What NOT To Do When Planning a Universal Orlando Vacation | Universal Studios Tips & Tricks 2021

[@ThePughTwo]

What's the worst mistake you've ever made when planning a vacation?

[@watless100]

Bringing too many people along for the experience. Slowed me down and took away from the fun

[@ThePughTwo]

@@watless100 We get this so much. Like it sounds great in theory, but if you are like us, we like to go go go and not everyone is like that!

[@MikeyBee-]

Not buying express passes on my first visit. It was 4th of July and it was PACKED!!!!!

[@ThePughTwo]

@@MikeyBee- Yeah Holidays can get a little out of hand!

[@ThePughTwo]

@@jaylabreanna8025 with that being such a busy time at the parks, we would probably purchase them ahead of time. We have seen the parks sell out of express passes when the crowd levels are really high, so if you’re set on getting express we would hate for you to miss out on it!

[@thereelaristotle]

This is the first time a KZbin recommendation actually saved me money....close to $500 no less....after swapping to an Annual Pass and rebooking my hotel. Thanks a bunch for the heads up guys. Thumbed and subbed!

[@ThePughTwo]

That’s awesome! We can’t tell you how much we love hearing that, we love that our videos have been helpful! We hope you have an awesome trip!

[@melymel1253]

Can I rebook the hotel if I didn’t get the travel protection?

[@chrisb3017]

As a Disney pro, I know nothing about universal, thanks for the starting info.

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@oldworldobserver]

INCREDIBLE video! You guys rock!!

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you Mr. Dore!

[@yappyspaz]

Love the tips. I always forget to give myself a day to relax.

[@ThePughTwo]

We’re so glad you enjoyed it! We’re guilty of that, too!

[@andrewpierce3595]

You just saved me $300. I didn’t realize the website wasn’t showing me pass holder rates for hotels when I booked. I called and my stay for 4 nights went down $300.

[@ThePughTwo]

That’s awesome, we’re so glad we could help! The discounted hotel rates are one of the best perks for the annual passes. You definitely wanna make sure you’re taking advantage of them!

[@atseabreeze]

I've been trying to call and the hold was 90 minutes so I gave up. I'll try again tomorrow morning.

[@derrickwilson2295]

In the midst of planning a Universal trip and just found your channel. Thanks for the tips and love the UT shirt. Go Vols!!

[@ThePughTwo]

Awesome! We hope the videos are helpful! GO VOLS!

[@ceceb6264]

We stayed at endless summer dockside, it was great. The bus wasn’t so bad.

[@ThePughTwo]

They’ve been doing better lately about having several busses running! We’re glad you enjoyed it!

[@nanaminana5024]

We were there two weeks ago. Booked through Expedia travel bundle flight+5 nights of hotel close to the entrance of the universal studios. The total bundle is 400ish usd per person. Super good price

[@ThePughTwo]

Sounds like you got a great deal!

[@theonetobeatyou]

Is Expedia reliable?

[@ThePughTwo]

@@theonetobeatyou we’ve never used Expedia to book a Universal trip, so we can’t really speak to that. You can probably find some reviews online, though!

[@williambryant2055]

Shoutout to the KZbin algorithm. These are solid tips

[@ThePughTwo]

😂😂 this made us laugh. We’re glad you enjoyed the video, and we’re happy KZbin suggested it to you! Lol

[@scottbrooks4793]

Great info thank you!

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you for watching!

[@tabsamnic]

I did not do enough research before booking the first time. We found what we *thought* was a good deal on Costco travel and I don't think it was that great after all. 😅

[@ThePughTwo]

Hahaha my parents have used Costco for booking vacations in the past and I think they had a similar experience! It always pays to double check!

[@bazzaro1982]

When I was booking a Vacation Package a couple months back on their website I kept refreshing the browser where you pick the hotel. Most of the times when I refreshed the price of upgrading to a Premier hotel changed. I was able to save over $900 from the original offered price for the Hard Rock just because I refreshed 4 or 5 times.

[@ThePughTwo]

Hmm that’s really odd! Wonder what was happening!

[@alisonleigh100]

Wow good info on the hotel price drops! I would not have known that

[@ThePughTwo]

We’re so glad we could help! We know there’s nothing better than getting a good deal on a hotel!

[@magdalysrodz3913]

Im planning on going in december with my cousins for the first time and i was looking the vacation packages but now I don’t know if it’s better to book everything by myself or just buy the package, also the hotel included in the package is the Universal Endless Summer but that one doesn’t include the express passes so maybe I have to changed it for the premier hotels. Thank you for your tips Im going to do more research. 😊

[@ThePughTwo]

If you need help or have any questions, please feel free to ask and we will do our best! Thank you for watching!

