WDW and Universal for Adults

[dfa0622]

We want to take our adult kiddos (23 yo) to WDW and Universal. We have been to WDW many times. We plan on 3-4 days at WDW and 2 days at Universal. Is 2 days at Universal enough? We love Harry Potter but want to see other things also. Which tickets are best to purchase? We were thinking of staying on site at WDW and catching an Uber to Universal. Any suggestions on tickets, days, places to eat, all the things Universal are greatly appreciated! Our daughter is the only one that has ever been to Universal and it was 5 years ago. Thank you!!

 

[DL1WDW2]

You would need an extra day if EPIC is also included for your plans

 

[Kit Jackson]

2 days is not enough at Universal if you want to do Harry Potter and other things. It's definitely not enough if you plan to do Epic. You should be looking at 3-4 days if there are serious Harry Potter fans in the travel party and you want to do Epic.

 

[dfa0622]

Gotcha! We do love Harry Potter. My twins grandmother, who passed away, used to read the books to them and we would all have Harry Potter marathons with her. So it has a deeper meaning, if that makes sense.

I will have to research what Epic is. We are avid Disney lovers and always felt if we went to Universal we were “cheating” on Mickey LOL

We are going December 24-30 so I feel like we don’t have that much time.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I'll echo the suggestions of adding (at least) the third day.

I would also suggest doing a split stay. It is totally worth the effort of changing hotels to be closer to or ideally onsite at Universal. The Universal buses (or boats) are very efficient and would give you the freedom to take a break in the room if desired.

Are you planning on 2025, or later? This year Universal is only offering one Epic day per ticket, and not on any annual passes. This makes Mondays the worst (why?) and Sundays the best for Epic crowds.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I would rethink an Uber to Universal. If it's within your budget, the ExpressPass is included with three of the hotels. It is absolutely worth it, especially at a busy time of year. Price it out, but sometimes the hotel is less expensive than paying for the pass separately. Also, you will save time because you will already be at Universal instead of having to go back and forth between WDW and Universal. It gives you more time at Universal. Note: the ExpressPass you get through the hotels will not work at Epic Universe.

If you don't want to feel rushed, maybe make this a WDW only trip and then plan a separate Universal only trip for another time.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Epic is Universal's brand-spankin' new theme park that opened earlier this year. It does have a wizarding world area with a Harry Potter ride (Ministry of Magic), although the land & show are more based on the Fantastic Beasts movies.

 

[dfa0622]

We were trying to not have to pack and move so much. Which hotels would you suggest? We are going 12/24-12/30.

 

[ShaneDJ]

Do you have any hotel booked yet for that week?

That is the busiest time of the year and most hotels are likely already sold out.

 

[Kit Jackson]

We were trying to not have to pack and move so much.

That is absolutely valid and makes total sense. What I would recommend is making this a WDW only trip and then doing a separate Universal only trip another time.

 

[fatmanatee]

I would do three days and the uber idea is fine.

 

[skramer100]

I would rethink an Uber to Universal. If it's within your budget, the ExpressPass is included with three of the hotels. It is absolutely worth it, especially at a busy time of year. Price it out, but sometimes the hotel is less expensive than paying for the pass separately. Also, you will save time because you will already be at Universal instead of having to go back and forth between WDW and Universal. It gives you more time at Universal. Note: the ExpressPass you get through the hotels will not work at Epic Universe.

If you don't want to feel rushed, maybe make this a WDW only trip and then plan a separate Universal only trip for another time.

This. I would stay at Universal for the Express Pass. You don't really get that at Disney. If you want to really experience Harry Potter and Universal then you need to do 3 days there, especially with Epic. My kids are not as old as yours but they are already over Disney. I would do the entire trip at Universal and 1 day at Epcot for the Holiday festival stuff, we love that.

 

[Minnie1222]

Which hotels would you suggest? We are going 12/24-12/30.

Portofino Bay, Royal Pacific, and Hard Rock all provide Express Passes for Island of Adventures and Universal Studios. We like Portofino Bay for the theming and the larger rooms. During busier times, we usually stay at Hard Rock for the short walk to the parks.

For Epic Universe, we stay at Helios Grand for the proximity. Please note that this hotel does not provide Express Passes.

We are avid Disney lovers and always felt if we went to Universal we were “cheating” on Mickey LOL

I am also a huge Disney fan (I go to WDW 4-5 times per year), but I love Universal too. There are many of us who have annual passes to both companies.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

We were trying to not have to pack and move so much. Which hotels would you suggest? We are going 12/24-12/30.

Is it this December or next December? I would echo what folks above have said about a split stay. Royal Pacific and Portofino are great and worth it for the included unlimited express pass at the two original parks. Also, you must get 2 park, park-to-park tickets if you want to ride the Hogwarts Express, just as an FYI. Note that you get the Express pass included on both your check in and your check out day at the hotels. We will be there just before you and that time of year Express pass is really crucial especially if it's your first trip and you want to enjoy some of the scenery, shows, shops, wand spots, etc. I haven't experienced Epic Universe yet so I can't say whether the extra costs would be worth it for HP fans on a first time trip to UO, but even if you just stay at a legacy hotel and go to the original 2 parks your kids will have a great time.

I highly recommend the Macy's holiday balloon parade at UO, the Grinch Christmas show at IOA, and the holiday show on Hogwarts castle after nightfall. They're all included with a regular ticket.