Need some help and Advice! Disney Family wanting to go to Universal

[DaviVascaino]

Hello everyone,

I am an active user at Disney forums. I have a beautiful family, 2 boys age 9 and 12. We have been to Disney 4 times in this past 6 years. I have not taken my kids to Universal in forever because my youngest could not ride most roller coasters and I don't think Universal is that great for little kids.

We had book another Disney vacation to Feb 2026 (1 week at Boardwalk Resort), but we have to post pone due to the fact my oldest is now going to 8th grade and he does not want to skip a full week of school. He is taking advanced math classes at local university and it is really hard for him now.

We did some research and decided to move the vacation to Late August 2026. I know it is hot, but we can only go during summer breaks now. Late August would work better for us because it is less crowded than June/july, and we have a chance to attend Mickey Halloween party. We are probably going last week of August.

I will stay 7 nights at boardwalk resorts (love the hotel given location). We usually get 7 days ticket at Disney. However, since my kids are still off school in Aug, we are planning to extend the vacation a bit longer and hit Universal Parks. My youngest will be 10 y/o and will be able to ride most rides.

Few questions:
1. Late August is usually lower crowds at disney since most kids from South are already back at school. is that the case with Universal as well? Lighter crowds?

2. I was thinking about getting at least a 2 day park (Epic and Universal). I might get a third day to go to island of Adventures. any advice on which type of ticket should I get? is park hopping a thing with Universal and it is worth it? or it is better to just get a 3 day park ?

3. I don't plan to get any express passes because they are so crazy expensive. I know they are better than lightning lane, but that would cost me an extra $550 per day for our family. Without express passes, is it feasible to ride main rides without spending a lot of time in lines ? (again, assuming late august is lighter crowds). any weekdays better than others?

4. I was thinking about staying 7 days at Boardwalk and maybe 2-3 days at Animal Kingdom Villa. I would Uber from AK or Boardwalk to Universal. Any advantages of staying 2-3 nights at an Universal hotel? I know they have free transportation, but I rent DVC points and the price I usually pay for AK is quite low, compared to the "value" universal resorts. I know I can stay at a deluxe Universal resort and get free express passes, but again, they price goes very high. Any advice here?

Any other tips I should know from people that has done both parks at the same vacation?

Thank you!!!

 

[Lewisc]

1. Yes
2. Park hopping is required for riding Hogwarths Express. 2026 ticket details haven't been released
3 Yes
4. You'll waste too much time driving. You'll lose early park entry.

 

[Skippyboo]

I would avoid the Thursday and Friday before Labor Day- that’s when Halloween Horror starts.

IoA & Universal Studios are next to each other it’s easier to treat them as one park so I would get park hopping for them plus when it rains Studios has more indoor stuff than IoA.

Traffic is horrible along I4 between WDW and Universal. I would go with staying onsite at Cabana Bay. If you’re onsite then you can get in an hour early which is useful in the summer when it’s super hot and humid

 

[chmasy]

If your willing to pay up for Ak Lodge pay up at Universal Front of line is money well spent. Time is money.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

1. Late August is usually lower crowds at disney since most kids from South are already back at school. is that the case with Universal as well? Lighter crowds?

Yes, but avoid the start of HHN if possible (generally the last weekend in Aug). Labor day is late next year, not sure if that means HHN will start on that weekend or the last weekend of Aug? More people will come for HHN season, parks will busier than the week before due to the influx. HHN will close Studios at 5pm on Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun. Islands gets busier after 4pm as a result.

2. I was thinking about getting at least a 2 day park (Epic and Universal). I might get a third day to go to island of Adventures. any advice on which type of ticket should I get? is park hopping a thing with Universal and it is worth it? or it is better to just get a 3 day park ?

I would absolutely do one park per day for 3 days. If you like water rides and/or will go on the big coasters, there's plenty to keep you busy at Islands. Note that the Islands water rides will get you fully soaked, no "maybe" about it.

The parks are literally adjacent and it is very easy to park hop. The Hogwarts Express isn't necessarily worth the expense of park hoppers in and of itself, but the freedom to move between the parks is nice. If the choice is a 3rd day vs park hopping, a 3rd day for sure is the better option.

Hit Islands on the day with better weather, there are a lot more outdoor rides which close for rain/storms. Epic also has a LOT that closes for rain/storms so it might be a tossup.

You can get one-park-per-day tickets and upgrade onsite if it becomes necessary (either upgrade to park hoppers, or upgrade to add an extra day).

