Going for Disney, worth it to spend a day or two at Universal?

[Velvis2k11]

I am bringing my girlfriend and our 5 (ages 10-17) children to Disneyworld next November for 7 days. I am hoping for the free dining again. (We did an 11 day stay last November that was just Disney no Universal) We are most likely going to stay at Pop Century and get two adjoining rooms. We will be flying from Boston and not renting a car.

We started to throw around the idea of going to Universal for 1 or 2 days.

As I started to look into it more, I realized right off the bat we are looking at roughly $600 or so just for tickets to Universal for one day plus food.

Then I thought make the Disney portion 4-5 days and 2-3 days at universal and get separate hotels, but then realized Disney gets cheaper the longer you stay. (ie a 5 day trip vs 7 days, wasn't much more when the food is free if I recall.)

So I guess unless there is something I am not thinking about or dont know about, adding Universal to the vacation will really increase the cost of the trip. Spending those 1-2 days at Universal would be significantly more expensive than those same 2 days at Disney.

The kids want to go to Universal, but I am almost inclined to make a separate trip there the following year.

Are there any kind of "all-inclusive" Disney/Universal packages offered by anyone?

 

[macraven]

if you are just planning to do a few day trips to the darkside, it can be pricey.
the same way if someone stays at uo and does a couple of disney days during their stay.
either way, it really adds up when it comes to ticket costs.


i don't feel the packages at the motherland or darkside are all that worth it.

you can break down each item and come out ahead by purchasing everything separately.

at the darkside, book the room (with a discount), buy uo park tickets thru undercover tourist, bring snacks along for you trip to help defray eating expenses.

at the motherland, if you have a pin for a discount, book the room separately.
buy the tickets from undercover tourist.
have your main meal at lunchtime when prices are cheaper for the sit down places.

each year i do a long vacation and stay at both resorts.
8 nights at the motherland and then 10 at the darkside.
both places i stay onsite.

i have been eligible based on my dates to get the package for 'free dining".
when i break down the numbers, that free dining costs me more.
this year i had a pin for the all stars resorts.
rooms there in the end of sept, early oct were $105-10 a night during the week and $127 on the weekend. plus tax on each night stay.
with a package, that above would have been the room cost, plus a 2 day basic ticket at the least.

my pin gave me the room for $61 per night and that is including the taxes.
it included the weekend room costs.

on the average, by booking room only with the discount code, i saved over $400 on the room.

my food costs were under $300 and that was with 3 sit down meals.

the package i was quoted with the free dining was $1301.
my total cost for food and room was $720.

i had tickets from last year when i bought 10 day hopper non expiring ones.
and also 5 days left on the NE basic tickets.
those were bought from UT before the prices went up.

for the package i checked out was at the current costs.
think the two day basic tickets with the package was about $190..?

i went solo but you have 5 in your group.
that might make a difference moneywise on which way you book to come out better financially.

check the rates on the motherland site to see room costs per night plus taxes. add in what the cost is for the dining plan. the basic plan can run about $42 pp each day.

total it up and see if booking everything separate to the package on which deal will be cheapest for you.

you will have to double the room cost as you need two rooms.

for the darkside, 5 are allowed per room.
you do not have to book 2 separate rooms for your family to stay onsite.

the room costs compared to disney to universal resort rooms will be close if not the uo rooms costing a bit less per night.

food costs at the darkside is cheaper on some restaurants than disney.
same with city walk.

you can get coupons for some of the hotel restaurants and city walk while at the darkside.

if you have the AAA card, you show the card and will receive 10% off food and merch in the parks and some places in city walk.

you can book a room at uo and use the AAA for a discount will depending on your dates to stay, can run from 10-20% off rack rates.

you can do both parks on the same vacation.
if you prefer disney, then stay there for the majority of your vacation.
switch to uo at the last 2 or 3 days of your vacation.

a cab could cost you about $40 to switch from wdw to uo.

or.......
you could make it a separate trip next time you vacation.

sometimes it is good to start out with a dual stay.
you know disney and like it.
add on a few more days to get the experience of staying at uo.
next time you plan an orlando vacation, you might want to do an exclusive stay at the darkside in order to take in the ambiance of the hotel, surroundings and get the feel of a laid back, relaxed vacation.

it's all personal choice.

i do both parks and resorts every year.
i started doing it this way in 1999 when pbh went up.
in 1993, i did day trips to uo from the disney resort.
in 1996, i did half of the vacation at disney, then offsite near UO for the rest of the vacation.

play with the numbers and see how it looks financially to you.
the kids are at the age where they would enjoy all parks and especially the darkside.

if you go with a disney package w/free food, and do a day at UO, use your food credits for breakfast at wdw, eat lunch at UO, do dinner back at disney in the evening when you return there.
that will save you some money on food costs for the day trip.

 

[Metro West]

Then I thought make the Disney portion 4-5 days and 2-3 days at universal and get separate hotels, but then realized Disney gets cheaper the longer you stay. (ie a 5 day trip vs 7 days, wasn't much more when the food is free if I recall.)

So I guess unless there is something I am not thinking about or dont know about, adding Universal to the vacation will really increase the cost of the trip. Spending those 1-2 days at Universal would be significantly more expensive than those same 2 days at Disney.

As Macraven stated going to a theme park for just a couple of days is expensive since you don't have the longer/cheaper ticket options. I think the best thing for you to do right now is to check out the Universal Orlando website and see if any attractions really strike your fancy. Keep in mind Transformers will be open sometime next summer but the HP expansion at the Studios probably won't be ready until sometime in 2014. Once you've checked the website, go to YouTube and see the ride videos and if you're really interested in visiting Universal next year, you can then start planning seriously.

 

[Velvis2k11]

Thanks for the replies and only one question remains:

What is a "pin"?

 

[macraven]

Thanks for the replies and only one question remains:

What is a "pin"?

it is a code for a discounted room.

disney and universal both issue pin codes to people.

strictly by random are the people issued them.

the darkside will email the pin to you.


the motherland will do the same or sometimes have it linked to your name and you find out when you book that a pin is being offered for a certain time period or dates.


i have received a pin code that i found out by calling to make a ressie at the motherland on two occassions only.

this year i received a pin code for the darkside by mail.

if you book with a pin code, you are paying a discounted rate based on what the pin code states per nights of your stay.

both are date related with a time period listed for eligible booking times.

they can only be booked by the person who's name is on the pin code.
non transferable.