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

[gorkt]

This is a great question! I wanted to do two days at Universal on our 2013 WDW trip and after poring through a ton of research decided to stay at WDW that whole time and just buy a 2 day park to park ticket with a mears bus transfer. We split up our universal days, one near the beginning of the trip, a few days in I think, and one near the end. We were there to see Harry Potter stuff primarily and they only had the one area open at the time. I didn't buy express passes because we were going at a moderately slow time of year, early November. I figured that once we got there and it was slammed we could just suck it up and buy them there. However, while there were lines, and we didn't ride every ride, we saw what we were there to see and had a great time.
I am looking to go later this year and will definitely use Uber instead of the bus - cheaper and more convenient, but I will likely do the same thing, just buying tickets instead of staying onsite. I have done split stays and I don't like the hassle and stress, plus I like spreading out my UNiversal time instead of doing it in a lump. It gives a nice break from WDW.

 

[bumbershoot]

#2.

On our first trip to Orlando in 2010 we had a total of 10 days in the parks at WDW and 4 at Uni. We thought Uni would be one and done, we thought we were only there for Wizarding World, but we wanted to give it a really good shot. We did NOT want to leave. Alas, we had a DVC reservation over at AK jambo to get to, because we thought we would be sooooo sad to leave Disney and we would want to get back to it for another couple days. Ha ha ha. We had to drag ourselves out. The only reason we got out was because in December the parks there close really early.

And going back to legacy FPs was painful enough, after unlimited Express Pass. I literally cringe to think of FP+ after EP.

And the deluxe resorts there (I haven't yet tried Cabana Bay because hubby and son simply refuse to go, at any time of year, without the EP) are lovely. You can have an actual relaxing vacation there.

So I'd go with #2 but consider having 2 nights just because. OF course, if I had 2 nights then I'd leave WDW early and have 3 days in the parks.

And with me, the "you can get the park done in a day" business does NOT apply. We savor, we wander, we re-ride, we explore. We spend hours at the dinosaur discovery center (DS has a certificate that he named a baby raptor "born" while he was there). We interact with the TMs who are SO good (especially in Jurassic World...talk to them about your concerns about InGen! it's set in a time BEFORE the first movie when it's all enthusiasm and none of the "running and the screaming"...).

And there are still things we haven't done or seen, despite having had APs since 2011.


Bottom line for us; we would rather spend our vacation at a Uni resort and commute to WDW for part of it, than stay at WDW and commute to Uni. The onsite perks at Uni are too good, for us, to miss. While the onsite perks at WDW (and we are DVC owners) are nothing to us. (we avoid EMH) I mean, at Uni,if you have a longer stay (1 night doesn't work, same as WDW), they don't just bring purchases to the hotel's Bell desk...they bring them to your room. Lovely.

 

[froggy922]

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!

Interesting information. I hadn't really though about using the Uni part as more of an unwinding to our vacation. You've given me something to ponder. Thanks

 

[froggy922]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'm so glad I asked!!! You all have given me great information and a lot to consider. My husband doesn't love Disney as much as DS and I do, because his main complaint is always "it just doesn't feel like a vacation because we are just always on the go", so I'm thrilled to learn that Universal and their resorts will be more relaxing. I know DH will really enjoy that!