Adding US to WDW trip for late Sept?

[ncneighbor]

My family and I are headed to WDW for 8 days last week of Sept/early Oct and I would love to try to add a surprise trip to US. I'm not sure where to even start with questions, but here goes:

Staying on site is not an option for our budget,
1) at this time of year would we be ok see everything in 2 days staying offsite? Disclosure, my kids are NOT avid HP fans and would ride some of the rides but are not gung-ho on all things HP. And only DH is roller coaster fan, we would prob spen most time in US rather than IOA
2)staying onsite at Disney, would you recommend fitting US/IOA in during the middle, doing it first, or moving offsite to a general hotel at the end of Disney stay? Disclosure: my preference would be to do US/IOA first and then move to WDW but since we are flying would miss out on the Disney Transportation- Do any of the US offsite locations have Shuttle service from airport? I see most of them have shuttle service to US but don't mention if there is a fee for this.

I have been to US once before about 20 yrs ago and I loved it. We would not be able to get to FL for vacation again for a number of years so I would love to do as much as possible but staying on-site at Disney for other parks seems kind of expensive and staying offsite adds so much to the budget for transportation.

Sorry this is so long, but I kind of have my heart set on this and if I cant do it, then I need time to grieve, lol.

Thanks for any help
Beth

 

[mesaboy2]

Yes, I think two days is enough for both parks given that time of year and your family's preferences. I would also opt to do UO first before WDW in this situation.

Sorry I don't know the answer to your transportation question.

 

[zack123]

 

[macraven]

i do split stays now.
start with the motherland and end at the darkside.

since you are staying at the motherland, you are eligible to book the mears shuttle.
it picks you up at your resort and drops you at UO.
it is $19 per adult RT, and $16 for children RT.

you book it at the hotel lobby concierge.

if you have 4 in your group, it could cost you $70 + tip.

you could do a taxi for about the same price.

Dreams Unlimited has a package where you buy the UO tickets from them and receive free transportation from disney to uo.

since you would need park tickets, that sounds better financially for you.

go on a weekday.
that last weekend in sept could have the hard ticket event, hhn.
hhn schedule won't be out until summer.

if you decide to move hotels, there are many nice off site places near universal.
double tree has been a popular place.

that last week of september usually is fine for crowds being light.

weekends will have more peeps in the park.

 

[mesaboy2]

Small correction to zack's post above--Dragon Challenge does not have single-rider. The waits for that ride though are usually short.

 

[zack123]

 

[mesaboy2]

oops . . . the lines were so short, I kind of forgot there wasn't a single rider line for that one. In fact, I don't think I ever actually "waited," the longest part was weaving though all of the ropes and deciding which side to ride on.

Maybe I was too busy watching out for Dementors to notice there wasn't a single rider line - a DC TM saw my Azkaban prisoner shirt and said they were going to report me to the Ministry for having escaped . . .

I know it's a little thing, but i just don't want someone to read that and go looking for it. We have a reputation to maintain. Thanks for taking it well!

 

[macraven]

We have a reputation to maintain. Thanks

yes we do..........


don't want newbies to think we are not nice, we are very helpful, most of the time..