?'s from a Disney addict thinking of trying Universal

[Tink3815]

We normally do a week at Disney at Thanksgiving. I do have a reservation at All Stars Movies. Thinking of switching to the new Dockside hotel at Universal. The price difference would be about 250.00.
Our trips are not for parks, but for sun and nice dinners and entertainment at night. Just 2 seniors. We normally try a different restaurant every night at Disney Springs.
Will I be disappointed with the hotel and City Walk for dinners and entertainment? Planning on using shuttles, how do they compare with Disney? Do not want to rent a car.
Would we better off to upgrade to a different hotel for the pool? Cost is a consideration.
Will I miss the Disney bubble or does Universal has the same vibe on property?

 

[StageTek]

There are some great restaurants at CityWalk. You should be able to try a different one each night.
I can't answer if you will be disappointed with the hotel and CityWalk. But Dockside in quite a bit nicer than ASMo. Are you getting the suite?
The shuttles compare nicely to Disney. A bit less hectic. And they don't arrive as often.
For just a little less the suites at Cabana Bay are very nice and that pool with the lazy river is terrific. And the diner themes restaurant is really fun.
You'll miss the Disney bubble, for sure. But the Universal property is a great vacation choice.

 

[davper]

Hi
My wife and are also older and we do both bubbles each trip.
If you take the parks out of the equation, i have to say that Disney Springs offers a better dining experience over Citywalk.
What Disney does lack are nightclubs. So if that is something you would enjoy, then CityWalk might be preferable.
I can't speak to the value resorts and their shuttles at either bubble. So I will let someone else weigh in.

 

[G719]

We normally do a week at Disney at Thanksgiving. I do have a reservation at All Stars Movies. Thinking of switching to the new Dockside hotel at Universal. The price difference would be about 250.00.
Our trips are not for parks, but for sun and nice dinners and entertainment at night. Just 2 seniors. We normally try a different restaurant every night at Disney Springs.
Will I be disappointed with the hotel and City Walk for dinners and entertainment? Planning on using shuttles, how do they compare with Disney? Do not want to rent a car.
Would we better off to upgrade to a different hotel for the pool? Cost is a consideration.
Will I miss the Disney bubble or does Universal has the same vibe on property?

One thing to consider is how will you get to the resort from the airport. Magical Express will still be running when you go and universal doesn't have an airport shuttle included in your hotel price.

 

[Tink3815]

One thing to consider is how will you get to the resort from the airport. Magical Express will still be running when you go and universal doesn't have an airport shuttle included in your hotel price.

We normally rent a car for one day when we arrive and turn in at Disney the next day. Just to do a snack, water and liquor stop. I see that the Dockside hotel has an Avis on site. we would need to take an Uber back or their shuttle. I am one who will really miss Magical Express.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I think disney Springs is superior to Citywslk, but Dockside is superior to All Stars. As the previous poster said, Cabana Bay has an awesome pool/lazy river complex (and when staying at a universal hotel you can pool hop to any other universal hotel pool) and the retro theming is awesome, but its usual pretty crowded.

 

[georgina]

The Premier Universal resorts also have nice dining places. We are not big on upscale dining but I know a lot of people like them. It is easy to get to the other resorts as they are all close to City Walk. I have not stayed at Endless Summer, but the bus service from Cabana Bay is excellent so I would expect it from ES to be good too. Do you not go into the parks at all? We had a surprisingly good meal at Lombard's in the Studios and Mythos at IOA is interesting. Can't really comment on entertainment but if you go to Blue Man Group take earplugs!

Just remembered there was some music at the Mexican place at City Walk - Antojitos when we ate there. Sometimes a singer on the porch at Margaritaville.

 

[wdwrule]

I’m in the process of writing a trip report…The Trip of Firsts… where I include a night at Dockside. We are a family who have always gone to WDW but went to Universal for the first time a few weeks ago. The 2 bedroom suite feels a bit more ‘luxurious’ as there’s a lot of space to move around, store luggage etc. It was fantastic for the price. Also, we never noticed the food court being madhouse crazy like we’ve encountered at Disney. I think we paid between $129 & $149 for the night at peak season with annual pass discount rate. The room was very clean, spacious and bright. Tony Hinds car service was excellent to and from the airport and he includes a grocery/liquor store stop on the way. I learned about him from these boards. He’s highly respectable, honest and reliable.

Oh and buses were great too.

 

[DL1WDW2]

You will have fun exploring the resorts for your holiday week trip.
Cabana Bay fills the lobby with the metallic retro vintage sparkly silver Xmas trees! And the Swizzle Lounge located in lobby plus 2 outdoor pool bars and late night fire pits to roast marshmallows. Upstairs you will find a retro Bowling Lane and a JackLaLanne Fitness Center And a really fun Arcade! Plus listening to the holiday music themed to match the Musical Era.
The boat transportation is far more relaxing from CityWalk to resorts than Disney .
I have lots more suggestions … you just need to take the time to truly explore and get to know Universal as well as you already know Disney.

P.S. I need to take my own advice and visit the new Dockside and Endless Summefor the holidays!

 

[Tink3815]

Thank you to all for advice. I am a planner and it seems like the more I research the more questions I have.

