Staying DVC but going to Universal, who has done it?

[snoopy5386]

My DD's 11th birthday is coming up in a little over a year which means it's time for her to get her letter from Hogwarts and time for a trip to Universal. Trying to decide if we should stay DVC and head to Universal from there or if we should rent out or points and stay at Universal. Who's stayed DVC and done Universal. Not sure when exactly the trip will be, but a good chance it will be in the summer so the Unlimited Express pass might be really worth it. Any advice appreciated.

 

[zavandor]

It's doable. I've done it many times, and I prefer to rent a car when venturing outside WDW. However with Uber you can get probably even save some money when you factor in the daily parking fees.
However last trip I booked 3 nights less at WDW and added 3 nights onsite at Universal (renting the excess points). This will be my way forward, I think. I've stayed at Royal Pacific to get the complimentary Express pass, but since I visit often during off season I didn't really get much value out of it, so next time it will be at Cabana Bay, which looks like a very nice resort even if it's a value.

Staying onsite, whatever the resort, grants you early entry at one of the two parks and for the Harry Potter lands it could be invaluable. I was there in January and when the park opened for everyone the queue to enter Diagon Alley spawned outside back to in front of Transformers. I cannot imagine what would happen during Easter or NYE.
The Express Pass cannot be used for the HP rides, so it's either staying onsite and get there early or the standby queue.

 

[Anal Annie]

We did it a few years ago - right in the middle of our 9 night trip to break the trip up. We just packed an over night bag & left our stuff in our studio at BWV and we took a taxi over to avoid paying for parking (went really early). I booked 1 night at the Hard Rock hotel to get their front of the line access (which was worth every cent as they were selling the FOL access for like $85 pp). The taxi dropped us off & we stored our bag with bell services & went to the parks. On the 2nd morning we again stored the bag & we went back to the parks. When we were done that afternoon we went back & got our bag & took a taxi back to BWV. It was fun.

 

[Emagine]

I was just searching for this very topic as I am curious how ppl do it. We want to do the same thing since the room is paid for. We are eyeballing early December before the crowds and like you not sure to stay or rent out. I have never rented out my points and very nervous there. I will be following

 

[com_op_2000]

We are local and use our POV. We usually stay at SSR for those trips to US/IoA, as it is the closest resort to that location. With APs it is easy for us to stay onsite and travel to US. I have never rented points and most likely never will. I would do as PP stated and book one night in a US hotel to get two days of FOTL passes.

 

[lovin'fl]

We have done US twice and both times we stayed on Universal property for the Express pass. The first trip was late Aug and the Express Pass wasn't needed. The second trip was early Aug and we had DVC (BWV and SSR) booked for 11 nights. We considered just going from BWV but we wanted to see the newer HP stuff and was thinking we'd need that extra hour in the morning that on-site guests get plus when calculating the cost of adding the express pass (which we figured we'd also need) it was more money than just getting a room at Royal Pacific. We did a room for 1 night with 1 day park-park tickets and we kept the BWV room for that night too. We left BWV around 5:30pm, stopped to eat at Giordanos and then checked in to RP around 7:30. We got up and loaded our overnight bags in the car and went for early hour at the park with the Gringotts ride, then took the Hogwarts express over to the other park and did that park for a while and then went back to the other to finish up. We were there for 9 hours and then went back to BWV wiped out.

My family, older teens, now prefer US to WDW. And with the cost of APs or park tickets at WDW we may start staying DVC and then just go to US. If we can do off-season where we wouldn't need the express pass. And off-season is pretty much anytime kids are in school (so late August to early June...minus holidays). Where WDW doesn't seem to have an off-season anymore, US still does.

 

[keishashadow]

My DD's 11th birthday is coming up in a little over a year which means it's time for her to get her letter from Hogwarts and time for a trip to Universal. Trying to decide if we should stay DVC and head to Universal from there or if we should rent out or points and stay at Universal. Who's stayed DVC and done Universal. Not sure when exactly the trip will be, but a good chance it will be in the summer so the Unlimited Express pass might be really worth it. Any advice appreciated.

We nearly always do a split stay, spending the weekend at Universal when points are higher.

We've done U as offsite guests and it's just not the same without the amazing FOTL pass.

onsite guests get an hour early into one park = less time waiting for HP...a huge bonus!

There have been reports of long security lines from the garage/drop off in the mornings. Was surprised to go thru increased screening when boarding boat at the Royal Pacific last month. I'm all for whatever security they implement , but be sure to get there very early for rope drop if an offsite guest.

 

[lovin'fl]

I want to add that, after our last trip with having DVC AND US rooms at the same time, I recommend tacking US onto a DVC trip if going during the in-season busy time where you need the express pass. Our first US trip was tacked onto a 4 night stay at Vero Beach and that was AWESOME!!! We also did HHI one year and then tacked on 3 nights at OKW where we just went to Seaworld (Downtown Disney and a couple WDW resort dinners).

