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!

[@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! 🤣

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@oldworldobserver]

INCREDIBLE video! You guys rock!!

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you Mr. Dore!

[@TripNWithRed]

The Universal resorts are incredible and competitive. The guaranteed admission is huge. When the parks reach capacity and you stay offsite, you just wasted your money on a vaca. The annual pass is incredible if you plan on visiting for multiple days. The premium hotels are a great way to get Express passes if you have multiple people in your group. We haven't nailed a great price yet for the top hotel rooms but I will keep looking. The packages can save big money if you watch for the perfect deal.

[@ThePughTwo]

We totally agree! It would be heartbreaking for someone to travel to Universal and NOT be able to get into the parks. This is a once in a lifetime trip for some people, and that being the case, I would always want to guarantee myself access! We hope you find a reasonable price soon!

[@lfevery14661]

If you pre-purchased your tickets, is that included in the max capacity? I've already gotten my tickets and we're staying offsite. I'm seeing if I can change that, but just in case...

[@jamesmarhen]

If you're from the west coast or southwest where it's hot, understand Orlando heat is different from southwest heat. I'm from Phoenix, it's routinely 110 degrees or greater during the summer but when I went to Orlando in August I was miserable. Phoenix heat feels like you're being burned from the outside-in while Orlando feels like you're being burned from the inside-out and you just sweat and sweat so don't mistake yourself in thinking all heat is the same because I can assure you, it isn't.

[@ThePughTwo]

That humidity will get you! We say all the time that Florida sun hits different and it’s no joke! We love that analogy of burning from the inside out, that’s such a good description! 😂

[@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!

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@tman4534]

Idk but I love watching you guys

[@ThePughTwo]

Haha you’re so sweet, thank you!

[@scottbrooks4793]

Great info thank you!

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you for watching!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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! ❤️❤️

[@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!

[@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! 😂

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@superman3456able]

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!

[@superman3456able]

@@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]

@@superman3456able when we get things planned out we will let you know!

[@superman3456able]

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

[@ThePughTwo]

@@superman3456able haha it took some convincing to get me (Anna) on it, too! The incline at the start is intimidating!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@DarrellHudson12]

Go Big Orange and thanks for the tips.

[@ThePughTwo]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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...

[@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!

[@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!

[@mitchem309]

I just love you guyz!

[@ThePughTwo]

💗💗

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@richmatthews7685]

I think another good tip, a minor tip but still good, make a reservation if you plan on dining at one of the big restaurants on City walk. This really depends on when you go like holidays, peak season, even weekends. We went last month and couldn’t walk into a restaurant or even be put on a wait list because they were booked full. Fast food, hotel restaurants, and in park dining are available but expect long waits. UPDATE!! I have family down there right now, it’s a Wednesday.. you’ll need a reservation for almost everyday

[@ThePughTwo]

We agree with this! We had some trouble getting into our favorite restaurants the last time we were in the parks because of how busy they were! Reservations are always a good idea, even if its just a "what if"! Thanks for sharing!

[@ct5507]

Thank you for the great tips. We are planning to take our teenagers 16 and 18 to Florida for Disney World and Universal. We are from Los Angeles... therefore, we would like to visit parks that are unique to us. Questions: (1) Where should we book our hotel - on site hotel at Universal or Disney World? (2) How many days should we spend in the parks? (3) What kind of tickets would you suggest us to purchase?

[@ThePughTwo]

Hey Claire! Sounds like an amazing trip! As far as the questions go 1. That is really a personal preference! We aren’t that familiar with staying at Disney, so we would always say Universal (for us) haha. Universals premier hotels offer free express passes for everyone in the room, so there is the biggest argument for staying there at least while you are at those parks. At lot of people stay at Universal while there and at a Disney hotel while there! 2. Also personal but we can help with the Universal side of it. At UOR we typically recommend at least 1 day per park. So if you are wanting to do Volcano Bay as well, we’d say 3 days at Uni minimal. Disney is a different beast and we would feel like it was doing a disservice to suggest much there! 3. This will kind of depend on number 2. There comes a point where it makes more sense to purchase an annual pass than to buy tickets. What the threshold is will depend on when you are coming, how much you spend in the parks, and where you stay. If you figure out how many days you are staying at UNI we can help you with this question much much better!

