How to "do" both WDW & Universal

[DisneyMomma81]

We're considering visiting Orlando again next early-mid March and we want to visit Universal (Harry Potter) at some point ~ what's the best *most economical* way to do this while also spending some time at WDW. Do we *start/end/or somewhere in the middle* with Universal? How do we get around? We only used Disney transport for our 1st WDW visit last Oct.

TIA

 

[eliza61]

We're considering visiting Orlando again next early-mid March and we want to visit Universal (Harry Potter) at some point ~ what's the best *most economical* way to do this while also spending some time at WDW. Do we *start/end/or somewhere in the middle* with Universal? How do we get around? We only used Disney transport for our 1st WDW visit last Oct.

TIA

We always have a car so I can't help you with the transportation to and from universal. We generally do universal in the middle of our trips. We just like to start and end at Disney.

 

[lisaross]

We did both this summer. We did disney 1st for 7 nights we took the Magical express from the airport then we took a taxi from Disney to Univ ersal - stayed at a universal hotel for 4 nights - which was great u can walk to the universal parks and no waiting on most lines. when it was time to leave we took a taxi to the airport. probably not the most "economical" but i would definitly recommend going to Universal at the end - its much more laid back - but being that Harry Potter is just opening, who knows!

We're considering visiting Orlando again next early-mid March and we want to visit Universal (Harry Potter) at some point ~ what's the best *most economical* way to do this while also spending some time at WDW. Do we *start/end/or somewhere in the middle* with Universal? How do we get around? We only used Disney transport for our 1st WDW visit last Oct.

TIA

 

[*Seanaci*]

I think what you have to decide is how many days you want to spend at Universal vs Disney. I've been playing with the idea of hitting Universal simply to see the new Harry Potter part of the park when we go in 2011. And we'd most likely only spend 1 day there. So either renting a car or taking a cab will be our mode of transport. If you're going to do half Disney half Universal, decide what you want to do first and what you want to do last...then go from there as far as seeking out hotels/tickets/transport etc.

Good luck.

 

[java]

Well the Front of the Line access clearly is the best way to see the park- it's a perk with onsite hotels.
Personally we prefer to START at Universal- (but then we always have a car) spend 2 nights usually. Spend first day mostly at Universal a quick hop to Islands then day 2 islands and pool.
With the new Harry Potter area- there was a distinction in the FOTL access- there is one ride there that you will only be allowed to use that perk ONE TIME. *I am thinking it's the 'spidermany" type ride. But I am not sure.

I feel like if we do that last it's kind of a let down after disney.

But you do get spoiled with not waiting in line. So that would be a plus for doing it last.

 

[sTINKS]

I too would love to do Harry Potter one day out of our Disney vacation, but I feel like I am wasting money paying for a Disney Deluxe hotel and leaving the world one day, KNIM?

 

[loveysbydesign]

This might be an odd question but we are going to WDW in Nov. and renting a condo. with my in-laws(their 1st trip to WDW EVER!!!!).
Could I book a room at Universal and not really stay there for the night to get the FOTL access? I don't think my dh is going to want to schlep 5 people's worth of things there for 1 night and leave my in-laws at the condo by themselves??? Could I check in but never go to our room?

 

[Ava]

This might be an odd question but we are going to WDW in Nov. and renting a condo. with my in-laws(their 1st trip to WDW EVER!!!!).
Could I book a room at Universal and not really stay there for the night to get the FOTL access? I don't think my dh is going to want to schlep 5 people's worth of things there for 1 night and leave my in-laws at the condo by themselves??? Could I check in but never go to our room?

I don't see why not, although when you stay for 1 night you get FOTL access for 2 days (the day you check in & the day you check out). We did this a couple years ago, stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel for 1 night, did 1 day at each US & IOA and got FOTL access the whole time. It was awesome.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I don't see why not, although when you stay for 1 night you get FOTL access for 2 days (the day you check in & the day you check out). We did this a couple years ago, stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel for 1 night, did 1 day at each US & IOA and got FOTL access the whole time. It was awesome.

Really?? That's great to know. So do we get FOTL access all day on the day we would check-in or just after we check-in?

 

[Planogirl]

Keep in mind that the Universal hotels blow most of the Disney hotels out of the water and you can pool hop to amazing pools too. Could you pack a smaller bag to take with you to sleep that one night at the Universal hotel?

We normally split our stay between WDW and Universal and even tend to go back and forth lately. If I had to split it exactly I think that I would go to Universal last but then we love Universal. Universal is way more relaxing and less work to us.

 

[amshowers]

We have done split stays before and are doing it again this sept. I definifitely reccomend staying onsite Universal and doing it at the end of you vacation. We are doing Disney resort 5 days with 4 park days and 3 full park days with fotl at Universal. We found it works much better to sun-wed at Disney and Universal with fotl thurs-sat.

