Split Stay Between Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando

I’ve had a good number of clients planning their trips to Walt Disney World ask to add a day at Universal Orlando. And while it is my job to help you make that happen (as well as help you figure out your best strategy to get to everything you'd like in that one day), it’s also my job to make sure you truly get the most out of your vacation! 

If you’ve got the time, I highly recommend making your Orlando theme park vacation a split stay between Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. 

What is a “split stay”? It means you’d spend part of your vacation at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, and then the other part of your vacation at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel. 

Staying at a Universal Resort hotel for at least 2 nights so you have 2 full days to visit both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks (and maybe even Volcano Bay if an amazing water park is on your radar) is going to be the best way to make sure you get to see and do everything you'd like. The convenience of staying on-site to maximize your park time while enjoying all that the resort has to offer is something that visiting for just one day won’t quite get you. 

I usually suggest at least 5 nights at Walt Disney World, this way you can visit all 4 parks without feeling too overwhelmed, and then 2-3 nights at Universal Orlando. The Universal Resort hotels offer a variety of amenities for a wide range of budgets just like Disney does, so there’s a hotel for everyone.

I can even arrange your transportation from Walt Disney World to Universal ahead of time for you so you don’t have to worry about how you’re getting there. Just don't forget to factor in a rest day if you can, whether it be at Disney or Universal. 6 theme parks (or 7 if you include Volcano Bay) is a lot to cover -- taking a day to unwind and relax a bit is something I promise your body will thank you for.

No matter how many days you decide to visit Universal Orlando, you are going to want to upgrade your base tickets to the park-to-park tickets. This is something I recommend to every single client I work with for two key reasons. 

First, it's the best way to maximize your time. The park-to-park ticket will allow you to go between the parks -- if one park gets crowded, you can hop over to the other. If you want to start your day at Universal Studios but plan for an amazing dinner at Mythos over in Islands of Adventure, you can do this with the park-to-park ticket. Or maybe a ride was closed due to rain the day you were at Universal Studios and you want to go back over there after spending the day at Islands of Adventure. 

The second reason I always suggest the park-to-park ticket – and this is a biggie that many don’t realize: this ticket is the ONLY way you'll be able to ride Hogwarts Express. Hogwarts Express isn't just an attraction, but it also transports you between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure without having to walk all the way from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the front of the park when you're looking to visit the other park. It saves time and your feet some walking while still being fully immersed in all things Harry Potter. You don't want to miss out on this opportunity because once you're in the park and decide you want to ride Hogwarts Express with a single park ticket, you're stuck. Truth be told, I'm not even a huge Harry Potter fan and I enjoy taking Hogwarts Express (especially on a hot day!!) Definitely get the park-to-park ticket. 

Finally, if your budget permits staying at a Premier Resort at Universal Orlando, you’ll also be able to cover more attractions in less time as you’ll be receiving complimentary Universal Express Unlimited passes for your entire length of stay. This allows everyone in your room to skip the stand-by lines at most attractions, meaning more fun and less time waiting in line. In addition, you'll be at the hotels that are closest to the parks, so you'll be spending less time getting to/from the parks each day.

-Aly

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