10 Days split Disney/Universal help!

[sundarlin9]

Planning in May to fly to Orlando and spend 10 nights in Orlando. The cheaper airfares put us leaving on a Friday and returning on a Monday. Keeping in mind Mother's Day weekend and Memorial Day weekend will most likely be really busy, we're probably going May 13-23. Anyone think otherwise?

We want to see both Disney and Universal. We did Disney last year, but in 3 and a half days, so it was basically running through. I plan on doing Disney first and then Universal.
1) I'd rather not rent a car, so I'd prefer a hotel that has a shuttle to both properties, which I know may be hard to come by (I did find the Radisson Resort Parkway if anyone has stayed there, please let me know what you thought). The pool is a huge consideration, for the kids, I'd prefer a hotel that has a themed pool and not just a hole in the ground.
2) I would consider staying at 2 different properties, one close to Disney and 1 close to Universal, renting a car for a day or two is also a consideration to be able to see other sights and make the hotel transition easier.
3) On-site vs. off-site? Stayed at Beach Club last year and wasn't impressed with the value if we had paid full price. Really would rather not stay Disney on-site. Any recommendations? For Universal, would consider Universal's Royal Pacific if we could get a discounted rate, any ideas?
4) To save $ on food, my kids love soup and pasta bowls, so I was thinking maybe a room with a microwave and refrigerator.
Prefer to keep hotel under $100/nt.
Thanks for any recommendations or ideas you may have!

 

[spiceycat]

disney - OKW - you can rent points for your stay Sun-thur (leaving on Fri) - 10 points for a studio - so it should be $100 a room (some DVC members are now charging $11 a point instead of the $10).

this would be for your WDW stay - don't use renting points for the weekend - the points go up alot - 24 points for Fri/sat each night - definitely not worth it (my opinion).

OKW is getting a new slide now.

there is not an off-site or on-site pool (in my mind) that compare with BC/YC - SALB. there just isn't.

now Orange Lake will have a nice pool by then, I think.

but you want transportation too - which is very chancy off-site.

the resort will generally have a shuttle maybe twice in the morning - twice in the afternoon (if you are lucky) and twice at night - that is it - if you miss the last one - you get to take a taxis home.

sometimes the shuttle is free - sometimes there is a charge for it.

the ones that charge are generally better.

you aren't going to be able to walk to any of the WDW parks like you did at BC.

Liki Tiki - is surpose to have a good pool.

the Sheraton Safaris is also surpose to have a good pool

the Marriott's Horizons does for little children - teenagers seems to like Marriott's Cypress Harbour better.

I think the Hilton Vacation Club have nice pools - they offer a shuttle service to the parks.

you would be much better off renting a car - if you don't want to stay on-site.

 

[spiceycat]

for the us/ioa - then I would go for an onsite US hotel so you get the FOLE.

otherwise this is a nice website

www.hotelkingdom.com

www.hotelmartusa.com

if you want to try for a timeshare and don't mind auctions

www.skyauctions.com

if you want a timeshare and dislike auctions.

www.condodirect.com

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Personally, I would stay either in a value resort or off property at WDW, and stay on-site at Universal. The money you save at the beginning would allow you to pay more for your nights on-site at Universal. I've stayed at all three of their resorts, and I would recommend all of them. The deals on these hotels seem to vary, and there's times that you can get a better deal on one of the others at www.hotelkingdom.com Of course, there's alot of other deals out there for the UO resorts. If you are the least concerned about the crowds, staying on-site would eliminate these concerns. IMHO, the on-site perks are too good to pass up. We have parked our RV in there parking lot after staying at FW, because we think staying on site there adds so much to the experience. More so than down the road a little way. You can rent a microwave at any of the Universal resorts for $15 a night. There is already a coffee maker in the rooms. Sale pitch over. Hope all your planning goes smoothly.

 

[Sandyincanada]

We are going for 10 days and splitting time between all the parks, we've done this a few times. We prefer to bounce back and forth between Disney and Univ/IOA instead of spending so many days at Disney and then so many at Univ.

Are you sure you don't want to rent a car? Driving around there is very easy. We are staying in a 2 bdrm condo at Cypress Pointe. Full kitchen, balcony, great pool area for 72.00 a night through hotelkingdom. At least with a car, you can come and go as you please. and try different restaurants, etc. Personally, I would hate to switch hotels halfway through but some people do it.

This probably didn't answer your questions but maybe gave you other options?

 

[Lucky4me]

I second Cypress Pointe for their themed pool and great location. My 9yo dd is so excited. She thinks it looks really cool!

I'd rent a car and drive the 15 minutes to Disney and 20 minutes to Universal. You'd more than make up for car rental what you save by staying offsite.
I'm renting an intermediate through Emerald Aisle for 9 days for $180 total. I'm hoping to pick out a mini van or an SUV.

Also, there are Universal/IOA buy 2, get 5 free days available through www.rci.com. That's 7 days for $99! Anyone can book these. Just put 0's in the space for membership number when ordering. You pick these up at Universal.

Good luck!

 

[RC Fan]

Hello!

I am also going in May and also splitting my time between the two parks. I do not want a rental car either so finding a hotel with a decent shuttle schedule has been difficult. In all honesty the Holiday Inn Main Gate East had a decent shuttle schedule to Disney, but the shuttle does not go to UO. I would like to stay in Lake Buena Vista so I am somewhat between the two parks. The Comfort Inn LBV seems to have quite a decent shuttle schedule, but gets less than great reviews.

Something I have looked into lately is the Lynx bus. It runs frequently to Disney and back, and also goes to Universal. I don't know if that would interest you or not. I did a search on this board about Lynx and it seems people have fared decently with the service.

I think I checked the shuttle schedule at the Radisson Resort Parkway, and I don't recall it being that great.