For those who did a split vaca between Disney and Universal

[marchingstar]

We are buying universal tickets with express pass and going in the middle of our WDW trip. So staying at POR and driving to universal for two days (back to POR every night). Does no one do this? It's a 20 min drive to universal right, we will have a car. Just wondering why everyone elects to stay at a universal resort? I know you get express pass as a hotel guest, but we are buying express pass, and it still works out to be cheaper staying at POR and having a rental car for two days.

We've booked our first split stay for August. Originally we were booked for 11 nights at POR (we're coming from Canada and flights are pricey--a shorter stay at WDW or US wouldn't make sense for us), but are now staying the first 9 at WDW and final 2 at a universal hotel. Especially because of DA opening, it was really important to us to have the express passes. A big part of the decision for us was the cost--maybe because we have a CAA membership, a 2-night stay on US property actually costs only slightly more than adding the express pass on to our tickets. Add to the equation that we're saving the cost of a room at POR for 2 nights, and we're saving a few hundred dollars. No transportation time to get to the parks, early entry for HP, and priority seating at restaurants are all bonuses that I'm excited to take advantage of! Maybe post-trip I'll feel differently, but right now I can't imagine *not* doing a split stay again!

 

[Planogirl]

We are buying universal tickets with express pass and going in the middle of our WDW trip. So staying at POR and driving to universal for two days (back to POR every night). Does no one do this? It's a 20 min drive to universal right, we will have a car. Just wondering why everyone elects to stay at a universal resort? I know you get express pass as a hotel guest, but we are buying express pass, and it still works out to be cheaper staying at POR and having a rental car for two days.

We've done that and it was fun but it's also a blast to stay at a Universal resort. They are not only very nice but it's so handy to walk to either park or Citywalk or the other resorts so easily. Plus you get early entry to see WWoHP. Of course you have to pay for parking which I don't like but otherwise it's pretty cool.

 

[bumbershoot]

All of these Harry Potter / Daigon Alley threads have me kind of considering doing a 4 day at Universal and then 4 day at Disney, instead of the whole trip at Disney. I absolutely LOVE Harry Potter and seeing the pictures is just making me want to go so bad! Now, I'm not looking to open the "who is better" debate.... I already got slammed on another one of those threads! Just a simple conversation about doing BOTH in one trip. Because I think that BOTH have their value and BOTH are great parks....

For those of you that have done split vacations to each, did you find that you didn't have enough time to give each one? Was it too rushed? Would you start at Universal / finish at Disney? (not because Disney is better... I'm thinking because of ME) We've always just gone to Disney, so I don't know..... Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Clearly, we have some time to nail this down, but I have started pricing it out to see how it looks....

What resort at WDW? When we had our first stay at both, we had had a 2 bedroom at OKW (and then a 1 bedroom once extended family left). Then we went to Universal where we had a small room at Royal Pacific, and it felt like we were in a closet. Royal's rooms are small and OKW is, you know, big.

So if you're going from big to smaller, end with big. (so, WDW)

On the other hand, once you've had unlimited Express Pass, you'll think less of FP, and possibly even less than that of FP+. (as I typed I realized that it's + now, not just FP, and, well, UGH)

On our two-site trips we end with Universal. We tend to have such FUN there that although we would love to stay, we're not SAD to go. We generally really make the most of those visits, both in do-do-do, and in rest and relax. Whereas we are often sad to leave WDW; maybe because we're somehow imprinted on Disney, or, really, for me, because I cannot figure out HOW to have a great trip there. I'm still getting turned around in MK b/c I keep expecting it to have the same footprint as Disneyland. Anyway, it works out best for us (me) to go to WDW first and then Uni.


As for the two-ticket issue...that's kind of how we ended up with Universal APs. WDW, too, because we were making our trips twice inside of 365 days; we haven't yet had a WDW trip with just tickets, actually. We had one trip to Uni without APs, thinking it was a one time thing just for Harry Potter...and regretted deeply that I hadn't budgeted for an AP upgrade. Went back well inside of a year, had to pay for another set of tickets (I just got the AP, and then DH and DS upgraded before the trip was done with). Renewals are so incredibly reasonable still, for now, that it's simple to just keep them going. (we also tend to book AP rates at the onsite hotels, so it's good to have an AP for that) We do NOT always keep an AP going for WDW, though. That's super-expensive!

Our FIRST trip to Universal was 4 days. Of course, our first trip to WDW was 10. (we went back to WDW after Uni, and that, my friends, was painful b/c of the EP vs FP issue and also because we loved loved loved everything at Uni so much!) We definitely stay for long periods of time when we go on vacation! Or we try to, at least.

