Why Universal after Disney?

[damo]

We went to Orlando last week and stayed at the Royal Pacific. We were at Universal on Monday and then on Tuesday morning we hopped over to Animal Kingdom. It was so crowded and the lines were so long that we left by noon (after getting our fill of Expedition Everest). Had we gone to Animal Kingdom on Monday instead, we probably wouldn't have minded the crowds and lines and enjoyed ourselves a lot more.

 

[weloveariel]

wwwww

 

[playwright]

Our AAA TA said they charge $25 a night for a cot. But I read on the Loews hotel website that cots are free at Loews hotels. So will do some more research. After all the other dough I'm spending, I can't afford the $25! Is there a chair with an Ottoman that one person can sleep on?

 

[Snoopymom]

Our AAA TA said they charge $25 a night for a cot. But I read on the Loews hotel website that cots are free at Loews hotels. So will do some more research. After all the other dough I'm spending, I can't afford the $25! Is there a chair with an Ottoman that one person can sleep on?

Can you take one of those $10-15 character kid air matress/pillow/sleeping bag combos sold at Walmart and Target, comes with a portable battery operated pump and a carrying bag? I guess it won't work if your kids are bigger, but even if you're flying they smash down into a pretty small duffle bag.

 

[degrapevine]

hi, playwright!
Unfortunately, the free roll-away bed offer at Loews Hotels is not valid at Universal Orlando properties.
They will, indeed, charge you $25 a night, so I would consider buying an air mattress and using that instead.
Sorry!
Rose

 

[antmaril]

If you're staying onsite at Universal, then I'd suggest doing Disney first as well. When you stay onsite, you receive FOTL (front of the line) access, which is like Disney's Fast Pass, only you get to use it as often as you'd like. Your room key serves as your "pass". I'd do Disney first just to get all of the "standing in line" business done & over with. I feel like I'd enjoy Disney more at the beginning of the trip before I get used to FOTL over at Universal. Not having to stand in line for 90 minutes is a really, really great thing.

I totally agree. We ALWAYS do Disney first. If you do Universal first, you are completely spoiled by FOTL and then standing in line at Disney will be very annoying. If you do Disney first, you have FOTL to look forward to.

I am assuming, of course, that you are staying onsite at Universal.

Have fun!

 

[playwright]

Rose and Snoopy,
Thanks for the tip about the mattress - we will try that.

 

[dtuleya]

We're doing two nights/3 days at US/IOA at the beginning of our trip because my great Teacher rate at the Dolphin doesn't kick in until later in our stay so my decision was made for me.

Our first trip too, but we'll be going to Disney for 6 days so we'll have plenty of time to get everything accomplished that we want to.

 

[Whartonbound]

Yea, you should probably do Disney first. I have never stayed onsite at Universl but I know that Disney tends to me a much more hectic experience. There is just so much to do at Disney and just not enough time to get it all done. This problem isn't helped by the fact that everything is so spaced out. At Universal you can simply walk back and forth between the two theme parks, city walk, and (i'm assuming) your hotel. Universal is jsut a more relaxing experience. When I was there last june I was able to do just about every thing I wanted at IOA and US in about 7 hours. Of course since then the EP's have been taken away, but the lines still shouldn't be that bad. The point is that you are able to do Universal at a more relaxing pace so I say its better to end your vacation there.

 

[Lisa3]

Many thanks to all of your for your great replies. We have decided to do Disney first but for a purely financial reason - value season at Universal does not start until Aug. 20th. I could not justify the extra cost simply because I wanted to do the "unknown" part of the trip first. I also really think that the kids will have something special to look forward to at the end of the Disney part instead of just a long car ride home. We have decided on HRH Deluxe room and I will be making my reservations tomorrow. Should I book on-line through Universal or through the Lowe's site? Or doesn't it really matter.