[@tiffytoo]

And thank you so so much btw great great video.

[@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!

[@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!

[@atseabreeze]

I'm planning my first trip ever to Universal with my kids and this was very helpful! Thank you.

[@Cowflakes]

What up

[@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

[@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!

[@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 :)

[@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!!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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

[@wackynicolecsu]

Just went! We stayed off site and paid to park. Big thing download the app! You can see all the wait times and you can see where everything is and see where you are! Also if you are going to eat at a restaurant you are going to need the app to make reservation and iam not sure if it's all of them, or just the pizza place we went to, but we had to order the app.... Unless it is the chocolate emporium...for some reason there reservations aren't on the app...get there early before 10. Also at one point in the afternoon we left and went back to the hotel to cool down then we returned after 6 (free parking after 6pm). Some of the rides that had the bigger wait time in the day had less wait times in the evening.

[@ThePughTwo]

It sounds like you had a great trip! The crowds definitely thin out in the evenings as people start making their way to dinner. The app is super helpful! They use the app to order food in some of the restaurants to help keep things running smoothly, the app is definitely worth having!

[@emmanicholson5267]

This is a great video - thanks so much! Do you know if annual passes are available to people who don't live in Florida?

[@ThePughTwo]

They are! We’re not from Florida either and love our annual passes!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@lexbogie1]

I’m going taking my girl to Orlando for an entire week and I’m thinking of hitting Disney for 3 days and then universal for 4 days. What do you suggest would be the best way to go about this? Keep in mind we both love roller coasters and thrills. Any advice would be greatly greatly appreciated

[@ThePughTwo]

We don’t know nearly as much about Disney as we do Universal, but we would probably suggest moving hotels. There are some great perks that come with staying on site for both resorts and it’ll just make your trip that much more convenient. We hope you have an awesome time at the parks!

[@sandersa813]

Thank you! I am planning trip right now lol! Needed all the help 😂🙏🏾

[@ThePughTwo]

Glad we could help! If you ever have questions please feel free to ask!

[@sandersa813]

@@ThePughTwo thanks!

[@flleathercop]

Good conscience about information. Great job.

[@ThePughTwo]

Thanks for watching Chris!

[@ClaytonLuke]

You guys are great. [whispers] (Nobody wants to see you publicly dis or better the person you love, even in "jest". :-) ) Thanks for the helpful videos.

[@ThePughTwo]

Hey Clayton! We appreciate your comment. I just wanted to let you know that we thank you for looking out but that’s just a little inside joke between us. Tyler is a cut up and little jokes we make are just our sense of humor. We apologize if you don’t like it but I promise it’s in good fun! Thank you for watching and thank you so much for the support!

[@dycubthesaxoflutist]

Great tips! This will be my first time going to Universal and it’ll be in July. My question is how do you upgrade the multi day tickets to annual passes for a cheaper price?

[@kimberlythorn8982]

if you haven't had this answered yet, go to the maingates where you purchase tickets. You will have to upgrade your ticket and pay the difference. That is how it used to be done in the past

[@ThePughTwo]

This or you can call Universal and they will help you out!

[@ThePughTwo]

We have always heard going to guest services or calling is the best way to go about it!

[@dycubthesaxoflutist]

Thank you! I will call guest services when I can. I booked Endless Summer Resort Surfside and a one-day Express Pass for July but now I kinda want to upgrade to one of the premier hotels. I know there’s a way to rebook but is there a way to refund the one-day express pass if I decide to book a premier hotel?

[@ThePughTwo]

@@dycubthesaxoflutist We have never run into that situation, however, Universal has never ceased to be be able to fulfill our request!

[@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!

[@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!

[@marcosalvarez5147]

Is booking a vacation package good for first timers or not also love the vids keep it up 🥰🥰

[@ThePughTwo]

It’s never bad to book a vacation package. Universal puts together great trips and the packages make it super easy and worry free! With that being said, it is possible to save money and get more out of your vacation by booking it yourself SOMETIMES. Booking it yourself just gives you a little more flexibility and allows you to get exactly what you want!

