Does it make sense to stay at value resorts but go to universal orlando a day or two?

[nluvwithdisney]

We always stay at Disney and spend a day at Universal. We have even done Universal for a day then caught Fantasmic at Disney in the evening. That was Nov. 2001 when everyone stopped traveling but it was fun. Last time we debated whether to to get the 2 park - 1 day pass. We spent all day at Universal so were glad we didn't but the 2 park. However I do want to see the updated Spiderman now. We also had annual passes for that at the time so park usage and parking were not an issue.

 

[jessica52877]

We do this all the time, in June we are going and hitting US/IOA and Sea World but staying at Pop. We might hit a Disney waterpark but otherwise not even going into a disney park. I just prefer a disney hotel. The drive is not far at all and I would never think twice about leaving for the day and visiting somewhere else.

 

[kristennn]

I think it depends when durign the year you are going - how much time you plan to spend at Universal and whether you want to switch hotels.
I really like Universal and I DO think it compares to Disney. I think Universal does theming almost as well as Disney does - and I don;t even like thrill rides (but my husband does) This is the first year that just my husband and not the whole family is spending a day at Universal - and it;s mostly because my mom is coming with so I didn't want her to have to pay for a one day ticket and thought I would save the money on the rest of the family too. Next time we go though - we would like to stay 1-2 nights on sight at Universal and go there for a few days. Our last trip 2 years ago we stayed on sight for one night and it was soooooo nice. The hotel was amazing and it was wonderful to be so close by and to get the express passes. If you can swing the price of the hotel I would do it. I would go sign up on their website and there's always the possibility you could get a pin code.

Otherwise - if you;re getting free dining I would stay on sight at disney for the whole length. If you;re getting disney dining but are paying for it I would consider whether you will be able to use all of your credits during your time there since you have to get it for the length of stay - maybe you could do so 2 credit dining and come back early from universal for at least one meal.
If you're going for a few days it might be nice to stay closer to Universal though and do it at the front or back end of your trip.

 

[wahoostampingirl]

Last summer was the first time that we ventured over to Universal. I bought the 3 day tickets from Costco that are good until 2014. We only used 1 day, so we each have 2 days left. We were staying offsite in Windsor Hills and had to get up veeeeeerrrrry early to make the drive over to Universal. I wanted to get to WWoHP before the crowds got too bad. That section of the park was crazy, even though we got there right when they let off site guests in. We were able to ride Forbidden Journey and the Hippogriff coaster, but the stores and restaurant were packed, even early in the morning. We decided to do some other sections of the park, left for awhile and then came back in the evening to do the Suess section and HP section again.

My family really liked what we saw of Universal, but we only got to IOA. I really wanted to stay on-site to have the FOTL access, it would have made a big difference in our day.

We're going again this Nov. The plan is to drive down and arrive at Universal in mid-afternoon. We'll check into a Universal hotel and spend the day swimming and exploring Citywalk. Next day, we'll do early entry for WWoHP and use our Express Pass to do a bunch of rides. Then we'll drive to Windsor Hills late that evening to check into our condo.

It's probably not the least inexpensive or efficient way of doing things, but I really would like to stay on-site, since our visit will be short. Since we're only staying one night, I'll probably just pack an overnight bag for the hotel. That way we won't have to get all of our luggage out of the car twice.

 

[sk!mom]

After doing our two days at US/IOA, we both agreed that, while it was fun and it was great to do the whole Harry Potter World thing, we don't ever need to go back there. !

Exactly! We started our trip last August with a 2 night stay at Hard Rock and 3 days at Universal. We loved Hard Rock and really enjoyed the resort and Sunday afternoon at the pool. We all agree though that one trip to Universal is enough and we will likely never go back. My Dd15 is a huge HP fan and was so excited to go. She saw it, got a wand, ate at 3 Broomsticks andshe's done. I wouldn't say that we were disappointed...just unlike Disney....once was enough.

I will say that with FOTL and early entry we finished with Universal by 11:00 am on our two full days. On one of them we spent at the awesome Hard Rock pool and the other was check out day so we left and headed on to Wilderness Lodge to start our free dining Disney stay.

