Disney, Universal and Devil Ray Game?

[choover2576]

I'm planning our next WDW trip for 2020 during spring break and my family has made a few requests.

It is paining me to leave the bubble, but it isn't just my vacation...

It there a shuttle to Tampa Bay? If their schedule permits, my boys would like to try and go to a Tampa Bay Rays game. It looks like it is about 1.5 hours from WDW. What would our best transportation options be? Perhaps renting a car? I'd hate to have to deal with traffic and tolls so any other suggestion would be great.

Also, my Harry Potter crazed 9 year old has requested his birthday to be spent at Universal. Since it will be over spring break, I'm thinking that getting the express pass will be important. From what I've read, it might be cheaper to get a room at one of the Universal resorts to have the express pass? Alas, another night outside of my bubble...

 

[Eeyore daily]

There's no shuttle to Tampa Bay from Disney to my knowledge so you'll have to drive. Tampa Bay Rays actually play in St. Pete which is a little further, so about two hours on a good day of little traffic but no tolls if you take I-4 to I-275. The tolls are easily avoidable. You say it's during spring break so I'm assuming March/April and depending on when during those times the Rays won't be in the area, they'll still be in Spring Training which if it is then the Detroit Tigers are in Lakeland which is a lot closer to WDW.

 

[choover2576]

Thank you very much for your reply.

Our Spring Break next year is the first week of April, so that is a good point. I’m not sure if the regular season will have started yet. Hubby loves the Tigers, so that would be ok too.

Good to know about the tolls. It isn’t the money, but the stress of going through the toll booth for some strange reason!?

 

[Disxuni]

I do highly recommend staying at Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay Hotel, or Royal Pacific Hotel. Those are the three resorts that have unlimited EP included. It's an enjoyable place to be outside of the bubble. My personal recommendation is the Hard Rock, as I love the rock atmosphere, it's the most fun, love the pool, and it's the closest hotel to one of the parks, which is Universal. It's very easy to walk there. The other hotels are lovely too and walking / transportation is a breeze.

Depending on how many family members you have it definitely saves to get one of those rooms. As typically, for unlimited EP for both parks (which you'll need to get a 2-park ticket in order to fully experience Potter), it is $99 per person, not including the fact that you're going during peak season, which unlimited EP would be even more money than that. So, getting a room which includes early entry (entry into the park one hour prior to opening time) and unlimited EP is definitely a plus and a money saver.