Now that I got full time. I can now take a vacation next year. Hopefully I'll get enough vacation days take a long one. I'm thinking about taking a Universal vacation because I thought it would be nice to get away from WDW for a couple days. I'm looking at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort. 
Great! Sounds fun! Do you know what time of year you're looking at?
January 2020 Trip Report - Riviera Resort
June 2019 Trip Report - Caribbean Beach & Saratoga Springs
October 2018 Trip Report - Contemporary Resort
July 2018 - All Star Movies
April 2018 Trip Report - Art of Animation
Jan 2018 Trip Report - Port Orleans Riverside and Animal Kingdom Lodge
Nov 2017 Trip Report - Boardwalk Villas
Feb 2017 Trip Report - Port Orleans French Quarter
Apr 2016 Trip Report - Pop Century
Dec 2015 Trip Report - All Star Sports & Saratoga Springs
Sept 2014 Trip Report - Coronado Springs
Oct 2012 Trip Report - Caribbean Beach Resort
I'm looking at next May but if I don't have a lot of vacation time yet, then I'll push it back to later in the year.
I'm really new to vacation planning with Universal. It is possible to book dining plan with the room only right? Online booking won't let me look at add-ons for the room only. Help!!!
I believe the dining plan for Universal must be booked with a package room and tickets through Universal you should check out www.orlandoinformer.com they have so much info on the Universal Orlando Resorts!
Coronado Springs 2000
Art of Animation-Cars 2013
PORS AND POFQ 2014
PORS 2015
okay thanks.
Congrats! Did your role at Disney change too or you are now just FT? Either way, great for you!
Yea I took a FT role with Mousekeeping. Thanks!
Yea I took a FT role with Mousekeeping. Thanks!
congratulations. Where are you working?
Pop
Pop
Cool. I'll see you there in November.
Congrats Mandy! We were hoping to see you at HS next week, but I guess we'll have to take a side trip to Pop to see you now.
DFB posted information on the Universal dining plan today.
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/08/28/universal-orlando-theme-parks-dining-plan-announced/
Congrats we will see you soon.
Congrats Mandy! We were hoping to see you at HS next week, but I guess we'll have to take a side trip to Pop to see you now.
I don't transfer until Sept 8. But I will also be at Epcot and MK next week along with HS.
Thanks. I was really lucky to find it because most cms wait a few months as PT before getting FT.
JanJ wrote:Congrats Mandy! We were hoping to see you at HS next week, but I guess we'll have to take a side trip to Pop to see you now.I don't transfer until Sept 8. But I will also be at Epcot and MK next week along with HS.
Cool! Maybe we'll bump into you. What days are you in which parks?
Thanks. I was really lucky to find it because most cms wait a few months as PT before getting FT.
Two questions:
1) I hope you don't think I'm being nosy, but do CMs tend to work two jobs (Disney and maybe one outside of Disney) while waiting to go FT? Just curious.
2) I see you have added a ToT 10 Miler ticker - are you running??
Mandy wrote:Thanks. I was really lucky to find it because most cms wait a few months as PT before getting FT.Two questions:
1) I hope you don't think I'm being nosy, but do CMs tend to work two jobs (Disney and maybe one outside of Disney) while waiting to go FT? Just curious.
2) I see you have added a ToT 10 Miler ticker - are you running??
1. Sometimes they do. Depends on what they want.
2. Yes I am.
Mandy wrote:JanJ wrote:Congrats Mandy! We were hoping to see you at HS next week, but I guess we'll have to take a side trip to Pop to see you now.I don't transfer until Sept 8. But I will also be at Epcot and MK next week along with HS.
Cool! Maybe we'll bump into you. What days are you in which parks?
This coming Monday Epcot, Thursday Mk for three hours on Main Street and then Sunday, Friday and Saturday HS.
JMUDukz wrote:Mandy wrote:Thanks. I was really lucky to find it because most cms wait a few months as PT before getting FT.Two questions:
1) I hope you don't think I'm being nosy, but do CMs tend to work two jobs (Disney and maybe one outside of Disney) while waiting to go FT? Just curious.
