Once you go Disney, it's hard to go elsewhere.

[DanenRox]

Now that I've turned my husband into a bigger Disney geek than I am, he's resistive to going to Universal. I'd like to add a quick one nighter at Universal to our next Disney stay but I'm afraid of being disappointed. Is that ridiculous?

[Candice30]

not ridiculous at all. but i promise, you won't be disappointed. as you can see from my signature, i was a disney repeat only until universal opened their resorts and i discovered these boards. i love the hotels so much better than at disney and the employees are much nicer than over at disney. now, don't get me wrong, i do still love disney and need to get my fix every once in awhile but returning to universal now is like returning home. best hotel beds i have ever slept in. i love that you do not fuss with buses. everything is in walking distance and i do mean a short walk. also, you can't beat the FOTL benefit at the universal resorts. being able to go express on most rides without the long waits you have at disney can't be beat and you will soon get spoiled.

i say ease your husband into it and add a couple of days on at the end of your disney trip. not before as the lines at disney will be unbearable after you've experienced FOTL. also, if you book 1 night at a universal hotel, you'll get FOTL on the day you check in and the day you check out. you'll LOVE it. :Pinkbounc

[Sylvester McBean]

Now that I've turned my husband into a bigger Disney geek than I am, he's resistive to going to Universal. I'd like to add a quick one nighter at Universal to our next Disney stay but I'm afraid of being disappointed. Is that ridiculous?

what are you afraid of being disapponinted in, exactly?

[DanenRox]

Don't know exactly...maybe that it will lack the magic. I know at 38 and 42 years old it seems silly to talk of magic but that's part of it for us. We like the beauty, the cleanliness, the friendliness of Disney.

[oybolshoi]

Universal is a different type of magic, that's all! :thumbsup2

My husband and I are Disney Vacation Club members and we take some kind of disney trip nearly every year (even the cruises) - we don't even have children as a convenient excuse for traveling to WDW.

But we love the experience at Universal just as much. Their on-site hotels are wonderfully themed and maintained, the parks are just as clean as any at WDW, and the employees are just as much fun.

The only way I can think you'd be disappointed is if you go to Universal / IoA expecting it to be like Disney. It's completely different, but that's part of what makes it so enjoyable. :)

Don't know exactly...maybe that it will lack the magic. I know at 38 and 42 years old it seems silly to talk of magic but that's part of it for us. We like the beauty, the cleanliness, the friendliness of Disney.

[DanenRox]

We just bought into DVC too. I'm going to give Universal alot of thought for our September trip. I'm wondering about staying right outside of Universal, better rates. Any suggestions?

[Motherfletcher]

My history with Disney dates back nearly 50 years. I still get a tear in my eye when I walk down Main Street in MK. I've stayed at most of the WDW on-site hotels in an effort to beat the maddening crowd to the attractions. I thought early entry was the best thing since sliced bread until I experienced the hotel express at the Universal hotels. No more lines? That is what makes the wife and kids cranky. You mean one can have a theme park vacation without jumping down each other's throats? What a concept! As soon as WDW converts to on-site hotel express we will return.

[keishashadow]

Disney is the magic...

Universal is just plain fun...

Prefer not to use the "G word" (geek) but, I'm deep into Disney. Doesn't keep me from appreciating Universal's many charms...compact lay-out, more adult-themed rides and overall smaller crowds.

We are DVC & like many others, stretch our points for multiple trips which, necessitates finding somewhere else to roost after Thursday night. Can't beat a disc. rate @ a Loews property or FOTL after FP'ing all week.

The only thing that keeps us @ WDW for the duration of some trips is purely financial. When you have an AP, it's difficult to bring yourself to purchase additional park tix @ another park.

[boomhauer]

I'm gonna try Universal again on our July trip. I did it once 10 years ago, and wasn't overly impressed. Granted, this was before IOA, but really, IOA isn't my cup of tea.

I liked Kongfrontation (but that's gone.) I think we caught Jaws on a bad day, because that was boring. ET was great. Back To The Future was no different than Star Tours.

I don't know. Universal just lacked that special feeling I get from every part of Disney.

[keishashadow]

When we went during Daytona/President's week, the most special feeling we got was when we walked to the FOTL on verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long lines.:thumbsup2 Rivaled that first glimpse of the castle each trip.

I'm gonna try Universal again on our July trip. I did it once 10 years ago, and wasn't overly impressed. Granted, this was before IOA, but really, IOA isn't my cup of tea.

I liked Kongfrontation (but that's gone.) I think we caught Jaws on a bad day, because that was boring. ET was great. Back To The Future was no different than Star Tours.

I don't know. Universal just lacked that special feeling I get from every part of Disney.

