WDW Fans: Will you go see Harry Potter?

[tink1957]

We are going in May for a 5 night stay at Doubletree Universal, it will be our third time staying near or onsite & the only time we have ever done a strictly Universal trip. I'm trying to talk my kids into going to WDW for a few days as I can't see going to Orlando without visiting my happy place, but they are getting older & WDW has little to interest them. We did a 2 night stay at HRH last Sept with an 11 night stay at WDW & I think I burned them out on WDW for awhile. The only reason we are going back so soon is because of Harry Potter, we are big fans and can't wait to see it.

 

[KellyNY]

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.

I agree but I can see how it happens.

Universal ->(associated with) Trill Rides -> Roller Coasters -> Six Flags -> No theming

 

[newharmony]

No desire to go to Universal...we got as far as the parking garage once and hated that! All that concrete! How about the new Legoland? I just read that Cypress Gardens has been sold and a Legoland! Florida will be built there.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

My DH and oldest DD are huge HP fans so we will definitely check it out at some point in the future

 

[jamstew]

No desire to go to Universal...we got as far as the parking garage once and hated that! All that concrete! How about the new Legoland? I just read that Cypress Gardens has been sold and a Legoland! Florida will be built there.

I'm definitely looking forward to taking my grandchildren to Legoland!

 

[jamstew]

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.

I agree with that. I just thought it was a bit much for a pp to say that people acted as if they were scared to try it and were being childish. Although HP is the only thing that has piqued my interest enough to go, I'm looking forward to the E.T., Jaws & Jurassic Park (unless I'm going to get soaking wet) attractions. Except for the Gulf beaches, it's hard for me to tear myself away from Disney because of the nostalgia. Since I travel solo 99% of the time, Disney is particularly special because it's comfortable and safe. And I frankly didn't spend thousands of dollars on DVC to go to Universal or anywhere else

 

[Feralpeg]

No desire to go to Universal...we got as far as the parking garage once and hated that! All that concrete! How about the new Legoland? I just read that Cypress Gardens has been sold and a Legoland! Florida will be built there.

Um, Disney has parking lots. They consist of a lot of asphalt. If you'd have gotten farther than the parking lot, you'd have found that Universal is more than just a lot of concrete.

 

[Feralpeg]

Here is a picture a friend took at IOA today of the Hogwarts castle. Very cool! I can't wait for it to open!

 

[seadd67]

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.

Really I thought the show was pretty good!,but I have only been to see It once,so maybe after a few times I would get tired of It.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I love how this thread has people stating they will never go to Universal EVER!

And how their statement has nothing to do with the presence of Harry Potter... they're just being troll-like by coming on here and stating they will never go to Universal without relating it to Harry Potter. Sheesh. It's almost as bad as that thread that someone was asking how to get Pepsi while staying on-site and people seriously replied just to say how much they hated Pepsi. They weren't ever planning on help OP, or responding to what OP asked... they just had to be jerks!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Here is a picture a friend took at IOA today of the Hogwarts castle. Very cool! I can't wait for it to open!

Thanks for the picture!

Lol, right by a Jurassic Park sign. It'll be like heaven for me, my favorite movie (Jurassic Park) and my favorite franchise right next to each other in a theme park!

 

[KatMark]

Again, I'm not a Harry Potter fan (nor is my DH), so we won't be rushing to Universal. We've done Universal in the past and while we enjoyed it, it doesn't hold the same appeal to us that DW does. We do not care for "thrill ride" roller coasters. However, this does NOT make us haters of Universal; we just prefer DW by a whole lot.

 

[TDC Nala]

love the photo but Hogwarts looks kinda wrong with palm trees...

Yeah, I'm a Harry Potter fan, I admit it.

 

[jpolak]

While I think the pictures look very cool and I enjoyed all of the books and movies, I would say probably not. Our kids are still very young DW has no interest in HP so I would say we will pass.

 

[mamaprincess]

We may go one day. I just don't want the lines. I'm under the impression that in order to have front of the line access, you have to stay at one of their hotels. We are DVC so I don't know if we will want to stay in one of their rooms. Plus it's just hard to get away from WDW once we are there for our once a year trip. I really hope we will go to Universal one day to experience some of the cool rides there. I think the kids will really like some of the rides as they are thrill ride lovers. I love immersive rides that tell a story so I'm sure I'll love HP.

 

[Planogirl]

Thanks for the picture!

Lol, right by a Jurassic Park sign. It'll be like heaven for me, my favorite movie (Jurassic Park) and my favorite franchise right next to each other in a theme park!

I assume that the sign is a directional sign and hopefully won't be quite so apparent later on from where you can view Hogwarts. And I agree that the palm trees look odd but who knows if they'll survive?

I also marvel at those who dislike Universal never having been there or complain about a parking garage. At least your car is in the shade! But eh, to each their own. I feel lucky in that I like both resorts.

 

[KellyNY]

We may go one day. I just don't want the lines. I'm under the impression that in order to have front of the line access, you have to stay at one of their hotels. We are DVC so I don't know if we will want to stay in one of their rooms. Plus it's just hard to get away from WDW once we are there for our once a year trip. I really hope we will go to Universal one day to experience some of the cool rides there. I think the kids will really like some of the rides as they are thrill ride lovers. I love immersive rides that tell a story so I'm sure I'll love HP.

I was at Universal 5 years ago. Back then they had FPs even better then Disney ones, since you had 2 or 3 options, when you want to return. I hope they still have it. We were during Spring Break and we did almost all rides in 2 days, 1 park per day.

 

[tzuhouse]

Our next tripped was planned because of Harry Potter. It will be our first time at Universal. We've spent a total of 54 days at WDW up until now and never felt a need to go elsewhere.

Mary

 

[disneyfav4ever]

We're discussing the possibility of a family vacation this summer, and HP is the major reason we're considering it. Even if we don't go then, I may add on to my fall vacation and go to Universal then.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Our next tripped was planned because of Harry Potter. It will be our first time at Universal. We've spent a total of 54 days at WDW up until now and never felt a need to go elsewhere.

Mary

I'm almost exactly the same, I only have one day less then you in Disney, (and will be adding at least 15 more by the end of this year,) and this is the first time I've ever seriously considered going to Universal.