Planning a trip to Universal/Sea World and need some help please - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Planning a trip to Universal/Sea World and need some help please
Hello! I am planning a trip in late December and would like to go to Universal, Sea World and make a stop at magic kingdom to see it decorated.
We did WDW last year and the kids are just too old for it so I thought Universal, etc..would be cool.
I would like to know if that time of year is very crowded. Also I don't want to spend a lot of $ on lodging and thought Double Tree might be good?
Lastly, are there any packages or discounts on tickets for universal or sea world?
I am open to advice and suggestions! TIA!!
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Hello. I dont have much to add but we are doing the same thing for December 2012. I have opted to stay at either Seralago or one of the other resorts near Old Towne. There will be 7 of us (4 adults, 3 kids). We are going to just do one day at Disney (Magic Kingdom) and then do two days at Universal/IOA.
We went to US/IOA last December. Will you be there during the Christmas "break"? Is so, I can tell you that the crowd levels are HIGH. We were at US and decided to go out to CityWalk for lunch. As we left the gates, we saw that there was a long line for IOA. We heard the employees lining people up to wait for a chance to enter as the park was at capacity. Needless to say, we turned right back around and found lunch in US for fear of not getting back in. We had season passes for Sea World as well, but we opted not to go because it was also verrrry cold last year.
As far as places to stay, you are probably fine at the Doubletree. We had booked a resort through hotwire.com that was supposed to be a 3 star...not even close. Luckily, it had been down graded since we booked, so we were able to get a refund. We ended up in a beautiful resort called Rosen Shingle Creek. It was close to the Nickelodeon Hotel and very conveniently located with a Publix across the street. The resort is fairly new and was actually pretty reasonably priced.
I hope you have a wonderful time. My best advice for crowds is to get there when the park opens.
Join Mouse Savers and you can get discounted tickets through Under Cover Tourist. WHEN are you going? Late December is a broad time....if it IS between Christmas and New Year you are in for MEGA CROWDS. If it is JUST before Christmas...not AS bad. Christmas falls on a Sunday this year.....if you are planning on going the weekend BEFORE or even in the mid to late teens your crowds will be better. Also...leave MK for a weekday and do Universal and Seaworld on the weekends....trust me. Good luck and have fun!
The week before Christmas is a great time to go, but as Christmas approaches the crowds levels increase daily. As with WDW, the week after Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year.
The Doubletree at Universal is a super place. We stayed there in 2008 and loved it. However, you might consider an onsite resort just for the Express line privileges. I've done the math, and an onsite stay for 4 is cheaper than offsite and purchasing the Express pass separately.
Well I changed our trip time...we are going the 23rd-27th. I was printing out the maps for IOA and US...and I started to wonder if we should visit that park.
I have an 11 and 12 y/o so they aren't into characters and just about the rides really...what rides might fit the bill for them at US? If there isn't a lot perhaps we should skip it?
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My computer would not allow me to copy and paste the You Tube Video sites to meet PassPorters requirements for copywrites as it has done in the past.
To comply I have removed it from my replies.
Until I can find the problem I have been requested by a Guide to come up with a different approach to tie the You Tube videos for printing and/or to PM them..
Therefore for this reply use your Search Engine and enter each (one at a time) of these two.
1. Universal Studios FL rides You Tube.
1. Island of Adventure FL rides You Tube.
For MORE information without seeing videos use the above search and REMOVE You Tube and ADD attractions, shows, specials, characters.
OR add any wording for other subjects that are of interest to you. Example Food. (Universal Studios FL food).
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Last edited by Papa Mouse; 12-18-2011 at 02:15 PM..
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. Needless to say, we turned right back around and found lunch in US for fear of not getting back in. We had season passes for Sea World as well, but we opted not to go because it was also verrrry cold last year. 
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