Would you do Universal first or WDW?

[babesboo99]

We are booked at RPR at Universal for 4 days and then we head over to BCV for 7 days in October. We always do Universal first because we like to stay longer at Disney.

 

[backformore]

We're doing 4 nights at universal, then 3 nights at Disney. We're traveling with 2 adult sons, and most of the rides and attractions we are interested in are at universal. We are all very excited about the Harry Potter attractions. Our Disney days will be more relaxed, the main thing will be food & wine fest at EPCOT. We have some fast passes set up, but are pretty flexible, there are only a few rides we feel we HAVE to go on.

 

[minijeanie]

If you are staying onsite at Universal then by all means go WDW first.
You get front of line access at Universal if staying on site and you dont get that for all rides at WDW
also agree with others that the magical bus is fun and nice to start your vacation out with

I love split stays between both parks. They both have so much to offer and are so different. I love them both

 

[calablovedisney]

We have done both our last couple of trips, but do Universal first. Like others have said, we do Disney last since we really like it more and want that Disney magic to be the last part, but I don't love the Universal thrill rides and feel sick on virtual ones, but do LOVE Harry Potter. But, after reading these responses, it has me thinking about how the reverse might be better in some ways. Whichever you do it is going to be fantastic and since your family loves the thrill rides, I agree Universal will be a big hit at the end! And I have only stayed at one Universal hotel, Royal Pacific, and we really liked it. They are all really nice though.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

I always do Universal first, then Disney. I prefer to end my trip at Disney, as it definitely feels more magical than Universal. I wouldn't really like going from Disney then Universal. But that's just me, personally.

 

[GaryDis]

Because we're renting points, we had to book before the MNSSHP and F&W dates were announced. So we put WDW after USO to increase the chances that at least one or the other would occur during the WDW part of our trip. Then, of course, Disney started both early. If I had had the full schedule, I would have done it in the other order, to get Magic Express from the airport and Lyft to the airport, but I don't think it's a big deal either way.

 

[soniam]

So far, our 3 trips with Universal have started there and ended at Disney. I think it's probably more relaxing to do Universal last, but it just hasn't worked out that way. I like having our last day at Universal be a partial day and then head to Disney and Disney Springs in the afternoon/evening. I hate getting to the Universal parks in the afternoon, because they are just so busy. Plus, it's hard to leave a Disney park midway through the day, because there's always something we didn't get to do. Also, when I have used crowd calendars to determine when, WDW was always less busy in the last part of the trip. Next summer, we are doing Universal, WDW, and a cruise. I think we will leave from WDW for the cruise, because it seems more fitting to go from Disney to Disney Cruise Line

One bad thing about doing Universal first, is that I get spoiled by their hotels. We usually stay at a deluxe to get the Express Pass. Their deluxes are so nice and so reasonably priced compared to WDW. Plus, walking to the parks is just awesome. We usually do the moderates at WDW, because we don't usually see the value in paying for a deluxe. So, downgrading on hotel kind of sucks. We usually get a car when we stay at moderates, so at least we aren't traveling via cattle car.

 

[agavegirl1]

I do split trips for the most part. I start at WDW taking DME to the resort and end at US. The reasons are:

1. WDW requires far more planning. I like to relax with less planning at the end of the trip.
2. I prefer to take Magical Express TO the park and a taxi to the airport.
3. My feet are tired of walking and there is far less walking at a US resort to the parks and City Walk. I stay at US Deluxe resorts.
4. I am tired of navigating a detailed "where I am going to eat when" plan by the end of a vacation and like the flexibility to decide on the fly.

 

[wsssup]

This December doing Universal for 5 days
Then Disney world for 39 days.

 

[Accident]

I think it really comes down to how you want the trip to end. Universal is a place where disney is an emotional tie so I think I'd want to end at disney. I can see myself wanting to extend the trip and go back to disney if I did it the other way.

 

[PoohCorner99]

We're doing Universal first because the kids are most excited for HP. I think they will have more interest in, and thus energy for, HP if we do it first. It will be interesting to see how DW goes because they are huge fans of Carsland and used to having their favorite rides more tightly packaged at DL. We'll have to find some new favorites in Florida.

 

[kniquy]

what sort of DVC room you're in)

We are going to be 7 of us in a 2BR at AKV - so definitly a lot of space. At US i think we will have to split into 2 rooms - i haven't really priced our different options yet.

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.

It sounds like we will be spoiled w/ the EP. I guess because disney has so many resorts they couldn't possibly offer this type of pass, but your would think that they could offer such a thing to the deluxe resorts only as a perk. I guess no one is complaining so they just continue w/the FP system.

 

[bumbershoot]

I can see myself wanting to extend the trip and go back to disney if I did it the other way.

You might be surprised! We felt the same way for our first trip, and we had to peel ourselves away from Universal to get over to AKJambo reservation and our Sanaa dinner.

We are going to be 7 of us in a 2BR at AKV - so definitly a lot of space. At US i think we will have to split into 2 rooms - i haven't really priced our different options yet.

Definitely 2 rooms.