PLEASE HELP! Trying to Combine WDW & Universal...SO CONFUSED !

[bellenbuzz]

I don't know where to post this thread; ANY REPLIES & HELP will be appreciated.

Going to Orlando February 3 - 13, 2010
Staying at WDW Resort from Feb 3 until Friday Feb 11th

That part is all booked and reserved, so are flights.

NEED ADVICE HERE:
Want to leave WDW and go to UNIVERSAL for 2 days

Should we leave WDW resort and book hotel by Universal for last 2 nights?
Should we stay at WDW resort and use some sort of transportation to shuttle us to Universal?

What does everyone recommend?
I'm sure families have done this before....
Getting nervous, Please Advise

 

[powellrj]

I would stay at a Universal resort for at least one of your nights to get front of the line access. The resorts are beautiful and you just can't beat FOTL!

 

[sjanus]

Why not stay at Universal for the last 2 nights, change of pace, and then you will be right there.

Sandy

 

[Hemlock]

I would absolutely move on-site at Universal for the last part of your trip. The only downfall is that you can't use the Magical Express to get back to the airport (if you are flying). But being on-site at Universal you get FOTL and you can walk to the parks.

 

[bellenbuzz]

So, you think check-out leave WDW on Friday....
Check-in at a Universal Hotel for 2 nights...

ALL New to me.....where can I find a list of Universal Hotels & Packages with Tickets to Park??

NOW, any advice on Transportation??? Any suggestions on getting us & luggage to new hotel and then to airport??

Seriously, I do not know the Orlando area at all....

Am I crazy for doing this??

 

[DVC California]

Going to Orlando February 3 - 13, 2010
Staying at WDW Resort from Feb 3 until Friday Feb 11th

NEED ADVICE HERE:
Want to leave WDW and go to UNIVERSAL for 2 days

Should we leave WDW resort and book hotel by Universal for last 2 nights?
Should we stay at WDW resort and use some sort of transportation to shuttle us to Universal?

If you care to try one of the fine resorts at Universal, then go ahead and move for the last two nights. However, considering the time of year you plan on vacationing, I don't think having resort "Express Pass" will be worth the hassle.

I recommend that you keep your existing WDW accommodations and visit US/IOA middle of the week (when it is slowest). I would rent a car to go to Universal. You will have to pay for gas and parking but you can also eat off site one night to save money.

It would be easier to rent from Alamo/National at the Car Care center near MK Main Gate. They have a shuttle service that will pick you up from your WDW resort at the beginning of your rental, as well as drop you off at the end.

You won't need a lot of trunk space, so rent the smallest car that will fit all you family for the 20 minute drive.

HTH, Steve

 

[Detailor]

So, you think check-out leave WDW on Friday....
Check-in at a Universal Hotel for 2 nights...

ALL New to me.....where can I find a list of Universal Hotels & Packages with Tickets to Park??

NOW, any advice on Transportation??? Any suggestions on getting us & luggage to new hotel and then to airport??

Seriously, I do not know the Orlando area at all....

Am I crazy for doing this??

If not for the preferential treatment of guests staying at the Universal hotels I'd have suggested that you just cab it over to Universal and just stay at Disney. But that Front of the Line feature can help you avoid ridiculously long lines at some attractions - depending on the size of crowds at the time of year that you're going.

There are three on-property hotel resorts at Universal. Go to http://www.universalorlando.com/Hotels/hotels_how_to_book.aspx?ComponentId=10621&SourcePageId=7805#4 to review and reserve.

I'd suggest a taxi for the WDW to Universal (it's 10 to 15 miles from the various Disney resorts to the Universal hotels) and Universal to airport transfers. Check out Mears Transportation online for Yellow Cab or Checker Cab service.

Dick Taylor

 

[DCTooTall]

Depending on how much baggage you have and how large your family is, It might be worth renting the car from the Car Care Center the day you "move" to Universal, and then just returning the car at the airport when you leave. Having the car might simplify your resort change (no dealing with taxi's or Mears), and you'd have the freedom to grab some food or sightseeing offsite your last couple days.

i'm not sure what the hours in Febuary would be for Universal, but they can sometimes close pretty early in the evening during the slower times of year. While checking out you resort one night might be fun, the 2nd night you might have more fun checking out some of the smaller tourist traps on I-drive which is nearby.

 

[donaldduck352]

Just throwing it out there,but if you book 1 NIGHT,you will get 2 days of FOTL at Universal.You can't beat that deal!!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

We always do both WDW and Universal during our trips but stay at a Disney resort for the entire stay. Saying that, we do have a car and drive to Universal on the days we wish to visit (plus with our Universal APs we don't have to pay for parking). We find that it's just cheaper to stay at Disney with the room rates we get using our AP (as compared to AP rates for Universal) and because neither of us are big on thrill rides, FOTL access is really no use to us.

You can book Mears transportation to take you from WDW to Universal and back to WDW for $18/pp round trip - you just have to call them 24 hours ahead of time to book your pick up times.

This way you can still take advantage of Magic Express to and from the airport.

 

[McIntoshTx]

I don't know where to post this thread; ANY REPLIES & HELP will be appreciated.

Going to Orlando February 3 - 13, 2010
Staying at WDW Resort from Feb 3 until Friday Feb 11th

That part is all booked and reserved, so are flights.

NEED ADVICE HERE:
Want to leave WDW and go to UNIVERSAL for 2 days

Should we leave WDW resort and book hotel by Universal for last 2 nights?
Should we stay at WDW resort and use some sort of transportation to shuttle us to Universal?

