My Universal Review

[Penelicious]

So my man and I got back from our Florida vacation on Monday night and here is a review I shared with PerfectGirlie for when she goes down there.

For anyone else who needs some reviews, here ya go! :waving

So, we had an AWESOME time!!! We wound up spending 3 whole days doing both Universal and Islands of Adventure and we didnd't even get to do EVERY ride. We totally missed out on Disney as a result, but we weren't really upset about it!!

Here are some suggestions:

Definitely rent a car to eat off property. We wound up spending so much money eating breakfast in the hotel (which wasn't even good) or eating dinner at the restaurants at CityWalk (which weren't that impressive AND that place is filled with shady local kids who look like they are going to rob every tourist that walks by). You will wind up spending (and possibly saving) money BY renting a car. We wound up renting a car on the last day through Hertz and we got a cute White Mustang for like $60. My suggestion is to get one from the airport directly since it's going to cost you $40 to get from the airport to the hotel anyway. Enterprise also offers really cheap rates (like $50 a day) so check out one of those options.

if you are staying on the Universal property, there are LOTS of benefits including transportation to and from the parks. We took a boat ride back and forth to both parks and/or CityWalk. It was really pretty and relaxing and totally free. Also, your room key serves as a way for you to cut all of the lines. Even though the park wasn't THAT crowded there were instances when it came in handy. You get to cut the entire line and usually go right onto the ride!

The parks themselves are lots of fun! Universal is more low key and very "hollywood movie" themed. The Mummy ride is lots of fun and very unexpected! I wound up getting so scared becausse I didn't realize that it was a rollercoaster :chatterin :banghead

Islands of Adventure is where you find all of the rollercoasters and FUN rides. Some of them will get you VERY wet so make sure not to wear jeans if you plan on going on the Popeye & Bluto Barge Ride, RipSaw Falls OR Jurassic Park River Adventure. I went on pretty much every ride except the Dueling Dragons and the Hulk because they were WAY too scary looking for me (I am terribly afraid of heights and they are VERY high roller coasters)

If you have any free time, make sure to hit up the Outlets on International Drive called THE PREMIUM OUTLETS. They have some good stores and good prices. Also, Downtown Disney is a really cool little spot to visit if you decide to not go to Disney

[Vix]

lol. love ur review, i would have gotten scared too if i didn't know it was a rollercoaster!

Welcome back :silly

I always say rent a car down there bc like u said 2 eat off property :agree

got any pics?

next time Disney!!!!

[Penelicious]

Hi Honey!!

I know I am so bad..I still haven't replied to your Myspace message but thank you--I am doing great--just really busy!!! How are you?

I have pics on my Ofoto account--can I share them directly on the site? :hmmm

[Vix]

Hi Honey!!

I know I am so bad..I still haven't replied to your Myspace message but thank you--I am doing great--just really busy!!! How are you?

I have pics on my Ofoto account--can I share them directly on the site? :hmmm

:hmmm i have no ideaR what that is :chuckle

it's good and bad to b busy, but im happy you enjoyed your vacation :heart

next trip??? Greece? :shuffle

[Penelicious]

:hmmm i have no ideaR what that is :chuckle

it's good and bad to b busy, but im happy you enjoyed your vacation :heart

next trip??? Greece? :shuffle


OH YES!!

Do you have prices on tix yet? :rubhands I want to book as soon as I possibly can so I can start paying it off.

Figure I'm leaving July 10th or so until August 15th or so.

Let me know!

[Vix]

OH YES!!

Do you have prices on tix yet? :rubhands I want to book as soon as I possibly can so I can start paying it off.

Figure I'm leaving July 10th or so until August 15th or so.

Let me know!

into ioannina? right? ill put them on hold :agree

[Aztec]

went 3 weeks ago and had sooo much fun
You missed out tho...
Hulk is a great ride and Dueling dragons is the craziest one I ever been on.
Jurassic park ride was lots of fun, and Spiderman was awesome even tho its not really a roller coaster.
I loved Islands of Adventure...so much better than the disney properties.

glad you had fun peezeeeeee!!!!!

[go go GINA]

Ha ha!! The same thing happened to me w/ the Mummy.....

I totally didn't expect it to be a roller coaster....I thought something was up when you get like harnassed in.....

Great ride though!! with great effects also!!

The Hulk was great, went on it about 3-4 times....The first time I went on it , it scared the shit out of me because it shoots you up as you are going up the incline then you go right into a corkscrew which was scary yet addicting...

[Jen]

great review! I cant wait to go!

[just jess]

aww u didnt go to magic kindom???

thats my favorite place in teh whole wide world..:shuffle

[Penelicious]

No we didn't go. It was honestly SO expensive to go ($112 PER PERSON for one day) and we didn't really have the time.

Next time though--FOR SURE.

[DEEPER KEMICAL]

im looking to go to florida for a vacation in march. where did you book everything?

[Penelicious]

im looking to go to florida for a vacation in march. where did you book everything?

i booked everything through the internet.

AA for tix and Universal Direct for the Hotel (since they offer the exclusive package where you can get unlimited park admission)

[DEEPER KEMICAL]

i booked everything through the internet.

