Page 2 | Universal Studios holiday - advice please!

takethathatoff · 2023-06-03T10:43:59+00:00

DH and I (yes, we're giant children 😂) are hoping to go to Universal Studios in Florida at some point this year. Just looking for some advice. We definitely don't want to go to Disney, only Universal Studios. What hotels are good? (Mid range pricing) Where can I book tickets to the park? Is 5 nights enough for such a long flight? Are the hotels within the Universal 'complex'? Please speak to me as though I know nothing! 😂 We've never been before and I'm keen to do all the Harry Potter stuff but feel totally unprepared! We are looking at the last week in September (around 25th). This will (hopefully!) be our last child free holiday for a while as we're planning to TTC next year (only married last year!) so want to have as much fun as possible. Any advice? 😊

Meerkitkat · 04/06/2023 09:53

Thanks @bibbityboppityboo and @GatesAcorn that really helpful.

I would also say go to Disney. We went a few years ago so don't really need to go again. But we are going for one day to Hollywood Studios this time to go on the new Star wars rides. They look amazing!

Jagsy · 04/06/2023 10:08

Hi OP, I’m so jealous too as last there in 2018. We love Royal Pacific, it’s such a lovely hotel. Everyone else has said the important stuff, but one thing rp point out, if you have the opportunity to book a club room at royal pacific for a decent price, we found it well worth it (although we are a family of 4). The breakfast, evening snacks, soft drinks all day and alcoholic drinks in the evening made it worthwhile for us. We stayed 4 nights and it was around 30 pounds extra for the room per night (was a glitch I think but was checking Expedia daily). We used lyft which was reasonable to get to the malls/Walmart etc. Volcano bay is amazing and I say that as a non swimmer. Any questions pls ask and have an amazing time.

GatesAcorn · 04/06/2023 12:20

@Jagsy we have stayed club level several times, it works well if there are 4 of you in a room, less so than if just 2. Definitely a glitch if just £30 extra per night. I looked for September, I just ran one night costing for OP. Royal Pacific's own website have it at $488 per night for club with 2 queen beds standard is $356 so a hell of a jump. You can get some deals through other websites. We get the most from it by doing what you do, breakfast plus take water with us to the park, eat lunch at Citywalk. Snaffle some snacks on return. Afternoon nap, up in time for Royal Relaxation which is basically our early small dinner, back into the park with those FOTL and back in time for cookies/desserts along with all the drinks. I know this sounds like a lot of food but you are walking a lot.

@Meerkitkat "We went a few years ago so don't really need to go again" I am sorry, I do not understand this statement at all shhh, don't tell Dh, mind you, he is as bad as me. I went the first time as a teenager, Dh was just blown away by it all. Not least because the first time we went Ds2 had a birthday out there and they gave him a different coloured napkin to wave in Chef Mickey's, they brought him cake with a candle on, all the characters made a big fuss of his birthday badge which was given to him when we checked in to the hotel (POR if you are interested) I don't know who was not trying their hardest not to cry, me or Dh. Ds's face was just lit up with his favourite character, Pluto.

@takethathatoff I can predict what will happen, you will go for 5 days, be completely besotted by the place and even whilst there you will be working out how and when you will be coming back and for longer.

The thing about staying in Royal Pacific, also known as RPR is that those FOTL mean far less queuing and you get on all the rides which is why it works out cheaper than buying express passes. Plus you get early access so usually an hour before they open to the general public. Only part of the park is open though, am convinced WWOHP is open (Harry Potter). Like I said, last time we were there was 2019 so the brain is a bit rusty.

It is easy to get an Uber or Lft from another hotel to the park plus there are loads of places to eat off site.

Jagsy · 04/06/2023 14:25

GatesAcorn · 04/06/2023 12:20

@Jagsy we have stayed club level several times, it works well if there are 4 of you in a room, less so than if just 2. Definitely a glitch if just £30 extra per night. I looked for September, I just ran one night costing for OP. Royal Pacific's own website have it at $488 per night for club with 2 queen beds standard is $356 so a hell of a jump. You can get some deals through other websites. We get the most from it by doing what you do, breakfast plus take water with us to the park, eat lunch at Citywalk. Snaffle some snacks on return. Afternoon nap, up in time for Royal Relaxation which is basically our early small dinner, back into the park with those FOTL and back in time for cookies/desserts along with all the drinks. I know this sounds like a lot of food but you are walking a lot.

@Meerkitkat "We went a few years ago so don't really need to go again" I am sorry, I do not understand this statement at all shhh, don't tell Dh, mind you, he is as bad as me. I went the first time as a teenager, Dh was just blown away by it all. Not least because the first time we went Ds2 had a birthday out there and they gave him a different coloured napkin to wave in Chef Mickey's, they brought him cake with a candle on, all the characters made a big fuss of his birthday badge which was given to him when we checked in to the hotel (POR if you are interested) I don't know who was not trying their hardest not to cry, me or Dh. Ds's face was just lit up with his favourite character, Pluto.

@takethathatoff I can predict what will happen, you will go for 5 days, be completely besotted by the place and even whilst there you will be working out how and when you will be coming back and for longer.

The thing about staying in Royal Pacific, also known as RPR is that those FOTL mean far less queuing and you get on all the rides which is why it works out cheaper than buying express passes. Plus you get early access so usually an hour before they open to the general public. Only part of the park is open though, am convinced WWOHP is open (Harry Potter). Like I said, last time we were there was 2019 so the brain is a bit rusty.

It is easy to get an Uber or Lft from another hotel to the park plus there are loads of places to eat off site.

Hi there, totally agree more value in club room between 4 rather than a couple. Looking at the prices now post covid seems everything’s gone up in price so sadly for us don’t know when we can return.