Spring break--considering switch from Disney to Universal

[Calidisneyfam]

We have a trip planned to Disney World March 28 - April 4; was supposed to be Presidents Week but we postponsed due to Covid numbers. It is myself and my three teenagers. The wait times at Disney over Presidents Week were so long, it has us considering a change to Universal. We were there about 6 years ago and loved it; we stayed at Hard Rock and love the EP, of course, but not sure if that is in the budget this trip.

I saw Universal has some "good neighbor" hotels, that would give us the one hour early entry. We would have 4 day tickets, for the 3 parks.

Do you think this would be adequate to see everything? How good is the virtual queue? It sounds similar to the Max Pass system at Disneyland. Can you get on a good number of rides?

I know it will be crowded at both places, but we are fast pass users, and the thought of doing Disney at a crowded time without fast passes sounds rough.

I have touring plans, and it shows Universal at 8-9 that week, and Disney at 3-4. Do you think the crowds will really be that different? I imagine both will be very crowded.

Any advice would be welcome. Trying to have a fun trip with my son before he leaves for college in the fall.

 

[bchbetha]

I think TP just must not have updated their predictions because Easter week is always crazy crowded. Not sure where their 3-4 for Disney came from.

I read a trip report from Disney last week too and it sounded super unpleasant. Too crowded, and especially too crowded during a pandemic. Sounded like social distancing was not possible in some lines and areas of the park. Mask compliance wasn't great either. I haven't read any Universal trip reports yet but did see that they hit capacity every day.

Because of the capacity issues, I would not choose a partner hotel. I would pick the best you can afford onsite so you are guaranteed that entry, not just early entry. Also, if you do choose a partner hotel be sure and book in a way that guarantees you perks. From past research it seemed like you only got them if you booked through Universal (where rates were higher) but I might have read that wrong.

The virtual queue is only for a few rides. So, unless you have express passes you will still be waiting in regular lines.

Express passes that week range from $240-280 per person, per day (that's for the unlimited version).

Don't forget to price out annual passes (or just one). I would think there are hotel discount blackout dates in affect for those dates but maybe not. But, there are other AP perks that might be nice to have. I mention the AP because it is pretty comparable in price to 3 day tickets.

 

[Calidisneyfam]

Thanks so much for your thoughts. I was worried about the parks hitting capacity and being locked out, if we decide to go take an afternoon break. I'm playing around with the AP rate at Portofino; maybe I can make that work!

How long are the waits with Express Pass during a busy time?

 

[Missingmypooh]

The 3-4 is likely because a good number of annual passes is blocked out at Disney. As a platinum pass holder I prefer to go during those times as it is less crowded.

the virtual queue at UOR is hit or miss. Some days it’s on, some days it’s not. Powers that be greater than me could tell you *why*, I don’t know how or when it gets turned on. Some busy days I think they could benefit and it’s no where to be found.

there are budget hacks for getting the EP by booking one night at the qualifying hotels that are sometimes cheaper than buying them outright. Certainly worth a look!

UOR is sometimes labeled a “teen” park, and if you think the kids would enjoy it better than Disney, go with that! Vacations are meant to be enjoyed and you’ll have crowds no matter where you end up.

 

[TommyJK]

Thanks so much for your thoughts. I was worried about the parks hitting capacity and being locked out, if we decide to go take an afternoon break. I'm playing around with the AP rate at Portofino; maybe I can make that work!

How long are the waits with Express Pass during a busy time?

Ya. Seeing the APH rate for Portofino for your dates are $354/night (whereas non AP rate is $494). If you're considering this I would book fast as APH rates can disappear quickly. RPR and HRH looks to already have no APH rooms left. You could also consider a split stay with one of the other Universal properties, while not having EP you'd still get early entry and be able to take mid-day breaks easily. Endless Summer has APH rate of $129/night and Cabana Bay has APH rate of $139/night

 

[nkereina]

Generally, 4 days to do everything in the parks is enough time but I would expect that to be a busy time, as the week leading up to Easter when many schools are on Spring Break. Its also at the end of Universal's Mardi Gras activities. You mentioned 3 parks so it sounds like you plan to do Volcano Bay too. You probably have enough time, but if it were me, I'd skip VB to ensure I have enough time at US and IOA.

I haven't been keeping up with it lately, but I know in the Fall, there were many times when the Universal parks closed due to capacity. Seemed to happen primarily on weekends and more often than Disney. I'm not sure if Universal was keeping a lower capacity cap or if it was just that much busier. I do know its been a common theme on the blogs/podcasts I follow and even here on the boards that many are opting for Universal over Disney in the current climate. Especially after the many Disney cuts over the last few months. So, I would not be surprised at all if Universal is seeing a noticeable up-tick in crowds.

