Disney and universal

Question

We are two families of 5, 4 adults and one teenager, planning to go to Disney and universal Nov 18-Nov 23. We will be splitting our time between the two parks. Should we stay onsite at Disney and Uber to universal or vice versa? Not opposed to staying offsite with a car. Any help at all will be greatly appreciated. I’m trying to plan this trip for our grandson and I admit I am overwhelmed at the choices

Answer

Planning a trip to both Disney and Universal in Orlando can indeed feel overwhelming, especially with two families and a teenager. The decision on where to stay largely depends on your priorities: convenience, cost, transportation, and the type of experience you want for your grandson.

Staying Onsite vs Offsite

Disney Onsite: Staying at a Disney resort has many perks for Disney days: early theme park entry, complimentary transportation within Disney property, and the immersive Disney experience. However, getting to Universal from Disney is a bit less convenient — Uber or Lyft rides typically take 20-30 minutes, plus waiting time, which can add up, especially with a larger group.
Universal Onsite: Staying at a Universal hotel offers early park access to Universal parks, free shuttle buses, and the ability to use Universal’s Volcano Bay water park benefits. Ubering to Disney is similar to the reverse, about 25-35 minutes depending on traffic.
Offsite with a car: This gives you maximum flexibility to visit both Disney and Universal at your own pace, allows you to explore other Orlando attractions, and may save money. Parking is usually available at both resorts for a fee. A rental car also makes grocery or quick meal stops easier, which is helpful for a family of 5 per household.

Transportation Considerations

Uber/Lyft works well for shorter trips, but with two families, rides can be costly and split trips may be needed depending on Uber XL availability.
Driving yourself provides flexibility, especially for meal times, souvenir runs, and avoiding peak ride-share surge pricing.
Orlando traffic can be heavy during peak hours, so plan extra time when traveling between Disney and Universal.

Suggested Strategy

If your priority is Disney immersion and convenience for Disney days, consider staying 2-3 nights onsite at Disney and then move to a Universal hotel or a nearby offsite hotel for the remainder of your trip.
If your priority is balance between the parks and minimizing packing/moving, staying offsite in a central location with a rental car is a practical approach. Look for hotels in the International Drive area — it’s roughly midway between Disney and Universal, with easy highway access to both.
For a teenager, Universal may have the more exciting rides, so if you want to prioritize their experience, consider splitting the nights so they have a full day at Universal without rushing back and forth.

Other Tips

Purchase tickets in advance and consider park-to-park options for Universal if you want to hop between Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios easily.
Plan your Disney days with Genie+ or Lightning Lane selections for the most popular rides.
Consider meal reservations early for both Disney and Universal sit-down restaurants.
For a mixed-age group, having some flexibility for rest or pool time back at the hotel is important — so factor that into your lodging choice.

In summary, staying offsite with a rental car gives you the most flexibility and ease for two families. If you want the Disney magic to be front and center for several days, split your stay between a Disney resort and a Universal or offsite hotel. Both strategies can work; it just depends on whether convenience or flexibility is your top priority.

Disney and universal

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