Best to Stay at Universal yet go to Disney?

[AlexBelle's Mom]

Just wanted to ask you opinions. I have never stayed on-site for Disney, I would love to stay on site, yet every time I get close to booking I am severely turned off from the drastically different costs from staying on site at Universal. I want my family to experience Disney Magic, however, I have yet to experience it myself. We have visited Universal multiple times, staying at all but 2 of the hotels. Each one was very good for the price. I have a hard time saying that when I look at the price of Disney's.

I am starting to think, that staying on site is just not an option for us. That we should just stay at Universal and then go to Disney. My husband and I both make good money, nothing exceptional but still good. However, whenever I price a vacation for the 4 of us, (kids are 13 & 12), it seems outrageous and I just can't justify it. We are looking at possibly just doing a date night long weekend for him and I, and try to take the kids another time when they are a little older maybe.

I am starting to feel like, what am I missing?! How do people do Disney Trips as families of 4 or larger? If you have any ideas, suggestions please let me know thanks!

 

[rwdavis2]

What hotels are you comparing to the ones at Universal? If it's WDW Deluxes then they tend to pail against the Portofino and Hard Rock, at least in terms of service while costing more. If you were going to stay at WDW I would look at Animal Kingdom Lodge. IMHO, it's the most unique hotel on property, if not Orlando.

Most value resorts at WDW are essentially low-budget motels with some theming. Some do have unique rooms and suites. Have you checked out those?

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I can completely understand the sticker shock of disney. Our first disney trip was what I think a lot of families do to get their feet wet. We waited for a small promo and got a discount on a value resort, I think it was 10% or so and we eased into it with a 4 day/3 night trip as a family of 4. I think we paid around $140/night for Pop. While a comparable off site hotel of the same caliber would be a lot less, at that price point, I factored in the FP+, disney transport and EMH to justify it and that's worked for our families. Since then we've stayed at mods and deluxe too but we always work a special in or rent DVC points at some of the deluxes which can be a cost saver. We've only paid rack rate for a room once and it was a very last minute trip (2 days in advance) so if we wanted on site, we had no choice. But there's no denying it, it's expensive (especially when you compare apples to apples/onsite/offsite) but we love staying on property and for us the biggest benefit is the transportation so we make it work and we save as much as we can on other parts of our disney trips. Some of our cost savers-

1-We don't have to fly in so no plane tix so that's a big save
2-we don't typically eat breakfast out (we eat in our room). Do instant oats in the cup and use the coffee maker hot water, fresh fruit, yogurt, protein shakes, etc.
3-we bring a lot of our own snacks and we don't buy bottled water at disney. For longer stays, we've used grocery delivery to the hotel
4- I usually buy a few fun disney souvenirs prior to our trip and give them to our girls when we get there and avoid the can I get this question
5-I also do target red card for the 5% off disney gift cards. It's not much but it adds up and it only takes me about 25 minutes to do it all so the few hundred dollars helps


We have stayed offsite once and it just wasn't the same for us but everyone's different in what makes their vacation their vacation and unique to them and A LOT of disney folks stay off site and love it. Just gotta do what works best for you but we always find a way to stay on property. It's the magic we love, not the cost

 

[DisneyArkie]

Apparently you are only looking at Deluxe resorts rack rates. You can get good deals throughout the year with discounts. Late summer discounts have some deluxe in the low $300’s. You can stay in a mod for low $200’s. I’ve never been to Universal. Is there prices lower than that?

 

[pitpat]

not very convenient going back and forth every day. I have no idea what Universal Hotels cost, but I would look into Port Orleans or even some of the Disney Springs hotels.

 

[rwdavis2]

Apparently you are only looking at Deluxe resorts rack rates. You can get good deals throughout the year with discounts. Late summer discounts have some deluxe in the low $300’s. You can stay in a mod for low $200’s. I’ve never been to Universal. Is there prices lower than that?