IMO, Express Pass would be well worth the cost that week - whether you can manage to stay at one of the premier resorts for the duration, or even if you do a split stay with one night there in order to get EPs for two days of your trip. Royal Pacific tends to be the cheapest. With EPs, I don't think we've ever waited longer than 20-25 minutes for a ride. Usually, its 15 minutes or less. We find it moves a little faster than FPs at Disney.

 

[shawthorne44]

If you are worried about an afternoon break, I have heard that you can get back in if you've already been in. That doesn't make sense, because that means that they don't count the people leaving. But it is what I heard.

 

[nkereina]

If you are worried about an afternoon break, I have heard that you can get back in if you've already been in. That doesn't make sense, because that means that they don't count the people leaving. But it is what I heard.

I haven't heard this myself, but I do know that on-site guests get priority for entry in a separate queue. Still not a guarantee, but better than having to wait in the end of the long line to get in.

 

[Calidisneyfam]

Thank you everyone for your replies. We've decided to go for it and booked Portofino with APH rate. We are so excited! Now to scope out dining; I'm a Disney expert, but feel a little lost w/ Universal.

I read one of the AP perks was buying multi day tickets for a discount, I think 15%, but you have to do it at the ticket counter, not online. If this is correct, it seems that I should just buy my APH now, and the rest of the family's 4 day tickets when I arrive. Does that sound right?

 

[Calidisneyfam]

Now that my husband heard it's Universal instead of Disney, he wants to come too, LOL!

 

[sandam1]

Now to scope out dining; I'm a Disney expert, but feel a little lost w/ Universal.

I'm not sure how things are right now, but pre-COVID times, staying at one of the EP hotels also gave you priority seating (i.e. next available) at some of the sit-down restaurants. But as I was poking around the Universal website, it looks like you can make reservations at most of the sit-down restaurants on-line through April. This is a relatively new development so I'm not sure how it's working. Most of the quick service has mobile ordering now.

The full service dining plan is usually NOT a great option as it really limits where you can eat. The quick service plan (which you can purchase when you purchase your meal) can be a good option if you use the two snack/beverage allotment on high price snacks (particularly butterbeer). If you have a preferred AP or above, you get 10% (or 15% with a premium) off almost everywhere.

I read one of the AP perks was buying multi day tickets for a discount, I think 15%, but you have to do it at the ticket counter, not online. If this is correct, it seems that I should just buy my APH now, and the rest of the family's 4 day tickets when I arrive. Does that sound right?

The problem with the AP rate is that it is 15% off the walk-up rate, which is usually more than 15% higher than the pre-purchase rate. You would need to do the math, but that tends to be how it works out.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

The problem with the AP rate is that it is 15% off the walk-up rate, which is usually more than 15% higher than the pre-purchase rate.

+1. The buy 2 days get 2 days free promo is much better than 15% off gate price of 4 day tickets.

 

[shawthorne44]

I ran the numbers on the full service dining plan. It is like the regular Q.S. Plan with an added F.S. Meal. Figuring the F.S. Meal drink will cost $5, and the dessert is worth $4, the entrée needs to cost at least $30 if you don't have Preferred or Premier Passes, in which case (from memory) it would need to cost $34 or $37. Scanning the menus its seems that Bigfire is the only one with entrees that expensive.

The good news, though, is that unlike Disney you could decide how many people and days to buy the plan. So, our family of three will buy a one day one person full service plan and spend it on the expensive steak at Bigfire.

The trick to the Q.S. Plan is that the Bev/Snack credits are combined. So, spend both of them on expensive snacks or butterbeer. It is easy to spend $7 on each snack, which means the entrée only has to cost $12. For the entree you can get the combo version which comes with a bonus item, often a shake. Makes it easier to share.

 

[Calidisneyfam]

Thanks for the info on the dining plan. I hadn’t thought of getting it just for a day or two.

What are some of the best value snacks?

 

[bchbetha]

You can even wait to buy the dining plan in the park at the restaurant. Your cashier should be able to tell, based on what you ordered, whether it will be worthwhile for you. You can also wait and see if it is a "hungry" day or not. I don't really get the appeal of the dining plans though and would hate to be thinking that much about whether I was breaking even/getting a good deal. If you like to pre-pay for food for budgeting reasons then gift cards are a good way to go. You can set that money aside now and then the gift cards can be used for food or souvenirs (etc) adding to their flexibility.