universal visit during Disney trip

[mommytoliandlu]

Hello, I hope I'm posting in the right section since this is a universal/Disney question!

We went to Disney world for a week last summer and stayed on site, we spent one day at sea world in the middle of our trip. I have to say, I spent the whole sea world day missing Disney!

We are planning a trip to Disney again for Next summer (2015). Our 8 year old who will be 9 on the next trip (plus my husband and I) Are huge v Harry potter fans so would LOVE to visit universal. We also have a daughter who will be 4 next summer. Based on what happened last year with sea world, missing the Disney magic, I am thinking it would be great if we could start out with universal and then spend the rest of the week at Disney. However since we would be flying in from Boston, on hopefully an AM flight, I feel like by the time we land, check in at art of animation and get to universal it'll be like 3 or 4. Could we spend an evening there and feel like we were able to experience most of the Harry Potter v stuff? Would it be better to just do a Disney evening the first night then hit up universal the first full day? Is it cost effective or worth it to stay on site at universal one night then switch to Disney? Is it a gigantic pain to transfer over?

Thank you SO much for any advice! If you read through my whole post, Thank you!! I know I have a lot of questions.

 

[Lynne G]

First, when you go to Universal, please do not try to compare it to Disney. Enjoy it for what it is and have fun.

Second, it is advisable to stay onsite. The resorts are beautiful and the unlimited expess pass with your stay is very valuable. The express pass is good from the day you check in through the day you check out. Some people stay one night to get the 2 days of express passes.

Many of us split our stay between Disney and Universal. Most of us also find, when staying onsite, it to be a more relaxing vacation. As such, many do Disney, then end with Universal.


I hope that helps. We like both Universal and Disney. My kids are older, so a park with coasters is always a draw for us, and we enjoy staying at the onsite Universal hotels. Each of the hotels has a lot to enjoy at the hotel, and pool hopping is encouraged. We are also Potter fans and will be doing a split stay this summer.

 

[RMulieri]

First,IT will not be Disney, so please do not go in dreading it and comparing every little thing to Disney.unviersal is universal and disney is disney.Both are great ,well themed and have plenty to offer..IF YOU LET IT..Nothing wrong with enjoying and loving both.Second ...STAY ONSITE..Dont go to disney and travel to Uni, STAY at uni, visit Uni...Book a night at a Uni resort.Plan on hitting the parks if you get there early enough..Stow your luggage with bell services and hit the Uni parks...Reason to stay onsite..1) the resorts are gorgeous and a walking distance to the parks and 2) Note that ONLY if you stay at one of the 3 deluxe ( royal pacific, hard rock or portofino) you get the express passes..Good for all rides and shows except Harry potter Forbidden journey , Ollivanders and diagon alley..Will allow you to ride without much of a wait. 3) Early Entry for resort guests..
Summer is very busy at Universal, just as it is at Disney. Harry Potter will be the biggest draw for many many people even next year.It will be the areas that take the most time and will be the most crowded...
Keep in mind..If you want to experience the Hogwarts express , you will NEED a park to park ticket.No way around this since the train takes you within the boundries to the train depots at each of the parks.

 

[jaoconnor]

I would highly recommend staying on-site 1 night & enjoying at least 2 days at Universal. The express passes included with an on-site hotel stay are awesome, but are not valid for all Harry Potter attractions.

If Harry is your top priority, you will really want to take advantage of the on-site early entry option too!

Enjoy! It's not Disney, but after visiting Universal my (thrill-seeking & Harry-loving) kids have no interest in returning to see the mouse!

 

[jaoconnor]

Forgot to add.....

NO, one evening at Universal/IOA will not be close to enough time to experience everything Harry Potter once Diagon Alley is open, even if you skipped everything else in the parks.

 

[johde]

I'm going to agree with everyone else that you'll probably want at least a day and a half at Universal. Instead of going there first, I would do like others have suggested and spend your last 2 days there. I would see if you could book a late flight home. You could pack up the night before you switch to an onsite Universal Hotel and bring in just an overnight leaving everything else in your rental car. That way, you could leave for Universal early the next morning check-in and get early admission to HP that morning. Then, the next morning, you could have early admission to the other half of HP before heading to the airport later in the day. If you could get a 7:00 or 8:00 flight in the evening you could enjoy most of a 2 days in the parks.

 

[lbatesetc]

Hello, I hope I'm posting in the right section since this is a universal/Disney question!

We went to Disney world for a week last summer and stayed on site, we spent one day at sea world in the middle of our trip. I have to say, I spent the whole sea world day missing Disney!

We are planning a trip to Disney again for Next summer (2015). Our 8 year old who will be 9 on the next trip (plus my husband and I) Are huge v Harry potter fans so would LOVE to visit universal. We also have a daughter who will be 4 next summer. Based on what happened last year with sea world, missing the Disney magic, I am thinking it would be great if we could start out with universal and then spend the rest of the week at Disney. However since we would be flying in from Boston, on hopefully an AM flight, I feel like by the time we land, check in at art of animation and get to universal it'll be like 3 or 4. Could we spend an evening there and feel like we were able to experience most of the Harry Potter v stuff? Would it be better to just do a Disney evening the first night then hit up universal the first full day? Is it cost effective or worth it to stay on site at universal one night then switch to Disney? Is it a gigantic pain to transfer over?

