Split stay - UO & WDW - advice and tips?

[janiebegood]

Hi! You DISers helped me plan an AMAZING 20th anniversary trip at New Year's 2008, so I was thrilled to find that there's a UO subforum!

I am a true blue Polynesian-resort girl, but my daughter really wants to go to HP World at UO and my husband likes to try new things, so... reluctantly, I have agreed that we can go to the darkside.

I'm hoping y'all can point me in the right direction as far as where to stay. I love two things about the Poly:

1) The atmosphere -- relaxed, tropical, special

2) The proximity to WDW -- walking distance to TTC, boat trans, view across lagoon, view of fireworks at night

Which of the on-site hotels at UO do you think most closely replicate those experiences?

I'm going to suggest that we split the stay -- 2-3 days at UO, 2-3 days at WDW. Is that workable? A huge pain? Easier if we rent a car?

We plan to go for our 25th wedding anniversary -- New Year's 2013 -- so I definitely want to be able to see some fireworks!

 

[Metro West]

Which of the on-site hotels at UO do you think most closely replicate those experiences?

I'm going to suggest that we split the stay -- 2-3 days at UO, 2-3 days at WDW. Is that workable? A huge pain? Easier if we rent a car?

We plan to go for our 25th wedding anniversary -- New Year's 2013 -- so I definitely want to be able to see some fireworks!

Since you're asking about the onsite resorts, I'm going to move this thread to the Resorts board.

 

[gschmerl]

I would say the Royal Pacific Resort would fit the bill for you.
Go to WDW first because you will be absolutely spoiled by the unlimited express access you get while staying on site at Universal.
All three Universal resorts are within walking distance of the parks and City Walk.
Don't expcect fireworks at Universal though.

 

[RMulieri]

Any of the 3 Universal resorts would work..I would lean towards Royal Pacific for you guys because of the theming..All 3 are within walking distance and have dedicated boats.Pool hopping is encouraged at Universal so you can try the other pools out..

 

[janiebegood]

Since you're asking about the onsite resorts, I'm going to move this thread to the Resorts board.

Thanks, Metro West -- sorry for posting in the wrong thread!

I appreciate the responses -- it looks like RPH is the clear winner here!

I see what you're saying,gschmerl, about the Express thing, but I want to be at the Poly for NYE to see the fireworks, which means going to UO first given our back-to-school schedule.

rmulieri, I'm a big fan of the immersion experience, so being able to walk everywhere sounds wonderful to me!

I checked out rental car and parking prices, and it sounds like we would be much better off paying a shuttle fee to get to UO from the airport and then taking a Mears car over to the Poly than renting a car and dealing with all its associated expense and bother. We can take Magical Express back to MCO from the Poly easy peasy.

 

[macraven]

the ambiance you feel at RPH might make you think of the poly.


i do the motherland onsite stay first then move to the darkside, rph.


i rush at the motherland and relax at the darkside.



any of the hotels will be fine since this is your first stay.
you can't go wrong with any of them.

but, the rph will have the feel of the south seas more than the other two hotels.

pbh reflects italy, hard rock feels more modern and rock style music throughout the hotel.

stay at rph and visit the other 2 lobbies and grounds to get a better feel for each of those hotels.

go and have a great time!

 

[Planogirl]

Another vote for the Royal Pacific.

I like the atmosphere you describe too and I was very pleased with RPH. Be sure to walk to the parks - it's a nice walk.

 

[janiebegood]

stay at rph and visit the other 2 lobbies and grounds to get a better feel for each of those hotels.

[/I]

That's a great idea! I'll be sure and do that.

As soon as I have the school schedule in hand, I'll make reservations. If I can get the dates to work, we'll go to the Poly first, then RPH, though we don't do Disney with quite the degree of intensity that many folks seem to. I'm quite content hanging out at the Poly, watching the fireworks, listening to the ferry.

