If you go to both Universal and to WDW, where would you stay?

[Minnie_me]

We're planning this (hopefully!) trip to Orlando for my DDs and me, probably in June 2015.

They have only been to WDW once, in 2007, and have never been to Universal. They are Harry Potter fanatics, btw. So I want to do maybe 3 days at Universal, and 2 at WDW.

Would it make more sense to stay off-site? I'd love to hear your ideas......

 

[Momof1redhead]

As a HUGE Harry Potter fan myself (yep, I'm 41), I still think Universal is a 2 day park at most. The new Harry Potter section hasn't opened yet and that may change things but I can't imagine spending more days at Universal than at Disney. With 4 parks and 2 water parks, I could stay at WDW 2 weeks and never see/do it all. I guess it just really depends on how long you stay and what your priorities are. I love staying onsite at Disney. Now that we've done it, I'm not sure I ever want to stay offsite again. Because there are so many resorts at Disney, you have lots of different rates (value/moderate/deluxe). From what I've seen, the rates at the Universal hotels are pretty high. I don't know....just my 2 cents. Whatever you do, have fun!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

I would start with 2 nights at WDW and then stay 3 at Universal. Getting the Express Pass is and Early Entry for the Harry Potter attractions is sooo worth staying onsite at Universal.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Alternatively, on our trip this past April, we stayed in a 2 bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. We got the cheapest room at Royal Pacific for one night. We did not stay there but instead used it as a day room for a mid day pool break. One night at the hotel got us 2 days of Express Pass and Early Entry both days.

 

[Brook1099]

I would probably choose a resort between the two.. so many in that area. We own at Westgate Lakes and resorts it between Disney and Universal. 10 minutes either way and we own at Disney .. we switch around. I enjoy both ways to vacation because its just that.. Im on vacation and in Florida. Keep in mind u can get way much more room for your $$ staying off Disney property and there are a lot of nice ones.
Also depends if you want to do a vacation package with one of them or just do a room and separate tickets and meals.

Marriots seem to have a lot of nice ones.. but we never stayed.

Enjoy your trip

 

[ilovemk76]

We're planning this (hopefully!) trip to Orlando for my DDs and me, probably in June 2015.

They have only been to WDW once, in 2007, and have never been to Universal. They are Harry Potter fanatics, btw. So I want to do maybe 3 days at Universal, and 2 at WDW.

Would it make more sense to stay off-site? I'd love to hear your ideas......

We normally do 2 days at Universal and a week or so at Disney.

What we usually do is book Universal for one night and then move to Disney after.

 

[rnorwo1]

Alternatively, on our trip this past April, we stayed in a 2 bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. We got the cheapest room at Royal Pacific for one night. We did not stay there but instead used it as a day room for a mid day pool break. One night at the hotel got us 2 days of Express Pass and Early Entry both days.

If you don't want to change hotels, then definitely do this. I cannot explain how amazing it was to have that FOTL pass. June will be busy, and if you are going to try to see everything in 2-3 days, you will need it. I'm not sure what ages your kids are, but we took 4-5 days at universal when we went. It gave us enough time to do everything, repeat what we wanted, and take pool breaks.

I personally would just change hotels, one at universal and one at disney.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I stay onsite for each.

It's easy to switch hotels and I'd stay at one of the Universal resorts that had the unlimited hotel express pass not at the new Cabana Bay which doesn't have it.

Then the part of the trip I was going to Disney, I'd stay at a Disney resort.

 

[taymorel]

We stay onsite at both Disney and Universal. Staying onsite at Universal is a must for us due to the Express Pass.

We are going in June and are staying at Wilderness Lodge at WDW for 3 nights and at Royal Pacific Resort at Universal for 5 nights. This is the first time we will stay more days at Universal, but after our last trip my husband and son decided they prefer Universal over Disney as my son has gotten older. And Universal onsite deluxe hotels are cheaper than Disney.

 

[Colleen27]

I'd stay on-site at both. Universal's express pass for their on-site guests and Disney's transportation system make the move worthwhile, IMO.

