Loved loved LOVED the darkside!

[Babooagain]

We just got back from a split stay. We spent 3nights at the Best Western Gateway which is a UO partner hotel. We did 1 day each at SW, US and IOA. We had early entry into both Universal parks the same as if we had stayed on sight. We bought a package including our UO tickets to get this perk but it was great having the extra time to do HP and Dispicable Me and transformers before the full crowds arrived!
We then moved to BC for 6 nights with park hoppers. It was a great combo!
In the past we have often done some of both parks. In October one year we spent most of our time at the UO or SW parks with just a visit to MK for MNSSHP. In December a few years later we did the opposite. Just one day at IOA and the rest at Disney. This time we were only going to do Disney, but since we don't get down there very often, I figured we should visit them all, especially since the friend that went with us is such a huge HP fan! It was a great suggestion as all of the parks have changed quite a lot since our last visit.

 

[Planogirl]

I have thought of that over and over again...lol

I've come up with 3 possible action plans.

option #1
3 nights at HRH & 5 nights at Springhill Suites
Activities: Orlando Flex Pass.

option #2
2 nights at HRH & 6 nights Disney hotel
Activities: 1 day at each U.S./I.O.A/Sea world & 3 day Disney Park Pass.

Option #3
8 nights at a Disney hotel.
Activities: 1 day at each U.S./I.O.A/Sea world & 3 day Disney Park Pass.

We usually go to Disney every January so its not like We'd never visit again if we cut it out this trip!
I soooo don't know what the best idea is.

I've done something similar to everything on your list and they all worked out well for us. We always have a car so driving back and forth is no big deal for me. (I normally do all of the driving in the area.) We never work in Sea World but really should.

Last year I had a pin for the Disney hotels so we stayed at POFQ for 10 nights. We used Magical Express mostly to see what it was like but picked up a rental car at the Dolphin for three days. We used it to drive to the Universal parks for what amounted to 2 1/2 days plus one evening at the start of the rental period. It felt kind of strange returning to a Disney hotel at the end of each of those days.

 

[hydrotony]

Well, I tried to plan as best I could considering I came up with the idea hardly a month before we went, lol! I think I did just the right amount of research, and it all worked out really well. Now I'm googling all the Six Flags parks trying to figure a plan for next spring - DH has suggested my daughter and I do a yearly amusement park trip since he and our son don't do rides and we love them so much. Can't wait to try out someplace else! Syd is suggesting Busch Gardens, so that's in the running...but I've got my eye on some of the Six Flags coasters...very tempting!

Six Flags parks allow entry on any park annual pass but not free parking. Also, buying tickets this year for next year has many benefits but you need to activate the cards this year. No 6F (that's running) is near you, Dallas or Atlanta are both long drives. Multi pass purchases get free upgrades, free parking maybe. It is not too early to buy 2014 APs, you also get the rest of 2013 included. Have fun planning.