Our last trip was 8 nights (portofino club level, oh what luxury) but DS and I got ridiculously sick early on and by the time we limped our way over to Universal it was mainly just a recuperation period while DH went to the parks and played. Club saved us, though, because our appetites were tiny, so the food we purchased outside of Club was almost nothing (relatively). We would do 8 nights again in a heartbeat, because it would have been amazing!

We love atmosphere, seeing, thinking, looking, taking pictures, breathing it all in, and riding and re-re-re-riding. We love to go to a place like Discovery Island on Jurassic Park and just explore for an hour or two. That's our style of touring (we try to do it at WDW, too, but it's still just so big and stressful for us that we're less successful at that). Hence the long stays.


Hope my rambles help in some way?

 

[TDC Nala]

I can't imagine needing 4 days at Universal but I'm typically there in the off season and other than the Potter stuff you can knock out everything you want in two days. I can even do Hogsmeade in no time flat because FJ has a single riders line and there is never any substantial wait for the Dragon coasters that I've seen in the off season. it's down to one day if you stay in one of their hotels that gives you the express pass but that's just if you want to power through the attractions.

4 days ought to be more than enough time to do everything you want at Universal.

 

[NYDisGuy]

I'm in this boat too. We aren't die hard Potter fans but like the movies and are debating doing a day or two. I think we will probably wait until the hype dies down to go

 

[lovin'fl]

Harry Potter fans here!

We did a split stay in Aug 2012 (4 nights at DVC-VB and then 2 nights at US-HRH). We didn't need the full 2 nights as we got through everything in just 2 days (so 1 night would have sufficed).

In 2 months I will book another split stay for next Aug. Doing WDW-DVC (2BR) for 7 nights and then US-HRH for 1 night (2 connecting rooms or a suite and might do 2 nights just for less rushing). I am booking 4 nights at BWV and then 3 nights at AKV club level and might get deluxe DP for the 1st 4 nights and no plan for the last 3 (club lounge). We have PAPs that will expire Aug 12 so I need to book the WDW before that and that's why US will come after WDW (and I'll be able to wash all our clothes before heading to US so we can pack a little lighter). That express pass at US is great and we really knocked stuff out pretty quickly last time. I loved US as everything is all 'right there'...especially since we were staying at HRH. I can't wait to book.

 

[sydneysmom]

WOW! You guys are incredible! I knew that I would get great advice here! There's alot to think about... I priced it out staying for 3 nights at Royal Pacific (love the theme there.... ) and then 5 nights at Grand Floridian. All in all, the whole trip came out to be about $700 less than the whole trip at GF. However, I'll have to add some of that "savings" back in for food, getting from the airport to Univeral.

The package that I priced out on Universal was for 2 day park to park tickets and 3 nights at Royal Pacific. So the pricing wasn't terrible, that's for sure. I was thinking that the day we arrive, we could do City Walk that night, then hit the ground running the next 2 full days at the 2 parks. Then when we wake up to check out, head right over to the GF, check in and head to the park. It also actually adds one day to our trip, which we weren't going to do just staying at GF, but this makes that option more affordable. Now it's just convincing everyone, do we want to lose 2 full Disney days to do Universal. (I know my Harry Potter vote says YES!)

I really appreciate everyone's input..... thank you! I love all of the tips for Universal, because we really don't have a clue about anything at Universal. It's all new to us, but it looks AMAZING.

 

[MrInfinity]

WOW! You guys are incredible! I knew that I would get great advice here! There's alot to think about... I priced it out staying for 3 nights at Royal Pacific (love the theme there.... ) and then 5 nights at Grand Floridian. All in all, the whole trip came out to be about $700 less than the whole trip at GF. However, I'll have to add some of that "savings" back in for food, getting from the airport to Univeral.

The package that I priced out on Universal was for 2 day park to park tickets and 3 nights at Royal Pacific. So the pricing wasn't terrible, that's for sure. I was thinking that the day we arrive, we could do City Walk that night, then hit the ground running the next 2 full days at the 2 parks. Then when we wake up to check out, head right over to the GF, check in and head to the park. It also actually adds one day to our trip, which we weren't going to do just staying at GF, but this makes that option more affordable. Now it's just convincing everyone, do we want to lose 2 full Disney days to do Universal. (I know my Harry Potter vote says YES!)

I really appreciate everyone's input..... thank you! I love all of the tips for Universal, because we really don't have a clue about anything at Universal. It's all new to us, but it looks AMAZING.

