Animal Kingdom or Universal Studios Orlando?

[V2000]

Hello!

I have one extra day to plan on my DW trip in October. Traveling with me is my 15 year old daughter and my husband. I am having a hard time selecting Animal Kingdom because I have never been there. I am not much of an animal person but I can be open minded and adventurous.

I am wondering if I should choose that one day to see Harry Potter world at Universal. It may be too much trouble...I am not sure. I have never been to Universal Orlando either. We are staying at POR at DW.
Any thoughts or comments? What would you choose?

 

[Cedarmom]

The cost is significant, but if your kid is a huge HP fan, it is worth it to take the time to see Diagon Alley or Hogwarts (or both). The theming they have done is incredible. Remember that if you only have one day, you'll need a park to park ticket to see both HP areas. You'll also need park to park to ride the Hogwarts Express.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We haven't been to Universal since before HP opened, since USO isn't very toddler friendly and DD is just now reaching a height where she'll be able to ride some USO rides. We liked Universal, especially Islands of Adventure, even before HP opened (since we do like thrill rides). And I've heard HP is amazing.

Universal is 2 separate parks; I'm guessing it would cost you more to buy either a one park, one day USO ticket, or a one day, two park (hopper) USO ticket, than to add a day onto your Disney tickets, so that might be a consideration.

We also love Animal Kingdom. It's not like a regular zoo. Expedition Everest is one of the better Disney coasters in my opinion; and Kilomanjaro Safaris is one of the best rides all around. I think AK is beautifully themed; and the shows (Festival of the Lion King, Nemo) are a cut above the other shows (such as Beauty and the Beast at HS).

I think you should look at the rides and attractions at both AK and the Universal parks. What are you and your family most likely to be interested in? Is your daughter a big HP fan? Additionally, what is the cost difference between going to USO and AK? How will you get to USO?

Personally, I'd be happy going to either. There are worse dilemmas to have!

 

[L&Lfan]

Definitely try Universal especially if you're into Harry Potter and not into animals. Animal Kingdom is kind of tired with all the construction and without Avatarland opened yet.

 

[nkereina]

We love Universal but it would be a longer day and it would be more expensive. To fully experience WWoHP, you should get a park to park tickets and be prepared to visit both US and IOA. Otherwise, you'll have to choose one park over the other which would be hard, and you wouldn't be able to ride Hogwarts Express.

Personally, I would add a night at a Universal hotel - it would give you closer proximity to the parks, early entry, and unlimited express pass for both check in and check out days. If that's not in the cards, I would visit AK. We aren't animal people but still enjoy AK - Everest is one of our favorite rides on property. But it is a half day park for us.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Universal Orlando is a two-day excursion, unless you are just going to do the Islands of Adventure side. With only one day, I'd go with Animal Kingdom, since adding one extra day of admission on our Disney tickets would be much cheaper than paying for a full one day ticket to Universal.

However, Islands of Adventure is a great park. We hope to get back there soon, since Wizarding World was still under when we went. As for the Studios side itself... my family wasn't impressed.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

If you choose Universal, be sure to get a one day park to park ticket to see all of the Harry Potter stuff and remember that in October Halloween Horror Nights is going on in Universal Studios so that park will close early during those and would require a seperate hard ticket to get into it.

I love Animal Kingdom so would choose that to save money. I have no problems spending a full day there. You could spend the day at AK and then when they close go to DTD for the evening.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Tough one! Taking ticket cost out of it, I would do a Universal day. Even though I love AK, Universal ranks higher for us. But only you know if the hassle of getting there would be worth it. Will you have a car?

 

[Josh Hendy]

We love both AK and Universal Studios, both the Studios and Islands of Adventure. Besides Diagon Alley and Gringotts, the Studios have 'way more rides than AK and have lots of live shows, but they are generally more loud, thrilling, nauseating, etc. in other words aimed at adolescents and young adults whereas AK is more for people who are quiet-loving, contemplative animal and plant lovers. Studios does have an "animal actors" show which is as good as the bird show at AK.

Islands of Adventure is sort-of like Magic Kingdom, as well themed but not as "quaint". The rides at IOA also tend to be more loud, thrilling and less appropriate for people under age 13 and over age 50 (or so, depending on how much noise and dizziness you can take). That said, both USF and IOA have "kid zones" with rides based on Woody Woodpecker, Dr. Seuss, E.T., Curious George and so on.