[@stevehayslip5975]

Your videos are a big help! Thanks! I booked a quick trip with my wife and was delighted to find that Portofino Bay included the Express Passes. Also love the early arrival time and quick access to the parks. Those perks helped me convince my wife that I wasn't wasting our money on some fancy hotel the Universal phone guy recommended. Any idea what will the crowds be like on December 15th and 16th?

[@brianumphreyville2204]

I’ve been unemployed since Super Bowl Sunday of 2019 but might finally have a job starting this spring and have been seriously considering buying a seasonal pass and starting to take annual trips on March 1-4 and November 1-4 every year from now on. Thanks for the trips.

[@ThePughTwo]

We’re so happy for you, congratulations! We hope it all works out and you get to visit the parks soon!

[@TheShrimpSalazar]

I’ll be going to universal with my boyfriend the first week of December this year for his birthday. I’ve been watching so many of your videos because I’m so nervous since this is the first trip without my family and I’m planning it myself. Your videos have honestly been so helpful so thank you! I’ve watched your other vid to avoid crowds and I hope when I go it’s not as packed

[@ThePughTwo]

Awh, we’re so glad we’ve been able to help plan your trip! The first week of December is a great time to go. You’ll get to see all the Christmas decorations, but it’s before the holiday crowds really set in. Happy early birthday, too! Make sure you stop by guest services and get a birthday pin!

[@DarrellHudson12]

Go Big Orange and thanks for the tips.

[@ThePughTwo]

We're so happy you enjoyed the video! Go vols!

[@chriswilds5787]

We are going next Friday for the Orlando informer Meetup. Night time access for ticket holders of the event.

[@ThePughTwo]

That’s awesome, we love the OI meetups! The parks are gorgeous at night, you’ll have so much fun!

[@chriswilds5787]

@@ThePughTwo we had so much fun on the 4th and 5th that we are going back in November

[@ThePughTwo]

@@chriswilds5787 how exciting! We had an awesome time at the meetups, we can’t blame you! 😂

[@jalytzadelgado5576]

Go Vols!!! So funny, I feel you cuz I used to work at both WDW and UO/IOA Then was passholder for years; I do feel you guys! ⚡️

[@ThePughTwo]

Go Vols! ❤️❤️

[@Homesteadacrelot]

I'm big on making "memories" with our kiddos, so a great way to do that was getting the 3-day photo package for $89. Also, if you pay using an American Express card with proof (receipt), you get an extra 5x7 or 8x10 print. The photo package is pretty awesome but only if you use the "on site" photographers at the entrance, with characters, Dark Room Photo Studio, ride photos, etc. There's lots of opportunities. We weren't able to fit all the photo opportunities in 3days but the cost was still worth it. You get to keep all the digital photos, got to download them all within a certain amount of days.

[@ThePughTwo]

That’s awesome! We’ve considered getting the photo pass before but we’ve never pulled the trigger. It sounds like we need to give it a try! Maybe once masks aren’t required on rides, we’ll do it! Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

[@Joeyt782]

This is so informative. We are potentially looking to go for the first time next year and I got so much good info. Thanks?

[@ThePughTwo]

Haha you’re welcome! We’re so glad you found it helpful. We hope you have an awesome time on your trip, too!

[@marthamurray7470]

I want to surprise my boys with a trip this summer but I have no clue on where to start. This video kind of help but I think I need some major help with planning 😅 😍😍

[@ThePughTwo]

Hey there! Anna is actually a travel agent if that is something you are looking for! You can message us on instagram or facebook and she would be happy to help! Even if you would like to plan it yourself, we would be more than happy to make sure you have the best vacation ever!

[@Ken_Leivonen]

Hi Anna & Tyler! Great video on the Trip Planning for Universal, but it really felt like a why to stay on-site and the pros and cons. Have a great day! Ken

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you, Ken! It’s been so long since we made this, I couldn’t tell you what any of the tips are now lol you’ve piqued my interest, though. I’m gonna go back and watch it now!

[@Ken_Leivonen]

@@ThePughTwo I guess I am just trying to keep you guys honest! Have a great!

[@ktpaladino]

The biggest problem we ran into while we were in the parks is not planning our meals out and where we wanted to eat very well. A few times we found ourselves starving and running around all over the park trying to find a place that had things we could eat. A few of the places we wanted to go were at capacity during busy times (like Leaky Cauldron breakfast) and we had to come up with a plan B. Everyone was cranky and hangry and yelling at each other. 🤣 So my advice is to research the dining options, their menus, and know exactly where they are in the parks, especially if you’ve got dietary restrictions.

