Our family is planning a trip to Universal Studios either in early December or early January. Any ideas on where to stay? Should we stay inside the park. Do early morning visit to the park, afternoon by the pool and back around supper time to the park? I hear it's ery crowded??? Or are we better off staying outside the park. Are there many hotels in the park and what are they?
Thanks!

I can tell you that in Universal's case, there is no such thing as a hotel being "inside the park." There are a few in the outside perimeter, you can see the park from there. I don't know the names, though. They are Sheraton or Hilton chain hotels. When you go there, there are so many hotels that it will make you dizzy. I don't know why so many make a big deal about reservations because there are never so many people that every single room is taken. I go during one of the busiest times every year (Xmas and New Year's) and it's fine.

Best time to visit the parks...late afternoon or very early morning....in December, before Xmas, anything is fine, it's not AS packed.

Have fun.

I thought the new Loew's Portofino resort is inside the park? Also the new Hard Rock hotel -- but not sure if it has opened yet. Both pricey, but wonderful places to stay I would think. I've been tempted to go up just to stay at the Portofino -- a recreation of the town in Italy complete with its harbor.

Florida or CA?

We stayed at the Portofino Hotel last January. Beautiful hotel, just a boat ride away from Universal Studios. Has a lot of shops and places to eat right there. We spent mornings and evenings at Universal, and afternoons at the hotel.

up up up