 

[jennyerin]

We have been staying at Pop the last few years and doing a couple of days at Universal. My DH and kids are all about the thrill rides and think that the Disney rides aren't as "thrilling". I am always comparing Disney to Universal and to me Universal is more like a theme park and Disney is a whole experience. I get frustrated that Universal doesn't have much for those with motion sickness whereas there is always something to do at Disney. Anyway, we like Pop and free dining and have no desire to move to another hotel for those Universal days.

 

[Planogirl]

We usually go to Orlando 8-9 days each year and split the time evenly between WDW and Universal. We adore Universal and won't ever skip it.

I'm thinking of staying onsite at WDW like you and visiting Universal for 2 or 3 days this time. We haven't stayed onsite for a while and I thought that it would be fun to do so again. We are thinking Pop or the DD Hilton or Swan/Dolphin.

Universal is definitely worth it IMO. I'm not much for coasters but there aren't many wild coasters at Universal so we're good. I love the shows and milder coasters and dining and so on but of course others might feel differently.

 

[disneymarie]

We did this in 2001, arrived in the evening and stayed in a hotel near Universal for two nights. It was nice, a hotel right across the street from that building that looks upside down. We just had one suitcase with the carryon's and two changes of clothes.

Then we went to the Value for 5 nights, I liked the break.
We also did it with staying one site 2006, already had the budget for the week there, but went to universal for 4 day pass, and used our left over days from old tickets in 2001 for 2 days at Disney.

It was one of the internet deals that one day was good for 4, around the Halloween party days...well they close the parks really early for that, and the lines were sooooo long, the park was filled with really rude pushy people. Have no idea if it was because of the scary nights being those days or what, but it was a lot if we got on 5 rides.
We did one park one day, second next and split it the third day. THen the next two days we spent at Disney.

It all comes down, if you work the math and there is a savings, and the packing. it is real nice to be so close to Universal, but also, you can work in the drive time too. Few exits up from when you get off property.

 

[Cindy B]

We've done this multiple times.

First, there is a Universal Forum here on this board. Go search for it.

Second, it is only a 15 minute drive from the Disney hotels to Universal. Parking is a breeze- just park/pay in the garage and walk to whatever park you want to go to.

As they get older, my kids enjoy Universal so much more.

You don't really need the Universal onsite hotels if you go at an off peak time. Sure they are nice, (and some rooms are pet friendly) but they are more expensive.

 

[lisaross]

MY kids LOVED universal - not sure how old your kids are but what we did was stay in Disney for 7 or 8 nights we did Not have a car we then took a taxi to Hard Rock Hotel and stayed for 3 nights i think. My boys were 7 and 9 and loved universal. I liked staying at universal its a much different feel than disney - much more laid back which was a nice break after being at disney - also if u stay at the universal hotels u can go right on the rides by showing your room key!

Hello,

We have always gone to Disney and stayed at a Value resort. We love it.
For our next trip we were thinking of doing the same thing, but also venturing out a few days too since we drive and will have a car.

I thought about still staying at the Disney value resorts and of course still going to all the Disney parks, but also a few days drive over to Univeral Orlando too.

Would it make sense to book the value resort and then just get less tickets than days at the value resorts, and then go to Universal those days but still stay at the value resorts?

My thinking is it would be easier than trying to change hotels mid-vacation. But woudl it cost way more than staying off-site somehwere else on those days?

Is Universal Orland worth going to ? It looks neat, but we are a creature of habit and are nervous to step out of our comfort zone of what we always do. But that is why I want to step out too, we may be missing more fun in addition to Disney too!

Thanks,
Shelly

 

[letsgoreds]

If you don't want to splurge for the Universal resorts, then stay at Disney. Several years ago we had free tickets to Universal, and ended up staying at Coronado Springs. I know what I am getting from Disney hotels, and they make me happy. We always have a car, and the drive wasn't a big deal at all. We went 2 days, one at each park. This was when Harry Potter was being constructed...cool to watch them carve the foam for the castle.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

We plan on doing this the first week in November.