We're thinking about doing a very similar trip! 3 nights at RP then 6 or 7 at Disney. Also was gonna get the same 2-day passes, tho I know closer to the dates they do the buy-2-get-3rd-day-free specials at Uni so I've been considering a plan that might allow for a 3rd day at Uni, or possibly 3rd half-day. Not sure. Wondering if we'd really want it or if by that point we'd be good. For free is it worth going back another 1/2 day? I dunno.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That sounds like a great plan.

I think of the six parks (WDW plus UOR) as six parks. So I don't see it as losing time at Disney, if that makes sense. Plus staying onsite at Universal is just fun and relaxing, so it's more than just seeing the parks there.

We are doing a split stay this August. 4 nights at Portofino (3 days at Uni) then moving offsite for 3 nights and two or three Disney park days. We usually rent a car so it's pretty easy

 

[sydneysmom]

That sounds like a great plan.

I think of the six parks (WDW plus UOR) as six parks. So I don't see it as losing time at Disney, if that makes sense. Plus staying onsite at Universal is just fun and relaxing, so it's more than just seeing the parks there.

We are doing a split stay this August. 4 nights at Portofino (3 days at Uni) then moving offsite for 3 nights and two or three Disney park days. We usually rent a car so it's pretty easy

You know, you're totally right.... it actually is more fun because we're adding 2 parks. So we won't do park hoppers for this one, maybe.... or maybe we do and spend the mornings at AK and HS then head to GF mid day to swim, then spend the nights at EP and/or MK. then we get a nice break mid day too...

Portofino looks really nice too... I was between Portofino and Royal Pacific, but RP was a bit less expensive and I figured we really were just sleeping there, plus getting the early entry / 'fast pass' thing... mostly, because I don't know enough about either!

 

[gofordrew]

Every time I have gone we have always done a split between Universal and Disney. We usually do a couple Disney parks at the beginning of the week, Universal in the middle, and a couple of Disney at the end. Definitely do Universal in your trip...it is so awesome.

 

[johde]

A couple of other tips for first time Universal visitors.

1) Vacation packages for onsite hotels are normally not a good deal. You can normally do better buying hotel and tickets separately. If you're staying offsite, booking a package can give you early entry.

2) Consider getting at least 1 annual pass for your party. With an Power Pass (The cheapest pass with blackout dates), you can Possibly get a discount on your hotel stay Use promo code APH on Universal's website when booking to see if Annual passholder rates are available, availability changes all the time. With a Preferred pass, you get free parking, and a discount on Food and Merchandise. The benefits of each pass are outlined here. What you save may be worth the extra expense.

3) Check websites like Orbitz for onsite hotels. For example, Universal's onsite hotels qualify for 15% off with the promo code on Orbitz home page. That discount is in addition to the discount you get for longer stays.

4) Universal does not bridge tickets. So, in most cases you want to buy as many days as you think you might need because you'll lose any discounts when you upgrade. For example, if you are going to go two days and maybe a third, using Universal Website adding the 3rd day to your ticket before the trip costs $10. Upgrading the ticket later to add the third day will cost you $30.

 

[JVL1018]

We are doing a split stay for the first time this august. I prefer to end with disney because for me there is nothing like that disney magic feeling. We are doing 3 nights at royal pacific with the 1st day a resort day off the plane. The 2nd & 3d day will be our park days. With the express pass I really don't feel I need more time there honestly (except for the new HP section). Last time we went to IOA we were done with the whole park by mid afternoon including waiting for 2 rides that were broken to reopen & we took our time! The fourth morning we will travel to disney. Really looking foward to seeing diagon alley! Know we will not be sleeping in at universal this trip! We will then be heading to disney for a week at AKL & plan on having a more relaxing trip then we usually do there. It will be hot & we plan on taking breaks & swimming so think I will enjoy ending there Happy planning

We are doing a similar trip.
We're flying in on a a Friday afternoon, staying at a hotel 1/2 mile from Uni(free, from a friend who is a manager for the hotel chain), checking into Royal Pacific early early Saturday for 2 nights, we'll do the parks Saturday and Sunday, and then on Monday, checking into the Boardwalk until Sunday.
My WDW portion is the less stressful part. Lots of relaxing, swimming, and water parks if the parks are too crowded..
Universal, I have no clue about, I haven't been in almost 20 years.
Concerned about the crowds at Diagon Alley and how to plan for that.

 

[sydneysmom]

A couple of other tips for first time Universal visitors.

1) Vacation packages for onsite hotels are normally not a good deal. You can normally do better buying hotel and tickets separately. If you're staying offsite, booking a package can give you early entry.