Could someone explain to me how the water taxi works from Universal Sapphire Falls Resort to City Works. From reading reviews, I get the impression if you stay at this hotel and use the water taxi you do not have to wait in the security bag check that people coming in on the shuttle buses do or the people coming from the parking garages. Reviews say this can be an hour wait. This would be worth the extra expense to me to avoid these lines. I have heard that the waits can be long for the taxi. Can you also take a bus from the resort to City Works? Do the buses just drop you off at the parking garage and you need to walk to the entrance of City Walk and the parks?
I know the Disney bus system, but this is all new territory for me.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

You'll go thru security/bag check right at the boat dock and be dropped right between the two park entrances using the boat. They're wonderful & my hubs & I love them & consider them a whole separate "ride", LOL.

We never had a long wait for the boats going or coming when we stayed at SF - maybe 10 minutes max.

We never took the bus from there but we used the buses at our Cabana Bay stays & they are awesome at UO - WAY better than Disney. You do have to go thru the main security/bag check then walk thru City Walk to get to the parks using the busses.

 

[wdwrule]

I believe the only resorts that offer water taxis are Portofino, Hard Rock, Royal Pacific, and Sapphire Falls. In order to board the boat, each hotel’s boat dock has a small security checkpoint before boarding. Then the boat drops you off near the middle of Citywalk. So no more security checkpoints. Just the one at the boat. Once you’re dropped off you’re free to meander around Citywalk and/or enter either of the parks with valid park admission. If you choose to walk from the hotels, the majority of the on-site hotels have walking paths to Citywalk. One spills out on Citywalk near Studios, the other spills out at the other end of Citywalk near Islands of Adventure. At the end of each of these walking points, there’s a small security checkpoint. These are typically quick and a breeze to go through (boat security points are quick and easy too).

 

[fivikse]

While we enjoy Universal and spend more time there than at WDW these days. I can't imagine spending a week there without going into the parks. I don't think CityWalk has enough to do to keep you occupied for a week. We actually haven't been to Disney Springs, but my understanding is that it is a lot bigger.

If you are going into the parks, then I think a week is fine, but without parks, I'm not sure how you'd fill your time.

 

[Tink3815]

While we enjoy Universal and spend more time there than at WDW these days. I can't imagine spending a week there without going into the parks. I don't think CityWalk has enough to do to keep you occupied for a week. We actually haven't been to Disney Springs, but my understanding is that it is a lot bigger.

If you are going into the parks, then I think a week is fine, but without parks, I'm not sure how you'd fill your time.

Thanks, we come from the north so a warm morning walk, swimming and laying in the sun in the afternoon is a perfect day for me at the end of November away from the cold. We may go to Universal for one day, rollercoasters and bumpy rides won't be on the agenda- back issues. Need to check out the shows they have.

 

[Going to WDW]

While we've been primarily WDW travelers since 1998 but most trips we've regularly done UO add on's --- usually 3 to 5 days at the end of a disney trip. We had originally booked a 10 day March trip at WDW completely but cancelled that and will be doing 10 days at HRH this March break instead (assuming its safe to do it). We normally do RPR or HRH club level --- this trip will be 10 days HRH club level. We don't think we'll do roller coasters everyday but there's lots close by and there's shopping, entertainment, and other stuff...

There are things that Disney used to do that made it our primary destination. Recent events make Disney our least favourite option --- assuming UO is still awesome that's where we will return in the future.

 

[cfoxga]

If you are not park-goers then SF would be a great choice, as it is like a deluxe minus EPs The boats are great way to travel, and you get to avoid the security hub. The walk is shorter than CB, and DS seems like too far to walk. While I have not stayed at SF, it looked much nicer than CB or DS (we have stayed at those).

Don't forget to look at Annual Passes instead of tickets, as the APH rates can save quite a bit. Seems odd that you can save money by getting an AP, but it can...

 

[ZJ5/9D47]

Dockside and Surfside are at an intersection with a Walgreens that might provide enough to avoid a grocery run. They are also next to a trolly stop for I-Drive if you want to do anything in that area. Most people take an Uber or Lyft from the airport. It’s also only a short walk to CityWalk if you don’t want to take the resort bus. Security lines are long only if you sleep in like the locals do. Staying on site gives access to early hours and security lines aren’t long at that time.

 

[Tink3815]

If you are not park-goers then SF would be a great choice, as it is like a deluxe minus EPs The boats are great way to travel, and you get to avoid the security hub. The walk is shorter than CB, and DS seems like too far to walk. While I have not stayed at SF, it looked much nicer than CB or DS (we have stayed at those).

Don't forget to look at Annual Passes instead of tickets, as the APH rates can save quite a bit. Seems odd that you can save money by getting an AP, but it can...

Thank you for the tip on AP. I called and was able to get SF at a great AP rate which we are actually saving money. It's amazing you don't have to buy until you actually get there in the event you need to cancel. I was checking on other dates for next year and it seems there are none. How often do they release new dates and is there a better way to check than on online.

 

[barb969]

We normally rent a car for one day when we arrive and turn in at Disney the next day. Just to do a snack, water and liquor stop. I see that the Dockside hotel has an Avis on site. we would need to take an Uber back or their shuttle. I am one who will really miss Magical Express.

For what rental cars are costing these days and the cost of parking at the resort, you might be better of with a car service, taxi or Uber. We always use Tiffany Towncars. They are $150 + tip round trip to Universal. They meet you at the baggage claim, take your luggage to the car just outside the baggage clain. They will include a stop at a grocery store.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Thank you for the tip on AP. I called and was able to get SF at a great AP rate which we are actually saving money. It's amazing you don't have to buy until you actually get there in the event you need to cancel. I was checking on other dates for next year and it seems there are none. How often do they release new dates and is there a better way to check than on online.

AP Rates usually come out about 3 months in advance.