advice needed

[vfb2girls]

Okay just when I thought I had our trip planned out I have started to second guess myself. We are planning a split stay between WDW and Universal and have so far booked a three night stay on property at WDW and then a 7 night stay at Homewood Suites on I-Drive. But after reading about how much it bites to stand in line at the parks in Universal I am wondering if I should just go ahead and pay the way extra money to stay at one of the hotels on site at Universal. We are not going until the second week of March of next year so I am not sure on what kind of crowds I can expect at Universal. We are not renting a car so we will be relying on the hotel shuttle to get to the Universal parks. I have already bought the tickets for Universal so that is one expense already taken care of but I need advice, with staying at the Homewood we would have a suite and the free breakfast and such but then we wouldn't have the front of the line thing but then staying on site we would have a much smaller room with out breakfast and such but the extra perks of staying on site..please someone give me an opinion on what to do! Thank you

 

[webray]

1st..Homewood suites are excellent.

2nd..you could have high crowds depending on spring breaks from the different schools around the world and when easter is next year.

You will definately want front of the line access at Universal. It is excellent and so worth staying on site for.

Stay off site to save money while you are at disney..the lines are long there as well, but you can use fast pass. They do not have the fotl access, as we all well know.

 

[robvia]

It's a toss up.
The Homewood Suites is a nice hotel, only a couple years old. I've stayed at the HGI next to it, and even put it in my web site here.
http://www.nogodforme.com/hiltongardeninn.htm

You've listed the pros and cons of each. I don't think the crowds are that bad in March. People ask about Spring Break, but it varies for most schools, so it is very hard to figure out when crowds are the most. This year, Broward and Osceola (Orlando) schools had their spring break at the end of March, so you would miss the locals, but who knows what school is visiting.

With 7 nights for Universal, you will easily see everything. The only thing I'm wondering about is the shuttle from the hotel to the parks. I've found that hotels are now letting transport companies handle it, they charge a fee, and they don't leave until after 9am. See picture below of how it works at the Amerisuite across from the park. It's not like Disney where the bus comes every 10 minutes. Only Disney has that.
http://www.nogodforme.com/images/DSC05884.JPG
If you stay off site, the key to a good morning is arriving early at 8am. If the shuttle doesn't leave the hotel until 9am, you would not have the early advantage.

I'd rent the car for the week, even if it means paying parking, and gas. That way you could drive back and forth when you want, plus visit SWF. If you really can't rent the car, then I'd call the hotel, find out how their shuttle works, and look into other limo services that could go earlier.

I agree, a regular room at an onsite hotel costs a ton of money, and it's just a room, plus you don't get breakfast. But you can walk to the parks, have the magic keys, pools are nice, and you can split up with your party very easily. Here's my recent RPR page with pics.
http://www.nogodforme.com/RPR2005.htm

It's really a tuff decision. But since you are staying so long, the Homewood Suites will work out. But I wouldn't count on the hotel shuttle for getting to the parks early.

 

[vfb2girls]

Thanks so much for the advice, I already contacted the Homewood Suites on their shuttle schedule and according to the e-mail I received the shuttle runs at 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. and then from 8:00 p.m. to around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m., it depends on the parks schedule. And as pointed out we will have 7 days to visit Universal so that will give us plenty of time to see everything. I guess I need to stop second guessing myself and just stick to my plans..thanks for the advice though.

 

[gschmerl]

Easter isn't until the second week of April next year, so you shouldn't have huge crowds in March. Just get there early and enjoy.

 

[shoots]

Most Canadian March Breaks are the week from the 10th to the 17th. My Canadian friends that go say the crowds are okay, even at WDW because it's mostly friendly Canadians there as you US folks tend to spread your "spring" breaks out and ours usually fall right around St. Patrick's day (the week prior to).

HAVE FUN!!!

 

[Mickey&Co]

You will definately want front of the line access at Universal. It is excellent and so worth staying on site for.

I agree with webray...for our recent trip to US it was sooooo worth it to stay on-site and take advantage of the FOTL privledges. We were visiting during the 3rd week of July and the parks were very crowded. It was great to be able to go straight to the express pass line to enter a ride or attraction. We saved alot of time of standing in that hot weather.

I would do it again in a heartbeat!

 

[vfb2girls]

Well after much debating and discussing I went ahead and booked RPH for 5 nights! So we are splitting our stay between WDW and Universal, 5 days at each place. So now the waiting begins for the AAA discounts.

 

[jpeltier]

You were sooooo smart to book the RPH. It's a wonderful place. May 2006 will mark the 4th year in a row for us. FOTL is a fabulous perk. The only downside is you become hopelessly spoiled. One summer we actually went to Universal and GASP didn't go to see the mouse You'll love it!
Julie