Staying at DVC and Driving to Universal - tell me about it.

[Emagine]

My husband and I are going round and round trying to figure out our first trip that will include Universal. We will be there the first week of December. We had a suggestion of getting a room on Tuesday Night and Thursday Night so we will have 4 days (check in and check out) of Express Passes. We are thinking about Hard Rock due to the entrance being closer.

However, we are also curious about those who stay at DVC and drive to Universal. I am hearing with the lower crowd the EP will not be needed. I also will have two kiddos will SN and 1 with a Service Dog so I plan on getting information into their passes like the Disney DAS. I am told with all of that combined we may not need the EP.

We will have our car so transportation is not an issue. We are currently booked into our home, OKW. I would like to know about the drive over, parking, getting to and in the parks if possible. Is the procedure long, a distance, etc? Planning with the kids.

Any information would be grateful.

 

[Barbydoll8]

I live here (about 75 miles west of WDW) and drive that area a lot. While I do not visit US anymore, I have and can give you some insight but I hope others chime in.
Driving. From WDW, US is about 20/30 east. Right off of I-4 so it's a straight shot but the traffic can be brutal through this section of I-4 so pack patience.
US has 2 parking garages and it is a schlep from the parking area to the parks. But it is well signed and organized well. There is designated handicap parking available but it is still a distance to the parks from there (DM was handicapped so we used that parking lot). Last time I was there for City Walk, you walk through this area first to go to either US or IOA. US is to the right and IOA is to the left as you walk thru CW.
Since you have a service dog, I still would call US guest services and ask them for advice and info on parking and logistics with that.

Sorry I can't comment on EP as I have never used it there. I do know that sometimes if you stay on property EP is included with your hotel fair. Not always.

 

[zavandor]

I've stayed on site at Royal Pacific mid January a couple of years ago and EP was almost useless. All attractions were almost a walk on or 15 minutes or less, except the Harry Potter ones where the EP is not useful anyway. Also Despicable me has often long lines and there EP only saves half the time. I don't think it was worth it just for the EP, but the hotel was lovely and the boat to the parks really nice.
Staying onsite gives you early entry too and THAT is useful, because you can get to HP first thing and then when the crowds arrive you can be already on your way to the other attractions.

I also drove from WDW to Universal a few times and it's super easy. However again I only go January and September so super low crowd times.
Early December should be fine crowd wise too. And if you are planning 4 days for Universal you'll have enough time to do everything multiple times. 3 days is ideal in my opinion.

 

[Emagine]

We are allowing 4 days, 5 if we need to for Universal. Our kids are sorta 'tired of Disney' (BOO). We are arriving on Friday and doing Friday -Sunday at Disney with Monday being either a Down or needed Universal Day with the following week all Universal. I am just not sure how to plan the stay or trip otherwise. We have rooms booked but just really uneducated and unclear how to do it all and make sure we are good too as far as Universal is met. I also know my one son will most likely fight me tooth and nail to get moving in the morning. I do wish Universal was open later

 

[CraigInPA]

My wife and I went to US/IOA for 4 days in the first week of December 2 years ago. We stayed at the Hard Rock. Beautiful hotel. Ask for a pool side room. The view is worth the small extra charge. Staying at HR, we got the Express passes. There were a few rides that were walk on without EP. Some, however, were 20-30 minutes without EP and walk-on with EP. The place where staying on site made a significant difference is the 1 hour early opening for on-site hotel guests. Since Harry Potter does not have an EP line (everyone is equal in Hogwart's, apparently), that one hour early opening meant that we could ride HP with a minimal wait, and then turn around and ride it again just as the park was opening to non-hotel guests.

From the Hard Rock, we took a van to Disney to complete our vacation. When we did the math, it didn't make sense to rent a car for the whole 11 day trip. At that time, we got a HUGE room discount at Hard Rock by buying a single annual pass (which more than made up for the extra cost of the pass). In addition, the annual pass allowed us to get additional multi-day passes at a significant discount, as well as discounts on food.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I live just a few miles from Universal..

I would stay clear of I-4. If it were me, I would Exit Disney through Disney Springs and take Apoka Vineland, to Conroy Windermere, to Kirkman Rd. Kirkman can be brutal also, but your not on it for long.

Come to think of it, there may be a back way into US and you may be able to avoid Kirkman. We never pay attention, as I do not go to US (yet). You might want to look at Turkey Lake road for another way in.

MG

 

[bumbershoot]

Are you visiting WDW at all? If not, I would strongly consider dropping OKW (and we're all members here, so I understand that you *want* to use your points, but if you're not going to WDW...) and just staying onsite at Universal.

I would go a back way.

I would like to know about the drive over, parking, getting to and in the parks if possible. Is the procedure long, a distance, etc?

You get onto Uni property and follow the good signs for the Themepark/Citywalk parking. Pay for parking, follow the path! Park, note what area you're in (I take a picture), follow the good signs to get to Citywalk. There are moving walkways and escalators (elevators most likely as well, for those who can't use escalators). There are always paths if you don't want to use the moving walkways. You'll hit security (just like outside Disney parks now) and then go on through to Citywalk. From Citywalk you choose either Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios! (leftish/straight for IOA, right for US...though you CAN go towards and across the bridge to IOA then take a right and get to US that way)

It is a HIKE from that parking garage, I'm not going to sugarcoat it.