3. I don't plan to get any express passes because they are so crazy expensive. I know they are better than lightning lane, but that would cost me an extra $550 per day for our family. Without express passes, is it feasible to ride main rides without spending a lot of time in lines ? (again, assuming late august is lighter crowds). any weekdays better than others?

The majority of people don't have EP, they are not a necessity. I guess it depends on what you consider "a lot of time in lines"? Middle of the day, for popular rides, there will be long lines. Early in the morning, most rides will have short lines. Late in the day (the hour or 2 before closing), most rides will have short lines. Middle of the day will be best for a break, show, a long lunch, maybe hopping in a long and air conditioned line (incidentally, Hagrids line in early afternoon is pretty decent, and most of it is inside/AC).

You know your family - if you're not going to get there early and/or you aren't going to stay until the end of the day... you will be limited in what you get done.

You might also consider one night at a premier hotel, which will net you two days of EP for Islands & Studios (check in and check out days). For 4 people, it's a good deal.

4. I was thinking about staying 7 days at Boardwalk and maybe 2-3 days at Animal Kingdom Villa. I would Uber from AK or Boardwalk to Universal. Any advantages of staying 2-3 nights at an Universal hotel? I know they have free transportation, but I rent DVC points and the price I usually pay for AK is quite low, compared to the "value" universal resorts. I know I can stay at a deluxe Universal resort and get free express passes, but again, they price goes very high. Any advice here?

Onsite will let you take a break mid-day. If the park hours are short, that might not matter. Or if you're okay to go all day with a long leisurely lunch break in the AC to recharge. Powering through the middle of the day, but then petering out and leaving a few hours before close is the worst - you'd be leaving as all the lines start to go down.

As noted, you also get early entry (to Islands & Epic) and the shorter commute to the parks.

Only you can say whether that's worth the price difference from AKL.

 

[DaviVascaino]

Yes, but avoid the start of HHN if possible (generally the last weekend in Aug). Labor day is late next year, not sure if that means HHN will start on that weekend or the last weekend of Aug? More people will come for HHN season, parks will busier than the week before due to the influx. HHN will close Studios at 5pm on Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun. Islands gets busier after 4pm as a result.


I would absolutely do one park per day for 3 days. If you like water rides and/or will go on the big coasters, there's plenty to keep you busy at Islands. Note that the Islands water rides will get you fully soaked, no "maybe" about it.

The parks are literally adjacent and it is very easy to park hop. The Hogwarts Express isn't necessarily worth the expense of park hoppers in and of itself, but the freedom to move between the parks is nice. If the choice is a 3rd day vs park hopping, a 3rd day for sure is the better option.

Hit Islands on the day with better weather, there are a lot more outdoor rides which close for rain/storms. Epic also has a LOT that closes for rain/storms so it might be a tossup.

You can get one-park-per-day tickets and upgrade onsite if it becomes necessary (either upgrade to park hoppers, or upgrade to add an extra day).


The majority of people don't have EP, they are not a necessity. I guess it depends on what you consider "a lot of time in lines"? Middle of the day, for popular rides, there will be long lines. Early in the morning, most rides will have short lines. Late in the day (the hour or 2 before closing), most rides will have short lines. Middle of the day will be best for a break, show, a long lunch, maybe hopping in a long and air conditioned line (incidentally, Hagrids line in early afternoon is pretty decent, and most of it is inside/AC).

You know your family - if you're not going to get their early and/or you aren't going to stay until the end of the day... you will be limited in what you get done.

You might also consider one night at a premier hotel, which will net you two days of EP for Islands & Studios (check in and check out days). For 4 people, it's a good deal.


Onsite will let you take a break mid-day. If the park hours are short, that might not matter. Or if you're okay to go all day with a long leisurely lunch break in the AC to recharge. Powering through the middle of the day, but then petering out and leaving a few hours before close is the worst - you'd be leaving as all the lines start to go down.

As noted, you also get early entry (to Islands & Epic) and the shorter commute to the parks.

Only you can say whether that's worth the price difference from AKL.

super helpful, thank you!

I mean with one night at a deluxe hotel includes 2 days of express pass, that is a great deal right? Which hotel would be the cheapest that would include EP?

 

[Skippyboo]

Royal Pacific is normally the cheapest of the 3 with Express

 

[msmayor]

Stay at one of the Universal premier resorts where unlimited Express Pass is included...the higher room price for a family of 4 is WAY less expensive than buying the Express Pass feature itself.

We did this last summer - stayed at Portofino Bay. Great value...we had rooms for 5 adults and all had unlimited Express Pass for the two park days.

