Anyone skipping WDW and ONLY going to Universal this year?

[bkfree]

Yes, We are going to do this in Sept. We have been to WDW the last 3 trips. We do love WDW but wanted something different this time around. It will be our first visit to US. At first we were going to do both, but after a family pow wow we came to the agreement that our favorite trip to WW was at Christmas(first week of Dec.) and to us that was the most Mouse Magical time we have been. So we are keeping out of the mouse territory this trip. When first planning the trip I was a little apprehensive-No ADR's and unfamiliar territory. We have always stayed onside at WDW.
BUT (big sigh of relief) after finding the US forums and message boards and devoting myself to the same fact finding pre trip research that I always did with Disney, I find myself really excited.
We are staying at the Portofino Bay and it looks so nice and a MUCH better price than similiar at WDW. Ticket hopper prices are also so much easier on the wallet. And I am finding myself looking forward to being totally spontaneus about meals. We have watched all the HP movies ,which we had not seen and we are really excited about the rides. My kids are 9 and 11 and the are thrilled with the new experience to be had. They are also excited about the pool hopping option and we have devoted an entire to do just that and nothing else. We are also going to Sea World one of the days.
I am looking forward to a slower pace, hopefully less Stroller congestion and a more laid back pace.
We will be back at WDW next Christmas, but I am finally extremely Universally excited about this new out of the box adventure for us!

 

[melly]

That's a matter of opinion.

i was taking the mick

 

[melly]

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. !

I was only kidding with the standard Disneyite comment. I love Universal though admittedly slightly do prefer Disney more due to the ages of my kids. Favourite park in Orlando is without a doubt Epcot but after that its US, IOA or DHS in any particular order depending on which way the wind is blowing.

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!

Hopefully.

Watched that supebowl early in Feb 07 in the waiting room of the maternity ward. My wife was a bit miffed with me for that but her mum was with her. It was her mums fault anyway as she broke the Sky TV in the room so I had to find it elsewhere. Couldnt go through all that watching childbirth again anyway!!!

 

[Indy Denise]

:rot

Watched that supebowl early in Feb 07 in the waiting room of the maternity ward. My wife was a bit miffed with me for that but her mum was with her. It was her mums fault anyway as she broke the Sky TV in the room so I had to find it elsewhere. Couldnt go through all that watching childbirth again anyway!!!

It was during this year's super bowl slaughter that I decided to go to Universal (again ) . The WWOHP commercials were the best thing on tv that night.

Was your wife mad? My hubby would have done the same thing!!!..and to be honest, I couldn't blame him. Who really wants to see some of the stuff?
I didn't even want to be there either!

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

We have done WDW for the last 3 trips. This time we are going to US/IOA, Busch Gardens, Seaworld, and Aquatica. Everyone is really excited. Now, we just have to wait for the end of July to get here.

 

[black562]

We're going to Universal and IOA in one day like we always do, then 10 nights at Disney with free dining.

 

[Darkestsong]

six nights in Universal Starting June 5th, then 7 nights Disney in late September. Just made sense with the specials both were offering (Stay more, Save more and Disney's free dining) to split them up and have a relaxing time at each.

 

[Planogirl]

six nights in Universal Starting June 5th, then 7 nights Disney in late September. Just made sense with the specials both were offering (Stay more, Save more and Disney's free dining) to split them up and have a relaxing time at each.

Your trip sounds perfect to me.

 

[dvcdisney]

We're not skipping Disney this year. We have already gone to Disney this past March (usually we go twice a year to Disney - March and Aug). But our August trip, we will be skipping Disney and go to Universal for a week and Seaworld/Aquatica/Busch for the second week.

It will be a little strange for us, because we've never gone to Orlando without going to Disney. But I'm hoping that the new Harry Potter area will be worth it. I'm just a little disappointed that it didn't open earlier like I thought it would. I thought that by the time we go in August, some of the crowds have gone down a bit. I still expected it to be busy, but now I think it will be nuts. Not really looking forward to long waits.

This is also our first time staying onsite so, hopefully, that will help with the wait times for the rides with the Express Pass.