Choosing US over WDW again, because of FP+

[johde]

THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT ! Honestly, just re-reading all of your planning and thinking through EVERY DARN DETAIL so that everyone will be happy... is just giving me ANXIETY !!! (and its not even MY plans )!! And that is for just ONE day of planning !!?? YIKES !

But is is all 4 parks in 1 day. It's also just me so there's no one else to make happy. Planning 4 parks in 1 day is always going to be a challenge. Here's a thread from 2005 when I was planning 4 park/ 1 day with mostly Thrill Rides. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=953565 Post #33 on page 3 has my final results.

 

[tony67]

Honestly, just re-reading all of your planning and thinking through EVERY DARN DETAIL so that everyone will be happy... is just giving me ANXIETY !!!

It is a bit ridiculous - people stressing and staying up until midnight to book a ride 60 days form now, booking dinner 180 days in advance. Checking back every day just in case something opens up.

There were even people asking which hand should they wear their MB because they were so stressed with this craziness.

I'm on vacation - I really don't want to think about all this - I just want to go with the flow and you really can't anymore.

Then there is the test of no standby line and BOG lunch being FP only - I have no idea what park I will be in two weeks from now let alone, 60 days.

It really is not a vacation anymore.. Luckily it's still an option at Universal.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

It is a bit ridiculous - people stressing and staying up until midnight to book a ride 60 days form now, booking dinner 180 days in advance. Checking back every day just in case something opens up.

There were even people asking which hand should they wear their MB because they were so stressed with this craziness.

I'm on vacation - I really don't want to think about all this - I just want to go with the flow and you really can't anymore.

Then there is the test of no standby line and BOG lunch being FP only - I have no idea what park I will be in two weeks from now let alone, 60 days.

It really is not a vacation anymore.. Luckily it's still an option at Universal.

I still do both and I don't bother with ADR's or FP+, whatever I can get when I get there is fine with me.

 

[tony67]

I still do both and I don't bother with ADR's or FP+

I still do both as well, but less and less time at Disney.

whatever I can get when I get there is fine with me.

It's not fine with me. I don't go on vacation to get the scraps.

 

[Luckybee]

Well dh and I have now become converts too ! We spent almost 3 weeks in Orlando and got back last weekend. We had 7 day park hopper passes for D and 2 day U passes. We did a one night stay at Loews Portofino to take advantage of early entry and express pass.
We enjoyed D for those things we had FP+ for. Except for extra magic hours at MK we loathed the parks for those things we didn't have FP's for. Had it not been for EMH we would have missed out on so much since I wasn't about to wait in lines for 30- 45 minutes for things like its a small world. The lines were nuts for minor rides when in the past in low season they were walk ons. Most of our park days were 3-4 things then out. We ended up throwing away 2 park days and not using them at all.
On the other hand we actually considered adding a day to our U passes. I am so grateful to SonofAnarchy who suggested we try U again(we had done it yrs ago and were not that impressed). Loved the HP stuff, did far more rides and even dh who is not a ride person at all got into and enjoyed rides more over at U (although he didn't try either Gringotts or FJ but I'll get him next time )
And Loews Portofino...all I can say is OMG...loved Bice, loved our room, service was OTT. We had booked through the Amex fine hotels program and when we arrived were upgraded to a deluxe room with a balcony overlooking the bays. The service at the pool was divine. This was a true luxury hotel experience equivalent to what we've seen at a typical 4 seasons etc. and I have to be honest ...we were surprised. I wasn't expecting this to be a real Amex FH. I was expecting to be disappointed as we had been in the past with D onsite.
We're booked to go back to Orlando in May for 5 nights before we spend a couple of weeks on the Panhandle. I cant fit in a night or 2 at Loews but without any doubt we will in the future. We will do the U parks though this trip again. We wont do D this trip though. For us it just isn't worth the aggravation (though I must admit we'll try CG for dinner again since it was excellent, though the thought of playing the 180 day game seems so silly now when I was able to change our Bice res the same day....lol)

 

[Trixie Belden]

giving them 60 days for staying in there resort is no different than US giving express pass + for free to guest who stay in there hotels.

