How to split WDW / UO

[Borgar]

Greetings!
We're going to UO for the first time this fall -- a split stay between WDW and Universal. We'll be doing WDW first, staying at the Dolphin, then we plan to transfer to Royal Pacific for the UO portion.

We'll be doing the WDW parks Sat. 10/9- Wed. 10/13, then the UO parks 10/14-10/15, and maybe half a day on Sat. 10/16 before our flight. My initial plan is to stay at the Dolphin through 10/13, and transfer that day to RPR; that way, we could get up early on the 14th and be ready to hit WWoHP.

After listening to this week's Universal edition of the Dis Unplugged podcast, I'm thinking maybe we should stay at the Dolphin the night of the Wed. the 13th, then transfer over to RPR in the early morning of the 14th. (I guess they can hold the luggage even if the room isn't ready?) That way we could get our room key for FOTL access for that day, and it would cost much less to stay that night at the Dolphin than RPR.

What do you think is the best strategy, split-stay veterans?

 

[La2kw]

What did the podcast say that makes you want to spend less time at Universal?

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I do split stays, but I'm probably not a good judge since I generally move from a WDW moderate, which is not nearly as nice as RPR. I prefer longer at the nicer hotel, so I go with the night at RPR or PBH.

While WWOHP will be intense with many visitors, I suspect the rest of IOA and US will be less so. If you are concerned about avoiding the morning crowds at WWOHP, but you also want to visit US, I'd move and start my day there. That will allow you to start your day more leisurely (with FOTL, you will not be waiting in long lines at most rides), and you can ease into the less stressful part of your vacation. YMMV

Maria

 

[Borgar]

I did decide to change to transferring hotels early in the a.m. on the 14th. The thing I heard on the podcast was that you could get FOTL access the day you check in, and you could check in early in the morning (at RPR) and have them hold your luggage.

That would just mean a bit of savings, since the nightly rate at RPR is $80 or so higher than the Dolphin.