Who else doesn't know "pooh" about Disney?

[IMGONNABE40!]

I notice that a lot of the folks who come here with questions about Universal ask how certain attractions compare to Disney attractions, or resorts or events, etc. They often drop acronyms that look strange to me. :earseek:

So, I got to wondering, am I the only one who sought out Universal without first doing Disney to death? Other than a quick visit to Animal Kingdom Lodge to meet my brother for dinner at BOMA a couple of years ago, I have no recent experience with the mouse. I visited Epcot for a day in the late 80's, and did a 2 or 3 day vacation at the Magic Kingdom back in 1979. Anyone else only know Universal?

[ozarkmom]

Actually I thought I might be the only one. My kids are older and didn't want to go to Disney period. My husband went to DW when he was a little boy and I visited there as a little girl. We only have so much time when we were able to go to Orlando my kids asked to go to the Universal parks over Disney. Even when they were smaller they would watch Nickelodeon shows and just beg to go to Orlando and Universal studios! Don't ever remember them begging to go to the other place.

[IMGONNABE40!]

Glad to know I am not the only one!

[macraven]

i started the orlando trips when my boys were 7-9-10 years old.
we did disney for a few days then would go to universal for 4 days.

nickelodean was a hit for them and we had to take it in. our beginning trips were before IOA was built.

after they were a few years older, we would go to universal first and follow up with disney.

once they were teens, we did days at disney then to universal for 5 days.
we were too spoiled to do it any other way.
my kids loved universal much better than disney from the start.

we would go for 10 days each trip. once IOA was built it was easier to spend more time there. prior to that, we would hit the other park, do the dinner shows in town, and visit old town, that type of stuff to fill in the free time.

our family adores universal. there are rides there we never tire of. disney we did. we found the food to be great at universal even the counter service places.
i always thought universal was great for kids under 10, it wasn't just a teen or young adult place to hang out at. the characters at universal talk and when my kids went to disney, they never could understand why those characters just did hand gestures or head nodding.

we did both parks and other attractions in the orlando area each year.
i go solo now and never run out of things to do at universal.

when someone posts about comparing a ride from disney to universal, i know what they are talking about. but, it is difficult to explain to them as they already have a negative defensive against universal in some cases.

i still say that universal is orlando's best kept secret.

[robvia]

You can add me to this crowd. We visit Disney once every 4 years or so, staying at the All Star resorts. The last time we went, the daughter and I did the thrill ride tour hitting all 4 parks in one day. She's outgrown the kiddie stuff. We'll be going later in 2006 when Everest opens at AK.

I don't know how people can stay there for an entire week, some two. It's like they're brainwashed or something. We'll only need a couple nights, half a day at each park.

[Figment22]

While I do know many of the Disney acronyms that get dropped "over there", I have not set foot in a Disney park in over five years. And even during those earlier visits to WDW, we always managed to hit Universal Studios too. Once IOA opened in '99, we pretty much spent the majority of our time at UO. My kids who are older now don't even miss the mouse. We've recently added Busch Gardens to our central Florida itinerary too. Those BG coasters are too good to pass up!

[ozarkmom]

Yes we've already decided that we want to hit Busch Gardens on our next trip. We enjoyed Sea World too. It's just a different type of park but we still were glad we went. I just hope before they're grown we can do another trip to Orlando and visit Universal and IOA.

[lindalinda]

While I dont even compare to the expert level of most people on these boards, all my friends and co-workers consider me their "orlando expert' and always consult me before vacation. I still love disney too, but my son is older now and universal is just more fun for older kids. We still do at least one day at disney (epcot prob) cuz mostly I'm kinda a dork and i love that Living with the Land pavillion. The Universal vacation is just so much easier and stress free that I cant imagine actually staying at disney anymore, I'm too spoiled now. :cool1:
BTW, almost every time I post on these boards I seem to irritate someone...am I doing something rude? You'd think on these type boards ppl would have a little more sense of humor... :rotfl2:

[phamton]

BTW, almost every time I post on these boards I seem to irritate someone...am I doing something rude? You'd think on these type boards ppl would have a little more sense of humor... :rotfl2:

I haven't noticed anything rude that you have posted. In fact, the post that you made the other day about not arguing with phamton was cute. I certainly wasn't offended.

