Disney detour to Universal - help please!

[BeccaM]

We are seasoned Disney visitors, currently working on plans for our trip next year.

I will have a 4 year old and a Harry Potter obsessed 9 year old. We have never done Universal before, but want to take some time to visit there as my oldest is so eager to visit Harry Potter World.

IYO, what is the best way to build that into a Disney trip? Detour mid-Disney? Tack it onto the end? Stay at Disney and cab/uber it over, or switch hotels and stay at Universal at the end of the trip?

We would be going for the HP experience, and not the thrill rides. So we wouldn't intend to spend much time anywhere other than Harry Potter areas.

Do we do Universal for just 1 day, or 2? FWIW, we aren't opposed to splitting up for Universal, and have considered that if we do two days there, maybe on the second day, only one adult goes with the 9 year old and the other adult stays at Disney with the 4 year old.

I can plan a Disney trip in my sleep, but never having been to Universal, I'd love an experienced visitor's opinion. Thank you!

 

[bumbershoot]

Our first Orlando trip involved 10 park days at wdw and 4 at universal. We put Uni about a week into the trip and we moved over to be onsite and do it up right. Our son was 6.5. We thought we were going for Wizarding World (and there was only Hogsmeade then) but fell in love with the whole place.

If you stay onsite just one night you get two days of onsite perks. If you stay (or just book...some people checkin for perks and don't stay there) at one of the three deluxe resorts you get unlimited express pass and early entrance to WW.

There are some very fun play areas for little kids, plus the Barney show, and some rides the 4 year old might be able to ride outside of WW. Check it out!


I book directly through loewshotels.com and have purchased tickets through places like mapleleaftickets or undercovertourist.

 

[bchbetha]

Add it to the end and try and give the parks 2-3 days to really do it right. Stay at one of the hotels, one of the top 3 if in budget. It'll be great not to rush the visit. Many older kids prefer Universal over Disney.
Be sure and buy an interactive wand ($50). Hit Ollivanders when you arrive.

 

[g-dad66]

We have done it 3 different ways, and all worked out well, given the ages of the grandkids that we had for that particular trip

1 - Mid-trip, took cab to UA/IOA for one day only
2 - Mid-trip, packed up overnight bags and stayed at Royal Pacific for one night (got early HP admission for two days) Didn't check out of Pop Century for that night, so paid for a night there which we didn't use
3- End of trip, checked out of All Star Sports, and then did 2 1/2 days at UA/IOA (taking cab to airport about mid-day on last day)

How many days total do you have?

I think with (a) a 4-year old, and (b) interest in only the two Harry Potter lands, I would probably go with the one-day option. (We didn't even have to get up as early that day to catch the cab to Universal as we did for the days we were at the Bus Stop for Disney park rope drop!)

You might want to opt for more time at Universal when the kids are older.

 

[ForMyBoys]

I would recommend two days at Universal. I like the idea of a one night stay midweek w/o checking out of Disney hotel if you can afford it since you would get FP for two days and midweek is likely less busy. But maybe that isn't necessary if you are going at a slower time.

You will need the park to park ticket to ride the HP train, which is awesome!! We went when my boys were 5, 8 and 12. The 5yo loved the train. In addition to HP they loved the Jurassic Park part of the park and we also loved City Walk. There is a lot of cool stuff to check out there.

 

[pattyw]

I would allow 2 days for Universal and as @bumbershoot says, you may fall in love with the entire park. That's what happened to us. We still love Disney and spend time there, but the relaxing nature of Universal(no ADR's at 180 days!, no FP reservations as we stay at the HRH and have unlimited Expess passes) made us UO Annual passholders. We now spend more time at UO!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We did a 3 day trip to Uni last year with a 4 yo and HP loving 6 and 8 yos. We found there were enough things to do for the 4 yo (he's a superhero fan though). We also stayed onsite for the Exp Pass which was huge, IMO. Especially now with it being good for the HP rides, I would put my Uni days at the end of the Disney trip, check out and go stay at Uni for a night. My brother and SIL did the mid week uber to Uni with a 2 and 8 yo and they really didn't feel like it was worth it. They felt like it was a lot to pay for one day and there was a lot of waiting in line. It was also logistically harder to get everyone up and there in time to get to the park early for less crowded touring times. Their experience kind of soured them on Uni. But there daughter was 2 at the time so maybe that was just too young.

 

[wookiebeck]

It looks like many of us are on the same thought process here. Build in 2 days at Uni for your trip. Switch over to one of the deluxe resorts on-site. Check in early and get the ExpressPass for everyone in the fam. That way you can do two days in the parks with the EP (even if you stay only one night and leave for home later that last day.) I hope that helps. Come back and ask more questions if you have them.

 

[snoopboop]

Definitely put Universal at the END of your trip. Otherwise you'll be spoiled by the Unlimited Express and it'll be tough to go back to FP+. (Totally serious. It spoils you.)

 

[BeccaM]

Thank you so much you guys! Two days at Universal it is.

I know that with my kids' ages, this is likely our last full blown Disney trip. I know you're right and we'll probably be Universal fans once we get there.

My 4 year old says he is most excited for the people mover and rocket ships though, so we definitely need to keep the mellow Disney time for this trip.

I also just realized that Universal has the same stupid "10 is an adult" rule as Disney. We are (tentatively) checking into Disney 2 days before my daughter turns 10, so we can squeeze the trip in while she still counts as a kid. Is there any strategy here other than lying (which I'm not a fan of) to get her into Universal with kid prices?

