Universal Resorts vs. just staying at WDW resorts.....????

[edk35]

Just curious how you all do the staying at a Disney resort, but visit Universal too when you are there on vacation. Do you stay at Disney the entire vacation and then rent a car/ use a car service or personal car to drive off site to Universal? Or do you just stay at Universal resorts when you visit those parks to get the EXPRESS PASS deal??? I am trying to decide what to do for our Nov. trip. We will be at OKW our last few days and we want to AVOID the Disney parks on Tuesday and Wed. of Thanksgiving week...so we are planning to go to each of the Universal parks those two days. We were at WDW for 14 nights this past summer so we want to include Universal in our Nov. trip. If we stay at Universal our last 2 nights we would save 54 DVC points. If we stay off site for 3 nights we would save 83 points. We are going to Disney next summer for about 10 days and saving points for that trip is tempting???!!!! Any tips/suggestions would be appreciated. Universal is open from 9 til 7:00 on those days. Thanks so much.

 

[pixeegrl]

I would also post your question over on the Universal portion of the boards. I would not even think about staying offsite at Universal. It's like a vacation from your vacation onsite lol!

 

[edk35]

I would also post your question over on the Universal portion of the boards. I would not even think about staying offsite at Universal. It's like a vacation from your vacation onsite lol!

Yeah I am torn on what to do. I did post over there too. They seem to all think that staying at Universal is great because of the express pass thing. However...we are dvc members and we are staying on points so sure it would save us points to pay cash outside but it is also MONEY WE WOULD HAVE TO budget for .......for those 3 nights.

 

[Nie0214]

Since those two days will be packed at Disney, I'm sure they will be busy at Universal too. You could always just stay 1 night at a Universal resort (then you'd get check-in day & check-out day as FotL access) and then go to an off-site. More work though.

 

[Twilightlover]

Universal is only 20 minutes away. For our trip we plan on using Mears for transportation from WDW to US for two days. It's cheaper than renting a car and paying for parking. If you wanted to save money you could only get a Disney Park Hopper for the days you are going to need them or just get it for your entire stay and use them for the magic hours when you get back.

 

[Nie0214]

Universal is only 20 minutes away. For our trip we plan on using Mears for transportation from WDW to US for two days. It's cheaper than renting a car and paying for parking. If you wanted to save money you could only get a Disney Park Hopper for the days you are going to need them or just get it for your entire stay and use them for the magic hours when you get back.

Since they went for 14 days in the summer and are going back now and next year, I'd hope they had APs.

 

[edk35]

Since they went for 14 days in the summer and are going back now and next year, I'd hope they had APs.

Actually...Our AP's expired on Aug. 15th. We got them in July 07 used them for our 8 night stay, then used them for another 8 night stay Nov. 07, THEN we used them in Jan. 08 for our 5 night stay and FINALLY YES we used them for our 14 night stay this past July. HOWEVER.........we also have 7 days left on some non exp. Magic You Ways that we are planning on using 4 days of in Nov.

 

[Nie0214]

Actually...Our AP's expired on Aug. 15th. We got them in July 07 used them for our 8 night stay, then used them for another 8 night stay Nov. 07, THEN we used them in Jan. 08 for our 5 night stay and FINALLY YES we used them for our 14 night stay this past July. HOWEVER.........we also have 7 days left on some non exp. Magic You Ways that we are planning on using 4 days of in Nov.

Haha! Well at least you definitely got your monies worth out of them!

 

[happymommy]

Considering you are talking about Thanksgiving week, I definitely think you'd be glad to book at least one night at a Universal hotel. That way you would get the day you check in and the next day for the front of the line pass. This would definitely be worth it. I'd look now, as I don't know how much it is there.

We stayed recently at the Portofino Bay Hotel - I would compare it to the Dolphin. It was nice - but I personally didn't like Universal as much as Disney. My son loved the motion simulator rides, though!

I was queasy even after the Shrek 3D show - be sure to bring Dramamine if you think you may need it - I had brought some in my purse, and was so glad I did!

I would try to book maybe you first or last two days at Universal. It can be a pain to move resorts, but it would be worth it. That is a popular week from what I understand.

We've gotten 3 trips out of AP's also in the past - and a hotel discount to boot. Now I'm debating them again myself. They have gone up in price, but so has the no expiration option!

Good luck planning!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We love Universal hotels and have even stayed there to visit WDW. I would def. recommend staying onsite if you're going near any holidays. That room key is soooo worth it.

Do you belong to AAA? Maybe you can get a discount that way. What kind of rates are you finding? Holidays usually sell out.

 

[rie'smom]

We're DVC members and ALWAYS stay at Universal's onsite hotels. The FOTL is well worth it. We stay on weekends to save points becuase to me, it's a waste of points to stay DVC on Friday and Saturday. We're going on Nov 26th, the day before Thanksgiving when WDW gets crazy, and we're leaving on Saturday. Join the Loews hotel program and I'd recommend either an Annual Pass or AAA for savings. Both,either give you great discounts on the hotel, food, and merchandise.