10/24 Wonder....WDW or US/IOA before?

[mom2grace]

DH and I are going back for the $99 deal (sigh)----- you had to cruise druing 1/02 to get it--it is NO LONGER AVAILABLE. (Still in good standing with Michelle, Dave, et al?!)

We are trying to decide between doing Disney or Universal for 2 nights before the cruise. We have never been to Universal and DD is 1 year old, so we think we won't go for several years (will do Disney instead). DD is staying home with grandparents (yee haw!)

I hesitate to do Universal because I will "miss the Magic" but DH wants to do something different.


Opinions, experiences, etc. appreciated!

Thanks,
Susan

 

[WDVeteran_15]

I started to post with the thought that your DD was going with you, which would be very difficult to accomodate at either Universal or IOA. However, after re-reading it appears that you two will be on your own so options are much broader.

If you have never been to either Universal or IOA before, and have already done the Disney thing (don't get me wrong I love WDW too!), then I highly recommend trying them. However, the real choice is going to be based on what you like to do in the theme parks. If you like coasters then IOA is definitely the place to be (I'm 47 and I still love em!). Universal has more shows and large movie screen/simulator type rides. Also enjoy Universal, the shows are great, but many of the rides are a bit more on the rough side in comparison to something you would experience at WDW. For example, Hana Barbera and Back to the Future are cool rides using motion and movie screens, but seem like they can knock a filling loose at times. Men in Black is great, but spinning at times may be a challenge for some people.

Having said all this I understand your hesitation about "missing the mouse", but you may be able to experience Universal and IOA more now with just the two of you then you would later on with your DD (assuming she would go). These two parks tend to have rides that don't work as well for younger children. Again, don't get me wrong, I've have a 17 YO DS and a 14 YO DS and have been doing the parks since my DW was pregnant with our first son. I have enjoyed every minute going with the entire family, but our options certainly opened up as the boys got older.

Good luck and have fun!!

 

[MO64RN]

If you go without your DD I definitely second the motion to go to US/IOA. Don't get me wrong, I love Disney but Universal definitely has more to offer in the way of fun for us older kids. We have had annual passes now for the past few years and every chance we get my kids and I are off. The new Royal Pacific Hotel/Resort opens this month and looks beautiful with a Lagoon stlye beach. There is also the CityWalk with Restaurants, Clubs, Shopping and Movies Theaters if you and your DH are into the Nightlife. You will have fun.

 

[lespaul55]

We are going on the June 29th Magic and we have one extra day after our cruise. We will be staying at the Hard Rock Hotel and doing US/IOA. Why, instead of WDW? First we have only the rest of Saturday and most of Sunday before we leave for the airport. With the front of the line from staying at Hard Rock, we figure we can see most of those two parks. We also have older kids who have been to Disneyland a milliion times and now enjoy more of the "thrill" rides than the MK provides. Plus we are "zooed out" in our home town so the AK sounds boring to my kids. I'll post when we get back to let you know how this worked out for us.

Leslie