Transportation to/from mco

[december]

I am planning a trip for next May/June to Orlando. We will do 5 or 6 nights at WDW, but I want to add on 1 or 2 nights at a Universal Hotel. We are hoping that the Harry Potter section will be open, and I want to have the front of the line passes. We have never been to Universal. I don't know if we'll do this at the beginning or the end of our trip. Is there transportation (like ME) to and from MCO from the 3 Universal hotels? If not, what is the best option? I know we will probably take a cab to or from WDW. I won't rent a car-it is just me and 3 kids, and I don't drive in strange places!

Any recommendations for the 3 hotels? Any other tips appreciated!

 

[Purseval]

There are several cab companies that run shuttles to the various parks. If you've been to WDW before you probably know of Mears. They do every combination of trips you can think of.

The Universal Hotels are all great in their own ways, just the theming is different and if you are staying in one you can go to the others and snoop around. It's not a major expedition like at WDW, they are all in the same area. It's just a matter of what style of hotel and the price.

 

[december]

Thanks. I've been to WDW twice, but never ventured offsite and only used Disney transportation.

After 6 days at WDW,I'm thinking 2 to 3 days at Universal. I've got a pin for 40% at WDW. Is the FOTL pass really worth the price of the Universal hotels?

 

[Metro West]

Is the FOTL pass really worth the price of the Universal hotels?

I think you will find having unlimited Express access will be well worth the money.

 

[Purseval]

Just remember that 1 day in a Universal hotel will actually get you 2 days of unlimited FOTL access. We are going next March and will be booking a room just for that.

 

[december]

Thanks. I'll be traveling with a baby for the 1st time, and my 12 and 9 yr olds. Do they have anything like childswap at UniversalL?

 

[Purseval]

Yes they have child swap on every major ride.

 

[december]

Just remember that 1 day in a Universal hotel will actually get you 2 days of unlimited FOTL access. We are going next March and will be booking a room just for that.

This posted at the same time as my last post. This is what I'm looking at doing. I think we will stay 6 nights at WDW (calling today to check rates with my pin). On our last day, we can get up and eat an early breakfast at Chef Mickey's, then take cab/Mears???? to Universal. I'm assuming they will store my luggage like WDW? We can hit the parks pretty early (10ish....), then get up and do half the next day, then take transportation to the airport.

I'm just really hoping Harry Potter will be open then (1st weekend in June). That is the whole reason we want to do Universal this time. Ds12 and I both loved the books, and dd9 likes the movies.

 

[december]

Yes they have child swap on every major ride.

Great!

 

[Purseval]

This posted at the same time as my last post. This is what I'm looking at doing. I think we will stay 6 nights at WDW (calling today to check rates with my pin). On our last day, we can get up and eat an early breakfast at Chef Mickey's, then take cab/Mears???? to Universal. I'm assuming they will store my luggage like WDW? We can hit the parks pretty early (10ish....), then get up and do half the next day, then take transportation to the airport.

Yes, they will store your luggage and give you a cardkey so you will have FOTL plus access back to the hotel.

I'm just really hoping Harry Potter will be open then (1st weekend in June). That is the whole reason we want to do Universal this time. Ds12 and I both loved the books, and dd9 likes the movies.

We just went on a tour a couple of days ago and when we asked if they thought HP would be open in March they said the odds were pretty high. If they have that much confidence about March then June should be a certainty. They are counting on HP to draw in lots of new visitors so I'm sure they are pushing to get it open as soon as they can.

 

[december]

Thank you for all the info! I started reading through the FAQ (hard to do with a 5 mo old), and saw that alot of my questions were answered there.

I think I will go ahead and order the $99 multi park/day tickets this weekend, and maybe book a hotel for one night. I booked my WDW portion of the trip at POR for 5/31-6/6, so I will need a room for 6/6 at Universal. I was reading some of the threads about prices maybe going up once Harry Potter opens! I'm sure even if it doesn't, my older kids will really enjoy it at USF.

Now I'll just cross my fingers that SW has cheap flights on 5/31 and 6/7!

 

[mvansear]

We do both parks Disney and Universal, we always put Universal last because with FOTL you can actually relax!!! We like to stay at HRH b/c with 3 kids it is GREAT to have the nice 5 min walk to the parks. We got a great rate 108 rt from Kansas City on Southwest. Decided to buy season passes to Universal so that we can go back in October and do HP because it will not be open when we go in Jan and it was only 50 buks more per person for the season pass.

 

[december]

So HRH is closer than the other 2? I was thinking of just doing the cheapest of the three. Forgive me, I'm still learning all the names!

I have been reading all I can, but right now I'm pretty swamped with work and a 5 month old. I probably need to start a new thread, but I have a question about Blue Man Group and wrestling! Dd9 (yes, my sweet little girl) is obsessed with both. But the baby will only be a year old when we go. I read that wrestling is recommended for 14 and over, and Blue Man Group may not be appropriate for anyone under 3. Would taking the baby be totally inappropriate? The other 2 kids will be 10 and 12. It is just me with them (dh won't vacation) so I will either have to take her, or skip them altogether. I was thinking we could do the 9pm BMG, and I could nurse Katie and she would probably sleep through it. If we decided to do one of these, we would definitely stay another night to work it in. And did I read correctly that wrestling is free??????