WooHoo!! Husband finally agreed to take us to Universal/IOA!

[mjrich73]

I am so excited! We will be doing Universal, IOA, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.

Any suggestions on things I need to make sure I don't miss?
I will be there with my husband and my 2 kids(dd age 9 and ds age 7)

Thanks!!

 

[Metro West]

I am so excited! We will be doing Universal, IOA, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.

Any suggestions on things I need to make sure I don't miss?
I will be there with my husband and my 2 kids(dd age 9 and ds age 7)

Thanks!!

Congrats! The first thing to do is to check out the stickys on the top section of the boards and then feel free to ask questions. We are also glad to help.

 

[pixeegrl]

HAVE FUN! It only took me 2 weeks of "planning" and putting together a budget to convince hubby but now we are going and I am so excited. We need to know more about your trip to give you specific advice. I will recommend some things we are doing though. First and foremost if it's in your budget stay on-site! Sign up for Loews First if you haven't already and book through them. Buy Kelly's book It's great!-Universal Orlando 2008: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Theme Park Adventure Take time to read all the stickies and especially the Trip Reports!

 

[Darcy03231]

Make sure you see the Hollywood Horror Makeup Show at US. I think its one of the best shows I've ever seen in an amusement park.

 

[mslclark]

Woo hoo!! Stay onsite and take advantage of front of the line access! It will totally change your idea of a theme park vacation. Think relaxing instead of commando and restless kids from waiting in line.

 

[wwessing]

I'll second the advice to buy Kelly Monaghan's book. . . but I would recommend bookS. There are two you would benefit from purchasing. First, THE book on Universal/IOA which is Universal Orlando 2008 The Ultimate Guide. Also, since you will be visiting Sea World and Busch Gardens, pick up The Other Orlando.

There is also a Sea World/Discovery Cove/Busch Gardens/Aquatica section here as well, but it's not quite as active as most of the other boards. I did get lots of information here, especially for Aquatica, but I utilized The Other Orlando more than I can say. Because our time is much more limited for Sea World (2 days) and Busch Gardens (1 day) than for Universal/IOA, I did more planning for those parks to ensure we saw everything that was truly important to us. So, I read those chapters of the book repeatedly and created a loose schedule, with the help of the park websites for hours and such. Now I feel like we have plenty of time to do what we really want and won't come away feeling like we missed anything.

My biggest mistake with our last trip to Orlando 4 years ago was I did not know that I should research. We went, knowing nothing, and while we had a wonderful vacation, I know now what it could have been like.

Do the research, purchase the books, read as much on these threads as you possibly can. Go back through old threads, then you will know where you need help, what questions to ask, etc.

Here's a link to Kelly Monaghan's website where you can pick up the books. They are available pretty much everywhere though.

http://www.intrepidtraveler.com/WebStore/index.php?main_page=products_all&disp_order=1&page=2

 

[donaldduck352]

Woo hoo!! Stay onsite and take advantage of front of the line access! It will totally change your idea of a theme park vacation. Think relaxing instead of commando and restless kids from waiting in line.

Only way too fly!!!!

 

[mjrich73]

Only way too fly!!!!

We would love to stay onsite...however our budget doesn't!!
We will be staying at the Magical Manor in Windsor Palms.

 

[donaldduck352]

We would love to stay onsite...however our budget doesn't!!
We will be staying at the Magical Manor in Windsor Palms.

Your all going to have aball anyway.
You may want to checkout the US website and see if they have any deals on Express passes for the days your going. I don't know how long your staying but if its 1 week 4 parks is going to be very tiring.

 

[DocOck]

The only thing I would suggest, (and I hope I don't offend anyone) I would skip the Busch Gardens and spend extra days at Universal/IOA. I did that one year and regretted it. Not that Busch Gardens is a bad park, it is OK, but if it was my first time at Universal, its such a better park, one you'll be disappointed in BG as compared to Universal IMO, and two, it takes time away from Universal. Plus that way you'll save a good 300-400 bucks or more, by taking advantage of the extra days on your Universal tickets and not buying BG tickets.

I would wait and do BG only after I've done Universal and Disney many times and were really looking for something different. Just my opinion.

 

[Darcy03231]

OP - If you're doing all those parks look into the Orlando 5 park flex pass. You get unlimited admission for 14 days to US/IOA/SW/BG and Wet n' Wild. We used it last summer and it was great. You only have to pay to park at one park per day. Just save your receipt if you want to go somewhere else. As I recall we paid $235 for the adult tickets and $200 for the child. I bought them through Undercover Tourist.

 

[TIGGERGUY]

For the kids, there are some huge play areas in Univeral/IOA. There is only one entrance/exit for each area, so plan some time to relax while they go play. Each area has ways to get soaking wet, so changes of clothes are a good idea.

For food, make sure you go Mythos in IOA. It has won the Best Theme Park Restaurant award many years running. The food, service and atmosphere are all outstanding.

If you have AAA show your card all over Universal/IOA. It will get you a minimum 10% off almost everything.

 

[ky07]

I agree with DocOck cause the first time we did Universal we did only 2 days and from then on we did Universal cause we missed so much and to be honest everytime we go back we always find something we missed before

 

[Metro West]

I am so excited! We will be doing Universal, IOA, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.

Any suggestions on things I need to make sure I don't miss?
I will be there with my husband and my 2 kids(dd age 9 and ds age 7)

Thanks!!

Here are some pictures the KidZone at the Studios:

 

[mjrich73]

The only thing I would suggest, (and I hope I don't offend anyone) I would skip the Busch Gardens and spend extra days at Universal/IOA. I did that one year and regretted it. Not that Busch Gardens is a bad park, it is OK, but if it was my first time at Universal, its such a better park, one you'll be disappointed in BG as compared to Universal IMO, and two, it takes time away from Universal. Plus that way you'll save a good 300-400 bucks or more, by taking advantage of the extra days on your Universal tickets and not buying BG tickets.

I would wait and do BG only after I've done Universal and Disney many times and were really looking for something different. Just my opinion.

Wow!! SeaWorld actually refunded my combo tickets and allowed to just order single day tickets instead, plus she said I can get a second day for free!! Now I feel like I won't be as rushed and it saved my family of 4 $136. Now what should I do with the $$$ I saved???

 

[donaldduck352]

Make sure you see the Hollywood Horror Makeup Show at US. I think its one of the best shows I've ever seen in an amusement park.

Outof all the times we been,have yet todo

 

[donaldduck352]

Wow!! SeaWorld actually refunded my combo tickets and allowed to just order single day tickets instead, plus she said I can get a second day for free!! Now I feel like I won't be as rushed and it saved my family of 4 $136. Now what should I do with the $$$ I saved???

Checkout US website for Express Passes for @ least 1 day for the fam.It should be real close too your budget now
YA''LL are going to love Seaworld also It's gonna take 2 days there 2.

 

[MetFanInPeoria]

My wife and I both bought the 14-day 4-park Flex Tickets (Sea World/USF/IOA/WetNWild) during our 10-day 10th anniversary trip in July 2006.

Certainly, we had a great time. One great advantage is that you only need to pay parking once in the morning, i.e. if you go to another park that day, you get a free voucher.