(x-post) Splitting vacay between Disney and Universal

[MommyBryn]

I am x-posting this in hopes of getting more relevant replies for each resort. This one for Sea World, obviously. If you read this thread in the Universal forum, it's the same questions.

We're considering splitting our vacation between Disney and Sea World/Universal. (plan to go to both of those, but only actually STAY at one or the other) We've visited them during Disney trips before but only stayed on Disney property. FWIW, we'd be at SW or Universal for the FIRST part of the vacation...unless it would be easier to do it the other way and do Disney first?? It *seems* like it would be easiest to start out with the shorter stay (2-3 days) and end with the longer one (6ish days), but perhaps there is more benefit to doing it the other way around? It seems like it may even be cheaper than staying the full time at Disney.

I'm sure there's someone else out there who's done this, so I have a few questions. First, which resort is best for staying AT Universal? Walking distance... How about dining while there? Basically any on-site info would be helpful.

How far away is Universal from SW? Is there a bus route between them?

What kind of transportation did you use to get from Universal to Disney WITH all of your luggage? I know there is a bus route but can't do that with luggage, obviously. Renting a car is out, because that would mean hauling 4 carseats on our cross country flight, among other things, the cost included. I hate going w/o carseats but we've done a bus in Orlando before so I know it's a possibility, just not sure what our options WITH luggage are. Does Mears do that and if so, cost ideas? (we've used them from the airport before) Honestly though, if carseats are the deal breaker we just won't bother staying anywhere but Disney.

Disney is easy. But as far as accomodations, the rest I have no experience with.

Thanks for any help!!

 

[damo]

All three onsite hotels are within walking distance. Royal Pacific and Hard Rock are closer than Portofino. There is also boat transportation and bus transportation if you don't choose to walk.

THere is a free bus between Universal and SeaWorld. You need to arrange transportation the day before at the concierge.

Mears will transport you between Disney and Universal. You'll just need to contact them.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I go for a week every December. Just booked my trip for December 9-16. I stay onsite at Disney but I spend 2 of the days at Universal. I choose to rent a car as I don't like having to wait (sometimes for a second or third bus to come as the first one fills up). But a car rental is not necessary as the PP pointed out.

 

[MommyBryn]

All three onsite hotels are within walking distance. Royal Pacific and Hard Rock are closer than Portofino. There is also boat transportation and bus transportation if you don't choose to walk.

THere is a free bus between Universal and SeaWorld. You need to arrange transportation the day before at the concierge.

Mears will transport you between Disney and Universal. You'll just need to contact them.

Thank you! Great to know! So is the bus a private one or a public transport bus?

 

[macraven]

if your children are little, and you want to stay onsite for the convenience, you might want to go that route.

don't know how many in your group but if you have more than 5 people, pbh does allow 6-8 in the suites.

if you are dealing with strollers, car seats, it might be easier to switch hotels once you are done with the motherland.

if you plan to spend more time at sw, then check into hotel rooms near there.



the bus shuttle for onsite UO guests is free.
only the hotel guests at one of the 3 onsite places are allowed to use it.
depending on the date you plan to do sw, if staying at the darkside, might be limited to one morning trip shuttle and two afternoon/evening shuttles.

 

[bumbershoot]

...unless it would be easier to do it the other way and do Disney first?? ..... It seems like it may even be cheaper than staying the full time at Disney.

I'm sure there's someone else out there who's done this, so I have a few questions. First, which resort is best for staying AT Universal? Walking distance... How about dining while there? Basically any on-site info would be helpful.
....

What kind of transportation did you use to get from Universal to Disney WITH all of your luggage? I know there is a bus route but can't do that with luggage, obviously. Renting a car is out, because that would mean hauling 4 carseats on our cross country flight, among other things, the cost included. I hate going w/o carseats but we've done a bus in Orlando before so I know it's a possibility, just not sure what our options WITH luggage are.

I saw your post in the Transportation forum but thought macraven had done a pretty nice job there. Plus I was on my phone and that's a pain to give long responses from.


We went to WDW and UO on our very first Orlando trip. And we ended up loving UO better. So doing UO at the beginning would have meant yearning to leave WDW the whole time we were at WDW. Nowadays we have UO annual passes, so we have the option of going over there any time we choose while otherwise at WDW.

Staying onsite at one of the 3 deluxe Universal resorts gives you the unlimited Express Pass, which is just so much better than Fastpass that it's painful to go back to WDW after starting at Universal. But...we often stay at DVC villas at WDW, so it's painful, room-size-wise, to go to Universal after staying at, say, an OKW 1 bedroom. Gotta figure out what's important to you.

All 3 current resorts are walkable. All have transportation if you don't want to walk. All are liked and loved by many. Our personal fave so far is Portofino, but we are staying again at Royal Pacific to see how we like it now (it was our first onsite hotel at Universal).

Our personal favorite restaurants are Richter's for their veggie burgers, Lombard's for their cheese ravioli, and 3 Broomsticks for their vegetarian offerings at lunch (leek&potato soup, potatoes, veggies). Others LOVE Mythos. Others love other things.

Sounds pretty complicated with that many carseats. I'd call towncar services to see what they would charge and who has carseats. Or maybe send one person in a rental car or cab with all the luggage, with the rest following on a Mears bus? Assuming it's a bus and not a shuttle van.

I wouldn't let carseats stand in the way of Universal; unless none of them will get lots from the trip and you plan to go in the future once they are in boosters (love the BubbleBum! but the kids truly have to be properly and fully mature enough to sit up straight and tall for boosters, no slouching or sleeping or anything like that). You might not get the cheapest option, but i"m sure there's something that can get worked out.

OP you asked about a public bus in response to the following post. Which bus were you talking about?

There is also boat transportation and bus transportation if you don't choose to walk.

THere is a free bus between Universal and SeaWorld. You need to arrange transportation the day before at the concierge.

Mears will transport you between Disney and Universal. You'll just need to contact them.

I assume you're talking about the Uni/SW bus; I don't think it's really public. I think it's run by Uni/SW for people staying onsite at either one.

 

[Planogirl]

I would consider going to Disney first and then spend a few days at Universal. I prefer this because Universal is way more relaxing and if you're like me you need a vacation after a vacation at WDW!

You can't go wrong with any of the current resorts at Universal. You get Express with all of them and they are close to everything. Universal plans to open another resort that won't provide Express to its guests but that will probably be a while.

 

[MommyBryn]

Thank you both!

It certainly sounds like there are lots of perks to staying at Universal!! Especially if it's an easy ride to SW. I'm assuming it's simpler than going from Disney to SW? (which doesn't seem particularly difficult, just having to get to DTD first and then hop on the bus?)

We are definitely Disney folks so I'm thinking of saving it for last, BUT it might be nice to "ease" out of the vacay by ending with something else, too. My hubby and kids have never been to Universal so it's hard to judge, with them. Me, personally, I really loved it (especially the coasters!!) back when I went so I'm sure they will have a blast. What about trasportation from Universal to the MCO? We love the ease of Magical Express from Disney. Does Universal offer anything like that or are you on your own?

As for the public bus, I was thinking one that the resorts used vs. just a general public trasport bus that stopped in the vicinity. I had thought that the bus from Disney to SW was a public one.

 

[damo]

Universal only provides free transportation to its own parks and SeaWorld/Wet 'n Wild.

Transportation to and from the airport and to and from WDW needs to be arranged by the user. They do have town cars and SUVs available there to shuttle you but it is not free.

Perhaps once the new hotel opens they will start some free airport transportation. I haven't heard any rumours about it though.