 

[heynowirv]

We've done it about 3 times now the last time during MLK week. Stayed at AKV rented a car and truly did everything we wanted at IOA and US in one day. It was crowded as you can imagine and went straight to Daigon Alley then back to US and worked our way from there. Still made it back for a 8:00 dinner on The Boadwalk

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We visit Universal while staying DVC. In fact several years ago I had a conference at Universal but more family came along so it was nicer to get a 2BR and I just drove over for the conference. Not ideal but it worked.

If Universal is the main focus though I'd stay there. Other than my one trip with the conference we are just going over for a day here and there which is doable but if it were more then I'd give strong consideration to staying at a Universal hotel. And we've done that when I've attended other conferences.

A couple of notes - the hotels give you front of the line access for most attractions but not the main HP attractions, however you do get early access. And the front of the line you purchase from Universal does not give unlimited front of the line - it's single use at the attractions that offer front of the line. When we stay at Disney and go over we've never bought the line pass and with a little planning have been fine without it.

 

[DougEMG]

We done it both ways, split stay and staying at DVC and driving up for the day.

The big advantage staying onsite at Universal is the express pass.

The main advantage of staying DVC is that your room costs are cheaper.

 

[Meriweather]

We have gone maybe 6 times over the years.....always staying onsite at WDW.
Last time was Jan............it worked fine. No long waits.
We ended up using Uber.....less money and less time for travel

 

[bumbershoot]

Trying to decide if we should stay DVC and head to Universal from there or if we should rent out or points and stay at Universal.

If Universal is the focus, stay onsite.

I can't tell you if you should rent your points or bank them for a future trip, but definitely stay onsite. And hopefully at a deluxe resort so you have both Early Entrance to one or sometimes both Wizarding Worlds (and Despicable Me if the EE day is at Studios) and Unlimited Express Pass.

EP is good for both Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge, and that EP can be highly valuable. Looks like they are gearing up to have EP used for Forbidden Journey, too, given the recent ending of the "Castle Tour" line, so that'll be nice, too, if it happens for your stay.


Now, I *have* gone to Uni while staying at WDW. Did it last month. I have a Preferred AP that I've kept since 2011, and that gives me free parking at the themepark/citywalk garage (nothing gets you out of paying for parking at the hotels even when staying there, by the way, just know it and budget for it), and I went for a few hours (to do my 3.94 mile remembrance walk in memory of Alan Rickman through Hogwarts Running Club) and it was bliss. I rode no rides, though. It's hard to convince me to stand in a normal line at Universal.

But normally I'd stay at Uni and visit WDW before I'd stay at WDW and visit Uni. The onsite perks at Universal are a million times better than anything WDW gives you IMO.

 

[SuperRob]

I've done it. WDWInfo sells Universal tickets that also include transfers ... they pick you up and drop you off at your resort, you just schedule it ahead of time, and give them a three hour head start to pick you up. Just fine if you only want to go to Universal for a day, which is fine for us.

 

[bwvBound]

We've done it a few times over the years -- but all aided by IBM's after-hours, private parties which included r/t bus transportation from the Dolphin. Good times, indeed!

 

[buzzrelly]

We did our first trip to UO and out first trip as DVC owners, last April. We went to UP and stayed at RPR for 3 nights before heading over to WDW and staying at BLT. We had an amazing time and are planning on doing it again next year! If you're interested, the link to my trip report is in my signature, or click here:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/th...pril-2015-trip-report-completed-8-23.3415168/

 

[snoopy5386]

Thanks all! We're banking 71 points this year so they will be use or lose next year. If we have to go in the summer (hate to go then, but school is getting harder to miss....) we'll do a 2-4 night DVC stay and hang at the pool/water parks and then do a 2 night Universal hotel stay. If we can pull off a 3/4 day weekend in the off season we'll probably stay DVC and commute to Universal. All depends on the school calendar!

 

[Anek0618]

I've just planned a Universal (staying at AKL)/Vero beach trip for Oct. We were planning on renting a car and driving to Universal, but now I am wondering about the tickets that include transfers. We are doing 2 days at Universal. Do you think the transfers would be easier? I am a bit worried about the parking aspect I would love input from someone who has done it this way!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I've just planned a Universal (staying at AKL)/Vero beach trip for Oct. We were planning on renting a car and driving to Universal, but now I am wondering about the tickets that include transfers. We are doing 2 days at Universal. Do you think the transfers would be easier? I am a bit worried about the parking aspect I would love input from someone who has done it this way!

Can't help with the pros of this but I've always decided against it because you have fixed departure and pick up times. I think I'd rather do something like Uber instead or, as we've always done, drive. What is your concern about the parking?

 

[Anek0618]

Can't help with the pros of this but I've always decided against it because you have fixed departure and pick up times. I think I'd rather do something like Uber instead or, as we've always done, drive. What is your concern about the parking?

I have only been to Universal once and we were with a conference so we were on site. I am just not sure how congested the parking is and how far from the parks. We need a car to get to Vero Beach regardless so I imagine that is the route we will take.