Need advice on a split Universal/Disney stay.

[bblanch]

Hey everyone.

We are DVC members and will be staying at Disney for 7 nights May 30 - June 6. We decided to plan our arrival a day earlier and spend the 29th at or around Universal.

We won't arrive in Orlando until around noon on the 29th. My initial intention was to purchase 2 day Universal park hopper passes and stay at an on site resort for one night (29th) to take advantage of the express passes on both the afternoon or the 29th and all day on the 30th as well as the early entry on the 30th. I have a couple things that concern me about this:

- Is it worth burning a day's pass on a 1/2 day at the park (29th)?
One alternative: being at WDW for 7 nights with only a 5 day park hopper we will have some off days. I was thinking it may be best to still get the 2 day passes to Universal, go to Island of Adventure on the 30th to take advantage of the early entry and express that day then just use the 2nd day passes during one of our off days at Disney over the next 7 days (we will have a car).

- We have a travel party of 6. I called Universal and they say if want to take advantage of the on site benefits, my best option financially is adjoining rooms at Royal Pacific at a price of $285.75 (with taxes & fees) per room! That's $571.50 for the rooms plus $835 for the 2 day Park to Park passes for a total over $1,400. That's quite a bit more that I was expecting.

 

[bblanch]

Let me add a little big about my family and maybe you can tell me I'm going about this all wrong...

The 16, 15, and 12 year olds are die hard Harry Potters and this is sole reason for wanting to add Universal to this Disney trip. It is my understanding that Harry Potter is not part of the Express benefit right?

The other traveler besides my wife and I is a 4 year old who will more than likely only be interested in Dr. Seuss.


Do we really need the benefit of Early Entry and Express & Park to Park if this is sole intention? Maybe we would better suited staying at a partner hotel with early entry and no express for 1/2 the price and 1 day passes?

 

[macraven]

you are going over the Memorial day time period.

you will see crowds at the motherland and the darkside for that weekend.


i do split stays each year.
7 nights at the motherland then transfer to the darkside hotel for 9.

i prefer the motherland stay first as it usually is commando style.

the universal portion is a laid back, take my time vacation then.
and, the unlimited usage of express lines spoil me.

if your plans are not flexible and can't change dates around, then plan on doing the 1.5 days at UO.

that gives you time to take in the highlights of both parks easily.


there is also the extra expense if you do both theme parks for a few days.

if you did the main stay at universal, you could get the discount for
Stay More, Save More on the hotel room. anyone can get that promo rate.

if you have AAA, book the UO room with that for a discount.


stay at universal and do day trips to disney would also be a costly adventure.


since the family is interested in Parry Hotter, do the 1.5 days.
If you get to the park around noon, you will still have 8 hours in the park.
you might not be coming back soon so take advantage and spend the one night on site and do two days in the park.

the calendar is up for your dates.
May 30 and 31, IOA is open 9-8 (early entry for onsite guests: 8:00 am)
studios open 9-8

hours have been extended during some times.
it is unknown this far out if they will be extended.


http://www.universalorlando.com/Resort-Information/Theme-Park-Hours.aspx?Intsrch=park hours

if i was going during the Memorial weekend period, i would stay onsite in order to do everything i could for those 1.5 days.

 

[macraven]

reread your question and i screwed up.


it is not the weekend but the time period of memorial day holiday, i should have stated.

and it looks like you will be at UO on May 29th and 30th.

hours are the same for the 29th as it is for the 30th and 30st.

 

[audrey2580]

We are doing a similar trip. WDW 5/31-6/6 and Universal 6/6-6/7. Staying 1 night so we can have the EE to HP since we have an 8 and 7 year old.

 

[macraven]

 

[tink20]

I have a suggestion, but it may be too much trouble for you, but could save you about $255.00.

Across the street is a Days Inn (Caravan St.) We stayed at the Hyatt last summer our first night. Anyway, online there is a room for $44 (with tax) You could drop everyone off at RPH (which I think sleeps 5). You could go to Days, walk back over. (We walked last year once) You all could share the 5 Express passes. Let the older ones do early entry. In the morning lines are not that bad for the other rides, plus the 4 year old won't be riding the big rides which have the longer waits. You would save $240 on the room and $15 hotel parking fee. But, that may be too much trouble for you. Good Luck, I know the older ones will have a great time!

