December Vacation Need Advice on Planning

[Ugly Ducklin']

Hi,

I need some help planning and this board seems to be a good place to ask for it!

My husband and myself are planning to go to Disney the week of December 11th, we want to go to all the disney parks (but not Epcot so much) and the marketplace. We also plan on going to Universal, Islands of Adventure and Seaworld.

I was planning on staying at the Royal Pacific (universal hotel) and getting a taxi or something when we want to go to Disney...but then as I was lurking on this board I saw that some people check out of their universal hotel and then go to a Disney property for the days they want to be there...If you do this, say you start off in a disney property, once you leave you lose that benefit disney has of taking your luggage back to the plane, correct?

What would you all suggest? I'm a huge donald fan, and I love to buy anything donald when I'm at disney (so I love how they bring your packages to your room) BUT we plan on spending more time at Universal and Seaworld.

If you think we should consider a seperate resort all together (neither disney nor universal) I'd like a place that is CLEAN and QUIET and UNDER $250 a night.
When I say I'd like a quiet place, I mean where you probably won't hear your neighbors in the next room over.(if you know what i mean)

And it would be ideal if they have free transportation to all the parks...or at least Disney or Universal. So any recommendations would be appreciated (even recommendations on the best clean, quiet disney hotel would be great)

We do not want to rent a car, so that's why we'll rely on our legs and hotel transportation to get where we're going.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

Amy

PS: Sorry this is posted twice, I put my original post in the wrong section

 

[3littleHalls]

We stayed at the Residence Inn/Seaworld last year and enjoyed it. Nice continental bkfst, it has a shuffle-but I don't know which and what parks, very clean, and our room had a kitchenette, and I believe it was well under the 250 range. We did that for 2 nights and then checked in the Poly for 5nights earlier this year. We have 3 small kids and needed a place to nap in the afternoons! So we needed to stay on property. Best wishes on your trip!

 

[LiveForVacation]

I had the same dilemma. Our primary goal was Disney, but we have 2 day passes for Universal. I thought about taking a cab to US, but after much research, decided to stay at the switch hotels. By the time you figure the cost of transportation, and the time it will take, I think it's a better decision. If you were going to do just one day at Universal, it would be different. Just my opinion.

 

[hegs65]

You might want to check out www.mousesavers.com-there is a section on transportation that may help you decide. It weighs the pro's and con's of renting a car vs taking taxi's. I remember that when we went in 2000, we ended up renting a car for the 2 days we were at Universal and then returned it when we went to our disney resort. I am pretty sure there is a place on disney property that you can return your rental car to. I think it is alamo car rental. Of course, this is all pre-magical express... Sorry I can't be more specific...