Would you go to Universal the week between Christmas and New Years?

[dvcnewgirl]

If that was your only time to go? I just took a teaching job. And my MIL is coming to visit the week before Christmas. I am going to Orlando just for a getaway. I will probably do SeaWorld and Aquatica because I have passes for them so if it gets too crowded I can leave without losing $$. So my delimma is US/IOA. Should I spend the $$ or just skip it because it will be too much of a hassle. Also I have a 2yo and a 5yo. I have not been to US since the year it opened and can not remember anything about it. Thanks for any input!

 

[Janet Hill]

I wouldn't do it unless I could afford to stay in one of the Universal hotels to get front of the line access. There are no fast passes at Universal and at this time of the year without front of the line access I don't think you would get on much.

 

[TotoToo]

If that was your only time to go? I just took a teaching job. And my MIL is coming to visit the week before Christmas. I am going to Orlando just for a getaway. I will probably do SeaWorld and Aquatica because I have passes for them so if it gets too crowded I can leave without losing $$. So my delimma is US/IOA. Should I spend the $$ or just skip it because it will be too much of a hassle. Also I have a 2yo and a 5yo. I have not been to US since the year it opened and can not remember anything about it. Thanks for any input!

We've been there that week the past 2 years. it's crowded, longer lines but we managed to enjoy it. On the othe rhand on January 1 it's deserted! What a difference a day can make.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Thanks! I am still torn..

 

[disneywithfive]

We're going during this time this year. It's the only time we can go so we're going for it. I know the crowds will be big but we'll just do it like Disney and take our time and see what we can see. With the kids still being to young to ride most of the thrill rides, and we've never been before, we won't know the difference. Hopefully the weather will be nice and so the lines won't see as unbearable that they are at Disney in the summer.

 

[mareed]

I wouldn't do it unless I could afford to stay in one of the Universal hotels to get front of the line access. There are no fast passes at Universal and at this time of the year without front of the line access I don't think you would get on much.

I agree with going only if I could stay in a Universal Resort hotel and have unlimited front of the line access. But when I see you have a 2 & 5 year old, I don't think you'd be doing any of the big rides anyway. So if you plan to get there early and are just focusing on the kids areas that everyone can do, I think you'd be OK. I personally wouldn't go to Universal with children that young, but many on the Universal board on DIS don't agree with me on that.

 

[swilphil]

We went right before New Years and stayed at Royal Pacific. I wouldn't go that time of year without the Front of Line access, and it's so much more expensive during the holidays to just buy a pass. Do make your room ressies now. If you wait until you're closer to the holidays, they have a limit on the number of nights you must stay. We booked for something like 3 nights, and wanted to change it to 2 nights after we made flight reservations. They were trying to tell us we had a 3 or 4 night minimum, even though that didn't exist when we originally made our ressies.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

I think I am going to skip, I got a GREAT hotel deal and really can't afford the Universal hotels since they are so high at that time of year. Thanks for the help!

 

[Metro West]

I think I am going to skip, I got a GREAT hotel deal and really can't afford the Universal hotels since they are so high at that time of year. Thanks for the help!

Probably the best thing considering the time when you were thinking of going. Locals don't do any of the parks that week (unless family/friends are visiting)...it's just too busy to enjoy yourselves.