go during peak times due to kids schedules....Spring Break, 4th of July, Thanksgiving/Christmas. So we're used to crowds and know how to stay ahead of them at Disney with rope drops, fastpasses,etc. But I'm not sure if staying ahead of the crowds at Universal after Christmas is a possibility or not?

Staying onsite is the ONLY way to handle Christmas week but it's still going to be mobbed. The unlimited Express will help you just about everywhere except WWoHP but you will have early entry so that will help. If you don't stay onsite during that week, you won't do much at all...especially if you going for WWoHP...the crowds will make it nearly impossible to enjoy yourselves.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

Staying onsite is a definite for us! But do you think it just wouldn't be enjoyable even with FOTL and early entry? We've never been to Universal and it will run us over $1,000 for the 2 days. I don't want to spend the money if we can't stay ahead of the crowds somewhat.

 

[Metro West]

Staying onsite is a definite for us! But do you think it just wouldn't be enjoyable even with FOTL and early entry? We've never been to Universal and it will run us over $1,000 for the 2 days. I don't want to spend the money if we can't stay ahead of the crowds somewhat.

I personally would not like to deal with crowds like that but since you travel during high peak times, you may not be bothered as I would. I think you would enjoy yourselves but just know both parks are going to be jammed and WWoHP will be wall to wall that whole week. If you think that type of crowd wouldn't bother you, I would say go for it.

 

[LUVIOA]

Definitely go for it! We are like you that we only go during peak times due to kids. We have been the week after WWOHP opened and last year the week of July 4th. Staying onsite makes it an absolute breeze. We don't go to Disney anymore because we just can't handle the crowds and wait times (staying onsite at Universal will spoil you forever). I say if you are used to handling Disney crowds during peak times, you will be more than happy with the crowds and minimal wait times with your express pass. The only thing we couldn't do was head back to WWOHP later in the day but the early entry was fantastic and we just made sure we did it all there before leaving the area. Enjoy!

 

[2girlsmom]

I wouldn't personally do it, as it will be WAY crowded, and the only POSSIBLE would be onsite, I agree, both for the FOTL and for early entry. I do caution you that you will want to be there for the early entry time and not plan to leave until you are done. IOA closed for capacity at least 2 days of that week this past year, first day @ 11:30, second at 10am!! I am told this was NOT a phased closing like Disney, but an actual complete closing, nobody in until levels drop.

 

[JessicaR]

2 maybe 3 years ago we did a Christmas trip. There was a 3 night minimum for the dates we booked. We stayed a week it was extremely expensive. Crowds got crazy the day after Christmas (we arrived a few days before). It was a VERY cold week. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

The excitement and festivities were terrific! I would never do it unless staying on-site though the crowds would make me miserable (lines).

 

[macraven]

don't wait until the last minute to book a room onsite.
it's a very popular time you are looking at.

you could get a suite at pbh but more than likely, it would be cheaper to book 2 standard rooms.

those suites can hold 6, and the standard rooms at all 3 onsite hotels have a limit of 5 peeps per room.