7 Days Between Disney and Universal

[BillFoldFan05]

I have CBR booked for 8 nights starting 7/30, room only. My 60 window is coming up at the end of May and I'm trying to plan park days. We want to do both Disney and Universal. The problem I'm running into, is the restriction on park tickets. If I buy a 3 day park hopper plus, starting on 7/31, they're only good through 8/5. This will work if we go to Disney first, then Universal. But, we don't get the fast pass benefit of going to a Disney park later in the trip. We're also planning on getting a room at Universal that includes Express Passes. We can't go to Universal 1st, because they have blackout dates in July for their buy 2, get 3 promotion. Our priority this trip is Pandora and Toy Story Land, these are new since the last time we visited. We've never been to Universal. My biggest concern is fast passes for Toy Story Land and Pandora. HS would be 60+1, would I be able to get SDD later in the day? Also, would I get FOP at 60+4 in the morning? I feel like I have to plan our park days around FP+. Here's a rough plan so far. We would rope drop all 3 Disney days. It will cost me about $150 more to book a vacation package instead of room only + tix from Sam's club.

7/31: HS, hop to MK for EMH
8/1: Waterparks
8/2: MK rope drop, hop to Epcot for dinner
8/3: AK rope drop, hop somewhere
8/4: Waterparks
8/5: US
8/6: US

 

[bumbershoot]

Whenever you’re going to get unlimited express pass, you want that to be at the end of a trip, because dealing with fast pass after that is downright painful.

But with only two days there planned, why worry about restrictions on the buy 2 get 3 free promo? That’s a 5 day ticket.

And while I love that you’re giving quality time to US, I wonder why the Disney part is so scattered? I’d prefer to spend more time in the parks, to make sure you hit your priority rides, than two days in waterparks and hopping out of parks. Id rather focus.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I've done Disney and Universal in one trip. I would do Disney the first part and end with Universal. I much preferred that than the time I did a couple of days at Disney, then Universal and then back to Disney for the last day.

That was painful with all that room changing - packing up, unpacking, dealing with checking in and out. Ick. I swore I'd never do that again.

 

[kwdw]

So - I'm doing US/IOA and Disney in August. We decided to do a Morning Magic hours at HS to solve the Toy Story Land issue. It's money we don't normally spend - but hey - we needed a bit of a piece of mind about having a great time. I don't know if that's available on one of your days - I didn't check your days of the week.

Ours is 4 days US first, then 4 days Disney. We are hoping for 60+2 for FOP - but our alternate plan is to suffer through RD. (We aren't night folks; so closing is out)

Jealous of your express passes for US - we are staying at Cabana Bay - so only the early entry. BUT - our goals at US/IOA are primarily really enjoying WWOHP - so everything else is bonus anyway.

 

[bumbershoot]

I am absolutely mystified as to why this was moved from the Disney planning forum.

This is FAR more a Disney question than a universal question, since your big concerns are how long the Disney ticket is good for and FP+s later in a trip.

Just because I don’t know anything about FP+ and answered for Uni (to help you see that the tickets you’ll get won’t have that July blockout, which allows you to place Uni anywhere during your trip) doesn’t change your actual question!

 

[BillFoldFan05]

Whenever you’re going to get unlimited express pass, you want that to be at the end of a trip, because dealing with fast pass after that is downright painful.

But with only two days there planned, why worry about restrictions on the buy 2 get 3 free promo? That’s a 5 day ticket.

And while I love that you’re giving quality time to US, I wonder why the Disney part is so scattered? I’d prefer to spend more time in the parks, to make sure you hit your priority rides, than two days in waterparks and hopping out of parks. Id rather focus.

We want to check out Volcano Bay on one of the Waterpark days.

 

[macraven]

I am absolutely mystified as to why this was moved from the Disney planning forum.

This is FAR more a Disney question than a universal question, since your big concerns are how long the Disney ticket is good for and FP+s later in a trip.

Just because I don’t know anything about FP+ and answered for Uni (to help you see that the tickets you’ll get won’t have that July blockout, which allows you to place Uni anywhere during your trip) doesn’t change your actual question!