Except I can decide on Tuesday to go to Universal that weekend and still get a hotel room, eat at Mythos or Confisco's and not stress myself to death worrying about making an hour long window to ride Spiderman. Disney USED to be like that, but not anymore.

Honestly, I think people who have never experienced Disney any other way than with Free Dining/Bouncebacks/Pin Codes/ADRs really have no idea how much fun and relaxing it was to go to Disney. I look at pictures of my kids at Disney when they were little and there's NOBODY walking behind them. My family eating at Pecos Bill's with 2 empty tables in the background (and we chose what table to sit at rather than being directed by a CM). Granted, this was in October, but this year the same week in October I couldn't get one ADR for 3 people at Park Fare or Garden Grill. We can't stay on site last minute without going Deluxe, all the mods and values are booked solid. Now, it's great for Disney and I don't begrudge the people who are able to (or choose to) book a year in advance and expend a huge amount of energy to get into the restaurants they want and be able to ride the rides they like. It just doesnt' work for my family anymore, which is kinda sad because now is when we actually have the disposable income that Disney wants us to spend with them. I'll spend it deluding myself that I really am in Portofino Italy and buying my son wizard wands and robes.

 

[ORMom2Four]

Yeah, even after hearing all opinions, I'm still under the belief that Universal divides their guests into those "with stars upon thars" and those without. It really leaves a bad impression on me.

They are forcing guests to either spend money on a pass--AFTER buying an expensive admission ticket, or forcing you to stay at one of their overpriced hotels to get a fastpass.

Disney does NOT force extra money out of ANY of their guests to have the chance to book fastpasses. So what if they don't get a fastpass to Mine Train--they will just wait 45-60 minutes--just like people do every weekend in the standby line at Transformers.

 

[damo]

Yeah, even after hearing all opinions, I'm still under the belief that Universal divides their guests into those "with stars upon thars" and those without. It really leaves a bad impression on me.

They are forcing guests to either spend money on a pass--AFTER buying an expensive admission ticket, or forcing you to stay at one of their overpriced hotels to get a fastpass.

Disney does NOT force extra money out of ANY of their guests to have the chance to book fastpasses. So what if they don't get a fastpass to Mine Train--they will just wait 45-60 minutes--just like people do every weekend in the standby line at Transformers.

Universal 3 day park to park: $176

WDW 3 day park to park pass: $324

WDW is including the price for its fastpass in its ticket price. WDW is forcing you to pay those prices. They don't give you a choice to go without getting the fastpass and paying less. At least Universal gives you that choice. And when you do pay for express pass at Universal, you get way more than just 3.

And Universal gives you many options. You can stay onsite and not pay for express passes at all. You can purchase unlimited express passes where you can go on repeated rides whenever you want. You can purchase limited express passes where you can go on rides once but still whenever you want. You can purchase q-bot system where you are given a scheduled time to ride using the express queue. Each one is cheaper than the one before. Lots of options, where WDW doesn't give you any options.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

or forcing you to stay at one of their overpriced hotels

Oh my .

I can only assume you have never stayed at a Universal onsite hotel, and you are making that judgement with only half the facts. The difference between the quality of their properties and Disney is unbelievable. And the cost? Way cheaper than a Disney "Deluxe" (and I use that word loosely). If I were to name either of the park hotels as "overpriced", Disney would get that label without question.

Universal 3 day park to park: $176

WDW 3 day park to park pass: $324

WDW is including the price for its fastpass in its ticket price. WDW is forcing you to pay those prices. They don't give you a choice to go without getting the fastpass and paying less. At least Universal gives you that choice. And when you do pay for express pass at Universal, you get way more than just 3.

And Universal gives you many options. You can stay onsite and not pay for express passes at all. You can purchase unlimited express passes where you can go on repeated rides whenever you want. You can purchase limited express passes where you can go on rides once but still whenever you want. You can purchase q-bot system where you are given a scheduled time to ride using the express queue. Each one is cheaper than the one before. Lots of options, where WDW doesn't give you any options.

Well said!

 

[schumigirl]

Yeah, even after hearing all opinions, I'm still under the belief that Universal divides their guests into those "with stars upon thars" and those without. It really leaves a bad impression on me.

