Doing Universal from a Disney Resort

[DebIreland]

We're planning to stay in two resorts over our 12 day WDW holiday... All Star Movies and then POFQ. I really want to experience 2 resorts (I know my boys will love the movie icons at ASMo and DH and I love the look of POFQ). So, I don't want us to have to pack up and leave *again* for a third hotel for the nights we do Universal. We'll probably spend 2 of our 12 days at Universal. Does it sound crazy to stay at a Disney resort for those nights? Or it that something a lot of people do? I'm thinking the hassle of moving would be greater than the hassle of commuting to Universal. We won't have a car so will be relying on public transport. Any advice greatly appreciated!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I would move to the Universal Hotel. It's not really a hassle moving the towncar companies do it all the time. We did it last year and I'll tell you why. When you stay at Universal you automatically have access to FOTL. This makes all the difference in the world. So much so that if I don't stay at a Universal hotel I don't do Universal. Plus even if you stay only one night you'll have FOTL access the next day too so you get two for the price of one.

 

[spiceycat]

Universal hotels has front of line entry for their guests - this can save your hours.

now if you are not going in a busy season - then this isn't that great a benefit - however if you are....

 

[kaceyisme]

I agree with DisneyMomx7! Not only will you get FOTL, but the Universal hotels (especially my favorite the Portofino Bay) are really great. You would only have to stay one night in order to get two days of FOTL.

 

[Luv Donald Duck]

ON our last trip in November, we did Universal for 2 days and stayed at a Disney hotel for the whole 10 day trip. We just went to the front desk of our hotel and told them our plans. They called Mears for us and arranged the ride to Universal and back. The price was rather cheap also. If I remeber correctly it was like $7.00 a person round trip.

 

[mar915]

I have done both ways, with Mears, but last year I stayed on site and boy was it great on 4th of July and no lines for guest. We are doing that this year. 7 night at Disney and 3 night at universal.

Mary

 

[disney4us2002]

We had a car and drove to Universal for two days over the Christmas week (21st and 23rd). We anticipated crowds since it was so near Christmas but we hardly waited for any rides until it got near 12 noon. Then the crowds picked up significantly. I'm guessing the onsite guests stroll in later since they have fotl and don't need to rush in at opening the way Disney folks do, lol. Anyway, I don't know that I'd try it w/o a car but if you plan to get there right at 9am, you will be able to do a ton of stuff w/o any real lines. I highly recommend the Mummy ride - we thought it was the best ride of all the parks!!

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I'd skip Universal completely! We went last year after staying 7 nights at the Poly/GF. We were suppose to stay 3 nights at thr HRH, We left after 2. We were staying club level(concierge). There were people wearing towels getting trays of food. I never saw such a display greed as when the food came out.
I know people say this happens at the Poly, but not to this extend.

The park itself seemed like a Six flags park. It had no character or special appeal that WDW has for us.

I know everyone has there own tastes, but Universal wasn't for us.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would go to US, stay at one of their hotels at the beginning of the trip. Then I would have a towncar service take me and my baggage to AllStars. Stay there, enjoy for 5 days, then check-out, have your baggage taken over to POFQ. Check-in there and enjoy your last 5 days. It's really not all that much work. I would hate leaving WDW to go to another park area. We did it to go to SeaWorld and I think we would have had a better time if we had been staying someplace else. We seemed to feel the 'need' to get back to WDW, in case we were missing something!! Silly, I know.

If you pack a smallish bag with the things you will need for just those first two days, then you won't have to unpack everything at US. That's what we do if we are staying at one resort for less than 2 nights. It's usually a change of outfits, sleep shirt, bathing suit and personal items.

How are you planning on getting to your first resort? You can get a towncar to pick you up at the airport, go to US, then over to AllSTars and pick you up for departure at POFQ to airport. Check out some websites to see what it would be...probably in the $150 range.

 

[DebIreland]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate these replies. Looks like the majority are in favour of moving to a Universal hotel. I need to think about it some more. Those hotels are quite expensive compared to the values/moderates at Disney. Although I haven't done thorough research yet (like the 7 weeks of continuous research I've done on Disney.... Universal will probably get 2 hours research all-in. lol!).

