Suggestions for adding two US/IOA days to our WDW trip

[froggy922]

Sorry if this has already been discussed. I've searched all the threads and I couldn't find an answer to this...
I'm getting an start on our planning for our next WDW trip in early 2017. It will be me and DH and DS (age 8 at the time) and we will be driving so we will have a car. We just decided to add two days at US/IOA, so I need to figure out the best option for adding our two US/IOA days. I know WDW like the bakc of my hand, but we haven't been to US/IOA so that's all new to me and I need to figure out our options. Here's what I've come up with so far:
1) Do 2 days, 1 night at a US hotel before our WDW trip
2) Do 2 days, 1 night at a US hotel after our WDW trip
3) Stay the whole time at our WDW hotel and just go to US on two days
4) Open to suggestions .

Here is my train of thought on each one:
1) I can get a full experience of US/IOA, convenience of staying on-site at US, and taking advantage of express passes being included with our hotel, splits the whole trip into two separate parts/hotels (not necessarily bad or good, but a factor)
2) All the same as above, but the US/IAO would be after a week in Disney. I worry about tired feet, and the mind-shift from WDW to US. Usually after a week in WDW, we are pretty worn out so I'm not sure we would be "fresh" for a new adventure. Between options 1 and 2 I'm leaning more toward 1 over 2 (but could be persuaded).
3)We wouldn't have to split up our trip into two parts/hotels, we would have to pay for express passes, would have to factor in driving to/from US those two days. Would give us some flexibility on the days we went (could do US in the middle of our week or on an off day). The dining package is a factor for us though: we always do the dining package and if we did the package, it would give us more credits than we would really need (since at least two meals on those two days would be away from WDW) Con: this could end up being wasteful, BUT, on the pro side, it could allow us to use the extra TS credits on meals that require 2 credits (like CRT or HDDR, or CG) that we've never been able to do before. Also, extra QS credits could be used for snacks but I think we would still end up with a surplus of QS and snack credits. So there is an upside and downside to having the dining package wit this option.
4) suggestions

Right now, I'm leaning toward #1 or #3, but would appreciate any feedback or other suggestions. Also, any extra advice you'd like to give about US/IOA would be appreciated since this will be our first visit to US/IOA. Thanks!

 

[Celesdragon]

We added two US/IOA days to our group trips in 2014 & 2015. For both of them, we ended up staying at Disney full time, doing US/IOA right off the bat, and just getting a taxi (2014) or an uber (2015) back and forth. We didn't have a car at our disposal, but you do, so I'd weigh the parking cost into it. It's even entirely possible that the cost of a taxi/uber may be cheaper than parking at the current costs.

We chose to start with Universal because both times we arrived over the weekend, and it seemed like Sundays & Mondays were pretty tame crowd-wise over there. We even ended up not needing express passes, despite it being during Halloween & Christmas times - our limit on standing in a line is about 30 minutes. Any longer and we keep walking.

Can't speak as to the Dining plan, we abandoned that a few years ago. Found much better flexibility without it, though the rising prices for out of pocket are crazy. Our US/IOA days were always a quick food court breakfast at our resort, a lunch at one of the Harry Potter restaurants, and dinner either at Citywalk or Disney Springs, so you could possibly still use those credits for dinners, if you do a late enough one.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We've done three split stays with Universal and Disney. We always do Universal first and stay onsite. Then we move to Disney (or an offsite place near Disney) and see the Disney Parks. I personally enjoy the Disney Parks more than the Universal parks, so I like to end on a Disney note.

 

[dsdeleon]

I have done every type of split stay and your #2 is the best bet. When you first get to Orlando full of energy and patience, Disney is the ticket. Then moving to Uni (very relaxed, really no preplanning necessary) you feel like a real vacation. Having Express makes everything easy to take in stride. The parks are so close to all onsite hotels and each other so it's just really nice. The only thing you may regret is only having one night and wanting to spend more time at the hotel!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I've done trips starting at WDW and then US and others starting at US, then ending with WDW. I usually knock a couple of days off WDW instead of extending my stay because I can't be gone too long.

I much prefer starting at WDW, then moving to an onsite US resort that comes with the unlimited express pass for that portion of the stay. I like it that way because when I stay at US first, I get even more annoyed with the lines at WDW, plus I can go at a slower pace at US with the express pass.

 

[Planogirl]

We did a split stay just last month and I purposely planned Universal last. I'm glad I did too because the Universal resort was so much nicer and this part of the trip was more restful which is what we wanted. However if you're not sure I would plan Universal first. I would also definitely stay at a Universal resort because the convenience is just amazing and all four hotels have great amenities. Plus you can pool hop! I wouldn't necessarily worry about Express passes depending on when you go. You can always buy them later if you need them if you don't stay in a deluxe.

Enjoy whatever you decide.

 

[illinidp]

Definitely 2. It's definitely worth it to is to get the benefits of staying at one of their deluxe resorts and we love going after several days at WDW.

 

[MidnightParade]

We've done three split stays with Universal and Disney. We always do Universal first and stay onsite. Then we move to Disney (or an offsite place near Disney) and see the Disney Parks. I personally enjoy the Disney Parks more than the Universal parks, so I like to end on a Disney note.