Hope I can jump on this thread & ask this here...seems like you all will know the answers!

Plan to go to IOA for Harry Potter. Both ds's do NOT like thrill rides/roller coasters. Can we get Harry potter & any non-thrill rides done AND have time to get back to Disney for a dinner ADR?

How long does it take to get to IOA/Universal? We'll be staying at POR? I'm assuming rope drop is neccesary for Harry Potter still??

Tia

 

[MomtoGKC]

Budget wise that is the best way to do it- stay at Disney and go to Universal during the day.

We live in FL and did our first Universal trip this year. My kids liked it, I thought it was OK. I was very surprised at how good I thought the theming was in some places (HP, Dr. Seuss), I wasn't expecting that. The rides were all much more intense - they seem to want to shake you and spin you all the time! My mother has motion sickness - she couldn't enjoy many rides there. Even the Cat in the Hat ride spins you like crazy.

I thought the best part was how nice the hotel was and how good some of the food was compared to Disney. We stayed at Portofino Bay - it had tons of food options, it was beautiful and it had a great pool with movies at night. At Citywalk we ate at Emeril's the first night to splurge (had luch at Margaritaville that day, just so-so average food) - Emeril's was SO good we went back for lunch the next day.

I don't know if you'd need two days there depending what kind of rides you like. We skipped the biggest roller coasters and the water rides and were done with both parks and a sit down lunch by about 2pm - we did use early entry for HP. I think they have an option of buying a 1 day ticket and upgrading that day if you want to add an extra day. Maybe try that in case you only want to go for one day.

 

[notaprincess]

Welcome to the dark side! Universal is also very enjoyable, different but still...

You could research it all online before you go, like mentioned above.
Depending on your family, you have to outweigh the pros/contras as to changing hotels and saving money.

I love staying onsite both at Disney and Universal, but I travel solo and am not bothered by the hotel change.
If you are planing on getting the Express passes, compare how much they would cost- it could be cheaper to stay onsite (if there are 4 in your travel party and you are going peak season)

 

[Planogirl]

We plan on doing this the first week in November.

Hope I can jump on this thread & ask this here...seems like you all will know the answers!

Plan to go to IOA for Harry Potter. Both ds's do NOT like thrill rides/roller coasters. Can we get Harry potter & any non-thrill rides done AND have time to get back to Disney for a dinner ADR?

How long does it take to get to IOA/Universal? We'll be staying at POR? I'm assuming rope drop is neccesary for Harry Potter still??

Tia

That's a hard call. I tend to get wrapped up in the parks even though I do few big thrill rides.

There's an excellent Universal forum here so you might want to ask there if you haven't yet. The regulars there are quite nice and knowledgeable.

Also, welcome to the darkside!

 

[aprilgail2]

Hello,

We have always gone to Disney and stayed at a Value resort. We love it.
For our next trip we were thinking of doing the same thing, but also venturing out a few days too since we drive and will have a car.

I thought about still staying at the Disney value resorts and of course still going to all the Disney parks, but also a few days drive over to Univeral Orlando too.

Would it make sense to book the value resort and then just get less tickets than days at the value resorts, and then go to Universal those days but still stay at the value resorts?

My thinking is it would be easier than trying to change hotels mid-vacation. But woudl it cost way more than staying off-site somehwere else on those days?

Is Universal Orland worth going to ? It looks neat, but we are a creature of habit and are nervous to step out of our comfort zone of what we always do. But that is why I want to step out too, we may be missing more fun in addition to Disney too!

Thanks,
Shelly

I book all the nights in Disney, get less days worth of tickets and do other things too while I am there. I could never not rent a car and just be stuck in Disney for my whole trips! We are going to 2 weeks in July and staying at POR the whole time. We are going to also do 2 days at Universal, a day at Discovery Cove, a day in St. Petersburg Beach and a day at Aquatica- we did pay for the dining plan but it will all work out since some of the sit down meals are 2 credits each so for the days we eat someplace else it will average itself out!
We have been to Universal before and LOVE it- have not been to IOA yea but are going this time. I prefer Universal over Hollywood studios!