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

[KAT4DISNEY]

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.

They have parking garages. Large ones. You then have sets of moving walkways that get you to CityWalk where you then split off to whichever park you are going to. It's a distance, but fairly convenient and covered the entire way until you get to City Walk. The moving walkways help a lot too. I'd equate it similar to parking for MK for time and distance (perhaps slightly faster at Universal) although it's a different set up.

 

[DebbieB]

I have a DVC friend who does it all the time. She was just at OKW with her sisters, spent time around the resorts (dining) and Universal. Only went to MK for the free DVC night.

 

[keishashadow]

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.

not necessarily, often I find AP rates with all taxes & fees under $200 a night. I visit there often enough to the point where I am Platinum in Loews YouFirst program = complimentary upgrade to a suite when I book, if available. I am quite fond of Portofino's suites, complete with two full baths.

Even if looking at a DVC studio, I am 'saving money' if you look at current rental point amounts and I get to save my points for yet another trip!

 

[La2kw]

We have done it, but prefer to stay at Universal when going to Universal. We have stayed at all of the Universal Resorts multiple times (Royal Pacific is our favorite). Their hotels are very well run and the service is so much better than Disney resorts. Even Cabana Bay Beach Resort (their value resort) is so much better than any of the Disney values. If you stay at any of the Universal resorts, you get early entry to the Wizarding World at both parks. If you stay at the Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, or Portofino, you also get unlimited "fastness" type ride express.

 

[PammyK]

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!

So the Universal parking garages converge at a central hub which is also where the bus drop-off is located. So unless you're really unlucky and find yourselves at the far end of the last rows in ET or Jaws (and yes, I've been there) you're not saving a whole lot of walking by using the transfers. Plus, with the transfers, you're at the mercy of the transfer company's schedule. Since you'll probably be getting a rental car to get to Vero, I think you'll do better to drive on your own instead of buying the transfers. There is even a possibility that you could save money on the car rental that way if it puts you into a weekly rental rate instead of the typically higher daily rates.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We did prior to a cruise. But we only went for one day. Driving was not that bad. And staying DVC -- outside of our annual maintenance fees--made more sense than to pay out of pocket for something closer.


If I were doing a Universal vacation, I would prefer to stay closer to there. But if you have points to use and don't wish to otherwise spend money on accommodations, it is manageable.

I would definitely have my own car and not rely on any services to get me there.

 

[DMKEDM]

I've done this twice. First time we rented a room on site at US/IoA and had one-hour early admission to Harry Potter (only the Islands of Adventure portion was open then)...my travel companions actually did stay over (Royal Pacific); altho I was on the room reservation, I returned to OKW to sleep and then went back to meet my friends the next morning, too. Cabbed over both mornings--it's an expensive cab ride ($50 or so one-way, as I recall, no matter how many people are in the cab). Second time was last August and we stayed at BCV, rented a car (from the Dolphin) and drove over. My DS spent the better part of all day/night there (we got the one-day two-park pass); he took a break around 3 or so to drive me back to BCV, hung out w/me for a bit and then he went back. It's about a 20-30-minute drive over, a bit less in non-traffic hours.

Parking is easy-peasy...very well organized...but quite far from parking lots to park entrances...I'd say about a mile. The drive can be easy or hard (we went super early so no traffic to speak of; coming back was tougher as traffic was heavier--did not go/come at all during rush hour, tho).

For me, I MUCH prefer WDW--both resorts and parks. I'm a huge fan of Harry Potter Land (in both parks, altho I like the one in IoA better), but not much else I really like at either US or IoA...I don't need more than 4-5 hours for a US/IoA outing (I do "need" to go to Harry Potter Land every once in a while; I do LOVE it)...so I will always and forever prefer to come back to WDW...

The Royal Pacific was nice; the walk over to the parks was very pleasant. When we went (both times) we didn't need early access (and FOTL doesn't work for Harry Potter)...neither time did we encounter "bad" lines. Both trips were in late August (one 3 years ago; one last year)...

I'm planning another such excursion in May of this year...we haven't decided how we'll do "the commute," although I know I will keep our Poly villa--I know I will return to the Poly as soon as I "finish" Harry Potter Land ... but my two friends may do a room over at US/IoA--one hasn't ever been to US/IoA and wants to "do" both parks more thoroughly than I do, and the other one likes those parks better than I do. But I know I'll come back to WDW, probably after only a half day or so at IoA/US. We're thinking we may try Uber, altho one of us doesn't mind driving (the other 2 of us do) so we may rent a car instead...really can't emphasize enough how easy the drive over is (going, as we do, pre-dawn to arrive at park opening), altho it IS a long walk to/from parking and they don't have trams like they do at the Disney parks...

For me, the biggest issue is getting me off WDW property. Once I'm there, I just don't want to leave. Only for Harry Potter am I willing to go!

 

[Minniesgal]

We have done it both ways. When we went as a family of 5 we stayed in a Treehouse Villa. however we booked the Hard Rock Hotel for 2 nights while we were staying at the Treehouse for early entry and unlimited FOL. We didn't stay at HRH as it really isn't big enough for 5 but my teenage son slept there 1 night.

This trip it was meant to be the three of us so we booked a room at the Portofino bay Hotel planning to stay there but now my older son has decided to join us. We will still stay but I'm not looking forward to 4 in 1 room. We will do a split stay with DVC before and after.