[boomhauer]

When we went during Daytona/President's week, the most special feeling we got was when we walked to the FOTL on verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long lines.:thumbsup2 Rivaled that first glimpse of the castle each trip.

Eh - When you've been to Disney enough times, you know how to utilize Fastpass well enough, and where to go at what times to avoid long lines during even the busiest times.

[robvia]

To get the true experience of Universal, you need to stay onsite. The short walks to the parks means a lot, plus the pools are cool. If you stay offsite, you can save a ton of money, but the experience won't be the same.

Stay onsite, and if your hubby still wants to visit Disney, you can go there at night, because the Disney parks usually stay open until 10pm all year long. The idea is you visit a Universal park in the morning, go back to your hotel room to rest, then visit a Disney park at night. If you have a rental car, this is easy. Otherwise, you hire the limo service to take you back and forth.

[perdidobay]

I feel my WDW trip is not complete if I don't get to go to US/IOA.

If you think you will be dissappointed after WDW, please at least go to IOA, the theming there is incredible, the rides are awesome, and the shows brillant :sunny:

[Cubiclegirl]

Also DH, DS and I went to the 2 Universal parks for a little over $200. This is a huge savings over Disney. That special is still available on their website. Didn't go to Disney once this trip (last week). Can't deal with the crowds and lines. I love Disney, I will just go back during one of the "slow" times.

I was also very impressed with how clean the parks and the hotels were.

[Snoopymom]

I'm very sentimental about Disney, but honestly Universal is more carefree and fun to me because of the closer proximity and smaller crowds. There seems to be less urgency and uptightness with getting the best spot, the perfect seat, the greatest photo op. etc.

Also, it might help to see some of the movies right before you go, Jaws, ET, Jurasic Park, T2, Spiderman, Shrek or pick up a comic book or a Dr. Seuss book...read about Spielberg, or the creator of Spongebob, or how amazing the technology is in Spiderman.

Would some pictures help? I have tons more with characters.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/ioamom/CopyofUNIVERSALTRIP6-6-05090.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/ioamom/UNIVERSALGRAMPSTRIP6-22-05081.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/ioamom/UNIVERSALGRAMPSTRIP6-22-05085.jpg

[DanenRox]

Park people are the nicest people...thank you all for the great insight. We WILL go to Universal at least one night, but...the onsight hotels are pricey. One night at Royal Pacific with 2 day mult park passes for 2 adults...$400+. Kind of a pricey add on to the WDW vacation.

[DisneyDotty]

I don't think your concerns are ridiculous. I constantly find myself comparing any vacation destination to Disney. Can't help it. However, go with an open mind and you might surprise yourself that you can enjoy other things as much as Disney.
An example: We loved Typhoon Lagoon when we first went there in '93. However, after having gone to many water parks in the Wisconsin Dells and to Schlitterbahn, last time we went to TL (2005) we were lukewarm--kinda "eh, it's okay" about it.
But we still love Disney! :sunny:

[Robinrs]

I find it all preference, it's what you like or don't like. I don't try to convince people to go to Universal, I like it for myself! It's my happy place, it's literally the only place my 13yo son and I are the same age! We've been to Orlando 33 times in 6 years and now only go to Universal. Like I say, it's my happy place.

I remember going to dinner with some other moderators on these boards in EPCOT and saying "welp, this is my LAST trip to Disney!" I thought I heard a huge THUD as all of them looked like they'd faint. That was 3 years ago and it WAS my last trip. I stayed in a 3 bedroom suite at the Dolphin and kissed it goodbye!

It's wonderful, it's lovely, but NO I don't like the fast passes or standing on lines so it's not my cup of tea. I also don't like going on special times and dates to avoid crowds, nothing is like FOTL on a Saturday watching the faces of people as you slide on thru.... :cool1:

I guess growing up on rollercoasters, comic books and living a lifetime working in broadcasting has me giddy at a place like this. Like I said, it's what you're INTO....

[sallyjane]

I also enjoy Disney but personally if I didn't have young kids we would spend more time at Universal. I feel that the rides at Disney are simply not very thrilling for me. Please don't flame me for saying that. My husband and I really enjoyed the coasters at IOA and we both loved the Mummy ride. We stayed at RPR during our first and only trip to Universal and I thought the hotel room was much more comfortable than disney. We have only ever stayed at the disney moderates. This year we are renting points and trying out BCV's so I might enjoy the disney hotel more after that. We of course are staying again at Universal for a few nights really looking forward to hhn.

[stahshee]

Yes for me it is hard however I did like IOA just not as much as Disney sorry :teeth:

[mjgruber]

Universal....as much Fun as WDW....and NO Disney Headache !

