WDW Fans: Will you go see Harry Potter?

[softballmom3]

In answer to the question, Yes, Yes and Yes!!!! we are definitely going to Universal just for Harry Potter. I have NO desire to go there otherwise. We love Disney! That being said....if I start reading here about how CRAZY it is, we just may wait a yr

 

[jamstew]

Wow, all you Disney people who are thinking of trying Universal for the first time seem "scared" to go over there. It's a theme park just like Disney! Sheesh, just give it a chance. You judging a book by its cover makes you look really childish.

Neither scared nor judging a book by its cover in my case. I hate thrill rides, my children are grown, and my grandchildren are too young. Disney is a big part of my childhood. I grew up with the classic movies and the original Mickey Mouse Club. Universal holds no interest for me -- it's that simple. As far as I am concerned, there's nothing "like" Disney, but I do love Harry Potter and will go simply to see the attraction, without riding the ride.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Our wedding trip last year was the first time we didn't also visit the Universal resorts!

So we are going in order to experience HP, and got a great rate on 2 nights at the Hard Rock Hotel.

However, this year we are going to skip Seaworld for the first time, and do a couple of nights in Fort Lauderdale as well.

If we make it over for Christmas that will probably be a solely Disney trip for us as we can only do a week.

 

[Rip]

Neither scared nor judging a book by its cover in my case. I hate thrill rides, my children are grown, and my grandchildren are too young. Disney is a big part of my childhood. I grew up with the classic movies and the original Mickey Mouse Club. Universal holds no interest for me -- it's that simple. As far as I am concerned, there's nothing "like" Disney, but I do love Harry Potter and will go simply to see the attraction, without riding the ride.

Most of the rides there aren't thrill rides.

 

[disneylovin24]

Well, it looks like Harry Potter World will be doing exactly what Universal wanted it to. It will be attracting a lot of new guests and even taking some from WDW

 

[Ericadawn]

Since so many of you are thinking about trying other things, I'd definitely recommend Busch Gardens in Tampa. It's a great city and BG has animals that AK doesn't, like white tigers.

I love IoA but I think I'll wait for 2011 when all the kinks are out and the crowd will be thinner.

 

[eliza61]

I'm curious:

For those of you who usually stay on-site at WDW and do not normally venture off property, how many of you plan to spend a day at Universal on your next vacation to check out the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

It will be interesting to see what impact (if any) it has on Central Florida theme park attendance and if it impacts WDW in any way.

We probably will but we usually do a day at universal anyway. My kids are teens and although we love disney, the coasters are better over at Universal.

 

[Katie Dawn]

Well, it looks like Harry Potter World will be doing exactly what Universal wanted it to. It will be attracting a lot of new guests and even taking some from WDW

I know several people who hadn't seriously considered a visit to Orlando but are planning a visit because of HP World. It will be interesting to see how many do US/IOA + Disney and how many do US/IOA + Seaworld/Aquatica.

You know, we just did a Disney + SeaWorld trip and the fact that we were going to be spending part of our time "off Disney campus" did impact our decision to stay off-site -- we weren't going to get free dining or free parking for several days of our stay. It will be interesting to see how all of that plays out!

 

[Feralpeg]

Wow, all you Disney people who are thinking of trying Universal for the first time seem "scared" to go over there. It's a theme park just like Disney! Sheesh, just give it a chance. You judging a book by its cover makes you look really childish.

Oddly, some people think that, if they like Universal, they are doing a disservice to Disney. That's crazy. Disney and Universal have a good relationship in the Orlando area. Yes, they are competitors, but they also know that what brings tourists to Orlando is the many and varied things to do. They actually work together to promote the area and help with Orlando community projects.

A PP was right. Universal is not just thrill rides. I hate thrill rides. I have never ridden Space Mountain, Everest, TOT or Rock'n Rollercoaster at WDW. I don't ride the thrill rides at Universal, yet I find many things to do. Universal has some great live shows. They have a lot of rides that are not thrill rides. What I like best about Universal is the themes. I feel much more like I am on an actual movies set at US than I do at DHS. I still love DHS, but for different reasons. At IOA, I feel like I'm walking into Jurassic Park and I love Suess Landing.

