Universal/Disney split stay & time opinions

[MusicalAstronaut]

It's been a long 5 years since I've been to Universal Studios. I've been planning a trip to Disney for Nov 25-Dec 2 (Sunday through Sunday) and I figured this would be the best time for me to hit up Universal again. In the past, Disney has had shorter hours that Thursday & Friday after thanksgiving (I assume for their cast party & then it's a holiday party night), so I thought those would be the best days to do Universal (if they keep those hours this year). If I'm staying through Sunday though, would it be weird for me to do two days at Universal and then go back to the Disney parks? Should I switch from my Disney hotel to Universal on Thursday morning and stay through Sunday, even if I go back to Disney Saturday & Sunday? It seems like a lot of work to go between 3 hotels vs 2, but I don't know if it'll really suck to be at a Universal hotel the last days at Disney. Any thoughts would be great, thanks!

Editing to add: Another option would be to do a half day at Universal that first Sunday and a full day Monday (staying at RPR so I'd have the express pass), moving to Disney hotel Tuesday. Would that be worth a 2 day ticket though, to only do 1.5 days? I should add that Sunday morning I'm running the space coast marathon so that's why I can only do about 2pm-close at Universal/IOA.

X Posted.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You should be able to even do just one night at RPR on Thursday night... you'd get the express passes Thursday & Friday. Either way, weigh the benefits of proximity vs hassle of switching an extra time... the answer is different for different people.

 

[keishashadow]

It's been a long 5 years since I've been to Universal Studios. I've been planning a trip to Disney for Nov 25-Dec 2 (Sunday through Sunday) and I figured this would be the best time for me to hit up Universal again. In the past, Disney has had shorter hours that Thursday & Friday after thanksgiving (I assume for their cast party & then it's a holiday party night), so I thought those would be the best days to do Universal (if they keep those hours this year). If I'm staying through Sunday though, would it be weird for me to do two days at Universal and then go back to the Disney parks? Should I switch from my Disney hotel to Universal on Thursday morning and stay through Sunday, even if I go back to Disney Saturday & Sunday? It seems like a lot of work to go between 3 hotels vs 2, but I don't know if it'll really suck to be at a Universal hotel the last days at Disney. Any thoughts would be great, thanks!

Editing to add: Another option would be to do a half day at Universal that first Sunday and a full day Monday (staying at RPR so I'd have the express pass), moving to Disney hotel Tuesday. Would that be worth a 2 day ticket though, to only do 1.5 days? I should add that Sunday morning I'm running the space coast marathon so that's why I can only do about 2pm-close at Universal/IOA.

X Posted.

11/25 is a sunday, going to assume it’s the day you arrive & do marathon. Not sure how perky you are after running one...will legs to do a park that night?

Where is the marathon? If on the east coast, I’d consider picking up an inexpensive hotel there that night then drive over to an onsite U property early Monday

Or

Book 2 nights onsite @ U, first night to just enjoy citiwalk & your onsite Universal hotel on Sunday evening

Go into parks on Monday & checkout day on Tuesday. Enjoy the park thru the afternoon, then head over to WDW and checkin. Perhaps you could grab FP+ In park with PM EMH or just do Disney Springs.

If not staying @ one of the hotels that offers FOTL, make sure to get there in plenty of time for onsite guest rope drop which is an hour early in designated park for a jump on things.

We were at U the weekend after Thanksgiving last year & then moved to SSR for the rest of the week. Crowds died down on Tuesday, easy week.

I’ve done 4 hotels in a week in MCO, it’s doable, not exactly optimal. Would keep it to once change if possible.

Honestly, doing U at the end of the trip is much better when having FOTL. Otherwise you will find yourself in line @ WDW dreaming of it lol.

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I think switching over to the Universal hotel on Thursday would be fine. We love the Universal resorts they are really nice. Just think of it this way people stay at Disney Resorts and come over to Uni for visits then go back. It is essentially the same thing. Unless you are really into the Disney resort and want to be there for that.

The 1.5 days could work on Sunday and Monday but personally it would bother me to have the tickets and not get moneys worth for two days.

We have changed 2 and 3 hotel changes. It can be a little work but it is also cool to try something different .It feels like 2 vacations in one. I do like 2 a little more than 3.

I agree about Uni at the end of the trip. It is so much more relaxing.

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

Chanting...Uni at the End! Uni at the End!

After a marathon and WDW days in the park, head over to Universal and relax. Stay onsite, get the EPs, so worth it!

