Univers Studios, Sea World, and Busch Gardens Tampa in August?

[irishnd31]

We are planning a 2 week trip to Orlando and doing a non-Disney itinerary from July 31st until August 12th of this year. We have never been to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Sea World, or Tampa Busch Gardens. Was looking for any advice on what to expect crowd-wise. Do you think we will need Express Passes (Front of the Line passes) for any of the parks? Do we need to make advanced dining reservations anywhere? Any must see attractions or restaurants? Any advice is greatly appreciated as we are rookies to this.

We are not staying on property as I own a timeshare with Wyndham and staying at Star Island in a 3 bedroom condo.

 

[wizards8507]

Early August or late August? Makes a huge difference.

 

[woolybug25]

This is my nightmare...

 

[wizards8507]

This is my nightmare...

I'm doing nine nights at Disney in May. You're welcome to join for a beer.

 

[woolybug25]

I'm doing nine nights at Disney in May. You're welcome to join for a beer.

My god... I think I would put my head under one of those spinning tea cups by the third day.


That has to be expensive, right? What does something like that run?

 

[IrishLion]

Don't go to Sea World.

#SaveTheWhales

 

[wizards8507]

My god... I think I would put my head under one of those spinning tea cups by the third day.

That has to be expensive, right? What does something like that run?

For a regular person, one of my trips would run around $6,000. The employee benefits are nice. I get 50% off my hotel room and free admission to the parks for my wife and daughter. Plus smaller discounts on merch and food.

 

[ACamp1900]

My thoughts on DW... Too expensive, takes too many days to do everything and it's too fn humid to ever justify it for me when I have the original thing right down the street that is doable in two days max at like a fraction of the cost. Just me.

 

[irishnd31]

Early August or late August? Makes a huge difference.

Early August

 

[wizards8507]

Early August

It'll be very busy. Florida goes back to school before the rest of the country so there's a huge drop in crowd levels for the whole area halfway through the month.

 

[irishnd31]

It'll be very busy. Florida goes back to school before the rest of the country so there's a huge drop in crowd levels for the whole area halfway through the month.

Oh hell. We have been to Disney every year for the past 13 years up until the past 3 years when we branched out and did Myrtle Beach and Branson, MO. So yes on the fast passes for all the parks for at least one day?

 

[irishnd31]

Also wasn't sure about the crowds with The new King Kong ride coming in summer as well as the re-opening of the Hulk coaster if that would affect crowds during this time of year. Plus the new coaster, Mako is coming to Sea World in June. I promise I won't go see any shows Lion. I'm with you in that it is incredibly inhumane to make them all perform like that just for entertainment value.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Wizard, how about you throw that Disney discount my way? I'm jus now starting to plan a Disney trip for early next calendar year.

 

[wizards8507]

Oh hell. We have been to Disney every year for the past 13 years up until the past 3 years when we branched out and did Myrtle Beach and Branson, MO. So yes on the fast passes for all the parks for at least one day?

Yeah, probably at Islands of Adventure. That'll get you Kong and Forbidden Journey.

 

[irishnd31]

Wizard, how about you throw that Disney discount my way? I'm jus now starting to plan a Disney trip for early next calendar year.

If you are going around the first of the year, DW usually has some promotion going to where you get Free Dining or a heavily discounted hotel rate if you book through the Disney corporation or any other approved affiliate who is able to get said deals for you.

 

[irishnd31]

Yeah, probably at Islands of Adventure. That'll get you Kong and Forbidden Journey.

Thanks wizards. Appreciate it. Any restaurants worth a crap out there that we MUST go to and do I need reservations ahead of time to go there?

 

[ACamp1900]

The old King Kong ride in Hollywood was so much better than the new one that's all projection screen/ motion simulation... The old one was freakin classic.

 

[irishnd31]

The old King Kong ride in Hollywood was so much better than the new one that's all projection screen/ motion simulation... The old one was freakin classic.

Agreed. When we were little kids, our parents took us to US Hollywood and I do remember the Kong ride being pretty amazing. Not sure what to expect with this new one in Orlando.

 

[Irish Insanity]

If you are going around the first of the year, DW usually has some promotion going to where you get Free Dining or a heavily discounted hotel rate if you book through the Disney corporation or any other approved affiliate who is able to get said deals for you.

Just rechecked the dates. It's later than I thought. Late March early April. The middle child will be going with the school band so we decided that would be a good excuse to take the other two kids (the youngest will be 6.) I like shit planned so I started looking now. I was told to look at undercovertourist.com. Anybody have any experience with the site, or any other Disney sites to look into?

 

[irishnd31]

Just rechecked the dates. It's later than I thought. Late March early April. The middle child will be going with the school band so we decided that would be a good excuse to take the other two kids (the youngest will be 6.) I like shit planned so I started looking now. I was told to look at undercovertourist.com. Anybody have any experience with the site, or any other Disney sites to look into?

yourmagicaljourneys.com I like them because you can book and if and when a discount comes out they automatically apply it for you and you get a refund back if applicable.

 

[Irish2155]

Tampa Busch Gardens man!! Zumba is awesome and the Hospitality Centers have free beer "samples".

 

[Rizzophil]

Sea world and Busch Garden all day long. It's half the cost and you get an annual pass to cover both bldg for about $130 per adult. That's usually the cost of one DW admit

 

[wizards8507]

Wizard, how about you throw that Disney discount my way? I'm jus now starting to plan a Disney trip for early next calendar year.

When I worked in Orlando I used to get friends and family discounts. Us ESPN slobs only get them for ourselves. I'm available via PM to talk trip planning if you have questions.

 

[wizards8507]

Just rechecked the dates. It's later than I thought. Late March early April. The middle child will be going with the school band so we decided that would be a good excuse to take the other two kids (the youngest will be 6.) I like shit planned so I started looking now. I was told to look at undercovertourist.com. Anybody have any experience with the site, or any other Disney sites to look into?

Mousesavers.com. AAA.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Y'all gonna help me with my vacation when the time comes? Do we have a dedicated thread already or do we create our own?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[irishnd31]

Sea world and Busch Garden all day long. It's half the cost and you get an annual pass to cover both bldg for about $130 per adult. That's usually the cost of one DW admit

We got the Orlando Flex Pass Plus which includes 14 consecutive days at Universal, Islands of Adventure, Sea World, Aquatica (Sea World water park), Wet N' Wild, and Busch Gardens Tampa. Ticket was only $370 per adult. I thought this was a good deal.

 

[wizards8507]

We got the Orlando Flex Pass Plus which includes 14 consecutive days at Universal, Islands of Adventure, Sea World, Aquatica (Sea World water park), Wet N' Wild, and Busch Gardens Tampa. Ticket was only $370 per adult. I thought this was a good deal.

That's a very good deal.

 

[NDgradstudent]

Go to Cedar Point instead. Seriously, though, avoid Sea World.

 

[wizards8507]

Go to Cedar Point instead. Seriously, though, avoid Sea World.

Blackfish is 25% outdated information and 75% lies.

 

[FLDomer]

Visiting in August....bring Gold Bond!!! The Swamp Crotch is rough that time of year!