Disembarkation Day and Universal

[pezgirlroy]

We are going on the Fantasy April 21-28th. We are spending the night of the 28th at MCO and flying out the 29th. My oldest daughter has really really gotten into Harry Potter lately so we have decided that an afternoon at Universal (I know it will be crowded on a saturday but oh well) will have to happen on the 28th. Here is the dilemma. What is the best way to get from MCO to Universal. We would love to all go but that would involve a 2 year old as well and there is that whole dreaded car seat issue? Any suggestions on how to do this or do I just send dad and the older one and I hang out with the 2 year old. Thanks as always.

 

[bumbershoot]

Bring a car seat on the trip and rent a car.

and change your plans from staying at mco to staying at Universal onsite at a deluxe so you can get the unlimited express pass.

 

[mkh531]

We just did a cruise and visited Universal because of Harry Potter. We got off the ship early aFriday morning and got an Uber...it was over $100 to go to Universal. We stayed at Royal Pacific Resort, where we got a quick check in, bought tickets, and went straight to parks while bags stayed in bag check (room wasn’t ready as we arrived around 9am). With front of line passes because of staying at Royal Pacific, we were able to see everything we wanted to see at HP very quickly and eat lunch at Leaky Cauldron. We were back at RPR by 2 pm, and swam and relaxed the rest of the day. It was a very very expensive but awonderful day. Next morning we went to airport again via Uber (much cheaper, maybe $30)? My youngest needed a booster and Uber did not have one...we had her sit on her suitcase.

 

[bumbershoot]

We got off the ship early aFriday morning and got an Uber...it was over $100 to go to Universal.

Probably a peak hour or whatever Uber calls it.

My youngest needed a booster and Uber did not have one...we had her sit on her suitcase.

For future travels, the inflatable BubbleBum booster is awesome. Weighs a pound. My son carried it in his backpack during the booster years.

 

[Weedy]

Book a private car service and ask to include a car seat from the port to Universal.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Bring a car seat on the trip and rent a car.

and change your plans from staying at mco to staying at Universal onsite at a deluxe so you can get the unlimited express pass.

I was looking at doing this for our cruise, until I realized those rooms were $500 a night. I can BUY express pass for 3 of us, pay for an offsite hotel, and still come out ahead.

 

[gotomu212]

I was looking at doing this for our cruise, until I realized those rooms were $500 a night. I can BUY express pass for 3 of us, pay for an offsite hotel, and still come out ahead.

Just an FYI but the EP hotels comes with unlimited EP rides just in case you were comparing to one-time only EPs that you can buy. If you stay onsite you also get the EP for check in and check out day so it’s 2 days on unlimited EP for one night (although this isn’t a bonus if you aren’t planning on a second Park day).

Sometimes those differences make the room more of a break even.

 

[YawningDodo]

My inclination would be to switch to a night onsite at Universal rather than MCO. Then you can go straight to your hotel from the port to drop off your luggage (whether by private car, rental, etc.) and have more time in the parks that day and a more relaxing evening (no car ride when you're done for the day, just a short walk to your resort). As eeyoreandtink pointed out, though, it's worth pricing out a standalone express pass versus upgrading to a room that includes it. You don't have to have an express pass to successfully visit Universal, but it really helps if you're trying to fit it all into one day.

Though yes, the express pass you buy that way may have different rules/perks than one you get with the room. You'd need to look at it and see which was a better value for you.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Just an FYI but the EP hotels comes with unlimited EP rides just in case you were comparing to one-time only EPs that you can buy. If you stay onsite you also get the EP for check in and check out day so it’s 2 days on unlimited EP for one night (although this isn’t a bonus if you aren’t planning on a second Park day).

Sometimes those differences make the room more of a break even.

No, I am looking at the price of unlimited EP vs the hotel.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was looking at doing this for our cruise, until I realized those rooms were $500 a night. I can BUY express pass for 3 of us, pay for an offsite hotel, and still come out ahead.

Given that I’ve never gotten the hyatt regency for under $300, and I’ve never paid more than $279ish for on-site Universal, it’s not always like that.

Be sure to check and recheck onsite directly through loewshotels.com. Prices change.

 

[gotomu212]

No, I am looking at the price of unlimited EP vs the hotel.

Sorry I’m confused?? Unlimited EP is typically $99 a day per person. For EP for 2 days per person you’re at $600 if you buy them outright? That’s more than thr hotel room. Maybe you are saying that you’re only going 1 day so the hotel bonus of having 2 days EP isn’t really a benefit to you?

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Given that I’ve never gotten the hyatt regency for under $300, and I’ve never paid more than $279ish for on-site Universal, it’s not always like that.

Be sure to check and recheck onsite directly through loewshotels.com. Prices change.

I can get an offsite hotel for $100 a night. I have checked directly and our dates are over $500 a night with tax. EP for the 3 of us would be $300 plus $100 for a hotel and I still come out $100 ahead.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Sorry I’m confused?? Unlimited EP is typically $99 a day per person. For EP for 2 days per person you’re at $600 if you buy them outright? That’s more than thr hotel room. Maybe you are saying that you’re only going 1 day so the hotel bonus of having 2 days EP isn’t really a benefit to you?

We are only doing one day. At $500 a night, it just isn't worth paying for the hotel just to get EP.

 

[tribble]

staying at a premium on site hotel you also get transportation to the park (skip the regular security lines and parking lots) and the ability to charge to your room key everywhere. if it's busy in the parks, the unlimited express pass (which works on all the harry potter attractions and the train between parks) is a real life saver.