Goofy4tink,
We're not going til June so we can use Disney's new Magical Express service which is great but were I to stay at a Universal hotel at the start or end of our trip I'd miss out on that service one way. I know I could pay for transportation to the airport but it would kill me to have to pay for it when Disney are willing to transport us free, especially as there are 5 of us so I can't get a regular taxi/car, it would have to be some kind of van, adding to the cost. The other thing is that I know my boys (11 and 8) will be bursting with excitement to get to Disney and won't be able to wait. As it is we're going to New York for 3 days before Orlando so by the 4th day they'll be on the verge of fainting with excitement. First stop in Orlando has to be Disney. lol!!

>>> If you pack a smallish bag with the things you will need for just those first two days, then you won't have to unpack everything at US. That's what we do if we are staying at one resort for less than 2 nights. It's usually a change of outfits, sleep shirt, bathing suit and personal items. <<<

That's a very good idea. If we do stay in a Universal hotel it will be in the middle of our holiday so that specific small bag could be pulled out for then.... great idea.

I wonder is there any left-luggage place at Disney where we could leave our main bags in between our stay at ASMo and POFQ i.e. for the couple of days we'll be away at Universal. That would be an enormous help but I guess it's wishful thinking.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Bobb G]

They are not that far apart. I would remain at home base (WDW) and commute to US. That's what we do only because I find it silly to pack at DW and then unpack at US for just 2 days...but that's just me.

 

[Bonnie40]

The past 2 trips we have stayed onsite at Universal, but this year we're going to stay at Disney and run up there for a day. Two years ago I got a rate of $99/nite at RPR, last year $149 and this year it was going to be $229/night! We've been a number of times, know what we want to see, and are hoping that we can work the crowds. I couldn't justify spending that kind of $ this time for FOTL, even though it's great.

 

[njchris]

I've been going every year for the past 15 years and have stayed on site for the past 7 or 8. I always go to Universal for one or two days.

My situation is different because I rent a car too.

I never switched hotels to go to universal and even if I didn't rent a car, i would get a cab or mears or whatever for those days.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

Anyone mind telling me what FOTL stands for?

 

[MouseMan]

Anyone mind telling me what FOTL stands for?

Front Of The Line (no waiting)

 

[eeyore0062]

I would not rely on Public Transporation to take you to Universal. It will take you about 1 1/2 hours one way to get to Universal---after getting to the TTC to catch the Lynx bus (you will also have to change busses enroute!). I would either rent a car for those days or consider (I can't believe I am going to say this) checking out of Disney and into a Universal resort.

 

[keith-atl]

We're planning to stay in two resorts over our 12 day WDW holiday... All Star Movies and then POFQ. I really want to experience 2 resorts (I know my boys will love the movie icons at ASMo and DH and I love the look of POFQ). So, I don't want us to have to pack up and leave *again* for a third hotel for the nights we do Universal. We'll probably spend 2 of our 12 days at Universal. Does it sound crazy to stay at a Disney resort for those nights? Or it that something a lot of people do? I'm thinking the hassle of moving would be greater than the hassle of commuting to Universal. We won't have a car so will be relying on public transport. Any advice greatly appreciated!!

Well I did Universal last year and stayed at a Disney Hotel and it wasnt bad but then again I had a car. Moving again would be a pain, I bet you can do it on just regular transportation with a cab, it wasnt too bad of a drive maybe 20 mins tops also if you go during the offseason you can do both universal parks in a day easily.

 

[MICKEEP]

FOTL is the greatest

You can get two days in the parks at US and only have to spend one night in their hotels. Arrive early the first day, check in and then go to the parks, stay one night and you will be allowed to use the park the next day. then return to WDW.

What we do to save money is stay at a Disney resort, use the WDW parks all day, the day we leave, then stay offsite one night, somewhere between WDW and US. The next day we do what I mentioned above. The same works in reverse when returning to WDW. It saves you two nights of the high priced resort rates.

 

[Ishy]

Priceless. If you can, go stay at the hardrock or portofino or royal pacific. It beats out fast pass - I would never go to universal without staying on site. Never.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Priceless. If you can, go stay at the hardrock or portofino or royal pacific. It beats out fast pass - I would never go to universal without staying on site. Never.

I totally agree. Last year we stayed at HRH for three nights before moving over to Disney. THis year we couldn't justify add three nights at HRH (prices really went up) and staying at GF so we're skipping HRH and skipping Universal. We'll do Universal next year and stay at HRH for a few nights. After you get used to FOTL you can't go back.