[@ThePughTwo]

Getting hangry in the theme parks is part of the experience and is guaranteed to happen at least one day per trip! 🤣

[@its_clapis]

I always stay at the Holiday Inn Express Nearest Universal and it really is like two blocks away from the resort, the distance to the parks from that hotel and from Surfside Inn and Suites is basically the same. Universal Hotels include early access, which is admittedly a huge pro, but they don't include breakfast (you either have to pay for expensive breakfasts inside or leave the hotel to hunt for something to eat). Holiday Inn Express includes a buffet breakfast and is a couple of dollars cheaper per night. It honestly has anything you could need and transportation is also free to and from the parks (granted, the last bus back to the hotel leaves at around 7:00 pm sharp so you don't get to ride many coasters at night).

[@ThePughTwo]

The limitations on transportation and the lack of early park admission is really our biggest knock on the hotels that are so close to the resort. We’ve done it before and honestly just regretted it! But with that being said, we’re not breakfast people usually so that’s not an issue for us. You just have to find what works for you!

[@its_clapis]

@@ThePughTwo totally! Every hotel has their pros and cons hehe

[@TheKarlaCat]

I have a question about Annual passes. I understand the black out dates, however, can I use my annual pass discount on hotels, food, merch etc in the blackout dates?

[@ThePughTwo]

So the passes that have blockout dates don't get you discounts on the food or merch. And we're not sure if they would let you book a hotel at the passholder rate during blockout dates.. but there wouldn't really be a point because you couldn't visit the parks!

[@tman4534]

Idk but I love watching you guys

[@ThePughTwo]

Haha you’re so sweet, thank you!

[@AdventuresinMarriage]

I have 5 days until we are at Hard Rock Resort. May 24th to 31st. We went with full service dining 4 days quick service 3 days. Preferred Annual Passes. I can’t wait to ride the Velocicoaster and Hagrids !

[@ThePughTwo]

That sounds AMAZING! We absolutely adore the Hard Rock and in our opinion, the preferred annual pass is the way to go! You’ll have to let us know what you think about the Velocicoaster and Hagrids!

[@AdventuresinMarriage]

@@ThePughTwo You got to let me know when you go for HHN. We can plan a trip for the same time. We can ride a couple rides and go to the houses. We got tickets for Orlando Informer meetup November 19th.

[@ThePughTwo]

@@AdventuresinMarriage when we get things planned out we will let you know!

[@AdventuresinMarriage]

@@ThePughTwo my son says he is down to ride everything except Rip Ride Rock it. He said no way no how.

[@ThePughTwo]

@@AdventuresinMarriage haha it took some convincing to get me (Anna) on it, too! The incline at the start is intimidating!

[@jur7alzamaan638]

My kids and I are planning on go there sometimes this month but to be honest I am nervous in somehow. it’s my first vacation with all my kids and at the same time I am kinda of lost on where and how to start booking

[@felkerforcongress]

found your channel... thanks for sharing. were going 1st trip in May... do you recommend anything for kids around 2 years of age? Thanks

[@ThePughTwo]

We’re so glad you’re enjoying it! And thank you for watching! It’s hard to recommend too much not having kids of our own but there are a few playgrounds in each park that would be appropriate! Also, the animal actors show would probably appeal to small children. We hope you have a great time!

[@Cowgirlfrom_Hell]

Probably a dumb question but I was doing mock price up of a Universal trip and added park hopper tix when it automatically added base tix. Do you have to purchase the base tickets too if you get the park hopper tix?

[@ThePughTwo]

Oh no, you just need one or the other!!

[@mitchem309]

I just love you guyz!

[@ThePughTwo]

💗💗

[@tungy01]

So where do you guys book the on site hotel and park tickets?

[@ThePughTwo]

We just use the website!

[@tiffytoo]

And thank you so so much btw great great video.

[@dougbaganz]

Great videos. How often do you guys go down?

[@ThePughTwo]

5-8 times a year is about normal! Thank you so much!

[@dougbaganz]

@@ThePughTwo whoa you replied, yeah it's cool that you are not from Orlando and actually travel, makes for a little more talk points for content. I'm supposed go down that first week of Mardi gras, and really looking forward to all those additional food items that they have been doing for the special events. I was last down in March 2019 I feel like they got a new F&B exec since then. Well I could talk about universal all day. Thank you Pugh Two you guys are so awesome, have a good football Sunday.

[@voiceofdistortedreason5998]

We are going in August and staying at Lowes for two days. It wasn't cheap. Two people, two park tickets with the front of the line thing was $1040. But, this is a once in a lifetime trip for me so I just bit the bullet. Great tips guys! I went back over my package and changed some things!

