Splitting a trip between Disney and Universal....

[Kapp]

any suggestions on whether to do our 2 days at Universal first, last or in the middle of the week? Suggestions? Comments?

THANKS, in advance!'

Kapp

 

[marriedmarylander]

We are doing 1 day at Universal and have it at the 3rd day in our trip. I just couldn't bare to go right away without getting some Disney parks in first.

 

[agotta]

Traitor.....

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

It depends. Are you staying on site at WDW? If so, then I'd go in the middle. Breaks up the week some.

If staying off site, I'd really break it up. We're doing just that. We have 3 day passes to US/IOA. Going Monday Thursday Saturday.

 

[Tink0513]

It really depends if you are going to do Universal AND Islands of adventure!

Last May we went to the Universal parks 1st. We bought the two day hopper pass. We went to Universal on a Thursday...NOT CROWDED AT ALL. When you walk down City Walk you could either go left to IOA or right to Universal. EVERYONE WAS GOING LEFT to IOA! We got Universal practically done in 3 hours....went to Margarittaville for lunch and then went back in the park.

Then went to IOA on Friday. BIG MISTAKE! It is literally an island. Very narrow walking paths. There were ALOT and I mean ALOT of class trips cause there were sooooo many tour groups, school groups, etc. They probably go on Fridays. Ok I'm only 21, but I wanted to strangle all those rude kids.

We went on 3 rides and left. But before we left we grabbed an express pass for SpiderMan...which its return time was 6:45, we grabbed this pass at 12:00. It was horrible. We then came back to Universal Studios after we went swimming at our hotel. We are going down May 19-26 and are only going to Universal (on the 20th Friday). I can't justify spending another 50 bucks to ride 3 good rides.

I like to go to Universal before we go to Disney....I'd rather end my trip seeing SpectroMagic and Wishes!!!

Hope I helped!!!

 

[tinaluis]

Are you staying onsite or offiste at Disney? If you're staying onsite at WDW, I'd say do it at the end of the trip. If you're staying offsite, I agree with another poster that it may help break up the week a bit if you go mid-week. Also, keep in mind that US/IOA, like WDW, is busier as the weekend approaches. Our favorite days to do any theme parks are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The weekend crowds usually start arriving on Fridays and sometimes stay until Mondays. Good luck planning your trip!

 

[savs]

We are doing 2 nights at the Hard Rock (gotta love that Universal Express). Then from there we are heading to Disney for 8 days.

I just couldn't imagine leaving Disney to head Somewhere else. This way we have a few days to enjoy Universal & IOA (I'm looking forward to staying at the HRH more then going in the parks....I know weird) and then the rest of the time we can devote ourselves to Disney.

 

[BriarRose59]

My DD14 and I are doing this in June. We are staying at SSR for 5 nights (M-F) then moving to Portofino Bay for the last 2 nights (S&S) so we can get FOTL privileges. We are only doing this because we are chosing to spend Sat & Sun at USF and feel we will need FOTL because of the crowds in June.

 

[Aimeedyan]

If you're staying onsite at Universal, and getting the FOTL, you will NOT want to return to Disney and stand in lines after that. I am a Disney girl through and through, but the best decision we made was the end our trip by having 2 days of walking onto any ride we wanted with no lines.

Our family would have been extremely impatient standing in the lines at Disney after that. It was nice to "spoil" ourself at the end of the week - plus, we stayed at Pop while at Disney and had a less than enjoyable trip, and the RPR was a gorgeous deluxe hotel in exchange.

 

[Got Quattro?]

been doing disney since 1993, 23 times and counting.


Never made it to Universal, nor have we even had the desire to.

 

[wicket2005]

That seems a shame Got Quattro?, coming across from England we wanted to make sure we did everything at least once and enjoy the Universal parks just as much as the Disney ones. In fact Islands is our favourite for thrills.

Going back on topic, I would just go to Universal/IoA on the quietest days you can. I usually look at the projected quietest days and plan by visits this way.

 

[weluvpluto]

We're facing these same questions for our July trip. I think I want to try to stay at a Universal Hotel, specifically for FOTL, but we are such Disney fanatics, I'm not sure I can leave a Disney resort to do it.

 

[weluvpluto]

.

Going back on topic, I would just go to Universal/IoA on the quietest days you can. I usually look at the projected quietest days and plan by visits this way.

Where do you find this information?

 

[keishashadow]

If you're staying @ Universal for FOTL, by all means go there last. We went there 1st in Feb this year, the week before President's weekend, and really hated the WDW lines on President Day weekend. Both Epcot & MK were gridlocked.

If not, be at the gates when the parks open. The crowds were thin until noon, people didn't seem to be waiting long to ride.

Have a great time.

 

[WillCAD]

any suggestions on whether to do our 2 days at Universal first, last or in the middle of the week? Suggestions? Comments?

THANKS, in advance!'

Kapp

I always go to Universal, unless my trip is less than 6 days (that's only happened twice in 15 trips!) I like to put the Uni parks in the middle of my trip, breaking up Disney a little and giving me some variety.

I've found that the least crowded days at the Uni parks are Tuesday and Wednesday, so going to the Uni parks on those days not only puts them in the middle of my trip, but also gets me there on very un-crowded days.

Only once in 15 trips did I go to Uni and not go to Disney. But the Mouse Gods punnished me; I got rained on the whole weekend.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

We went last year to Universal. We made it our 1st full day, because I wanted to end on a magical note in WDW. Universal was okay but for us we will have to go back when our kids are older. They were 5 & 7 and are scared of certain rides. Basically we stayed in the Nicktoon area. My DH went on the Mummy rollercoaster and said it is a must due. The Shrek 4d is great and was worth the wait of 45 min. That was another thing we noticed is that everyride was almost an hour wait. We had gone in August and it was hot and we were getting cranky. One other thing that we noticed is that it seemed a bit of a generation gap because our kids did not who Popeye and Olive were or Woody Woodpecker because those cartoons are no longer on.
Hope you all enjoy it. While you are there eat at Jimmy Buffet's Marquetville(spelling??). The food was aweseom and they have people walking on stilts making balloon hats. The kids really got into that.

 

[wicket2005]

Where do you find this information?

Well I use my Brits Guide to Orlando book which gives details on the days but this book isn't available in America. I believe an Unofficial Guide to Orlando book gives the same info, also touringplans on the web has days to avoid. Everything is a bit up in the air at the moment with the new evening hours for guests so it will be probably wise to check nearer the time of your visit, when the new hours will have had longer to show their impact on visiter numbers.

 

[weluvpluto]

Oops ... I meant how do you find out the quietest days for US/IOA?

 

[HappyLawyer]

I do my disney days first, especially if they roll over a weekend, i personally have fore fun at universal and ioa i spend most of my time there so i do it last

 

[marriedmarylander]

Maybe you can figure out which days you want to go to the Disney Parks based on EMH, best days, special events, etc then just do IOA/Universal in the other days?