WDW then UOR or UOR the WDW?

[disneyinthespringtime]

Help me pick whether to do WDW or UOR first?

Us: family with 2 elementary kids that has been to WDW once but we skipped HS last time; DH and kids are huge Harry Potter fans so are geeked out to do UOR next time we go to Orlando; kids would also like to see WDW again but it’s secondary; think DH will love the new SWGE plus I am eager to do Disney again.

So...is option A better or Option B?
Option A: arrive Sat; UOR parks Sun-Mon; resort day are royal Pacific; HS Weds; MK Thurs; resort day at AKL to early PM then HS rest of day; AK Sat; Sun fly home

Option B:
arrive Sat; AK Sun; MK Mon; resort day at AKL to early PM then HS; HS Weds; change Resort’s and resort day Thurs at RP; UOR parks Fri - Sat; Sun fly home

 

[CAPSLOCK]

B but for the relatively low cost, add the extra day and go to the UO parks part of the resort day also. It's so easy to pop over, even for a few hours, and evening is the perfect time to get a wand and / or enjoy the ambiance in the world of HP. You also have EP on the busy Sat with option B.

 

[bumbershoot]

Disney first. You’ll hate going back to fastpasses after you’ve had unlimited express pass.

 

[jsmla]

If you plan on staying at zone of the Universal hotels that offer unlimited a Express I would definitely do Disney first. Express makes Universal a much more relaxed time after the Disney craziness.

I’ve just returned from 7 nights at WDW followed by three nights at Royal Pacific and felt that was perfect.

 

[wareagle57]

I think you'd get different answers in the Disney forums, but since you say Disney is secondary I agree with what everyone else has said. I always like to do Universal first just because I feel like I don't need as much time there and it feels more like a tune up. I think with your resort days, you'll be fine either way as far as fatigue. I just like ending my trips with fireworks at MK every time. It would feel weird for me to leave Disney and still be in Orlando. Ending at Universal just seems anti-climactic because while I love the parks equally, I don't feel like I get the emotional high like I do at Disney. But not everyone cares about that obviously.

Another thing to consider... with Star Wars, you won't be able to get FP most likely unless you have at least 5-6 nights at a Disney resort. (at least for the Battle ride, I have no idea how much tiering will affect the Falcon ride's FP availability, but if it's like Pandora it SHOULD still be available.) But if you want both and want to avoid standing in a 3 hour line I think it's at least worth considering staying at Disney the whole time and doing Universal Tues-Thurs when you might not need express. But that is obviously not as relaxed of a vacation. Just thought it was worth pointing out the difficulty you might have with Galaxy's Edge. You'll also probably have the option to pay for an exclusive access morning or evening at GE, but we won't know the details of that for a long time.

 

[disneyinthespringtime]

“Ending at Universal just seems anti-climactic ”

For us I think it would “build” with option B since we’d be doing the stuff we have done before first and the thing the kids are most excited about - HP world - last.

Yeah the SWGE FP timing is what is worrying me but I really want to stay on site for the UOR days.

 

[gotomu212]

For us it would be WDW and then UO. I echo others once you’ve had the freedom of EP on every ride it’s so hard to go back to organizing FPs and waiting in lines.

I like WDW when we have a bit more energy and can do rope drop, commando touring without a break, and the tight schedule with FPS and ADRs.

Then the relaxing part starts and we can have a reasonable wake up, use EP as we come to rides, eat when we’re hungry..it’s a nice way to end.

 

[OKC Disney Fan]

We are doing 4 days at POP, then 3 days at RPR at the end of the month. Have been to WDW but never to USO. I like the idea of anticipating the newness, staying at a nicer resort, and the flexibility/lack of major planning at the end of our trip. With express pass, I don't think what day of the week you go is as big of a deal at Universal as it is a WDW. I'm so excited for our trip!!!

 

[disneyinthespringtime]

Thanks, All! sounds like it is a smart idea to flip my initial plans. Thanks!

 

[keishashadow]

Disney first. You’ll hate going back to fastpasses after you’ve had unlimited express pass.

100%

OP depending on the time of the year, park hours might substantially differ (as in shorter in the winter & during special event nights @ WDW - MVMCP, etc.)

You reference visiting Star Wars area, but no official opening date has been announced. Was slipped as late fall in an interview but many betting on early December.

We were at BW the week TS area opened. They had EE for resort guests nearly every day. Very workable to swing by (although there was quite the line, if it is offered again, plan on lining up at least 30 - 45 min early). If you have PH, easy to make FP for later in day at another park.

The above is based upon them having EE instead of charging guests yet another add-on fee

 

[disneyinthespringtime]

100%

OP depending on the time of the year, park hours might substantially differ (as in shorter in the winter & during special event nights @ WDW - MVMCP, etc.)

You reference visiting Star Wars area, but no official opening date has been announced. Was slipped as late fall in an interview but many betting on early December.

We were at BW the week TS area opened. They had EE for resort guests nearly every day. Very workable to swing by (although there was quite the line, if it is offered again, plan on lining up at least 30 - 45 min early). If you have PH, easy to make FP for later in day at another park.

The above is based upon them having EE instead of charging guests yet another add-on fee

Thanks! Appreciate the SWGR caution; we’re not looking at going this year though.

 

[SA mom]

Disney first. You’ll hate going back to fastpasses after you’ve had unlimited express pass.

This.

 

[OKC Disney Fan]

Just returned from a split stay with 4 days WDW followed by 2.5 days at UO. Stayed on site at both-Value (POP) at WDW and RPR at Univ (for the Express passes). We found we really didn't need that much time at Univ. With the Express Pass, we were able to ride everything we wanted multiple times in about 1.5 days. (Did not do water park).
Loved the Royal Pacific hotel. Ending our trip at that hotel and with the use of the Express pass was great.

 

[soniam]

I prefer to end the vacation at UO, since it's like a vacation from our vacation. We hit it pretty hard at WDW, and UO is just so much more relaxing. Having said that, we have only managed to do it once. Even our trip in 2 weeks starts at UO and ends at WDW. One advantage to doing UO first is it gives us a decent amount of time at Disney Springs on our switch over day. Otherwise, we sometimes don't find the time to go.

 

[Darcy03231]

Do WDW first. We did US/IOA first and then went to WDW. All the kids wanted to do was to go back to US/IOA! They loved the express pass (we stayed at the Hard Rock), the ease of getting around the parks, the rides, etc. They really disliked the fast pass system (and that was before FP+) and having to wait in lines at WDW. Subsequent trips we did WDW first and US/IOA last and it worked better. I also didn't feel like I needed a vacation from my vacation when we got home.