Disney and Universal Combo

[sicjoy]

Hi DISboards,

Haven't been on the forums for a while and please excuse me if this post should be in another area. I looked around and wasn't sure where it would fit best.

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to go about organizing a trip to Universal and Disney with about 2-3 days at each resort/park(s)? I am thinking about 2 days at Universal and then 3 at Disney and wasn't sure if I should book via each place (i.e. Disney and Universal) separately or go through an agency.

Thank you for any insight or guidance you can lend and accept my apologies if this post is an inappropriate for the budget forum.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We did that once. We live close enough that we normally do them as seperate vacations but decided to try doing them both on one trip.

We did Disney first and the Universal on the last of the trip.

We stayed onsite at Universal so we would have the Unlimited Express Pass. It was totally worth it. I was glad we did Universal 2nd because we got spoiled pretty quick with the Express Pass.

I booked everything myself. It was easy to do. I found deals on rooms for both Disney and Universal by booking through their websites and looking for special offers.

 

[sicjoy]

Thanks Connie! Were there any specific websites you found for the deals?

Not to hijack my own thread, but how was going to Disney solo? That is something I am considering as well. PM me if you would feel more comfortable speaking about it that way.

Thanks again!

 

[Southernmiss]

We did that once. We live close enough that we normally do them as seperate vacations but decided to try doing them both on one trip.

We did Disney first and the Universal on the last of the trip.

We stayed onsite at Universal so we would have the Unlimited Express Pass. It was totally worth it. I was glad we did Universal 2nd because we got spoiled pretty quick with the Express Pass.

I booked everything myself. It was easy to do. I found deals on rooms for both Disney and Universal by booking through their websites and looking for special offers.[/QUOTE]

The bolded is easy enough to do. I used Undercover Tourist--excellent customer service.

Our first trip ever to Disney, we drove and did 3 days at Disney and one day at Universal and then the rest back at Disney. We stayed onsite a Disney and then drove to Universal and did what we wanted at both Universal parks. We went back to Disney and finished out the rest of our trip. Disney and Universal are vastly different and we enjoyed each for what each has to offer.

Staying onsite at Universal for their front of the line passes is the way to go, though. We did that at a later trip (with just a MVMCP at Disney--can't go to Orlando without a little Disney) and got so much accomplished. It was a wonderful trip!

 

[dpswift]

I would book it myself. It is so easy to do nowadays. We have had to go during busy times so there have not been deals for us. We always stay at the values at Disney and it was so hard for me to pay top dollar for Royal Pacific(Easter weekend) but so totally worth it to have our wait time cut by so much. It was cheaper for the four of us to stay onsite than buy front of the line passes.

 

[brymolmom]

We're doing this in August...I have booked everything myself. This is what I have:

Flying into MCO and renting mid-size car for 11 days: $194 (totally recommend this unless you have a family that needs a van or other more expensive option. Just the round trip transfers from WDW to USF can be up to $60 each way for a family - For another handful of dollars - we have the vehicle the whole time.
First 2 nights at Hard Rock Hotel Universal
First 3 days at USO and IOA - Bought Costco 3 day tickets for about $145?? each - Get Front of the Line access for all 3 days (first will be about 1/2 day though because it's arrival day - flight gets in at 10:30am). After reading the USF Board here on the DIS - I think we can get everything done in 2.5 days...And likely have some relaxing time around the pool too. With FOTL - it's pretty easy to get everything done.
Next 3 nights offsite (I know - Not a huge fan of changing resorts twice - but this gives us a longer trip and also allows us to stay at a more expensive place at WDW for those nights): Not sure where we'll stay yet - but likely will keep it to $50 - $60 per night
While offsite will do one day at Blizzard Beach (driving is great here and will bring a stocked cooler with us), also doing one dinner at T-rex and going to FW campfire and outdoor movie (again, much easier with a vehicle)
Next 5 nights at Beach Club Villas - Planning 4 park days at WDW and one full Beach Club and Stormalong Bay day. We have non-expiring tickets from a few years back and will be using these tickets.

SO EXCITED for the trip.

 

[jperrot1]

How about booking yourself. I suggest 3 nights at Royal Pacific club level. Then, 3 nights at a Disney Resort of your choice. This is all suggested based on opinions only. There are so many ways of going about this kind of trip.

I suggested Royal Pacific because you get express unlimited just for staying there. I suggested club level because it's not that much to stay (or upgrade) at Royal Pacific, and club level will make your stay much more convenient.

