? Those who combine Disney and Universal

[lisaross]

OK we did our 1st family trip this past summer and LOVED DISNEY - 7 months later kids still talk about it weekly! We stayed is Disney for 8 nights did the dining - stayed at CBR - used the transportation and loved everything. So planning to do another nice family trip in 2009! Want to also do Universal for a few days - So i loved not having a car etc but what about when you do Universal and Disney, how do you do it.

I'm thinking of starting out at Universal - staying at a hotel on site so we can walk to the parks, but do the hotels have a van or something to pick you up at the airport??? i'm thinking 4 nights at Universal then 6 nights at Disney!

When you combine it how do you do it? We have two boys now 5 & 7!

how would we get from universal - disney? cab?

i just think a car would be a waste for us since i'm planning on doing the dining plan in Disney and enjoy taking the bus service

thanks

lisa

 

[belleandthebeast]

To the best of my knowledge, the hotels (Universal anyway) do not offer a shuttle pick up from the airport. You will have to purchase transfers from the airport to your Universal hotel. They are quite a few companies that you can choose from (Mears, FL Tours, etc). From Universal you can use the same company or you can get a taxi. Then from Disney, just add on Magical Express for the end of your stay.

After the cost of the transfers to Universal and then the taxi (or whatever form of transportation you use), it may be more economical just to rent a car for the few days you're in Universal even though you won't necessarily be using it, and then drop it off at Disney at the beginning of your stay. Alamo and National both have drop off sites right on Disney property.

I would weigh the costs and also decide which is the least stressful and less costly way to get to and from the hotels.

BTW, I've used Mears a couple of times for transfers from my Disney hotel to SeaWorld or Universal. They've always been on time and very professional.

Good luck

 

[lisaross]

i can return a car rental right on Disney property - where is the car rental?

 

[Dagny]

You can drop off at the Dolphin for Alamo/National. We have done this many times. Since the Dolphin is within walking distance to Epcot, you can just then head over to the park

I would definitely recommend staying onsite at Universal. Their Front of the Line Access perk can't be beat, especially during the busy summer months I will tell you that we usually do Universal at the end of our stay for this reason. The one year we did Universal first, it was such a let down to go to Disney and have to revert to the using Fast Pass system (how sad, huh). Every time we got in line at Disney, my son, who was probably 5 at the time, asked "are we in Fast Pass or Slow Pass"... from that day forward, we have referred to the stand-by line as Slow Pass, ROFL.

 

[lisaross]

Universal 1st is because we loved Disney so much and just wanted to leave with those memories - but of course we might like Universal just as much if not more............................

um any more good suggestions from anyone?

 

[4greatboys]

We do Disney and Universal everytime! We love them both. We usually dont have a rental car, we had been using a towncar service but cabs are fine too. Its about 30 one way.
Staying onsite is great. The resorts are so nice and the FOTL cant be beat.

My 2 youngest are 5 and 7 and they love going there. My 5 yr old is a Spiderman freak. They love the ride and seeing him in the parks. They also have a great character meal there. We saw Spiderman, Cat in the Hat and Things 1 & 2. they spent a lot of time at our table and the kids had a great time.

 

[lisaross]

Universal first or Disney?

How many days do you spend in each?

thanx

lisa

We do Disney and Universal everytime! We love them both. We usually dont have a rental car, we had been using a towncar service but cabs are fine too. Its about 30 one way.
Staying onsite is great. The resorts are so nice and the FOTL cant be beat.

My 2 youngest are 5 and 7 and they love going there. My 5 yr old is a Spiderman freak. They love the ride and seeing him in the parks. They also have a great character meal there. We saw Spiderman, Cat in the Hat and Things 1 & 2. they spent a lot of time at our table and the kids had a great time.

 

[4greatboys]

Universal first or Disney?

How many days do you spend in each?

thanx

lisa

We have done it both ways. Im never really happy to leave either place.

We normally spend only a couple of nights at Universal. With FOTL you can make good time around the park.. If you just want to do 1 night you can use your room keys as soon as you check in and the day you check out.

So you could check in very early and do one of the parks the first, check out the next day, do the other park then move over to disney. The resorts at Universal are all very nice. More $$ than a mod but cheaper than a deluxe at Disney. Unless you get an AP then you can get some good discounts.
With their AP's you also get a discount on food and merchandise.
If you dont want to go that route they do accept AAA and you get discounts for that as well.

We we move to disney normally its atleast 5 nights since there are more parks and a lot more to do there.

 

[lisaross]

I'm thinking 3 or 4 nights at Universal, as i'd like to relax and enjoy the pool as well! not sure if we'll do Seaworld or not --

thanks l

lisa

 

[belleandthebeast]

i can return a car rental right on Disney property - where is the car rental?

Alamo and National have locations at the Disney Car Care Center, I believe. They will shuttle you back to your hotel when you drop off the car.

 

[kwdietrich1]

We are going to Universal in the middle of our trip. We plan to stay on site at WDW and drive over to Universal. DH was not interested in staying at Universal just for FOTL access. If the crowds are too great, he'd rather buy the special FOTL access for $$$$. Plus, we have the dining plan, so with going off site for our meals for two days, this allows us to do some Signature 2 TS credit meals. (DH wants to eat a Emeril's badly )

I just hope we don't regret not staying on site.

 

[naominpaul]

We almost always do both as well!!!! Last year we split them up doing a Disney only Mardi Gras week and Universal only in the summer. Okay Disney diehards...please don't flame me here....we had more fun at the Universal trip in the summer! This was mostly due to circumstances out of anyone's control. My son got sick and then had an allergic reaction that warranted paramedic attention within the Animal Kindgom!!! The next day and our last at the parks I was sick We have a positive outlook that this year will be better . We are doing the combined thing again this year (May-June).

We did not NEED a vehicle while staying on property at Universal, but we always have one as we drive there. Please remember to add to the cost comparison either $10 or $12/day for parking at the Universal hotels (yes the hotels charge for parking), IF you decide to rent a car. I was dissappointed in having to pay this fee, but it was worth staying there for FOTL.

Our family has never relied solely on Disney transportation even while staying on property. I've always liked having that private vehicle as a safety net in case we need to run somewhere. HOWEVER, most people enjoy parking their cars and not getting in them again until they leave. If you are flying it will really just mean a cost comparison. Sometimes you can get such good weekly deals on car rentals it would be better to do that. Good luck and enjoy Universal! We LOVE IT!

 

[S. C.]

Here is a link to the universal threads/boards on the dis. http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=8

I highly recommend staying onsite at universal if you go in the summer or other busy times. Front of the line is great.

 

[rie'smom]

We do both and I recommend Disney first if you're staying onsite at Universal.

 

[justplaingoofy]

We are doing a split stay next month.

Hertz has a counter at Universal hotels so you can always do a one day rental if needed.

Alamo/National is at Dolphin & Car Care Center (we prefer Dolphin)

Plus Universal resorts charge $10 per day parking just to have a car at the hotel... (not lov'en that)

Taxiepending on how many of you there are you can always call one of the local cab companies (listed on mousesavers or allears) and tell them where you want to go. They will give you an approximate cost of fare.