Hi-
Have decided as a family to likely head to universal this summer for vacation (other choice was Disney treasure but we did Dcl for spring break).
We haven’t been to universal since 2018 when DD was 1 and DS was 6. Kids are now 13 and 8. I have many questions.
Planning on the second to last week in August. DH and I went in August once before a wedding and it was very dead, but with the opening of Epic I’m guessing it might be busier this summer.
We previously stayed at Royal Pacific, but Portofino is cheaper this year. Should we spend all 7 nights at Portifino or do a split stay with Helios.
Can we do a full week at Universal? Or should we add a day at Sea World? Arriving by mid morning Saturday and not leaving till 6:30 the next Saturday so we have 6 full days and 2 half days.
I think I want a second day at Epic so looking at 4 day 3 park to park tickets with 1 epic plus an additional 1 day epic ticket. Considering one day of express of epic and the other without. With this plan I’d likely do either Sea World or (splurge) discovery cove for one day. But that leaves us with the 2 travel days empty.
Other option is the 15 day unlimited 3 park ticket plus which includes 1 day at epic and id still buy a second day of epic and express. or a 3 park seasonal pass, but we won’t be back really and then I have to buy 2 epic tickets and for some reason annual pass rates are higher at the hotels than package rates.
Anyway, that’s my ramble.
TLDR: help me plan a week at universal
1 Like
This is the plan I would recommend.
Have you considered Volcano Bay? I love it, but I know water parks aren’t for everyone!
That would give you a rest day. Enjoy the pool, go to CityWalk for mini golf or an escape room.
Would your dates be in late August? You could do a MNSSHP on that rest day.
Check on the Portofino construction and consider if it will bother you. I believe that’s why it’s a lower price right now.
I enjoy discovery cove if you’re looking to add a day not at universal.
1 Like
I would consider throwing Volcano Bay in there. Or if you splurge for Discovery Cove, you can add Sea World for very, very cheap.
4 Likes
I agree with @heathernoel definitely fit VB in. I would do 2 days epic. 1 day VB, 1 day IOA, 1day UOR, 1 day DC, and make the travel days resort days (not in that order lol) but if you are rollercoaster people add on Seaworld somewhere.
1 Like
Thanks for the help!
We’re really not good at rest days. Like at all lol. We like to do something even if it’s just pop into a park for a few hours. We will likely do volcano bay, but we are not the people who can spend all day at the pool. Like when we do Disney we get 8 day tickets and go to a park every day, but one day it might be from rope drop til lunch and then we’ll do dinner and pool at the resort the rest of the day.
I was looking st you tube, and it seems like the construction at Portofino is mostly done. So that seems like not a huge factor.
Any must eat restaurants?
I am with you that I like to do something. I found your thread because I was planning my own trip (for a year from now) and am trying to figure out all of my options within my price range. I decided that Volcano Bay was a good way to do something, that is less expensive, even if we don’t go to the parks. DD and I love a not-so-lazy river and find that a step above the pool (for us - I know mileage varies by family). Plus I think I am staying at Cabana Bay to increase my ability to buy Epic Express passes, so VB is right there.
One other tip - I have a United Card and it has a web portal to book hotels - United hotels. I never in a million years thought it would be cheaper than the Universal site, but it is. $53 cheaper for Cabana Bay and $47 for Portifino. So if you have an option like that, it is worth checking!
I really enjoy getting a terrace table at Bice at Portofino. You can listen to the singer in the piazza and watch the sun set and all the lights come on if the timing is right.
I also like toothsomes though it can be hit or miss. I prefer the bar area. I still think about the chocolate old fashioned.
I usually stay at Sapphire falls and I love their rum lounge Strong water tavern might be worth a boat trip.
Inside the parks leaky cauldron or three broomsticks is my go to.
I will know where to eat at Epic next week. I have a reservation at Atlantic and I’m hoping to try some of the food in dark universe & the Mac & cheese cone in isle of burk.
I was going to recommend seasonal pass if you enjoy popping into the park here and there. Yes you would still pay for the EPIC days, but at a discount. Doesn’t make sense if the hotel rate isn’t better though. It should be better.
We did Sea World with younger kids this year and they mostly only loved the Sesame Street area. But, if you like coasters, they have great ones. If you want to see shows, be sure to plan around those. Undercover Tourist had good deals on tickets for Sea World, or consider all three Sea World, Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens together.
If you don’t have a car, we learned that there is a free shuttle from City Walk to Sea World and back every day. We used it and were the only family on it both ways. You have to sign up at the hotel the day before and it only has one arrival time and one drop off time.
2 Likes
Revisiting this topic!
I current have 7 nights at hard rock hotel book, 5 day 3 park to park tickets and a 1 day sea world ticket. $5900 for the hotel and universal tickets, for the sea world tickets at the Memorial Day sale, $265. Will probably buy a 2nd day at epic ($700).
So total is $6865. I have unlimited express for the old park, but nothing for epic. Express for one day at epic is $740 dollars (barf).
I was now looking at changing to cabana bay in a family suite (plus for us- kids don’t have to share a bed). Still with 5 day 3 park to park tickets which include one day at epic. And buy 5 day express (so only one time each ride/ day).
This is $5500, plus sea world, plus a second day at epic - $6465. And we can use the express 3 days at the old parks, 2 days and epic and just not use it the day at volcano bay.
So I save $400, get express at epic, and more space.
But it’s further from the parks and it’s not unlimited express.
Which would you pick?
1 Like
Good research and details. I’d save the money, value the Epic express pass, enjoy more hotel space and more hotel pools.
We split our time last year between CB and HRH (for express passes). We would usually walk to the old parks from CB which is further than from HRH but not by that much. And our style was to try and ride as much of different rides rather than the same ones over and over (another reason to favor the cheaper plan).
1 Like
I have stayed in one of these. They are TINY! I’ll try to find my old TR with pictures. I was disgusted that CBBR dared to called these “family suites”
I couldn’t find which of my old TRs had photos. I did find this YT room tour. You’ll see how small they are.
The extra bed is a fold out couch!
2 Likes
Just stayed at Cabana Bay. Here is my review: Universal Hotel Impressions: Endless Summer, Royal Pacific, Cabana Bay
I think if you want to ride the headliners at epic, an Express Pass is your best bet right now. Though… I really valued the unlimited XP that came with Royal Pacific. If I were by myself, I would have ridden the coasters multiple times.
1 Like
