Offsite budget stay doing two days Disney one day universal (Advice?)

Trixieplus3

Trixieplus3

New Member
I am trying to keep cost down but I'd like to do 2 days @ Disney and 1 day @ Universal. Feb 19th - 23 . Thoughts on the best way to do this on a budget? I am hoping to stay at a hotel with a decent shuttle. I know this is kind of last minute. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
You're probably better off picking Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort. Cost per day decreases with more days purchased. You can then pick a hotel closer to that destination.
 
Upvote 0
Conchchowder

Conchchowder

Member
Trixieplus3 said:
I am trying to keep cost down but I'd like to do 2 days @ Disney and 1 day @ Universal. Feb 19th - 23 . Thoughts on the best way to do this on a budget? I am hoping to stay at a hotel with a decent shuttle. I know this is kind of last minute. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Click to expand...
Maingate Resort is a really nice property. Watch for rates. Ive paid $27/night plus $5 resort fee and taxes...Usually under $35. Take advantage of the Sizzler Steakhouse breakfast buffet diagonally across the street. Ponderosa isn't too bad either. I've stayed at the Knights Inn as well. Dated and a little rough, but you park in front of your room and don't have to walk 3 miles to your car/room as you do in Disney properties. Look for good rates at last minute travel for Maingate Resort.
 
Upvote 0
disneygirl76

disneygirl76

Carey Poppins - Nanny and Disney Enthusiest
I traveled with a shuttle twice - once staying offsite at vacation club resort that my parents let us use and going to Disney World. The other, using a shuttle provided by the hotel at Universal. Although I fully admit that I am a Disney junkie, there were so many reasons why I vowed not to stay off site again. I was surprised at how many places didn't provide a free shuttle to Disney. And lot of places you call, just say "yes" but they mean Mears and it has to be set up on your own. We set up Mears, to and from and it was so costly. It was about $35 a day I think...per person! So We spent about 70 bucks just getting to and from. And then you have to adhere to their hours and schedule. Even though one night the park was open until Midnight, we had to leave the park early to catch the shuttle back. Between loosing the hours and the price of the shuttle, I vowed...never again. As for the free shuttle to and from Universal from our hotel (maybe a Best Western?), they shared the shuttle between 3 hotels. And we were the last stop. It took 3 shuttles before we could get a spot. We felt that we spent a lot of time traveling too and from and loosing time on those pricey tickets. We ended up driving to US the next day and paying the parking fee b/c we felt it was a better use of time. After helping several friends plan trips to Disney (2 adults/4 kids) at the end of the day, staying at a value resort is the best option. I agree with @hakunamatata, you may want to reach out a travel agent to price everything out. I hope this helps!
 
Upvote 0
Dwarful

Dwarful

Well-Known Member
If you don't get a great shuttle service arrange for a car service. We had 8 in our group and had a flat daily rate of $80 per day for all of us round trip and we picked the drop off and pick up times so we could arrive an hour before park opening and get picked up at park closing.
 
Upvote 0
Trixieplus3

Trixieplus3

New Member
Original Poster
I wanted to stay on site at one of the value resorts but they are full on our dates. Has anyone used Orlando Vacation.com? I saw the maingate resort on there and a Best Western Beuna Vista hotel. The prices seemed good.
 
Upvote 0
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
Trixieplus3 said:
I wanted to stay on site at one of the value resorts but they are full on our dates. Has anyone used Orlando Vacation.com? I saw the maingate resort on there and a Best Western Beuna Vista hotel. The prices seemed good.
Click to expand...
The Best Western Lake Buena Vista is on Walt Disney World property. It's not owned and operated by Disney, but is just north of Downtown Disney.
 
Upvote 0
disneygirl76

disneygirl76

Carey Poppins - Nanny and Disney Enthusiest
No, I haven't used them. You might want to drop a note to someone at Kingdom Konsultants to see if they can help you out. They are really helpful!
 
Upvote 0
Disneyhead'71

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
My suggestion is choose between Disney and Universal. With such a short trip, I'd suggest Universal. You can get your 5 tickets for 3 days for $849ish. I would then I would splurge for a room at Cabana Bay.

That way you get a little of the vacation relaxation.
 
Upvote 0
jakeman

jakeman

Well-Known Member
Disneyhead'71 said:
My suggestion is choose between Disney and Universal. With such a short trip, I'd suggest Universal. You can get your 5 tickets for 3 days for $849ish. I would then I would splurge for a room at Cabana Bay.

That way you get a little of the vacation relaxation.
Click to expand...
Except Cabana Bay is full, so per the Uni website the only option onsite is the Royal Pacific with a package that comes to $2300 without food.

Disney is not showing availability for anything other than the Poly and Ft. Wilderness. Probably due to the combination of President's Day the weekend before and the Princess Half the weekend of the proposed trip.

To the OP, it's just a rough weekend for a last minute trip. Even a week or two out may serve you better for either option than literally 5 days before.
 
Upvote 0
Disneyhead'71

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
jakeman said:
Except Cabana Bay is full, so per the Uni website the only option onsite is the Royal Pacific with a package that comes to $2300 without food.

Disney is not showing availability for anything other than the Poly and Ft. Wilderness. Probably due to the combination of President's Day the weekend before and the Princess Half the weekend of the proposed trip.
Click to expand...
Oh, ok. Let me rework a plan. Since everything is off prop, that changes the game.

Ok, still, with the budget and time constraints, one or the other would be best. But I'll find something when I get off work.
 
Upvote 0
Trixieplus3

Trixieplus3

New Member
Original Poster
I went with Orlando Vacation .com we got 4 nights at the Lake Buena Vista Resort and hotel inside Disney with two days at Disney and one at Universal (Tickets for both sides cause Harry Potter is on both sides) for $1,791.70

There is a resort fee that is like 10/15 a day and of course we will have to eat while we are there and pay for parking at Universal but we shouldn't be to much over. I'm taking a box of snacks and dollar store glow sticks/Disney toys etc.. that I have been buying locally for the last few weeks.
 
Upvote 0
Beckett

Beckett

Well-Known Member
Remember that if you didn't get the park to park tickets you won't be able to do the Harry Potter train ride. Also, how are you going to get from the airport to the hotel and also to Universal? I guess you have another budget for expenses, etc, right?
 
Upvote 0
Trixieplus3

Trixieplus3

New Member
Original Poster
Beckett said:
Remember that if you didn't get the park to park tickets you won't be able to do the Harry Potter train ride. Also, how are you going to get from the airport to the hotel and also to Universal? I guess you have another budget for expenses, etc, right?
Click to expand...
We are driving there and the universal tickets are Park to park
 
Upvote 0

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom