WDW trip booked... trying to add in Universal.... WWYD?

[It's A Happy Day]

We are booked at CSR 11/12-22 with free dining. We always do WDW and neither DH, myself, or our children have been to Universal so now that the kids are a little older (12 & 13), we've decided to check it out. I've looked at online tour sites in regards to what days, hours for the parks and other helpful tidbits and have penciled in the 14th (IOA) and 18th (Uni).... now come the questions.

1 or 2 days? I'm thinking with the abbreviated hours at the parks 10-5/10-6 that we will "need" both days to get as much as possible in.

Low crowds? For the days I've penciled in, okay? Would there be a better day(s) IYO?


Park to Park option or tickets for 1 park only?


Unlimited Express Option? Will we need it?


Where we have the free dining through WDW, how would you handle food for the day. It's not that I don't want to spend money on food but I would like to keep it to a minimal. Where the parks close early I'm thinking a table service at Maya Grill around 7ish but while we're at Universal?


Kids are not big coaster riders... read that as "may need coaxing" to get them to ride on... they've done Rock N Rollercoaster but they couldn't "see" what was coming up in their near future

I tend to plan, plan, plan, and overplan and then let things go with the flow once I'm there... but I like to have a plan of action

 

[plannermom]

We are booked at CSR 11/12-22 with free dining. We always do WDW and neither DH, myself, or our children have been to Universal so now that the kids are a little older (12 & 13), we've decided to check it out. I've looked at online tour sites in regards to what days, hours for the parks and other helpful tidbits and have penciled in the 14th (IOA) and 18th (Uni).... now come the questions. 1 or 2 days? I'm thinking with the abbreviated hours at the parks 10-5/10-6 that we will "need" both days to get as much as possible in. Low crowds? For the days I've penciled in, okay? Would there be a better day(s) IYO? Park to Park option or tickets for 1 park only? Unlimited Express Option? Will we need it? Where we have the free dining through WDW, how would you handle food for the day. It's not that I don't want to spend money on food but I would like to keep it to a minimal. Where the parks close early I'm thinking a table service at Maya Grill around 7ish but while we're at Universal? Kids are not big coaster riders... read that as "may need coaxing" to get them to ride on... they've done Rock N Rollercoaster but they couldn't "see" what was coming up in their near future I tend to plan, plan, plan, and overplan and then let things go with the flow once I'm there... but I like to have a plan of action

Nice plans! I would definitely do two days, with the short hours, HHN crowds and Diagon Alley crowds. Are you going to want to ride hogwarts express? You will need park to park to do so. I would consider moving your last night to one of the deluxe universal properties for the early entry privileges and included unlimited express pass for two days.

 

[RMulieri]

At least 2 days and park to park tickets.The parks are literally right next to each other ( about a 5 min walk) .You will NEED the park to park ticket to ride the Hogwarts express attraction

 

[Metro West]

You would be better off switching the parks on 10/14 & 10/18...not the dates.

10/14 is a Tuesday...no HHN that night so you will have an extra hour at the Studios...closing at 6pm instead of 5pm. IOA is usually open until 7pm on HHN nights and 10/18 is an HHN night.

Of course who knows if hours will be increased when DA opens.

 

[macraven]

i've not gone in november but from what i have read, first couple of weeks in nov are lower crowds.

the hours could be increased if crowd prediction is great.

 

[glocon]

I would either add a night to my vacation at the end of the WDW trip, or change my reservations to one less night at WDW and stay the last night on site at a UO deluxe resort for free unlimited express passes for the family and early entry into the Harry Potter areas.

A trip to Universal is very different if you are staying at an onsite hotel from a trip to Universal if you are staying off site. It makes a bigger difference to your experience than an offsite visit to WDW. The perks for staying onsite at a WDW resort are that it keeps you in the bubble, gives you early entry and transportation. The perks for staying onsite at UO are the bubble, early entry and unlimited express pass. The unlimited express pass makes for a very very very different experience. Imagine unlimited fastpass.... now you are getting the picture.

If you want advice.... there it is.... stay onsite one night and get two days of early entry and two days of unlimited express pass for your family (check in day and check out day).

And definitely get the park to park tickets as you will need them to ride the Hogwarts express between the two parks. The ride in each direction is supposed to be a different experience.

Hope you have a magical time and enjoy it as much as we do.

 

[SAHMKC]

I would either add a night to my vacation at the end of the WDW trip, or change my reservations to one less night at WDW and stay the last night on site at a UO deluxe resort for free unlimited express passes for the family and early entry into the Harry Potter areas.

A trip to Universal is very different if you are staying at an onsite hotel from a trip to Universal if you are staying off site. It makes a bigger difference to your experience than an offsite visit to WDW. The perks for staying onsite at a WDW resort are that it keeps you in the bubble, gives you early entry and transportation. The perks for staying onsite at UO are the bubble, early entry and unlimited express pass. The unlimited express pass makes for a very very very different experience. Imagine unlimited fastpass.... now you are getting the picture.

If you want advice.... there it is.... stay onsite one night and get two days of early entry and two days of unlimited express pass for your family (check in day and check out day).

