Orlando Advice for trip for this Couple
 

My wife and I (both 30 yrs old) and going to Disney and we can't wait. We've never been there! I am going to be in Orlando on business for a few days and then my wife is going to fly down and meet me. We will have about 5-6 days to explore. We'd like to be able to see as much as possible, but of course the two definites are Universal Studios and the Magic Kingdom. We will be at the same hotel where I am going to be on business for the first two nights - Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. From the map it appears that this is near Universal. So I figure we'll do the first day or two there. But then we want to spend the next few days doing the Disney Attractions. And we need to switch hotels. This is where I am stuck! Where to stay!? We want something close by where we can take shuttles to the attractions. But we don't want to spend an arm and a leg either. We probably will spend very little time at the hotel. That said, I don't want to stay at a dump on the highway either! Any recommendations for a nice hotel, reasonably priced, with the proximity to Disney we are looking for? Thanks so much!

I would suggest staying on site at Disney for that leg of your stay. You will not need a car and you will be much closer to all the action. You can use Disney resort transportation to all four theme parts, Boardwalk, Downtown Disney and the water parks. The All-Star Resorts and Pop Century are all reasonably priced. If you are AAA members, book through them using your discount.
Have fun!

Go to www.Mousesavers.com and get a discount code for the All Star Resorts.

I've stayed onsite at Disney for as little as $49 and there is no feeling like staying on site at Disney. You feel like you are part of the magic.

Yes, it really is magic.

If the price is comparable, I'd stay at one of the Universal hotels just because you automatically get front of the line VIP status at Universal and Islands of Adventure.

What time of year are you going?

Put Epcot on your must do list.

Also, get park hopper passes for Disney. Go to Animal Kingdom early in the morning to see the animals and hit Epcot's World Showcase for Happy Hour. Start with Margaritas in Mexico or on the other side with Black and Tans at The Rose Pub in Great Britain.

Personally, except for closing, I find The Magic Kingdom kind of boring.

I meant to write that you should stay onsite at Universal the days you will be at Universal and stay onsite at Disney the days you will be at Disney.

I'd do two days at Universal and four at Disney.

If you stay at one of the wonderful on site hotels at Universal you get automatic express access to all the attractions. They also offer AAA discounts. Universal has two parks...Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We LOVE Islands of Adventure. If you go there make sure you eat at Mythos whioch has been voted the best theme park restaurant in the US. It is fantastic!!!!!

Definitely stay on site at Disney unless you're going to rent a car. The shuttles from outlying hotels are notoriously unreliable.

Separately, IMHO Magic Kingdom is really largely for kids - I think adults would enjoy the EPCOT activities much more than flying teacups.

thanks so much!

another idea would be to stay at Shingle Creek a couple of extra days for the Universal part of your stay-you will be very close to Universal, and then move to a Disney hotel. then you only have to change hotels 1X. It is great to stay at the theme park hotels because of the advantages you get to access, etc. Say hi to my son when you're at Shingle Creek. His college campus is right next to it! He says the pool and golf course there are awesome.

We stayed at the Buena Vista Palace last month. It's 'on-site' but not owned by Disney. The rates are cheaper than Disney and you can use Disney transportation by crossing the road to Downtown Disney or taking the free hotel shuttle which we used once for Magic Kingdom.

The hotel has a pool and the rooms have been renovated. We really liked it. Check the reviews on Tripadvisor too.

Try to avoid the Disney park on the day it has the 'extra hours' for Disney hotel guests as these tend to be busier.

do you think it makes sense to do the trip as follows:

My conference at Rosen Creek ends on Wednesday 5/21 and my wife flies in that morning to meet me. I was thinking about grabbing 2 extra nights at this hotel and we can do Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (and anything else we can squeeze in that involves this area of Orlando). From what I can tell, Rosen Creek is very close to Universal. So that means we will have Wednesday and Thursday to do Universal. On Friday morning we will check out and head over to a hotel closer to Disney (perhaps on site at Disney or nearby in Lake Buena Vista). I have not chosen this hotel yet. Then we can get a 4 day pass and have Friday, Sat, Sun, and Monday to do all the Disney stuff - Magic Kingdowm, Animal Kingdom, etc. I guess Epcot hopefully too but I am not sure where that is located. We fly out Monday night.