There is something for everyone at both parks. I feel sad for those that refuse to give Universal a chance. They are missing out on some wonderful things, but it is their choice. One of the wonderful things about living in the Orlando area is that I can experience all of the various venues over and over. Life is good!

 

[Timmy Boy]

^Nicely put.

Also someone else said "Universal holds no interest, it's just like a Six Flags park, no themes, just amuesment".

Wow.

EDIT** I mean, just look at the lack of theming in these pictures. Simply unbearable. It's such a shame that a major competitor doesn't theme like Disney does.

 

[Kazzy1548]

We are planing to go see HP at universal on our next trip. I was lucky enough to buy tickets before they raised their prices. I am very proud of myself.

 

[Planogirl]

^Nicely put.

Also someone else said "Universal holds no interest, it's just like a Six Flags park, no themes, just amuesment".

Wow.

EDIT** I mean, just look at the lack of theming in these pictures. Simply unbearable. It's such a shame that a major competitor doesn't theme like Disney does.

In fairness, a lot of this could be Universal's fault. They market themselves as cutting edge and exciting and so on. The first time we went, I was surprised when I found out that Universal has so much variety and such great theming. People just don't know because they've never been or because it's been a long time since they checked it out. Some people go in with certain ideas and you sometimes can't change their minds.

I give money to BOTH companies now and that seems fair.

 

[disneylovin24]

The reason I have never gone to Universal has nothing to do with the rides are theming. Actually, from what I've seen online I think I would enjoy Universal and I have considered going there in the past. But, I go to Orlando for one reason and that is disney. Once I get to Disney I don't want to leave! I feel so secluded from the rest of the world, I don't want to leave that.

 

[chrisn]

We are HUGE WDW and Universal fans! In our half dozen or so trips since 2000, we've never even entertained the idea of not doing one without the other.

We have an upcoming trip next month and it is KILLING me that WWOHP will not be ready.

So....this is the first time EVER that we are actually planning a Florida trip just to do the Universal parks for HP. We will be going in October for Halloween and will not do Disney.

I simply cannot wait another couple years to go and see what it's all about, and I know for a fact that you will be living the movies when you walk into that land.

IOA's theming is spectacular and nothing but!

 

[theDisneyCouple]

We'll probably go to Universal for the first time when Harry opens. But I agree that we go to Orlando for Disney. Universal is just a bonus...and probably not one I'll go to more than once.

 

[seadd67]

We are planing on adding two and a half days to Universal studios on our trip this July.We will be staying at the HRH.When we seen that US was opening Harry Potter that was a given for us to go.But honestly for the exception of a couple of rides we would of avoided US If It wasent for Harry Potter.We just hate to drag our selfs away from the Disney Experince. But we swore when US open HP we would make It a point to go.So this could be our last trip to HS for a long time.And no I do not think Disney will lose any Money on HP,because for the ones that are comeing down for HP,will at least make a apperince at WDW.

 

[TDC Nala]

I love the looks of Poseidon's temple or whatever that is - but the show they do inside is pretty lame. I usually root for the guy in the old football helmet.

 

[jamstew]

Once I get to Disney I don't want to leave!

I'm 64 years old and have been traveling most of my life? There are tons of places I love and will continue to go. Why does anyone care whether or not someone else goes to Universal and why?

 

[KellyNY]

I love Universal almost as much as Disney but even so a week at Universal parks is around $100 and a week at Disney is about $250, I just cannot spend the whole week at Universal, all I need is 2 days. Since it adds a lot to do both, we usually do Disney only, but we will definitely hit HP next time, I think it is major upgrade. Universal is pretty themed but in a very different way from Disney.

 

[Feralpeg]

:thumbs up2

I'm 64 years old and have been traveling most of my life? There are tons of places I love and will continue to go. Why does anyone care whether or not someone else goes to Universal and why?

I don't think anyone really cares if people go to Universal. I just find it interesting when I see people post about how bad Universal is compared to Disney. How lame the theming is, etc. and they've never been there. Odd.