Trying to decide how to split up our WDW/Universal trip

[jrsharp21]

We are planning on driving to Orlando this Spring Break and going to both WDW and Universal Studios. We were originally going to split the trip between two hotels, one near Universal and the other onsite at WDW. But with the 2016 room discount promotion, we decided to stay onsite at WDW the entire trip. But now we are trying to determine how we should split up our trip between the two parks. We are planning on arriving in Orlando on Saturday and it will be a late afternoon when we arrive. Then we are planning on leaving mid afternoon on the following Wednesday to drive up to the tip of Florida and do a couple of beach days.

Our original game plan was to do 3 day park hoppers at WDW. Go to a park on the Saturday we get there, most likely MK. Then go to Universal on Sunday and Monday. Then go to WDW parks on Tuesday and half day on Wednesday before leaving. We were planning on buying park hoppers for WDW, but wondering if that is the best way to go. But then I always get back to MK being open later than other parks and we can even visit that park after getting back from Universal. Also, really the only reason we are going to Universal is to visit the new Harry Potter attractions that weren't open when we went two years ago. I even thought about cutting that down to just a 1 day park hopper, but not sure if just doing all of the HP stuff in both parks will take up a full day or will there be time to see other stuff at US. We went to IOA two years ago. The HP stuff of course was the highlight. I could skip the rest of the lands there.

Anyone done anything similar and how did you split up your time?

 

[phillymummer]

I would strongly encourage you to reconsider staying on-site at Universal. The express pass, especially at that time of yea,r will be well worth the cost of the hotel!! You only need to stay one night at a resort to get two days of Express Passes (check-in day and check-out day). Of course, you mention you only want to do HP and the only rides that you can use the EP with are Dragon Challenge and the Hippogriff Coaster. But if there is anything else you want to see, the EPs will reduce your line waits drastically. You can check into the hotel early and leave your luggage with bell services. You'll get a text when the room is ready. The staff at Royal Pacific were amazing. Both HP sections could take up an entire day! Especially if you want to do ride gringott's, Forbidden Journey, and the train. I would also do Universal after Disney, bc that express pass can really spoil you!!

 

[jrsharp21]

The hotels at Universal that give you the EP are out of our budget. We did look at staying at Universal and the only one in budget would have been Cabana Bay. And last day always has to be at the MK. Our tradition is first park is MK and last park is MK. Arrive into the magic and leave from it. We do the same at Disneyland Resort. We always go to Disneyland first and then we always go into Disneyland a few hours before leaving.

 

[phillymummer]

Okay. well if staying on-site is totally out of the question, then I think you would need one full day at Universal to get both HP sections done. Visit the Universal board to get suggestions on how to best do it. They are a friendly and helpful bunch!

 

[MarkinMA]

You can also buy the express pass from Universal to go along with your ticket from Universal (online in advance is a price advantage). You can do Universal in one day hitting both Harry Potter parts if you are there well before park opening and go directly to Diagon Alley, and if you don't mind not doing some of the other things at Universal (Express pass will help you get to do more of those things things after you're done with HP). Two days would work too - you could do park opening and leave around dinner time and head back to Disney for the evening...You would get to do more at Universal with the two days, but I went on a day trip with a Harry Potter junkie and he was satisfied with the just the day, we were limited on other things in Universal - but we had the express (bought it) and it helped us get to do more things...I thought it was worth it, but it is a good amount for the two park one, but skipping the line on every ride...I got real used to that.

Be aware you'll have to pay for parking at US - and to drive there may take some time, esp in the AM of a weekday (traffic).

Sounds like a fun and packed trip - check out the Universal sections of Dis...great info there about everything Universal.

As for park hoppers for WDW...with a short amount of time, and your own transportation, you can bounce around pretty easy park to park...For longer trips, I'm not sure park hoppers are worth it anymore with FP+ limiting to one park...but on a short trip...if you have a list of must do's and they include all four parks...you'll probably need them.

Have a great trip!

 

[soniam]

You could do Uni, HP only, in one day, but it won't allow much time. You wouldn't be able to repeat much, if anything, and you wouldn't have a lot of time to daudle/shop. Sunday & Monday at Uni would be fine. If I remember correctly, Uni is generally the least busy on the weekends and Mondays. You might want to look at crowd calendar for your times. Touring Plans has them for Universal.

 

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

I just went to Universal and did all the HP attractions in both parks, plus 4 other non HP attractions in one day. We arrived 30 minutes after opening and went straight to HP in IOA. All rides were walk ons or 10 minute wait all morning. After lunch we took Hogwarts Express to US. I waited 30 minutes for Gringotts Bank. That was the longest wait all day. We did a few more attractions and left around 3 pm since we were so tired from walking. We also had a baby with us and spent a lot if time caring for her needs, do without a baby you could probably do a huge amount in one day. Now this was November, not spring break, so your experience could be different.

