Universal in the middle of a DL trip

[BriannaRuth]

Currently planning on doing 5 days in the park in DL, Monday 12/15 through Friday 12/19. Flying in the day before and out the night after, SNA both ways. I'm considering adding a day at Universal to the mix, but would *probably* want to replace a DL day in doing so rather than adding a day, although that's not set in stone.

Which day would it make the most sense to go to Universal? I'm assuming a single day is good for Universal? Mainly going because DD21 is a big Harry Potter fan.

I was originally thinking it might make the most sense to do Universal either the first or last day and maybe stay at a different hotel that night and either fly in or out of LAX instead of SNA if we did that, but I already have airline tickets and I'm not sure I want to change them. How inconvenient is it to drive back and forth? The other thing about that plan is that I'm purposely planning to be at DL on Friday because I want to do either F! or WOC that night. And I was really wanting to be in Disneyland on Monday as well since it will probably be the least crowded day that week. So that puts us at Universal midweek sometime.

Also, how is Universal at Christmastime?

Thoughts?

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I would allow 2 hours each way, from the moment you start your car at your hotel in Anaheim, to the moment you are actually walking through the entrance turnstile at Universal.

While it looks not that much on Google Maps, LA traffic and freeways are just insane. You could leave Anaheim and drive for 30 minutes no issues, then out of nowhere come to a complete stop and not move for 15 or 20 minutes. And then after a mile of only going walking speed, its all clear again.

At Universal will need to park and then walk to the main entrance.

What would your plan be for your Universal day? Do you want to be there when the park opens and stay until it closes?

The best option is most defiantly stay in Burbank for Universal, thats what most people do.

 

[EP Ripley]

I would agree that staying near universal is best. The commute between Disney and universal is brutal

 

[sjmac42]

I would go on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday and drive there and back. Leave early (6 to 6-30am ish) and have breakfast in Citiwalk. It may take a couple of hours but moving hotels will take longer anyway. Leaving early will be your best chance to avoid the worst of the traffic. Leaving Anaheim after 7am will almost guarantee a 2 hour drive.
Returning should only be an hour or so if you leave after 7pm.

 

[BriannaRuth]

After reading some of the comments -- If we were going to Universal the first or last day of the trip, I'd definitely stay overnight in Burbank. But going midweek would mean packing in the middle of the DL trip -- plus driving back to Anaheim EARLY in the morning because we have EE (which we always use and I would not want to miss out on). Not sure I'm up for that! Leaving the DLH around 6:30 am wouldn't be a problem because we'll already be used to getting up early for EE.

What would your plan be for your Universal day? Do you want to be there when the park opens and stay until it closes?

We'd probably want to be there at park opening. Closing -- not sure, but it looks like from what people have written here that we'd need to stay until at least 7pm to avoid traffic going back. Mainly we just want to do the Harry Potter area, plus Revenge of the Mummy, Jurassic World, Transformers, Mario Kart and Despicable Me, also Waterworld. No young kids on this trip. Will probably skip the studio tour.

I'm hoping we'll have plenty of time because I'm pretty sure one of our group will qualify for AAP due to Tourette's.

 

[SnowWhite09]

We have always gone to US from Anaheim there and back on the same the day. We leave early (between 6 and 6.30am as others have said) because the traffic even this early is pretty heavy. We had EP when we went in July and one day was definitely enough time.