Budget efficient way to do both WDW and Universal?

[hanutedmansionmomma]

I've been trying to work some numbers, but can't figure out what's best. BTW, we've only been to WDW, no Universal yet.

Aside from time of year, promotions, etc., how have you done both sets of parks? Where do you stay? Off site? Onsite then move to other? I keep reading it's "worth it" to stay at a Universal Hotel to get their shorter line pass.

TIA

 

[Purseval]

We normally stay offsite and go to both parks since the distance between the 2 is less than 1/2 hour and there are dozens upon dozens of nice places to stay. There are definite advantages to staying onsite at Universal but it depends on how many are in your group, how much you want to spend and your touring habits. I might suggest the Universal forum on this board if you want to get into specifics.

 

[brymolmom]

We haven't done Universal yet for that exact reason. When it costs $3 more to do an extra day at WDW plus transportation to Univ. - it is not easy to make it cost effective to do both.

BUT, what I plan to do in a year or two when the kids are a bit older is stay offsite -best deal I can find. Rent a car and get whatever universal 'deal' is going on around then. THEN, we will go to WDW for 2 or 3 days on that trip using our 10 day non-expiring tickets I bought a couple years ago.

IMO - non-expiring is the way to go if you aren't going to WDW for many days....brings cost per day way down over buying, for example, a 3 day ticket.

 

[Kellydelly]

We stay offsite in a rental home and buy the Universal 7 day passes (not sure of current deals but previously you could get them for $99 a person). We go to Universal at least three days, and go to Disney one day during that week (we have 7 day non expiring hoppers from 6 yrs ago that we've been eeking out). We also drive down from MI, so save money on airfare. I don't know if we could ever stay at Universal hotels, they are very expensive, and we have 4 kids so our room options are limited.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

thanks everyone!

I don't think it would be very budget friendly to stay at one of Universal's hotels...so expensive!

I like the idea of offsite...will investigate

 

[Planogirl]

We've been staying offsite and either bringing a car or renting one. We look for a good deal for a hotel, skip the Disney hoppers and then somedays we go to both a Universal and a Disney park. Parking gets expensive that way though. It's nice to stay offsite though because you can find good rates for lovely hotels and even for complete homes with pools.

If you can stay onsite at Universal, I can't recommend it enough. You get FOL (not for HP though) and the Loew's hotels are some of the nicest anywhere IMO. Plus everything is walking distance and you get to pool hop.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

We've been staying offsite and either bringing a car or renting one. We look for a good deal for a hotel, skip the Disney hoppers and then somedays we go to both a Universal and a Disney park. Parking gets expensive that way though. It's nice to stay offsite though because you can find good rates for lovely hotels and even for complete homes with pools.

If you can stay onsite at Universal, I can't recommend it enough. You get FOL (not for HP though) and the Loew's hotels are some of the nicest anywhere IMO. Plus everything is walking distance and you get to pool hop.

Harry Potter opens June 18th. If you want to be there this year I would stay onsite. And yes from what I have read you get 1 FOTL pass for the HP attractions.(I hope they haven't changed it)

 

[Planogirl]

Harry Potter opens June 18th. If you want to be there this year I would stay onsite. And yes from what I have read you get 1 FOTL pass for the HP attractions.(I hope they haven't changed it)

I have heard that but some people have said that it isn't consistent. I don't know, I would hate for someone to count on it and it not be given to them. It sure would be worth it though!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I wouldn't go to Universal without staying onsite because of FOL privileges. Try to think of what you would pay for FPs for your family for every ride (except one or two) for the entire day. And not having to even pick up the passes! The Royal Pacific is the cheapest, and we can usually get it for an AP rate of around $140. Since I would gladly pay $20-25 each for FOL privileges, it's a no brainer. Plus you can maiximize it by getting to the hotel early in the a.m., checking in to get your room key, play all day, and the next day, too. All on one night's stay rate.

To me, time is the most expensive part of the vacation. You can save so much time NOT standing in lines with FOL.

I didn't know about the limit on HP FOL. Good to know. Get to that part early, go on without passes, then use yours later. We do this with Pterodactyl Flyers, as they don't have FOL either. My boys can ride over and over for about 45 minutes before it gets backed up.