 

[JimmyV]

There is more to do at Universal than at AK, especially if you buy a two park pass. So that sets up two important questions. Are you willing to pay the cost? And, are you prepared for a really, really full day? One of the things that we enjoy about AK is that it sets up as a half day park*, leaving us feeling more rested and relaxed. So we always plan it as a middle-of-the-trip park to give ourselves a break. If you are going to be going day and night every other day, one thing to consider is whether you want this undecided day to be another full day adventure, or if you might want a little down time built in to the vacation.

* Before people start a Board War, we usually go to AK from Rope Drop until around 4:00. For us, that is a half day. I am not suggesting that there is so little to do at AK that one could knock off the park from 9:00-noon. (Though others have suggested as much).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hello!

I have one extra day to plan on my DW trip in October. Traveling with me is my 16 year old daughter and my husband. I am having a hard time selecting Animal Kingdom because I have never been there. I am not much of an animal person but I can be open minded and adventurous.

I am wondering if I should choose that one day to see Harry Potter world at Universal. It may be too much trouble...I am not sure. I have never been to Universal Orlando either. We are staying at POR at DW.
Any thoughts or comments? What would you choose?

Does your family like Harry Potter?

Because I would choose that if they do.

 

[Kohara]

With a 16 year old absolutely Universal!!!!!!

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

My entire family would pick a day at Universal over Animal Kingdom. We love Animal Kingdom, no issued there, but Universal (especially if anyone in your party is a Harry Potter fan) is a much better park in our opinion. We could spend all day at Universal where, for us, AK is just a half day park. It would be much more expensive to go to Universal as opposed to adding another day to your tickets for AK, but it's worth it if you can afford it. Also, getting the park to park pass would be the only way to experience both of the Universal parks (and all of the HP attractions) which is another added expense.

 

[SeilerBird]

With a 16 year old absolutely Universal!!!!!!

I have an AP for both Disney and Universal and Kohara took the works right out of my mouth, and I am a wildlife photographer.

 

[mellyf]

We just spent four days at UO. I can't wait to go back. I also loved both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. For me, it would be hard to choose which one to spend the day at. I love The Mummy, The Simpsons Ride, Transformers, Minion Mayhem, and of course Diagon Alley (and Gringotts) at the Studios. But we also loved Forbidden Journey (at WWoHP), Spiderman, the Hulk Coaster, and Dragon Challenge. We didn't do any of the water rides because it was pretty chilly while we were there.

However, all that being said, I do really enjoy Disney's AK. We love EE, Kilimanjaro Safari, and Dinosaur. We also enjoy the Flight of Wonder show and It's Tough to be a Bug. For us, at this time, Universal is where we're ready to go back to, though.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

I agree. I absolutely LOVE Animal Kingdom, but you have to do US/IOA on a one day Park-to-park ticket. It's all about the rides. And HP is amazing! US/IOA is fantastic-especially if I had one day to do something. Now if I had 4 or more days, WDW is my choice.

 

[tweak89]

If the additional cost isn't an issue there is no question I would pick US/IoA. Even if you had to chose one "side" between US or IoA, either park on it's own provides more entertainment than AK.

 

[DOOM1001]

It's a no brainer,AK is still considered a half day park by many which means it lacks attractions and only opens until 5-6pm most of the year.At either Universal park,USF or IOA you'll find much more to do.USF has more to do and the new and better Potter area in my opinion,but as others have said if you can get a 2 park pass go for it to try and do as much as you can in both parks.

 

[V2000]

The cost is significant, but if your kid is a huge HP fan, it is worth it to take the time to see Diagon Alley or Hogwarts (or both). The theming they have done is incredible. Remember that if you only have one day, you'll need a park to park ticket to see both HP areas. You'll also need park to park to ride the Hogwarts Express.

Oh my gosh they are so sneaky. I have to buy a pass for both parks? Lol. Have you been? What is your experience. My daughter and I are big Harry Potter fans but I know they are opening one in our hometown next year. It probably will be a lot smaller than Orlando's.

 

[V2000]

I think you should look at the rides and attractions at both AK and the Universal parks. What are you and your family most likely to be interested in? Is your daughter a big HP fan? Additionally, what is the cost difference between going to USO and AK? How will you get to USO?

I love Disney...period. I think for animal kingdom I'd love to see the shows and go on the safari. But I am not sure if I would really enjoy the whole day there. I tried to watch videos on you tube to see if I could get excited about it. I'm still not sure.

However, I would love to see Harry Potter (if it's not too expensive). Can I do both Universal Parks in one full day?