I didn't recommend anything other than stay on Disney property because Disney is spread out and huge, that every resort has their pros and cons.

 

[kajs22]

We are also doing this in August. They are very different parks, but, don't think we could do more than a few days there. Universal for 3 days at Royal Pacific -then 1 week at the Yacht club at Disney. As everyone has written it is much more convenient to stay onsite at Universal because of the express passes. Triple A here had good discounts on the room. Bought the park tickets from Undercover tourist. Hope this helps.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Thanks Connie! Were there any specific websites you found for the deals?

Not to hijack my own thread, but how was going to Disney solo? That is something I am considering as well. PM me if you would feel more comfortable speaking about it that way.

Thanks again!

For Universal - I found a stay 2 nights get 1 night free on the Universal Orlando website. It was perfect. I just kept checking their website and also looking at the Universal Disboards area to make sure I didn't miss any deals. I bought our tickets through www.Undercovertourist.com and save a few dollars too.

For Disney - I went to the Disney world website and checked out their special offers and found a room discount we used. I also bought tickets through the Undercover Tourist website and saved a few dollars there too.

I adore my solo trips to Disney. I have never felt nervous wandering the parks alone. I can do what I want when I want, eat where I like even booking ADR's at TS places. CM's have always been friendly and I've met some really nice people.

I have one coming up in September and I'm so looking forward to it. Especially since our June 2013 family trip involved way too much sitting around in our room for me - the rest of the family wanted to stay in a/c and get away from the crowds and I wanted to play. Definitely not a problem on my solo trips!

 

[sicjoy]

Thank you all for your time and input; I truly appreciate it.

I will check out both the Universal and WDW sites as well as Undercover Tourist (never heard of that one before).

GaSleepingBeautyFan, thanks for sharing that perspective about solo trips.

To everyone having trips coming up within the next several months, I hope you enjoy!

Thanks again!

 

[karice2]

I always do both when I am down for my extended trip. I don't stay onsite at either because I bring my car but I get my tickets from Costco for Universal. It is 135 for a three day Park to Park ticket.


My Sam's club also does Disney gift cards for $46.66. I don't know question why, I just buy them.


I love going solo on most of my vacations. I always get seated at TS with no reservations. I always do single rider and I am on my own schedule.

 

[beansmom]

Thanks Connie! Were there any specific websites you found for the deals?

Not to hijack my own thread, but how was going to Disney solo? That is something I am considering as well. PM me if you would feel more comfortable speaking about it that way.

Thanks again!

I have done Disney solo and semi-solo (dh in conference all day while I was free). I love it. You can go where you want, ride what you want, eat what you want. FREEEEEEEDOMMMMMMMMMMM!!

 

[Eureka]

We are doing our first two days at Universal, staying onsite to get the express pass, and then heading to Disney. Will do one park each day but just this week most of the family decided they would rather do Seaworld instead of AK. So we will be at Pop for the last five nights and Royal Pacific for the first two. We are driving down so will just head to SW in the morning. It's been awhile since we made our plans, but I think we decided we would rather start with Universal since we have never been there and have been to Disney with the kids twice already, and they are excited about Harry Potter. I am going to have to figure out when I can go see Lion King and ride the safaris since we are giving up the whole day of AK!

Meant to add that I booked everything myself. We had a room PIN for Disney and got a AAA rate for universal. Turns out we are leaving the night before our original travel date and staying with relatives five hours from us to get us within a one-day travel time for Disney...usually we stop in GA overnight. We figure we would have had to stop somewhere, and even though RPR is pricey, the convenience and express pass is worth it to us.

 

[sicjoy]

Cool. Thanks!

 

[Marionnette]

I think you will be fine booking things on your own. Hang out on the Universal forum for a little while and ask questions about tickets and FOTL access there. They should be able to point you in the right direction for saving some money on that side of the vacation.

If you want EMH and Disney 24/7 for the Disney part of your stay, then check the codes and rates subforum of the Resorts Board to see what kind of discounts are available.

The only problem, as I see it, would be ground transportation. If you don't have your own car, you're going to have to either rent one or rely on some sort of shuttle/taxi service to get you between the hotels and to/from the airport. It's not hard to set those things up, just something else to handle on your own instead of relying on a TA to do it.

 

[sicjoy]

Thank you Marionnette!

One thing I probably should have mentioned from the start of this is that I am looking to go within the next month so that probably puts a severe limit on how much of a "deal" I can find.

Would anyone's recommendations change with that info known?