another US/IOA newbie question?

[connorsmom911]

Hi all, hoping you can help settle some planning decisions for dh and I. We are planning (yet another) quick trip in April 07 after my little sister's wedding, dh, Connor and I, plus my parents. We are trying to stay at OKW for 4 nights and originally I just wanted to do MK (always have to do MK) and maybe MGM since we haven't been to MGM in a few years. This trip is supposed to be a relaxing one since we will be all stressed from the wedding (don't ask...long story), so I have only planned 1.5 park days, the rest for relaxing, hanging at the resort or maybe a water park. We have park hoppers from the last trip left over.

We also have another 4 night trip booked in Jan 08 before our 4 night cruise on the Wonder (our first Disney cruise), this trip being for Connor's 5th birthday, with my parents and my grandparents (4 generations!!). That trip will be all about him...staying at ASMo hopefully in Toy Story Bldgs, doing MK mostly and maybe a bit of MGM, AK and EP for the kid type attractions.

Thought I had my planning in the bag when suddenly last night dh starts bringing up US/IOA. He's been when he was a lot younger, I've never been. He want to do it this April instead of Disney, but still stay at Disney. Now we are both into the coasters and thrill rides, and on the last trip to Disney in April 06 we started Connor on Goofy's Barnstormer (loved it) and BTMRR (not so much). He's tall, so height requirements are not a problem, but he is starting to get a little more fearful of things, and has a hard time with really loud noises (although he loves fireworks). He's totally a Disney nut (like his mom) and knows pretty much all the characters.

Now Universal is a different story. Connor wouldn't know many of the characters or the rides...pretty much only Shrek, Blues Clues and maybe Spider-Man. We're not into Dr. Seuss or any Nick characters (except Dora and Blue). Also, my parents have no interest in doing US or IOA. They just want to relax, maybe do MK but that's it. Can you tell we're (mostly) a Disneyfied family?

I want to wait and go just our family, maybe for Connor's 10th birthday. I figure that could be a 10 day or 2 week trip split between Disney and Universal. Connor will be more familiar with the characters and movies at Universal by then and we'd all be able to do the rides/coasters together (we don't like doing the baby-swap thing now anyway, we just skip those rides if we can't do them as a family).

Opinions? Thanks in advance.

 

[damo]

Maybe you could borrow some Suess from the library to familiarize Connor a bit more. I find Universal/IOA a lot more relaxing than Disney if you stay on site. WAY more relaxing since you don't have to wait in line. This makes all of the baby swaps very fast and you still have tons of time to laze around at the pool. There are some great play areas that Connor would probably love. check out www.universalorlando.com and especially check out the pages that explain what there is for kids. I highly recommend that you stay on site for one night at least.

 

[goofy!]

For pure relaxation, you can't beat staying onsite at Universal. The resorts are gorgeous!! Your parents might like the Portofino, sitting on the piazza by the harbor in the evenings listening to the live Italian music. It is romantic and very relaxing.

The resorts are a short walk or relaxing boat ride to the parks. You can go anytime and with FOTL can get a whole lot done in just a few hours. Then back to to the resort for yet more downtime.

I love the fun of Disney, but I always feel I need a vacation to recover from my vacation. With Universal, it is so relaxing, yet you still get the thrill of the rides.

The baby swap is very, very easy at Universal. From what I remember (it has been awhile) it is so much easier than at Disney.

Try it, you might just love it!

 

[yaytezIOA]

If you want a great experience, and something that will keep you coming back, stay onsite at Universal....even if you dont go to the parks, the hotels are really amazing. Portofino Bay is the best, imo....Plus, you get Express for free that you can use anytime (show me that from the disney hotels) and like everyone else says, its really relaxing to not have to fight traffic. Get the kid into Suess, and Superheroes...plus bone up on Shrek and Nicktoons...Nick is gone, but they still have presence.

 

[connorsmom911]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the replies. We have now decided as a family (parents and us) that we are foregoing Disney this trip in April and instead going back to our happy haunt in Daytona. We're still going on the land/sea in January 2008 which we are all excited about and now I will happily plod along and plan a split stay between Universal and Disney for Connor's 10th birthday in 2013.

 

[KEW80]

My family went to Disney all the time. We experienced Universal and their hotels and can't get it off of our minds. If you want a relaxing vacation filled with fun for everyone-Universal is the way to go. Disney is great but it is a different kind of vacation.

My suggestion, if you go to Universal-STAY ONSITE!!!! This way you have front of the line and the max you will wait for a ride is 15 min. This frees up time to relax at the pools. Also, you can rent a cabana if you really want a relaxing time!!!

Margaritaville is amazing!!!! Fun for kids and great fun atmosphere. The steaks-GREAT!!!

Words cannot express how much I love Universal. My family is going to Disney this year because we haven't been there in years because we have been going to Universal. I secretly wish it was Universal again.

Hope this helps and Universal does not pay me to write this stuff!!!

 

[macraven]

i would never do that to my child, make them wait until they are half way grown to go to universal............

i started my boys early at the age of 6 of doing universal.
and, they did disney also.

 

[macraven]

i would never do that to my child, make them wait until they are half way grown to go to universal............

i started my boys early at the age of 6 of doing universal.
and, they did disney also.