I agree with Bobbi, changing hotels will make it seem like a 2nd vacation, worth the hassle.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

11/25 is a sunday, going to assume it’s the day you arrive & do marathon. Not sure how perky you are after running one...will legs to do a park that night?

Where is the marathon? If on the east coast, I’d consider picking up an inexpensive hotel there that night then drive over to an onsite U property early Monday

Or

Book 2 nights onsite @ U, first night to just enjoy citiwalk & your onsite Universal hotel on Sunday evening

Go into parks on Monday & checkout day on Tuesday. Enjoy the park thru the afternoon, then head over to WDW and checkin. Perhaps you could grab FP+ In park with PM EMH or just do Disney Springs.

If not staying @ one of the hotels that offers FOTL, make sure to get there in plenty of time for onsite guest rope drop which is an hour early in designated park for a jump on things.

We were at U the weekend after Thanksgiving last year & then moved to SSR for the rest of the week. Crowds died down on Tuesday, easy week.

I’ve done 4 hotels in a week in MCO, it’s doable, not exactly optimal. Would keep it to once change if possible.

Honestly, doing U at the end of the trip is much better when having FOTL. Otherwise you will find yourself in line @ WDW dreaming of it lol.

The marathon is in Cocoa Beach, and I did totally forget to mention that I'll be in a hotel there Friday-Sunday, so yeah, this has a minimum of 3 hotels already lol. It starts at 6am so I'm hoping to be done around 11am, drive to Orlando, and be checked in around 1pm, in the parks at 2pm. It'll be my first marathon TBH but I've done 5 halfs, and when I keep moving after I feel MUCH better vs when I sit the rest of the day, so I'm hoping that walking around U will help keep me from being stiff the rest of the week. I'm booked at RPR for U right now so I'd have the express pass thing. I'm wondering if I'll feel like I wasted my money if I only do a half day on Sunday (or Tuesday)? Do you think with FOTL I could do the majority of things in 1.5 days? Universal looks like they'll close at 7pm so I'll still have time to check out CityWalk & the hotel either way. You're right though, if I do Universal Tuesday morning/afternoon I could switch to Disney for the evening and then do Disney the rest of the time.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

Hi I think switching over to the Universal hotel on Thursday would be fine. We love the Universal resorts they are really nice. Just think of it this way people stay at Disney Resorts and come over to Uni for visits then go back. It is essentially the same thing. Unless you are really into the Disney resort and want to be there for that.

The 1.5 days could work on Sunday and Monday but personally it would bother me to have the tickets and not get moneys worth for two days.

We have changed 2 and 3 hotel changes. It can be a little work but it is also cool to try something different .It feels like 2 vacations in one. I do like 2 a little more than 3.

I agree about Uni at the end of the trip. It is so much more relaxing.

I am worried about buying a 2 day P2P pass and only using it for like 4 hours one day. That's something that would horrify me if I was doing it with a Disney pass, lol. The reason I want to end on Disney is...well...I love Disney at Christmas time, lol. I'm worried that if I do Disney first and then U, I'll feel like I missed out on something. But I'm also worried about doing only 1.5 days at U and then feel like I missed out on that! Gahhhh this is hard.

 

[keishashadow]

The marathon is in Cocoa Beach, and I did totally forget to mention that I'll be in a hotel there Friday-Sunday, so yeah, this has a minimum of 3 hotels already lol. It starts at 6am so I'm hoping to be done around 11am, drive to Orlando, and be checked in around 1pm, in the parks at 2pm. It'll be my first marathon TBH but I've done 5 halfs, and when I keep moving after I feel MUCH better vs when I sit the rest of the day, so I'm hoping that walking around U will help keep me from being stiff the rest of the week. I'm booked at RPR for U right now so I'd have the express pass thing. I'm wondering if I'll feel like I wasted my money if I only do a half day on Sunday (or Tuesday)? Do you think with FOTL I could do the majority of things in 1.5 days? Universal looks like they'll close at 7pm so I'll still have time to check out CityWalk & the hotel either way. You're right though, if I do Universal Tuesday morning/afternoon I could switch to Disney for the evening and then do Disney the rest of the time.

Gotcha!

Most here would agree 1.5 days is not enough to do the parks justice. We generally do split stays w/WDW or U is an add on to a cruise. We can hit all our favs in that amount of time but always leave wishing we had more time there

WDW parks are surely less crowded during the week vs weekend that week. It is one of the slowest there of winter holiday season IMO.

Honestly, my strong recommendation is to do Disney first, then U for last night or two of your visit. If two nights, head up after day @ disney. Enjoy citiwalk & have first full day in parks & your last day before you head home.

Good luck planning