Us/ioa ?

[danetter]

I have a question or maybe a few for you US/IOA experts. We are a family of 4 (mom,dad and 2 wonderful dd's). We just returned from our 2nd Disney vacation a couple of weeks ago. We took our dd's last year to Disney for their 1st time. This year we went back to Disney.
We are already talking about going back next year but adding US/IOA into our vacation time.

Ok now for the questions: Some maybe a little dumb but take for granted that we have only been 2 times so I am asking you experts out there....

1. For those of you that do incorporate Disney/US/IOA, how many days do you add for US/IOA?
2. We would like to go during Disney's free dining time so we would be staying on Disney site, is there bus transportation to US/IOA or will we have to take our car?
3. How far from Disney is US/IOA?
4.How long is the 99.00 special running? And will it still be good in the fall of 2010?

If there is any more details you can give me I would definetly appreciate it.

TIA, Danette

 

[lachica]

1.) 2 Days minimum. A day for each park so you can see the highlights.
2.) The only bus is Mears; But a rental will probably be cheaper.
3.) 17 miles give or take depending where in the resort you are coming from
4.) There's no set date for the promo to end, though it could be any minute. The $99.00 tickets are good until activated - expires 6 days after first day of use.

I don't know how many days you have planned staying at the resort; but if you stay 1 night at the universal hotel you receive 2 days (check in/check out) worth of unlimited express pass.

 

[smartcookie]

Could possibly be worth while to spend a couple of days at the end off your holiday/beginning at one of the universal hotels, as it gives you front of the line access at both US and IOA means you would be able to get a taxi or bus to one of these hotels and from the universal hotels its only a 5 minutes walk or boat ride to US/IOA

 

[danetter]

I don't know how many days you have planned staying at the resort; but if you stay 1 night at the universal hotel you receive 2 days (check in/check out) worth of unlimited express pass.[/QUOTE]

Our last 2 vacations to Disney we arrived a day early and stayed offsite in a Hotel in Kissimee. So if we stayed our 1st night in a universal hotel next time we get 2 days of unlimited express pass? We can check in on Friday and checkout on Saturday to arrive at our disney resort and still be able to do that?

Is the 99.00 deal only for universal hotel guest only or offsite as well?

 

[RACEFAN9]

How old are your kids?Caution:After going to Universal my kids(girls 13,13,9)do not wont to go to Disney anymore.We stay onsite and get front of the line and never wait more than 5 mins.to ride anything.Never have to ride crowded bus back to resort,we take relaxing water taxi,or we sometimes walk it's so close.

 

[macraven]

I have a question or maybe a few for you US/IOA experts. We are a family of 4 (mom,dad and 2 wonderful dd's). We just returned from our 2nd Disney vacation a couple of weeks ago. We took our dd's last year to Disney for their 1st time. This year we went back to Disney.
We are already talking about going back next year but adding US/IOA into our vacation time.

Ok now for the questions: Some maybe a little dumb but take for granted that we have only been 2 times so I am asking you experts out there....

1. For those of you that do incorporate Disney/US/IOA, how many days do you add for US/IOA?

i stay onsite at the motherland first.
it varies each year for the length of time i am there.
this month, i stayed 8 nights and moved to the darkside on the 9th day.

at the UO hotel this year, i did 6 days.
i could have done another one as i paced myself and didn't rush in the morning. if i was tired, i slept in.

at night, i did the hhn for 3 different nights.

i always do the motherland first as the darkside always spoils me.
no waits there, no lines, pure relaxation for me.

i have been doing this since the UO hotels went up.
two different parks on one vacation.


2. We would like to go during Disney's free dining time so we would be staying on Disney site, is there bus transportation to US/IOA or will we have to take our car?

you can use a taxi to move to the other resort hotel.
or, you can use private car service or mears.
i would not rent a car for the transfer unless you return it once at the darkside.
you can avoid the hotel parking charge per night then.

many have rented cars for one day only and return it once they arrive, check in to the darkside hotels.

you need to check and see which car rental companies are available to do so.

