Help! Don't know what to do!

[Kell-Bell]

Hi everyone,

I'm new so please be gentle!

I'm hoping that you can help me, offer some friendly advice to my problem.

So here goes!

I'm going to Florida for the first time in November (on my birthday, how excited am I!!) with it being my first visit I want it to be amazing. I have my heart set on staying in a Disney resort, but don't want to be 'cut-off' from Universal etc. (Neither myself or boyfriend are planning on driving) So I was thinking of spending my first wek at Disney and then moving to the hotel that we originally booked, Holiday Inn on Internation Drive.

Has anyone else done anything like this?
Good/bad idea??

What do you all think? And whats the Holiday Inn like?
Any comments will be a big help.
Thanks in advance

 

[CRCrazy]

Hi there - I think you are being smart to split your stay if you want to include Universal, etc. in your plans.

When you stay on Disney property - you get so immersed - it's hard to get out to see anything else! We still haven't made it over to Universal yet, after 3 visits!

I would recommend, however, staying on property at one of Universal's resorts - the prices are pretty competitive if you get an Entertainment rate (books are on sale now for $10) and you get Front of the Line perks at both parks. (Like a permanent Fast Pass!)

So, I would spend the first part of your trip on Disney property - then move over to the Royal Pacific at Universal, if it were me.

 

[Demosthenes]

A Holiday Inn on I-Drive will be fine to visit the other parks; but, I'd do the Holiday Inn before the Disney hotel. Disney does it so much better that it will be a letdown to go to the HI second. Save the best for last or you'll be comparing the Holiday Inn to Disney for the rest of the week and be somewhat dissapointed.

 

[*Fantasia*]

They say...if you're gonna do Disney...you wanna stay in Disney. So..If you're gonna do Universl...you wanna stay in Universal.

Like the first post said...you get the FOTL benifit if you stay at one of the Universal resorts. It's like FP but better. Just show your hotel key card and you go in the Express line.

RPR is beautiful resort!! I got a rate for $110 for June with Ent card.

Have fun!

 

[Princess49]

If you're really going to split your stay between the two, I agree with Demosthenes, save Disney for last- or you'll be trying to get your money back from the Holiday inn & stay in Disney longer!! My BF and I had been to WDW before, but we've gone 3 times together & a fourth trip is coming up & everytime we go we SWEAR we'll go to universal- we were even there for 2 weeks in January(you'd think we could have taken ONE day to go to universal) but once you are there- you don't want to go anywhere else! And I know we can't JUST go to universal, how could you be IN orlando & not go to Disney!!! Even 4 hours away in St. Petersburg all I wanted to do was go to WDW! Have fun! & Happy Birthday!


PS- I'm sure you'll love universal too- we know we would- but leaving WDW is tough!

 

[Kell-Bell]

Thanks everyone.

I can't wait!

Good idea to save the best til last! I think once I see the castle I'm not going to want to leave!

I like the idea of staying on-site at Universal, it is VERY appealing, I might just have to change it and stay at the Royal Pacific, then go to the world!

I was just worried that I was trying to do too much at once.

The simple solution is just come back next year!!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I just wanted to Welcome you to the Dis.. and wish a very happy trip.. sounds great...

If it were me, I agree with some who have posted here, I would stay on Disney property while doing Disney and stay on Universal property while doing Universal.. It just makes life easier, less travelling, parking issues... Let us know what you decide...

 

[disneyuk]

Hi Kell-Bell.

I agree with what everyone else has said. However, if your budget is tight stick with the Holiday Inn. We stayed there 2 years ago, and although its not comparable with Disney Hotels, its still pretty good, and is well placed for Wet 'n' Wild, Universal and Sea World, and all the restaurants and shops on I-drive.

Have Fun !

 

[dmonroe]

Where do you buy the entertainment books? I've never heard of these before; but I would love to get one if I could get a lower rate than I've got for our Sept trip!

 

[Kell-Bell]

I've changed the booking!!

1st week staying at the Royal Pacific Resort and then 2nd week at the All Stars Resort!! (Wanted to stay at Caribbean Beach, but there's always next time!)

