Is Universal Studios a "day trip" or should we consider staying on site?

[Pipkin]

We visited Universal Studios in California several years ago but have never been to the one in Florida. Should we consider staying on site and then moving when we go to Disney World, or is it a day trip?

 

[macraven]

universal studios in california are basically could be day trips.
universal at orlando isn't.

i guess there are some that could do one of the parks in a day.

i easily do MK in one day with everything there.

 

[mjohnson96]

I would consider staying onsite just because I love the hotels there and how close they are to the parks. If you stay onsite then you have 2 days of the hotel benefits and will be able to go to both IOA and US and see most of what they have to offer depending on what you want to see and do

 

[bumbershoot]

I wouldn't want to stuff it all into one day.

Check out this thread for more ideas on how to fill a longer stay.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Unlike its California counterpart, Universal Orlando Resort offers two parks- Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. I think it's worth it to stay on site. Dedicating a whole day to each park, coupled with the added bonus of express passes if you're staying on-site will allow you to better experience what the resort has to offer.

 

[Karpkg]

to the boards!

I highly recommend staying onsite, and perhaps moving that stay to after Disney World. It would be a world of difference and you will have a higher appreciation of Universal. Disney can be tiring because it's so popular- it will be more crowded than Universal; you'll need that energy. Then when you shift gears and go to Universal, you'll find it to be a much more relaxing, slower touring style. By staying onsite you won't be worrying about lines, have time to go back to the pool and swim, and won't be aching like my legs are after 3 days of Disney. I have heard people who have gone to Universal then to Disney and weren't prepared over the staying in lines after being used to Universal's FOTL passes.

 

[Pipkin]

Thank you for all of your replies. I will have to take a closer look.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I liked being on-site the last time I went to Universal, and next trip I plan to stay two nights on-site before moving to Disney because I like the all inclusive feel. It's nice being able to walk to and from my resort, and being able to take a break in the afternoon.

 

[macraven]

i do the opposite.
i stay at the motherland resorts for a week or more then switch to the darkside resorts for 10 days.

i do commando at the motherland.
the busses wear me out..........

once at the darkside, i can relax and go at a leisurely pace.

 

[AJA]

Stay onsite. The express pass is def worth it!!

 

[glocon]

You could probably do a park in a day, but it is a totally different experience when you stay on site and have the leizure of unlimited express pass, no buses or driving, and a short walk back to the pool for an afternnon break. Could you do it? Yes. Is it the funnest easiest way to do it? No.

The resorts are beautiful, and make a fun relaxing vacation better. Depends on what you want out of a vacation or park day.

 

[SprExcited]

I guess I'll swim against the current here. Personally I believe it depends on what you want to visit in each side of the park. For us, we are both thrill ride fans and HP fans. Therefore, we could have easily spent 2 full days at IOA. However, we did it in one (Christmas day when crowds are high) and we rode pretty much every thrill ride more than once and the other rides to our satisfaction.

We did not stay on site, but we arrived before the park opened and stayed right until they booted us out... Now it was a LONG day but well worth it.

As for US, well I'll be blunt and say we did not care for this side of the park nearly as much. The feel is 100% different there is no question, and depending on what you are looking for it can be quite fun as well, but any longer than 1 full day we would have gotten tired of it. However; once again we did it in one day, stayed off site and saw everything we wanted to.

Depending on the crowds on the particular day you are there staying on site and having use of the unlimited express passes can be a MASSIVE benefit. However, if the dates you chose are not particularly crowded then the passes are not needed IMHO.

In closing I'll say that my response is biased against staying on site, because our family does not care for hotels/resorts. We travel in our RV and love that lifestyle, it isn't for everyone.

Good luck and have fun no matter what you chose!