2) I see you have added a ToT 10 Miler ticker - are you running??
1. Sometimes they do. Depends on what they want.
2. Yes I am.
Woohoo!! We'll have to try to meet up at the after party!!
Mandy wrote:JMUDukz wrote:Mandy wrote:Thanks. I was really lucky to find it because most cms wait a few months as PT before getting FT.Two questions:
1) I hope you don't think I'm being nosy, but do CMs tend to work two jobs (Disney and maybe one outside of Disney) while waiting to go FT? Just curious.
2) I see you have added a ToT 10 Miler ticker - are you running??
1. Sometimes they do. Depends on what they want.
2. Yes I am.Woohoo!! We'll have to try to meet up at the after party!!
Okay!
Has anyone use the Mandara Spa at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando(r)? I want to get one or two spa treatments while on vacation. I got a massage and mani-pedi like last year or the year before at one of the Disney spas and it was awesome. The mani-pedi was a bit rushed because we were running late to the spa and dinner was soon.
We stayed at the Loews Royal Pacific, Mandy, and it was WONDERFUL. I would have trusted them to do a good job with ANYTHING I asked of them there. I would expect Portofino to be the same way! Outstanding service!!
Best of luck with the trip planning and congrats on the new FT job!! Woo Hoo!! 
Thanks Nancy! I figured I would stay at the lowest priced hotel and hopefully get a meal deal. Then just book the spa treatments. I'm not sure if I want to get an AP before my vacation or not. I'm completely clueless when it comes to universal.
Has anyone use the Mandara Spa at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando(r)?
I have not been to this spa however Mandara is a very reputable name in the spa industry - they operate the Spa at Swan/Dolphin and also at the Grand Californian. I wouldn't think twice about using one of their facilities.
Let us know how it goes!
Okay. I will if it happens.
Hi Mandy! I just booked into the Royal Pacific. Had stayed there once before and it was outstanding. Looked at the Cabana Bay resort per my travel agent who was just down there and got kind of a sneak peek on what is happening in its development. She said it looks like it's going to be really nice and it would save us money, BUT in fact, I don't think we would really be saving and in all actuality, would be losing and this is why.
When you book into the Royal Pacific, the Portofino or the Hard Rock, you automatically get the resort fast pass. This is not like the fast pass you pay for in the park as those have a limit to how many times you can ride the big rides. Only once or twice I believe. But when you stay at one of those 3 resorts, you get an unlimited fast pass that includes all but a couple rides. They are free with the room and are worth about $89 per person (that is $445 difference for our family of 5 per day!) which if you would add that cost onto the room price at the Cabana Bay which is a cheaper resort, it actually becomes more expensive if you purchase a normal, controlled fast pass.
The fast pass was invaluable to us and saved us from waiting for sometimes hours in line. We enjoyed our park days so much more. Because of the fast pass alone, I would never stay off site. I believe of the 3, the Royal Pacific is the cheapest, but it is definitely not reflected as such. It is a stunning property.
As for meal deals, from the research I have been doing, there are 2 options right now. For $24.99 on a 1 park pass or $29.99 on a hopper pass you can get the all you can eat. There are 3 different fast foody type counter service places per park that you can eat at. You can eat all you want. You can get one meal, one drink and one dessert each time you get food. You can go right back and get in line again and get another meal if you want for as many times as you want, but they say no sharing and only 1 meal per time you are in line. Anyone can buy this at any time at either park.
The other is a brand new service they are trying which includes a lot more counter service places, some of the food carts and table service restaurants. I'm not sure of the cost, but I know it has to be purchased in advance and is given to you on check in. This one just started up this summer and from reading reviews, there are a lot of problems and bugs to work out with it and the cast members were given a crash course on it so there is a lot of confusion on how to actually do it. I would keep an eye on that one and only add it to your reservation later if it looks like it's getting the kinks out. When they do though, it will probably be a nice option.
Sorry, can't help you with the spa treatment thing, but enjoy!!! 
Thanks. I was looking into the cheaper one. I would stay on property because I want a good experience at Universal.