Villa + Universal hotel??

[tttessa]

Hiya,

after our April trip, we are pre- planning for another in 2 years time, and just wanted some advice really....

We would definitely stay in a villa again for the main part of our visit - space, pool, kids in a sep bedroom etc..... but, has anyone stayed on site at a Disney hotel / or Universal hotel for maybe a couple of nights - we were thinking esp of a Universal one for the front of line passes... big benefit.... Is it easy to just up sticks for a couple of days?? Would you do it at one end or in the middle and just take an overnight case??

Tessa

 

[wayneg]

Hiya,
Is it easy to just up sticks for a couple of days?? Would you do it at one end or in the middle and just take an overnight case??
Tessa

Doesn't bother me but DW hates moving hotels(she does all the work). This August we are doing 18 nights offsite, 4 nights cruise then last 3 nights ALK. She will not enjoy the packing and unpacking.
We only move hotels if there is a cruise mid holiday, no way would she move from one hotel to another but others don't mind it. Everyone is different as you have found you like Villas, we don't, much prefer a hotel.

 

[UKDEB]

Yes, we've done this many times. Our preferred option is to do it mid-trip. Like you say, you can just pack an overnight bag and it feels like a special treat. Through trial and error we've discovered that we don't like doing it at the end of the trip at all. When you pack up completely and leave the villa, it feels as though the holiday is over. And I'd recommend doing two nights. That way, you get 3 days FOTL access at Universal. The first time we did it (which was a Disney onsite stay), we only did one night. Even though we were able to check in early and get our Keys to the Kingdom cards, we didn't get our room until something like 3pm and then we were checking out again at 11am the next morning. We never really felt part of it if that makes sense.

ETA: We stayed at Universal for two nights ahead of a two week villa stay in 2005 and we were just itching to get to the villa. Mid-trip is definitely the way to go. Far more relaxing.

 

[Claire L]

Agree mid trip with an overnight bag is the easiest option

Claire

 

[TraceyL]

Another vote for mid-trip. I would hate to have to pack everything up at the villa and move to a single hotel room (too many cases!!) .
Start of the trip might not be too bad but with not arriving til late the first day, I would feel I hadn't got my 'money's worth' out of the hotel/front of line passes

 

[JulieSharp]

Hi,

We have done this but always at the beginning of the holiday.
Just tend to use one of the suitcases and leave the full unpacking until we get to the villa.

Works well for us as there is no way Joshua would want to stay anywhere else 'after' we are settled in at the villa.

I also don't feel comfortable leaving some of our belongings behind and like to have all our clothes with us wherever we are.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Agree with the others - a mid-week overnight or two trip to Universal onsite hotels is a really nice treat; we do it every year.

We just pack an overnight bag and take with us, whether in a villa or another hotel

We've also done this for two or three nights staying onsite at Disney, but IMHO the Universal hotels are really good value for money with the FOTL passes and literal walk to the parks.

Go for it - it's a great experience

 

[tttessa]

Many thanks everyone -

looks like mid stay is a popular choice!! We will be going for it too I think... Just have to plan the rest of the holiday now, you know, dates, flights, car, actual accommodation that sort of stuff


Cheers,
Tessa