Is there enough to do at Universal for 5 days to a week?

robl45

DIS Veteran
Joined
Sep 7, 2014
I'm thinking of going this spring for a week or maybe Sunday to Friday. I'm worried that maybe there isn't enough to do? The kids will like to play with the harry potter wands and stuff, but with express passes, are we going to be done in 2 days? We might try volcano bay if they have worked out the nonsense by then, but I'm just worried the kids will get bored as it appears to me we could do both parks with express passes in 2 days.
 
I think you can fill 5 days, especially if you are doing the water park one day. There are so many good shows ar US and IOA. Take your time, it doesn't have to be a commando trip. There are also a lot of good restaurants in the park and at city walk. We like to spend time shopping in the Harry Potter sections of both parks.
 
everyone tours a park so differently.

years ago i would have 5 days for the parks.
if i arrived to the hotel by 11 am, i used that time for starting doing rides.
last day i would try to have a flight out so i could leave the hotel around 2 for the airport.
so i would have a full 4 days after the down time of check in and check out.

spent every minute in the parks and city walk in the evenings and hit it all.
included the street shows and horror make up show.

shows are time killers as you go early and wait in line until it starts.
a good 20 minutes later show is over and out you go.....back to the rides

i adjusted my schedule and do a two week stay and take my time every day

the most i do early entry might be once a trip and that is to meet up with friends.....

if you have 5 days for the parks, you wil be fine!


robl45, you will have plenty to do in the five days and the kids won't be bored
if you are there during spring break, you will be glad you have that much time for the parks.
some days will have crowds or rides could break down and be out of commision for a few hours.

city walk has entertainment outside on the weekends.
mini golf and the cinema are both popular for families.
 
I should have said enough without spending extra on more entertainment. I agree about taking it slower. We could see some shows too. The thing I hate about Disney is we got and are always rushing around to get on the rides the kids never get to do anything else.
 


Sure! It's so nice to have the leisure time to simply relax at the pool and not worry they you're missing out from the parks. No need to rush and see it all in one swoop.
 
Are you staying onsite? If so, and if your kids like the pools, you can easily spend a few afternoons pool hopping. Using the onsite (free) transportation you can go to the other hotels and check out the pools. They are all different and have different wow factors.
 
animal actor show is fun for the entire family.
depending if the cat and dogs do what they are supposed to, the show is great.
a hidden gem that i do see each visit.

the marilyn monroe singing dance show is very entertaining.
have not timed it but maybe all of ten minutes?

the outside show across from the street where marilyn preforms is catchy and entertaining.
singing and dancing and benches at the side of the park to sit and watch.
shady there before noon which is when i try to hit that show.

the men at work performance outside is entertaining
you can watch/listen as you walk by or stand near by and watch the skit

street entertainment by the mummy not always out there but when they are, it is picture time
how they can walk around on those high stilts is amazing

characters are in various places in the park and i always take the time to see them....
some are new rides and some are just on the streets.

once you are inside the park, no charges for what is in the park.
same as city walk for open entertainment or bands/music

coupons usually are available for the mini golf.

i only hit the cinema if it is a very rainy day or if it is evening and not ready to go back to my room.
those are the only two places that have fees.

i used to rush all the time in the parks when it was a full 4 day stay onsite.
i would do early entry but stopped once i increase my stays.

if i did EE, i would be pooped by 2 in the afternoon and return to the hotel to relax.
usually back to the parks for the last 3 hours until they closed and dinner at city walk.

i always hang around central park where the survey employees can be seen.

every trip i do that in order to complete their questionaire and do the assigned survey of the day.

the cheapest amount of money i have received was $45 for 30-45 minutes of my time.
With short stays, it would eat up precious park time no matter what amount of money it would pay
 


It's so nice to do rides multiple times too. Once in the regular line to see all the theming, then express pass lines.
 
I'm sure I could spend 5 days at RPR's pool lol
But seriously though, everyone tours so differently like a previous poster mentioned. We spend 3 days there but I'm sure we could spread it out over 5.
 
I'm thinking of going this spring for a week or maybe Sunday to Friday. I'm worried that maybe there isn't enough to do? The kids will like to play with the harry potter wands and stuff, but with express passes, are we going to be done in 2 days? We might try volcano bay if they have worked out the nonsense by then, but I'm just worried the kids will get bored as it appears to me we could do both parks with express passes in 2 days.

How old are the kids? If they are older than 10 and like the rides you can easily spend 2 days at each park and still leave wishing you didn't have to. That's what we did last October. We are doing the 5 day tickets in a few weeks and can't wait. Plus you can always add in a beach day in the middle of the trip. We usually do that to clear the roller coaster fog.
 
They are 6 and 8. The 8 year old can do everything except the hulk and the dragons coaster. I'm thinking of doing one night at cabana bay because of the lazy river and other nights at the royal pacific for the express passes. Does universal transfer luggage like they do at disney?
 
There is more than enough to do in 5 days. We usually stay between 7 and 10 days onsite was th EP. You'll find that you'll want to repeat attractions (especially HP) and try different restaurants.

You can also just walk to Cabana Bay from Royal Pacific and use the lazy river...just take your room key. Unlike Disney, they allow pool hopping at Universal.
 
There is more than enough to do in 5 days. We usually stay between 7 and 10 days onsite was th EP. You'll find that you'll want to repeat attractions (especially HP) and try different restaurants.

You can also just walk to Cabana Bay from Royal Pacific and use the lazy river...just take your room key. Unlike Disney, they allow pool hopping at Universal.

Yup, but I figured the first day we might just hang at the pool so I don't need to pay the extra money to stay at the fancy hotel with express passes. More money for something else. If we do a day at Volcano bay, same thing, no need for express passes. If express passes are good for day of checkin and checkout which I believe they are. I could even do two days at cabana bay and save a good 300 dollars probably doing volcano bay while in the cheaper room.
 
Yup, but I figured the first day we might just hang at the pool so I don't need to pay the extra money to stay at the fancy hotel with express passes. More money for something else. If we do a day at Volcano bay, same thing, no need for express passes. If express passes are good for day of checkin and checkout which I believe they are. I could even do two days at cabana bay and save a good 300 dollars probably doing volcano bay while in the cheaper room.

Yes your EP is valid fully on check in and check out days.

I would add I agree with the majority of folks.......I couldn't even scratch the surface of Universal Orlando in a few days.......there really is so much to do and so many places to investigate and spend time in.

Pools are all nice.
 
We are planning on a week long trip next summer as 3 adults. Dad LOVES waterparks and pools so I know time will that will be 2 days (1 waterpark, 1 relax and pool hop). Last time mom and I just went with express pass, we did 3 days and liked the leisurely pass. Now with HP added, we will like it even more. And dad LOVED forbidden journey. I could foresee us doing that All.day.long.
 
Dissenting opinion here. We were done after two and a half days. Anymore would have been dull. We were ready to move on.


i could be done with some theme parks after 2 days but never the darkside.
completely and totally immersed in the UO parks each time i am there.
the parks, hotels, city walk, always makes me do my happy dance .... lol

it never gets old for me no matter how often i go there.

we all prefer different things when it comes to entertainment.


some other orlando entertainment parks are not full days for me but will hit them if friends i am with want to try them

always open to trying a new park at least once.
 

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