Stay onsite?

[Koda]

We are planning a trip to WDW and Universal for the Summer 2012. We have been to WDW numerous times, but never Universal. I am debating about staying at a WDW resort, and cabbing it to Universal, or splitting our stay between a WDW resort, and a Universal resort. We would probably spend 2-3 days at Universal, and 5 days at WDW. The front of the line perk for staying onsite at Universal is appealing. However, then we would have to arrange transportation from the airport to Universal (not Magical Express), and would lose time by having to switch resorts.

Any advice?

 

[Ohiodislover]

We just returned from Universal and stayed onsite at the Royal Pacific Resort. Wouldn't do it any other way The express pass and early entry are priceless, IMO

Hire a car for transportation from the airport. Most come with a 30 min grocery stop. With the money saved on bottled water, soda, and snacks for the room it almost pays for itself. THey can also give you a price on the transfer to Disney from RPR. Our car service did a RT transfer for 90 from the airport to the resort. We also used a car to take us to Epcot for the day, which was $60 RT.

 

[IdesOmarch]

If $$$ aren't an issue, yes definitely stay onsite, plus I think you'll be blown away with the quality of their resorts. So much better staying there, everything is right there, you can take a boat into the parks, you'll love it and never want to do it any other way after that!

 

[HayGan]

The unlimited FOTL access to us is worth everything! I doubt that we would ever do US/IOA without it! We like to stay 1 night at US so we get FOTL access for both the day we check-in (early!) and the day we check-out. We find that two days at US/IOA is enough for us but well worth it!!!

 

[nytimez]

I would never go to Universal without staying at a Universal resort. The FOTL access alone is worth the price... but as others have pointed out, they also run great hotels there.

 

[Koda]

Thanks for the advice!

Do the Universal resorts offer discounts like the WDW resorts do?

Any input on which resort to stay at? It will be me, hubby, and 3 teenage daughters.

 

[Ohiodislover]

Thanks for the advice!

Do the Universal resorts offer discounts like the WDW resorts do?

Any input on which resort to stay at? It will be me, hubby, and 3 teenage daughters.

I know they offer AAA. I booked with the stay more save more, and recieved 30%

Many on the boards say it is worth getting an Annual pass for the room rates. I will look into that when we go again.

We stayed at RPR and my 2 teen girls loved it. Nice pool area. I am pretty sure they would have liked Hard Rock also.

 

[Mom3girls]

We just returned from Universal and stayed onsite at the Royal Pacific Resort. Wouldn't do it any other way The express pass and early entry are priceless, IMO

Hire a car for transportation from the airport. Most come with a 30 min grocery stop. With the money saved on bottled water, soda, and snacks for the room it almost pays for itself. THey can also give you a price on the transfer to Disney from RPR. Our car service did a RT transfer for 90 from the airport to the resort. We also used a car to take us to Epcot for the day, which was $60 RT.

We are doing a split stay with Universal first and then Disney afterwards. I called Tiffany Towncar and its gonna be $115 total for our party of five. They are gonna pick us up at MCO and take us to HRH and then a few days later pick us up at HRH and take us to Beach Club. Somewhere along the way we also get a complimentary 30 min grocery stop too! Very reasonable!!!

 

[Koda]

So the $115 is for both trips? MCO to Universal, and Universal to WDW resort? That doesn't seem too bad!

 

[lildamo]

So the $115 is for both trips? MCO to Universal, and Universal to WDW resort? That doesn't seem too bad!

Generally, we find cabs from MCO to Universal are about $50, and a cab from Universal to WDW around $40 (depending where on property you're going, Downtown Disney is apparently the cheapest pickup/dropoff location).

Often, getting one annual pass for your party is worth it for the discounts and definitely worth looking into. Use code APH online to see what the annual pass rates are for your dates and see if the discount covers the annual pass purchase.

 

[TLinden16]

It's definitely worth the money to stay at a Universal resort. As others have said, the front of the line access is a big plus, and also the early access to the WWOHP is a huge benefit.

I've stayed at the Royal Pacific and the Hard Rock (and will be staying at the Portofino Bay in September). I really liked both resorts. I preferred the Hard Rock because I liked the rooms better, and it is a bit closer to the parks, but I would stay at either of them again.

I have also used a car service to pick me up at the airport, take me to my Universal resort, and then on to my Disney resort. It was around $120 including tip, and included a grocery stop. Well worth the money.

 

[Planogirl]

I'll say the same as the others. It's wonderful to stay onsite!

Portofino is also nice but it's the romantic resort if that is of interest.

 

[tinydancer09]

Considering you're going to be traveling during summer I would highly recommend staying onsite. Takes a way a good deal of exhaustion being so close to the parks and being able to go back at will. Also you get the most out of the park not having to wait in lines

 

[lovebug33]

We stayed offsite at the Doubletree Main Gate. It was close of a walk and a whole lot cheaper than staying onsite!

 

[nytimez]

They're all great resorts. I like the Portofino best, it reminds me of the Hotel MiraCosta at DisneySea in Tokyo.

 

[coastermom]

We have always stayed on site .. we just did this trip in July / Aug this year ... we stayed at RPR but with the kids we like the Hard Rock better ...

We drive so I am not sure how expensive the cab would be but I would say take one more day and do what we did stay by the pool between the two places . We are exhusted after WDW and love the extra day of rest when we go to the Hard Rock after the 5 days at WDW.

good luck with whatever you do !!