How do you split your Disney/US trip?

[disneydreamerinny]

I am planning for the first time a trip to US/IOA when we go to Orlando in April. We have been to Disney 3 times, and would like to add some US in as well.
We are going for 7 nights total.
I would like to book at RPR. How many days do you need for US/IOA parks?
My girls will be 16 & 13 when we go.
We wont have a rental car, so how do you suggest we get from one resort to the other?
I would like to do Disney the first part of our trip and the US towards the end.
Sorry for all of the questions.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Personally, I like four days at US/IOA and three at WDW. This just works out well for our budgets since WDW has that Play Three deal going for FL residents and we're passholders for USO.

I also like to change out day by day. We'll do, for instance, US on Saturday, maybe AK on Sunday, IOA on Monday, MK on Tuesday, US on Wednesday, etc. The days we're at a WDW park, we'll plan on dinner at Citywalk. The days we're at USO, we'll plan on dinner at a WDW hotel (just to keep variety going every day).

Can't help with the car situation. We drive. I know we have taken cabs to Citywalk when we know we'll be drinking, but our timeshare is right up the street. With a tip, it's about $15 each way.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[disneyfreakk]

I think you should do 4 nights at WDW, then 3 nights at Universal.You guys have done WDW before and you all know what you like and dont like at disney.

As for transportation, its a good thing that you dont have a rental car because the universal resorts charge for parking. We always use tiffanytowncar.com . Its about the same price as taking a cab for two people, so you would actually come out ahead by not taking a cab if there are more than two of you.

 

[pigby]

We have just returned from a split stay between US and WDW - we also stayed at RPR and didn't have a car - it costs $12 per day self parking (plus all the extra insurances folk from the UK have to pay - wasn't worth it.) As a previous poster has said, we used Tiffany towncars for the 3 way trip - airport-US-WDW-airport - we chose to do WDW last (personal preference and the fact that we figured the last week in August would be less busy than the third). Check out Tiffany's website http//www.tiffanytowncars.com/ for price - as we flew out of Sanford (more expensive).

 

[MassMom94]

Just back Friday. We did 2 nights at the HRH followed by 8 nights at Disney (Wilderness Lodge) - actually planned on 6 nights at Disney, but Ernesto gave us a bonus 2 days Just wish he could have paid for it

We had a rental car, so I can't help you there (though 2003 trip used Tiffany Town Car from airport to Disney and back and would recommend them). We had 2.5 days in Universal and I thought that was enough - three days/two nights to me would be plenty with the front of the line pass you get by staying on site, unless you plan on doing a non-park day with the pool (awesome at HRH), shopping, etc.

 

[macraven]

since 1993, i have split my stays between disney and universal.

there is no way i could go to orlando and not hit both places.

you must do disney first. you are familiar with it and could probably do it all lin 4 days.

stay at universal on site hotels for the end of your trip. you will be spoiled after the first visit staying on site. 3 days would be good as long as it is not in the easter or spring break time period.

by staying at the on site hotels, you will have fotl priveledges. that means you use the express lines for all rides and attractions. you could spend one day each at both parks and on the third day hit some attractions/rides you want to repeat. also, spend some time at city walk.

i have taken the mears shuttle/$14 pp, cabs/ 2 pp $25 at off times, car service and car rental.
i don't like paying the fee for parking the car at universal hotels so i have stopped renting one.
i prefer the car service. i booked a 3 leg trip for this coming trip. paying $112 w/coupon for sunray and includes a free 30 minute grocery stop.
i can have 5 people in the car with no added charge. this covers mco to disney, disney to rph, rph to mco transporation.

i would think car service or taxi would work out for you.

if you go during spring break or easter break time, there will be crowds but longer hours at the park. with fotl, you will not have long waits but the park itself, resturants will be crowded. if you plan your trip at this time, book asap for UO hotels.

my first few trips to UO were for 2.5 days, it was only the studios at that time. once ioa was built, my stays for UO are 4 days. longest i have stayed on site has been 6 nights.

for a first trip, 3 nights at rph would be good.
plan on being at the park/UO when it opens
you can repeat rides you enjoyed later in the day then.
some of the attractions are not opened until later in the day.
some have set time periods/thinking horror make up show, T2, animal planet, etc......

post again if you have more questions.

 

[aztecgoods]

Looks like we are pretty much in agreement on here, I would do 3 days 3 nights at Universal, other 4 for Dis. Stay on site at Universal and you will not really need transpo to go to any of the parks. Only thing you may need to do is take a cab to the store, but if you are in the mood to walk, there is a Walgreens walking distance from the Royal Pacific. Its a good hike, but under a mile there (pretty sure its under a mile).

 

[pluto's fan]

We usually stay at USF for three nights and Disney for at least 6 nights.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

We always do Universal last with a minimum of three days. First off, it's much more relaxed if staying on site and we use 1 full day at each park with a third to do the stuff again we really enjoyed. Two years ago, we spent 6 nights at Universal and never got bored! Loved it!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Your trip looks like 8 days but that first and last day could be shorter than you think due to travel. Then there is a day in the middle where you will be moving. The shortest I could do Disney is 3 days, 1 day at MK, 1 day AK/EPCOT, 1 day MGM/EPCOT. Universal is two days, 1 per park. You might be able to squeeze in an extra abbreviated day at each resort on each check in day.

