We are just a few days away from leaving for our family trip to Universal Orlando! This is (for us) the World’s Longest UOR trip, because we will be arriving May 7 and leaving May 16, staying on property, which gives us 8 potential park days. (Actually, 9…but we aren’t arriving on the 7th until later in the day, so first park day is May 8.)
The cast of characters includes myself, DW, DS25 and DDIL, DS23 and DDIL, DD19, and DS13. Sadly, DS21 will not be able to join us for this trip. DS23 and DDIL will only be joining us through Friday, May 12.
We will be staying at Endless Summer Dockside Inn. We stayed in Surfside Inn in 2020, and it was lovely considering it is a value resort. We felt it was nicer than Pop Century in may ways. Anyhow, this time we figured we’d give the sister property, Dockside a try since the rooms are virtually identical.
Our plans are somewhat loose, compared to the kind of planning we’d need for Disney, which will hopefully allow for a relaxed trip. With so many days, it is an experiment to see if we ever find ourselves getting bored. Here is the tentative schedule:
Saturday, May 6 - Start the drive down, stopping in Forsythe, GA.
Sunday, May 7 - Arrive at Dockside around 4 or 5, check-in, activate our seasonal passes, and then head over to Disney Springs for a Rainforest Cafe reservation.
Monday, May 8 - Rope drop (Early Park Admission 8 am) IOA and head straight for VC, then work counter clockwise around the park. Poseidon’s Fury is in the plans for this day as well, since it is the second to last operating day for the show ever!
Tuesday, May 9 - Rope drop (EPA) IOA and head straight for Hagrid’s. This will be our Harry Potter day, so focus on Harry Potter in both parks. At the end of the day, catch the projection show on Hogwart’s Castle…this is the final night of the show!
Wednesday, May 10 - Rope drop (no EPA available) USF and do, well, all the USF stuff! We also have a reservation in the afternoon for the Jurassic Park Escape room.
Thursday, May 11 - Water day. We’ll head into IOA a little later, dressed in clothes meant to get soaked in with the intention of just riding the wet rides. Get soaked, laugh, get soaked some more, etc. Once we’re thoroughly waterlogged, head back to the hotel to change into dry clothes. DDIL and DD19 plan to head back into the parks to do Harry Potter shopping and spells and such on their own.
Friday, May 12 - Say goodbye to DS23 and DDIL. This is a more relaxed day, but my DW and I plan to head to a Mexican restaurant off property for dinner, just the two of us (since Antojitos will be closed for refurbishment during our trip).
Saturday, May 13 - Do whatever! My wife and I will be heading to Ocala to meet up for breakfast with her parents, who are currently in Florida for the winter (although will be heading back to Michigan soon).
Sunday, May 14 - Happy Mother’s Day! Heading into the parks, and my wife wants to eat lunch (or dinner) at the Leaky Cauldron.
Monday, May 15 - Last park day to re-ride anything we love. We head back to Disney Springs in the afternoon, and have a reservation at House of Blues for our final meal.
Tuesday, May 16 - Check out and start the drive home!
I’ll be periodically updating this thread as per the usual for an obligatory trip report.