 

[pigletto]

We are a Poly loving family as well. You can not go wrong with any of the Universal onsite hotels. They are all lovely properties within both walking and boating distance to the two Universal parks. That being said, we LOVE Royal Pacific and have only stayed there. The pool is wonderful (blows the Poly out of the water.. no pun intended). The lobby gives the Poly a run for it's money and there is a lovely tropical atmosphere.
I don't find as many little places to slip away and find quiet like I do with the Poly but we enjoy it. AND you can get a restaurant reservation on the day you need it most of the time. Imagine that!

For our upcoming trip we are doing a split stay. 3 nights at RPR and 6 at Port Orleans Riverside.
We simply don't do an Orlando vacation without going to Universal anymore and my husband and my kids requested a third night at Universal this time. They love it. It is completely different than Disney. If you don't go in comparing every little detail but choose to enjoy each for what they offer I think you will have a very nice time.

 

[rpbert1]

First time we went we did split stay did Universal first then Disney, big mistake, like poster said , you will be spoilt with FOTL express passes.
RPR is our Fav, resort, atmosphere is fantastic around the hotel, although always Summer when we go.
enjoy your stay

 

[janiebegood]

First time we went we did split stay did Universal first then Disney, big mistake, like poster said , you will be spoilt with FOTL express passes.
RPR is our Fav, resort, atmosphere is fantastic around the hotel, although always Summer when we go.
enjoy your stay

Okay, rpbert1, I think you and others have convinced me to start at WDW and then go to UO! I've never been steered wrong by the DISboards hive mind!

We lived in Orlando for seven years and I loooooove the FLA winters, so all our trips have been planned for wintertime.

 

[janiebegood]

We are a Poly loving family as well. ... If you don't go in comparing every little detail but choose to enjoy each for what they offer I think you will have a very nice time.

pigletto, thank you for your response! I would love to hear more about what you enjoy about each!

 

[fizbobunny]

I would stay at PBH if I were you. Then you won't be staying at two similarly themed hotels. Plus, PBH is more upscale.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks, Metro West -- sorry for posting in the wrong thread!

No problem...we don't flog people on their first mis-post.

 

[Music City Mama]

I would stay at PBH if I were you. Then you won't be staying at two similarly themed hotels. Plus, PBH is more upscale.

This is what I was going to say. And definitely stay at WDW first. Not only will you get spoiled from the express pass, it makes leaving WDW a little easier knowing you're going somewhere else and not going home.

 

[janiebegood]

This is what I was going to say. And definitely stay at WDW first. Not only will you get spoiled from the express pass, it makes leaving WDW a little easier knowing you're going somewhere else and not going home.

Dang, y'all are persuasive! I'm going to go look up the Portofino Bay.

I doubt we will go to US on this trip -- the coasters at IoA, Spiderman, and HP are what we're focused on, and it looks like a longer walk from Portofino than RPH. So that's a consideration...

Is it more like as the Polynesian is to the Royal Pacific, the Grand Floridian is to the Portofino?

 

[janiebegood]

Another question... Okay, so the Portofino Bay is the farthest hotel from IoA, which is where we plan to spend most of our time. Does the boat from the PBH go directly to IoA? If we didn't want to walk it, can we take a boat in a reasonable amount of time? What are the boat hours?

 

[macraven]

Another question... Okay, so the Portofino Bay is the farthest hotel from IoA, which is where we plan to spend most of our time. Does the boat from the PBH go directly to IoA? If we didn't want to walk it, can we take a boat in a reasonable amount of time? What are the boat hours?

all the water taxis travel from the hotel boat dock to the dock in city walk.

once leaving the boat in city walk, go to the left for the studios, right for ioa.
(up stairs or ramp to the upper level)

boats usually are 15-20 minutes apart during slow seasons.
busy seasons might have two boats available for the hotels.
not that they leave the dock at the same time but alternate so the wait for a boat is considerable less time involved.

walking from pbh to the parks takes longer than the walk from the other 2 hotels.

 

[janiebegood]

walking from pbh to the parks takes longer than the walk from the other 2 hotels.

Thanks for the info, macraven!

 

[macraven]

you're welcome.
i enjoy helping others with darkside info.