 

[DaviVascaino]

ok, so it seems I can get one night at Royal Pacific and 2 days of Express pass. That is amazing.

So, If I have EP, I probably can do Universal and Island on one day only, and epic on the other day.

Which ticket includes Universal/Island one day and Epic the other day? Thanks

 

[hardcorestitch]

Hello everyone,

I am an active user at Disney forums. I have a beautiful family, 2 boys age 9 and 12. We have been to Disney 4 times in this past 6 years. I have not taken my kids to Universal in forever because my youngest could not ride most roller coasters and I don't think Universal is that great for little kids.

We had book another Disney vacation to Feb 2026 (1 week at Boardwalk Resort), but we have to post pone due to the fact my oldest is now going to 8th grade and he does not want to skip a full week of school. He is taking advanced math classes at local university and it is really hard for him now.

We did some research and decided to move the vacation to Late August 2026. I know it is hot, but we can only go during summer breaks now. Late August would work better for us because it is less crowded than June/july, and we have a chance to attend Mickey Halloween party. We are probably going last week of August.

I will stay 7 nights at boardwalk resorts (love the hotel given location). We usually get 7 days ticket at Disney. However, since my kids are still off school in Aug, we are planning to extend the vacation a bit longer and hit Universal Parks. My youngest will be 10 y/o and will be able to ride most rides.

Few questions:
1. Late August is usually lower crowds at disney since most kids from South are already back at school. is that the case with Universal as well? Lighter crowds?

2. I was thinking about getting at least a 2 day park (Epic and Universal). I might get a third day to go to island of Adventures. any advice on which type of ticket should I get? is park hopping a thing with Universal and it is worth it? or it is better to just get a 3 day park ?

3. I don't plan to get any express passes because they are so crazy expensive. I know they are better than lightning lane, but that would cost me an extra $550 per day for our family. Without express passes, is it feasible to ride main rides without spending a lot of time in lines ? (again, assuming late august is lighter crowds). any weekdays better than others?

4. I was thinking about staying 7 days at Boardwalk and maybe 2-3 days at Animal Kingdom Villa. I would Uber from AK or Boardwalk to Universal. Any advantages of staying 2-3 nights at an Universal hotel? I know they have free transportation, but I rent DVC points and the price I usually pay for AK is quite low, compared to the "value" universal resorts. I know I can stay at a deluxe Universal resort and get free express passes, but again, they price goes very high. Any advice here?

Any other tips I should know from people that has done both parks at the same vacation?

Thank you!!!

You shouldn’t have an issue with the lines. I went to both Disney and Universal last year and the Universal lines were among the quickest to the point where you don’t need Express Pass.

 

[DaviVascaino]

You shouldn’t have an issue with the lines. I went to both Disney and Universal last year and the Universal lines were among the quickest to the point where you don’t need Express Pass.

which month did you go? Did you stay at Universal resort ?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Note it's EP to Islands and Studios only, the hotel EP does not work at Epic. That's part of why 2 days at the other parks is ideal.

You want this one: 1 day to move between Studios & Islands, and 1 day for Epic.

 

[DaviVascaino]

Note it's EP to Islands and Studios only, the hotel EP does not work at Epic. That's part of why 2 days at the other parks is ideal.

You want this one: 1 day to move between Studios & Islands, and 1 day for Epic.

View attachment 974562

now I see why you recommend 3 days, instead of 2, I am basically forfeiting one day of EP , since it does not work at epic, correct?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

now I see why you recommend 3 days, instead of 2, I am basically forfeiting one day of EP , since it does not work at epic, correct?

Right. Although I would recommend a day for each park for a first visit anyways, it's pretty rushed and you skip a lot trying to do both in a day. Even with EP - it's just not possible to do "everything" in a day. Especially if you are interested in shows and exploring the areas. If you're just busting out rides, you can probably get all the big hitters in both parks in one day with EP.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

My advice for what it's worth, as a family that goes to Disney every year but has also been to Universal several times (and planning a January 2026 trip)

