Need some advice--splitting trip between WDW and Universal

[amc1217]

I've been to DisneyWorld 6 times, but never spent time off-property. My husband and I are going to WDW in early Sept for our first visit together and he loves Universal. If we can do it without a ton of cost and hassle, I would like to work in a day at Universal for him. I would not rent a car for a Disney vacation, but I guess that would be required in this case? Disney to Universal by cab would be pricey, right? Or would it be better to shorten our Disney reservation and stay at a Universal resort the first night? If we did that, what would you recommend for getting from the airport to Universal (do they have anything like Magical Express) and from Universal to Disney resort? I don't know anything about Universal, so I welcome any education you can provide.

Also, does Universal ever offer discounts on tickets. Right now, it looks like one day at the two parks would cost us $200. :-/

 

[damo]

You might be interested in the deal from Dreams Unlimited which included transportation and a 1 day/2 park ticket.

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/universal/tickets.htm#

It is the top one on the list.

 

[amc1217]

Wow, thanks! That seems like a great deal. Has anyone done this, is it a good deal? I've read about ppl taking the Lynx busses and it taking 2 hours. This transfer wouldn't take that long, would it?

 

[damo]

It is a Mears transport so it would be direct from Disney to Universal. It may stop at a few other Disney hotels to pick up other passengers though.

 

[Metro West]

I've read about ppl taking the Lynx busses and it taking 2 hours.

Yes...I would never recommend taking Lynx. It's cheap but that's about it.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

If you can stay on property at Universal, you'd love the express pass access. You could cover the major attractions at both parks in one day and have a great time.

 

[ckpoodge]

In the past, when we have split Disney and Universal in a single vacation, we have stayed at a hotel (a good neighbor hotel) near Universal for 2 or 3 nights, then checked into our Disney hotel. One caveat though is that we have ALWAYS rented a car. I suppose that if you have a hotel with shuttle or onsite at Universal, then the only transportation you would need is from airport to Universal/Universal to Disney. A shuttle or a towncar may do the trick.

There was one hotel that was right outside Universal (I think it was a Comfort Inn), and we were able to walk across the street and we were in the parking garage.

If you are planning on splitting your vacation, I would suggest doing the Universal portion BEFORE the Disney portion. It was an eye opener for us when we did the Disney portion before the Universal - you can't help noticing the difference with the Disney magic.

Hope this helps.

 

[lildamo]

If you are planning on splitting your vacation, I would suggest doing the Universal portion BEFORE the Disney portion. It was an eye opener for us when we did the Disney portion before the Universal - you can't help noticing the difference with the Disney magic.

I feel the opposite -- we're staying at Universal after we stay at Disney to "relax" after rushing to get to ADRs and the more "structured" schedule that often comes with a Disney vacation. Universal is far more laid back and will let us have a vacation from our vacation

Plus, if staying on site, you get quickly spoiled with having unlimited Express, which makes waiting in lines at Disney after seem SOOOO long.

 

[Princessmom2]

I feel the opposite -- we're staying at Universal after we stay at Disney to "relax" after rushing to get to ADRs and the more "structured" schedule that often comes with a Disney vacation. Universal is far more laid back and will let us have a vacation from our vacation

Plus, if staying on site, you get quickly spoiled with having unlimited Express, which makes waiting in lines at Disney after seem SOOOO long.

Same way for us-we need some relaxation after doing Disney!

 

[mjohnson96]

I feel the opposite -- we're staying at Universal after we stay at Disney to "relax" after rushing to get to ADRs and the more "structured" schedule that often comes with a Disney vacation. Universal is far more laid back and will let us have a vacation from our vacation

Plus, if staying on site, you get quickly spoiled with having unlimited Express, which makes waiting in lines at Disney after seem SOOOO long.

Yep that is really the way to go Go do Disney and then head over to Universal for a night or two to unwind and just relax.

You can set up transporation with Mears or another shuttle company to take you from Disney to US and then US to the Airport. I think many people on the boards are saying it is right around $100 or less to do that. Much less than renting a car.

There is just not that much hour to hour planning at US like there is at WDW. WWOHP has made it so you have to plan just a bit more but other than that it is good to go to the park and then head to the hotel for some pool time without having to wait on busses

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

We always split our vacations between Disney and Universal. We stay the entire time at our Disney resort (using our AP discount) and then just drive over to Universal on the days we want to visit. Yes we don't get FOTL by not staying on-site at Universal, but we usually go during a time of year when it's not super busy and neither of us are big "thrill ride junkies" anyway. Plus we're only ever in the room to shower and sleep so can't see paying the extra $$$ for amenities we won't use.

 

[chimo2u]

Yep that is really the way to go Go do Disney and then head over to Universal for a night or two to unwind and just relax.

You can set up transporation with Mears or another shuttle company to take you from Disney to US and then US to the Airport. I think many people on the boards are saying it is right around $100 or less to do that. Much less than renting a car.

There is just not that much hour to hour planning at US like there is at WDW. WWOHP has made it so you have to plan just a bit more but other than that it is good to go to the park and then head to the hotel for some pool time without having to wait on busses

By chance do you have a link to where they are discussing this?? At this point I was thinking of just doing a taxi both times (seemed cheapest) as there are only the 2 of us (my 14 yo son and I). The mears would cost $18 each return....but we aren't returning to Disney, we are going to MCO after Universal.
I think I read that a taxi is only around $ 40 or so, thus it would be cheaper for the 2 of us to take a cab to both places. I am still open to an option that would be less than $100 guaranteed as we all know cab fares can fluctuate depending on traffic/ road conditions/ time of day, etc..., etc....