Me too
Have not figured out who moved it here and why

 

[BillFoldFan05]

Whenever you’re going to get unlimited express pass, you want that to be at the end of a trip, because dealing with fast pass after that is downright painful.

But with only two days there planned, why worry about restrictions on the buy 2 get 3 free promo? That’s a 5 day ticket.

And while I love that you’re giving quality time to US, I wonder why the Disney part is so scattered? I’d prefer to spend more time in the parks, to make sure you hit your priority rides, than two days in waterparks and hopping out of parks. Id rather focus.

I'm leaning towards Universal at the end too. We're planning to use hoppers to get over to MK for EMH and Epcot for a dinner or two.

 

[macraven]

I would do the same

Hit the motherland first and end with the darkside the last two days for their parks

 

[BillFoldFan05]

I was able to get FOP at 60+4 in the afternoon, but SDD was out at 60+1. Also, ToT is late in afternoon due to ride refurbishments. Hopefully, we'll be able to hit up SDD at the end of a night.

 

[CPanther95]

Can't speak to the Fast Pass, but I can tell you #1 priority should be to do Universal after Disney. Work things out the best you can after insuring that.

 

[glocon]

Agree, WDW first then UO. I wouldn’t do a water park at Disney unless you just don’t have access to one anywhere near where you live. I like Waterparks as much as the next guy, but you really can only get disney parks at Disney.
On your second day I would do Epcot then AK if you wanted to hop, or just stay at Epcot.
And I would end a day at HS to see either the SW show or F! If you must do a waterpark, I would only do one day. Or no Waterparks and add a day to UO.

 

[keishashadow]

I was able to get FOP at 60+4 in the afternoon, but SDD was out at 60+1. Also, ToT is late in afternoon due to ride refurbishments. Hopefully, we'll be able to hit up SDD at the end of a night.

If there is a ‘free’ am MGM EMH am or pm, plan a visit that day. Head straight to SD at rope drop. At end of day theoretically you should be able to join the line at end of day. Unfortunately, the ride has always been down for periods of time the numerous days we have visited. Always managed to work it in, but if it happens at the end of the day, you’d be out of luck.

Have WDW APHs not familiar with intricacies of the new tix. Didn’t realize they had such a short life, interesting.

you say you have moderate CBR booked for 8 days. Then you reference booking one of the onsite deluxe resorts at U for the FOTL perk.

I hope you aren’t considering double booking/using a night onsite at U as a throw-away room as many state. The U resorts are lovely, including the pools.

Since sams Travel resurrection I tried one booking, they couldn’t produce the room after charging my card. even though only 10 minutes later, I had to nearly two weeks for a refund. The U packages are restrictive as to cancellations, etc. have never seen one price out significantly less than the individual components.

Good luck planning.

 

[Sue M]

I agree with Keishashadow. I’d move to the Universal resort for your Universal days. Their deluxe resorts are amazing. And so close to the parks. Both Hard Rock and Royal Pacific are only a 10 to 15 min walk. Or the boats are a nice way to go too. And unlike Disney, they don’t share.
For such a short trip I wouldn’t bother with water parks. I’d just take a mid day break back at your resort and use pool.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

I agree with Keishashadow. I’d move to the Universal resort for your Universal days. Their deluxe resorts are amazing. And so close to the parks. Both Hard Rock and Royal Pacific are only a 10 to 15 min walk. Or the boats are a nice way to go too. And unlike Disney, they don’t share.
For such a short trip I wouldn’t bother with water parks. I’d just take a mid day break back at your resort and use pool.

I third this. We will be in Orlando for 8 nights in august and we are staying at CSR for 5 nights and Royal Pacific for 3 nights. The walk to universal is easy and the express pass is included. I wouldn’t bother with the water parks. You can use the resort pool.

Our plans are
8/17 arrival, late afternoon and evening at MK
8/18 AK morning, afternoon at resort, Epcot evening
8/19 Epcot morning to early afternoon; late afternoon and evening at Hollywood Studios.
8/20 Resort day until MNSSHP
8/21 sleep in, MK at 11ish, MK until 3ish. Afternoon and evening in AK
8/22 DHS until 3:30ish. Head to Universal resort
8/23 Universal and IOA
8/24 Universal and IOA
8/25 Universal and IOA until early afternoon, departure