Disney/Universal Split Stay Suggestions Needed

[sunsetbeachgal]

Thank you! The two moves is actually where we were stuck. We really have to try Universal, because our boys really want to see HP, but we aren’t so sure we have to split our Disney stay. I think it will be okay. We plan to only use one bag for RPR, so it will mean much less to unpack there. I’m really hoping we don’t regret moving twice. Our original plan was to pay for the room at the Poly while staying at RPR, but we couldn’t justify paying for the room plus dining plan. In total it is close to $700 that we would be throwing away and could put toward our Universal trip.

What you could look into (and I don't know how it is done but people on the Universal Boards can tell you, it is done all the time) is to do a one night "throwaway" room at RPR. You could drive up from Disney or Uber early in the morning, check in and get your express passes (there is a machine in teh lobby that dispenses them) then get right over to Universal. If Harry Potter is the big draw you could do one very long day, and you could even use the room for a break mid day, very easy and quick to get back and forth. Again, check on the Universal boards but I think one night gets you fast passes both on check in and check out date if you want to do a second day.

This would get rid of one move and your boys see HP and you have express passes. With express pass you can see a lot in much less time. Just another thought as if you need more to consider, LOL!!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Should we instead do 3 nights BC, 1 night Universal and 4 nights Poly, since we know we love that resort, or do 3,2,3, for 2 nights at Universal, or just leave it as is? Thanks so much!

It sounds like your heart is set on doing Universal in the middle, which is all good, but yes, if it was me, I’d change that stay to 2 nights.
Again, I know there are many who aren’t the Universal fans I am, but my reasons being:
- The Express Pass makes touring Universal so much more relaxing than WDW. I loved that I could do my favourite ride, Transformers, 5 times in one day. Whereas at WDW, I felt pushed to do anything more than once per day due to queues and FASTPASS access. (On the flip side, express passes do mean that you could cram much of Universal into one day by only riding most things once, but it would require much more of a rushed, commando style than I like.)
- The restaurants are cheaper and much easier to get into.
- While, in general, Disney does do theming better, there is no theming I prefer than that of the WWOHP. DH and DS aren’t the fans I am unfortunately, otherwise I could spend a whole day just checking out the finer details of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
- Ease of access to the parks from RPR and HRH. I found Disney’s boats and buses frustrating after staying at HRH.
- Frozen Butterbeer


I only have 6 nights in Orlando for my upcoming stay and have split my stay 3,3 between RPR and WL. I did consider spending all 6 at Universal, but I am really keen to see Disney all decked up for Xmas and WL represents everything I love about Disney theming. I know those 3 days at Universal won’t feel enough, nor the 3 days at WDW, but I’m excited none-the-less.

 

[have2getaway]

What you could look into (and I don't know how it is done but people on the Universal Boards can tell you, it is done all the time) is to do a one night "throwaway" room at RPR. You could drive up from Disney or Uber early in the morning, check in and get your express passes (there is a machine in teh lobby that dispenses them) then get right over to Universal. If Harry Potter is the big draw you could do one very long day, and you could even use the room for a break mid day, very easy and quick to get back and forth. Again, check on the Universal boards but I think one night gets you fast passes both on check in and check out date if you want to do a second day.

This would get rid of one move and your boys see HP and you have express passes. With express pass you can see a lot in much less time. Just another thought as if you need more to consider, LOL!!

Thank you! This is exactly what we were planning to do all along, and were okay with paying for 2 rooms. It was only after realizing that because we are on the Disney Dining Plan, we would be spending a lot of money for the room and the food. Of course, we tried to rationalize that we could bank the food credits to use when we get back from Universal, but it just really started to hit us that we would be paying for food and a night at the Polynesian that we might not even use if we decided to actually stay last minute. That total is where I came up with close to $700. We know each of the boys will want to purchase a wand at WWOHP, and I’m sure we will encounter other expenses. This was why we ultimately decided to check out and, I’m still not sure we made the right decision. In all honesty, we really could use the meals another time, but...the Poly room cost per night is not a little bit of money.

 

[buzznina]

I think in the middle would be a bit more of a hassle, but that would be my suggestion. I would like to break the trip up.
Now that our DDs are getting older, we started adding US to our trips, we actually like the US resorts and CS better then most of the WDW resorts. But when we do it, we only do 1 resort at each. We drive so we have more stuff to move and I would not want to do 3 moves during a trip.