1. Do Universal at the end of your trip, and stay two nights at Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, or Portofino Bay (husband likes Portofino Bay the best, but it is also farthest from the parks, but still walkable). Those three hotels give you unlimited express for IOA and US (not Epic, as others have pointed out). Unlimited Express blows lighting lane out of the water, and it's best to end your trip with that perk. Disney can't touch that unless you spring for premiere passes or a VIP tour. The hotels are similar to Disney deluxe hotels.
2. Get hoppers (park-to-park). IOA and US are steps away from each other, like Disneyland and California Adventure if you have been. You can do both parks in one day with unlimited, but they are worth the time to enjoy them. If you have Harry Potter fans, they can spend an entire day in those worlds uncovering the secrets (Moaning Myrtle in the bathroom, house elf shadows in the restaurants, the creepiness of Knockturn Alley, the windows in the shops). Also if you have Harry Potter fans, you can only ride the Hogwarts Express with hoppers, and it is a different experience each way (and breaking through the barrier at Platform 9 3/4 is awesome). Even though your kids might think they are too old for Seuss Landing, it is an amazingly-themed land and my kids (in their 20s) still enjoy riding the rides. There isn't a straight line or right angle in Seuss Landing, and I've always heard the bent palm trees are survivors of Hurricane Andrew. The attention to detail is really phenomenal.
3. Universal hotels offer early entry, which you are familiar with through Disney. But Royal Pacific and Hard Rock specifically are just a few minutes' walk to the parks - so easy to get there for early entry but also to take a break midday.
4. Royal Pacific has a huge pool (no slide) and Hard Rock has a fun pool with music piped in underwater. August will be brutal so a quick pool break can be a game-changer for everyone's ability to get through the day happy. You can be at the pool within 15 minutes of leaving the park. And Universal used to allow pool-hopping - not sure if they still do.

You will learn so much on this side of the Disboards Happy planning!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Universal used to allow pool-hopping - not sure if they still do.

They do, I pool hopped a month ago. I couldn't find it listed as a perk online anywhere official, but they still gave out specific "pool" key cards at Sapphire Falls.

 

[DaviVascaino]

My advice for what it's worth, as a family that goes to Disney every year but has also been to Universal several times (and planning a January 2026 trip)

1. Do Universal at the end of your trip, and stay two nights at Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, or Portofino Bay (husband likes Portofino Bay the best, but it is also farthest from the parks, but still walkable). Those three hotels give you unlimited express for IOA and US (not Epic, as others have pointed out). Unlimited Express blows lighting lane out of the water, and it's best to end your trip with that perk. Disney can't touch that unless you spring for premiere passes or a VIP tour. The hotels are similar to Disney deluxe hotels.
2. Get hoppers (park-to-park). IOA and US are steps away from each other, like Disneyland and California Adventure if you have been. You can do both parks in one day with unlimited, but they are worth the time to enjoy them. If you have Harry Potter fans, they can spend an entire day in those worlds uncovering the secrets (Moaning Myrtle in the bathroom, house elf shadows in the restaurants, the creepiness of Knockturn Alley, the windows in the shops). Also if you have Harry Potter fans, you can only ride the Hogwarts Express with hoppers, and it is a different experience each way (and breaking through the barrier at Platform 9 3/4 is awesome). Even though your kids might think they are too old for Seuss Landing, it is an amazingly-themed land and my kids (in their 20s) still enjoy riding the rides. There isn't a straight line or right angle in Seuss Landing, and I've always heard the bent palm trees are survivors of Hurricane Andrew. The attention to detail is really phenomenal.
3. Universal hotels offer early entry, which you are familiar with through Disney. But Royal Pacific and Hard Rock specifically are just a few minutes' walk to the parks - so easy to get there for early entry but also to take a break midday.
4. Royal Pacific has a huge pool (no slide) and Hard Rock has a fun pool with music piped in underwater. August will be brutal so a quick pool break can be a game-changer for everyone's ability to get through the day happy. You can be at the pool within 15 minutes of leaving the park. And Universal used to allow pool-hopping - not sure if they still do.

You will learn so much on this side of the Disboards Happy planning!

do they offer luggage transfer between hotels like Disney does? If I stay one night at Royal pacific I would get 2 EP for Universal and IA, then I could get one night at the cheaper hotel for the epic day ?

 

[Skippyboo]

You can pool hop if you stay at the hotels north of I4. You need to stop at the front desk and get an access card because you need a room key to get to pools.

 

[DaviVascaino]

You can pool hop if you stay at the hotels north of I4. You need to stop at the front desk and get an access card because you need a room key to get to pools.

I meant a cheaper universal hotel like cabana bay. do they transfer bags between universal hotels?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I meant a cheaper universal hotel like cabana bay. do they transfer bags between universal hotels?

Generally yes from the premier hotels, no from the cheaper ones. So if you're going from Royal Pacific to Cabana Bay, yes they would. If you're going from Cabana Bay to Royal Pacific, no they won't.