Split stay or no?

[jlnten17]

DH and I booked a very last minute, short weekend trip to get some warm weather and visit Universal for the first time. We will arrive late Thurs night and have 3 full days then fly home Monday. We will probably get 2 Park 3 day discount tickets for Universal and we have Disney AP. Will we be trying to fit in too much if we try and visit Epcot at least one of the days for Flower & Garden? Trying to decide if we want to stay 2 nights at Portofino and 2 nights at an Epcot resort or just stay at Portofino the entire 4 nights. TIA.

 

[macraven]

Which weekend?
Next weekend?


I’d do all 4 nights at UO and just hit wdw one day

You’ll want to do the parks, enjoy the hotel and check out city walk since it is your first darkside adventure

Uber to Epcot for the one day
You’ll be able to cover the Flower and garden event that one day

 

[cadawson]

We will probably get 2 Park 3 day discount tickets for Universal and we have Disney AP. Will we be trying to fit in too much if we try and visit Epcot at least one of the days for Flower & Garden?

I agree with macraven. Stay at Portofino for all your stay and just visit Epcot for one day. I think it would waste time to pack up and change hotels. The year we had AP, we were able to visit Epcot during Flower & Garden. We loved it! We loved the photo opportunities, the festival food & drink stands, and the fun garden displays. You won't need more than a day, though. Look at the concert schedule to see if there is a band playing that you'd be interested in staying to hear (be sure you visit on one of the band days if that interests you), and you can also look-up the menus for the festival food stands. There's the English tea garden tour that you could take also. Pick your favorite place to dine if that interests you, and also hit the gift shops for F&G festival themed merchandise. If Epcot F&G is your only goal for Disney, I think 1 Disney day would be sufficient. Have fun!

 

[nkereina]

Also agree with PPs. I'd stay all four nights at a Universal report. It will give you a good feel for it and you can avoid the hassle of changing resorts. I also would just Uber to Epcot whichever day you choose. I think with two full days at Universal, you'll get to see and do the majority of things. Especially if you stay at a Universal deluxe property and have EP.

 

[gotomu212]

Not only for the ease of not moving but most times the UO hotels get cheaper the longer you stay.

 

[jlnten17]

We are staying at Portofino Bay and it is quite expensive! I think we will stay there all 4 nights unless I receive a DVC miracle on my waitlist

 

[cadawson]

We are staying at Portofino Bay and it is quite expensive! I think we will stay there all 4 nights unless I receive a DVC miracle on my waitlist

I know you said you are getting 3 day, 2 park tickets to UO. Have you priced APs? It might not be much more than your 3 day tickets. I'm saying because we got a good discount with the AP rate for PB CL ($359 for Club Level towards the end of May). I find with the AP rate, I couldn't beat the value compared to the prices I see for the same period at the Disney resorts for CL rooms. Of course, I don't have DVC or Disney AP rates to compare, so you might be seeing something I don't see.
Anyhow, depending on if you can go with the Seasonal AP pass (beware of black-out dates), you might find it isn't much more to get those passes. Then, you'll be able to visit Universal for days here and there when you return to take advantage of your Disney AP.

 

[shanew21]

I know you said you are getting 3 day, 2 park tickets to UO. Have you priced APs? It might not be much more than your 3 day tickets. I'm saying because we got a good discount with the AP rate for PB CL ($359 for Club Level towards the end of May). I find with the AP rate, I couldn't beat the value compared to the prices I see for the same period at the Disney resorts for CL rooms. Of course, I don't have DVC or Disney AP rates to compare, so you might be seeing something I don't see.
Anyhow, depending on if you can go with the Seasonal AP pass (beware of black-out dates), you might find it isn't much more to get those passes. Then, you'll be able to visit Universal for days here and there when you return to take advantage of your Disney AP.

I second this. Look into APs for the discounted hotel rates. You only need one guest to have the AP to get the rate.