I think the Royal Pacific can compete with that. For us, the free express pass while staying onsite at Universal is worth the cost. I've never seen, but never looked, for Universal hotel discounts. We pick the time of year and then go. IMHO, the Hard Rock can compete on level of service and amenities with any WDW deluxe hotel. Maybe not theming but that's not why we go to Universal.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Apparently you are only looking at Deluxe resorts rack rates. You can get good deals throughout the year with discounts. Late summer discounts have some deluxe in the low $300’s. You can stay in a mod for low $200’s. I’ve never been to Universal. Is there prices lower than that?

not very convenient going back and forth every day. I have no idea what Universal Hotels cost, but I would look into Port Orleans or even some of the Disney Springs hotels.

I haven't stayed on property at Universal before but it's not that much less than Disney. I got an email for a grand opening special for Aventura at Universal for $200/night but that included a 5 night min stay I think. Last time we looked at Portofino and HR they were in the $300-$400 range. But IMO it's not very cost prohibitive to pick a universal hotel over disney; but rather over a chain, non-theme park which would be the lowest of the three choices.

 

[AlexBelle's Mom]

Hello,

Like anything I do know that Universal's changes to be higher around the holidays, but Adventura is about $107/nt, Cab. Bay is $130/nt and only $150/nt for a suite that will fit 6 people, and Sap. Falls is around $150/nt. At Universal, I think one of the biggest differences is if you stay at Roy. Pac., Hard Rock, or Port. their Unlimited Express Pass is included as well as transportation and extra hours, you wait no more than 15 mins for any ride as many times as you want.

I have stayed at all Universal Hotels except Royal Pac. which is usually always booked up and Adventura which hasn't opened yet. We have even stayed Club Level at both Port. and HR. I think that is where my husband and I are having trouble, Club Level at Portifino or HR will run you about $330. Without it you can get a room at Roy. Pac., HR, or Port. for about $239-$330. I really want to stay on site at Disney, I am just not sure I can make it happen and have my husband be happy. I am thinking of renting DVC points as a way to save also. Since we are from Michigan and we are driving, I would love to stay more than just 5 days, so I think that is part of what comes into play. Have many of you split your stays? Staying say 4 nights at Art of Animation & 4 nights at a higher resort like Animal Kingdom? I appreciate everyone's input. Thanks!

 

[georgina]

I would pick an offsite hotel closer to Disney. There are a lot of options on the Orlando hotels and attractions threads. We have stayed at Sheraton Vistana Resort for a good price through Orbitz, you might want to check out deals on the Disney Springs resorts through mousesavers.com.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Hello,

Like anything I do know that Universal's changes to be higher around the holidays, but Adventura is about $107/nt, Cab. Bay is $130/nt and only $150/nt for a suite that will fit 6 people, and Sap. Falls is around $150/nt. At Universal, I think one of the biggest differences is if you stay at Roy. Pac., Hard Rock, or Port. their Unlimited Express Pass is included as well as transportation and extra hours, you wait no more than 15 mins for any ride as many times as you want.

I have stayed at all Universal Hotels except Royal Pac. which is usually always booked up and Adventura which hasn't opened yet. We have even stayed Club Level at both Port. and HR. I think that is where my husband and I are having trouble, Club Level at Portifino or HR will run you about $330. Without it you can get a room at Roy. Pac., HR, or Port. for about $239-$330. I really want to stay on site at Disney, I am just not sure I can make it happen and have my husband be happy. I am thinking of renting DVC points as a way to save also. Since we are from Michigan and we are driving, I would love to stay more than just 5 days, so I think that is part of what comes into play. Have many of you split your stays? Staying say 4 nights at Art of Animation & 4 nights at a higher resort like Animal Kingdom? I appreciate everyone's input. Thanks!

That's definitely not apples to apples in prices especially with the benefits you get at Universal. It's a hard sell unless you really like disney or you go the value/mod route to stay on site and keep the prices in line. I personally find the transport to the parks and EMH enough of a benefit to staying on site but I also really enjoy the fact that I am in Disney world and don't have to leave. If you are going to Disney and don't want to pay for a disney resort, I'd choose a disney area hotel that's closer to the park over a universal hotel to avoid the drive.