Oh, I just wanted to say the Express Pass, saves you so much time. we rode rides over and over with no or very little wait. I am spoiled, I will always stay at least one night just for that perk.

 

[macraven]

I have a suggestion, but it may be too much trouble for you, but could save you about $255.00.

Across the street is a Days Inn (Caravan St.) We stayed at the Hyatt last summer our first night. Anyway, online there is a room for $44 (with tax) You could drop everyone off at RPH (which I think sleeps 5). You could go to Days, walk back over. (We walked last year once) You all could share the 5 Express passes. Let the older ones do early entry. In the morning lines are not that bad for the other rides, plus the 4 year old won't be riding the big rides which have the longer waits. You would save $240 on the room and $15 hotel parking fee. But, that may be too much trouble for you. Good Luck, I know the older ones will have a great time!

Oh, I just wanted to say the Express Pass, saves you so much time. we rode rides over and over with no or very little wait. I am spoiled, I will always stay at least one night just for that perk.

i usually don't make negative comments about off site hotels.
i figure you do what you have to do, on what you can afford for a vacation stay.

i have stayed offsite for a couple of trips when i needed to add on nights at the UO hotels but no room available there.

i stayed at that Days Inn on Caravan Ct and, well, if you are only paying $44 a night there, there is a good reason why it is so cheap.
but, if that is the only way to swing a vacation with family, i'm sure it is done.

hotel service, there was none.
rooms, not what i expected as they were not in decent condition.
their shuttle system was not worth it for us.

being together as a family at the park and in the evening time, is a great thing. why break that up?
to have 5 stay onsite and 1 staying offsite would break up the together time.
just my thought.


you can't share the hotel key cards for the express lines.
names are printed on the.

it is wrong to state ways to circumvent the system to cheat it.


That is one of the Dis Board rules.

 

[tink20]

I am so sorry about suggesting sharing the passes, I've only been once and we all had our own passes, therefore wasn't an issue, didn't know it was a big no no. So please disregard that. In my mind I was really just thinking about the older children and how they would really benefit from the passes, and was assuming one of the adults would be sitting out with the 4 yr old and would not need a pass. I am a rule follower 100%, so please accept my apologies.

I just happen to stumble across the Days Inn Hotel the other day in my own research and thought of it when reading your post. Never stayed there myself, but wouldn't expect much for $44. Like I said, may be too much trouble. Hope you guys get to go! We had a blast last summer!

 

[Rileygirl]

I am a DVC member, and am doing another split stay between Disney and Universal this march.

I agree with Macraven - I love starting the trip at Disney - a little more work to wait in no lines- being efficient, and starting off early - and then end the trip at Universal staying onsite - its so easy to have a great time in the parks with that front of the line pass. Its a way to end the vacation WITH a vacation. We do a minimum of 2 nights, its so relaxing and fun for the teens.

We have a family of 5 - so I hear you on the room issue. I have squeezed five into a room for economics, but with two teenage girls now (and a teenage boy), the one bathroom has become a serious issue- We are CAA members, and that extra 20% off the room rate helps us do two rooms. (Did you know you can get a CAA card for only discounts, not car emergencies, and its half the price? Around 30 CAD - I dont know if that is available with AAA though)

So, look at possible discounts. If we stay 2 or 3 nights with two rooms, and there is an aph rate available, its worth it to buy the aph just for the room discount. Do the math, and find out what discounts are available for your dates. (you only need one aph - everyone else can have regular passes)

If you have kids that like intense rides, or harry potter fiends, staying at Universal on site is a little slice of heaven. Every time we go, we stay a little longer at universal, and a little less at Disney -- its that good. Not just because of the rides, but of the relaxed atmosphere you can take in both parks, with plenty of pool time, beautiful resorts and less 'scheduling'. Even dining reservations - pretty easy to come by when you talk to your concierge at the hotel - nothing at all like Disney ressie system, where you book months in advance if you want something decent.

HTH

 

[mom_n_buggie]

Three of us are also going to Universal and Disney in June. We're staying 3 nights at the Holiday Inn & Suites on Kirkman right across from Universal Main Gate at City Walk. So we'll just walk over.

