Hotel Planning Help: Would Like To Add A Day At Universal Before WDW

Here's what I'm up against: Planning for an early December visit, my flight arrives early afternoon on a Thursday. I'd like to spend Friday at Universal, then WDW beginning Saturday on out. Thursday would just be a day to get settled in. I'll be staying on-site at WDW (ASM) with a package and all that.

I don't know what to do for Thursday and Friday, as there are several options, all with advantages and disadvantages.

One option would be: stay at ASM room-only Thursday and Friday, then begin my WDW package on Saturday. The disadvantage to this is that I'd lose out on the Universal on-site perks such as early entry; however, on a weekday during the off-season, armed with a solid touring plan, is this really likely to cause a problem?

I'm also concerned about having to check out of my room-only reservation, then check back in again for my package reservation. When you do that, do you have to physically vacate your room and move to a new one? Is it a time-consuming process?

Option Two would be to stay on-site at Universal Thursday, room-only at ASM Friday night, begin my WDW package Saturday. Cabana Beach looks fun, and it would be cool to have the Universal on-site perks (I'm assuming that a one-night package includes park admission the following day?). Besides early entry, what are some other Universal on-site perks?

Option Three would be to stay on-site at Universal both Thursday and Friday. This option brings the Universal portion of my costs up pretty high though, and it also puts me in a difficult position for Saturday morning: I'd have to vacate Cabana Beach, drive from Universal to WDW on a Saturday, check in at ASM, then begin hitting the theme parks. Truthfully, that seems like a lot for an early morning to be followed by a long day.

So anyway those are my options, and I'm really not sure which way would be best. I look to you seasoned travelers who have been around those blocks to help me out.

Thanks!

I always prefer to stay onsite at Universal.

I would go with Option Two in your case. I'd link my room only ressie at disney with the package if possible so you would hopefully not have to change rooms. You could try doing that with a phone call. If they say they can't do it with a phone call, you could try doing it in person when you check in at Disney so you wouldn't have to change rooms.
I believe you would have to check out of the room only on Saturday morning and check in again with your package either way.

I normally just stay at Universal for the 2 nights because I like to hang out at the pool (and bar) after the parks close. Then I'd just get up early to drive and check in at WDW before heading to whatever Disney park I chose for the day. I seldom make rope drop when I do that but it's always worked fine for me.

Keep in mind that I'm a solo traveler usually though so I only have one suitcase and a duffel bag plus a small bag that has water, breakfast stuff, and a couple of different kinds of sodas to move. And when I'm only doing 2 nights at Universal, I usually leave my suitcase in the car and only take in the duffel bag and the food bag so it's less lugging around.

Thanks, GaSleepingBeautyFan, right now that seems to be the direction I'm leaning. I'd really like to hear from someone who has done room-only followed by a package, to see how big of a PITA it is to check out and back in again.

I agree on option 2. It is less traveling. It looks like both IOA and Universal are currently scheduled to close at 7:00 PM in early December. You can get your touring done and still hit ASM at a decent time on Friday. You can look around City Walk Thursday night. There are some new and interesting restaurants there.

You might ask on the Universal Park forum on this site about the need for an Express Pass at that time. There are a number of helpful posters. It is possible that you could see most things without an Express pass and you could save money. Cabana Bay gets early entry if there is one for that day. We have only gone during busy times and stayed at one of the deluxes to get the pass. (It actually is cheaper for our family of four to stay at a deluxe instead of staying at Cabana Bay and buy Express passes in the summer months.)

If you are wanting to keep the cost down, there is a nice Holiday Inn and Doubletree on Kirkman road right across the street from Universal, I have stayed in both, and honestly prefer Holiday Inn,(I have gotten holiday inn for 99.00 a night, and double tree for 129.00 and that was during Halloween horror nights) for the price and they have a TGIF attached which is nice at the end of the day to grab a burger or cocktail. It would take you about 5 minutes with the red light to drive across and be in the parking garage, they also offer a shuttle over there, and taxi service which we used a couple of times when enjoying the evening at City Walk. You can check into express pass, for quicker ride times, but again it depends on the crowd, also take into consideration the weather here rain is one thing, but we are getting huge thunder storms with lots of lighting, and with some of the main ride being outside, so I would play the wait and see game before buying the express pass. I am pretty sure that you could save money going this route, but again I would run the numbers.

I would spend 2 nights offsite right out side of Universal to save some cash, Thursday night check out City Walk, Friday spend the day at Universal, then head back to your hotel for dinner and a good nights sleep before heading to WDW, I personally would not want to start my Disney vaca already tired.

I do have another suggestion for your safety, don't leave your suitcase in the car, nothing worse than coming out to your car to find it broken into, not the best way to start a vacation. A friend of my DH just went through this...

HeyHomie said:

Option Two would be to stay on-site at Universal Thursday, room-only at ASM Friday night, begin my WDW package Saturday. Cabana Beach looks fun, and it would be cool to have the Universal on-site perks (I'm assuming that a one-night package includes park admission the following day?). Besides early entry, what are some other Universal on-site perks?

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The big perk from staying onsite at Universal is unlimited express pass. Basically you can use your room key for fastpass entry into just about every ride at the two Universal parks. But you'd probably need to upgrade from Cabana Bay to one of the more expensive resorts. I would do option 2, would only stay two nights at Universal if I was going to Universal parks both Friday and Saturday.

If you want unlimited express pass included in your package at Universal, you will need to stay somewhere other than Cabana Bay. We like Royal Pacific and it's the next best option in terms of price. Also easy to walk to the parks and City Walk from Royal Pacific. Not so much from Cabana Bay. I would also stay onsite at Universal - their resorts are great and we always spend at least one night there.

I second the Royal Pacific recommendation. Unlimited Express is worth the extra expense, especially with an early closing time. If you're interested in Harry Potter, that should be your first stop but it will eat up a lot of your morning, making it tougher to get on other headliners without a wait.

As for just staying at Disney and switching packages. As long as you have booked the same room you should not have to move. Disney would not want to clean a room you are moving out of and clean a room you are moving into so the likelihood of you staying in the same room is great. THey call it a continuing reservation. You do have to go to the desk and check out and in. We have done it a few times and kept the same room.