 

[lisaross]

i think could just purchase FOTL passes as well... not sure of the add'l fee.

 

[loveysbydesign]

i think could just purchase FOTL passes as well... not sure of the add'l fee.

I think I read that for 4 or more people it's cheaper to just book a room.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I cannot go to US without staying on site and taking advantage of the front of the line privilege. What a time and aggravation saver. So I would suggest that you book a room at the resort you will be playing at the time. If you go to US, you can check in first thing in the a.m. (you probably won't be able to get in to the room until later.)and then you will get your room key that will allow your FOL privilege. You won't believe the time saved by having this advantage. I think there is maybe one or two rides that don't have it! When we go we get there around noon, check in, and go to the parks until closing. We then do one more day and night, play the last day until around 2 and drive home. By that time we have ridden and reridden everything we want. The Royal Pacific is the cheaper hotel, we can usually get it for around $140 with an AP discount.

We are doing this on our trip in June: (I know, it's insane)

3 nights at DTD hotel for $39/night!

leave mid day and go to NickHotel for one night (1/2 day of play on arrival, one full day until closing on check out day-for one night's fee)

Leave NH late that night and go to Royal Pacific for 1 night (2 full days of play)

Go back to DTD $39 hotel late for last night, Shop or visit one park early, leave the next day.

The 4 nights at DTD will be around $200, the one at RP will be around $160, and the NH will be around $200.

We are going to travel lightly..


Anyway, aside from my craziness, I can't stress enough how worthwhile it is to stay on site at Universal. It is a little expensive, but the hotels are beautiful. and consider how much you would pay onto your admission if they offered a ticket with FOL privileges with it. I would be willing to pay $25/each for the 4 of us, so that would leave our hotel fee at around $60. I can rationalize just about anything.

 

[CathrynRose]

Interesting that this was posted today.... I was just Googling this.

I'm thinking - no, I am GOING to go to Universal and IoA this fall. But we don't rent a car.

Has anyone cabbed it? Is it indeed about $50 there / $50 back?

I'd like to do 2 days - and I'm wondering if I would be better off booking a room, versus paying $200 for transportation there and back, twice.

Decisions, decisions.....

Didn't Mears used to have a service there? I thought they did?

Or I can hitchhike.

 

[Kykatt]

We found out something when we did this Same thing last Summer. Most People START Vacations at Disney. And them at Universal. Since we had an AP at Disney last year .. we were hopping between both Parks.
We found it MORE CROWDED... late week than Sun-Tuesday. So I would Def. Do Universal First.And End at Disney!!! .

 

[FINFAN]

This might be an odd question but we are going to WDW in Nov. and renting a condo. with my in-laws(their 1st trip to WDW EVER!!!!).
Could I book a room at Universal and not really stay there for the night to get the FOTL access? I don't think my dh is going to want to schlep 5 people's worth of things there for 1 night and leave my in-laws at the condo by themselves??? Could I check in but never go to our room?

You sure can...we usually book 1 night at RPR, midweek or so while still being checked in at our WDW resort. We usually only do this if we are at a value or the sweet rates at the Dolphin of under 130 or so...but we do bring an overnight bag and do actually sleep at the RPR and swim. DH has come back to the room mid-day there, it is exactly as others say, you can go at a slower pace for the most part (tho WWOHP will affect that) but technically, you do not have to ever enter your room and yes you have the FOTL access from park opening on the day you check in until park closing on the day you check out...it's sweet!

 

[amshowers]

Interesting that this was posted today.... I was just Googling this.

I'm thinking - no, I am GOING to go to Universal and IoA this fall. But we don't rent a car.

Has anyone cabbed it? Is it indeed about $50 there / $50 back?

I'd like to do 2 days - and I'm wondering if I would be better off booking a room, versus paying $200 for transportation there and back, twice.

Decisions, decisions.....

Didn't Mears used to have a service there? I thought they did?

Or I can hitchhike.

I do believe you can take the Lynx bus to Universal Studios from Disney property. You should inquire about this on the Universal/Seaworld board of the Disboards, I know someone will be able to help you there.

 

[bumbershoot]

i think could just purchase FOTL passes as well... not sure of the add'l fee.

If my reading on the universal forum is correct, the passes you can buy only give you one time on each ride. Whereas the passes you get with a room give you unlimited times on the rides (except for the Harry Potter area).

 

[weewuvvdisney]

We just got back from Disney. Went one day to Universal. There was 7 of us and if we went with Mears, it would have been $18.00 a person plus the park entrance.

We went by taxi (van) and it cost us $40.00 each way. Cheaper than Mears.

I had ordered our tickets from Ticketmania and had them delivered to our hotel - another savings.


Just to let you know, though, the night before we left...... I went on the Transportation message board and there was a sticky thread with a better park entrance with transportation by Mears included. It was too late for us to take advantage of it.


There are ways to save a bit here and there!




Jan