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Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    1,755
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    Default DINK needs help with Universal - Plan my trip?!

    Hey Intercotees,

    Like many of you I am a great wealth of knowledge when it comes to planning WDW trips. Universal however... not a clue. Maybe a sliver of a clue, but in the general area of cluelessness. So... help me!

    Solo trip, just me - 40ish adult male
    3 nights/3 full days
    Want to stay on property - all hotels are in my price range.
    Can rent a car, but prefer not to. Transportation options from MCO?
    Want good pool/bars/restaurants.
    DO all 3 days at Universal or 2 there and one at Sea World? (never been)
    Should I book through MJ like I do with Disney? Are there advantages with them booking Universal like there is with Disney? I love MJ and my agent, but she hasn't booked Universal in years.

    I want/need your ideas. So, if you were to go to Universal for yourself for 3 days and 3 nights where would you stay and what would you do? The dates are set, so I don't need help there; going Thurs-Sat of Mothers' Day weekend.

    I am an empty vessel. Fill me up with your Universal knowledge.

    Thank You,

    Evan - aka DisneyDINK
    Past Visits:
    1984 & 85 Off Site
    1999 CBR
    2003 BW/GF
    2009 WL
    2011 Poly
    2013 YC, WL, CR (good year!)
    2014 AKL
    2015 GF, CS , Poly, SSR
    2016 YC, Universal Portofino, GF, Waldorf


    "Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must live." - Bukowski

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Neenah WI
    Posts
    279
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    Default

    I stayed at Lowe's Royal Pacific and loved it! Its a 5-10 min walk to the parks or there are water taxis as well. If you stay at a Universal "deluxe" you get the unlimited express pass which is front of the line "fast passes" for everything except Forbidden Journey and Gringotts. Express pass was totally worth it in September so it might be awesome in May.

    I used MJ to book the Universal portion of the trip as well as WDW. Terrisue is a Rock star and was watching for deals all the time. I rented a car as we were going to Discovery Cove, Legoland and WDW, but a car service was available from the airport to Universal and Universal to WDW. ***Parking was $25 a day two years ago at Universal**** probably more now - something to consider. Terrisue offered to set up a car service for us if we needed it.

    The pool at LRP was great. A bunch of ducks were swimming with us and would hop out and go into the bar, look for food and get back in the pool - sounds like a joke but it was true.

    Restaurants we enjoyed - HardRock Cafe, Margaritaville, Mythos, Three Broomsticks. Didn't care for Cafe La Bamba but that's just us.

    We had 3 days and nights in Universal and it was about right. We did each park 1 day and then hit our favorites in both parks the last day. The express pass lets you see a lot of stuff quickly. We also spent the evenings in Citywalk shopping. Lastly, we caught the BlueMan Group in Citywalk and had an absolute blast.

    My kids are asking to spend more time in Universal now. IMO it's catching WDW really really fast.
    Michael
    You ain't never had a friend like me!

    DVC Owner - AKL

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Neenah WI
    Posts
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    Default

    Wow, I didn't mean to kill the thread.
    Michael
    You ain't never had a friend like me!

    DVC Owner - AKL

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    NE PA
    Posts
    3,041
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    Default

    Personally, I like all 4 hotels but I I am doing park time I will do one with Express Pass. Of those 3, Portofino is my favorite, followed by Royal Pacific. I know Hard Rock is closest, but I just don't get a wow feeling there. Portofino has a lot of food options, great pools and that piazza with the opera at sundown!

    Universal does not have a free airport shuttle, but it does have one you can pay for. With just one person it is probably your best option cost wise.


    Have never done SeaWorld, but Universal does have shuttle that go there as well.

    I can easily do 3 days with just the Uni parks and CityWalk. Vivo Italian Kitchen in CityWalk was really good for dinner.

    We have a 2 agents that do not do Universal, but one of the others would be happy to assist!

    Nanc
    Nanci Rossetti
    Vacation Specialist
    Magical Journeys
    http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com
    The Magic begins with YOU!
    The Official Travel Agency of INTERCOT.com

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    NE PA
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by conan617 View Post
    Wow, I didn't mean to kill the thread.
    fixed that for you!

    N
    Nanci Rossetti
    Vacation Specialist
    Magical Journeys
    http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com
    The Magic begins with YOU!
    The Official Travel Agency of INTERCOT.com

  7. Likes conan617 liked this post
  8. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
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    Thanks Conan and Nanc for the info! I requested a quote through the site.
    Past Visits:
    1984 & 85 Off Site
    1999 CBR
    2003 BW/GF
    2009 WL
    2011 Poly
    2013 YC, WL, CR (good year!)
    2014 AKL
    2015 GF, CS , Poly, SSR
    2016 YC, Universal Portofino, GF, Waldorf


    "Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must live." - Bukowski

  9. #7
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    14,528
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    I think three days at Universal would be about right too, even with the Unlimited Express Pass. That would give you enough time to enjoy the parks and spend some time at the resort, whichever one you choose. Personally, I think Hard Rock would be a great choice; they've always got something special going on there (music!)

    We lived in Central Florida for many years and enjoyed going to Seaworld a several times, but now that I'm aware of some of the issues of dealing with wildlife in captivity (especially the orcas), I'm not keen on them anymore. Don't get me wrong, they do good too, like their manatee and turtle rescue, but ethically I can't condone some of their programs. Just my
    Beth
    INTERCOT Staff--
    Theme Parks and Accommodations



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  10. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Atlanta
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    We loved Royal Pacific. Two days is enough for us in Universal and we did do Sea World, which I loved, but also had ethical concerns. Universal is much more relaxing than WDW.
    2017 WDW All Star Music/Universal RP
    2016 :(
    2015 Universal-Royal Pacific
    2014 :(
    2013 Fall: Wilderness Lodge
    2011-12 :(
    2010 French Quarter
    2009 Pop & AKL
    2008 Polynesian
    2007 ASM & BCR
    2006 AKL

  11. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    NE PA
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    And you can pool hop at Universal.

    N
    Nanci Rossetti
    Vacation Specialist
    Magical Journeys
    http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com
    The Magic begins with YOU!
    The Official Travel Agency of INTERCOT.com

  12. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    PA
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    9,109
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    ive done Universal in one day and two days. i think 2 is enough. stayed at both hard rock and royal pacific. you get expresspass if you stay there too, but not at cabana bay or sapphire falls. id pick RP over hard rock. Cowfish i think is the sushi burger place that was good at citywalk and the pixxa place (sorry my letter after y button doesnt work) was good. used Mears from the airport but there were a few stops before universal. didnt know they had a shuttle
    BC 2
    WL CL 1
    AKL 4
    SOG 3
    POFQ 3
    POR 2
    CSR 4
    CBR 2
    Asp 3
    AS m 2
    POP 7
    12-13 WL CSR ASM
    3-14 POR, AS s Dolphin
    6-14 Us CSR
    1-14 Unv
    6-15 WL, SSR.
    11- 15. AOA, OKw
    7 16..CSR, FW, AKL, POR
    7 17..ASM, CSR, WL AKL club POP
    8 18 As sports, Pop
    DL 9-19
    DVC WL, CSR and idk 10-20

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