How many days, where to stay, what order disney/universal

[HairyChest]

i just want to give back to these boards as so many people have helped me plan my vacations based on their knowledge.

Ive been to universal 3 times and disney 6 and wanted to give some tips based on my stays about how many days and nights to do universal and disney and in what order.

Ive stayed at various hotels all on property and in different orders so here are my thoughts.

7 or 8 nights at disney followed by 2 or 3 nights at universal

The reason is magical express is such a wonderful part of the expirience when you fly into orlando, theyhandle yourluggage so you dont have to go pick it up. However leaving with magical express you have to be by the front lobby 3 hours prior to yourdeparturewhich i think is too much and want to enjoy the hotel/parks longer so using a cab to go from universal to the airport makes it at your own pace. Also its harder to go home from disney then to go to universal from disney

As for hotel choices, here are the best in order, i leave spaces to emphasize the difference in luxury and magic is between the resorts:

Grand floridian
Polynesian
Wilderness lodge

Port or leans riverside royal rooms
Portorleans riverside
Art of animation

Grand floridian and polynesian are close for 1st, wilderness lodge is next. Definitly try to at least get wilderness lodge if $$ is a concern it makes a hugggedifference in the vacation to have a deluxeresort .

As for universal, definitly do the portofino bay even if you like the tropical theme of the royal pacific, as i thought i would and was dissapointed. The grounds are nice but the room is small and not tropical (i just ststayed in the new refurbished room, felt likea generic vegas room) and i love the polynesian so i was suprised how un hawaiian and islandy the royal pacific felt. Wasnt to detailed whereas the portofino transported me to italy, , made me feel pampered, was detailed , better pool, and the walk to the parks actually felt shorter then the royal pacific for some reason.

As for the parks, you can do everything in universal with park hoppers in a day and a half but to enjoy the vacation and hotel definitly do 2 nights, 3 if you never been and want extra hotel time.

Id rank portofino bay vs the disney resorts slightly higher then the wilderness lodge.

 

[bhartman]

Thanks for sharing! We're considering a Universal trip for next year and I was looking at Royal Pacific. I'll have to re-price the trip with Portofino to see how much more it is.

 

[peg110]

My problem is, is that we want to "Try" Universal, but the cost is so expensive. I know, the cost for Disney is too, but there seems to be more options at Disney. Let me consider the following. That a If I buy a 2 day pass at each Park (Company - Universal and Disney) I have the following Pros/Cons (2 day Disney w/o hopper versus 2 day Universal w/Park-to-park which is roughly the same price)

Disney Pros

• 4 park options for Disney
• No Need to Get Park Hopper (for us).
• Familiarity of parks
• Exceptional (usually) service.
• Excellent transportation system (for resort guests anyway)
• Easy Access to get to parking area.
• FP+ Free
  
• FP+ can be scheduled 30 days in advance (60 if staying on property)

Disney Cons.

• Expensive.
• Lines can get long with little relief from elements (on some rides/seasons).
• Only 3 FP+ Can get more but only after last FP+ is used.

Please note my evaluation on Universal is based solely on what I have read, investigated or heard from friends who have experienced it and is NOT based on any visit to the parks. (except for the Parking area that we visited going to the "City Walk" with a bus group).

Universal Studios Pros.

• 2 park Options
• New/Different themes (as opposed to Disney)
• Apparently Cooling fans are used for relief in the elements for long lines.

Universal Cons.

• Parking is not as convenient. (apparently getting to parking is difficult too)
• Express Pass requires extra Purchase
• Parks are smaller and are not necessarily a full day park necessitating a Park-To-Park option
• Need Park-To-Park to ride Hogwarts Express (again, extra cost)

While there may be more "Pros" (or cons) to Universal It's a lot of money to figure it out. It's also tough to make the assessment based on others experience. As I have found out, just because YOU like something doesn't mean that I will (or my family). Vice verse, just because I like it doesn't mean you will. Again, I have read lots of reviews, but until I actually experience it, it will be tough. It's a lot of money for my family of 4 (no one gets the "Child" rate) to find out though.

 

[disneylove69]

A big Disney fan but I have fallen in love with Universal. Less crowded, less pushing and shoving as it seems to have more adults than kids? You don't have to wait an hour for a 3 minute ride. Less rushed and more entertainment out of the sun. I could always pretty much walk in a few minutes before a show and get a good seat (not sure during summer). The parking is not an issue. It's all under a covered garage so no burning steering wheels. There is a walk (think walking across the lake from Magic Kingdom to parking lot and maybe less) to the parks. It's a nice walk as there is music playing, smells from the restaurants and shops. At night the parks close earlier than Disney but the parks are doable in that amount of time so I don't feel as exhausted. Since you have to walk through Universal City Walk it breaks up the crowd when leaving. The walk from park-park is not that far and there is Hogwarts express The food and snacks are also cheaper than Disney. Same Rice Krispy treat Disney has is half the price at Universal.