Planning advice needed- Split Stay with tweens and toddler

[khmoorefield]

Currently trying to plan a split stay for late August at Disney World and then Universal. It'll be DH, SD12, SS10, DS2, and me. We haven't been to WDW since 2013 and only I have been to UOR and not since 2007. We have another trip in early July with just DS2 that will be his first time -fingers crossed we make it. (All of this is a pipedream in my opinion, but planning makes me happy and we can always push our dates back as needed). Any advice or input to our plans is much appreciated!!

We'll fly into MCO in late afternoon and take Magical Express to Animal Kingdom Lodge, planning on resort evening. Looking at dinner at Sanaa for dinner or if they have a QS. Kids are all pretty picky eaters Thinking Hollywood Studios for our first day, DS2 and I may head to Magic Kingdom instead if we make our July trip, otherwise I know DH will want to be there for his first time. Would love to have a park hopper for myself so we could meet up with the rest of the family later in the day. Anyone know if just one member of the party can have a hopper ticket? Second day we're planning Animal Kingdom. The third day we'll check out of AKL and head to Universal. Given we need a car seat, we're thinking of renting a car for the rest of the trip. I priced it out and it's just as cheap to rent vs. paying for Universal's airport shuttle for the five of us and still needing transportation from WDW to UOR.

We haven't decided on a Universal Resort, we're considering: Cabana Bay 2 bedroom suite, Sapphire Falls Suite or Kid Suite, Endless Summer 2 bedroom, or two separate rooms at Royal Pacific. We're really hung up on the Express Pass that is included at Royal Pacific. Not sure if we'll need them that time of year; I've read a lot of advice to hold off on getting them until you get to the park and feel out the crowds, but if we're already at Royal Pacific there's no way to save $$ if they're already included. Not sure why I'm so caught up on this aspect....any advice? Also, I'm hung up on needing two bathrooms

DH and the big kids will do a day at Universal and DS2 and I will probably drive back to Disney for another day. I've been doing research on the UOR parks and other than some awesome themed playgrounds it just sort of seems like a waste of money. I probably would not do rider swap...other than Harry Potter I've done most of the big rides and have no need to do them again. It feels like too much trouble for DS2 and I. We may do one day...probably at IOA or we might have a pool day while DH and the bigger kids go to the second park. We'll only be at UOR for 2.5 days.

Thanks for reading along, planning future trips helps keep me in a positivity bubble. I"m grateful for any thoughts or advice!

 

[bchbetha]

Late August with 5 people, I would go with Royal Pacific. If you do decide you need express passes, they will be a lot more buying out of pocket.
I think I would all just stay at Universal. Split your day with your toddler up between pool, nap and enjoying the park. You'll have fun!

 

[khmoorefield]

Late August with 5 people, I would go with Royal Pacific. If you do decide you need express passes, they will be a lot more buying out of pocket.
I think I would all just stay at Universal. Split your day with your toddler up between pool, nap and enjoying the park. You'll have fun!

Thank you!! It does sound relaxing to just stay in the Universal area!

 

[Bethany10]

if you're at all interested in the Cabana bay 2 bedroom suite I'd book it now. They have a limited number of them and they book fast.

That said, it costs less than the price of the 2 bedroom suite to get 2 connecting Family suites, which is what we're doing. DH wanted more room and when pricing it out it was a lot cheaper.

Now we didn't care for the pool view room we had last year, and no one else knew about the view of the volcano from the 2 bedroom suite. So if either of those things is important to you then stay with the 2 bedroom. If they're not then I'd investigate if just getting 2 connecting rooms would work for you. the set up itself worked great for our family with one teen and one tween, both of whom demanded their own bed.

the pool at cabana bay is great too, one side has a slide while the other has a lazy river. Food options are part of the pool set up or there is a diner inside.

