disney and universal stay

[dilligaf212]

I have a few questions.. We are going to disney in late feb and 2 of the people in our group want to go to universal studios.. do you think it is easier/cheaper to stay near universal for the night or rent a car for a day and stay in disney? is there any other form of transportation from one of the disney resorts to universal studios? any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[Jestocost]

I have a few questions.. We are going to disney in late feb and 2 of the people in our group want to go to universal studios.. do you think it is easier/cheaper to stay near universal for the night or rent a car for a day and stay in disney? is there any other form of transportation from one of the disney resorts to universal studios? any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

The best answer depends on what the goal of the side trip is and how much effort you want to put into it. The best access at Universal is for guests staying at one of their three on-site resorts, so if seeing WWoHP without a long wait and/or squeezing in all of the big rides at both parks in a single day is important, they should consider staying at Universal.

They could save a few bucks staying at a cheaper off site hotel vs. Univeral or Disney, but if that means double booking when they have a room paid for at Disney already there are no savings and no real advantage other than proximity to Universal. They's also still have to figure out how to get back and forth between Disney and wherever they stay and between wherever they stay and Universal.

Renting a car at WDW would work, obviously, but would require getting to and from where you are staying and the either the S/D or the CCC to get the car. You'd have to check rental car rates to get a sense of the cost.

The other option is a Mears shuttle between WDW and Universal for $19 per person round trip. That's probably the easiest of all if they just want to do one day at Universal.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Check the sticky at the top of the Transportation Board ... which you can find here

 

[dilligaf212]

Thank you both for the info I am thinking the Mears shuttle from a Disney resort will probably be the cheapest way to go

 

[maryj11]

Thank you both for the info I am thinking the Mears shuttle from a Disney resort will probably be the cheapest way to go

We are taking the Mears shuttle also

 

[dudspizza]

The best answer depends on what the goal of the side trip is and how much effort you want to put into it. The best access at Universal is for guests staying at one of their three on-site resorts, so if seeing WWoHP without a long wait and/or squeezing in all of the big rides at both parks in a single day is important, they should consider staying at Universal.

This would be my biggest suggestion. We went to Universal 2 days over Spring Break and hated waiting in the lines. The only way to get to the front of the line is to stay on property or pay a huge fee for the jump the line pass. They don't have anything similar to Fastpass.

Duds

 

[goofy4tink]

This would be my biggest suggestion. We went to Universal 2 days over Spring Break and hated waiting in the lines. The only way to get to the front of the line is to stay on property or pay a huge fee for the jump the line pass. They don't have anything similar to Fastpass.

Duds

I've done that as well. BUT....it all depends on how cheaply you can get a room for the night. Those three resorts can be pricey. I have bought the one day FoTL passes...they weren't too bad pricewise. About $30 pp, but they can be cheaper depending on the time of year. I've seen them run about $50 pp but also $25 pp. The one thing about them is that you can only get to the front of the line once for each participating attraction, vs as many times as you want with the resort FoTL.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The best answer depends on what the goal of the side trip is and how much effort you want to put into it. The best access at Universal is for guests staying at one of their three on-site resorts, so if seeing WWoHP without a long wait and/or squeezing in all of the big rides at both parks in a single day is important, they should consider staying at Universal.
They could save a few bucks staying at a cheaper off site hotel vs. Univeral or Disney, but if that means double booking when they have a room paid for at Disney already there are no savings and no real advantage other than proximity to Universal. They's also still have to figure out how to get back and forth between Disney and wherever they stay and between wherever they stay and Universal.

Renting a car at WDW would work, obviously, but would require getting to and from where you are staying and the either the S/D or the CCC to get the car. You'd have to check rental car rates to get a sense of the cost.

The other option is a Mears shuttle between WDW and Universal for $19 per person round trip. That's probably the easiest of all if they just want to do one day at Universal.

Another vote here for staying onsite at Universal. Their hotels are all deluxe and except for Portofino, they are an easy walk to the parks or a short water taxi.
Even a 1 nt stay gives you 2 full days of express line privileges. (The day you check in, and the day you check out until park closing.)
Once you try it, you will be so spoiled, it's hard to wait in lines again.

Personally, I would use a private car company such as Happy Limo to save time.
OP, when you ask what is "easier/cheaper", they are usually opposites. You pay for convenience and usually the cheaper option is less convenient. Not always, but usually.

 

[GetGlowing]

If you're staying at a Disney moderate resort or higher, you may find Univ. room rates to be competitive or less expensive than Disney, depending on time of year you stay and if you have any discounts like AAA. I would definitely stay at Universal at least one night either at the beginning of your trip or the end of it. The Universal Express skip-the-line access with a room stay is the best perk, and it applies to everyone with a room key. Note if you purchase the Express without staying at the park, you only get privileges ***once per ride.*** It's not unlimited as with a hotel stay.

Note there is a parking fee for Universal Parks and hotels. I know parks is $15, can't recall if hotels is $15 or $25 but it includes in-and-out privileges.

If you want to stay on-site at Disney and visit UOR, you can purchase Universal tickets that give you one day of shuttle between Disney and Universal.

when you ask what is "easier/cheaper", they are usually opposites. You pay for convenience and usually the cheaper option is less convenient. Not always, but usually.

SO TRUE!!

 

[dilligaf212]

thank you for all the info.. i had no idea about the fotl passes from the hotel.. i knew i liked these boards for a reason ... i am gonna have to pass all this info onto the 2 that want to see universal