[@ThePughTwo]

We’re glad we could help with the planning! You’re never gonna get a “steal” at Universal, but there are ways to save some money, especially if you plan on attending more than once. We hope your vacation is everything you want it to be!

[@katrinah.6920]

Heading to Universal in July.....soooo looking forward to it. Taking a Foodie road trip on the way down and back (we are from West Virginia). Just now found your channel and love it!

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you so much! A foodie road trip sounds like a dream come true! lol we hope you have an awesome trip, you’ll have to let us know about the best places you eat at!

[@raymondball1680]

I had to pause the video and cancel our off-site hotel to book a resort hotel...tip #1 heeded!

[@ThePughTwo]

Haha! You will not regret it! Thanks for watching!

[@Dogandcatisyummyfood]

Thank you so much for those information. So helpful for my trip in September. Silly question. Annual pass count whole year from the time we buy or count from beginning to the end off that year? Please help me that question. Thank you.

[@ThePughTwo]

Annual passes are good for a 12 month period starting from the first day you use it to enter the parks! The only exception is the military freedom pass which is good for a calendar year.

[@daledon69]

Me and my girlfriend just booked a 4 day stay at the Hard Rock Hotel in November and sure enough we got express passes for the parks included and whole bunch of other perks

[@ThePughTwo]

The premier hotels are awesome! We hope you have a great time on your trip, we’re sure you’ll love the Hard Rock!

[@daledon69]

@@ThePughTwo me too seems how my gf has gone but I’ve never been there. Super stoked!!

[@t_cheating8239]

I was wondering if you get a deluxe room and check in is later. Can you still get the express passes before your check in time?

[@ThePughTwo]

Absolutely! You can get your express passes before your room is ready!

[@TreyMo69]

Great video, guys. Just came back from Universal and you guys hit the nail on the head! Royal Pacific was worth it for convenience, location and of course the express passes.

[@ThePughTwo]

We’re so glad to hear that! We love Royal Pacific, too! The on site hotels are always SO worth it!

[@sabrinamarkham8715]

I’m planning on going in July! I noticed that a 5 day ticket was around the same price as an annual, I was like welll I might as well get the annual, funny to see it in the top video!

[@ThePughTwo]

That’s exactly how we ended up becoming annual passholders! People who are from out of town don’t even think about the possibility, but it’s such a great deal! Plus the benefits are awesome. Congrats on becoming a UOAP!

[@heaven4hockeycards]

more than 3 days , i think it's better to take annual... the annual pass give many discounts

[@ThePughTwo]

@@heaven4hockeycards Yeah its somewhere close to that. They tend to run specials that can make it a better deal for up to 4-5 days, but yes most of the time!

[@heaven4hockeycards]

@@ThePughTwo yes because they knows that 1 park 1 day...3 parks. others days are EXTRA... 3 days weekends are "common" but not 4 days so...

[@Misssamii89]

Thanks for the helpful information. Have been doing my homework and still doing so. Learned some from watching this video. Now off to watch more from your channel. 👍🏻

[@ThePughTwo]

We’re so glad it was helpful! We hope the rest of our videos are, too!

[@Whalelike90]

Planning to stay on site with purchasing the annual passes per your advice. However the kids also wants to go to Disney World. Is there a way to get passes for both or would we have to buy them separately? It's our first time so we don't know anything about anything. Just wanting to save a bit of money if we can.

[@ThePughTwo]

They are totally separate companies so they would have to be purchased separately! Let us know if you have any questions!

[@iolandaeldridge9906]

Hi you guys are great with all the advises!! thank you! We are planning our first time at Universal. I'm getting some quotes from AAA, and other agencies. do you advise to plan in our own?

[@ThePughTwo]

Whatever is easiest and saves you the most money! You want to have fun while saving money so however you can do that is best!

[@boblahr67]

Your videos have been so helpful with planning out our first family Universal vacation for August.

[@ThePughTwo]

Hey Bob! That’s great to hear! We are excited about your first trip and we hope you have an amazing time! You’ll have to be sure to come back and let us know what you think.

[@stevenfoster9402]

LITERALLY just finished booking our universal trip 5 minutes ago. NOW I see this video ughh

[@ThePughTwo]

Lol. Well now you’ll know for next time! If you have any questions please let us know!

[@heaven4hockeycards]

you can change everything... if you're not happy anymore

[@ThePughTwo]

@@heaven4hockeycards Yup they are very helpful!

[@stevencoppola9556]

I have never purchased express without hotel. Other than hhn. Check in and checkout is a game changer

[@ThePughTwo]

The premier hotels are the best way!!

