Thinking of doing split stay with WDW...where to start?

[princessap]

So we are staying at WDW for five nights next fall and are thinking of adding on 3 nights at Universal to try it out and do seaworld as well...I have no idea where to start??? we are a family of five with one under 3 at trip time....which would be best?? do they do discount promos like disney does?? how do I find out about those??

thanks in advance

 

[damo]

By next fall, I assume you mean 2014. That will be right after the new Harry Potter section opens, so discounts will be rare.

I suggest you start by going to www.universalorlando.com

From there you can look at the hotels, the restaurants, Citywalk and all the attractions.

After that, come on back and give us more specific questions and we'll be happy to help you out!

Personally, I suggest staying onsite...especially with young kids as you will get unlimited express pass access (which is basically free fastpasses to use whenever and how often you like). It really adds a lot to a vacation! All the hotels will sleep 5 in a room and you can order up a crib (they are not pack and plays).

 

[princessap]

Thank you. I am looking to add this on at the end of our disney trip as that is when the grandparents leave and they really want to do disney with the kids. Am hoping it won't be disappointing for the kids going from disney to here?!

I am looking at the royal pacific resort, is that a good choice for young kids , 3 under 7 years of age??

am hoping for it to be more relaxing than the disney part or am I crazy for thinking that??

 

[patrickpiteo]

Thank you. I am looking to add this on at the end of our disney trip as that is when the grandparents leave and they really want to do disney with the kids. Am hoping it won't be disappointing for the kids going from disney to here?!

I am looking at the royal pacific resort, is that a good choice for young kids , 3 under 7 years of age??

am hoping for it to be more relaxing than the disney part or am I crazy for thinking that??

When you stay on site you get Express Pas and yes much more realxing then Disney with that alone. We do spilt stay all the time.. 2days at universal then disney. We do Oct for HHN and MNSSHP. We love the PBH at universal little more $ but IMHO much more laid back and quieter then the other two on site hotels there.

 

[damo]

Thank you. I am looking to add this on at the end of our disney trip as that is when the grandparents leave and they really want to do disney with the kids. Am hoping it won't be disappointing for the kids going from disney to here?!

I am looking at the royal pacific resort, is that a good choice for young kids , 3 under 7 years of age??

am hoping for it to be more relaxing than the disney part or am I crazy for thinking that??

The RPR doesn't have a pool slide. Other than that, it is a great place for kids. There is a fun water play area at the pool if you are going to be spending any time there.

Can you give me a bit more info about the kids? Their sex and ages and likes/dislikes? I'll try to help you a bit more with what they may or may not like.

 

[princessap]

The RPR doesn't have a pool slide. Other than that, it is a great place for kids. There is a fun water play area at the pool if you are going to be spending any time there.

Can you give me a bit more info about the kids? Their sex and ages and likes/dislikes? I'll try to help you a bit more with what they may or may not like.

thanks. Our girls will be 2,5 and 7 at trip time.
Not sure if we should do universal at beginning or end of trip?!

we are planning next september!

 

[damo]

Hmmmm. No little boys? I'm saying that because, in my opinion, UO is an amazing place for little boys. They have dinosaurs and superheroes and dragons and magic and Shrek and aliens....all great stuff for little boys.

There really isn't anything geared to little girls, so hopefully your girls aren't expecting the princess treatment. However, my 4 year old niece absolutely adores Universal, so it must be inherently good for both.

At IOA, they should like the Dr. Seuss area, the Sinbad show, some of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, some of the Jurassic Park island, Storm Force Acceletron and perhaps Spiderman. There are a few fun play areas as well.

At the Studios, they should like Despicable Me, Shrek, parts of the new Diagon Alley area that will have just opened, Animal Actors, the Kid Zone area, ET. They'd probably be fine in Twister and Disaster as well and the older one may like Men in Black.

 

[princessap]

Thanks. I just read the same thing on another board too. So maybe we won't be visiting universal?! I think it's great that the little boys have a park for them as I have always felt that magic kingdom is geared for the little princesses.

 

[damo]

I'm not saying that they won't like it, just that it isn't a girly park and not to expect the glitter and sweetness of WDW. Out of all the rides at WDW and Universal, my niece's favourite ride was ET!!!

 

[gschmerl]

This is 2013....aren't we passed the sexual stereotypes? I know plenty of little girls who LOVE dinosaurs, etc.
There is plenty at IOA and US to keep little girls very happy.
Royal Pacific is a good choice with young children.
We always save the Universal part of a split stay for the second part since we are spoiled by the express access and find Universal MUCH more relaxing than WDW.

 

[damo]

This is 2013....aren't we passed the sexual stereotypes? I know plenty of little girls who LOVE dinosaurs, etc.
There is plenty at IOA and US to keep little girls very happy.
Royal Pacific is a good choice with young children.
We always save the Universal part of a split stay for the second part since we are spoiled by the express access and find Universal MUCH more relaxing than WDW.

Ya, I was hoping not to be too stereotypical but just try to say that there are major differences between Disney and Universal and the princesses is one of them.

 

[aubriee]

Ya, I was hoping not to be too stereotypical but just try to say that there are major differences between Disney and Universal and the princesses is one of them.

Hey, Shrek's Fiona is a Princess!

 

[damo]

Hey, Shrek's Fiona is a Princess!

I love Fiona. The only thing that ticks me off is that they don't sell more of the ogre Fiona stuff.

 

[pmdeve]

When you stay on site you get Express Pas and yes much more realxing then Disney with that alone. We do spilt stay all the time.. 2days at universal then disney. We do Oct for HHN and MNSSHP. We love the PBH at universal little more $ but IMHO much more laid back and quieter then the other two on site hotels there.

When you say two days at Universal do you stay at the hotel for two nights? I am also planning a split stay next year. I want to spend one day at each park and then go to Disney, but I dont know if we should stay at the Universal hotel for two nights or just one.
Thanks for all of the great help!

 

[RMulieri]

My daughter is 9 and LOVES Universal..even more than Disney .

 

[patrickpiteo]

When you say two days at Universal do you stay at the hotel for two nights? I am also planning a split stay next year. I want to spend one day at each park and then go to Disney, but I dont know if we should stay at the Universal hotel for two nights or just one.
Thanks for all of the great help!

We do two nights that gets you 3 days express pass.. That includes the checkout day..

We could do one night get the 2 days express, but we love the PBH and have AP so do 2 nights.

We are DVC members so we then head over for 5
days at DW.

 

[buckeev]

We've been going to US/IOA since out youngest daughter was 4 y/o, and it has never been a challenge to keep 'em happily entertained. 4 daughters, and 1 Autistic Character Hound son!
Royal Pacific is super quiet, (compared to Hard Rock Hotel), but we enjoy both...(staying at HRH this Christmas trip.) We too are doing our usual split stay, but doing US 1st, then WDW. We've done it with US last, and enjoyed it both ways.
The amount of transportation time you save is almost priceless-(although, we all know there IS a price!).
Express Passes allow you much more opportunities to get through the majority of the parks, and still enjoy decent rest time in the evenings, something that is quite difficult for us at WDW.
Any questions, fire away...there is a wealth of knowledge on dem Dis boards!!!