Do many people like Universal more than Disney?

[imgoingtodisney]

My neighbor just called me from FL. Dont worry Tammie, I'll be calling in 19 days from Cozumel. Anyways she said they enjoyed Universal more than Disney! Is this possible?

[imgoingtodisney]

P.S. they stayed offsite so maybe they didnt get the "true" Disney experience.

[Seahag]

Ever since our 1st trip to Universal , we haven't set foot on disney property since.
We think it's a much better park & TONS more fun (our opinion, your experience may vary)
Just our opinion, but yes, we like the "other" options in Orlando better !!:D

[WebmasterBarry]

There's a reason why I am the moderator of these boards. :)

If I think about what I want to ride at Disney, I just have a passion to ride RnR Coaster and TOT. Everything else I can ride just once in a while. At Universal and even Sea World and Busch Gardens, I want to ride and see most of the stuff there.

[MIB999999]

Back in 1989 your question was a valid one and possible mental evaluations needed to be done on your friends. But this is 2001 roaring into 2002 and the world of Universal has grown up and past disney in many regards. Disney is Disney and that has its pluses but also has its minuses if you like rides with a bit more kick to them.
Walk away from the pixie dust bin once in a while just to keep them honest. You will have fun in the process so take a walk on the IOA side. :smooth:

[gothamknight777]

Imgoingtodisney, If you've read some of my other posts, you'll know how adamant I am about stating my love for Universal. True, everyone has different tastes and a good many folks find Disney more appealing. That's fine and dandy. Me and my wife are diehard Universal goers. After last year we decided that unless Disney went through some drastic upgrades, we weren't going to waste our time and money there.

If you've never been to Orlando, I wouldn't dissuade you from going to Disney, only because you need to make up your own mind as to what you like. If you haven't made plans to go to Universal, take a day or two to give it a shot. I don't think you'd be disappointed by either park.

Disney has the mystique going for it, plus some interesting rides. Universal has the rides, thrills, and overall fun environment.

Have fun!

GK777

[Robinrs]

I like them both, but I tend to LEAN towards Universal. Like Barry said, there's a REASON why we moderate these boards... ;)

I always go with my 8yo son and he's basically outgrown much of the Magic Kingdom, hates AK, so we do the thrill ride tour of MGM and get educated at EPCOT. As for USF and IOA, we could spend all day there! We both like them better!

I think most people who have a love for Disney have memories of it from childhood. I never went there as a child so I guess I missed out on that. My first park in Orlando was USF and Port of Entry is MY Main Street. It will always be my first love! :D

[imgoingtodisney]

OK I just need to know where to spend my park money. Even though we are staying on Disney property the next 41 years (just joined Disney vacation club) we can always spend more time offsite. 4 weeks ago we did go offsite to Sea World. Kraken was awesome. My husband and I rode it, our 9yr son didnt. We also enjoyed Journey to Atlantis.
We had been to Universal and Sea World in 1996. This year we gave our son the choice of either Universal or Sea World. He chose Sea World. Has Islands of Adventure added that much to Universal? We remember Universal as lots of shows and trying to connect at the right show times! The itinerary wasnt working for us. If IoA has added that many more thrill rides Im sure my current 9yr son will be spending much of his future there.

[gschmerl]

imgoingtodisney,
Your son will LOVE Islands of Adeventure.
I didn't go to WDW or Universal/IOA until I was over 40. I loved them both. Disney has that magical feel. They have the great parades and good shows.
IOA is awesome. If you like thrill rides and great theming you will love it there.

[tlg145]

My husband and I just returned from our trip to WDW and Universal. It was our first trip to both places and we do not have kids. Our favorite park by far was IOA. It was awesome. The rides were outstanding. We stayed at the Portofino Hotel and loved it. I preferred CityWalk over Downtown Disney also. We were not as impressed with Universal Studios. I rate the parks as follows:

1. IOA
2. Disney-MGM
(great shows, loved Tower of Terror and Rockin Rollercoaster)
3. Epcot
4. Magic Kingdom
5. Animal Kingdom
6. Universal Studios

[US-SW]

My family(all adults) prefers Universal's parks, Sea World and Busch Gardens much more than Disney. The only part of Disney's property that we'll even go to is Downtown Disney. Disney just doesn't do it for us anymore.

[Melanie1001]

I have nothing against Disney, was there just this last December, staying in the Contemporary, but overall my family (all adults) prefers USF. Perhaps we're moving beyond the age of wanting just kid's stuff to do? I'm not sure. At Disney in December our best time was had wandering around the Boardwalk. It seems we're more prone to get bored with the Disney rides than we are Universal's....not sure why just a personal preference thing :)

[kristikae]

I grew up going to Disneyland every summer (my grandparents lived in S California). I want my kids to feel what I did when I went there so I am taking them to DisneyWorld. I have been there 3 times as an adult and have been to USF. Because of this when I planned our trip I decided to go to the Disney parks first and save USF and IOA for last. I don't want them to do my favorite parks first (USF and IOA) then get to Disney and be disappointed. I know Disney has a certain magic but I know my kids and know they will prefer USF and IOA to Disney. My 7 year old might be the exception but the older ones will prefer the Universal parks.