[@stevencoppola9556]

@ThePughTwo yeah no way id buy one separately

[@danfeatherer5349]

Hey Pugh Two! Hope ya both are doing well. So I'm heading back to Universal from tentatively Oct 9th-17th. Hoping to hit HHN multiple nights, BUT I've been advised to get a seasonal or annual pass if I'm staying that many days. Just unsure of if I can stay at Cabana Bay again or should I up it to Loews Sapphire or a premier hotel for upgrades/extras. Going solo as of now. But was advised to not get mutli day passes, like I did last year 😬. Thank you for the advice in advance!

[@ThePughTwo]

If you are going for that many days, a seasonal pass would very likely save you quite a bit of money!

[@ThousanWhite]

Can you bring in your own reusable bottles in the park (for water)?

[@ThePughTwo]

Yes!

[@ThousanWhite]

@@ThePughTwo Thanks. I won't be going until December but I really want to do as much research as early as I can!

[@filipinophreak]

i booked our trip for 7 in the end of september for halloween horror nights were staying 6days at the portofino bay..but I'm waiting for them to release the tickets so i can purchase them.. were also doing disney 1 day for the star wars.. were defiantly excited.. thx for the info..i always stayed at hard rock hotel but since i we have a big family now portofino has an amazing beach pool..

[@ThePughTwo]

How exciting! HHN is an awesome event, we’re anxiously awaiting tickets as well. We haven’t done the Star Wars stuff at Disney yet, but it’s on our list! You’ll have to let us know how it is. We hope you have a great time in the parks!

[@filipinophreak]

@@ThePughTwo will do thx.. new sub to u guys

[@ThePughTwo]

@@filipinophreak thank you!!

[@ThemeParkSteve]

Great video and tips! everytime my friends and I go to Universal, we always stay on site. The benefits are just too good!

[@ThePughTwo]

We totally agree! Thank you so much for checking it out!

[@joeb8725]

Do they check id for florida resident prices? Can I purchase online using a vpn to get florida resident prices?

[@ThePughTwo]

They check your ID when you check into the hotel and when you try to enter the parks

[@johnbaker9627]

can u get everything thougth the hotal you stay in .in the park

[@ThePughTwo]

Are you asking about tickets and everything?

[@allisons4979]

I am currently buying some tickets for this July as well, problem is we are out of state and we need the flights +hotel+ tickets and most likely won’t go there again. It’s for my grad ya see. Would you still recommend the express or just the package they include? That came out at $2,994 for 4 nights at the summer resort, flexible hours for tickets, and the 3 day pass for 2 parks. (Plus transportation and the cancellation fee)

[@ThePughTwo]

We always recommend going with the premier hotel vs. buying the express passes individually. If you're 100% sure you're going to purchase express, this is almost ALWAYS the cheaper way to do it. We hope this helps! Congrats on graduating, we hope you have an awesome trip to Universal!

[@allisons4979]

@@ThePughTwo thank you :)

[@moneygrabbercodswollop8133]

So then if I go with 4 people, would my annual pass that I’d want to get be good for them too? Or would we all need to be passholders? I like the full access for a year thing

[@ThePughTwo]

Everyone has to have their own individual annual pass

[@moneygrabbercodswollop8133]

@@ThePughTwo that’s good to know!

[@guynamedjohn69]

thanks! just got one night at lowes royal pacific for 720 for 1 night, but that comes with 1k worth of fast passes which I was going to buy anyways, so i saved 300 bucks thanks to y'all

[@ThePughTwo]

Express passes are crazy right now! We’re so glad we could help you save some money, we hope you have an awesome trip!

[@nateeicholtz7003]

OK you two are AWESOME!! we have questions.. we JUST booked a special package and see that potentially a year pass and hotel MAY be cheaper.. how do we contact you for advice?

[@ThePughTwo]

Hey there! You can reach out to us on instagram or Facebook!

[@TinaEpperson-b8l]

Do you know if there are any on site places to stay that are adult only?

[@ThePughTwo]

There aren’t, but some of the hotels tend to have less families than others. Aventura is probably the least “family friendly” hotel while Cabana Bay is kinda the flagship family hotel on property. We hope this helps!

[@5551133]

Is a universal express pass with it in January? Btw I love your content thank you!

[@ThePughTwo]

January is usually pretty slow! It always saves you some time though!

[@MrKelvin2230]

For me as an Annual pass holder, early park admission doesn't work, it seems that early hours are more crowded than the evening hours...so I just end up visiting the parks after 4pm when the parks are open till 8pm or later. but I do get your point if you are only there for less than two days.

[@ThePughTwo]

Yeah as annual pass holders we have slightly different takes on everything! Being a local also makes what you value and when you go to the parks much different! Great point!