[@erincommerford1691]

If you have a Costco membership check out Costco travel! I got a great vacation planned for royal pacific!

[@marcosalvarez5147]

@@erincommerford1691 don’t have a membership but maybe some day I booked the vacation package off the universal site thanks for the info though

[@ThePughTwo]

@@erincommerford1691 we will have to look into it!

[@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!

[@Wonka_Bar]

Subscribed to your channel just because you’re wearing a Tennessee shirt 😝 Go VOLS!

[@ThePughTwo]

Haha GBO! We appreciate your support!

[@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!

[@jenniferbabec4609]

Thank you for this great video. I learned a lot!

[@ThePughTwo]

We’re so glad it was helpful!

[@superj2644]

While free park admission is great, the transportation to the park is where the onsite hotels shine, with cost of rideshare to the park per day, or rental cars even cost of gas it's a no brainer to stay onsite

[@ThePughTwo]

Oh we totally agree! The transportation is so convenient!

[@hollicarter3216]

Fellow Universal lovers! Excellent!. my worst mistake...not taking advantage of the expert guidance and experience of a U-Preferred TA to save all that time, money and stress. Doesn't cost a penny or take away any of the fun planning stuff. Plus, if you've tried to call into UOR in the last 6 months, you'll know the wait times are hours long. Who has time for that?

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@シュシュとチャンネル-q4o]

Love this video!!😍😍😍😍 Greetings from Japan🇯🇵 Like 136👍

[@ThePughTwo]

Thank you, we're so glad you enjoyed it!

[@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

[@yiselperez2317]

Note to self: Royal pacific, Portofino bay and hard rock. Hotels that gives you express pass. (Thanks)

[@ThePughTwo]

Of course! Thank you for watching! If you ever have any questions, please let us know!

[@rrenee3280]

We’re going in January and super excited. Looking into staying at Hard Rock because price is same as lower cost hotel plus paying for the express pass. Do you generally need EP in January? Wondering if worth it to get or would wait times be shorter anyway and don’t need to pay the extra?

[@ThePughTwo]

That just depends on when in January. Early January can be pretty crazy like the 3-4 days of the new year, and then it tends to slow down. We have never found that we didn't enjoy having them of course, but it has seemed unnecessary certain times when we were there. Hope this helped!

[@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!

[@troublewithtriton8529]

My biggest mistake was taking my introverted, non ride husband with me, I paid for everything and he was told he had minimum veto rights for my must do rides, I also paid for the food packages and am still up in the air on whether it was worth it ( for hassle free and cost ). This time I am trying my best to get it all in.

[@ThePughTwo]

We hope you get it all done this go around! If you have any questions please let us know!

[@AnaMedina-uq3hc]

Hey! Thank you for this amazing information! Question: Do I need to purchase a express pass to ride on the Hogwarts Express? Or does the Park to park ticket cover this? Liked & Subscribed!

[@ThePughTwo]

Hey there! Welcome to the channel! Park to park tickets cover the Hogwarts Express! No express pass needed!

[@AnaMedina-uq3hc]

Great! Thank you so much!!

[@katharinefurlano5332]

Great video with great tips! We did go with a vacation package for Hard Rock Hotel as well as just tickets. For our next trip there, where do you book your hotel? Through the Universal website? Because I know that you have annual pass, you only have to book a hotel, correct? So just wondering where you look for hotel prices. And have you ever bought tickets NOT through Universal?

[@ThePughTwo]

We just book directly through the site under the annual pass holder rates! No we don’t have any experience getting tickets or booking through a third party! Have you? If so, what has been your experience?

[@katharinefurlano5332]

@@ThePughTwo The only third party was through Costco tickets in store and that was 9 years ago. This will be only the second time at Universal and work COVID didn't want to take a chance with third party tickets or hotel reservations in case we need to cancel.

[@tungy01]

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

[@ThePughTwo]

We just use the website!

[@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.