I did a lot of research and booked through AAA with a package that includes the room, Universal 3 day park 2 park tickets, refillable mugs, early entry into Island of Adventures and a City Walk Pass. Cost $730.

This Holiday Inn & Suites was renovated in 2010 and looks very nice. I also really wanted to stay at one of the Loews hotels but, I just could not fork over that much for 3 nights.

We will be at AKV and OKW for the rest of our 7 nights doing a split stay.

 

[fflmaster]

mom, how did you get this deal on holiday suites? did you call the hotel or a .com place?


Does your package include the express pass? and how many?

I have a family of four looking to do this in june as well and trying to save the most money we can

 

[macraven]

mom, how did you get this deal on holiday suites? did you call the hotel or a .com place?


Does your package include the express pass? and how many?

I have a family of four looking to do this in june as well and trying to save the most money we can

no express passes on those packages.
contact AAA and go with one of their packages.
i see those special packages in my AAA living magazine i receive.

membership fee in my area is $40 a year.

 

[msminnieears]

OK, I see it will be very busy in June for we too are planning on doing a Disney/US stay. I have a few questions. First I am not a AAA member so those deals won't help me. When I priced (onlne) a stay for 2 nights at Royal Pacfic and 2day park tickets the total was $1,148.76. My entire Disney stay for 6days is only costing us $2,129. Tell me what I need to do to save money on US. My kids want to see WWOHP but should I just taxi in for the day to US if we can see it all in one full day? That is looking cheaper. Finally, we will not be driving so what are my transportation options? Can I get free shuttle to the airport from Royal Pacific? I'm thinking we may just stay at Disney and taxi in to US for the day, looks cheaper to me. Any suggestions??? HELP!!!

 

[bblanch]

mom_n_buggie, fflmaster, and msminnieears I think we're all in a similar boat.

We're still deciding on a couple of options....

either going to book something like mom_n_buggie did for 1 night at Holiday Inn Suites or Comfort Suites either in the front or back of Disney just to get the EE for Potter.

or We may do what Tink20 suggested. Book 1 room for 5 onsite and book a cheapo offsite in my wife's name. My wife doesn't do rides so we only need 5 express passes. The only problem I have with that is EE. I would like for us all to be able to enter the park together.

 

[macraven]

mom_n_buggie, fflmaster, and msminnieears I think we're all in a similar boat.

We're still deciding on a couple of options....

either going to book something like mom_n_buggie did for 1 night at Holiday Inn Suites or Comfort Suites either in the front or back of Disney just to get the EE for Potter.

or We may do what Tink20 suggested. Book 1 room for 5 onsite and book a cheapo offsite in my wife's name. My wife doesn't do rides so we only need 5 express passes. The only problem I have with that is EE. I would like for us all to be able to enter the park together.

in order to get the EE from an offsite hotel, it would have to be booked thru universal reservations.

check it out and see if the price is good for you.

if you book one of the off site hotels on your own, you do not receive EE.

 

[bblanch]

Just one more question before I make my decision...

If I book Royal Pacific through AAA website and purchase my park tickets via an online ticket broker, we still get express passes and early entry?

 

[macraven]

Just one more question before I make my decision...

If I book Royal Pacific through AAA website and purchase my park tickets via an online ticket broker, we still get express passes and early entry?

anyone that stays at one of the onsite hotels, is allowed EE and unlimited usage of the express lines.


it doesn't matter where you book your hotel.

 

[mom_n_buggie]

Sorry I didn't respond sooner.
You do not have to be a AAA member to book the vacation through them.
I asked the agent directly.
Our travel documents arrived and we recieved the following.

AAA TRAVEL AGENCY
1000-B MERRIMON AVE
ASHEVILLE, NC 28804
(828)253-5376

Holiday Inn at the Entrance to Universal (3 nights)
- Location: Within 1 Mile of Universal® Orlando Resort
Room 1 - 2 Adults 1 Child
Room Type - STANDARD
Price - $260.38

3-Day Park to Park Ticket [AAA]
Price - 2 Adults $160.81 ea. 1 Child $148.03 ea.

AAA & CAA Exclusive Member Benefits
(Like the free re-fillable drink mug and priority seating to shows)
Price - Included with hotel

CityWalk Party Pass
Price - Included with hotel

Early Park Admission to Islands of Adventure
Price - Included with hotel