 

[kkfisher]

I agree with others--onsite is a must for Universal AND Disney for us. That Express Pass at Universal was SO nice when we went. We bypassed very long lines, and we were not even there during a busy time!

We rented a car from the Car Care Center at Disney and headed over to Universal for our last couple of days....super easy.

 

[Eureka]

We loved staying onsite for universal, the perks are great and the hotels are beautiful. Last trip we did stay onsite for both, but if we were to go back for a dual trip again, would consider staying at just universal. Problem is, it gets pricey.

 

[DisMomme]

We stay onsite for both. We are DVC owners and could stay at WDW the whole time but we normally do 2 nights at the Hard Rock at Universal. The parks are within walking distance of the hotel and the Express Pass is so worth it. Our teenagers loved it! They could go to the parks on their own and we could go back and hang out by the pool.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We stay onsite at both. If you don't want to switch hotels, I would stay at Universal. Universal's onsite perks are far superior to Disney's. The Universal deluxe resorts are as nice as Disney's for less money. Portofino Bay is DH's favorite place to stay in Orlando at any price.

We usually spend three days in the Universal parks, but we stay onsite for four or five days. The new HP section will open this June, but it will still be crowded next June. All of Universal's onsite hotels except Cabana Bay offer unlimited express access (like fastpass, but no reserving times and no limits to the number of times you can ride a certain ride). All of the onsite hotels offer early entry as well. It is a great perk even at slow times, but a huge perk during the summer and other busy times.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[brymolmom]

Alternatively, on our trip this past April, we stayed in a 2 bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. We got the cheapest room at Royal Pacific for one night. We did not stay there but instead used it as a day room for a mid day pool break. One night at the hotel got us 2 days of Express Pass and Early Entry both days.

I would do this exactly OR just stay at Universal resort for your first night to get 1 or 2 days of Express pass and early entry. Then xfer to an offsite place.

I have gone to Universal once and wouldn't go without staying onsite - it is TOO MUCH of a perk to have front of the line pass.

 

[bumbershoot]

We stay onsite at both. If you don't want to switch hotels, I would stay at Universal. Universal's onsite perks are far superior to Disney's. The Universal deluxe resorts are as nice as Disney's for less money. Portofino Bay is DH's favorite place to stay in Orlando at any price.

I agree completely!

 

[DawnM]

This last trip we went to both and our next trip we will go to both.

We always stay off-site though.

I hate moving during our stay. You have to check out by 10am (and it is such a pain on that day if you are trying to get to the parks) and then can't check in to the new place until after 4pm.

We always have groceries and have to toss frozen stuff, etc…..

So we just have decided that unless it is absolutely necessary, we will not move mid-vacation.

Dawn

 

[Alexle2007]

When we did both parks, we used ME to get to WL and then my SIL picked us (she lives in Orlando) and took us for our stay at PB in Universal and then we took a taxi to get to the airport when we were heading home. We loved staying onsite at both places. We would do it again. Although I think we are just heading to Disney, although my son LOVED Universal. He's all about the thrill rides.

 

[pigletto]

I have stayed at Disney and taken day trips over to Universal, and stayed at Universal onsite to do Universal parks. IMO, you can't beat the unlimited Express pass that is a perk included when you stay at one of their 3 deluxe properties, and you get early entry as well. I wouldn't do Universal and stay offsite again.
If I were you I would do 2 nights/3 days and Universal, and then move to a Disney onsite property for the other two. I don't mind moving though.

 

[bumbershoot]

I hate moving during our stay. You have to check out by 10am (and it is such a pain on that day if you are trying to get to the parks) and then can't check in to the new place until after 4pm.

We always have groceries and have to toss frozen stuff, etc…..

I know that WDW has fridges and freezers to hold groceries in while you wait for your room to be ready. I think Universal does, too.

I thought checkout was at 11 at WDW, and I know it is at Universal. Both allow you to do the checkin process from about 6am. You might not get the room itself (though I almost always have at Universal) but you'll get everything else. At Universal you'll get the Express Passes the moment you check in and go to the kiosks, and can run right over to the park and start having fun, while Bell Services takes care of your bags.