This is what we did as well. Really loved staying at Cabana Bay. Definitely wanted to finish our trip at Disney, but depends on how you feel. I think I would have felt that our Disney trip was ended too soon if we left it for Universal. Although as someone mentioned the Universal parks feel less rushed.... I think its because you only have two parks to choose from opposed to four.

 

[soniam]

Do 1 or 2. We have done 1 and will do it again in March, just because of AM EMH and Star Wars fireworks schedules at WDW. However, Universal is so much more relaxing than WDW that I would really like to end a trip there sometime. Definitely stay onsite. Use Orbitz/Cheaptickets to get a discount. Or buy an AP, which is incredibly cheap compared to WDW, for a really good discount. Their hotels are nice and extremely close to the parks, have express pass and/or early entry, and are a real value compared to WDW.

 

[agavegirl1]

My split stays have ended at US and that's how I prefer to do it. The WDW portion requires far more advance planning and I like the laid back feel of the Deluxe resort at US with the Express passes after the hectic WDW trip. Advance reservations are seldom required for meals (morning of is usually just fine) and no complex touring plan is required.

 

[epcotty]

I would lean toward #1. Although personally I don't think express pass is really necessary, I understand wanting to have a similar experience to the first 2 options if you go with #3. The Universal Parks aren't that tough to walk around in my opinion although in any case you'd be tired and achy after being at WDW. But since it'd be your first trip to Universal, it'd probably be best to not go when you're tired and achy. We really like both WDW and Universal and we try to get to Universal every so often, less often than we get to WDW but just when we feel like it

 

[katt789]

I usually work Universal into trips as if it was on Disney property. We stay the full time at a Disney hotel, and just uber (or in your case drive) over to Universal for the days you want to. I find 2 days covers the park pretty extensively.

If you're on the DDP at Disney, you can still have both breakfast & dinner, and stock up a few snacks to take with you to Universal on those days, and use the extra credits wherever on property. Universal IMO doesn't have great food aside from HP areas so I usually eat before I go and maybe have dinner on Citywalk after.

I've never used express passes at Universal and never had to wait too long for anything. I always book things according to undercovertourist or easywdw crowd calanders though

 

[Jess30]

We always do the universal portion of our trip AFTER our wdw part. We stay onsite at US so we get the benefits.

The reason I do US AFTER Disney is because the express passes are NICE. I can't imagine doing express passes and then doing Disney FP system. I would be so frustrated.

Also, universal is a smaller footprint. So it's easier to navigate and easier to go back mid day for breaks. It's just more relaxing than Disney. Which is important after Disney.

We usually don't go to the parks at all on the day we switch over. We just hang out and relax. Then we do two park days.

 

[kohlby]

We've done split stays both ways. It doesn't really make a difference to us. We plan it according to crowd calendars.

As for express pass, it's not a necessity certain times of year. You mention early next year - January usually isn't that bad crowd-wise at Universal if you wait until after the schools have gone back.

 

[goofy4tink]

Heck, I do US/IoA smack dab in the middle of my WDW stay!!! I'm usually staying DVC. I head over to US/IoA, sometimes spending one night there to get FoTL access. Go back to WDW mid-afternoon on the second day. That's what I'm doing later this month. Yes, I'm paying twice for one night's lodging but since it's DVC, it's not actually 'cash' out of pocket.....at least that's what I tell myself.

 

[rwdavis2]

#1 and stay at the Hard Rock. Great service and walkable to the parks.

 

[princesskimberella]

We did Universal the first half of our stay last month. We really enjoyed staying at Hard Rock and being able to walk to both parks and have the advantage of express passes and early entry. We stayed 3 nights with 2 day park to park tickets before heading the WDW. For us we feel that WDW is more relaxing and had a more vacation feel to it. Maybe it is because we have had several trips under our belt now and don't feel that we must do everything in one trip. Or that the food alone is so much better in WDW, at Universal I felt it was just super high priced fast food.

I do like the idea of staying the whole time at WDW and driving over, the Universal parks are small and can be done easily in a day, (our parks day started at 8/9 am and both days we were done by 6:30/7 and back at the resort to swim.) The suggested idea of grabbing breakfast and snack to bring over with your dining plan credits is great !

 

[katmatry]

#1 would have been my answer but after reading all the responses I would go with #2. Having unlimited front of the line is the only way to do Universal....imo

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I add US/IOA the last two nights of my trip. We go busy times of the year and two mornings of Diagon Alley early entry are the only way to see it. If you are going a slower time of the year that may not be the case. There are much fewer dining options at US so we normally head over after dinner.

WDW requires much more pre-planning so I like to get that out of the way before I go on vacation at Portofino Bay. We've found that a night at PB is cheaper than a night at BC. Plus, Express Pass is lovely, although US has added more rooms it is nowhere near the number of rooms WDW has added so EMH is no longer the huge benefit it was 10-15 years ago.

 

[Hootch]

This past trip we did six nights at Disney and two at Universal. On a previous trip we stayed only one night at Universal. I preferred staying two nights. Universal seemed less hectic after Disney. I think the Express pass helps quite a bit. We left the parks early both days for dinner and did not return.

I've found that if you want to do the HP rides a couple of more times, towards the end of park hours, the single rider lines are short.