Always do WDW - thinking about US need help!

[lpandorf]

We've been to WDW the past four years. Every vacation has been excellent so I'm really nervous to spend a bunch of money on something new. But kids have been asking to try something else. Esp DD7. My other child is DS4. We have friends with a beach house in Daytona we can rent for $300 for a week so thought about going there most of the week and then heading to Orlando and checking into one of the 3 hotels and doing Universal and SeaWorld. Where should I stay? How much time can we spend at each park? Is one day enough at each or should I plan on more time? Is it as nice as WDW? With my little one, we don't do many coasters, although the 7 year old will go on any coaster she's big enough for, alone.
Thanks!

 

[jarrdisney]

Depending on what time of year you go, I would stay on site. Universal resorts are on par with wdw deluxes or better, and the front of the line pass is invaluable. You may find more for your younger ones at USO than at IOA. That being said, I think you could really experience both parks during peak season in 3 days. That's only if you have front of the line pass, which you could also pay for if you're not staying on site. As far as "niceness" most will disagree with me here. I find IOA the lesser of the two parks, especially compared to WDW. USO, in my opinion, is more to the disney standard and you might enjoy it more.

 

[Spidey7]

Yes Universal is actually my favorite over WDW. You will love it, it is EXTREMELY well themed and will probably take you totally by surprise. They have really surpassed WDW with the IOA theme park.

I would highly advise you to stay on site, the onsite hotels are extremely luxurious, very well themed and you can use your room key as a fast pass to all the rides. I would spend at least 3-4 days on site at the property. You can do it in 2, but that is probably rushing things a bit and its so nice you will want to stay there longer. (And BTW its not a roller coaster park) its more of a theme ride park where small kids can do most of the rides. The rides are incredible from Spider man to Jurassic Park to the Mummy on and on and on.

My wife this past year did not like theme parks at all and hated WDW (mainly because of the crowds and lines) but I took her to U this summer and she loved it.

 

[kellymonaghan]

Since you're used to Disney quality, I'd suggest staying at Portofino Bay. The most expensive of the three, but the theme-ing is phenomenal. Also, the Beach Pool and the Villa Pool there make for a great break from the parks.

OTOH, Hard Rock is a BIG favorite with kids.

Tough decision.

 

[Metro West]

Yes Universal is actually my favorite over WDW. You will love it, it is EXTREMELY well themed and will probably take you totally by surprise. They have really surpassed WDW with the IOA theme park.

I would highly advise you to stay on site, the onsite hotels are extremely luxurious, very well themed and you can use your room key as a fast pass to all the rides. I would spend at least 3-4 days on site at the property. You can do it in 2, but that is probably rushing things a bit and its so nice you will want to stay there longer. (And BTW its not a roller coaster park) its more of a theme ride park where small kids can do most of the rides. The rides are incredible from Spider man to Jurassic Park to the Mummy on and on and on.

My wife this past year did not like theme parks at all and hated WDW (mainly because of the crowds and lines) but I took her to U this summer and she loved it.

The crowds at WDW have gotten out of hand..IMHO..and there is no such thing as a slow time anymore. I don't go to WDW that much anymore either...mainly because of the crowds and the refurbs.

 

[SnowWitch]

I haven't stayed at the Portifino in 5 + yrs but when we did I felt it blew away many of the Disney deluxes that we have stayed in. US/IOA are a bargain compared to a Disney vacation. That being said your kids, especially the 4 yr old, maybe somewhat limited on many rides at IOA. But it is a super themed park!

 

[laxcdn]

Is it possible to do IOA in a day? We plan 4 days at WDW, 1 at KSC, 1 at SW and 1 at IOA. That gives us 1 day as a spare to shop or ???. I have an 8 yo son that likes rides.

 

[ChrisFL]

Is it possible to do IOA in a day? We plan 4 days at WDW, 1 at KSC, 1 at SW and 1 at IOA. That gives us 1 day as a spare to shop or ???. I have an 8 yo son that likes rides.

Yes, unless you're going at a peak time you should be able to do most of IOA's stuff in one day with no problem

 

[laxcdn]

Yes, unless you're going at a peak time you should be able to do most of IOA's stuff in one day with no problem

We would be there around the 24th of Jan. I am hoping the lines will be short so I don't have to buy fast pass tix.

 

[Ileana]

We would be there around the 24th of Jan. I am hoping the lines will be short so I don't have to buy fast pass tix.

If you stay on-site at a University Hotel - your room key works as a Fast Pass

 

[Mickey's Goofy Gal]

Last summer, we were taking a 2 week vacation with most of the time being spent in Daytona with friends and family. We (DH, DS-15 and me) spent the first 4 days of the trip at US/IOA. We had always been to WDW if we went somewhere other than our Daytona vacation so we were wondering if it would live up to WDW standards. We all had a wonderful time - there are differences - but they were not bad differences. We opted to stay at one of the "Partner Hotels" that was listed on the US/IOA website and it was very nice (The Sheraton Studio City Hotel). They had free transportation to and from the Parks, but we chose to drive and park in the decks so we could arrive really early and stay really late. We got a package deal for 3 nights from the website that included early admission, tickets for 5 days and the hotel stay - we thought it was very reasonably priced. I liked that you could walk from park to park and I liked City Walk - loved eating at Jimmy Buffet's Margaretiaville. We did US on Sunday, IOA on Monday, went to a water park on Tuesday morning and then did things we wanted to re-do on Tuesday afternoon & night. On Wednesday, we went to do "The Titanic" tour/museum and drove over to Daytona to meet the rest of our group. We really had a wonderful time. I loved "The Mummy" ride - it was one of my favorites.

 

[Spidey7]

Although the Portifino is technically the most luxurious, IMO they are all fairly close. We normally stay at the Royal Pacific because I personallly just like the tropical themeing the best, but the Portifino is slightly more elegant, but its a very subtle difference in quality IMO.

I've stayed at the RP more than the P. But if you get a balcony at the P, that is very cool, the other hotels don't have balconies.

 

[amery]

It's hard to compare WDW to US/IOA as they are difinitively different from one and other.

IOA has some of the best rides aorund while US is great for their production shows. WDW has DTD. US/IOA has City Walk which separates the 2 parks. if you intend to stay onsite, my vote would be for RPR. It's a short walk or boat ride from CW and has all the amenities you could want for a deluxe resort.