Universal Resorts vs. Disney Resorts..HELP :)

[asfarrell]

I thought we were "done" with Disney (DH has said we have been enough, DS says he's "too old" of course DD would go every month if she could) but then our DS saw the Harry Potter theme park advertise and is all excited to go So I have started researching Universal Studios but would never go to Orlando and NOT visit Disney and stay in Disney Resort?? This is where the delimma comes in.

Do we stay at US resort 2 nights to receive the "express" tickets and "free bus" rides and then move to a Disney Resort?

I am trying to choose the most economical route, so I want to get as many "free bus rides, airport pickups, etc" as I can. I would prefer to limit cab or rental car fees.

I guess I need to look into if US picks up at the airport like DW does. We would probably go for 5 nights, 2 days at US and maybe 3 at DW and one day for relaxing...That's where my "switching resorts" idea came from, we could get the "best of both worlds" and maybe only pay for transportation from one resort to the next..

Would we rather relax at a DW resort or US resort?

Any advice from someone who has done both US and DW on a budget, would be greatly appreciated. I have read all about purchasing the express tickets from US, it seems smarter/cheaper just to stay at their hotels..true? (my signature is old, it's from last year, we are not returning to DW in 3 months)

 

[damo]

You only need to stay one night to get express passes for two days. I think staying 3 nights is optimal. Not sure what you mean by the free bus rides. Do you mean the boat between the hotels and the parks? That is free to everyone.

Universal does not pick up at the airport.

Do Disney first and then Universal because at Universal you won't be standing in line where at Disney... It is frustrating if you are used to no lines at Universal and then you go to Disney. It seems like you are waiting in line forever.

You will get a cheaper rate at Universal the longer you stay. There are also AAA deals and maybe you might want to invest in one annual pass ($214 and then $114 to renew each year). It gives you great hotel discounts.

 

[HolidayRose]

Where are you planning to stay at Disney? It would be helpful to know if we're comparing a pool day at one of the Universal resorts to one at the All-Stars or at the Yacht Club.

 

[SNylund]

All 3 Universal onsite resorts are equal to or equivalent to the top level Disney resorts, I think are actually better than most. The Royal Pacific is a beautifully tropical themed resort kind of like the Poly at Disney. The Hard Rock hotel probably needs no explanation, and is my least favorite. Portifino is over the top in luxery and probably the best resort in all of Orlando, but most expensive of the Unviersal resorts, if I had a choice with money as no object I would take the Portifino, but the RP is awesome too. We usually stay at the RP just because its cheaper. All you have to do is look at the Universal website, check out the video tours of the resorts and parks and those will give you a really good idea of what they're about.

 

[celt33]

We also are "Disney People" but last trip after staying 4 nights at Port Orleans(and staying at Grand Floridian,Animal Kingdom Lodge,and Contemporary previous trips) we thought we would do something different and stay a couple of nights at a Universal rseort.WOW!!We stayed at the Hard Rock and it was every bit as nice any Disney resort including the Grand Floridian.The grounds and landscaping and pool areas were awesome.This time we are staying the entire trip at Universal Hard Rock and driving to Disney a couple of days using the remainder for first time trips to SeaWorld,Aquatica, and Discovery Cove.Trying something different in Orlando has been a pleasent experience for our family.

 

[DisneygirlTeacher]

I am definitely a DisneyGirl, however, we just got back from Hard Rock Hotel and it was wonderful! Universal and IOA were great, too. Hard Rock was beautiful, very clean, and the staff was excellent! One tip though...bring a case of your own bottled water. I brought some with us, but not enough, and what they wanted to charge for one bottle of water in the ice cream shop was as much as a whole case of water!! I couldn't make myself buy it...lol But, honestly, that was my only complaint. We have a teenager and she thought it was awesome. Now, my husband says he wants to "live" there...lol

 

[asfarrell]

Thank you...I wouldn't mind staying at US hotel the entire time and taking a cab to DW the couple of days we go..I guess I just wanted to use the Magical Express to or from the airport and do the dining package...I guess I shouldn't base our whole vacation on a few cab fees Thanks everyone, I am still going to research and put the numbers on paper and see which is the best deal..

 

[Returning DisFan]

Just wanted to say I agree with all the other posters on this matter. We were at Disney all week and have spent the last 2 nights at Universal and it is a welcome change in food, lines, lighter crowds, etc. We are at Royal Pacific and it has been wonderful. The tv programming is superior to Disney's as well. You will enjoy yourself at both places. Happ plannnig

 

[macraven]

i do both parks each year on the same vacation.
and, i stay at both resorts.

i started doing both parks in 1992.


i begin my trip at the motherland and then switch by car service to the darkside hotels.

i keep universal for the last portion of my trip as i love being spoiled.
it would be too difficult for me to reverse that agenda.

 

[maggieb9975]

i do both parks each year on the same vacation.
and, i stay at both resorts.

i started doing both parks in 1992.


i begin my trip at the motherland and then switch by car service to the darkside hotels.

i keep universal for the last portion of my trip as i love being spoiled.
it would be too difficult for me to reverse that agenda.

Ditto exactly what macraven said

We use the magic express when we arrive and do our Disney visit first and then take a town car to our Universal Hotel to get spoiled just as macraven does I have 4 girls ages 17 and 27 and they all LOVE Universal!I have stayed at both HR and PBH...we LOVED PBH, liked HR a lot and are staying at RPH for our next visit with Harry Potter! Enjoy!!

 

[snowbunny]

Do Disney first and then Universal because at Universal you won't be standing in line where at Disney...

I could have written most of the OP's post. Are you really saying that the express pass/keycard will mean no lines at Harry Potter.

If we bring my son down next summer it will be for one reason mainly, and that is to stay onsite and see the Wizarding World. I feel like the lines will be crazy even with FOTL. But I haven't been to Universal in a long time so I don't know that much about how FOTL works.

 

[eandesmom]

We are doing 3 nights at US followed by 7 at the Yacht Club.

It is interesting to see that most prefer the reverse order. It's not an option for us given that we are trying to time it with the start of free dining at Disney.

I am looking forward to the contrast, it will be 2 very different vacations in one I think!

Now we just have to pick WHICH US hotel!

Does anyone know if there are historical packages and promotions offered in August? I'm going to book our rooms now to make sure we lock them up, as well as the ticket prices since with HP I'm expecting ticket prices to go up and rooms to be gone....

 

[damo]

I could have written most of the OP's post. Are you really saying that the express pass/keycard will mean no lines at Harry Potter.

If we bring my son down next summer it will be for one reason mainly, and that is to stay onsite and see the Wizarding World. I feel like the lines will be crazy even with FOTL. But I haven't been to Universal in a long time so I don't know that much about how FOTL works.

New rides typically don't have express immediately because of the huge lines. So no one can guarantee that staying on site next summer will give you express passes to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff will probably have express since they are just reworked rides and not new rides.

Right now, Rip Ride Rockit, new as of August, doesn't have express yet.

 

[Biggreen19]

Damo is right about RRR, however back in 2004, we stayed in Universal in August, and The Mummy was accepting FOTL which had just opened in May 2004. I do remember they were scanning room cards, allowing only ONE FOTL ride before 3:00 PM, so maybe there is hope for some type of FOTL for WWOHP next summer?

 

[maggieb9975]

Since not only the New WWOHP ride but entire HP area will be a huge crowd draw and possibly no FOTL for the ride for awhile....perhaps Universal could have early entry for onsite guests similar to WDW??

What do you all think...who is in the know and could suggest that to them...I would be willing to get up an hour early