Florida- Disney/Universal split

[UserMe18]

Has anyone booked separately at different hotels to maximise benefits? I'm thinking of booking a Disney hotel 10/11 nights on the free dining plan when released and Hard Rock Hotel for 3/4 nights. Any advice? Pitfalls? I wanted to rent a car but put off by the hotel parking charges. We are quite flexible at this stage when we go, though I'm thinking maybe May (next year). I'd book flights later. 4 of us, children 9 and 6, first time going to Florida (as grown ups!).

If you're going to only do the parks, I would do a split like you've suggested and then just get a transfer to and from the airport.

If you want to explore a bit further (space coast? Malls? Restaurants not in a park?) I would consider getting a car. It really does make life a lot easier out there and there's quite a bit to see and do away from the parks.

Your other option is to stay offsite, though if you're going to be doing parks everyday, the parking charges soon rack up ($25 a day at Disney).

Thanks Gina, we will probably come back when the kids are older and do off site and explore more on the coast. DH and I love having a car and exploring but thinking maybe with the kids the ages they are now they will just like to be on site. We aim to come back when they're teenagers. A car probably isn't worth it when on site then I guess.

I wouldn't say so. There's on site transportation, so you don't need a car. Arranging transport between the two will be simple - Uber and lyft are both available out there.

Disney also offer a free bus to the airport (assuming you'll fly into Orlando International), so that'll be one way sorted.

I’d consider fewer nights an universal and more nights at Disney.

With the fast passes included in your hard rock stay you’ll easily do both parks thoroughly in 3 days/ 2 nights.

Disney on the other hand could easily take the 2 weeks alone.

We usually go to Florida for 2 weeks and stay in a Disney hotel the entire stay (animal kingdom and would definitely recommend). We don't get a car and just use taxis to do 2x day trips to universal studios somewhere in the middle. We also use taxi's to shopping malls a couple of times and don't find them too costly.

We normally rent a villa and stay offsite as we like to have our own pool and cook for ourselves when we start to get fed up of the portions!

However, with kids of those ages I would definitely say Disney hotel is the best option as it is such a tiring holiday for them when the fireworks etc. are done they will just crash and you will just want to get back to the hotel. You could get away with two nights in Hard Rock I reckon, you get fast passes for three days then which is definitely enough for both parks.

Thanks all, I will price up 2 nights in universal instead as the more we can benefit from the Disney free dining plan (if I can get one) the better!

Bear in mind that it costs $20 a day (in 2016 when we went) to park at Disney parks. Parking at the hotel was included in our holiday package (Virgin)

We did a very similar split to you, but in all honest Universal held more appeal so we spent more time there. Disney we did in a few days. DCs were between 7 - 14.

Stay onsite st Universal for the extra hours. (Harry Potter was brilliant).

Stayed at the Carribean resort with the meal plan.

If I went again I’d get a villa and car though.

We do it every time we go now.

We tend to do between 8-11 nights at disney and 3 at Universal. We never get a car.

From the airport if you are staying at Disney (we have done Port Orleans French Quarter, Yacht/Beach Club, COntemporary and Wilderness Lodge) its the Magical Express.

Disney resorts is all bus transportation (unless you are at one that you can walk). We then do a taxi/uber transfer to Universal (we usually do Royal PAcific Loews) and you can walk everywhere then

We tend to end with 3 at Universal as we love the pool there and we can wind down slightly from the intensity of Disney
Literally just back having gone with my 9 and 6 year old!

We stayed at Universal the whole time we were there and just drove to the Disney parks. We did all the theme parks (one day at each was enough for us) but no water parks as they are just not our thing. We found Hollywood Studios the least interesting and we only had half a day there.

Firstly, sadly the UK free dining for Disney next year has closed. It opens up again at the end of April 2019 until November 2019 for stays in 2020. It is standard every year.

We have done a split stay with Disney/Universal twice (including August 2018) but we prefer Loews Royal Pacific over Hard Rock which had a more lively teenage vibe. Royal Pacific felt more chilled and laid back. There isn't a huge walking distance involved and you can always get the water bus back (free) or use a rikshaw (small charge.)

We did Universal first then moved over to Disney hotel using Uber for the airport to Universal and then to Disney. Got the Magical Express back to the airport from the Disney hotel.

If you haven't already discovered TheDibb website then have a look. It is full of Disney obsessed Brits who have been many times and can advise on every tiny detail of Universal and Disney.

I agree with PP with children aged 9 and 6 Disney probably has a lot more to offer than Universal. The first time we went the children were 11 and 8. Although Volcano Bay is incredible so if you think your children will like the water park it might be worth 3 nights there. The FOLP (front of the line pass) that comes with your hotel stay makes it much easier to go to the parks when you like.

Disney wise, their buses are fantastic. We usually go to Florida for 2-3 weeks. We have never hired a car. We aren't shoppers/mall people, we are there for the parks. We did use Uber to get to some places and it worked really well.

We are back, again in 2020 as it is a GCSE year for Ds1 2019.