Does this sound like this itinerary would work? Do you think I can get away with not renting a car?

Thanks!

Your itinerary would work.
Personally I'd have to have a break from the parks so I'd plan a day to relax at the hotel pool, recharge my batteries, soothe my feet, etc. A spa day would be on my wish list.

Many, many others do what you are suggesting so this is a personal choice.

We've always done full days at the parks (arrive at opening time, leave at closing time) and zip around all day. I've spent a full week at Disneyland (on site) with a 3 day pass and this was ample 'park time' for me.

I think you'll be fine without a car provided your hotel has a shuttle or you're close enough to use Disney transport.

In four days for the Disney parks, you can do all four parks. Walt Disney World is four parks - magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom - and they are all in the same area. It will get more crowded as Memorial Weekend approaches, so I would do Magic Kingdom first, as I think that is the one that gets the most crowded and has the longest lines. It sounds like you could definitely get by not renting a car especially if you stay on site at Disney. Since it is a holiday weekend, I would call Disney reservations now (407 - WDISNEY) and see what they have available.

If you stay in one of the on site Universal hotels for just one night, you will get two full days of unlimited express access to the attractions.

Since you will be visiting Universal and IOP on Wednesday and Thursday, stay where you are because the parks will not be that crowded. You will not need the front of the line pass for Universal and IOP. They are also probably running a two for one pass meaning purchase one day and you get the second free.

However, DO stay onsite at Disney. It is Memorial Weekend and the parks will be packed.

You WILL want to go back to your hotel in the middle of the day, say from 11-4 or 5PM and hang out at the pool or go to one of Disney's water parks which are included on the Park Hopper Plus Pass.

Definitely stay onsight at Disney.

You will not have to at Universal.

Disney will be packed with Florida residents.

Just keep this in mind, it will be hot and Disney will be packed. You'll be on a concrete slab in 100 degree weather with 100,000 other people in Central Florida.

You will appreciate the fact that you've stayed on property.

great, thanks! I might make just one slight amendment to this itineary and that is this. I will still do Universal on Wed and Thurs, but I think I will check out of that hotel on Thursday and check into the Disney hotel Thursday night, even if it is late after a full day at Universal. This way we can wake up Friday and be ready to jump right into the Disney stuff.

Would you agree?

I will definitely try to take your advice and stay on site at Disney. But even the value Disney resort hotels are a little pricey due to the holiday weekend. How about staying very close by like at the Regal Sun or Holiday Inn Sunspree in LBV or the Orlando Vista Hotel? Double Tree Guest Suites too. Or there are a few other on site non Disney options I found like Royal Plaza Hotel and Best Western LBV.

thanks!

I've stayed off site and on. Even for a frugal person like me there is still no comparison. Stay on site. My second piece of advice is to invest in a book, it will help more than you can imagine. We had "Walt Disney World with Kids", since we had kids, but I'm sure most any popular travel book would work. We found when we followed the author's advice to the letter we rarely waited in line more than 15 minutes for any attraction. When we didn't follow the tips we spent a lot of time floundering. Last piece of advice, do not miss "Soaring" at Epcot. It was amazing. Have a great trip!

ok i have decided to go with all your opinions and stay on site. but now i am trying to make the decision - which on site hotel?! do i choose a Disney owned one such as the Pop Century? Or stay at a non Disney owned on site hotel such as Best Western LBV, Regal Sun, Best Western, or Royal Plaza. They are on site near Downtown Disney.

Any last minute words of advice??

Disney owned as the transportation is much better, and the themeing is excellent. It will also give you the option of an early morning entrance to the park, or extra hours at night - check the schedules.

The hotels near Downtown Disney do not offer transportations as often as the real on site hotels.

Yes, schmerl but if you're close to Downtown Disney you can use Disney transportation anyway.