Best DVC resort for going to Universal

[Red Sox]

We are considering going to Universal next year. Any recommendations on what the best DVC resort would be to stay at?

 

[com_op_2000]

SSR is the closest. Easy on to I-4 East.
OKW is only like one mile further.
AKL is also a possibility, straight down Osceola Pkwy to I-4 East.

 

[jupers]

The best advice I can give on going to Universal is to pay the money for at least 1 night onsite at Universal. THe FOTL pass was worth gold for 2 days. I will never go to Universal again without it.

 

[bumbershoot]

The best advice I can give on going to Universal is to pay the money for at least 1 night onsite at Universal. THe FOTL pass was worth gold for 2 days. I will never go to Universal again without it.

Yep.

In December we left OKW to go to Universal, and then went back to WDW after that part of the trip.

This September we're leaving WDW and staying at Universal before going home. Now we *might* buy a ticket that gives us 14 days and would allow us to go over to Universal even while still staying at WDW...but we know that we won't be getting as much done as when we're onsite!

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

What's Universal?

 

[Carl'n'Ellie'sDad]

The best advice I can give on going to Universal is to pay the money for at least 1 night onsite at Universal. THe FOTL pass was worth gold for 2 days. I will never go to Universal again without it.

Second this response. We stayed at Royal pacific for 2 nights at the beginning of our June trip this year, and the FOTL privilege came in handy. While the theming of the resort was not "Disney" and not up to the standard of the Poly, it certainly was well-themed, and the service was high-quality. (And it was about two-thirds the price of the Poly.)

Important to note that the Potter ride does not have an Express line -- Universal resort guests are admitted one-hour before park opening to the HP section of Islands of Adventure. So you do need to commit to rising early to take advantage of the resort perk.

 

[castleri]

Stayed one night at Hard Rock hotel and also say that is the way to go. That FOTL pass was great.

 

[com_op_2000]

What's Universal?

Universal Studios - Florida
It includes two parks
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
a night-time activities location
City Walk which is located between the two parks
and three on-site hotels.

 

[nu2dvc]

Universal Studios - Florida
It includes two parks
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
a night-time activities location
City Walk which is located between the two parks
and three on-site hotels.

Didn't ya see the wink? Boy you are a gullible one!

 

[rlduvall]

I have stayed onsite at Universal many times using FOTL access. That being said, it just didn't fit into our plans this June to stay at the beginning or end of our trip - so we stayed one night at Royal Pacific in the middle of trip. Didn't check out of DVC; just went over there first thing in the morning. Left at 7:00 a.m. and we were pulling into the Royal Pacific parking lot around 7:20 a.m. and walking on our way to early entry for Harry Potter by 7:40 a.m. after checking in at the resort. We got 2 full days of FOTL for only one night of cost. I would definitely do this again.

Of course, we always stay in a studio, so it didn't bother me to "burn" that one night at DVC. I loved only having to pack a small overnight bag for that portion of the trip and my DS loved having the mid-break for Universal, knowing we would be back at WDW.

 

[kwdw]

Unless you want to feel like a second class citizen all day long - stay at a Universal Resort for a night to get the early access and FOTL privilege.

Now - if you LIKE feeling like you are not important - stay at BLT - it's a couple minutes farther away and that longer drive will prep you for the rest of the day!

 

[burnsoc]

Stayed at the HRH this past January for FOTL. Wouldn't do it any other way. Rented some points to pay for our room and it worked out perfect. Even though we had a suite, we missed our DVC kitchen. I bought the Universal AP and the money it saved me on the room, dining discounts and discounts on our families passes was well worth it. I'll still be able to use the AP on my next trip as well.

 

[VLee]

We stayed at Royal Pacific for two nights, really enjoyed it and loved the FTOL access.....agree, it is well worth. Went back to Disney after we left there.

 

[Red Sox]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice....

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Another fan of staying at Universal for a night....we are doing this in December, in the middle of our stay. Once we rode Men in Black at least 4-5 times with FOTL before the people in the other line rode once....it's ridiculous (in a good way!)