To sum it up I'd check in to Disney on Day 1 and out on Day 5 using Day 5 to relax and explore my universal hotel and City Walk. I'd do parks on 6 & 7 and pack and git on 8. I'd probably try to check in as early as possible on Day 1 so I could get in some extra park time at EPCOT or MK. The advantage of extra time at EPCOT means maybe a longer day at MGM or AK plus an opportunity to change a split day to MK & another park rather than EPCOT and another park.

 

[Pooh Fan]

We always go to Disney first, and then spend at least 4 nights onsite at Universal. This way, we relax at the end of the trip--more time by the pool, etc because we have FOTL. We usually feel rested when we get home like we really were on a vacation. I think if we did Disney last, we would be too tired and feel as though we need a vacation to get over our vacation.

 

[pigby]

I think if we did Disney last, we would be too tired and feel as though we need a vacation to get over our vacation.

We did - and we do (need another vacation to get over it)

 

[aztecgoods]

Probably wouldn't have been a good vacation otherwise, I am always dead when I get home from vacation.

 

[DBC]

Boy, it's interesting to see the variety of answers.

We always stay 1 or 2 nights on property (for FOTL access) at US/IoA at the beginning of the trip and take 1 day at each park. With FOTL we (2 adults and 2 kids) get to do everything as many times as we can take in that time.

We did 4 nights at HRH and US/IoA on our first visit and found it was way too much time there for us.

We usually have 3-4 park days at Disney after that with an off-day or 2 depending on the trip.

We always finish at Disney. It's more relaxing there for us. Dunno why.

Since we are in cost savings mode this year (actually next Feb) we are only spending 1 day at RPR with FOTL the day we check in and out. All other nights are either free (using Starwood points) or on a Starwood promo deal at Vistana.

 

[Laurabearz]

We fall into the prefering WDW first, then US/IOA... we stay on site at HRH, and the FOTL is GREAT... hard to go back to using the fast passes....

I also agree that 4 nights WDW 3 nights US/IOA.....

Have fun planning!

 

[jfelcie]

We go to Universal first (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) because more points are required for our time share on The Boardwalk during this time. If it weren't for the points I would reverse it. The FOTL passes really spoil you!!!
We have always stayed at The Hard Rock. This time we are trying The Royal Pacific club level. We have FL Tours pick us up at the airport and transport us to Universal. Late Sunday they will pick us up, stop for groceries and then to DW for six days. On Saturday they will bring us to the airport. The cost is about $165.00. They are great . . . no rental wait, no gas, no parking fees and no worries such as accidents or getting lost!!! We have even had them pick us up at DW and take us to Discovery Cove at Sea World. It is a convient door to door service. I always budget at least one day for each park.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I think it depends a lot on how your family likes a vacation. If you are a commando type of tourist, you can do UO in 2 days, 3 at the most. We're not, & don't think that's what vacation is all about. We stay 5 nights at UO (usually HRH) & have decided to stay longer next summer. We've never been bored. We live in Tampa, & have been to all of the parks too many times to count. 3 days at WDW are plenty for us (for DH & DS anyway ). Now that our DS(14) is older, we spend more time at UO. If your family is still mesmerized by the "magic" that is WDW, I'd stay 4 nights at WDW, then 3 nights at UO. It's better to leave wanting more, than be bored. No matter how you split the days, I'd stay onsite at UO at the end of your trip. You'll love it & be hooked like the rest of us.

 

[Katy Belle]

We are doing our first split visit. We are doing WDW first, 6 days, then 3 at Universal.
Thanks for all the info about the transportation! I've been trying to figure out how to do that. I didn't know you could book all the legs in advance as a package like that. I will definitely look into it. We rented a car last time just to let it sit. This sounds like a better deal.
Thanks!
Katy

 

[rstamm]

I have been to Universal 3 different times and always off season, we did both parks and rode all attractions no problem in one day. We are there when it opens and stay till it closes.
My DS and I love Universal, my DW does not.
We are going Dec. 19-31 to florida and are doing Universal 2 days, Disney 11.
We are going Dec. 20 to Universal and staying on property for 1 night and looking forward to FOTL pass.
We usually go to Disney twice a yr. and I want to go to Universal at least one day, each trip from now on. We love the Spiderman ride, DS is really disapointed that BTTF is closing, he liked to chase after Biff.
My opinion is if you are going off season or have FOTL, 2 days would be plenty.
I personally like 2 days at each disney park.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

if you are going off season or have FOTL, 2 days would be plenty.
I personally like 2 days at each disney park.

Just so the OP doesn't get the wrong idea. There is more to do at US than at MGM. Both of the UO parks have more to do & see than AK does also. I agree that WDW definitely takes more time to tour than UO, but for our family that's only because of MK & Epcot. Also, the commute at WDW in no way compares to the onsite commute at UO, which adds to the time needed to see the Disney parks. You could also factor in the WDW water parks vs. Wet & Wild, & DTD vs. CW. Those only figure into the equation for those who regularly visit more than the big 4 at WDW & US/ IOA at UO. Everyone has their own style of touring, & things they prefer doing. I just didn't want the OP to get the impression that US takes 1/2 the time to see as MGM does. For my family, we wouldn't be at US 2 1/2 hrs in that case.