 

[pattyw]

We stay at the Hard Rock at Universal and visit Disney parks. The drive back and forth isn't bad as long as you aren't taking a midday break. We go early morning and stay until later . You can bypass I-4 by taking Universal Blvd to International Drive to World Center Drive. We prefer the Universal deluxe hotels and being AP holders at Universal, we get substantial hotel discounts. We like to visit the Universal parks for a few days and a couple of days at Disney.

 

[DisneyArkie]

Sounds like you can stay at Disney, you just don’t want to stay value or Mod is what it appears. You also state you have paid for club level at US for over $300 a night. You can stay in a deluxe for that price at Disney. Not really sure what you are wanting. You can stay at Disney for pretty much the prices you have mentioned except for club level. Plus you are not comparing apples to apples. US can all be done in 2 days. No way you can do all Disney in a week. Disney offers a lot more than US. More to do and more to see. Really don’t know what you are wanting to accomplish with this post when you can stay at Disney for the same prices you mentioned at US.

BTW I just priced a deluxe stay at both resorts 7 nights at both. Park hopper, park to park, 5 park days at US because that is as many as they offer and 7 days at Disney. US was $400 cheaper. IMO US prices may be a little high seeing as they only have half to offer as Disney does.

Animal Kingdom $4,632.70
Hard Rock $4,360.24

Actually only a $272.46 difference.

 

[Shellyred8]

Hello,

Like anything I do know that Universal's changes to be higher around the holidays, but Adventura is about $107/nt, Cab. Bay is $130/nt and only $150/nt for a suite that will fit 6 people, and Sap. Falls is around $150/nt. At Universal, I think one of the biggest differences is if you stay at Roy. Pac., Hard Rock, or Port. their Unlimited Express Pass is included as well as transportation and extra hours, you wait no more than 15 mins for any ride as many times as you want.

I have stayed at all Universal Hotels except Royal Pac. which is usually always booked up and Adventura which hasn't opened yet. We have even stayed Club Level at both Port. and HR. I think that is where my husband and I are having trouble, Club Level at Portifino or HR will run you about $330. Without it you can get a room at Roy. Pac., HR, or Port. for about $239-$330. I really want to stay on site at Disney, I am just not sure I can make it happen and have my husband be happy. I am thinking of renting DVC points as a way to save also. Since we are from Michigan and we are driving, I would love to stay more than just 5 days, so I think that is part of what comes into play. Have many of you split your stays? Staying say 4 nights at Art of Animation & 4 nights at a higher resort like Animal Kingdom? I appreciate everyone's input. Thanks!

Does the Unlimited Express Pass include the Harry Potter rides now?

 

[nkereina]

To stay at Universal and commute to the WDW parks every day would be impractical. You'll be contending with traffic, parking fees, gas, etc. After you factor those costs in, I'd question what the true savings is. Not to mention, unless you live within driving distance, if you stayed on-site at WDW instead of commuting from a Universal hotel, you can also avoid the cost of a rental car and cost of airport transportation.

 

[georgina]

Does the Unlimited Express Pass include the Harry Potter rides now?

Yup!

 

[Hoodie]

Hello,

Like anything I do know that Universal's changes to be higher around the holidays, but Adventura is about $107/nt, Cab. Bay is $130/nt and only $150/nt for a suite that will fit 6 people, and Sap. Falls is around $150/nt. At Universal, I think one of the biggest differences is if you stay at Roy. Pac., Hard Rock, or Port. their Unlimited Express Pass is included as well as transportation and extra hours, you wait no more than 15 mins for any ride as many times as you want.

