Worlds collide: UO and WDW in one trip...thoughts???

[Pyxie]

We did this in March. Because of the specials at the time, we did 4 days at UO and 2 days at WDW, but I would absolutely recommend flipping that. It's just how it worked out for us price-wise at the time. Anyway, it was our best trip yet.

 

[MomOTwins]

We did a split stay 5 park at WDW, 1 Blizzard Beach day, and 2 park days at universal in March. We stayed for the universal leg at a premier resort for the express passes, and bought one annual pass to save money on the room and get dining/mech discounts—which more than paid for itself as the AP hotel discount was very good and the Harry Potter robes/wands/toys/treats etc for three kids were quite a savings with the AP discount!

It was a good trip, but we are going again in August and tweaked it so that we are doing 4 days WDW; 3 days Universal. As much as express pass was helpful, it did not cover everything (we had 2 hour waits for Hagrids WITH “virtual queue” and 90 mins for ollivanders) and pretty much everything else in the parks was 20-30 min waits with express pass. So we felt like a bit more time at universal is better.

 

[nkereina]

Thanks, all. Keep 'em coming.

After reading everyone's comments, I'm thinking of starting at UO with two days at Hard Rock, then heading over to Disney with 7 days at a deluxe to be named later.

Good choice. Hard Rock is our favorite on-site hotel and the unlimited express passes are well worth it.

However, we prefer to do our Universal stay last after Disney. First, it helps ease the disappointment of leaving Disney having Universal to look forward to. But also with express passes, you can tour the parks at a much slower and more relaxed pace. Its a complete 180 from the "go go go" rope drop mentality at Disney World. There's no need to strategize or be at the parks at opening with express pass. By the end of the trip when we're tired out from Disney, being able to tour Universal in this way is a nice treat.

Also, we generally do 3 days/3 nights at Universal. On our last day at WDW, we will Uber over to Universal around 3 or 4pm so that our room there is ready, then visit City Walk at night. Then we'll do two full park days and the morning of the third day, flying home that afternoon. It gives us one full day to dedicate to each park and then a half day to re-ride some of our favorites. It also gives us time during our full days to take breaks and go in the pool - love the pool atmosphere at Hard Rock and (in normal times) you can pool hop between the other premier resorts. That was suspended during Covid but hopefully its allowable again by next year.

 

[Disney Mickey&Minnie Fan]

Hello all. Next summer, I'm going to do the massive combined trip I've always wanted to do. But I have no idea what the best strategy is here.

My initial thought is to book 8 days at a WDW resort and on the two UO days, just take a very early Uber over...but cost-wise, would it make more sense to STAY at UO for that one night?

Or, should I go totally nuts and do, like, 4 days at one WDW resort, 2 at UO, and then 3 more at a DIFFERENT Disney space?

Love everyone's feedback!!!

Save the Uber trip costs -- pay for the hotel stay at Universal Orland and get the Express Pass.
Plan for three days at Universal. Enjoy the City Walk restaurants, especially The Chocolate Emporium.

 

[magicalfoursome]

Definitely worth staying at Hard Rock for express pass and it’s a really nice hotel. When we do both WDW and Universal we prefer to do Disney first. Even tho we think WDW has more magic, it also takes more energy. Plus it’s hard to go from walking to the parks and having express pass to lines (now without any fast passes) and buses, boats… etc The water park at Universal is a lot of fun also!

 

[ZeeWP]

I'm lazy and don't like moving around much. I would probably do Disney all then two to 3 days at UO. Or Vice Versa.