We tend to be rather sarcastic here on the Universal Boards probably because we often feel like the outcasts of the DisBoard. Being a Universal fan often makes us the red-haired step-child on the Dis. Most of us don't live and breathe pixie dust here on this board. We kid around alot and take friendly jabs at each other but we're all really good friends here. Welcome to the dark side!

Bev

[3kidsmommy]

I am NOT the only one???? WHOO HOO-my kids 10, 7, and 6 begged me to go to Universal and to stay at Nick Hotel--so we are. My 7yo is even autistic and all he wants is to see Barney at Universal (please tell me that is still there) and to play with the water. We love Universal alot...we won't even be stopping by WDW on this trip--From what I hear, the kids will just want to stay at the hotel! lol

[momof3disneyholics]

I'll shamefully admit that I sought out Disney first and did it to death before even trying Universal. But, that was a long time ago and ever since the first time I tried Universal there has been no looking back. I pretty much only go to Disney now when I have free tickets and I don't want them to go to waste.
Now you all know my dirty little secret. I used to be addicted to Pixie Dust. Promise you won't hold it against me? :rolleyes1

[keishashadow]

Although the mouse owns me, I bought a Universal PAP before I sprung for WDW AP's (snagged a great pre-Pres day rate @ HRH & still save a couple hundred dollars!).

Yes, you are a tres' cool bunch; far more Universal than the Small World, Goofy WDW DIS'ers!:tilt:

Since I'm the one my family drags kicking & screaming from Main Street to be educated @ Epcot each trip; it was an unexpected surprise to fall head over heels for Universal (where else could I oogle Popeye?).

IMO, you cannot begin to compare the parks...a totally different mind-set & experience. Although a few posters are just as dyed-in-the-wool as their WDW counterparts (I'm still recovering from my anti-Mummy post), I'd like to think I have foot planted in both universes...now if Loews would only come up with a time-share.;)

[Laurabearz]

We love WDW but we really love US/IOA and the staff at the HRH!

[jcooperdj]

Big test coming for us on Feb 26th. We are taking our first trip to International drive. We just did Disney for 6 days over Thanksgiving. I have a 5 day pass to Universal, 1 day to seaworld. My other half does not like fast rides so that limits my riding and Disney Offers alot of stuff other than rides. We will decide which we like best in a few weeks. I can tell u that i am spoiled with the Disney Transportation but I will keep a open mind. Also have tickets for Pirate Show as we are staying right beside it and I have seen it before,,,, she will like it.

[lindalinda]

Methinks you will be pleasantly surprised.... :bounce:

[macraven]

Since I'm the one my family drags kicking & screaming from Main Street to be educated @ Epcot each trip; it was an unexpected surprise to fall head over heels for Universal (where else could I oogle Popeye?).

.;)





and lets not forget how hot spidey is.............

[macraven]

I'll shamefully admit that I sought out Disney first and did it to death before even trying Universal. But, that was a long time ago and ever since the first time I tried Universal there has been no looking back. I pretty much only go to Disney now when I have free tickets and I don't want them to go to waste.
Now you all know my dirty little secret. I used to be addicted to Pixie Dust. Promise you won't hold it against me? :rolleyes1




so glad you love the "dark side" as phamton called it.

your screen name.........well............it looks kind of disney to me...but that's okay, you fit in fine, mighty fine here with us.

[macraven]

i am so glad to see some conversation starting on the universal thread.

i think the universal side could be as strong in numbers as the disney side.

i started a thread of wanna play a game.....its with homonyms, in order to spice up chit chat for the universal gang. right now its only two of us posting but wish you all would come over and join in. i know its not a great thread but it was the only thing i could think of to get some group activity going.

