Anyone skipping WDW and ONLY going to Universal this year?

[momblanch]

We are doing US/IOA exclusively this trip, with some much needed chill-laxin' at our resort. The "magic" of WDW has faded a bit for DD12 and DS18, and they are really looking forward to returning to Universal for some of the bigger thrill rides and of course, the WWoHP experience (HUGE fans). We booked decent airfare for Nov, doing an RCI condo exchange and reasonable tickets. If we dont splurge too much for dinners out, I'm looking at a 6day/3person vacation for $1800-$2000.

 

[Magpie]

Every time we've done Disney, we've stayed off-site (usually a Best Western), because it's much, much cheaper and there's always a free continental breakfast.

This time, however, when we crunched the numbers and factored in the cost of Express passes for everyone in the family and figured out that there was no need to rent a car because it's all walking distance - staying for 7 nights on-site at Universal Studios was actually pretty reasonable.

So that's what we're doing! No Disney this trip, but it's going to be my first time ever staying in a resort hotel. I'm very excited!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We're going back to Universal this year. For my family, it's more like we skip Universal to go to Disney, which we did last year. We choose UO much more often than WDW. If it wasn't for me wanting an occasional trip to WDW, my DH & DS would never go. They're definitely UO groupies.

 

[Planogirl]

Every time we've done Disney, we've stayed off-site (usually a Best Western), because it's much, much cheaper and there's always a free continental breakfast.

This time, however, when we crunched the numbers and factored in the cost of Express passes for everyone in the family and figured out that there was no need to rent a car because it's all walking distance - staying for 7 nights on-site at Universal Studios was actually pretty reasonable.

So that's what we're doing! No Disney this trip, but it's going to be my first time ever staying in a resort hotel. I'm very excited!

Which resort are you staying at? I love all of them!!!

 

[heatherwillmom]

Our typically Orlando trip involves 5 days on site at Disney & 3 days on-site at Universal. I love the express pass for on-site guests& being able to walk to the parks. I couldn't imagine not going to Disney if I was there.

 

[Magpie]

Which resort are you staying at? I love all of them!!!

The Royal Pacific Resort!

It's going to be quite the adventure... we'll be leaving before dawn, driving across the Canadian border to Syracuse and catching a plane there (SO much cheaper). Then it's two flights with about a four hour layover between, and we arrive in Orlando at 9:30 pm.

The plan is to find the taxi stand, catch a cab to the Royal Pacific, check in and collapse. Luckily we then have six full days to recuperate before we have to repeat the whole process in reverse!

I looked at the 4 days Disney/ 3 days Universal option, but it was actually a LOT more expensive to try to do it that way. And my husband hates busses ("It's not a vacation if I have to take a bus!"), which means we'd have to rent a car on top of everything else.

So no Disney this time. But I'm pretty confident we won't miss it! My family aren't just big HP fans, we also love Marvel comics and old movies.

 

[cbsnyber1]

Well, I am crunching the numbers and I think it would be so much cheaper for us just to go to Universal and stay at the HRH for 7 nights, and take one night out to go to MNSSHP, than to do a split stay. We need 2 rooms for our family so we'd just stay in the kid's suite at HRH. They are running a 40% off special so it would be a little over $300.

This is exactly what we did last December - the entire trip was to Universal except for a one evening visit to MK for MVMCP. We booked two rooms at PBH. It was a great vacation - best of both worlds.

We've been more inclined to US and IOA for a while now - just got tired of the crowds and expense at Disney, plus the kids are older and prefer Universal.

 

[Planogirl]

The Royal Pacific Resort!

It's going to be quite the adventure... we'll be leaving before dawn, driving across the Canadian border to Syracuse and catching a plane there (SO much cheaper). Then it's two flights with about a four hour layover between, and we arrive in Orlando at 9:30 pm.

The plan is to find the taxi stand, catch a cab to the Royal Pacific, check in and collapse. Luckily we then have six full days to recuperate before we have to repeat the whole process in reverse!

I looked at the 4 days Disney/ 3 days Universal option, but it was actually a LOT more expensive to try to do it that way. And my husband hates busses ("It's not a vacation if I have to take a bus!"), which means we'd have to rent a car on top of everything else.

So no Disney this time. But I'm pretty confident we won't miss it! My family aren't just big HP fans, we also love Marvel comics and old movies.

If you like pools be sure to hop over to the Hard Rock Hotel pool. My guys did this and went on and on about how nice it was.

