Help with going to Universal

[mrsannb]

We are a family of 6 traveling with 2 adults and 4 kids age 2,5,8,11.
I have the Disney portion of our trip booked at Old Key West from May 20-26. Our flight leaves on the 29th and we want to go see Harry Potter.
We have only ever done Disney and used Disney transportation. We do NOT want to rent a car, because we don't like to travel with car seats and it's expensive for a min van. We know nothing about going to Universal (and I'm sure the dates we picked are busy ones-Memorial Day-couldn't help that---2 days at Universal?)
So I need to know some options (just one good one will do!) for getting from Disney to wherever we'll stay the 26th-29th and then to Universal and to the airport. Perhaps someplace that offers a free shuttle and has a room good for 6. We like comfortable beds. Needs to have someplace to eat too.

TIA, I'm sure this is in a FAQ if I can locate the info...

 

[goofy4tink]

I would try to book a room at US/IoA. Try Royal Pacific. That's the least expensive of the three onsite resorts there. Then, you can get into the two parks an hour early and get FoTL access each day. Yes, the room will be more expensive than offsite rooms but you get those nice perks.
I would get a van cab to get you over there.
There are US/IoA boards here....head over there and you should be able to get some room info and other general info that will help you out.

 

[hsmamato2]

I would try to book a room at US/IoA. Try Royal Pacific. That's the least expensive of the three onsite resorts there. Then, you can get into the two parks an hour early and get FoTL access each day. Yes, the room will be more expensive than offsite rooms but you get those nice perks.
I would get a van cab to get you over there.
There are US/IoA boards here....head over there and you should be able to get some room info and other general info that will help you out.

Yes....the extra money will be worth it since you have one day and are traveling with such young kids....

 

[mrsannb]

We would have to get two rooms, it hardly seems worth it to spend $500+/night. I'm not even spending that to stay in a 1 bed onsite at Disney.

Do any hotels near Universal offer a free airport shuttle?

 

[Redarrow5150]

You can use Dreams Unlimited and buy tickets and get in one hour early as well.

 

[tjmw2727]

We would have to get two rooms, it hardly seems worth it to spend $500+/night. I'm not even spending that to stay in a 1 bed onsite at Disney.

Do any hotels near Universal offer a free airport shuttle?

No - you are probably going to have to use a towncar for the trip from the Disney Hotel to the Universal hotel and then from the Universal Hotel to the airport - you can search the towncar options but it will probably run you about 150 r/t and they do provide carseats.

Offsite hotels at Universal range from 89 to 300 and onsite are 250-500 depending on the time of year resort and accomodations. The HUGE benefit of staying onside is early entry and front of the line access. Unlike Disney Universal doesn not offer a free fast pass type option -you need to pay for them.

FWIW I don't visit Universal unless I am staying onsite - the FOTL beneift is just that good - but you can stay one night and get two days of FOTL if that helps at all. IIRC Hard Rock Deluxe rooms will sleep 5 plus one child 3 or under so that may be an option.

With the ages of your kids -and if your only spending one day at Universal I would probably just stay onsite at Disney for the entire trip and do a day trip to Universal via the mears shuttle or the package mentioned above. Then you can use DME for the trip to and from the airport.

If your main interest is Harry Potter then early entry (again as mentioned above) is a great perk as they don't offer FOTL for the Harry Potter ride.

 

[kwdw]

Have to agree that I am not sure I'd go to Universal with kids your ages - I might stay at Disney the whole time. Or maybe arrange Mears service for your group for one day to see Harry Potter from WDW.

Personally, I'll never go to Universal again without staying on site, you really feel like a second class citizen without FOTL privileges there. However - on site is not cheap and I'm not sure worth it for younger families.

I have stayed at the Doubletree across the street from Universal - they do have a shuttle that will take you over to the parks. It's a conference hotel, not themed for kids, but the location is good (you can walk to a drug store, close to Universal) and at least when we went, fairly priced compared to on-site.

 

[mrsannb]

We are just going to stay at Disney the whole time and take a shuttle over to see Harry Potter one day. Would love suggestions of what to see to make the most of our day. (we should be able to go to either park)
Only our almost-8 year old likes roller coasters.
The 2 year old may sit for a show if it keeps his attention.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would imagine that most of the kids would enjoy Universal Studios. There is a fair amount to do there that the younger kids will enjoy.
IoA is a more 'extreme' park. Lots of big coasters and such. At Forbidden Journey (in Harry Potter area), there are height restrictions that are hugely enforced!! So, be aware of that.
I would visit the US/IoA boards here on the DIS to get a better feel for what there is at each park.

 

[tjmw2727]

We are just going to stay at Disney the whole time and take a shuttle over to see Harry Potter one day. Would love suggestions of what to see to make the most of our day. (we should be able to go to either park)
Only our almost-8 year old likes roller coasters.
The 2 year old may sit for a show if it keeps his attention.

You are going to want to start at IOA in the Harry Potter section and get that done asap in the morning. The Forbidden Journey ride is amazing and the whole family will enjoy the wand show but the line builds FAST and gets long for both!!

If the younger two don't meet the height restriction for FJ you can still do a non riding tour of the castle while you wait for those who can ride.

Do some research on these parks - like a pp mentioned check height restrictions and fear warnings! Little ones will like suess landing but there isn't a whole lot more for younger kids - IIRC 3 rides in that section.

If you have park hoppers you can spend the afternoon at Universal - Despicable Me will appeal to the entire family and there is an animal show that my neice enjoyed plus a few more fun coasters for the 8yo. The 5yo may be tall enough for Men in Black as well.

Honestly though - with the ages of your your younger children and the prices of Universal Tickets(vs adding extra days to Disney tickets!) plus the costs of the mears shuttle I would consider separating and maybe sending one parent and the 8yo to see Harry Potter and and letting the younger children do some Disney favorites or just chill at the pool?

Don't get me wrong we Love Universal but until my kids were 9/10 we stuck with Disney

Have Fun!