How many days at Disney versus Universal

[Shoshannah]

Hello,

This will be our first trip ever to Disney World (Mom and 21 & 18 year old daughters). We are huge Disney fans. We have seven days in January planned and are allocating one day per park at Disney. We know we also want to do Universal (both parks). At Universal, our priorities are Harry Potter, Simpsons, Jurassic Park, Kong, ET, Mummy, Spiderman, and maybe Hulk (only one of us is a thrill ride person). We were hoping to do Universal in one day since we will be staying on Disney property.

My question is would you plan on 6 days at Disney and 1 at Universal, or 5 days at Disney and 2 at Universal?

Thanks!

 

[paarras]

We've done both parks in 1 day before (even riding Mummy and Spider-Man multiple time) Typically we go in September, mid week, when crowds are low. We've also done a split stay at Portifino Bay and Disney's Ft Wilderness. For us, staying at a Lowes resort for a couple of days allows for more leisurely park touring (not to mention the free express passes for staying on property)

 

[knicksak2]

when i go, including my upcoming trip in october i am spending 2 days at universal. There is a lot to enjoy and look at in the harry potter worlds and spending one day can rush you through it all. I know when i did a 1 day both park universal trip after a cruise a few years ago i missed out on so much in diagon ally

 

[slford00]

You could spend multiple days at any of the 6 parks and still not see every single ride/show/detail. If I had to choose, I would say 5 days Disney, 2 days Universal to maximize seeing as much as possible. You could easily do Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom in 1 day. 2 days at Magic Kingdom is highly recommended (it has at least twice as many attractions as all the other parks).

While you could probably see most of the highlights at Universal in 1 day, having 2 days will provide a much more relaxed, low-stress experience.

 

[markmcalear]

You can easily do everything at Universal in a full day, especially with Express Passes!

I always get to Universal at RD, stay in one park until lunch then switch to the other. After dinner I hit Citywalk and then maybe back into the parks to re-ride my favorite rides.

 

[Minniesgal]

I would do 5 and 2 and buy express pass to get the best out of Universal. However, we are huge fans of Universal and there is much more there than at disney for my teens. We prefer to stay at Disney for our DVC but prefer the Universal parks

 

[Patience]

We've been to WDW several times so for our February trip to Orlando we are planning 3 days at Universal (can't wait to see and do the Harry Potter stuff!), 1 day at Lego Land (my 9 year old requested this), and one day at Magic Kingdom if I can get decent fast passes. We are staying at a Universal resort. I thought about more days at WDW but, honestly, I don't feel like doing the necessary planning and Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios aren't really appealing to me right now with all of the construction and closures and Epcot is in dire need of an update. So we will hit Magic Kingdom for one day but if I can't get decent fast passes 30 days out, we may save the $300+ that one day at MK will cost and just hang out at our resort, play a little minigolf, go bowling, or check out City Walk. Who knows? That's why I am stoked about Universal this year- very little planning and we will go with the flow and do what we feel like doing when the mood hits.

 

[jerseygal]

We have been to Universal several times and have been "spoiled" by the Express Pass by staying at one of three onsite Universal hotels that gives you express pass access Would not do Universal any other way, most attractions offer it, just walked on this past May, no waiting!Plan your itinerary with at LEAST 1 night at one of the three Universal on site hotels and you can get 2 full days of express pass out of it, one night hotel stay. We recently stayed at Hard Rock, 3 nights, would return again in a heartbeat! Great pool area, closest on site hotel walk to Universal, 5 to 10 minute walk, had a bladt, ENJOY!

 

[Parker Clan]

Agree with every single thing the PP said. The first three years we just did one half day IoA. But this will be our third year staying on site at Royal Pacific Resort and we can't say enough great things about it & the express pass! And we love Universal!! What a blast. It's a nice "appetizer" vacation before the main course of Disney every year.

 

[jerseygal]

Enjoy KONG by the way. We missed it in May, always a next time.

 

[GaryDis]

We're planning two days but three nights at Universal, four park days at Disney, one break day. I just want to point out that the reason we're doing three nights at Universal is that Cabana Bay is much cheaper than any of the moderate or deluxe resorts at Disney, with comparable location.

We're not planning on express passes, since conventional wisdom is they're not needed for September with two days, and the hotels with express pass would cost twice as much. I'd imagine the same is true for January. I believe the people who say everything can be done in one day, but I don't want to push it.

 

[rwdavis2]

I would recommend staying on site at Universal and get 2-day park-to-park passes and the rest of the days at WDW. On site at Universal you get free Express Passes. 2 days is plenty to do it all and re-do what you liked. Once you stay at a Universal hotel you'll wonder what's wrong over at Disney.

 

[GaryDis]

On site at Universal you get free Express Passes

Only at the higher end hotels.

 

[rwdavis2]

Only at the higher end hotels.

Yep. I should have clarified that. Although you get early entry at all of them.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Next year we are staying at Cabana Bay for 2 nights and using the 2 day get 1 free day passes from UT. That way we can leisurely do both Universal parks. We'll transfer to WL on that Sunday for a week long stay.

 

[chapie1968]

I would do 5 and 2 and buy express pass to get the best out of Universal. However, we are huge fans of Universal and there is much more there than at disney for my teens. We prefer to stay at Disney for our DVC but prefer the Universal parks

Depending on the size of the party, the best thing to do is book a room at a mid level or better resort so all members of your party get the Express Pass. Booking a room for one night can often be cheaper than buying the Express pass for your entire party. Plus you get it for 2 days, day of arrival and departure.

 

[kelmac284]

We always do bare min 6 park days and like to have 1 day for DTD and resort hopping. We need 2 days at Epcot and like 2 days at MK. Def only need one or even half a day at HS depending on when you go and possibly AK as well. But esp Epcot is so huge hard to do in one day. For Universal if it is off season you could probably do both in a day but we are going to do 2 since we are going Xmas week. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Baptist]

I agree with the posters who stay onsite at Universal. However, I think it is worth paying the extra to stay at the least expensive resort that offers free express passes. When we stayed, that was the Royal Pacific Hotel.

Going for 2 days will make sure you get everything in. One day is possible (with early entry and express pass) to see most of it.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Alice777]

We were at WDW this April and we did 5 days at WDW and 2 days at Universal. One day each park at Universal even without express pass was more than enough time to do everything we wanted to do. Just make sure you are there at rope drop and give plenty of time to go though the security check eventhough it was very quick. Make sure to get the park hopper so that you can ride the Hogwarts Express. My son didn't want to buy the park hopper because he didn't think it was worth the little extra but I insist on it and he was glad we did. It was very unexpected and surprise ride. Do Harry Potter Lands first thing in the morning because it gets really crowded in the afternoon. We stayed at Pop and took uber for both days and it was about $15 each way.

 

[Canooknic]

I'd do 5 & 2.
My boys spent so much time in HP last time, just looking in windows etc, and now there's Hogwarts Express etc we definitely need 2 days (they'd probably just spend it in HP if they had the choice!! Lol)

For our next trip we have 10 Disney days, 2 Universal and 2 unallocated days so we can do a 3rd Universal or DS or SeaWorld....whatever the kids want basically!!