[@MrKelvin2230]

@@ThePughTwo Definitely, I can see your point I do it for the other theme parks that I don't have annual Passes, make the most of the day. But if I was staying at a hotel near the park maybe I would try to visit the park in the morning, leave for lunch and come back in the evening just to avoids the crowd's and the heat. don't know if it would work. Btw can you guys do a video of what to expect for this year Horror night? never been to one.

[@ThePughTwo]

@@MrKelvin2230 we have a lot of HHN videos and video ideas in the works! We are just waiting for a few more “concrete” announcements! Don’t worry, HHN will be a big part of the channel once things get rolling!

[@flleathercop]

Good conscience about information. Great job.

[@ThePughTwo]

Thanks for watching Chris!

[@bethmccrary5431]

You guys are rockstars! Because of the annual pass comment, I just got an $800.00 refund on my trip next month. Amazing, I cannot say thank you enough!!

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you so much Beth! THATS AMAZING!!! We love getting comments like this! We hope you have an amazing vacation and if we can help answer any other questions, please feel free to reach out!

[@chandlerjones7578]

great video! the best part is that when i started booking my trip i had done all of these things and then started watching yalls videos so i changed all our plans from offsite to onsite and tickets to passes. I just cant wait for october to get here, has there been anymore hhn news?

[@ThePughTwo]

We are so glad we could help! Nothing as of yet! Don’t worry though, as soon as we hear something we will be posting it!

[@shannonbardwell8336]

Is there ever any offers on express passes?

[@ThePughTwo]

Unfortunately no. The only real express deal is the premier hotels where it’s included in your stay.

[@drummerboi357]

quick question im british and im on a british network will i be able to downloade the app or be able to connect to my data on my phone

[@ThePughTwo]

We honestly have no clue. We are sorry we can't help! We would hope and think that you can, but we don't wanna say yes and then you not be able to. If you find the answer, please let us know!

[@drummerboi357]

@@ThePughTwo I got it downloaded turns out you can downlode it weather your in the us or not :)

[@ThePughTwo]

@@drummerboi357 awesome! Thank you for the update!

[@monseeojeda]

I’m planning to go on January 5-12 :) isn’t busy time? Thanks for the video guys

[@ThePughTwo]

That should be a relatively slow time in the parks! We hope you have an amazing trip!

[@monseeojeda]

@@ThePughTwo thank you 😊 hope So too

[@Meshastafford]

Do they do airport pick up and drop off like Disney do???

[@ThePughTwo]

They do! You can call Universal to book it!

[@Meshastafford]

@@ThePughTwo Thank you so much for the info. trying to get as much info. as I can my daughter wants to go to Universal she’s been to Disney a few times

[@ThePughTwo]

@@Meshastafford We hope she loves it!

[@uabtodd]

Hey y'all, I'm LOVING your videos as my wife and I plan our first trip to Universal for our Harry Potter obsessed daughters. I think y'all are going to save me tons of money, as we just compared a vacation package with 3 day tickets and a premier hotel stay to buying annual passes and getting the annual passholder discount on the separately booked hotel stay, so yay! I was just wanting to make sure before I book, but does the early park admission come included with the premier hotel stay if I buy Power passes, or would I need to upgrade to preferred annual passes to be able to get early park admission (only concerned with while we're staying at the premier hotels, not the rest of the year or anything)?

[@ThePughTwo]

Hey there! So glad you are enjoying our videos and that we have helped you save some money along the way! We also are OBESSED with Harry Potter, so we totally get it haha. Early park admission is a perk that you will receive by staying at ANY on-site Universal property! Hope this helps!

[@jlo31591]

I have a question you stated to buy the express pass when you get to the parks but then to also buy the premier hotels and they are already included. So do you choose the cheaper hotel and not get the express pass until you get there or just get the premier hotel and not worry about the pass bc it’ll already be included?

[@ThePughTwo]

We always recommend comparing the prices of both! Generally if you are getting express everyday, the premier hotels are going to save you a lot of money!

[@cdub0824]

What mode of transportation do you recommend from Universal Dockside Inn to Disney World?

[@ThePughTwo]

We almost always Uber or Lyft while in Orlando so that’s what we would do. We do admit this is not something we are experienced in as we generally only go to one park or the other! Hope this helps!

[@bmay3790]

Stumbled across your videos and sooo happy as I like to do research before going anywhere! I wanted to know if you guys had experience with visiting in October and what activities are done around Halloween time? I am really excited to start planning

[@ThePughTwo]

We do! Universal’s Halloween event is call Halloween Horror Nights or HHN for short. They’re just starting to make announcements for this year’s event, so stay tuned for some HHN content coming soon!