And definitely get the park to park tickets as you will need them to ride the Hogwarts express between the two parks. The ride in each direction is supposed to be a different experience.

Hope you have a magical time and enjoy it as much as we do.

I agree with this advice! The unlimited express pass and early entry are the best perk to staying on-site. Unlike WDW, you can walk to either park or The City Walk from the Deluxe Resorts. We loved never having to wait for transportation too. My kids were 12 and 14 when went last November and they loved Universal. They said they never want to go back to WDW. They are not coaster riders and we had plenty to do even with 3 days in the park. We are going back this November again and planning 4 days in the parks!

 

[agavegirl1]

I went to US/IOA for similar dates in 2010; after WWOHP Phase One opened in July of that year. While the parks were very manageable crowd-wise, Hogsmeade was still crazy. We stayed on site to receive the Express Pass perk and I can't stress enough how important this is for touring efficiently when time is limited. Also, if not for Early Entry to WWOHP for resort guests, I doubt I would have been able to ride Forbidden Journey without an extensive wait time.
I suggest you stay one night on site at the end of your trip (or near the end) to take advantage of on site perks. If this is not doable, definately switch the parks order around as the PP mentioned.

The weather was great BTW.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Running the numbers of spending a night a Universal vs. commuting from WDW and buying passes.

(4) Two day passes to park with unlimited express & park to park = $1150 w/o food included (no hotel)

Overnight @Loews 1 night w/ parking fee (this drives me insane!) includes 2 day passes to park, unlimited express, and early entry = $1140.00

How would the park passes work with the hotel?

Do you have to check in at the hotel in order to get the passes?

How early would we be able to get in so that we would be able to take advantage of the early access to the parks on day 1?

 

[Lynne G]

Running the numbers of spending a night a Universal vs. commuting from WDW and buying passes.

(4) Two day passes to park with unlimited express & park to park = $1150 w/o food included (no hotel)

Overnight @Loews 1 night w/ parking fee (this drives me insane!) includes 2 day passes to park, unlimited express, and early entry = $1140.00

How would the park passes work with the hotel?

Do you have to check in at the hotel in order to get the passes?

How early would we be able to get in so that we would be able to take advantage of the early access to the parks on day 1?

First, Unlike Disney, your park passes can be bought anywhere, Universal does not own or run any of the onsite hotels. Most people buy them from an official reseller, like undercovertourist or mapleleaf. Check around, there may be a discount and online Universal gives a discount versus the gate.

What gives you the early entry and unlimited express pass is your hotel key. So yes, you have to check into the hotel to get the room key which you will use to get your express pass, and to show to get early entry. Kinda stinks that you have three things to carry, your park pass, your express pass, and your hotel key. Mac or others on this board can tell you how early, but I assume around 7am, as I would think the hotel would open its book for the day at 6am. Also, remember, you get the express pass for the day you check in and the day you check out. And, while paying for parking stinks, you would also pay for parking in the huge garages that are not real close, if staying offsite. And, hotel parking is paid for each night, so if you only stay one night, as long as you are out of the hotel's parking garage/lot before midnight, you will only pay for one night's parking.

I hope you have a great time at USO. We are fans, and I am an AP holder.

 

[macraven]

Running the numbers of spending a night a Universal vs. commuting from WDW and buying passes.

(4) Two day passes to park with unlimited express & park to park = $1150 w/o food included (no hotel)

Overnight @Loews 1 night w/ parking fee (this drives me insane!) includes 2 day passes to park, unlimited express, and early entry = $1140.00

How would the park passes work with the hotel?

Do you have to check in at the hotel in order to get the passes?

How early would we be able to get in so that we would be able to take advantage of the early access to the parks on day 1?

if your package includes the park tickets, you would receive those tickets once you checkin at the hotel.
the TM will issue you the hotel info and tickets.

the earliest i have checked in the past few years was 6:00 am.
now i mostly aim for check in anytime once it is 6:30am.

not sure what time the system makes the change for early morning check in.
have heard a few report they did a 5:00 am check in.


check into the onsite hotel.
receive your packet info and room hotel key.
all registered guests in your room will receive their own hotel key card.
take the key card to the kiosk at the hotel and create your photo express card.

use early entry.
show your hotel key card to the TM at the designated line for hotel guest early.

once in line at the turnstile, have your ticket swiped.

easy peasy.


i would go with the onsite hotel stay.
you are only charged for one day of over night parking.
when you leave at the end of the park day on check out day, you won't have the hotel parking fee as long as you move your car out by midnight.

you check in very early.
allowed early entry.
check out the next morning early and have your luggage held free at valet.
you will receive a ticket stub.
your luggage will be placed in an individual bin.

go to the park for early entry, show your hotel card.
when you are done with the parks on check out day, return to the hotel and collect your belongings with valet.


i stay more nights than the usual guest at the onsite hotel.
there are some mornings i do not use early entry but hang out around the lobby after i hit Orchid Court Lounge.


I don't see that many guest checking into the hotel before 7:00 am.
i do see a good number of guests checking in around 8:30 am, especially friday.