Don't assume it will be a once in a lifetime trip, I said that. Ate my words.

@SoupOnMyTableNowSir thank you! Sorry I should have said it was May 2020 we're aiming for so anticipating the free dining plans being released in April, really hoping we can get one, seems really good deal. I have to admit I do love American Mall shopping...but not enough to justify the costs involved with the car this time around I don't think, I think we'll do the villa/car thing when we go again. I'm really hoping to take them once as children and once as teenagers (if we can go more then great!) but sounds like on site is best for this age.

@LoniceraJaponica oh that's interesting that parking was included, I think we'll most likely book everything separately but will bare that in mind when costing up.

By 2020 Hollywood Studios will have both Toy Story Land (currently up and amazing theming) and Star Wars Galaxy Edge open

OP do either of yours like Harry Potter?

and the dining plans whilst included in the price and not free per se (room rates change depending on the deal and they do offset it slightly!) If you do you will need to book all of your table service meals in advance (and to get this you have to stay at least at a moderate otherwise its Quick Service)

@UserMe18 no it is me still thinking it is 2018 so when you said next year I thought 2019, I blame the fumes from cleaning products I have used today

Do you know which Disney hotel you want? We always stay at Port Orleans Riverside which is a moderate and have the QSDP (quick service dining plan) so no sit down restaurant meals, but don't think it means burgers and hotdogs because there is a huge choice of restaurants. We don't like being tied down to a restaurant booking we made 6 months before we went.

My children have been when they were 11 & 8, 13 and 10, and 15 and 12. I have sons. May is a lovely time to go. The water parks for both Disney and Universal are amazing. There are lots of videos on YouTube. We liked ones that showed people walking from place to place to get a feel of rides, so Seeyarealsoon, Krispysmores (British) and the Tim Tracker. All child friendly content.

This made picking rides easier as the children could see what was involved. There are trip reports on TheDibb including dining reports so you can see food and portion sizes.

Dining comes out like clockwork every year, around 21st April. The Dibb will be frenzied with information on it.

Thanks both. So I'm happy with the cheapest hotel we can get, and a quick service meal plan, I really don't think we'll need anything more. We just got back from DLP and found the free half board more than enough food for us without needing to find food for lunch. I think all we need is a good sized breakfast and dinner. I was quite confident I could do it within our budget last night but I realise now I was looking at All Stars etc resorts and they don't do the quick service plan free do they? Is it just the breakfast one they do?

That's interesting to know prices will increase to offset the dining, if it doesn't seem too good a deal I may hold off for now, my husband is military so it's a big gamble to book this far in advance, but I like that Disneyland a small deposit with payment later.

My eldest is a big Potter head. As we have 2 boys I wondered if they'd be more drawn towards universal (I have been a couple times but not as an adult). Youngest especially loves Disney though. They love toy story and star wars.

I'm trying to do the whole holiday (including spending money) in £8000 :/

Oh and it's January 2nd only so we'll let you off 😂

Disney have a resort specifically for military personnel only that is at a special price and offers discounted tickets not sure how it is with the dining plan though. It’s called Shades of Green

I would go 10/11 to 3/4 if he is a big potterhead

Thanks Quartz.

Yeah I've heard of that sounds amazing but pretty sure it's only American personnel. Sea World let "allies" use their benefits but don't plan on going there!

We are staying in a villa as my son has ASD so we wanted our own space.

However we have booked one night in a Universal Hotel so we can get the passes.

Have also booked a VIP tour for another day. So we plan one day in Volcano Bay using early entry, one day Universal using the hotel pass, and then one more day with the VIP pass.

Mine are older though 12 and 15 and BIG Harry Potter fans.

Have also booked a table for the Dessert Party Restaurant so we can watch Magic Kingdom Fireworks from there.

Also booked The Void and T-Rex cafe. ASD son is also a huge Jurrasic Fan

Ah yes I read it wrong - I think you can get some military discounts though on tickets etc

@ChristmasFlary I've not heard of any of those things I have so much to plan! Loving the sound of T. rex cafe!! At least I've got over a year to plan 😂

We stayed international drive and used the itrolly and buses

We stayed at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort

It was OK, not fantastic, but OK. The food was expensive and not great, but we found some really nice places to eat a short drive away from the hotel. We went with Virgin (after trying unsuccessfully to put a holiday together myself), and included were flights, car hire, hotel, free parking at the hotel, free floatation rings for the lazy river (worth having), and late check out. It was the cheapest Universal hotel that was on offer from Virgin.

I guess I really don't like huge, impersonal hotels, which was the main reason it was just OK. We much prefer smaller, family run hotels.

DD was 16 when we went, and is a massive Potter fan, so staying at the Universal site was a no brainer. The hotel had an excellent free shuttle bus service between the hotel and Universal, and we often used to go out in the evnings to City Walk to eat and/or mooch around.

The main expense was eating out. If you don't eat at counter service places expect to pay upwards of 20% in tips.