3. How far from Disney is US/IOA?
i use private car service.
it took me 16 minutes to get to the darkside hotel once i left the motherland resort.

but, i always leave early morning to avoid traffic tie ups on the highway.
i leave before rush hour.

most will say it could be about a 25 minute drive considering traffic you might encounter.

4.How long is the 99.00 special running? And will it still be good in the fall of 2010?

no one really knows.
when this special first came out, it was $8x.xx.
after quite a few months, it jumped to $99.99.

if you do plan to go, buy the passes now.
they never expire.

or, you could use those passes to upgrade to one annual pass and get perks on hotel, food and merch discounts in the park with a preferred pass.

If there is any more details you can give me I would definetly appreciate it.

TIA, Danette

i book my room at the darkside very early, maybe about 10-11 months out.
if discounts are not out, i book at rack rate.
once discounts are out, i call and modify my room rate.

by doing this, i am guarrenteed of my room choice.
i'm loews platinum and can get the king suite for the price of a standard room.

 

[Darcy03231]

How old are your kids?Caution:After going to Universal my kids(girls 13,13,9)do not wont to go to Disney anymore.We stay onsite and get front of the line and never wait more than 5 mins.to ride anything.Never have to ride crowded bus back to resort,we take relaxing water taxi,or we sometimes walk it's so close.

Same thing happened with my kids. Even if the lines were short at WDW (10-15 min) my kids were complaining about them after not having to stand in line at US/IOA, even for the more popular attractions. If you're going to do US/IOA I would do it at the end of your trip.

 

[Rip]

Same thing happened with my kids. Even if the lines were short at WDW (10-15 min) my kids were complaining about them after not having to stand in line at US/IOA, even for the more popular attractions. If you're going to do US/IOA I would do it at the end of your trip.

My 8-year old girl is the same way, we're going to both resorts next month and she wanted to cancel Disney altogether. Next year we probably will do one short trip over a long weekend before our APs expire and our vacation will be spent entirely at UO.

 

[lachica]

So if we stayed our 1st night in a universal hotel next time we get 2 days of unlimited express pass? We can check in on Friday and checkout on Saturday to arrive at our disney resort and still be able to do that??

If you check in early on Friday; even if your room isn't ready you leave your bags at the bell service - as long as you have your room key you can go ahead to the parks. Check out on Saturday - go back to the parks; your room keys are still valid for express. When you are done with the parks you can drive on over to your disney resort.

Is the 99.00 deal only for universal hotel guest only or offsite as well?

Available for a limited time for anyone; we do not know when they are stopping it.

 

[rwdavis2]

I'm sure I'm repeating some answers, anyway.

1. For those of you that do incorporate Disney/US/IOA, how many days do you add for US/IOA?

You can do the highlights of both parks in 1 day if you rush it. I would take the recommendation of doing 1 night in one of Universal's hotels and get 2 days of express passes with the 2 park/multi-day tickets.


2. We would like to go during Disney's free dining time so we would be staying on Disney site, is there bus transportation to US/IOA or will we have to take our car?

You really don't want to do all that traveling. It's a minimum of 30 minutes from Disney until you enter one of the US parks. Closer to 45. You'll need a car. IMHO, the Hard Rock Hotels is much nicer than anything Disney has to offer. You can walk to the parks from it.

3. How far from Disney is US/IOA?
30-45 minutes from WDW to entering a US park.

4.How long is the 99.00 special running? And will it still be good in the fall of 2010?

?? We've been buying the 2 park/7 day tickets for several years. They have never stopped the offer as far as I know. It used to be about $84.

 

[Coach81]

1. Can get both done with time to spare in 2 days.
2. Car is your best bet.
3. About 25 mins with traffic.
4. One would think kinda soon with Harry around the corner.. don't wait too long.