Would you do Universal first or WDW?

[kniquy]

We will be doing a combo tip of 3 days of US and 6 days WDW. It will be my in laws and my family 2 adults, 12 yo twin boys and 5 yo dtr.

I initially though of doing US first then WDW but my husband thinks that we should start out with tamer rides at WDW then move on to the thrill rides of US. Any thoughts or suggestions?

If we do WDW first we will be flying in and taking the Disney magical express to the parks. I always love the ride from the airport as it begins the feeling of being in the Disney bubble. Transportation between WDW and US is another issue. Uber, a car service or taxi? We will be a party 7 total - so with all our bagage not sure what to do.

 

[snoopboop]

I'd do Disney first.... The Magical Express is definitely a fun way to get the "Yay! I'm on vacation!!!" vibes going right away. Plus, the relaxed touring you can do at Universal will be a nice change after the more rigid plans that are required to get the most out of Disney. You can ease the "I need a vacation from my vacation!" woes while still on vacation, LOL!

For transportation, a private car/shuttle service may be the way to go for a group that large. I know many on the Dis boards recommend Tony Hinds... I'm not sure if his fleet has a vehicle that can accommodate 7, but it wouldn't hurt to check!

 

[jenhum]

We are doing a split vacation in October, and we are going from Disney to Universal, for many of the reasons you listed. Riding the ME to the hotel is a great way to start vacation. I'm a super planner, so I have everything mapped out for Disney, but then it'll be more relaxing at Universal, where you don't have to make ADR's and FP+s. And as much as I love Disney, and it's so magical, I think DD8 would be a little bored on a lot of the Disney rides if she did the Universal ones first (she's a big thrill ride lover!).

We are just going to Uber from Disney to Universal, and then I have reserved Tony Hinds (a highly recommended car service on these boards) for our trip back to the airport. He's very reasonable and I don't want to mess around with trying to find a car when we are headed back tot he airport.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We are doing Universal first next year. Staying at Cabana Bay for 2 nights, renting a car. We decided this way because of our dates. We'll spend Weds-Thurs in Universal and then head to WL on Friday for a week stay over Thanksgiving break. We plan to drop the car at the TTC after checking in.

Ending our trip at the MK is a big deal for us.

 

[Disdogmom]

I'd do Disney first.... The Magical Express is definitely a fun way to get the "Yay! I'm on vacation!!!" vibes going right away. Plus, the relaxed touring you can do at Universal will be a nice change after the more rigid plans that are required to get the most out of Disney. You can ease the "I need a vacation from my vacation!" woes while still on vacation, LOL!

For transportation, a private car/shuttle service may be the way to go for a group that large. I know many on the Dis boards recommend Tony Hinds... I'm not sure if his fleet has a vehicle that can accommodate 7, but it wouldn't hurt to check!

Completely agree with you! I find that Universal is a nice relaxing break after the craziness of Disney.

 

[littledebbie335]

Where are you staying? We stayed at Disney but went to Universal for two days in the middle of our trip, and just travelled there by Uber each day. We decided we wanted to start and end our trip with Disney magic, so it just made sense of us to sandwich the Universal days in the middle since we didn't need to switch hotels or anything.

 

[smallworldnh]

We are doing the same thing next September! We're booked at Cabana Bay at Universal for the first three days and will finish with 6 days at WDW at ASSp. For us, Disney is the best part of our trip and we want to finish on that magical note. We included the transportation from the airport to Universal in our package and will be taking ME back to the airport so transportation is no issue.

 

[wookiebeck]

You mentioned baggage in your transportation question. Does that mean you are switching hotels? If you are and are staying at one of the Uni resorts where you get the Express Pass, I think the end of the trip is best. Not only is Disdogmom right about less craziness, having the EP makes it very hard to hit WDW afterward. It is just sooooo nice!

 

[littledebbie335]

I'd also consider checking to see if there are any special events going on during the days that you're planning on visiting. The predicted crowd levels might make the decision for you.

 

[Candycane83]

A lot of people like to do WDW then Universal due to less waiting and being more relaxed in Universal. DH and I went in 2012 and we did Universal first then Disney. We enjoyed it this way (because I like Disney more maybe?) We also enjoyed F&W for that trip. For our trip this December, we're doing the same thing, Universal first then Disney. I'm going with a 2 year old and want to end the trip with Disney. Have a few relaxing days in the beginning just to get him acclimated to being away from home. Each to his own of course.

 

[W.E.D.]

When we visited Universal we dropped it in the middle of our trip, so we started and ended with WDW. We just rented a car on those days from the service at WDW--can't remember which company is on-site.

 

[kniquy]

I'm a super planner, so I have everything mapped out for Disney, but then it'll be more relaxing at Universal, where you don't have to make ADR's and FP+s

I am so the super planner too! Which is why I am thinking about this still a year and a half out. I agree i feel like i have to do some much planning for WDW that US will be a nice change of pace. I am trying to research US but it seems with the EP we can just go at a more leisurely pace.

We decided we wanted to start and end our trip with Disney magic

I thought about this, but with 7 people and all the luggage I really don't want to pack up/unpack that many times.

Does that mean you are switching hotels?

We are planning on our AKV DVC for 6 days and then move to one of the US resorts that provide the EP - not sure which one yet. We want the benefit of staying on site at US to avoid the hassle of getting a rental car or uber back and forth.

The predicted crowd levels might make the decision for you.

