advice needed for linking Disney and Universal

[twinx4]

I'm considering going to WDW in April but I would also like to visit Universal. I've been to WDW many times, and I just love it. I'm used to staying on Disney's property. But since I'm trying to combine the two. Would I come out better staying at Disney or at Universal.

Also I'm considering renting a car in order to travel between the two parks. However, I have read that if I stay at an off-site hotel, some offer transportation to both parks. Making the drop off point at transportation station (hopefully the same one, that Disney uses).

I'll be traveling with my daughter and I really love the fact that I could travel anywhere on disneys ground by using the shuttles. And I felt safe staying on-site.

Has anyone ever visit both parks while staying on site?

Thank you for your help

 

[safetymom]

We did that almost every trip visiting US and WDW. We spent a day or two at US while staying at CBR. It wasn't a problem but we had rented a car.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

Depending on how long you are staying and your flexibility about changing hotels... You might want to consider doing Disney, and staying on-site then renting a car or getting a ride (taxi or car service) to Universal hotel on-site or off. There are some great deals on-site Universal (see the threads on the Diz board for Universal resorts) you can get with the Entertainment card, AAA etc... That way you have the Disney transportation and the great Disney experience and you can do the same for Universal. Also, check out the hotels near Universal that are on the trolley system and offer free transportation to the parks, in case you don't want to rent a car.

Staying on-site at Universal was great!!!!!!!!! They offer the front of the line...line for the guests who stay on-site. I know that is especially great during busy times of the year!!

Have a great trip!!!!!
Flo

 

[rafikimom]

We are doing both on our upcoming trip. We are staying at the Hard Rock for 4 nights and then going to Disney's Pop Century for the remainder. By staying on site, we can take advantage of all the extra perks!We are also planning on renting a car for the entire time. It does sit alot of the time, but it will be there if we need it. That way we won't be waiting around for a shuttle, taxi, bus, etc. We usually like to do something that requires driving, like going to the beach or shopping or visiting a restuarant outside the Disney perimeters. Since we will be gone for 13 days, I know there will be something we forget or run out of and I hate paying the Disney price for these items (film, water, medicine, etc.). I like having the chance to drive to the local supermarket or drugstore. I think the freedom of having the car will be worth the extra $$ after you add together what it would cost for the transportation from the airport-Universal-Disney-airport. Plus the time you would lose waiting on the transportation. Hope you have a fun time!

 

[mcgrawfan]

We have gone to Universal Studios once and IoA 3 times. We have always stayed on Disney property and used the Mears Transportation. We have never ran into horrible lines at IoA. We have gone in May, July and just returned a few weeks ago. We have never been longer than 4 hours at IoA, and we ride all of the major rides. This year IoA was DEAD! There was no one in that park. So for us the Head of the Line feature with staying on Universal property would not have been necessary. We always get the UPH at Disney and usually spend time at a park that same night. After being at Universal it is always nice to get back to Disney.

 

[eblondie]

Im hoping to use Mears to transport us from Disney to Universal...how did you book it? Did you book in advance (before you arrived in Orlando) or did you wait until you were in Orlando? Which method of Mears transport did you use and do you recommend it? Thanks

 

[disneycrazed139]

Radisson Resort Parkway is one of the hotels (I think maybe one of the only) that offers transportation to both Universal and WDW. However, the Universal pick-ups to and from the park I believe are only once a day. I believe it was 8am and a pick-up around 6 or 7p.m.

It's a fairly nice hotel (three star) at a reasonable price. It has decent amenities: free form pool, heated pool, whirpools, beautiful landscaping throughout, recently refurbished rooms. New restaurant, breakfast buffet, kids eat free, 50s diner, sports bar.

The amenities are numerous so it is a great choice for a combo WDW-Universal trip, located in Kissimmee just a mile or two from WDW. I did find that the service wasn't really all that but the property and its amenities make up for it. After all, you don't have to vacation with the front desk staff.

 

[stephwynn]

I see on another post that you can purchase a two park 1 day pass, is it reasonable to assume that one can see most of both or the best of both in one day?
Thanks! Still planning....

 

[newholiday]

This Oct we are staying 6nights in a 1bedroom at VWL
3 of those days will be resort days - pool, pool hop, FW campfire, mouse boats, Chef Mickey's & O'Hana's dinners, etc
2 days are Universal days and the day we leave we're going to SeaWorld
DH & MIL are driving down a few days before DS & I fly - we'll use that car to get us back n forth to Universal.
After our 6nights we're staying a few nights at her winter home 45mins east of Orlando - will do Kennedy 1 of those days.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Rent a car! Seriously! I rented one this last time (2 weeks ago) because it was the first time staying offsite and I was astounded how much freedom it gave us! It took us about 11 minutes to get from our time share (High Point) to the parking lot at MGM studios. The others were maybe 5 minutes longer. Moving between parks was fasta nd easy and on our time, when we wanted , and we were able to hop from Disney to other parts of Orlando in no time.

It was well worth the $300 we paid to have a car for 10 days. I'm staying on site in Dec and for teh first time staying onsite with a rental car. I will never do disney without a car again

 

[inloveindisney]

Here is what I am doing:
I will be staying on disney property, because I think it is nicer. The drive is easy! We did it last trip and we didn't feel like it was a hassle or anything. The walk into the park from the lots is kinda fun too-with the people movers and all.

Stephwynn: You can definitely do a park a day. I have anyway. I absolutely love islands of adventure, so I would probalby use part of my second day there too!

 

[jacksmom]

We are going for 10 nights in Oct. and are planning on 3 days US/IOA and 2 days at SW, but prefer to stay at Disney!

 

[crazelion]

The only way I would be able to stay onsite at US is they offer a hotel for less than 110.00 a night. If they don't then it offsite for the US part of the trip.

 

[My2Girls66]

If you want to stay on Disney property and visit Universal/SeaWorld- call Tiffany Town Car. Thats what we are doing in April. There are 7 of us so we'd have to rent a minivan- its actually cheaper and easier to pay Tiffanys- they charge $65 r/t from Pop Century to Isl. Of Adv. and $55r/t(plus tip) to Sea World/Discovery Cove. We are staying at Pop and travelling to Disc. Cove, Sea World and IOA during our trip. They pick you up at your hotel- drop you at the park and you call them an hour or so before you want to go back. We are also using them to bring us from MCO and back. No worry about picking up/dropping off the car, liability, dents, scratches, finding it after a long day in the park......