[JessicaR]

Growing up my family took a yearly Disney trip. It became tradition. We still do it but now with families of our own its hard to get us all together yearly. I love Disney, it holds special memories and new ones with each trip. Last year I found these boards and wandered over here:D Instead of booking just Disney I took a chance having never been to IOA and booked both.

It was my kids first time to Universal/IOA and my first time to IOA. We did Magic Kingdom first then went on to explore the Universal parks. My family and myself fell in love with IOA. The themeing and the different ride types offered enthralled us all. We found the characters so endearing and fun! I get so excited entering the different Islands...especially The lost continent (my favorite Island). I enjoy that there is something for each of us. Universal Studios in my opinion is better than MGM.

Last trip was to be split between Disney/Universal/Seaworld. We ended up spending 10 days at Universal/IOA/Seaworld instead. My childrens and husbands preference. I doubt very much that we will be doing Disney without also visiting Universal ever again.

I still absolutely love being in Disney during the Christmas holidays. Something about that time of year and taking part in MVMCP that I really look forward to. That aside my opinion is that they both offer something very different. I am unable to say one is better than the other but...if I was only able to visit one...Universal Parks win. Universal/IOA just seems more thrilling and more on the cutting edge. The Universal on-site hotels and eateries are a HUGE bonus as well.:)

[rocketman23]

I always have thought Universal is better, that is of course since IOA opened. It just has better stuff.

[MIB999999]

Originally posted by tlg145
My husband and I just returned from our trip to WDW and Universal. It was our first trip to both places and we do not have kids. Our favorite park by far was IOA. It was awesome. The rides were outstanding. We stayed at the Portofino Hotel and loved it. I preferred CityWalk over Downtown Disney also. We were not as impressed with Universal Studios. I rate the parks as follows:

1. IOA
2. Disney-MGM
(great shows, loved Tower of Terror and Rockin Rollercoaster)
3. Epcot
4. Magic Kingdom
5. Animal Kingdom
6. Universal Studios

you rank animal kingdom above studios??????

:confused:

[WebmasterBarry]

Well, all that walking around AK is good for your health. :)

[Rogue]

:D
(beaming a grin at what I see here)
Thank you to everyone who wrote such nice things about Universal. The folks there have worked very hard just to live up to the wonderful reputation that Disney has with it's guests.
Nothing wrong with Disney's parks, they are great too.
It's just nice for the folks at Universal to see that all their efforts are apprciated.

[Kay1]

I like both but lately prefer USF/IOA. It's just so clean and there's so much to do. The attractions are so spectacular. My rating is:

1. USF
2. Epcot
3. IOA
4. MK
5. MGM
6. Sea World
7. AK

[lcmtam86]

Hi everyone,
we just cam back last night and my husband and i saved universal for the end of our trip and very glad we did so. Our DS 12 1/2 would have begged us all week to go back to IOA and Studios all week if we went there first. DD 10 1/2 liked the whole trip however they were very "tired of a 10 min wait to get into the Preshow then the ride and then out into a gift shop" do 3 or 4 of them in a day and 1/2 of you day is gone. So yes we DH and I enjoyed the whole trip but if it was to be done again I have to say Disney will probably lose out to Universal and IOA probably put Seaword and Busch Gardens in its place. And this was our first time for all of us so maybe we didn't have "the magic" from our childhood. Just my honest opinion.
Tammie

[bartoscowabunga]

We just got back from our first visit to IOA/US, Sea World and Busch Gardens. We have been to Disney 2 times. We loved IOA/US and Sea World. Busch Gardens we could have done without. I was surprised how much all of us liked Sea World. My 9 year old liked Sea World best. I do love Disney and do think it has a special magic, but I loved IOA/US as well. Especially loved the Hard Rock Hotel. Could have stayed there for the whole day. I was really surprised how nice Universal was since many people don't seem to like it. We had a great time there.

[Muushka]

I enjoy IOA the most. Love them coasters!

Don't get me wrong, I love Disney too (we also own at DVC). However, it seems like USF/IOA value my business more than Disney does. Their AP rates are MUCH better and they offer much better park discounts (food, souviners) than Disney. Yes, I will stay on site at Disney, but I will spend more $$ at USF/IOA.

[davehaj]

We do. Davehaj and family.

[KimCon]

We had lots more fun at Universal than Disney, but having FOTL at Universal had a lot to do with that.

Kim

[lukelance]

I cant decide whether I like Islands of Adventure or Magic Kingdom better. IOA is like a more thrilling Disney but it doesnt have as many rides. If IOA adds a Grinch ride, Rocky and Bullwickle ride, and another Jurassic park ride then they will be #1 by far!

[lcmtam86]

Thrilling rides??

did you go on the Hulk, Dueling Dragons, Dudley's Ripshaw Falls. Jurassic Park. the Fear Fall need i name more?????? and these are all in one park named IOA