Please help with plan

[Dismom63]

We are including US/IOA and Sea World to our next trip down. We plan to stay onsite at US in one of the resorts then on to WDW tp stay at CBR for the balance of our 9 night trip. Ok, which US resort for Family of 4 (2 teens) and for how many nights at US vs. WDW. Currently thinking 4 at US then 5 at WDW.
Thanks

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I would stay at whichever Universal resort that you can get the best price. That's my wallet talking. If you like to be close to the action in a "happening" type place, try Hard Rock Hotel (very close walk to the parks). If you want a more romantic, "away from it all" atmosphere with the ;argest rooms and don't mind spending more $, go for Portifino Bay Hotel. If you won't be in your rooms much and don't mind smaller rooms with only one sink stay at Royal Pacific Resort. We stayed at RPR last week and liked it for the most part and have stayed at Hard Rock and liked it for different reasons. I would like to stay at PB next time, but would have to get a good price.

Four nights at US and 5 at WDW should give you plenty of time. Would you be doing Sea World when staying at the Universal hotel? If so, especially if it is your first time at US, I might stay an additional night. Have you been to WDW lots of times and want to do specific things there or do you want to see it all?

 

[Dismom63]

Thanks for the quick response. Yes, we have been to WDW many times and we are specifically going to Sea World for the Discovery Cove Dolphin encounter. I think from your description it would be either Hard Rock or Royal Pacific (whichever has best price). We will do the Sea World thing on the US part of the trip AND now I find out from DH that we will only have 8 nights and 9 days. Any other input would be great!
Thanks
Sharon

 

[robvia]

Oh, well if you're doing DC that means you must stay at the Renaissance Resort, located literally across the street from SWF.
I'd stay 2 nights there. On the 1st one, you pre check in early in the morning at 7am. We got lucky 2 years ago and our room was ready. You visit DC (get there early at 08:15am), then come back to your room at 5pm. Then you can shower, rest, and literally walk to SWF and watch fireworks that night. The next day, you visit SWF walking back and forth from your room. Stay on club level and you get free breakfast and snacks later in the day in the club room. I'm telling ya, it's the best. You will need a rental car to drive from DC to the Renaissance, but it's only 1 mile. You'll need it anyway because you get 7 days at SWF and you'll want to go back a few times. See my TR for pics of the inside of a club room.
http://home.attbi.com/~robvia/SeaWorld1.htm
Renaissance info is here.
http://renaissancehotels.com/dpp/PropertyPage.asp?MarshaCode=MCOSR&checked=True&Marriott_BD

 

[No11's Mom]

I would suggest you reverse the order of your stay and go to WDW first, then US. Once you experience FOTL and the convenience of resorts that are truely onsite, WDW is going to suffer in comparison. Last year we spent 5 nights at WDW before moving over to HRH for 4 nights. When we got to HRH, that's when we felt our vacation really started. If you have teenagers, I would recommend the Hard Rock. They will love it.

 

[Planogirl]

We did Universal first and then Disney. This worked well for us because we ran hard at Universal (and loved every second of it!) and we were exhausted by the time we moved to WDW. Then it was easy to go slow at WDW. So maybe both ways have their merits but be prepared to possibly be worn out by Universal.

I agree that the Hard Rock would probably go over more with the teens. But Portofino is lovely and I actually found a better price there than at HRH last month!