Two days at Universal

[g-dad66]

Next March, we are planning to take two days out of our Disney World week to go to Universal.

We plan to spend one night on-site at Universal in order to get Express Pass and Early Entry privileges for both checkin and checkout day.

We plan to retain our resort room at Pop Century even though we won't use it that night so that (1) we don't have check out of Pop and take ALL of our stuff with us to the Universal resort, and (2) we can return to stay at Pop the second night of our 2 days at Universal and then take the Magical Express back to the airport the next day. (We think the "wasted" cost of the one night's lodging at Pop will be worth these two advantages, and being able to use Magical Express will offset some of the cost.)

Two questions:

1) Do you see any fallacies in our thinking that this plan will "work"?

2) Can we catch a shuttle early enough from Disney to get to the Universal resort (probably Portofino) to check in there and then make it to Early Entry at Islands of Adventure (for Harry Potter)?

(If not, we will probably just do Universal Studios our first Universal day, and then do early entry at Islands of Adventure the second day.)

 

[Metro West]

1) That should work out fine for you.

2) Doubtful...the shuttle makes stops at other Disney hotels so your odds of making by early entry are slim to none.

 

[rlduvall]

We are doing the exact same thing right in the middle of our upcoming June trip, but we are actually DVC so it isn't a big $$ loss for us. The only big difference is that we will have a rental car so we can control our own destiny a little more. I only plan on taking a small overnight bag with one change of clothes, swimsuits and my makeup - yes, I still get fixed up even on vacation.

I will stay subscribed to this thread and let you know how it went when we get back.

 

[nytimez]

Next March, we are planning to take two days out of our Disney World week to go to Universal.

We plan to spend one night on-site at Universal in order to get Express Pass and Early Entry privileges for both checkin and checkout day.

We plan to retain our resort room at Pop Century even though we won't use it that night so that (1) we don't have check out of Pop and take ALL of our stuff with us to the Universal resort, and (2) we can return to stay at Pop the second night of our 2 days at Universal and then take the Magical Express back to the airport the next day. (We think the "wasted" cost of the one night's lodging at Pop will be worth these two advantages, and being able to use Magical Express will offset some of the cost.)

Two questions:

1) Do you see any fallacies in our thinking that this plan will "work"?

2) Can we catch a shuttle early enough from Disney to get to the Universal resort (probably Portofino) to check in there and then make it to Early Entry at Islands of Adventure (for Harry Potter)?

(If not, we will probably just do Universal Studios our first Universal day, and then do early entry at Islands of Adventure the second day.)

No major fallacies, but since you're planning so far ahead why not do Universal at either the start or end of your trip so you're not paying for an unoccupied room for a single night?

 

[g-dad66]

No major fallacies, but since you're planning so far ahead why not do Universal at either the start or end of your trip so you're not paying for an unoccupied room for a single night?

Actually it will be at the end of our trip (Day 6 at US, night at Portofino; Day 7 at IoA, night at Pop; Day 8, take Magical Express to airport and fly home).

We avoid the higher cost of Portofino on night 7 and are able to use the Magical Express on Day 8.

I know we could avoid paying for an unoccupied room on one night by doing a split stay at Pop (nights 1-5 and night 7) and then use the Magical Express, but it would mean packing everything up three times and carting all our luggage over to Portofino and back. This is the trip with the granddaughters, and they don't travel light!

Make sense?

 

[g-dad66]

I will stay subscribed to this thread and let you know how it went when we get back.

Super, thanks!

 

[nytimez]

Actually it will be at the end of our trip (Day 6 at US, night at Portofino; Day 7 at IoA, night at Pop; Day 8, take Magical Express to airport and fly home).

We avoid the higher cost of Portofino on night 7 and are able to use the Magical Express on Day 8.

I know we could avoid paying for an unoccupied room on one night by doing a split stay at Pop (nights 1-5 and night 7) and then use the Magical Express, but it would mean packing everything up three times and carting all our luggage over to Portofino and back. This is the trip with the granddaughters, and they don't travel light!

Make sense?

Yeah, that makes sense. I can see how that could be worth the tradeoff.

Portofino is a fantastic hotel, by the way -- enjoy your stay. And, if you can, make a little time to take in the details there.

It's as good as -- or better than -- anything on Disney property.

 

[g-dad66]

Thanks, everybody, for your help.

I have learned from experience that it saves money to buy airline tickets for our busy Spring Break week early. So if a good deal comes along in the next month or two, I will be buying our tickets for March.

Looks like we will be doing Universal on Wednesday, March 21, and Thursday, March 22.

 

[leane]

Thank you for posting this. We are DVC members and I was looking for options to get the perks as well.

I think we may stay in the room for the first night though. Start off our trip on a Sat. and save the DVC points.

 

[Karpkg]

Next March, we are planning to take two days out of our Disney World week to go to Universal.

We plan to spend one night on-site at Universal in order to get Express Pass and Early Entry privileges for both checkin and checkout day.

We plan to retain our resort room at Pop Century even though we won't use it that night so that (1) we don't have check out of Pop and take ALL of our stuff with us to the Universal resort, and (2) we can return to stay at Pop the second night of our 2 days at Universal and then take the Magical Express back to the airport the next day. (We think the "wasted" cost of the one night's lodging at Pop will be worth these two advantages, and being able to use Magical Express will offset some of the cost.)

Two questions:

1) Do you see any fallacies in our thinking that this plan will "work"?

2) Can we catch a shuttle early enough from Disney to get to the Universal resort (probably Portofino) to check in there and then make it to Early Entry at Islands of Adventure (for Harry Potter)?

(If not, we will probably just do Universal Studios our first Universal day, and then do early entry at Islands of Adventure the second day.)