What does everyone recommend?
I'm sure families have done this before....
Getting nervous, Please Advise

I had the same issue more or less. One of the huge bennies from staying with Universal is that you get free "Express Passes" as a hotel guest to use at the parks (Universal Studio & Islands Of Adventure). I was at IOA this past Monday (GREAT Park BTW!) and purchased a "Express Pass" as a extra option for $125 for the family, I did not stay at a Universal hotel. The pass allows you to more or less skip the regular lines which of course allows you to get more out of your visit IMO. You room key is your "Express Pass" as a guest at the hotel.

I just booked next years trip today and the last night of that trip we are staying at a Universal hotel (as opposed to Disney the other 4 nights) so we can get the free "Express Passes" as part of the room, it makes more sense that way IMO.

Enjoy!

 

[Jollean]

I would recommend the stay at the hotel.

I would plan it in the middle of your trip so you can still use magical express. We did Universal cabing it both ways and it cost if I recall about $30-$50.00 each way.

In addition we like a break in the day. So when it costs a lot to get back to your hotel you dont take them.

Also quite frankly I get sick of Disney Eating after a while. Nice to eat around Universal for a change.

 

[smidgy]

I would recommend the stay at the hotel.

I would plan it in the middle of your trip so you can still use magical express. We did Universal cabing it both ways and it cost if I recall about $30-$50.00 each way.

In addition we like a break in the day. So when it costs a lot to get back to your hotel you dont take them.

Also quite frankly I get sick of Disney Eating after a while. Nice to eat around Universal for a change.

great idea! once we stayed at a univerasl hotel, we could never be "day guests" again! Royal Pcific is the cheapest. they don't have a slide at the pool, BUT>. at Universal, pool hopping is allowed!!!
you can WALK to both parks, and city walk (while eating at the hotel is VERY PRICEY! you can grab a bite at City walk, just a short walk away. and walk to the parks.

if you BUY the express pass, it is only good for once each ride (maybe twice, not sure) FOTL for resort guests is great!!! (it won't work just yet for harry potter, though, too new)

since we ususlaly drive, we do UNIV. first. but I like the idea of "sandwiching" univ. between 2 disney stays.

 

[Piglet99645]

Hijacking this thread to ask if anyone has stayed OFF SITE between WDW and Universal......... so as not to have to move at all?

(I'm an on site gal myself, but I do realize that off site hotels could allow a family to stay in orlando a bit longer for the same money).

 

[DCTooTall]

Hijacking this thread to ask if anyone has stayed OFF SITE between WDW and Universal......... so as not to have to move at all?

(I'm an on site gal myself, but I do realize that off site hotels could allow a family to stay in orlando a bit longer for the same money).

I always stay offsite and just rent a car.... but I'm someone who enjoys driving and not relying on shuttles.


The big thing comes down to onsite advantages.

with Both Disney and Universal, Onsite has several advtantages over off-site that may or may not be worth it for you.... such as easy transportation options within the resort, package delivery from the parks to your resort, etc.

Universal onsite has a HUGE advantage in the free unlimited Express for everyone in the room. The actual value of this can vary as well...obviously being worth a whole lot more during peak/busy times at the parks. During Busy times of year, it can be MUCH cheaper to stay onsite than to stay offsite and then pay for the 1-time-use-per-attraction Express for everyone in your party.



So it'll ultimately come down to a personal decision on if an onsite vs. offsite decision would work best for you.

 

[mousemom11]

I would also recommend that you ask about this on the Universal DIS thread http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30. Specifically, ask if they think that you will need the Front of the Line perk for your days in February. My guess is that you won't because early February is a slow time. We were there on an early November weekend and had no need for FOTL passes at all. In fact, on Sunday, all the big coasters at IOA were walk-ons.

If you don't need the perk, then stay at your WDW resort and just rent a car from the car care center to get back and forth to Universal. That way, you can still use ME to get back to the airport and it will be a lot less hassle than having to switch hotels just for a couple of days.

 

[dtum]

I would also recommend that you ask about this on the Universal DIS thread http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30. Specifically, ask if they think that you will need the Front of the Line perk for your days in February. My guess is that you won't because early February is a slow time. We were there on an early November weekend and had no need for FOTL passes at all. In fact, on Sunday, all the big coasters at IOA were walk-ons.

If you don't need the perk, then stay at your WDW resort and just rent a car from the car care center to get back and forth to Universal. That way, you can still use ME to get back to the airport and it will be a lot less hassle than having to switch hotels just for a couple of days.

Have to agree. Feb. would probably be really slow and no need to move. We were there in June, stayed at WH and drove to parks. Didn't have FOTL passes and really didn't even need them in June. It's a pretty quick drive straight down I-4. They have their own exit and it goes right into the parking deck...very easy.

 

[pigby]

We usually do a split stay between WDW and Universal - this year we went to Hard Rock for last 3 nights (next year we are going to RPR for first 5) - we are staying 15 nights in total though.

We always book a three way transfer via a towncar - have been with Tiffany a few times - get Magical Express at Disney to either take us back to the airport (or to the Disney hotel) depending whether we stay at Universal first or last.

Whilst I agree that FOTL might not be needed much in off season - you can still get early access to Harry Potter if you stay on-site and can't beat just strolling (or taking the short boat ride) to the park in the morning or back again.

 

[Pembo]

We LOVED staying at Universal this past spring. OP I would move from WDW to a Universal hotel and that is what we are planning on doing on our next trip. We always rent a car so transportation isn't a problem.

 

[Montegut]

So glad I spotted this thread. I'm going to want to do a combo trip with my family to Orlando, and while I love all the conveniences of Magic Express and Dining Plan, I'm going to want to stay onsite when we visit Universal, too. Will be following this thread closely.

Thanks!