Thinking through your posts, the trip in my mind looks like:
Travel & Check in to Beach Club, EP, HS, Pool Day, AK, MK, Check in to US (HR?) & Pool Day, US1, US2, Travel Day. We tend to go, go, go, and often do parks open to close, so we need the inbetween downtime. At Disney, we still get tickets for our pool days so that we can FP our favorites. Worth it at US to do the same?

Thanks again for the thoughts!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

At Disney, we still get tickets for our pool days so that we can FP our favorites. Worth it at US to do the same?

Thanks again for the thoughts!

Right now you can get buy 2 days, get either 1 or 2 free at Undercover Tourist (we just bought our tickets 2 days ago) so in that case, why not get a ticket for your pool day.

 

[bumbershoot]

I also just realized that Universal has the same stupid "10 is an adult" rule as Disney. We are (tentatively) checking into Disney 2 days before my daughter turns 10, so we can squeeze the trip in while she still counts as a kid. Is there any strategy here other than lying (which I'm not a fan of) to get her into Universal with kid prices?

Hmm. Why do you think it's stupid? My son enjoyed the heck out of the parks without getting his back hurt by rides or having his feet hurt etcetc. They should've charged us more for him given how much he enjoyed Disney and Uni parks before he was 10!!!

But then Disneyland has had the same price for APs for adult and child for ages, so when ds turned 3 we bought him a full priced ap and were happy about it.

I suggest just working through those feelings and neon happy she's getting older and is enjoying life.

 

[Rowlf the Dog]

So perhaps this is only me, but I would never heading to Universal after a WDW-trip again

At my first ever Orlando Trip after 8 days at Disney I went to US/IOA for two days. And for me this was a really disappointing experience in comparison to Disney.
No magic, except of HP the lack of details, the cast members who only do their jobs without being very helpful or friendly, the peoples more rude etc.
I don't want to say, it was bad or awkward, I like US/IOA but it could not keep up with Disney in the "B-note". It was only a better kind of amusement park, as I know many in Europe, and no world of its own who give you a kind of escape from reality.

Last year I first stood onside at US/IOA (together with SW/BG-visit) for 7 days before heading to Disney for 12 days. Although it's still no Disney (and so the described lack of B-Notes) I could enjoy it much more than the first time after being at WDW first.

So I would vote for a midtrip-detour so you still could visit WDW after US/IOA again.
I would also day 1day would be enough for you as mainly interested in HP. At my trips I went there around Christmas Time and didn't need a whole day per park (only half till 3/4). If you visit during a slowlier time, you have plenty enough time for HP and doing other stuff as well.

 

[bchbetha]

Rowlf, to us Universal is relaxing where Disney isn't. The purpose of Vacations to us to have fun and rejuvenate. A few relaxing days at Universal at the end really ends the trip on the right note for us.

 

[snoopboop]

So perhaps this is only me, but I would never heading to Universal after a WDW-trip again

At my first ever Orlando Trip after 8 days at Disney I went to US/IOA for two days. And for me this was a really disappointing experience in comparison to Disney.
No magic, except of HP the lack of details, the cast members who only do their jobs without being very helpful or friendly, the peoples more rude etc.
I don't want to say, it was bad or awkward, I like US/IOA but it could not keep up with Disney in the "B-note". It was only a better kind of amusement park, as I know many in Europe, and no world of its own who give you a kind of escape from reality.

I (respectfully) completely disagree. Universal's team members have always been awesome to me, and I find Universal's theming and atmosphere to be absolutely on par with Disney. I think anyone who comes in with a biased view is going to find exactly what they're looking for....

 

[Rowlf the Dog]

Rowlf, to us Universal is relaxing where Disney isn't. The purpose of Vacations to us to have fun and rejuvenate. A few relaxing days at Universal at the end really ends the trip on the right note for us.

For me Universal was all but not relaxing at my first stay. I had much more relaxing time at Disney in the end. Though I think, I have not a good start at Universal. The second stay also was relaxing, but I also think, I like it more to end my vacations with a mix of both my absolutely highlights and a bit relaxing.
But back to my original starting point: you know what you expect, but if it is your first ever Universal stay, you could end disappointed and judge it to hard/bad. So I just wanted to warn OP, that to close a WDW-trip with your first ever Universal-trip, you will automatically compare it to much to a magical Disney trip, you expect to continue there and possibly end up like me at my first trip.

Next trip I'm again in such a situation, as I invited my mother to her first and only Orlando-trip. To prevent her of a similar experience and of course she has to see the castle as first thing, we will head to Universal in the mid of our vacation, so there is still the possibility to end the whole trip with a nice and beautiful thing at Disney.

 

[tony67]

the cast members who only do their jobs without being very helpful or friendly, the peoples more rude etc.

Personally I have always found it to be the exact opposite for the last 10 years or so - I am always surprised by the poor attitude of far too many of the Disney cast members -but everyone has a different experience and\or sees what they want to see

 

[Rowlf the Dog]

I (respectfully) completely disagree. Universal's team members have always been awesome to me, and I find Universal's theming and atmosphere to be absolutely on par with Disney. I think anyone who comes in with a biased view is going to find exactly what they're looking for....

Sure you can, but it's just not fair to imply me a biased view, without knowing anything from me or my trip. And how can I have a biased view before ever being there? I really looked forward to US/IOA at my first trip as much as Disney and expect it to continue as good and magical. But for me it was good bu not as good as the Days before - but hey it's just my opinion.
Don't get me wrong: I agree with you Universal is very good themed to, but I wasn't speak about the general theming but I love these hidden details (not just hidden Mickeys) - that you discover everytime something new also you was there several times before - and except HP in Universal I just don't have such experiences.
Perhaps I just meet the wrong CMs but I have several issues there... Needed help and they just didn't care. At Disney they offered help also I didn't need or ask for...