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

[ruadisneyfan2]

Also for many times during the year, an AP will get you like $100/nt off your hotel rate. For a 3 night stay the discount will pay for the cost of the AP.
They also offer AAA rates and almost all restaurants in parks and hotels offer 10% discount by showing a AAA card.

Once you try the unlimited Express Pass perk, you will never want to visit without it. In fact, you'll be so spoiled it's best to visit WDW first. It's so hard to wait in lines after a couple days of skipping them.
We love the Hard Rock Hotel and have stayed there while visiting WDW.

 

[Darcy03231]

We change hotels and stay on-site for both. I really don't find it's that difficult to change hotels.

If you decide to stay on-site I would do the Universal portion of your trip last. The first time we did a split stay we did it first and the kids then didn't want much to do with WDW. I have thrill ride junkies and when we were at WDW all they wanted to do was go back to US/IOA. They also complained about having to stand in line at WDW (even though the lines weren't long and we made good use of the fast passes). With the express pass they got used to pretty much walking on all the rides.

 

[AJ1983]

Another vote for onsite at both! Last time we did one night at Universal (Loew's RPR) to get the two days of FOTL, and 4 nights at Pop.

In October, we are doing 5 nights at Loew's RPR and 9 nights at Pop.

 

[jaoconnor]

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.

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'm leaning towards this same plan for our Universal trip. I have been checking out condos at nearby Vista Cay. My kids are 11 & 13 and we really enjoy the extra space & bedrooms of a condo, but can't pass up Universal's onsite perk of "front of line".

We are booking one night onsite. We will use the room for an afternoon break with some quick pool time & enjoy 2 days of express pass.

 

[Manders77]

We are thinking the same thing but most likely August 2015. I want to see Diagon Alley and my kids (6 & 3) like Universal, so staying onsite and having express pass is a MUST. So I want to split the stay. Actually I just wanted to do Universal this time and DH said since we are down there, might as well hit Disney MK and DHS at the very least. Thinking of heading down (we are driving) on a Saturday then spending 3 nights at Universal with 2 park days and then 4 nights at Disney with 2-3 park days. Depending on deals,packages, etc.. I may decide to extend by a day or two but we won't know that till this time next year most likely. I don't think switching hotels is too bad, as the switch day will be a downtime day of pool and shopping. No parks. And with kids my age on-site is a must for us, since we leave the parks mid-day for naps, downtime. Good Luck with planning.

 

[DVC-Don]

We did a two night stay at the Hard Rock Hotel before moving over to WDW. Couple of days was plenty for those two parks.