 

[2Gma]

I think you'll need at least one full day park-to-park admission (during Spring Break crowds) to experience the Harry Potter sections in both parks if you want to do all the rides and look around and enjoy each part of the immersive experience (food, shops, scenery) and ride the Hogwarts express and maybe hit a few other attractions. Disney is cool but I was blown away by how detailed these areas are and I'm not even a die hard fan.

We just did a split Universal/Disney for first time this past May. 3 day WDW/3 day Universal (buy 2 days get 3rd day free promotion, Previously had only done Disney) Glad we got to experience the best of both parks! The big downside is that there is no price breaks. You end up paying higher prices for shorter visits at each company on both ends. I would highly consider adjusting your normal visit with starting/ending at MK. I know its magical BUT you will really get ALOT more by staying a night at one of the Universal hotels (2 days of express passes but also early entry, like Disney EMH). It would really be worth it during Spring break crowds. Even if you don't stay onsite at Universal it will still work out fine, just plan to arrive early for rope drop to get a lot done. We found they opened parks earlier than stated. Plan at least 15-20 minutes for parking and walking to each park.

 

[kohlby]

Since you mention Spring Break, I wouldn't trim Universal down to one day even just for the HP things. If the spring break is much later than the norm, then there's a chance you could squeeze in HP in a day, but that sounds like too much rushing for me. Add in no Express pass nor early entry and it is a gamble. (Cabana Bay gets the early entry. That will help quite a bit with the Harry Potter areas). Also, doing either US or Disney makes things cheaper. Are you planning on coming back for a Disney-only trip soon? Or Universal only trip soon? (Meaning just before another split park vacation!) We used to do both but it got two expensive. If we had 5 days like that, then we also would have done 3 Disney, 2 Universal. Though - I think I might try to get another hotel day in to increase that if at all possible.

 

[agavegirl1]

Oh my goodness, only one day at Universal and off site to boot? I agree with PP...during Spring Break, another day would be better.

 

[Planogirl]

Could you go to Universal for two days? If you could swing it you might want to buy at least the one time use Express pass.

 

[phillymummer]

i think buying the one time express pass might be more expensive than staying on-site. It has tiered pricing- I would think at spring break it would be rather pricey to buy. You can see the prices for it on thei Universal site.

OP- You should at least consider Cabana Bay just to get the Early Entry into the Parks. that would help immensely during Spring Break.

 

[tlmadden73]

Honestly I think most people could skip most of the lands (besides HP) at Universal, but I couldn't stomach the 1-day pass plus "hopper" at universal ($152) for going just one day. I'd go 2 and make the $200/ticket price tag a bit more "per day" palatable.

2 Days gives you more time to do the other attractions (some of them are pretty neat, some are meh) and have time to fully immerse yourself into the Harry Potter attractions (and maybe ride multiple times).

I wouldn't do Hoppers at WDW for such a short stay .. not worth the cost especially if two of your days aren't full days. Which parks would you hop to?

 

[subtchr]

Wow, I wouldn't consider adding Universal if it meant cutting down WDW so much. You mention a 3-day WDW pass, but you aren't arriving until late afternoon the first day, and only doing a half day the third day. That would leave us feeling short-changed! And we are also Universal fans, so it's not that we think WDW is more important; it's just that would not be enough time for us.

If you really MUST stay with so few days in the parks, I'd do one day at Universal, and plan to be there before opening and stay until closing. Any chance you could wait until Thursday to leave? If so, this is what I would do:

SATURDAY - Arrive at Disney resort late afternoon - check in, swim, go to Disney Springs for dinner, shopping, walking around
SUNDAY - MK all day
MONDAY - Universal all day
TUESDAY - DHS/AK split
WEDNESDAY - Epcot all day - end with Illuminations
THURSDAY - Leave for other Florida locales

If you need to keep the schedule you have, I'd do Epcot on Tuesday, and either DHS or AK (my choice would be AK) on Wednesday before you leave.

As for park hoppers, with the schedule you have it would not be worth the expense, IMHO. Two of your days in the parks are so short you would not want to waste the time driving between parks.

 

[phillymummer]

Good point about the hopper passes! The OP could buy base tickets and then use the money that would have have gone to PH to a hotel at Universal.

 

[Jetta8300]

We are planning on driving to Orlando this Spring Break and going to both WDW and Universal Studios. We were originally going to split the trip between two hotels, one near Universal and the other onsite at WDW. But with the 2016 room discount promotion, we decided to stay onsite at WDW the entire trip. But now we are trying to determine how we should split up our trip between the two parks. We are planning on arriving in Orlando on Saturday and it will be a late afternoon when we arrive. Then we are planning on leaving mid afternoon on the following Wednesday to drive up to the tip of Florida and do a couple of beach days.

