Staying at Universal...Visiting Disney

[csss31399]

Has anyone ever stayed at Universal and visited Disney? I hear a lot about staying at Disney and visiting Universal, but since the 3/2 deal is so good, it makes more financial sense to stay at Universal and just visit Disney.

We have never been to US, so I don't know exactly how many days we want to visit US vs. Disney. I really want to do both this trip and I want to stay onsite at US due to the FOTL benefit. For two nights, it is $498 and for five nights, it is $799.

Opinions welcome!

 

[ky07]

Has anyone ever stayed at Universal and visited Disney? I hear a lot about staying at Disney and visiting Universal, but since the 3/2 deal is so good, it makes more financial sense to stay at Universal and just visit Disney.

We have never been to US, so I don't know exactly how many days we want to visit US vs. Disney. I really want to do both this trip and I want to stay onsite at US due to the FOTL benefit. For two nights, it is $498 and for five nights, it is $799.

Opinions welcome!

I say go for it cause just like ther posters asking how to get from disney to universal you can do that just as easy from universal and you can get a shuttle from mears but just can't remeber how much it is and others will post that could tell you

 

[Evanna]

I want to know the same thing about visiting Disney if you stay at Universal.

We are planning our first trip to Orlando with the kids (9 and 12) and are thinking of staying at the Universal Hard Rock Hotel for a week. I believe my kids will really enjoy both Universal parks plus the benefit of the FOTL pass. We want a more relaxing vacation than Disney and don't want to run around all the time. That being said, I can't see taking them to Orlando and not doing Disney at least one day.

Is there a cost effective way to do just one day at Disney? Or must you buy a multi-day pass for it to make sense? If we do only one day at Disney, which park to visit? Or should we just skip Disney and stay at Universal and take advantage of the free shuttles to Sea World if we want a change of pace?

 

[calgarygary]

If you are only staying one week, I personally would bite the bullet and not visit the mouse. You will be surprised at how much you will enjoy the pace of an extended stay at US/IOA while staying onsite. I guarantee you will leave feeling that you have been on vacation.

 

[ky07]

If you are only staying one week, I personally would bite the bullet and not visit the mouse. You will be surprised at how much you will enjoy the pace of an extended stay at US/IOA while staying onsite. I guarantee you will leave feeling that you have been on vacation.

I agree

 

[goofy!]

If you are only staying one week, I personally would bite the bullet and not visit the mouse. You will be surprised at how much you will enjoy the pace of an extended stay at US/IOA while staying onsite. I guarantee you will leave feeling that you have been on vacation.

I agree.

Although we have done it, more times than not we have plans to visit Disney but they never happen. We usually stay at least a week at Universal. We always say we are going to do a day or two at Disney, but never find the time to break away and go.

Our thinking is that by staying at Universal, we can do mornings at Disney to beat the crowds and then come "home" in the afternoon and not worry about the crowds at Universal because we have FOTL.

It is just that getting up early to be at rope drop that gets us. We get spoiled at Universal by being able to sleep in and never having to worry about lines or crowds, knowing we always will be able to get on just about any ride we want in usually under 15 minutes.

 

[damo]

I find that doing both Disney and Universal is just extremely expensive. One day at another park just adds so much money onto an already pricey vacation.

 

[taliategan]

Disney's ticket prices for 1 day are no discounted, or even for 2 or 3 days are discounted very little. I believe Disney's philosphy is to try to get you take advantage of ticket packages between 4 and 10 days to entice you not only to come, but to stay a while. Its expensive to go to the parks for just 1 or 2 days. A couple of options for cheaper per day tickets - if you have any remaining tickets from a prior trip that are non-expiring or if you want to purchase non-expiring tickets and use some of the tickets on this trip and the remaining tickets on subsequent trips. This takes the cost per ticket down from 1 or 2 day tickets prices. Also, if there are any partys at the time you go (MNSSHP, P&P or Christmas) you can go to the MK from 4:00 to midnight for approximately $ 50.00 a ticket.

 

[Bluer101]

We last July spent a week a RPR and went to Disney for 2 of the first days. We did MK in the am then over to epcot for the afternoon. The the next day AK in the am then Hollywood Studios in the afternoon. Then we spent the rest of the vacation at US and IOA. We really needed it after the long 2 days a DIS. Personally we will not be going back for a long time. Besides it gets to expensive for DIS, especially since we have always been AP holders a US and IOA since its cheaper.

But the answer to the question, Yes its possible but very tiring and gets more expensive.

 

[Metro West]

If you are only staying one week, I personally would bite the bullet and not visit the mouse. You will be surprised at how much you will enjoy the pace of an extended stay at US/IOA while staying onsite. I guarantee you will leave feeling that you have been on vacation.

Is there a cost effective way to do just one day at Disney? Or must you buy a multi-day pass for it to make sense? If we do only one day at Disney, which park to visit? Or should we just skip Disney and stay at Universal and take advantage of the free shuttles to Sea World if we want a change of pace?

As the others have posted, Disney doesn't offer discounts for the one day ticket (unless you buy them at any of the hundreds of places on I-Drive) so the multi-day pass would be your best bet...if you decide to go that route. Definately take advantage of the free shuttles to Sea World. I can guarantee you one thing...if you stick to Sea World and Universal, you won't feel rushed trying to do everything. You will know what a real vacation feels like.

 

[Evanna]

Thanks to everyone for your input. In researching for our Orlando trip, I have learned that a Universal vacation is much more relaxing than a Disney vacation yet just as much fun. I am sure that the kids will have alot of fun at the Universal parks and the Universal hotels, and we will also visit Sea World or Aquatica if they want to try something different.

We will just have to leave Disney for a different trip (maybe plan a 4 day long-weekend trip sometime).