WDW or Universal order

[Rory607]

Question for those who do Disney and Universal in the same trip: which one do you do first and why?

We are Disney veterans, but are looking at doing our first Universal trip in early 2022. I would personally be fine with just doing Universal, but my H and the kids really want a couple of days at WDW. So I’m trying to make some tentative plans with both options and see how it would work.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just did 2 days at US and 1 at the Magic Kingdom. We hadn't been to US in 16 years, so we wanted to be freshest for those days and went there first.

We're going again in January and will do 2 days in US at the beginning of our trip again. Sort of the same reason as before, but also because it will be Marathon weekend, so better to be there than Disney.

 

[hhoope01]

You might want to check out the following thread for thoughts: Big Family Trip - Which to do first?

 

[bchbetha]

Universal second because it’s more relaxed. You can end your trip feeling like you had a vacation.

 

[Rory607]

You might want to check out the following thread for thoughts: Big Family Trip - Which to do first?

This is helpful, thank you!

 

[shawthorne44]

Whichever you do first, I would make Universal your home base. Their hotels are so nice! Universal Premier hotels are the price of a Disney moderate (rack rate of 300's). I've never stayed Disney Deluxe but I've read that Universal premier is nicer than Disney Deluxe. For example, Royal Pacific has a saltwater pool.

 

[Rory607]

Whichever you do first, I would make Universal your home base. Their hotels are so nice! Universal Premier hotels are the price of a Disney moderate (rack rate of 300's). I've never stayed Disney Deluxe but I've read that Universal premier is nicer than Disney Deluxe. For example, Royal Pacific has a saltwater pool.

Yes, I’ve heard that the Universal Hotels are really better than Disney! I am weighing pros and cons of doing a split stay with Disney or just ubering over there a couple of days. One thing is that we might have grandparents traveling with us, which has me leaning towards the split. That way they would have a room to go back to if they get tired of the parks.

 

[bchbetha]

Split stay 100%. Onsite perks, extremely convenient locations (aka tired grandparents can be back in their rooms in less than 15 minutes if you stay at a deluxe hotel- and not that much longer if you don't as Universal buses are super efficient) plus not having to waste 30+ minutes per day each way commuting. Waking up at the park, heading back for a pool break...so much better than going back and forth to a Disney hotel (a hotel that might cost a lot more and not be as nice either ).

 

[Cuchman]

We prefer Universal after Disney.
Two quick reasons. One, it makes leaving Disney easier emotionally. It used to be that leaving and going home was very hard! And two, Universal is MUCH easier to get around and slower paced. It is just outright more relaxing. Walking distances are shorter and transportation is much easier. It allows for a good wind down after our normal "Dumbo-or-die!" Disney style.
All that being said, our last trip (and next trip in Sept) are 100% Universal. Maybe the "end at Universal" philosophy has turned into "Only Universal" for us permanently!