 

[only hope]

Normally, I'd say the end of August is fairly slow time as Floridians are back in school and some of the rest of the country is. The weekends are always busier. An express pass isn't usually needed, if we're talking the last week of August. But this year...who knows? Who knows if they'll be open? What if they reopen the week of your trip? Will all the stir-crazy locals (like me!) pour in and make it crowded? Even if they re-open in July, who knows whether the crowds will be higher or lower than normal? So if money is not an issue, I would just book Royal Pacific. Even if the express pass turns out to not save any time, you will still be in a beautiful hotel with a nice pool that is within walking distance of the parks. I think you can pool hop, by the way.

There's some things the 2 year old can do. More possibilities open up at 36 inches. No ticket would be needed. In addition to a few no height requirement rides and playgrounds, there are character meet & greets and shows. Something to note is while Minions does have a 40 in requirement, that is only for the normal moving pods; the benches at the front have no height requirement. Shrek has no height requirement.

 

[bchbetha]

Yep, you can pool hop (unless you book at Endless Summer). Royal Pacific has the extra advantage of being walkable to the parks. Closer to IOA but walk or water taxi are options. Nice not to have to wait on a bus or walk through all of Citywalk to get to the buses.

 

[khmoorefield]

Yep, you can pool hop (unless you book at Endless Summer). Royal Pacific has the extra advantage of being walkable to the parks. Closer to IOA but walk or water taxi are options. Nice not to have to wait on a bus or walk through all of Citywalk to get to the buses.

Didn't realize Royal Pacific was the only hotel (of our options) that you could walk to the parks. That certainly comes into play too, especially if the toddler and I will be going back and forth alone.

 

[khmoorefield]

Normally, I'd say the end of August is fairly slow time as Floridians are back in school and some of the rest of the country is. The weekends are always busier. An express pass isn't usually needed, if we're talking the last week of August. But this year...who knows? Who knows if they'll be open? What if they reopen the week of your trip? Will all the stir-crazy locals (like me!) pour in and make it crowded? Even if they re-open in July, who knows whether the crowds will be higher or lower than normal?

All the uncertainty! At least it seems to be less planning involved than WDW, so I won't have lost out on hours and hours of planning if August doesn't pan out. Had literally spent hours a week planning my April Disney trip and now time spent on hopeful trips once the parks open.

 

[damo]

Didn't realize Royal Pacific was the only hotel (of our options) that you could walk to the parks. That certainly comes into play too, especially if the toddler and I will be going back and forth alone.

You can also walk from Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls. Just takes about 10 minutes longer than Royal Pacific.

 

[Bethany10]

Didn't realize Royal Pacific was the only hotel (of our options) that you could walk to the parks. That certainly comes into play too, especially if the toddler and I will be going back and forth alone.

the busses are wonderful and very prompt. We never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus when we were there last summer. Even on the Thursday Hagrid's opened and the parks were packed we had virtually no wait. So it's not the same as what I've heard Disney transportation to be like.

 

[macraven]

Didn't realize Royal Pacific was the only hotel (of our options) that you could walk to the parks. That certainly comes into play too, especially if the toddler and I will be going back and forth alone.

Hard Rock Hotel is a close walk to the Studios.
Royal Pacific is closer to IOA.

 

[only hope]

All the uncertainty! At least it seems to be less planning involved than WDW, so I won't have lost out on hours and hours of planning if August doesn't pan out. Had literally spent hours a week planning my April Disney trip and now time spent on hopeful trips once the parks open.

Yeah, not much planning for Universal. Nearly none if you have the express. It's a good idea to be familiar with stuff so ya'll know what is what, where it is, and what to skip; without express you need to know which rides get busiest first; but that's about it. Hagrids and Jurassic Flyers are the two things that don't take express, by the way. Restaurants, if you even bother with the sit downs, usually have walk up availability- though again, that could change if they are operating at half-capacity. But even so, no need to wake up at 7am half a year out to make reservations; and I think if you are staying on property you get priority access to most of the Citywalk restaurants . Not sure though. Sorry about the Disney trip! We were supposed to be there yesterday and today...we were treating ourselves and staying onsite, I actually managed to get FoP and 7DMT a few days after the 60 day window opened, which very rarely happens for a one night stay.