How Many Days to see US/IOA between Christmas and New Year's? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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How Many Days to see US/IOA between Christmas and New Year's?
Our travel plans have changed a bit, and we're thinking about spending a few days at US/IOA. I'm just not sure how many days to allot. As of right now, our first day there would be Christmas day.
It's our first time (if you can't tell, LOL) so I'm not sure what to expect. My main goal is to see WWoHP, but I'd also like to see Seuss Landing, Jaws, and Jurassic Park.
I know it's going to be busy, but I have no idea how much time we realistically need to accomplish this. Is four days about right, or could we do it in three? Also, how important are the express pass/early entry options at this point? Is it so busy that they don't really matter, or are they even more valuable than under normal conditions? I'm balking at the added cost of them, but if it makes a radical difference, then I'll find a way to budget in the expense.
I've never experienced Universal during Christmas week, so I don't really have a good answer. I think you could do both parks in 3 days. Hopefully someone with experience during this week will offer some more solid advice. Happy planning!
I've done Universal during Christmas and New Year's week. Be prepared for the mother of all crowds. Three days will be good -- 1 for USF, 1 for IOA, and 1 to revisit your favorites or do the stuff you missed. Express passes are esstential, but they will be pricey -- they will probably be $50-$60 on top of your ticket price. My advise would be to arrive at opening and do the popular rides before the crowds come in. The parks may open as early as 8:00 am. Arrive at 8:00 am and the park will be a ghost town. At noon, it will be wall-to-wall people.
Also, if you have a sizable group, consider staying onsite. A one-night stay at an onsite hotel will be worth two days of Express access. You can check in as early as 8:00 am on your check-in day and your key is good until midnight on your check-out day. I remember one year standing behind a group of 5 at Guest Services. They bought two days' worth of Express passes for around $600. I checked the rates for the Royal Pacific Resort. A standard room ran around $300. Now there are other charges with the Royal Pacific Resort like parking, food, souvenirs, raiding the mini bar (just kidding ), and other things, but an onsite room would have been cheaper than paying for Express passes. The group probably didn't even have a hotel room yet. The Motel 6 was running for $50 that week. Plus, an onsite hotel room gives you unlimited Express access, so you can use the Express line as many times as you want. If you want to watch the Barney show all day, have at it!
We will be there the same time frame...arriving Christmas day and departing the 30th...we are staying on-site because of the crowds. I would have to agree with the PP, the cost of purchasing the express pass and on site hotel is almost a wash and with the express pass you only get to use it one time per ride per day...whereas staying on site it is unlimited. I have planned for 3 days and making sure that we are in line for Harry Potter (which is #1) each morning at 6:30 ...staying onsite gets you into Harry Potter 1 hr before it officially opens but so important. I was at HP opening day a year ago...you have to have a plan of attack and do it first thing or late in the evening...plan to do both because it is amazing at night too!
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), and other things, but an onsite room would have been cheaper than paying for Express passes. The group probably didn't even have a hotel room yet. The Motel 6 was running for $50 that week. Plus, an onsite hotel room gives you unlimited Express access, so you can use the Express line as many times as you want. If you want to watch the Barney show all day, have at it! 
...staying onsite gets you into Harry Potter 1 hr before it officially opens but so important. I was at HP opening day a year ago...you have to have a plan of attack and do it first thing or late in the evening...plan to do both because it is amazing at night too!
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