We did something similar. We stayed at the Bonnet Creek(May 28-June 4) for a week and got a one night stay Tuesday night for Tuesday-Wednesday IOA/US park hopping days. We left Bonnet Creek(reference point, located next to Caribbean Resort) using our vehicle at 6:40 and got to RPR at 7:00; we were checked in and walking the path by 7:10. They told us it's an 8-10 min. walk which we did, and got to IOA by 7:20.

We did strictly IOA the first day; the 2nd day we did IOA in the morning, finished up Seussland that we didn't do previously(we took a break and went back to swim) and then headed over to US. Onsite express pass is a lifesaver; waits were 50 minutes and I timed it from gate to boarding a ride 3-5 minutes. Kind of embarrassing getting back in line to ride again and seeing the same people in line who haven't moved much.

Can't help you with shuttles. Did notice the next morning nobody at check in at 6A when came down to grab breakfast pastries to bring back upstairs, by 7:00 there was a line waiting for check in and plenty of cars/taxi's dropping people off.

 

[dpratt68]

When staying on property what time is early entry?

 

[Metro West]

When staying on property what time is early entry?

It depends on the park hours...usually early entry has been either 7am or 8am.

 

[ToyStory]

I don't know how much a shuttle costs, but you can rent a car for the Disney Car Care Center. They will pick you up at your hotel.

You would have to consider the $15.00 per day parking fee at RPR.

 

[Karpkg]

I don't know how much a shuttle costs, but you can rent a car for the Disney Car Care Center. They will pick you up at your hotel.

You would have to consider the $15.00 per day parking fee at RPR.

I believe it's $15/night parking fee. That's what is reflected on my bill. We got there by 7A Tuesday morning, left the minivan parked there the entire time and left Wednesday night 9PM after dinner at the Island's Restaurant.

 

[rlduvall]

We are doing the exact same thing right in the middle of our upcoming June trip, but we are actually DVC so it isn't a big $$ loss for us.

I will stay subscribed to this thread and let you know how it went when we get back.

Just got back and this worked like a charm. We left the Animal Kingdom Villas at exactly 7:06 a.m. on Monday morning; took I-4 and was parking at the Royal Pacific at 7:22 a.m. . . . and no I didn't break any speed limits in the process. Of course, your mileage may vary due to traffic conditions.

We had no problem doing everything we wanted by only staying 1 night [but we have been there many times] and we will definitely do it again in the future.

 

[g-dad66]

Just got back and this worked like a charm. We left the Animal Kingdom Villas at exactly 7:06 a.m. on Monday morning; took I-4 and was parking at the Royal Pacific at 7:22 a.m. . . . and no I didn't break any speed limits in the process. Of course, your mileage may vary due to traffic conditions.

We had no problem doing everything we wanted by only staying 1 night [but we have been there many times] and we will definitely do it again in the future.

Super. Glad it worked out so well!

What time did you get to the entrance to Islands of Adventure? (assuming you went there right after checking into Royal Pacific)

 

[Dismamx2]

This is a great idea, we will probably do this for our trip next year. I had considered the express pass or vip tickets but the onsite hotel seems like a much better idea.
If staying at one of the hotels is the express pass for one time entry only to each ride or is it unlimited?
Also on check out day can we still use the hotel pool if we feel like popping back during the day?
TIA

 

[Badge]

The hotel express is unlimited which is why is it so amazing. We will normally ride MIB 5 times back to back in an hour when we go. It is valid all day on your check out day as well.

As far as pool hopping on your last day, I would think you could. I have never done it before however. On the day we check out I am always running around the parks trying to ride my favorites one last time

 

[rlduvall]

Super. Glad it worked out so well!

What time did you get to the entrance to Islands of Adventure? (assuming you went there right after checking into Royal Pacific)

Sorry - I was tired last night and realized I didn't mention that.

Like I said, we hit the Royal Pacific parking lot at 7:22 a.m. [I was really watching the time because of here] We had checked in, received our room keys and was walking on the path to IOA by 7:35 a.m. I really didn't think it would go quite that smooth.

Now this is the part I did leave out last night. We were in line and waiting by 7:45 a.m. for the park to open. When they opened the turnstiles, we moved over to what we thought was a shorter line . . . but the finger scanner wasn't working correctly and we actually didn't get through that line until 8:05 a.m. We should have switched lines, but I kept thinking it would get better. I HATE THOSE FINGER SCANNERS. I actually got mad because so many people went around us and we waited over 30 minutes for Forbidden Journey. BUT, that was the only negative and I got over it quickly . . . and the next morning I made sure it didn't happen again. We ended up riding Forbidden Journey 3x total - using single rider line twice. I did notice markedly bigger crowds on Monday over Tuesday.

 

[g-dad66]

Sorry - I was tired last night and realized I didn't mention that.

Like I said, we hit the Royal Pacific parking lot at 7:22 a.m. [I was really watching the time because of here] We had checked in, received our room keys and was walking on the path to IOA by 7:35 a.m. I really didn't think it would go quite that smooth.

Now this is the part I did leave out last night. We were in line and waiting by 7:45 a.m. for the park to open. When they opened the turnstiles, we moved over to what we thought was a shorter line . . . but the finger scanner wasn't working correctly and we actually didn't get through that line until 8:05 a.m. We should have switched lines, but I kept thinking it would get better. I HATE THOSE FINGER SCANNERS. I actually got mad because so many people went around us and we waited over 30 minutes for Forbidden Journey. BUT, that was the only negative and I got over it quickly . . . and the next morning I made sure it didn't happen again. We ended up riding Forbidden Journey 3x total - using single rider line twice. I did notice markedly bigger crowds on Monday over Tuesday.

I'm glad your second day went smoother. It's always a hassle when the scanner won't accept your ticket...

And thanks for all the great information. It really helps out in our planning.