Thank you SO much for any advice! If you read through my whole post, Thank you!! I know I have a lot of questions.

Is there shuttle service to and from Universal Hotels/Disney resorts. Will not be renting car.

 

[johde]

I'm sure any shuttle/town car services would take you from your Disney Resort to your Universal Resort but depending on how big your party is it may be quicker, cheaper or easier to rent a car for the day or take a Taxi.

 

[deakam]

I am doing a 2 night stay at Universal before a 6 night stay at Disney. I booked a package through Universal that offers a transfer from the airport and a breakfast at the Three Broomsticks. We will have to provide our own transportation to our Disney resort but then we can take the Magical express back to the airport.

I ran the numbers a hundred different ways and this option offered the most for the least amount of cash. We get early entry and the Universal Express which costs an additional $89.00 if you are not staying on site. I figure that even if we can not use it on the Harry Potter rides we can wait in line for those and then express everything else.

To be honest I am thinking about adding another night and day. Disney is just getting to be to rigid and structured. For crying out loud you can now order your lunch 60 days in advance. LOL. It is also pricing me out. I am staying at a Deluxe at Universal for less than a moderate at Disney.

 

[lazer]

I am doing a 2 night stay at Universal before a 6 night stay at Disney. I booked a package through Universal that offers a transfer from the airport and a breakfast at the Three Broomsticks. We will have to provide our own transportation to our Disney resort but then we can take the Magical express back to the airport. I ran the numbers a hundred different ways and this option offered the most for the least amount of cash. We get early entry and the Universal Express which costs an additional $89.00 if you are not staying on site. I figure that even if we can not use it on the Harry Potter rides we can wait in line for those and then express everything else. To be honest I am thinking about adding another night and day. Disney is just getting to be to rigid and structured. For crying out loud you can now order your lunch 60 days in advance. LOL. It is also pricing me out. I am staying at a Deluxe at Universal for less than a moderate at Disney.

This is basically why we switched to all universal for our fall trip. My kids are young, so there's definitely disney in our future. I just needed a break from all the planning involved (most of it because I obsessed over it). Can't wait to stay at RPH and relax!

 

[mommytoliandlu]

Thank you guys!! Very very helpful. So is the general consensus that it's easier to start your trip at universal and transfer to Disney or vice versa??

 

[macraven]

Vice versa

Motherland first
End vaca at the darkside

 

[schumigirl]

Thank you guys!! Very very helpful. So is the general consensus that it's easier to start your trip at universal and transfer to Disney or vice versa??

Vice versa.

I would end at Universal. You will be spoiled with having Unlimited EP. I imagine it would be quite hard to then queue at Disney.

Do it the other way and do Disney first

 

[lbatesetc]

Vice versa.

I would end at Universal. You will be spoiled with having Unlimited EP. I imagine it would be quite hard to then queue at Disney.

Do it the other way and do Disney first

Think it would work better for our family to finish at Disney, like not having to deal with luggage or transportation to airport.

 

[glocon]

If you figure out your transportation now, you will not stress about it on your trip. The unlimited express pass at UO will have you spoiled for waiting in lines and might impact your enjoyment factor at WDW. Just letting you know from people who have done it before.

Also, for us, it is very hard and sad to leave WDW. Knowing there is something else fun to look forward to makes it just a little bit easier.

Actually, our next trip will be solely UO, but my son is now a teen and enjoys more of the thrill UO has to offer. I on the other hand will always have a soft spot for the mouse.

 

[keishashadow]

Hello, I hope I'm posting in the right section since this is a universal/Disney question!

We went to Disney world for a week last summer and stayed on site, we spent one day at sea world in the middle of our trip. I have to say, I spent the whole sea world day missing Disney!

We are planning a trip to Disney again for Next summer (2015). Our 8 year old who will be 9 on the next trip (plus my husband and I) Are huge v Harry potter fans so would LOVE to visit universal. We also have a daughter who will be 4 next summer. Based on what happened last year with sea world, missing the Disney magic, I am thinking it would be great if we could start out with universal and then spend the rest of the week at Disney. However since we would be flying in from Boston, on hopefully an AM flight, I feel like by the time we land, check in at art of animation and get to universal it'll be like 3 or 4. Could we spend an evening there and feel like we were able to experience most of the Harry Potter v stuff? Would it be better to just do a Disney evening the first night then hit up universal the first full day? Is it cost effective or worth it to stay on site at universal one night then switch to Disney? Is it a gigantic pain to transfer over?

Thank you SO much for any advice! If you read through my whole post, Thank you!! I know I have a lot of questions.

hmmm, based upon you reporting not being able to enjoy Sea World, you may not be open to really enjoying what Universal has to offer despite being HP fans. Many feel the same way, until they try it.

It'd be best to stay onsite a night at the end or beginning of your trip to enjoy the two days' of FOTL perks.

If at the beginning of trip: you could do HP the 2nd day for a 1/2 day then head over to WDW for another 1/2 day in the parks since many are open late. The reverse would work for the end of the trip if u just can't bear giving up 'too many' WDW days.

I'd suggest renting a car @ MCO when you arrive and drop it @ WDW or the reverse. Car care center will pick you up or Dolphin easy drop off but they close around 4 pm as I recall.

 

[schumigirl]

Think it would work better for our family to finish at Disney, like not having to deal with luggage or transportation to airport.

Glad you know what you're doing