They are forcing guests to either spend money on a pass--AFTER buying an expensive admission ticket, or forcing you to stay at one of their overpriced hotels to get a fastpass.

Disney does NOT force extra money out of ANY of their guests to have the chance to book fastpasses. So what if they don't get a fastpass to Mine Train--they will just wait 45-60 minutes--just like people do every weekend in the standby line at Transformers.

Does it not bother you that you have to stay onsite at Disney to get EMH? That`s a perk that if you don`t stay onsite you don`t get.......isn`t that a type of them and us type of divide also? But that`s ok I suppose.

No one is forcing you to do anything at Universal.......and as for overpriced hotels ....wow have you ever been to Dubai and paid some of their hotel prices.....or New York......Switzerland.......

We get it.....you`re not a fan of Universal but it`s ok for Disney to "divide" guests.

I wonder if in 5 years you`ll feel the same if Disney does go down the route of giving Deluxe hotels guests extra perks from mods and values or heaven forbid start charging for top FP choices.

 

[johde]

Except I can decide on Tuesday to go to Universal that weekend and still get a hotel room, eat at Mythos or Confisco's and not stress myself to death worrying about making an hour long window to ride Spiderman. Disney USED to be like that, but not anymore.

Honestly, I think people who have never experienced Disney any other way than with Free Dining/Bouncebacks/Pin Codes/ADRs really have no idea how much fun and relaxing it was to go to Disney. I look at pictures of my kids at Disney when they were little and there's NOBODY walking behind them. My family eating at Pecos Bill's with 2 empty tables in the background (and we chose what table to sit at rather than being directed by a CM). Granted, this was in October, but this year the same week in October I couldn't get one ADR for 3 people at Park Fare or Garden Grill. We can't stay on site last minute without going Deluxe, all the mods and values are booked solid. Now, it's great for Disney and I don't begrudge the people who are able to (or choose to) book a year in advance and expend a huge amount of energy to get into the restaurants they want and be able to ride the rides they like. It just doesnt' work for my family anymore, which is kinda sad because now is when we actually have the disposable income that Disney wants us to spend with them. I'll spend it deluding myself that I really am in Portofino Italy and buying my son wizard wands and robes.

Looking back, it's tough to compare because most of my real early trip were in the summer, then went several times in the spring, Then alternating between September/early December The last few have been right before or right after Christmas to New Years. But looking back just at the park, I don't book many ADR's and I have DVC which is different. The crowds have seemed to come and go. And annual attendance figures tend to bear that out. One of my early childhood memories of WDW probably from the late 70's early 80's was waiting in line for Country Bear Jamboree. I'm thinking it was a 2 or 3 show wait. There was a show going on, the room outside was full for the next show, and there was queue lines in what's now the shop next door for the shows after that.

I also seem to remember 1996 for Disney's 25th Anniversary (and the pink cake castle) was a busy time.

1998 - 2005 were fairly slow trips, but a couple of those were right after hurricane Frances and Hurricane Floyd. On one particular trip, a couple of days after Frances, I was at Disney MGM studios (hadn't been renamed yet) for RD, and the RD rush didn't full 1 library of ToT.

From 2005 on, you are right, the parks have gotten progressively busier. Although my last trip was NYE and right after so that might affect things.

 

[Planogirl]

Well dh and I have now become converts too ! We spent almost 3 weeks in Orlando and got back last weekend. We had 7 day park hopper passes for D and 2 day U passes. We did a one night stay at Loews Portofino to take advantage of early entry and express pass.
We enjoyed D for those things we had FP+ for. Except for extra magic hours at MK we loathed the parks for those things we didn't have FP's for. Had it not been for EMH we would have missed out on so much since I wasn't about to wait in lines for 30- 45 minutes for things like its a small world. The lines were nuts for minor rides when in the past in low season they were walk ons. Most of our park days were 3-4 things then out. We ended up throwing away 2 park days and not using them at all.
On the other hand we actually considered adding a day to our U passes. I am so grateful to SonofAnarchy who suggested we try U again(we had done it yrs ago and were not that impressed). Loved the HP stuff, did far more rides and even dh who is not a ride person at all got into and enjoyed rides more over at U (although he didn't try either Gringotts or FJ but I'll get him next time )
And Loews Portofino...all I can say is OMG...loved Bice, loved our room, service was OTT. We had booked through the Amex fine hotels program and when we arrived were upgraded to a deluxe room with a balcony overlooking the bays. The service at the pool was divine. This was a true luxury hotel experience equivalent to what we've seen at a typical 4 seasons etc. and I have to be honest ...we were surprised. I wasn't expecting this to be a real Amex FH. I was expecting to be disappointed as we had been in the past with D onsite.
We're booked to go back to Orlando in May for 5 nights before we spend a couple of weeks on the Panhandle. I cant fit in a night or 2 at Loews but without any doubt we will in the future. We will do the U parks though this trip again. We wont do D this trip though. For us it just isn't worth the aggravation (though I must admit we'll try CG for dinner again since it was excellent, though the thought of playing the 180 day game seems so silly now when I was able to change our Bice res the same day....lol)