Our original game plan was to do 3 day park hoppers at WDW. Go to a park on the Saturday we get there, most likely MK. Then go to Universal on Sunday and Monday. Then go to WDW parks on Tuesday and half day on Wednesday before leaving. We were planning on buying park hoppers for WDW, but wondering if that is the best way to go. But then I always get back to MK being open later than other parks and we can even visit that park after getting back from Universal. Also, really the only reason we are going to Universal is to visit the new Harry Potter attractions that weren't open when we went two years ago. I even thought about cutting that down to just a 1 day park hopper, but not sure if just doing all of the HP stuff in both parks will take up a full day or will there be time to see other stuff at US. We went to IOA two years ago. The HP stuff of course was the highlight. I could skip the rest of the lands there.

Anyone done anything similar and how did you split up your time?

If you really aren't interested in anything other than Harry Potter, I'd only spend one day there. We always go to Universal, but we do one day, and we get on every single ride in both parks with the express pass. And we are also done by 4:00 or so. I don't know what we would do there for multiple days if we weren't into much other than Harry Potter. We literally get on ALL of the rides. But then again it's just me and the hubby, little kids will slow you down if you have them!

 

[Keels]

For Universal and just for HP, you CAN do it in one day, but you need to be there right at opening, be prepared to either wait OR split up and ride single if you want to ride multiple times. Express Pass won't help you because it's not valid for Harry Potter stuff.

That said, to do both lands AND take the Hogwarts Express, you'll need a park-to-park pass and for one day it gets expensive (like $152/pp) ... plus $20+ to park. I love the Harry Potter stuff and all, but that's pretty expensive - especially if you only care about the Wizarding World.

You didn't give specific dates, so I'm just kind of guessing ... but unless you're there during the week that Central Florida has Spring Break, then the parks open at 9. This is my advice from being there over Halloween and during a long weekend where school was out Friday and Monday in Florida and park occupancy was high. I went on pretty much every day of the week during a four-week span, so here are my thoughts to get the biggest bang for your buck if you're going to do HP and HP only:

- You'll want to be IN THE PARKING STRUCTURE at Universal by 7:30 a.m. for a 9 a.m. park opening. This will get you through long walk, through, bag check AND the really, really, really dumb line to get your park tickets if you can't print them out or get them from an automated kiosk with time to spare before the park opens at 9.
- Head to Universal Orlando first. No question.
- If you think AT ANY POINT that you may want to ride the Minion Ride, DO THAT FIRST. It will never be lower wait times than the minute the park opens. Even on a slow day, the shortest line I saw was 50 minutes. I don't care about the Minions (kind of like I don't care about Peter Pan or 7DMT at MK), so I would never wait in a line like that. But if you do, do that very, very, very first before heading to Diagon Alley.
- No Minions? Head straight to Diagon Alley. Walk straight through the turnstiles and keep going past Twister (Stay Hard, Twister. I will miss you!), and then turn right past the Mummy and keep going.
- When you reach Diagon Alley, do the following HP-related things:
-- Ride Escape from Gringotts
-- Visit Ollivander's interactive experience (IF you plan to buy a wand, if you do not plan to buy a wand - please don't potentially take away a 'fitting' experience from someone who will actually buy a wand)
-- Exchange money at Gringotts (if you plan to buy things)
-- Grab a ButterBeer (or real beer) and head back out to King's Cross to the Hogwarts Express
-- Ride the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade
-- Ride Forbidden Journey once during the regular line (it should only be 20-30 minutes at this point)
-- Ride Dragon Challenge (10 minute wait)
-- Ride Flight of the Hippogriff (could be close to 30 minutes at this point)
-- Ride Forbidden Journey once during Single Rider
-- Visit Owl Post (if that's your thing), it doesn't operate back in Diagon Alley
-- Grab a ButterBeer (or real beer) and wait in line for the Hogwarts Express back to Diagon Alley
-- Ride Escape from Gringott's via Single Rider
-- Lunch at Leaky Cauldron
-- Shopping and wand-ing, if you bought a wand
--- The better shops are in Diagon Alley (Weesley's, Quality Quidditch), plus there is Knockturn Alley. AND, it's almost all in the shade which will be nice over Spring Break. With the exception of Owl Post, I didn't find something in Hogsmeade that I couldn't find in Diagon Alley.

 

[Planogirl]

I will recommend Revenge of the Mummy and Men in Black too. We absolutely adore these two rides.

 

[epcotty]

Do what you like but be aware that there's lots to do at Universal that's not Harry Potter so don't cut yourself short there (we don't do any HP stuff and really enjoy the other attractions)