SUGGESTIONS NEEDED! Please help!!!

[llmgroves]

1st trip to Universal Studios/ IOA is Nov 29th - Dec 7th. We have 6 people (4 adults, 2 kids 13 and 8). We are staying on property at Disney World. I had planned to go to Universal/IOA 2 days....Thursday (crowd level per Orlando Informer predicts slow) and Saturday (the starting day of Christmas festivities- has predicted crowd level of Busy).
We are going to need transportation but when I priced 2 days PARK TO PARK TRANSPORTATION and EXPRESS PASS it was around $1600. Which to me is crazy for 2 days!!! I have also priced the other extreme, 2 days SINGLE PARK with NO EXPRESS PASS and thought about getting a taxi or finding our own transportation. This option was much cheaper but we won't be able to ride Hogwarts Express (one reason for going) and when Christmas festivities start on Saturday then we would not be able to see the Macys Parade and Grinchmas (since they are at different parks...and these two events are the other reasons for going)!
Sorry to be so long winded but I am really struggling! Suggestions please!!!!!

 

[macraven]

if you rent a car for those two days and pay for parking at UO, it could be cheaper to rent 2 rooms at Cbay and buy express if needed while in the park.

what it would cost for 1 night at the value resort could be cheaper than car rental and parking for 2 days.

you would get early entry at Cbay but not free express line usage.

the value resort would be cheaper than the onsite deluxe rooms as you need 2 rooms.


you check in early at Cbay on day one and use early entry.
you check out the next morning and have your luggage stored until you are ready to leave the park after day 2 in the park.
you are allowed on check out day early entry again.


what you don't cover in the first day, do them on the second day.
if lines are long in the stand ay lines, consider buying express for that day.

i'm sure there are other ways to make it more economical for you.


it's the same expense for those staying at universal going to disney for one day or two.
transportation, tickets, etc.

i do both resorts on each stay.
i know how the costs can add up and each year i do it the same way again....lol

 

[llmgroves]

Thank you for responding, I appreciate the feed back!
Do you think the express pass is worth it?

Do you think I could wait and decide if crowds are bad that day to purchase EE! Or do they really sell out?

You have the wheels in my head turning now about checking out from Disney and moving over to universal, but how would we get all of our luggage over there? If we were able to get like van transportation... Does universal have transportation for onsite guest (like Disney)? And last question, staying at a value resort would give us early entry but NOT EXPRESS PASS, did I understand you right? I thought all guest got express pass!

Thank you again!!!

 

[macraven]

early december is usually a slow time.
i think buying express would be a waste of money.

you could do the single rider lines for any ride that is open for it.
some days it is open, some days it is not.
depends on crowd levels usually.


for the major parry hotter rides, FJ, Gringotts, there are no express lines...

the express pass that can be purchased allows one time use that day.

if lines are really long, you could buy the ep while in the park at any of the shops.


i would wait and make that decision after you are there in the parks.

 

[llmgroves]

Does universal have an onsite transportation system?

 

[macraven]

Thank you for responding, I appreciate the feed back!
Do you think the express pass is worth it?

Do you think I could wait and decide if crowds are bad that day to purchase EE! Or do they really sell out?

You have the wheels in my head turning now about checking out from Disney and moving over to universal, but how would we get all of our luggage over there? If we were able to get like van transportation... Does universal have transportation for onsite guest (like Disney)? And last question, staying at a value resort would give us early entry but NOT EXPRESS PASS, did I understand you right? I thought all guest got express pass!

Thank you again!!!

i missed some of your questions.

tony hinds is a transportation company that i use.
he can transport a group of 7 in his vehicle or up to 10 people.
if you did rt, disney to universal, universal to MCO, you would get his standard rate.
or disney to UO and then back to disney would still be one round trip.

for me using him, i pay $150 which is a 3 leg trip with a free grocery stop.

i don't know his cost for transporting 7 people.

there are other private companies that offer transportation.

all will transport your luggage.

if you rented a van, i would think it would be cheaper to use private service.
stay onsite at Cbay is $10 a night.
deluxe resorts are $20 a night.
plus tax for both cases above.

2 days of a rental car + parking vs private car service.....


the only guests that get the free unimited usage of the express lines are the 3 deluxe hotels.
PBH, HRH, RPH

Cbay/Cabana Bay is the value/moderate resort.
they do not have the hotel perk of free express.

all 4 of the above hotels do receive early entry into the parks.

the very end of nov and probably the first 2 weeks of dec are lower crowd periods.
the closer you get to christmas, the larger the crowds.

i would wait unti i was in the park to decide if the express pass would be needed.
the express passes people buy are park and date related and non refundable.

if a rainstorm comes in, people leave the park or go inside a store to wait it out.
the park can thin out during that time period.
none or limited waits on rides.

if you bought the ep in advance and it rains or a cold snap comes in, you would have wasted your money.

that is why i say wait until you are in the park and decide if the ep would be worth it.


express passes do sell out on the main holidays.
christmas thru ny day it has happened.

 

[macraven]

Does universal have an onsite transportation system?

no.

the hotels have private car service for hotel guest.
$50 for transporting to the airport.
you make arrangements with bell services.

there is a star shuttle that does drop off from airport to hotels and back again for a per person charge.
it is time consuming as there could be other stops along the way before it reaches the UO resorts.

 

[llmgroves]

Thank you again for all the helpful information! I really appreciate it!!!

 

[macraven]

happy to try and help