Please help with planning of Universal/Disney itinerary!

[DaviVascaino]

Hello everyone,

We are planning to go to Florida in late August 2026 (I know, it is hot and humid, but we have no choice given our schedules). I am taking my family, (my beautiful wife and 2 boys, age 13 and 10).
I am planning to stay 1 week at Disney Boardwalk Villa, and 3 nights at Universal Orlando since kids are old/tall enough to ride the coasters.

I have a few questions please, sorry if some of them are stupid, I haven't been to Universal in forever.

1. It seems if I stay at a "deluxe" Universal hotel (Loews, hard rock), I can get unlimited express pass. Does that include both on check in and check out date? Does it mean I only need ONE night at one of those hotels to ride with unlimited pass for TWO days ?
2. The unlimited pass is really unlimited? Can I ride same rides, regardless if they are high demand or not, multiple times a day? How awesome is that!
3. Which Loews do you recommend? Price is similar if I book with AP discount
4. I am planning to sign up for season pass so I can get advantage of the great discounts for hotel booking. I understand I don't need to have a season pass to make a reservation, but they will ask my season pass when I check in, correct?
5. Should I do the season pass now or only few days prior to arrival date so I don't "waste" months that I won't use? I will get the season pass just for myself, since I am using mainly for the hotel discount, and August has no block out dates.
6. How do I activate the season pass? Only at the park?
7. If I only need one night at a deluxe hotel to get TWO days of unlimited pass, I was thinking about booking two nights at a cheaper hotel and one night at the expensive hotel. Since deluxe hotel does not include pass for Epic universe, makes sense to save money on the cheaper hotel for 2 nights. Which hotel do you recommend that is close to Loews ? Cabana? Ventura? I heard they don't transfer luggage anymore, so how to handle this? Leave at doorbell services, and at the end of the park day, get the luggage and uber to the other hotel?
8. Can I use unlimited pass even if I get park to park tickets? Meaning I can get 2 days of park to park tickets, go to both IA and Universal, ride ALL rides multiple times, and come back next day and do the same thing? (assuming I booked one night at the deluxe hotel)?
9. How do I get the unlimited express pass on check in date of the hotel, if the check in is not until 2pm or so? Can I stop very early in AM, get the pass even before the room is ready, and head to the park?
10. My plan would be: 2 nights at Cabana/ventura (Would arrive late at night, crash at the hotel. next day, would go to epic, and sleep another night at the cheaper hotel). Next morning would go to Loews, get the unlimited pass, go to IA/Universal. Crash at Loews for the night, check out date go again to IA/Universal,and at the end of the day, head to boardwalk villa at Disney).

Thank you for all your help!!!!

 

[Minnie1222]

It seems if I stay at a "deluxe" Universal hotel (Loews, hard rock), I can get unlimited express pass. Does that include both on check in and check out date?

YES.

Does it mean I only need ONE night at one of those hotels to ride with unlimited pass for TWO days ?

YES.

The unlimited pass is really unlimited? Can I ride same rides, regardless if they are high demand or not, multiple times a day?

YES and YES.

Which Loews do you recommend? Price is similar if I book with AP discount.

1st choice,
Hard Rock: shortest walking distance to Universal Studios. I am lazy.

2nd choice,
Portofino: largest standard rooms.

I am planning to sign up for season pass so I can get advantage of the great discounts for hotel booking. I understand I don't need to have a season pass to make a reservation, but they will ask my season pass when I check in, correct?

Maybe! I've never been asked to show my pass though.

How do I activate the season pass? Only at the park?

By tapping in at the park.

How do I get the unlimited express pass on check in date of the hotel, if the check in is not until 2pm or so? Can I stop very early in AM, get the pass even before the room is ready, and head to the park?

You can check in first thing in the morning. Front desk will print the room cards for everyone on the reservation. The room cards are your express passes.

Have fun!

 

[DaviVascaino]

YES.


YES.


YES and YES.


1st choice,
Hard Rock: shortest walking distance to Universal Studios. I am lazy.

2nd choice,
Portofino: largest standard rooms.


Maybe! I've never been asked to show my pass though.


By tapping in at the park.


You can check in first thing in the morning. Front desk will print the room cards for everyone on the reservation. The room cards are your express passes.

Have fun!

thank you for your answers!!

 

[FallsChurchDad]

One question is whether you really want a week (7 days?) at Disney and 3 days at Universal with boys ages 10 and 13. Maybe consider a 5-5 split?

Ours prefer Universal at similar ages. Even without Express Pass, a day at Islands of Adventure is 'easier' to do a bunch of fun rides compared to any WDW park. It is now pretty tough to relax at Disney, and it's difficult to give the kids independence given all the need to schedule and plan ahead for most days at the WDW parks.

 

[Rory607]

As far as hotels, we like Portofino for the huge rooms. Hard Rock is closest to the parks, though, and your boys might really enjoy it at their ages. We’ve also stayed at Cabana Bay and my tweens/teens loved it! It has a fun retro vibe, lazy river, ice cream shop and bowling alley.

 

[DaviVascaino]

One question is whether you really want a week (7 days?) at Disney and 3 days at Universal with boys ages 10 and 13. Maybe consider a 5-5 split?

Ours prefer Universal at similar ages. Even without Express Pass, a day at Islands of Adventure is 'easier' to do a bunch of fun rides compared to any WDW park. It is now pretty tough to relax at Disney, and it's difficult to give the kids independence given all the need to schedule and plan ahead for most days at the WDW parks.

we are doing 7 days at disney resort, not necessarily 7 days at park. we are taking resort days, probably doing the Halloween party!