2) Consider getting at least 1 annual pass for your party. With an Power Pass (The cheapest pass with blackout dates), you can Possibly get a discount on your hotel stay Use promo code APH on Universal's website when booking to see if Annual passholder rates are available, availability changes all the time. With a Preferred pass, you get free parking, and a discount on Food and Merchandise. The benefits of each pass are outlined here. What you save may be worth the extra expense.

3) Check websites like Orbitz for onsite hotels. For example, Universal's onsite hotels qualify for 15% off with the promo code on Orbitz home page. That discount is in addition to the discount you get for longer stays.

4) Universal does not bridge tickets. So, in most cases you want to buy as many days as you think you might need because you'll lose any discounts when you upgrade. For example, if you are going to go two days and maybe a third, using Universal Website adding the 3rd day to your ticket before the trip costs $10. Upgrading the ticket later to add the third day will cost you $30.

these tips are awesome! (I'm actually copy/pasting into my vacation folder so I don't lose this) I am out on Orbitz now, but I don't see a code... do I have to create an account? If we book the onsite hotel (Portofino or Royal Pacific) through Orbitz, do you know if you still get the early entry passes?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We stayed onsite at DVC last time.

But we did the Universal park first for Harry Potter. Pretty sure the excitent would make my husband's head explode if we didn't get there ASAP. If you are a Potter fan--I would say do that first. I'm not even close to a fan (don't read the books and have only seen one or two movies), but I was looking forward to seeing it. Glad we fit it in. Wish my youngest was just a few inches taller, though.

If funds allow, we will squeeze it in next trip. But I need an EPCOT fix first.

The plan is for it to be in the middle. We are staying at an offsite timeshare near Disney next visit.

 

[hallie]

We're doing a split stay this upcoming trip! We're doing Universal for 2 nights, staying at the Hard Rock first. We love the front of the line access you get with the on-site rooms, so awesome!!

Then we're staying at Disney for 6 nights.

Can't wait!

 

[Avery's mom]

Funny - at DLR - where we are regulars, we aren't tempted to visit other parks while we are at Disneyland. BUT - I can't go to Orlando without going to Universal as well. At least since WWoHP was built!

We are staying just 2 nights at Royal Pacific Resort (RPR) as we have done the parks before and know how quickly we can get them done with Express Passes. Then, we're off to Port Orleans Resort (POR) for 6 nights.

We always end with Disney as it is more our "home" than Universal is, but I would have done it differently had flights/rooms/discounts not worked out the way they did for us.

I think my Simpsons-loving husband is looking forward to Springfield USA just as much as Diagon Alley. Being able to walk to both parks is such a nice treat - and I think eventually we will start to even up the amounts of days at each if Universal keeps adding to their resort as they have been in past few years. Back when we first visited 12 years ago, I never would have thought I'd feel that way!

 

[johde]

these tips are awesome! (I'm actually copy/pasting into my vacation folder so I don't lose this) I am out on Orbitz now, but I don't see a code... do I have to create an account? If we book the onsite hotel (Portofino or Royal Pacific) through Orbitz, do you know if you still get the early entry passes?

Sorry, it looks like there between general public sales on Orbitz right now. If you're in no hurry give it a few days. Early Entry and Express Passes at onsite hotels are a function of staying at the hotel not how you book it. Booking through Travelocity, Orbitz, or directly from Universal doesn't matter.

Just did some more looking on the website. Their best current deal is 10% off. http://www.orbitz.com/mktg/Why-Book-on-Orbitz/

 

[nkereina]

We have our first split trip planned for November. We're arriving at WDW late afternoon on a Friday and will stay at WDW until the following Wednesday. At some point on Wednesday, whenever we feel like it, we'll take a cab over to the Royal Pacific Hotel at Universal. I'm assuming we won't head over to Universal until around dinner time, so my plan is to just stroll City Walk for the night and get dinner. This gives us all day Thursday and Friday for Universal Studios and IoA, and we have all day Saturday until we have to leave around 5pm to re-visit our favorite things, which may come in handy depending on how busy Diagon Alley is.

 

[MrInfinity]

Sorry, it looks like there between general public sales on Orbitz right now. If you're in no hurry give it a few days. Early Entry and Express Passes at onsite hotels are a function of staying at the hotel not how you book it. Booking through Travelocity, Orbitz, or directly from Universal doesn't matter.

Just did some more looking on the website. Their best current deal is 10% off. http://www.orbitz.com/mktg/Why-Book-on-Orbitz/

Interesting. How is Orbitz regarding changes? Say we need to tweak a date to be a day earlier or later in the last 30 days. How are Universal-direct booked rooms at the same flexibility? Our plans evolve a little over time... Disney is always flexible. Changeable up to your 45 days, and then still changeable as long as you aren't going down in total cost.