I've never been to Universal-Need Advice

[Britt_HeartsDisney]

I have never been to Universal Studios before but I want to go during my vacation to Disney World. I wanted to stay onsite at a Universal Resort for a few nights but the prices seem to be really expensive. So I thought about just staying at my Disney resort the whole vacation and driving over to Universal 2 days out of my stay. But now I'm reading that it is a better experience by far to stay at a Universal Resort if your going to go to Universal Studios. What is everyones oppinion on this? And did you stay in a resort @ Universal and if so which one is the best one. And what days of the week are the best to go to Universal? Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Never stayed at a Universal resort, mainly because we prefer the privacy of a villa for our son.
Depending on when you are going Universal parks are similar crowd wise to Disney, very busy during holiday periods etc - also they do tend to be more busy at weekends.

Whenever you go though the best plan is to get to the parks early, as generally the crowds tend to build from 11am onwards - this way you get on all the popular rides before it gets more busy.

 

[fws]

We've done 2 trips to Disney and Universal. We're from England so come for about 12 days. Each time we stayed at Disney mainly and had 3 days in Universal. This past trip we stayed onsite at Disney which was wonderful, but then transferred to the Hard Rock Hotel. It was more expensive, but it made us enjoy Universal so much more that it was definitely worth it. With the express pass from your room key, there is no waiting for any of the rides so you can do the park much faster and have time for relaxing. The hotels and gardens are beautiful and walking to the parks is so much less stressful than driving. If you can afford it, definitely go for it.

 

[robvia]

The Universal hotels are comparable to a luxury hotel at Disney. Yes, they cost more, but are worth the money.
Doesn't matter which one you pick, all 3 have unique qualities. There's another thread about that here.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1266324

You want to put the Universal part of the trip at the end, because once you go and stay onsite, you'll be spoiled.

If you simply drive up from a Disney hotel, it won't be the same, and most people who do this think Universal is just "ok." When you stay on site, you "feel" like part of the action.

 

[riu girl]

Budget wise, we couldn't possibly afford to stay on site at Universal. What we are planning on doing is spending considerabe time prior to visiting Universal by studying the Universal park maps and Universal web site and come up with a touring plan.

Then we will arrive at the Universal parking lot at around 8 am ensuring us that we will be one of the first guests of the day, giving us the jump on our touring plan.

If you do decide to stay off-site, this type of plan will help a lot.

Another thing people have posted, is to stay at a Universal resort for just one night, this allows you the FOTL access for 2 full days I think? Perhaps you could consider that option.

Using an AAA card may also bring down the nightly rate as well.

 

[Bucsfan]

Yes its worth it to stay on site even for 2 or 3 days. Not just for the perks, the fastpass/roomkey to get to the front of all the lines in the rides, but just the onsite hotels are great. The Royal Pacific is the cheapest and has the best views of the IOA park. Its cheaper than a lot of the Dis resorts, but a little more than the Dis budget ones.

 

[Pooh Brain 1964]

Yes its worth it to stay on site even for 2 or 3 days. Not just for the perks, the fastpass/roomkey to get to the front of all the lines in the rides, but just the onsite hotels are great. The Royal Pacific is the cheapest and has the best views of the IOA park. Its cheaper than a lot of the Dis resorts, but a little more than the Dis budget ones.

We are going to UO during the week between Christmas & New Years for the first time. We have been long time Disney and this will be our first visit to UO. We are allowing 4 days, is this too long or too short? Any other suggestions. Our family can't do disney in less than 6 days, so we were using that as a guide.

Suggestions?

 

[Amity 3]

We are going to UO during the week between Christmas & New Years for the first time. We have been long time Disney and this will be our first visit to UO. We are allowing 4 days, is this too long or too short? Any other suggestions. Our family can't do disney in less than 6 days, so we were using that as a guide.

Suggestions?

there's a lot of variables in that question. if you're staying onsite, some people would contend 4 days might be too much. there's really no commute between the resorts and the parks, and express pass line entry is going to cut down on your wait times considerably, even during that time of the year.

I think it'd make for a very relaxing vacation myself.

 

[Pooh Brain 1964]

there's a lot of variables in that question. if you're staying onsite, some people would contend 4 days might be too much. there's really no commute between the resorts and the parks, and express pass line entry is going to cut down on your wait times considerably, even during that time of the year.

I think it'd make for a very relaxing vacation myself.

We are staying at RPH and are looking forward to experiencing UO after 6 days at Disney. I'm very disappointed about Grinchmas, but hope UO has a good Holiday Program.

I'm sure if we take the parks slow the four days will be good.

 

[Amity 3]

We are staying at RPH and are looking forward to experiencing UO after 6 days at Disney. I'm very disappointed about Grinchmas, but hope UO has a good Holiday Program.

I'm sure if we take the parks slow the four days will be good.

sounds like a perfect ending to a vacation, RPH is our favorite. going to bed and waking up when you want, revisiting your new favorite attractions over and over, and a 5 minute boat ride 'home'. or walking out of a park into Citywalk for shopping and dining.

it doesn't have 4 parks and 45 square miles like WDW, but you'll appreciate the compactness of it all after the WDW marathon.

 

[macraven]

the cheapest way to do universal when staying on site is to go in the value season when rates are low.

also, you can get room rate discounts with the AAA or UO AP.

and, you can sometimes get a special package on the room rate.
in the past there have been deals of stay 3 nights and the 4th night is free programs. it does average out to your advantage.

if you have 4 people staying in your room, it is cheaper to stay on site.
the charge for the express pass that can be bought for a one day visit to the park varies based on season. this is the pass anyone can buy and use the express line. one problem, it is valid only one time per ride or attraction.

so if that express pass you buy for the day costs $35 per person and there are 4 of you in your group, that is paying $120 additional to avoid waiting in lines for the rides.

put that $120 towards the cost of a room on site.
if you book the royal pacific in early september when the rates for that room could be $149 a night, you would not be paying for the park express pass.
staying at one of the on site hotels you get fotl, front of the line perk free.
those fotl privledges have no restrictions. you can repeat rides as much as you want.

why pay for an off site room of $100 a night and pay for the ep of $120 a day when you can have it all for one set price. you stay on site, no rush in the morning to hurry and get to the parking garage at 8 am.

you are minutes away from city walk and the parks when you stay at one of the 3 hotels at universal.

the cheapest hotel is royal pacific, next would be portofina bay then hard rock.
this year the demand for rooms at hrh has increased thus the price has followed suit upwards also. hrh has less rooms than the other 2 hotels.

don't drive from disney for the day to universal. such a downer to have to travel and feel rushed.....

stay at disney for a length of time and then transfer over to one of the universal hotels. you can do both on the same trip.

that's what i do each year.
but, i always end my trip at universal. it is hard to leave universal hotels as they spoil you so much.

 

[Britt_HeartsDisney]

Thank you all soooo much! Ya'll have GREAT advice! I am going to stay onsite at Universal at one of the hotels for sure. Now I have to pick one. Any suggestions on your personal favorite? I liked the look of Portofina Bay the best so far, is that one good for couples? I will be going with my DH for our 1 year anniversary!

 

[macraven]

Thank you all soooo much! Ya'll have GREAT advice! I am going to stay onsite at Universal at one of the hotels for sure. Now I have to pick one. Any suggestions on your personal favorite? I liked the look of Portofina Bay the best so far, is that one good for couples? I will be going with my DH for our 1 year anniversary!

it will be perfect for a couple !!