[shines4]

I love Disney and so does my husband. Last year at the urging of our daughters we tried Universal staying at PBH and they declared it the best vacation! After experiencing fotl and the walking distance to the parks it is hard to get motivated to return to Disney. While pricing Disney for spring break this year we found ourselves choosing Universal again even though we were there last Christmas. My daughters are 15 and 13 and they prefer the Universal Parks and city walk area. They love Animal Kingdom Lodge but they don't want to go to the parks because of the lines. I must admit two of my favorite attractions are spiderman and mummy. I will always love the magic of Disney but I must admit it was wonderful to have a relaxing theme park vacation. After every Disney trip I always feel like I need a vacation! We are staying at RPR this time because of the cost but PBH was amazing. :goodvibes

[gopack]

Eh - When you've been to Disney enough times, you know how to utilize Fastpass well enough, and where to go at what times to avoid long lines during even the busiest times.


Fastpass is not in the same league with FOTL.

[goofy!]

I'm gonna try Universal again on our July trip. I did it once 10 years ago, and wasn't overly impressed. Granted, this was before IOA, but really, IOA isn't my cup of tea.

I liked Kongfrontation (but that's gone.) I think we caught Jaws on a bad day, because that was boring. ET was great. Back To The Future was no different than Star Tours.

I don't know. Universal just lacked that special feeling I get from every part of Disney.

You get what you expect. If you expect to be disappointed, you will be.

If you go to Universal, nitpicking it and working hard to find examples of how it doesn't compare to Disney, you will be disappointed.

BUT,,

If you go in with an open mind, wanting to experience something new and different, but just as wonderful, you will find as much magic at Universal as at Disney.

[Glorydaz]

my bf and I just joined DVC because we absolutely love Disney! but Universal is awesome in it's own right....Mythos in IOA - incredible food!! Citywalk - tons of fun, Jurassic Park - WOW!!!!

we have no young children and enjoy each park for the unique experience it offers us...went to our first Halloween there last year and it was beyond words! we stayed at the Portofino - true luxury, and just a quick boat ride to the parks...

my daughter and I are visiting in 2 months : 3 nights at the BWV and one night at HRH :thumbsup2

..it's like food: as much as I love pasta, every once in awhile a great steak is needed! :rotfl2: go, enjoy, and stop feeling guilty!!

[Amyrlin]

I love disney, and I know what you mean about beong owrried about being dissapointed. However, go there wil an open mind, it is not the same, it is very different,and FOTL is wonderful.

[minniemee]

We have been to Disney twice in the past two years and are planning a vacation to Universal in June. This will be our first Universal trip, I am trying not to compare it to Disney and to give it a fair chance. So far it looks like it will be a fun trip. I am hoping my two sons enjoy it as much as they did Disney! I have a feeling that my 11 year old will love it!
I will let yall know how it goes! :yay: :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc

[minijeanie]

Some of the best attractions you will ever see is at US.....

Shrek4 is incredible...Disney can't touch that at all!
there are so many things US and IOA has to offer..

Totally different from Disney...
but that is great and the reason our family loves both.

Disney is magical, more family oriented than US
but US has great great hotels and their room sizes are double that of any moderate disney has to offer..

I love them both
I enjoy them equally
and I believe so will you

[Foladar]

Disney and Universal are two different things IMO. You like each of them for what they are, it's pretty hard to compare them. Personally, I go to Universal more because it's just more easier to go there with their prices. $180 (the first year) and $99 per year the years after (for now of course) .. can't go wrong with even paying $180 for a year (I live in Fla so it's easy to go) .. although, I /dont/ stay onsite much at Universal because $129 a night is too pricy for me (I've done it once, soon twice) .. I can live with just a bed to sleep in for $40 a night and visit more often. I've gone to Disney, but usually just one park per trip and that seems to just be MGM lately. Although, the last trip, I did get a 3-day ticket to Disney for $120 .. it was fun, but definitely nothing like Universal.

Edit: I also stayed at AKL @ Disney & RPR @ Universal .. Personally saw no difference really, they felt like .. a hotel.

[LeahA]

It's like when you have more than one child, you love them all equally, but, your love for each is different and special.

That's what I think about the whole Disney vs. Universal depate. To me, they are both fun and special in their own way!

Universal is definitely not trying to be the 2nd Disneyworld in Orlando. They have thier own flavor, fabulous hotels, restaurants and rides!

[lindalinda]

I think they are both lots of fun. I know that as a parent....I just tend to experience things thru my childs eyes. When the kids are tiny...all that excitement is so easy to get caught up in. For my son when he was little, that translated to disney. As he got older, that just melded into different things. He wouldnt even go to disney now, given the choice. We go now for me, I still love it. Looking at both parks...purely thru my own eyes...I definitely prefer the universal experience. But that being said, I have 2 little ones (Grand neice and nephew?) that will be old enough to go soon. And Aunt Linda will definitely take them to disney first (then a trip to universal for my neice as well) :woohoo: