Universal/IOA Question

[OrangeCat04]

We are planning on doing one Universal/IOA day next Disney vacation, which is jan 2011. We want to see everything as well as the new Harry Potter area of IOA. Do you think one day is enough or will we need to do two days? If we are not staying in the Universal hotels, will we have long wait times for rides?? And which day of the week is the best to go. Thank you!!

 

[phamton]

I don't think it would be possible to do both parks in one day. It would be like trying to do Walt Disney World in 2 days. January usually isn't too busy but there is no way to know for sure until Harry Potter opens. I think you need at least 2-3 days to do the parks justice, especially after The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens. Weekdays are less busy than weekends. The quietest days seem to be Monday-Thursday.

 

[Metro West]

I don't think it would be possible to do both parks in one day. It would be like trying to do Walt Disney World in 2 days. January usually isn't too busy but there is no way to know for sure until Harry Potter opens. I think you need at least 2-3 days to do the parks justice, especially after The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens. Weekdays are less busy than weekends. The quietest days seem to be Monday-Thursday.

 

[OrangeCat04]

Thanks for the feedback, i was thinking it wouldn't be enough time but wanted to ask anyways. If we stay at Disney for a few days, and transfer to Universal for a few days, is there transportation we could pay for? We want to avoid renting a car. Would i be able to use Magical Express to get to Disney at the start of the vacation, even though we wouldn't be able to take it to the airport at the end since we would be at Universal? Could we pay for a bus or something to bring us to the airport when we leave universal? And to transfer our luggage from Disney to Universal, or do we really need to rent a car.. Thanks!!

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for the feedback, i was thinking it wouldn't be enough time but wanted to ask anyways. If we stay at Disney for a few days, and transfer to Universal for a few days, is there transportation we could pay for? We want to avoid renting a car. Would i be able to use Magical Express to get to Disney at the start of the vacation, even though we wouldn't be able to take it to the airport at the end since we would be at Universal? Could we pay for a bus or something to bring us to the airport when we leave universal? And to transfer our luggage from Disney to Universal, or do we really need to rent a car.. Thanks!!

Transfers from Disney to Universal would probably be best handled by Mears. They will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Universal for a nominal fee. You would not have to pay to park in the garage or at the onsite hotels. Check out their link below:

www.mearstransportation.com

 

[NashvilleTrio]

You can use Magical Express from the airport to the WDW, then either a car service or taxi for your 2 remaining transfers. I'd use a car service if you were planning to make a quick grocery stop for snacks, otherwise I'd just have WDW/Universal bell services call a cab.

 

[OrangeCat04]

Ok, great! Thanks everyone for your help, i know it must be irritating to answer the same questions over and over, but you are helping to make our trip better! So i am very thankful!!

 

[torinsmom]

You can take the ME transport from the airport one way, no problem. You can get transport from Disney to Universal through either a car service like Mears or a taxi service. I couldn't tell from your post if you would plan to stay onsite at Universal or not. If you do, you can walk to the parks. If not, there are lots of hotels closeby with shuttles to Universal or that would cost $4-$5 each way with a cab. We stayed at Hyatt Place Universal for only $30/nt through Priceline, and it had free shuttle to US and IOA. It was also just a 15 minute walk or you could take a cab for $4 each way. Free breakfast and free wireless as well as a fridge were included. We got the whole week for about the price of one night at a Universal hotel!

Have fun at Disney and Universal, but be forewarned---you may not care to go back to Disney. We were converted with our trip and will stick to Universal for now.

Marsha

 

[OrangeCat04]

You can take the ME transport from the airport one way, no problem. You can get transport from Disney to Universal through either a car service like Mears or a taxi service. I couldn't tell from your post if you would plan to stay onsite at Universal or not. If you do, you can walk to the parks. If not, there are lots of hotels closeby with shuttles to Universal or that would cost $4-$5 each way with a cab. We stayed at Hyatt Place Universal for only $30/nt through Priceline, and it had free shuttle to US and IOA. It was also just a 15 minute walk or you could take a cab for $4 each way. Free breakfast and free wireless as well as a fridge were included. We got the whole week for about the price of one night at a Universal hotel!

Have fun at Disney and Universal, but be forewarned---you may not care to go back to Disney. We were converted with our trip and will stick to Universal for now.

Marsha

Thanks! I will look into some offsite hotels to see if we can save some money!! And thanks for the forewarning about being converted.. we haven't been to Universal yet, but my kids keep saying "I can't wait to go to universal so we can go on some REAL rides" But i love Disney, so i may have to force them to go there from time to time.. lol