Hello all~ I'm scraping together my pennies (literally!) and planning a surprise trip from NJ to Orlando with my soon-to-be-10-year-old daughter. I was thinking we'd need 3 days to do the park justice but not being familiar with Universal and the Orlando area, I'm starting to rethink. We like rides and we want to spend time exploring both parks, including the new Harry Potter area. We are staying a mile away on Universal Drive (so off-resort if that makes a difference).

So do I want a 2-day or 3-day "1 park per day" base pass? If only 2 days, what's your best "budget sensitive" recommendation for us to do on our 3rd day?

I'd spring for a three-day pass unless you are not going to be there three full days. To make it worth your while, I'd get the park-hopper option if you can afford it. When I went, I found that I often wanted to go back in the evening when the park was much less crowded. However, to make the most of a park-hopper pass you absolutely need to rent a car because you will want to go back and forth to your hotel to relax in the heat of the day, and the buses are inadequate unless you make just one trip per day. Otherwise, I'd get a two-day pass but still rent the car (try Priceline to see if you can get a better deal).

So - how many nights? If you arrive day one, say around lunch time...do you want to spend money to get into the park?

You could do Universal City walk - shops, restaurants, etc.

Then use the next two full days to visit the parks.

You could easily spend one full day in each park. Universal Studios is amazing - make sure you get a map when you arrive. There are many shows that happen at specific times through the streets. The Mummy ride, by the way, is the best and I always ride at least twice!

8-)

Two days could be tough, unless you're staying at one of their hotels. Universal does not have a FastPass equivalent - unless you're willing to pay extra or staying at one of their hotels. Some of the lines can run fairly long and they have several like that. We did both parks in one day each, but we were staying at their hotel and did not have waits. that was also before Harry Potter opened. With Potter world, I could easily see three full days.

Much will also depend on when you go. Early May during the week might be a good time as the area tends to be far less crowded as spring breaks are done and Florida kids are still in school. If you were to do that, then I think you could get away with two days.

But, if you go on a weekend AFTER Potter world opens, I think two-days might not be enough time - unless you had the line jumper pass.

Thank you all! We are going from Nov 4-7 of this year, so four days, 3 nights altogether. I'm fairly certain we'll be arriving at the hotel in the early afternoon, so we'd have plenty of time to begin exploring the parks. Just wasn't certain if 3 days was necessary but is sounds like it will make it easier to take our times (and ride the Mummy twice LOL).

Question for Doug...I was planning to get the regular base pass (1 park per day) but - uh oh - assumed that it would allow me access back into the same park later in the day if we decided to spend the afternoon hours back at the hotel...am I mistaken?

Nov 4 to 7 is off season. Crowds will be minimal. You will not be standing in line. Two days should be plenty for Universal.

You can purchase Universal/Sea World combinations. Hopefully someone knowledgeable will post.

I would consider 2 days Universal 1 day Sea World.

You should investigate Universal's web site. AAA discount is available at Universal. If you are a AAA member, you should speak with one of their travel agents.

Yes, travelbug you can reenter the SAME park later in the day if you spend the afternoon at your hotel.
If you're not renting a car then don't get the hopper pass (sounds like it would blow your budget anyway).

Yes you can re-enter the SAME park with the regular ticket. But in order to do this, you have to rent a car because the "free" buses run only once a day as far as I know. You really need to budget for a car-rental, not the least reason being that you will want to have access to better and probably cheaper food that what you'll find either at CityWalk or at your hotel.

Or if you don't want the hassle of renting a car and driving during your vacation just grab a cab.