Help with Universal & WDW Trip

[Kathy Rittenhouse]

I am trying to plan my family's first trip to WDW and Universal Studios. My son is 8 and I think the time has come. However I have read soooo much information that I'm totally confused. Here are my questions. Should we stay on site at WDW even though it is more expensive or drive back and forth from PBH? We are going during Spring Break. I have a hard time justifing paying the same for a moderate room at WDW that I am at PBH. If I do decide to split my stay between WDW and PBH at Universal, does the WDW Swan Hotel have a slide at the pool. Big selling point with my son!!!!

Since is my first post to this thread please forgive any errors.

Thanks
Kathy

 

[crazyme5kids]

How many days are you going? When we went, we stayed two nights at Universal, then stayed the remainder of our trip off site and drove to Disney. I don't know if I would stay on site at Disney, it sounds like getting around there using Disney transportation can take a lot of time. We just drove to whatever park each day and it was painless and quick.

 

[AspiringCindy]

I, on the other hand only stay on WDW property and would never stay off property(well maybe for Portofino Bay). It all depends on how you are splitting your stay. If you are visiting WDW parks then stay on property. If your a teacher, nurse or police officer, Swan and Dolphin gives you a special discounted rate.

 

[Nan]

Depending on when your Spring Break is, it could be crowded at Universal so the onsite Express perks would make staying onsite at Universal worthwhile. You might stay onsite for the days you plan to be at Universal and at Disney or offsite altogether for the non-Universal days.

Nan

 

[gschmerl]

Definitely stay on-site at Universal for the days you'll be going to those parks. The express access will be priceless. Then you could try for the teacher/nurse/government employee or Entertainment rate at the Swan/Dolphin. Yes there is a slide at the pool there--no where near as big as the one at the Hard Rock Hotel, but your son will love it.

 

[E.Jane]

I'd be more inclined to stay onsite at WDW unless all you really want is a place to rest your head. It really is nice to still be in the "World" at the end of the day. I understand early entry has been re-activated, and as spring break is typically more crowded than January or February, that extra hour could get some major rides done before the lines get too bad. You can't access the early entry unless you stay on site. There may also be some discounts released for room rates before then.

I'd suggest doing WDW first, then moving over to Universal. Although I can't speak from experience (yet!), from what I understand, the FOTL passes at Universal really spoil you! To do Universal first, then switching to WDW may end up being more frustrating than anything when all of a sudden you find yourself at the back of a one-hour wait line vs. getting FOTL.

 

[antmaril]

E.Jane is absolutely correct about doing Disney first.

I think you should split your stay between Disney and Universal doing Disney FIRST. FOTL access at Universal will definitely spoil you and it is very hard to do Disney once you've had FOTL at Universal.

I don't know if they have a slide at the Swan, so I can't comment on that. At Disney, we have stayed at the Beach Club (nice pool area and great location - but it can be very expensive). The Port Orleans is very nice and has a pool slide (which my son loved) when he was your son's age.

I think you will really enjoy staying on-site at both Disney and Universal. You get the best of both worlds.

Have a great vacation!

 

[ksdave]

I also agree with doing WDW first, then UO. My son and his friend had just turned 9 when they last went. We did 2 days at UO first, then five at WDW. After the awesome attractions at UO, like MIB, T2D, Dueling Dragons, Hulk, Spidey, etc., I think they were both a little bored by our fourth day at WDW. Too many "slow" and "kiddie" attractions there to keep them entertained for 5 days.
Next trip, we are doing a long weekend at UO only.

 

[Saffron]

I would book both hotels and switch during your trip. Because you will be going during one of the busiest times of year, staying on-site at both places will give you the advantage you will need to beat the crowds. Plus, after a day of touring and crowds, it's nice not to have to worry about gettting to the parking lot, driving to your hotel etc.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I agree with Saffron, if you can split the stay. It was very nice to just be back in our room after a long day at the parks and not have to drive to get there.