AA for tix and Universal Direct for the Hotel (since they offer the exclusive package where you can get unlimited park admission)
would you mind linking me to the website?

[Penelicious]

would you mind linking me to the website?

http://www.aa.com

http://www.universalorlando.com

[DEEPER KEMICAL]

Thanks!!

[Penelicious]

Good Luck!

Let me know if you have any questions!

p.s.--if you're going to rent a car, go with either Enterprise or Hertz--they both had cheap rates. :agree

[just jess]

No we didn't go. It was honestly SO expensive to go ($112 PER PERSON for one day) and we didn't really have the time.

Next time though--FOR SURE.

whattt!

wow i dont know how they could do that to people

imagine families that have like 3-4 kids...trips like this must leave them bankrupt :disgusted

[Penelicious]

whattt!

wow i dont know how they could do that to people

imagine families that have like 3-4 kids...trips like this must leave them bankrupt :disgusted

I know! :pullhair

My bf and I were saying that we had no idea how families pulled it off--it was ridiculous!

[Juliana]

We are going on Tuesday, but we are just doing Disney World since Caleb is too little to do any of the serious rides (I am to much of a wimp anyways). We are staying with family down there and I am hoping that we have a great time. We rented a car as well since we will be staying with my grandparents and I am sure that we will be doing a lot more moving then they are prepared to do. Great review Penny! It made me even more excited to go! I guess that means I will have to pack at somepoint.

[MissBrandi]

what hotel did you stay at?

Also I thought the food was very good at my hotel. i only ate at one place on the citywalk and that was margaritaville for lunch and i thought it was good. They have an awesome nacha thingy. :hungry

I didnt think city walk was filled with shady people either :shrugger

I def. agree on the renting a car thing though. The food is way expensive!!!

[MissBrandi]

Hulk is a great ride and Dueling dragons is the craziest one I ever been on.
.
I loved Islands of Adventure...so much better than the disney properties.


i took my bf's cousin on this roller coaster! It was his first offical big roller coaster.. he was scared shit... :chuckle

[Penelicious]

what hotel did you stay at?

Also I thought the food was very good at my hotel. i only ate at one place on the citywalk and that was margaritaville for lunch and i thought it was good. They have an awesome nacha thingy. :hungry

I didnt think city walk was filled with shady people either :shrugger

I def. agree on the renting a car thing though. The food is way expensive!!!

I stayed at the Royal Pacifica Hotel. I only had breakfast at my hotel which was just a standard buffet--it was alright..nothing to brag about. Emeril Lagasse also has a restaurant in that hotel but entrees were like $35 a person and I didn't really like the menu :shrugger

I definitley thought there was crazy shady people at City Walk at night, more on Friday and Saturday night. I witnessed two fist fights while I was there. :disappoin

Don't get me wrong, City Walk is nice but I think it was much nicer on like Sunday night when there was less of a crowd and it was more of tourists only. Regardless, everyone should at least give it a shot!

[Jen]

I still have to book my hotel!

I looked at all 3 hotels from the site and they are all $700 + for like 3 nights

[Jen]

Penny do you get a discount for the park if you stay at one of those hotels or do you get in for free?

[Penelicious]

Penny do you get a discount for the park if you stay at one of those hotels or do you get in for free?

If you stay at one of hotels they offer special rates that would include getting in for free and getting to skip all the lines at the park. If you don't see the special on their website, just call the hotel directly.

Jenn, my total for the hotel was $850 for 4 nights so $700+ sounds about right but my total also included getting in for free too for 7 days so make sure that's part of your deal too!

[MissBrandi]

I stayed at the Royal Pacifica Hotel. I only had breakfast at my hotel which was just a standard buffet--it was alright..nothing to brag about. Emeril Lagasse also has a restaurant in that hotel but entrees were like $35 a person and I didn't really like the menu :shrugger

I definitley thought there was crazy shady people at City Walk at night, more on Friday and Saturday night. I witnessed two fist fights while I was there. :disappoin

Don't get me wrong, City Walk is nice but I think it was much nicer on like Sunday night when there was less of a crowd and it was more of tourists only. Regardless, everyone should at least give it a shot!

i def. AGREE with the buffet style food, was nothing to brag about. Neither was my $2.00 bagel :disgusted

However I went to Bice and it was very good. I also went to another place in my hotel I forget the name and the food was excellent. :heart

I wasnt on the city walk at night so i wouldnt know. i was only there durning the day. :shuffle

Either way i :heart :heart Disney and universal ! ! !

[James Maxx]

Dueling Dragons was fun. There's a part where the roller coaster gets real close to the wall then suddenly pulls up. Pretty cool. And you can see the other roller coaster come by you. Its the first ride I saw with 2 roller coasters going at it at the same time.

[Micha]

If you have any free time, make sure to hit up the Outlets on International Drive called THE PREMIUM OUTLETS. They have some good stores and good prices. Also, Downtown Disney is a really cool little spot to visit if you decide to not go to Disney

LOOOOOVE the premium outlets.

[DEEPER KEMICAL]

just booked disney for 6 nights/7days,. not bad, with flight/hotel/and park hopper plus package with dining it came out to $1300 each.

[Juliana]

ok so much fun!! my one suggestion is to get the fast pass. cut all the long ass lines!