Please help me plan my trip!!

[Johnnyecks]

Hi there, long time reader but have not posted in awhile. Last time I posted, I was upset with the "new" FP system (new to me since the last time I was there, it was not in place). That lesson was learned so I am bent on completely planning my upcoming trip.

As you will be aware after reading this, I have many options available. But here are the basics:

I have a timeshare week coming up 10/26-11/2 (Week 44 Sat-Sat at Parkway International on 192).
I am staying an additional week 11/2 - 11/10

I have some options as to where to stay on that second week.

This will be the first time, ever, I have had more than 10 days there and am VERY excited.

What I would like to do is to have 9 days in WDW and 5 in Uni.

I have priced out the tickets and a 9 day hopper pass is around $600
A 5 day 3 Park-Park with express pass is $700
A 1 day ticket to B.G with meals is $110

Now I here is where I am unsure with what to do. I have priced out both WDW and Uni properties for my second week and what I have found is:

Coronado Springs w/ 5 day hopper = $2700
+ 4 day hopper $511
+ 5 Day Uni pass $614
+ 1 Day at BG $100
----------------------------
$3925 (Just room and tickets. No flight, rental, food or spending money)


Uni Cabana Bay w/ 5 day
$2209
+ 9 day hopper $600
+ 1 day BG
=========================
$2909 (just room and tickets. No flight, rental, food or spending money)

As you can see, staying a week at Uni is almost $1000 less expensive.

My flight plus rental car is around $800

I have the option to drive down and with food on the road and gas is only about $300 less than flying and renting a car, so that is a no brainer. I'd rather pay the extra $300 and not be on the road for 24 hours.


So, my question to all of you experts here is this:


What are the advantages to staying on Disney property vs. staying on Universal property (besides the obvious transportation and parking).

- Is there a significant difference when adding a dining plan, how much would that really save?
- What other perks are there.
- Is it "really" worth an extra $1000?

A little history on me;
I started coming down to WDW when I was 12 in 1989, I actually watched the home movie last night (sigh, those were the days). We stayed off site that time, the next two years 1990 and 1991 we stayed at the Contemporary and I LOVED it. Now that is way out of my price range ($7500?!?!). We bought a timeshare in 1991 and we came down every year until 2009 or so. I didn't come back to WDW until 2012 and that is when I had the fast pass debacle.

I have a $4000 budget on the two week trip.

If I don't stay on property, can I purchase a separate dining pass for the 9 days I will have tickets for?

All of that out of the way, what is the best attack plan for both the Dis and Uni parks? I will have a 9 day hopper, and a 5 day park to part at Uni.

Is HS out of the question because of SWGE this year?

Sorry for a long confusing ramble. I am just excited and am a planner (except in 2012 I wasnt) and I want to make the most of this trip for what I have budgeted.

What is a do not miss, what can I pass on? Anything extra I should def do?

Thank you all.


OH, and plus, I plan on buying into DVC this year. Should I do resale or just go through WDW?


Thank you for taking the time on reading this.

 

[Bjkandma]

I can help with parts of your questions. If you are not staying on site you cannot purchase the dining plan.

If you are staying in site You can book fast passes 60 days out. 30 days of off site. You would be eligible for extra magical hours of staying on site. (Howevrr, they have gotten extremely crowded over the years).

You need to do the math on the dining plan. If you are travelling during "a free dining promotion" it is usually a better deal than the average room discount.

You say you'd rent a car at around $800 for your vacation. If you do not stay on site you will have to pay for theme park parking. Currently the fee is $25 per day standard parking, or $50 preferred parking. If you park hop, you only pay for parking once. But be sure to hold onto your receipt. You must show it at the parking booths.

Now, what I'm thinking (I didn't do the math, not very good at it). But if you were to stay on site, you could skip the rental car (at least for that part of the trip). Take the Magical Express, free transportation from airport to your resort. Use Disney transportation to the parks. When you are ready for Universal, you could rent the car or so Uber\Lfyt. Can't help you with Universal, I've never been). But to get from Universal to airport do same as above.

I know a standard Uber\fyt to airport is around $50, plus tip.I

You can purchase park hopper tickets for 10 days at one time. I bought a four day park hopper and was able to add 6 more days for (the 6 days only cost me $67 and change more). So you'd be saving a good $300 there.!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Staying onsite means not traveling back and forth as far to the parks. You don't pay for parking at the parks but you will have to pay to park at the resort. Buying WDW tickets from Undercover tourist are cheaper than Disney prices. 9 day hoppers are $518 at UCT.
So if your budget is $4k and the Disney option is $3925 before your flight, car rental and spending money, it makes your decision to stay at Universal your only option. You need to budget $225 to park at Disney parks and I am not sure what if anything you will be charged to park when you are at Universal. Keep in mind once you add the car and flight with a $4k budget you are leaving yourself $20 a day to eat for 2 weeks.
Plus think of the wear and tear you would be putting on your car if you drive. Plus the amount of time spent in the car driving and possibly arriving tired after a long drive. Then the dreaded drive back home.