I would just stay onsite there.

I do know that sometimes if you stay on property EP is included with your hotel fair. Not always.

If you stay at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, or Royal Pacific, unliimited EP is included, as well as Early Entrance to one or both Wizarding Worlds, every day.

If you stay at Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls, Early Entrance to one or both Wizarding Worlds is included, every day.

All attractions were almost a walk on or 15 minutes or less, except the Harry Potter ones where the EP is not useful anyway.

EP works for Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff.

Our standpoint is that even if standby is 15 minutes, EP will be 5. And that 10 minutes added up through the day make a good dent in our wait time and a serious upswing in our fun.

Our first trip was in early December, and when standby was 5, EP was 2 minutes. (literally remembering this for Hippogriff) This made a ton of re-rides VERY VERY FUN for my son.


DAS for WDW is now like the traditional pass Universal has had, with a return time. So if you've been to WDW with DAS it will feel familiar. I personally would rather have unlimited EP, but not everyone likes re-rides like my family does.

Plus, the resorts at Universal are sooooo much more resort-like than any WDW property we've stayed at so far. Buy something at the parks, it's not just sent to the resort; it's delivered to the room. They encourage pool hopping. (not always a bonus in December...our first trip was in 2010 when it was freezing cold for many days, but on our departure day it was in the 80s before noon and that pool looked very nice) They have sunscreen and fruit-infused water for you at the pools. etc. Staying onsite there is lovely and can be well worth the expense. And then you conserve your points for actual WDW stays.

I book directly using this link: https://uo.loewshotels.com/en/booking/uo?hotel=UEPBH,UEHRH,UERPR

I also know my one son will most likely fight me tooth and nail to get moving in the morning. I do wish Universal was open later

Alas you have to go in the summer to get the long days. In December it is what it is.

If you are commuting in, your "fight" will be earlier and last longer. If you're onsite you will the luxury of sleeping a bit more, because you are closer (walking distance depending on stamina) and the EP will make your days, apart from a true handful of rides, MUCH nicer. IMO.

 

[pinklotusflower]

I'd stay on site for the days your at US, we did for the first time last year at Cabana Bay and it was so much more relaxing, than driving up and down and getting stuck in traffic. You get early access to one of the parks and we got several rides in before the park officially opened. Cabana bay has a lazy river which we enjoyed relaxing in after the park and then we'd go back out and spend time on Citywalk.

 

[bumbershoot]

And if they don't feel like the deluxe+RPR are worth it (the unlimited EP not being worth it at that time or with the DAS-type pass), Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls would be a great option. Early Entrance really helps out with Wizarding World (and Despicable Me, if early entrance is at Studios), then you've got the disability pass for the rest of it.

 

[lovin'fl]

Last early Aug we did a 12 night stay at WDW in DVC rooms. In the middle we went to US for 1 day (staying overnight at their Royal Pacific resort for early entry to the parks). We just kept our DVC room as it was easier that way. We were at BWV and went into Epcot for lunch and then headed over to Royal Pacific in the evening, stopping at Giordano's for dinner on the way. We checked in around 8pm. Parking is easy at the resort though you have to pay a parking fee. We could print our US passes via a kiosk in the lobby though I think we had to wait until morning because it was closed by the time we walked up to it (like 9pm or something). Now we stayed at Hard Rock another time, on a late Aug trip, and we found we didn't need the front of the line pass so in early Dec you may not need that either (check crowd calendars). We are planning on going again mid May 2018 and staying DVC again but this time no adding a US resort or front of the line passes.

 

[Pirate Granny]

We took a cab from BCV to UN the Saturday, December 12 last year. We got there at 8:30 and were first at the turnstile at UN...got in, hubby rode the rip something, and I headed to HP to get a locker. Hubby showed up just as I got the locker...we rode twice looked around very quickly (my third time in one year), and we were on the train to Howarts...no line rode those rides, went to Jurassic Park...the longest wait that day was the train back to diagon alley, which was at least 45 minutes, but you 'head of the line' may not work for the train anyway. I was shocked at how light the crowds were...for a Saturday in December. Oh yeah, the cab ride back was long, lots of traffic at 8pm

 

[carlbarry]

I went to Universal late November to early December 2012, when Harry Potter had just opened.
The drive from AKL was about 20 minutes. The walk from the garage to park entrance was very, very long.
I couldn't believe that people actually paid to get on the rides "faster"; my first day at IofA I rode every ride I wanted to ride, twice, including Harry Potter. And I was still done in the park by 3 pm.

 

[cvjw]

I would just add that the last time we went to Universal while staying at Disney, the bag check/metal detector line into CityWalk was horrible. There were lines and lines of people everywhere waiting to get past the check point. It was just freeform, people shoving, cutting in front of others. We normally stay on site at Universal, so don't know if this is the norm or not.

If you drive, plan extra time for that. We did not, and it took quite a while. This was early January this year.