[@ginawenzel3363]

Just found out we can’t change hotels without losing our discounted ticket offer because we booked a package...so frustrating! You are right, sometimes the “packages” aren’t the best way to go:(

[@ThePughTwo]

Oh no, that’s so frustrating! The packages can be great, but sometimes they’re a pain. It pays to double check everything!

[@melanieluis220]

So I was seeing the express passes are cheaper than regular one day pass. My friends and I aren't looking to go to universal several days so we will just go one day (which isn't enough but its ok w me), we wont stay in hotels of universal but outside. Should I still wait until the day we go or is it better to but it ahead of time?

[@ThePughTwo]

If you are positive you want them, purchasing them early will save you money! The reason we say to wait in some circumstances is when people aren’t sure if they are going to want them or if they are going to be worth it. However, if you are positive it’s something you want, we highly recommend you purchasing them as soon as possible!

[@jestus4]

Heading down to Orlando in July with a family of 6. Which day(s) are the best to go to the parks. Universal/Island of Adventures?

[@ThePughTwo]

Weekdays are traditionally less busy, but when you’re visiting in the summer you probably won’t notice much of a difference. Hotels might be slightly more expensive on the weekends, but crowds will usually be comparable.

[@judgehortonjr6020]

Booking in advanced, at least this go round, saved us huge. We booked 9 nights, along with tickets, at royal Pacific for this upcoming September for 3200. I booked it last November. Recently looked and that same package would run close or above 4500 now.

[@ThePughTwo]

Booking early is always a good idea! With Universal's cancellation policy, there's no reason not to. We hope you have a great time in September!

[@judgehortonjr6020]

@@ThePughTwo we definitely will. Weve been traveling there at least once a year for the past 6 years. Had to skip last year so we are extremely excited

[@ThePughTwo]

@@judgehortonjr6020 that’s awesome! Have you ever been to HHN? That’s always an option in September!

[@judgehortonjr6020]

@@ThePughTwo we haven't but we will this year for sure!!!

[@ThePughTwo]

@@judgehortonjr6020 you’ll have to let us know what you think! It’s an awesome event.

[@jillo4171]

Thanks!! We're going for the first time in the fall. I'm going to check out the annual pass idea

[@ThePughTwo]

We hope you have an awesome time on your trip! The annual passes can be a great deal, we love them!

[@woodward_m8594]

What are block out dates?

[@ThePughTwo]

Dates that you are not allowed to enter the park!

[@woodward_m8594]

@@ThePughTwo Oh cool! Thank you 😊

[@ThePughTwo]

@@woodward_m8594 you’re so welcome!

[@alfredotrujillo4729]

Staying offsite because we got a resort certificate, sunday to sunday first week of August, just had to pay $167 total. Wife and myself $281 for universal $181 for Volcano bay Taking our personal car from SC to avoid rental and flight. Express passes for universal are like 200$ a piece and VB unlimited are 80$ a piece so we’re avoiding those. Finna arrive 1 hour early to each park to compensate for the busy season. I’m excited, had a missed opportunity in CA to visit universal hollywood in high school so this is my first time :)

[@ThePughTwo]

That’s so exciting! We’re curious how you got the resort certificate? That sounds like an awesome deal! We hope you have a great time at the parks!

[@johnniet007b]

Another great video!

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you so much! We're glad you enjoyed it!

[@anthonyquiroz4163]

Do the resorts come with express passes for their guests or is it just the premier hotels?

[@ThePughTwo]

Just the premier hotels!

[@casper2726]

This is great!

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you so much!!

[@kenyak2959]

Can you still Rebook even if you’re in a package deal?

[@ThePughTwo]

It’s possible you might encounter some fees, but it’s still worth calling!

[@AJLoops]

My family is going June 8th till the 12th is that a super busy time

[@ThePughTwo]

Summer is always busy because kids are out of school and families are going on summer vacations. July is usually the busiest time during the summer, though. You can look up the Orlando Informer crowd calendar (just google that phrase) and see the estimated crowd levels for those exact days!

[@edwardtruitt8534]

I am so confused. We are staying on property Oct 30th and attending HHN Oct 31. We have express pass for the park and HHN. What is stay and scream. Do we have to leave the park or what do we do.

[@ThePughTwo]

Stay and scream is a holding area for guest that have access to studios and allows you entrance into HHN earlier than the normal crowd. Basically its early park admission for HHN!

[@edwardtruitt8534]

@@ThePughTwo so this would be me being We are attending the park now

[@ThePughTwo]

@@edwardtruitt8534 Yup! We would suggest making sure you take advantage of Stay and Scream!

[@camillahshoo9282]

Omggg this was much needed!! thank you for the review going to Universal studios for my birthday.

[@ThePughTwo]

That’s awesome! We’re so glad this video was helpful, and happy early birthday!