 

[melly]

I don't care much for Universal. We went once and that was enough for me.
Nancy

it just hasnt got the magic

 

[TraceyL]

We usually do both - 3 days at Disney (offsite), 2 onsite at USF and 2 or 3 half days at SW -occasionally 1 at BG

This year we are going for longer and cutting our Disney time down to 2 days (and then only because we have days left on our non expiry - Disney hasn't have the same appeal for us for a few years).
That leaves us more time for USF

We still have 1 night onsite - Club at RPR (can't bear the though of any longer than that in a hotel room with the kids ) but we've booked the cheapest offsite HP package ($118) so we can get early entry on another visit and breakfast @ 3 Broomsticks later in the holiday

 

[marivaid]

As much as I love Disney, I couldn't justify spending another $900 just for 4-day tickets, no hoppers, for the 4 of us. Universal cost us half that for 14-day tickets! If we had wanted to stay onsite (easier without a car) then add over $1000 for the room, plus food (that adds up veryyyy fast in WDW).
Plus we've been to Disney a lot and are a bit Disney-ed out.
We'll have plenty of stuff to do at US and IoA, and we are splurging on Discovery Cove instead.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

We have done disney the past 4 yrs, my wife could not take it another year... we are trying universal for the 1st time ever and are very excited. But as far as the cost... I would take disney any day. We only stay when there's free dinning from visa. So we have stayed 10 days at disney cheaper than 6 days at universal will be... but we can't wait for the vacation. good luck.

 

[DCLMan]

It just hasn't got the magic

True, but it has some awesome rides.

 

[Indy Denise]

it just hasnt got the magic

It also doesn't have all of the strollers!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sorry, but some of the rudest people I have ever met go to WDW and push a stroller. Hey, I have pushed many a sroller in my day and I have never stopped in a busy walkway to have a pow-wow, ran into someone's legs/ankles/feet, or parked it where it doesn't belong. The worse is when people use it has a weapon..trying to force you out of the way or to cut you off.

Strollers I can handle, the idiots doing the above ..well, I DO handle them, just in a different way.

 

[Indy Denise]

True, but it has some awesome rides.

Right! My kids are older and they are into more Universalish stuff than Disney.

 

[melly]

It also doesn't have all of the strollers!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sorry, but some of the rudest people I have ever met go to WDW and push a stroller. Hey, I have pushed many a sroller in my day and I have never stopped in a busy walkway to have a pow-wow, ran into someone's legs/ankles/feet, or parked it where it doesn't belong. The worse is when people use it has a weapon..trying to force you out of the way or to cut you off.

Strollers I can handle, the idiots doing the above ..well, I DO handle them, just in a different way.

I really dont know what strollers has to do with my post, its as if you have just hijacked it as a method for venting about strollers

BTW, I love the Colts too. Just wish they'd put in as good a post season performance as regular season.

 

[Indy Denise]

I really dont know what strollers has to do with my post, its as if you have just hijacked it as a method for venting about strollers

BTW, I love the Colts too. Just wish they'd put in as good a post season performance as regular season.

You are right. But my point is that while Universal doesn't have the Disney magic it is good in it's own right. Some of us ( okay, me!..) appreciate the difference in the crowds and the lack of mice. I like the smaller venues, Citiwalk for evenings and the less hurried feeling.

I do have to say that I am going to miss Disney's waterparks this year though. You really can't beat the theming there.

P.S.-this year the Colts are going to re-enact 2006, though if they wait until 2012 that's okay too..it would be nice to have them playing at their stadium kicking some out of towner butt. Who dat? The Colts who WILL redeem ourselves, that's who!

 

[ClanHarrison]

Anyone else thinking of skipping WDW and just going to Universal?

Yup ...we are.

In fact...we've NEVER been to Disney. Though, this will only be our 2nd time to Orlando (within 5 yrs.), and, sure, I'd like to do Disney one trip, but we haven't had our Universal-fill yet. At this rate, it will be a while before we do a strictly Disney trip...if ever. We're just not Disney folks, but I DO want the experience.

Your plan sounds good, and I'm sure you won't regret it! Enjoy!

 

[Planogirl]

it just hasnt got the magic

That's a matter of opinion.

 

[TaylorsDad]

Anyone who has been to Disney more than a few times knows sometimes the magic works and sometimes it don't.Besides, Universal has its own magic, and And with WWOHP opening I am willing to bet at least for myself the magic of a Wizard will easily beat that of a mouse.