 

[bumbershoot]

the longest wait that day was the train back to diagon alley, which was at least 45 minutes, but you 'head of the line' may not work for the train anyway.

Hogwarts Express is not included in Express Pass. Neither is Gringott's, Ollivander's, or Forbidden Journey. (nor Pteranodon Flyers...but that has a height requirement AND limit...or Kang and Kong over in Simpsons)

I went to Universal late November to early December 2012, when Harry Potter had just opened.

Wizarding World opened in mid 2010.

I would just add that the last time we went to Universal while staying at Disney, the bag check/metal detector line into CityWalk was horrible. There were lines and lines of people everywhere waiting to get past the check point. It was just freeform, people shoving, cutting in front of others. We normally stay on site at Universal, so don't know if this is the norm or not.

If you drive, plan extra time for that. We did not, and it took quite a while. This was early January this year.

That wasn't my experience coming from the parking lot in February. Not sure whose is more accurate.

 

[Minniesgal]

We prefer to stay at WDw and drive to universal as we book a 2 bedroom villa so we love the space.

We have stayed onsite universal. We didn't love HRH, and while we liked PBH we hated eating out every meal. We much prefer having our 2 bedroom and doing breakfast in the room, just lunch out then a snack at night when we get back. Having separate rooms to go to to chill is great. We buy express pass bundled with entrance online.

However if you book a DVC studio i'd stay at universal no benefit of staying at disney over universal

 

[carlbarry]

carlbarry said: ↑
I went to Universal late November to early December 2012, when Harry Potter had just opened.

Wizarding World opened in mid 2010.

Very true, but since I had never been there before, to me the 2 years made it a new feature. My description was misleading.
In any event, although not a walk on, the wait was very short when I was there, maybe 10 minutes.
And at "Twister," it was just me and one other person!

 

[DMKEDM]

I've now done US/IoA during a WDW stay three times...

Time one, when only IoA Harry Potter World was open, we took a cab from OKW a6 6:30 in the morning; my friends booked a room at Royal Pacific (and put me on the reservation so I also could get early entrance)...the cab ride was around $50 (no matter how many people in the car, so on the way over it was $50 for 4 of us; on the way back, it was just me and still $50)...All of us liked the Royal Pacific and I in particular liked the stroll over to the parks...but Disney it's not. I much prefer Disney. But that's personal taste. The day we went (it was early June) was a rainy day and crowds were small...not sure we really needed early entrance at all and definitely didn't need express pass anywhere else.

Time two, when Harry Potter was open in both US and IoS, DS and I rented a car (at the Dolphin) for one day...that allowed us to keep it overnight (one day = 24 hours)...we drove over, at around 7:30-8 or so a.m., from BCV...easy-peasy drive. Rental was just shy of $50...DS drove me back mid-afternoon...then he went back for evening fun...walk from the parking garage was really long--but not hugely longer than 'around the park' at MK, for example...probably a mile from car-park-spot to Harry Potter Land entrance...this day trip was in late August last year...hot, but no rain--and MUCH less shade in both US and IoA than in Disney parks...what I'd call normal late summer crowds...we got there early enough that the lines were not an issue at Forbidden Journey...there was a line at Gringott's, but it wasn't bad...around 30 minutes I think? We didn't buy EP and my DS did not complain about waits...I stayed at US/IoA w/him for about 3 hours after we finished at Harry Potter Land and only went on a couple of rides w/him...the rest I people-watched while I waited for him...enjoyed myself but was more than ready to go back to Disney by 3 or so....

Time three was last month, w/2 adult friends...we called an Uber...$18 each way...drop-off MUCH closer than parking lot, but still a noticeable walk into the parks...again, no need for EP and lines at all the HP attractions were manageable...didn't wait at all for Hogwarts Express (on either side)...Gringott's was having a "bad day" (ride shut down three times in the hour we waited; then one of us couldn't wait for a restroom any longer, so we left the line w/out riding)...Forbidden Journey was about a 15-minute wait...I find I prefer a small wait at Forbidden Journey cuz the line itself is so interesting...I prefer the pace of moving thru it when there's a 15-minute or so wait over walking straight thru to the ride...LOVE that ride tho...best ride ever...like it better than any WDW ride...

So...while people who want to ride ALL (or even just a lot of) the US/IoA rides may find EP valuable, it wasn't so much for me and those I went with...early-entrance was great, but I don't know that it was "needed" ... Uber is far and away again the least expensive way to get to/from WDW...there is a parking fee (forget how much it is tho) at US/IoA so even if you already have your own car, it costs less than Uber, but you're twice as far away from park entrances as you are from the Uber drop-off...

No experience w/DAS (or DAS-like) procedures...and saw no service dogs at all any of the times we were there...(but also have seen very very few of them at Disney parks either)

We like Disney MUCH MUCH better, altho I'm (and my family) is a HUGE Harry Potter (and Harry Potter Land) fan, so we'll keep going over to US/IoA every few trips to experience that...it's not that we dislike US/IoA--we don't--just that we MUCH prefer WDW...

Hope this helps...