[the Dark Marauder]

so glad you love the "dark side" as phamton called it.

your screen name.........well............it looks kind of disney to me...but that's okay, you fit in fine, mighty fine here with us.
She had not yet felt the full power of the Dark...Side at the time she made her sn. Rest assured, she's pro Universal.

I might have had something to do with it as well... :rolleyes1 :confused3 :tongue:

[macraven]

woo hoo.......another convert........

and thanx to dark marauder for it......

[Laurabearz]

Tee hee nothing like US/IOA tags on a mostly Disney board....

Laura <----- who is proud of here US tag, and I remember how much I was looking forward to riding the Mummy on that trip. Ahhhh yes... good times

[Valentine]

Have to say I am of the One Foot in both Parks... I LOVE both places equally.. and would never dream of making a trip down without hitting both Universal and Disney. I also agree that you cannot compare the 2 experiences.. they are completely different... I am actually heading down tomorrow and will be starting in Disney.. but I have a rental car so... I head back and forth between Disney and universal several times in the week...

Fire and Ice.. here I come!!! Yayaaayayayy!! ;)

Kathy

[Mickeygirl]

I used to be a die hard WDW fan but then we stayed at Universal and that did it :love: We are going in July of 06 and when I asked my niece(8) and my nephew (6) if thay wanted to stay at Universal or Disney they looked at me like I had lost my mind :crazy: The last time we did WDW with them after staying at Universal all they could say when in line for a ride was "Just use the card".

So after years at WDW when are son was little we are now total Universal converts :banana:

I can't wait untill July 06 :banana: :Pinkbounc :banana:

[zippehsmom]

I have to say that I love both parks. They feel like you are having 2 different vacation experiences.

When going to Orlando, we usually try and do both parks. This summer we are staying 3 nights onsite Universal, 9 nights at Disney & 7 nights in a timeshare in Orlando. So we are going to get the total Orlando experience. :cool1:

[phamton]

I have an AP for Disney and love it also but Universal is still my favorite.

[dpuck1998]

I'm in the shameful group. However I do LOVE disney and I'm sure I always will. I did buy an AP for Universal this year because it was cheaper than buying a 2 day ticket.

Sidenote, Valentine...that picture was slaying me so I had to share this one with you. My daughter about 2 weeks ago.

http://www.vicksburg.k12.mi.us/~dpuck1998/gallery/picKLE-albums/49%20December2005/December%202005%20126.jpg

[Kimba1818]

You guys are making me feel better about my trip to Universal. I have always read most of the threads about Disney and there is always such a HYPE. I do like the Disney parks and was worried I am going to be disappointed this Feb when we go to Universal for the first time and mostly I think it is because of the big hype of Disney and alot of bashing Universal. I worry that my 4, 7, and 11 year old will be too young for Universal they are not big coaster kids. The opinion on the Disney boards is that Universal is for older kids. My kids are huge nickelodeon fans, watch it just as much if not more than the Disney channel. Guess we will see in Feb.

[macraven]

there are places in universal that young kids will love.
woody woodpecker area, animal planet, et, shrek, jimmy neutron.
at ioa, seuss land can not be beat.
i am not a little kid but i always hit the cat in the hat ride at least 5 times when i am there........

your 7 and 11 year old will have so much fun. your 4 year old might be afraid of noises/heights thinking et here.

the youngest i ever took my kids to universal was at age 6.5 and he did fine.
i have all boys and the louder and wilder, they loved it.

i am sure others here have taking children of age 4 to the parks, i haven't though. the same problem at universal as in disney..........strollers on your heels when it is crowded..

the employees at the parks are kewl. even last hhn event, scareactors were very kind to the littles. of course, i have no idea why any parent would take a little to that event but that is another story.

you will find that you and your kids will have fun at universal.

i do both parks and they are different from each other.

[Shane]

Well, I have always preferred other parks than Disney, sure I love Disney, specially at night but I prefer Seaworld + Universtal + Islands of Adventure