Thank's to everyone for being so friendly and helpful.
Just hope I can help when I come back full of knowledge!

(this is me at the moment bouncing with happiness!!!)

 

[*Fantasia*]

Hey Kell-Bell

Sounds like you're doing what we're doing. We're staying at RPR which is a beautfiul resort for 3 nights and then heading to Disney staying at All Stars for 6 nights. We are saving the best for last--Disney!

I know what they mean about once you're in Disney and see the castle...I don't think I would want to leave Disney either!!

You will love RPR! BTW... I don't know when you're going but Universal is offering a special...buy 2 tickets (you can hop back and forth to both parks) and get the 3rd ticket FREE!. I am heading back agan this June and going to take advantage of this special.

Have fun!! Enjoy both the "World" and the "Universe".

 

[joloco]

fyi re universal....we bought a 5 day ticket on-line that was about the same price as a 2day/3rd free ticket (about 90ish) . ticket is only good for five consecutive days but well worth it w/ FOTL.
have fun and check out the universal boards.

 

[Gary M]

Kell-Bell:

Keep your eye on these boards or www.mousesavers.com for WDW room discount codes.

Have a great trip to the USA.

 

[Gillian]

Mousesavers also has info on the Entertainment books for $10.

Kell-bell, if you aren't planning to drive during your trip, I would check with the Holiday Inn about their transportation. Often off site hotels have very limited schedules, which can be very inconvenient. They may also charge to take you to Disney or universal.

We are hoping to stay onsite at Universal later this year. The resorts all look great and you can't beat the front of the line access! We have the RPR booked in November for $110 (entertainment rate), but we may not be able to go then.

 

[Kell-Bell]

Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you.

You are all sooooo lovely!!

Gillian, the transport/buses was what was worrying me the most, I didn't want to waste precious minutes waiting around for buses when I could be living the dream of skipping down main street towards the castle! (sorry, I'm having a very silly day! and laughing so much right now)
But don't have to worry about it now, cause I've booked my first week at Royal Pacific!!

I don't have to worry about buying tickets, as they are included in the price when you book! And it's something less to worry about.

 

[S. C.]

Hi Kell-Bell

Welcome to the dis. While at disney ride in the front of the monorail we did this 3x last july.

We stayed at allstar movies last year & loved it.

 

[Gilligan]

Hi Kell-Bell
I'm just down the road from you in Sunny (I wish!) Hampshire. Just came back from WDW 2 days ago. You'll have a GREAT time! We stayed at the Dolphin (had to make use of their fantastic discount for nurses, teachers & Govt employees), and 'did' WDW and US. I'd agree with splitting the holiday between the two resorts, and staying on-site if poss. Having WDW transportation was great (and more frequent than off-site transportation, I suspect), but we hired a car to get us to US (well, we were hiring one to get us down to the Everglades anyway, so we just added on a few more days). US was so busy, I'd have loved to have stayed on-site to use their front of line pass. All the Express passes had gone by midday, and I'm afraid I had a teeny weeny bit of a tantrum (ok, a mega one!) when DH suggested we (plus dd5 and DS9) move on to IOA. Would have been possible with FOLP (and older children!)

 

[kda]

Just a reminder that the card in the 2003 Entertainment book is only good through November 1st. For rooms booked after that date, a new card (from the 2004 book) would be needed.

 

[eeyore0062]

After staying in the Royal Pacific for a week, I am afraid you may end up disappointed in the All Stars. Watch those codes, and switch to the CBR if you get the chance. You won't be sorry!

 

[Kell-Bell]

Hi again

Thank for the advice Eeyore0062, but I think it will be fine, I'm just happy (well estactic if truth be known!) to actually be going. After 2 years of asking, boyfriend finally said yes! I'd be happy staying in a tent, as long as it was on Disney Property!!
And I'm sure that if things aren't perfect, I won't throw any tantrums like Gilligan!! (Oh how I laughed at that!!)

So Gilligan, hows HAmpshire today? I can just see a little patch of blue sky at the moment, and the sun is trying to come out!
I actually pictured someone having a tantrum cause they couldn't go on the rides!! I plan on acting like a child the whole time!! I've warned my other half to be prepared!!