Our first Universal Trip (planning thread)

Universal Orlando Resort
21

So assuming that we arrive for RD and are let in at 9.45, then spend 15 min in the first Ollivander’s show - are you saying the spell spots will already be busy by the time we come out of Ollivander’s?

I just checked the calendar for the whole month of June and USF opens at 10am every single day, and there isn’t a single day of early park admission for USF. So I fear July will be the same - and we’ll just have to prepare ourselves for a crowded experience in DA?

In case it helps, TP is predicting a CL 5 for USF on the day that we’re going (it’s also predicting an opening time of 9am, but I fear that won’t happen looking at current schedule).

1 Like
22

USF should be open at 9am, but it is rarely ever open for Early Park Admission. There are times when it opens at 10am, but that tends to happen more often when schools are in session.

Either way, I was trying to say that after the first hour DA will be busy. It’s where most people will be going once the gates open and it doesn’t slow down until late in the day.

That’s a pretty good day for summer! With a good plan and a list of “must-do” items you’ll be ok!

4 Likes
23

Ok, great - that sounds promising then, we’ll definitely be in DA as soon as we are allowed in and prioritizing Ollivander’s and spells on this first morning. For attractions we’ll have UXP (and a short list of must-dos) so I’m not worried.

2 Likes
24

I need help! The Universal Hotel pricing approach is just wild - and I am SO confused. When I first started planning for this trip, I looked at room prices over a period of maybe two weeks, compared options (primarily between a split stay and a value resort/express pass combo), deliberated on whether I wanted to move around between hotels, and eventually booked what I thought I wanted: a four-night stay in a value resort with express passes.

Then all prices seemed to drop suddenly about a month later, so I rebooked my original value choice (CB) - and also booked an upgrade option (SF) that was now the same price as I had planned to pay for the value.

Then prices for all other resorts went totally haywire too. RPR (which was well over $500 per night when I was planning the trip) dropped to $270/night for our dates. Portofino dropped to $300/night. Even Helios dropped to $340 a night. And every time I found a drop, I started imagining new options. And worked a bit on our touring plans, so that I now have a better idea of how to manage transportation and possible resort moves.

Check in is 83 days away. I am still seeing the prices changes every day, but am going a bit crazy keeping track of them all - and at this point they are all within the range of what I’m comfortable spending, so I think I just need to decide (or at least narrow down to TWO options) - and if there are more price drops on those, just consider them as a bonus.

We have three park days (first USF/IOA for 1.5 days, then Epic for 1.5 days) and are spending our last full day at Volcano Bay (so last night will be CB with any option for the early entry to VB)

SO, what would you choose and why:

  • Option 1: 5 night stay at Cabana Bay (with option of spending night 2 at RPR since we’ll book a night there in any case for the two-day UXP): great because we don’t have to move our bulky luggage, but means 20 min walk/bus to any park over three park days.
  • Option 2: 4 nights at Sapphire Falls (with same RPR sleepover option), and final night at CB: great because we can take the boat to the parks for the first 1.5 days, but then still need to take the bus to Epic, and need to move resorts once on our VB morning.
  • Option 3(a/b): 2 nights at a Signature (RPR or Portofino, the price difference is minimal) + 2 nights at SN + final night at CB: great because of the easy access to parks on all park days, but need to move resorts twice (once on day 3 before heading to Epic for touring, and again on our VB morning).
  • Option 4: 2 nights at a Signature (RPR or Portofino) + 2 nights at Helios + final night at CB: great because of the super easy access to parks on all park days, but need to move resorts twice (once on day 3 before heading to Epic for touring, and again on our VB morning).

All options are under the budget in my original planning and within $500 of each other, so cost is not the overriding consideration. But in case you’re curious, options 1 and 3 are both $1150 total, option 2 is $1450, and option 4 is $1600, give or take.

I’m currently leaning towards the split stay options, but feel I might change my mind again tomorrow. Or worse, think of more options. Help!

3 Likes
25

I just want to make sure you know that you don’t have to stay at CBBR to use the hotel guest entrance to VB. That entrance is for all guests staying at any Universal hotel.

I mention this because I would take option 2 but make it a five-night stay. CBBR is literally across the street. It would be a 5 – 10 minute walk to the CBBR entrance to VB from SF.

I don’t want to have to move my luggage if I didn’t need to and SF is a very nice hotel.

I have stayed in a variety of rooms at CBBR, including the Family Suite. They are all incredibly small. I was given the suite as a free upgrade once. If I had requested and paid a premium for that tiny “suite” I’d been upset. For the two of us it was fine, but still “cozy.” :rofl: :shark:

6 Likes
26

So to be clear, Option 2 (4 nights Sapphire, 1 night CBBR) costs $300 more than Option 3? (2 night Signature, 2 nights Sapphire, 1 night CBBR)

And, you have already purchased Express Passes separately correct?

1 Like
27

Oooh, I did not know this! In fact, for some reason I was under the impression that only CB gets the early entry to Volcano Bay? Of course now that I’m googling it, it appears that all resort guests get early entry there (and that makes much more sense). More than the entrance, I really cared about the extra time at Volcano Bay - my husband has to leave to the airport around 1pm that day, and we want to rope drop and make the most of the time we have together to ride VB attractions before lines build.

Totally understand that this now makes the SF option more attractive - thanks!

Indeed, I was so unimpressed with the reviews of the family suite at CBBR that I was just looking at the regular two queen rooms for our trip anyway. It’ll be a park-focused trip, and we are used to sharing a room (kids are still young enough to make it doable), so I was not particularly concerned about room size - I was more concerned with access to parks, and overall resort feel.

1 Like
28

Yes, the SF option costs more than a split stay between RPR and Stella Nova (not Sapphire Falls). I was also a bit suprised by that - but RPR had some great price drops, and SN is at rock-bottom pricing of $109/night for those dates! We would prefer the option of walking from SN to Epic rather than taking the bus from the other resort area.

I initially figured that IF we do a split stay we should just splurge on Helios for the location/own park entrance - but then I saw the SN rate and my reading of reviews is that apart from the location Helios isn’t that much more of an impressive hotel than SN? I also thought we’d have an edge at RD using the Helios hotel, but have now read in a couple of places that Helios may actually have a slight disadvantage rope-dropping Berk and Nintendo World (and we’lllikely rope drop Berk for the Toothless M&G). That said, I also have a reservation at Bar Helios to coincide with the fountain show on our last park night, and the thought of just walking from the hotel bar to our room afterwards remains tempting!

Yes. I’ve purchase a 1-day Epic Express Passes for a our full day there, and we will get UXP for IOA/USF through the Signature Hotel stay (this is why I’ve booked a one-night stay at $270/night at RPR even if we end up spending all nights at CB/SF - it was a great deal for UXP for four people for 2 days!)

4 Likes
29

Ah, Stella Nova. That makes sense.

You are right, it’s quite a lot of factors to decide on!

Ah, ok.

Whatever option you choose, great job planning and investigating!

2 Likes
30

The moving back & forth would drive me crazy! But also, we just drive our rental car everywhere, even if having to pay for parking because we just like the convenience of having our own vehicle to be our own master of our transportation fate, so I’m never as concerned with good close access to parks since we’re likely always driving ourselves to the parking lot and walking to/from it.

So for me, I would do Option 2 - and with the added caveat that Larry mentioned to keep SF the whole 5 nights and just be across the street from it.

But if the moving won’t drive you as crazy and if you want ease of access, then Option 3 is very intriguing! And very good job on all the options & maximizing it to your benefit!

2 Likes