[@HandleHandle233]

2:50 “ Transportation to and from will line up “this is 2022 telling you not to count on that from Disney. After my last trip I’m here learning about Universal ❤️👍🔥

[@ThePughTwo]

Oh gosh, how frustrating! That seems crazy that they wouldn’t have transportation when the parks are open! Universal has it together a little bit better than that, thankfully!

[@TheHeirloomCabinet]

Very helpful video! 2 questions. 1) Which airport is the best one to fly into, if there is a difference? 2) Is there an airport shuttle to/from Cabana Bay?

[@ThePughTwo]

To our knowledge, MCO is the only international airport in Orlando. There is a shuttle! You have to book it before you land and it is $39.00 round trip per person.

[@zoilaromero2010]

Thank you...I checked, and yes we are only going 3 days so. I did my math. Be safe and no more más at the park.😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉

[@ThePughTwo]

Compare compare compare! Thanks for watching!

[@art3mis565]

I never considered an annual pass because I live out of state, but now I'm realizing my last trip was a week long, and it would've saved me some money to become a passholder 😅

[@ThePughTwo]

People who aren’t local just don’t think about it, but they’re usually a GREAT deal! Now you know for the future!

[@lourdesaponte5810]

I'm staying at Portofino in July for 3 days and 2 night for less than $700, Express passes for 3 people. I checked the prices for express for those days and for one day only, 3 express passes are $750!!!

[@ThePughTwo]

100% this! This is the kind of stuff we are talking about. If you do your due diligence and compare, you can really save SO MUCH money! Thank you for sharing!

[@danasandoval624]

We have stayed at Portofino Bay and loved it!! We Especially loved the boat to and from parks and city walk and the resort is really nice. Enjoyed the fast pass too!! Enjoy your stay!!

[@ThePughTwo]

@@danasandoval624 the premier hotels are the best! We, too, love the water taxi!

[@lourdesaponte5810]

@@danasandoval624 thank you!! I really love Portofino Bay!

[@danasandoval624]

I know we always enjoy it while we are there. In December we are going to try Royal Pacific and see if we like it as well.

[@lucianagomez2690]

Going to Universal in 2 weeks! Doing 2 parks in 1 day, any tips on getting the best out of my short trip?

[@ThePughTwo]

We hope you have a great trip! Our biggest tip would be to make a list of priorities, and get those done first!

[@nyjuwanewton8024]

Get the express pass, especially if you're going 2 parks in one day

[@danielbowers8124]

Express pass looks really expensive but so is having to go back a second time because you’ve not got it t all in 🤷🏻‍♂️ Enjoy the trip and definitely go on the hulk ride

[@suthasineea9223]

Your vlog is very useful. And I have some question if i only have two days to visit universal do i need to buy express pass to ride everything in there??

[@ThePughTwo]

That’s hard to say! It really depends on the crowd levels and the park hours when you visit. We would suggest looking at the Orlando Informer crowd calendar to get an idea of how busy it will be!

[@KAriedoll]

Thanks's for the video. I have to travel far, so I stayed offsite to save money. The last time I had such a bad experience at the hotel (one of those along the strip), I almost had to cry (long story). While I was having my 1st world problem private meltdown, I wondered how much did I actually save since I spent so much money anyway and the experience was practically ruined.

[@ThePughTwo]

That’s exactly the experience we’ve had staying off site. It’s just not worth the money! We’re sorry you had such a bad time, we hope you get to come back and do it the right way! lol

[@jess_o_lantern]

I have been watching your videos non stop since I booked our vacation! With the annual passes, if you choose 2 parks, can you swap back and forth between them, or is it one park per day?

[@ThePughTwo]

It depends! If you get the park to park option, you can switch back and forth. If you get the one park per day base ticket, it’s one park per day like the ticket says lol. Of course the park to park option is slightly more expensive!

[@jess_o_lantern]

@@ThePughTwo Awesome, thanks for the reply!

[@tmilheim]

Have you ever booked the stay on Priceline at the resort instead of going through universal? Does it make it cheaper to buy annual pass and then book hotel through universal with the discount?

[@ThePughTwo]

We have never used Priceline personally. We have always found our cheapest deals are booking with an annual pass holder rate. That might not always be the case, but it does seem to be the case for us! Now that Anna is a travel agent, it also helps because she cause keep better track of the deals Universal has running!

[@watless100]

I like you guys, just subscribed. She reminds me of Leslie Winkle from Big Bang Theory for some reason.

[@ThePughTwo]

Hey Lyndon! Thanks for checking out the channel! We like you as well 😁 haha. Never heard that one but we will take it! Welcome to the channel!