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


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[ekmdisney]

I have stayed on site and gone to Universal. We drove to the park in our own car. And I have seen a lot people do this.

Drive to Universal is very easy. Its just the walking to the park's entrace from the parking tower that is a pain.

I have seen places like the Downtown Disney Resorts, offer a ride to Universal. But it didn't look that great of thing to me. While staying at the Royal Plaza, there was a couple there that wated nearly a hour for there ride to Universal. If you drive in your own car you will be there in less than 15 minutes.

 

[3princesses]

We always split our stay between the two. We love the convience of staying at an on-site resort for both Univeral and Disney. We usually stay 2 nights at Universal followed by a longer stay at disney. WE've rented a car before and used a town car service. We like the best of both worlds!

 

[WebmasterPete]

What many people are doing is booking a certain number of nights at a Disney resort, then moving to a Universal resort for the remainder of their stay. To get to Universal you need to go I-4. As a local, I can tell you that you want to avoid I-4 whenever possible. Second, Universal has done a spectacular job of creating a contained resort and it has a unique theme and feel all its own. I venture to say that Portofino Bay may be the best resort in Orlando hands down (it's that good). Similar reviews can be found for Hard Rock and Royal Pacific. Also, remember that we have <a href="http://130.94.75.33/forumdisplay.php?forumid=30">discussion forums dedicated to Universal </a>right here on the site should you have any questions that are USO specific.

Hope this helps.

Pete

 

[disney4us2002]

We plan to do both since my kids have been wanting to go to Univ and are now at the age where height restrictions are no longer a hinderance. Like Mr. Werner above stated staying onsite at Uni certainly has advantages (front of the line is a HUGE plus!) but rather than begin at Disney, we will begin with Uni and save Disney for last. I'm a Disney freak so I must spend my last day in FL at MK, lol.

As a side note, we looked into HRH and they offer the Entertainment book discount and our room onsite at Uni is $150 less than our current rate at the Poly! Something to consider...

 

[WDSearcher]

If you can manage it, I'd stay on Disney property while at Disney and then move to Universal property when you visit there. The big advantage you have staying on property at Universal, is that your room card gives you front of line priviledges at the parks at the beginning of the day (Universal's answer to "magic mornings"), and that can be a GREAT thing for shows like Shrek and rides like Hulk.

 

[twinx4]

Thanks all for the helpful advice....it seems like the more popular and greatly used way is to make the best of both worlds and stay at both hotels.

How do I get the entertainment book?

WDSearcher-----you stated that the front of the line access is used in the morning. Is that the only time it is good for? Or maybe I misunderstood you.

Does Universal provide shuttle bus service from their hotels too? But then again alot of you have rented a car, I'll have to check into that.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by twinx4
Thanks all for the helpful advice....it seems like the more popular and greatly used way is to make the best of both worlds and stay at both hotels.

How do I get the entertainment book?

WDSearcher-----you stated that the front of the line access is used in the morning. Is that the only time it is good for? Or maybe I misunderstood you.

Does Universal provide shuttle bus service from their hotels too? But then again alot of you have rented a car, I'll have to check into that.

You can get the Entertainment book at www.entertainment.com and I think this year's is on sale!

You can use FOTL benefit for staying onsite any time, day or night but some popular rides you can only do once in a hour with FOTL access.

The onsite hotels are all in walking distance to the parks with HRH and RP the closest. I prefer HRH's walk myself. Yes, I believe there are boats/buses to the other 2 resorts and you can walk too; at least from PBH to HRH you can.

Yes, it's much better to be onsite at both Disney and Universal!