I have stayed at all Universal Hotels except Royal Pac. which is usually always booked up and Adventura which hasn't opened yet. We have even stayed Club Level at both Port. and HR. I think that is where my husband and I are having trouble, Club Level at Portifino or HR will run you about $330. Without it you can get a room at Roy. Pac., HR, or Port. for about $239-$330. I really want to stay on site at Disney, I am just not sure I can make it happen and have my husband be happy. I am thinking of renting DVC points as a way to save also. Since we are from Michigan and we are driving, I would love to stay more than just 5 days, so I think that is part of what comes into play. Have many of you split your stays? Staying say 4 nights at Art of Animation & 4 nights at a higher resort like Animal Kingdom? I appreciate everyone's input. Thanks!

What about a split on and offsite? That way you can have a bit of the onsite experience you want but save some money. There are a lot of hotels in the middle with super easy drives to both that are pretty cheap as well. We stayed at one of the Sheraton properties -2 bedrooms, full kitchen, free parking - for about $150/night. That frees up a LOT of cash for other stuff, even when factoring a car and/or parking fees (it does have a shuttle to any of the area parks for an extra fee).

 

[cobright]

Growing up, I had a handful of "Disney World" vacations with my family. Always staying off site because it was so much cheaper. Bringing our own food into the park, because it was much cheaper. As a result, I never really felt the Disney Magic until I went with my wife and two kids and stayed at a value with a dining plan. For the same price I could have stayed at a fabulous multi-room suites like we did when I was a kid. My experience both on and off sight ever since has been that it is far more 'magical' to stay on property.

For the same price, the rooms are 25% smaller on a Disney property, but they pick you up from the airport, you can skip bag check; the EMH are worthwhile, and their transportation network is great. Just within the hotel environments, I have never met a hotel staff as invested in me having a good vacation as I do on the Disney properties.

Hard to quantify that value, I know, but it's sort of like when people say something that's absolutely true yet completely wrong like, "Why spend $120 to go to Disney World when I can go to Cedar Point for $45 a day and Cedar Point has WAY better rides?"

Under most circumstances, we spend about 3 waking hours each day in our hotel room. If our budget allowed for a 7 night trip, but staying off-site, or a 5 night trip staying at a Disney moderate, I'm taking the shorter trip. I've done both and at the moment the only time I consider offsite is for short kid-free trips.

 

[AlexBelle's Mom]

Yes, the express pass included all Harry Potter Rides as well now, that was newer in the last 6ish months or so. I think I may do the split stay or rent DVC, or shorten our days, even though I would love to stay longer. We won't be renting a car as we are driving from Michigan so either way we have to pay parking fee's etc. I am not so worried about all the other stuff Disney adds on as fee's, just the initial Hotel pricing and that. Have any of you stayed at the 7 Disney Springs Hotels Disney gave some benefits to, like 60 day fast past and extra magic hours?

 

[Colleen27]

Yes, the express pass included all Harry Potter Rides as well now, that was newer in the last 6ish months or so. I think I may do the split stay or rent DVC, or shorten our days, even though I would love to stay longer. We won't be renting a car as we are driving from Michigan so either way we have to pay parking fee's etc. I am not so worried about all the other stuff Disney adds on as fee's, just the initial Hotel pricing and that. Have any of you stayed at the 7 Disney Springs Hotels Disney gave some benefits to, like 60 day fast past and extra magic hours?

If you look at the general Orlando accommodations board, there are a lot of reviews of those resorts. I'm looking at my first offsite stay this summer so I can't offer personal advice yet, but several of the DS hotels with the EMH benefits get really good reviews. I've gotten to the point where I just can't do it with the Disney prices right now, especially when driving down and having to pay for parking on top of the very inflated room rate.

 

[patster734]

This is what we are doing for our September trip. Initially, we were planning a split stay between Disney and Universal, but when Disney revealed their parking fee, I checked rates for the full week at Universal. With Universal’s Stay More Save More rate, I was able to get Royal Pacific for $185 per night average. Now, instead of going to Disney for 4 days, we’ll Uber or Lyft to Disney for 2 days, and spend the remaining days at Universal.