We are going to do Sunday - Saturday at WDW then Saturday - Tuesday at US. It is during school vacation week in April (thankfully not near Easter) so we are expecting some crowds. We figured week days at WDW would be better crowds than a w/e US we could just do resort/relaxing day on Saturday and park days on Sun, Mon and possibly Tues.

 

[bumbershoot]

You mentioned baggage in your transportation question. Does that mean you are switching hotels? If you are and are staying at one of the Uni resorts where you get the Express Pass, I think the end of the trip is best. Not only is Disdogmom right about less craziness, having the EP makes it very hard to hit WDW afterward. It is just sooooo nice!

Yep.

Since you're looking to stay onsite at Portofino (my fave), Royal Pacific, or Hard Rock (my personal least fave), the FP+ is going to feel so clunky and sad after you've had unlimited EP. Finish up with Universal.


BUT! Staying DVC throws a wrinkle in it, in that depending on hotel choice (and what sort of DVC room you're in) you might feel cramped at Uni. Our first Orlando trip we were at a 2 bedroom OKW with 8 of us then a 1 bedroom OKW with 3 of us, and we went from there to a standard Royal Pacific room. It felt sooooo tiny!

Portofino has the biggest standard rooms onsite at Uni; just sayin'.

Of course, if you're in a value studio at AKV, then it's not going to feel much different even at RPResort LOL.


Remember at Universal's resorts you are more than welcome to pool hop!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I ultimately decide based on predicted crowd levels at Disney. Since I do my best to have express pass at Universal, the crowd levels there aren't as impactful. If crowd levels don't make a difference, I do Universal last because I like ending with my favorite - Harry Potter.

 

[KeroKero]

In the past we used to do a day or two to Universal in the middle of your WDW trips, but since the WWoHP came into play, we now stay at Universal's Cabana Bay for at least 2-3 nights before packing it up and moving over to WDW. We personally prefer to end our trip at Disney as it always just feels more like home to us.

 

[dkrauss]

My wife and I have an late August 2017 trip on the books. Right now we have a 5 day/4 night trip..........since it begins at WDW on a Tuesday, we're considering coming in on Sunday for a 2 night stay at US. We're big Harry Potter fans so we feel that would be a great way to start our trip. Only issue we're having is when I look at the short packages for US..........the ticket is for Sunday........and we want it for Monday. I can't seem to find a way on the US site to change that. Still doing research..........we'll figure it out.

What ever you decide have a great trip.

Doug

 

[snoopboop]

I am so the super planner too! Which is why I am thinking about this still a year and a half out. I agree i feel like i have to do some much planning for WDW that US will be a nice change of pace. I am trying to research US but it seems with the EP we can just go at a more leisurely pace.

Yep. It's like being able to go in any FP+ line any time you want, as many times as you want.

My wife and I have an late August 2017 trip on the books. Right now we have a 5 day/4 night trip..........since it begins at WDW on a Tuesday, we're considering coming in on Sunday for a 2 night stay at US. We're big Harry Potter fans so we feel that would be a great way to start our trip. Only issue we're having is when I look at the short packages for US..........the ticket is for Sunday........and we want it for Monday. I can't seem to find a way on the US site to change that. Still doing research..........we'll figure it out.

I wouldn't bother booking a package. With Universal, it's usually not a better deal. (In fact, here's a sneaky tip... If you see yourself potentially going back in 2018, just get annual passes.... You can get two years' worth of trips with the one ticket purchase that is MUCH less expensive than buying two separate sets of two-day passes!!)

 

[klmall]

Disney first then Universal! We have been to Universal 6 times over the years; four times staying on property. In fact, staying at the Hard Rock Hotel redeemed a horrible stay at AKL one trip. I always think of Universal as a 'reward' of sorts for all the hassle of pre-planning, arranging and suffering the lines at Disney!

We enjoy the early access to Harry Potter and Express Access to most rides. It's so relaxing to just impulsively choose a ride and ride again if we want. Sometimes we finish riding what we want by midday and go back to relax at our room without worrying about losing precious time on rides.

I've always felt that I could never go from deluxe hotel access at Universal to Disney's FP system but the reverse is a whole new vacation!

 

[cemeb4dk]

As others have stated do UNiversal on the back end, the Express passes make everything so much easier, and its a pain to go from express pass back to FP, because it spoils you really quickly. With that being said, we sandwich a night at universal during our WDW stay. We are DVC members so we just leave our Disney room empty 1 night. This way we utilize disney express both ways, and we just Uber to Universal with an overnight bag. We just leave Disney early in the Am check in and have bag services hold our bag. Enjoy universal and the express pass, then grab our bags on to the room at the end of the day. The next morning we check out, once again give our bag to bag services and enjoy another day of express passes. Once we are done we grab our bags and grab an uber back to WDW. For us 2 days park to park is plenty for us with the express passes. Gives us time to do all we want as many times as we want, and the cost of the room is written off by the savings of the express passes and the night loss of points thru DVC is worth not having to change rooms or haul bags. Enjoy your trip

 

[bumbershoot]

Only issue we're having is when I look at the short packages for US..........the ticket is for Sunday........and we want it for Monday. I can't seem to find a way on the US site to change that.

Don't book a package! They are almost never better, and there are more restrictions on them.

I'm not actually sure what you mean by the ticket being for the wrong day, but seriously, look outside the packages.

uo.loewshotels.com for the hotel, then tickets from wherever you want. Directly through universalorlando.com, from undercovertourist, from mapleleaftickets, etc.