I enjoyed your post. It brought back some great memories and made me itch to stay onsite again.

 

[Planogirl]

Yeah, even after hearing all opinions, I'm still under the belief that Universal divides their guests into those "with stars upon thars" and those without. It really leaves a bad impression on me.

They are forcing guests to either spend money on a pass--AFTER buying an expensive admission ticket, or forcing you to stay at one of their overpriced hotels to get a fastpass.

Disney does NOT force extra money out of ANY of their guests to have the chance to book fastpasses. So what if they don't get a fastpass to Mine Train--they will just wait 45-60 minutes--just like people do every weekend in the standby line at Transformers.

We never buy Express passes and have little trouble riding what we wish to. It's much like Disney in the days before any type of fastpasses. You plan appropriately and you get it done.

Plus as pointed out, adding the cost of Express passes still doesn't increase the price of a Universal vacation past a Disney vacation. You want to talk overpriced hotels? Eons ago we used to stay at the Polynesian Resort. That place is so over the top price-wise now! I'd love to go back but I never will.

 

[johde]

We never buy Express passes and have little trouble riding what we wish to. It's much like Disney in the days before any type of fastpasses. You plan appropriately and you get it done.

I will say I noticed a change in Universal between my 2009 trip and my 2013 trip. My 2009 trip would have been about Dec 18-20. So, the weekend before Christmas pre-Harry Potter. My 2013 trip was January 4-5. The weekend after New Years. The Crowds and the lines in 2013 were much worse post HP than they were in 2009 Pre-HP. Most of my trips are solo so I use the SRL frequent and I still noticed the difference and didn't get as much done as in the past.
But, it was still more than Disney with FP-. Looking at attendance, Universal is about 4-5 years behind Disney. Disney's attendance started growing after several years of decline in 2005 with MYW tickets and Free Dining. Universal attendance continued to decline until 2010 with the opening of WWOHP.

 

[Planogirl]

I will say I noticed a change in Universal between my 2009 trip and my 2013 trip. My 2009 trip would have been about Dec 18-20. So, the weekend before Christmas pre-Harry Potter. My 2013 trip was January 4-5. The weekend after New Years. The Crowds and the lines in 2013 were much worse post HP than they were in 2009 Pre-HP. Most of my trips are solo so I use the SRL frequent and I still noticed the difference and didn't get as much done as in the past.
But, it was still more than Disney with FP-. Looking at attendance, Universal is about 4-5 years behind Disney. Disney's attendance started growing after several years of decline in 2005 with MYW tickets and Free Dining. Universal attendance continued to decline until 2010 with the opening of WWOHP.

I agree that as the crowds grow that it becomes harder. Getting there at rope drop is necessary and also we try to ride some of the popular rides in the evening. Plus we don't ride the coasters or Dr. Doom and that makes a big difference. So far it has worked out OK but I'm grateful that we can buy Express if it's ever needed.

 

[Random65]

Did FP+ last summer. Doubt I'll do it again.

Planning 4 days at US next summer.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I still do both as well, but less and less time at Disney.



It's not fine with me. I don't go on vacation to get the scraps.

Well for me it's a matter of waiting 20-30 minutes vs. 5. Yes waiting a bit longer stinks but not a vacation killer for me. I still get on all the rides I want. Time for me on vacation is not a huge deal. I am on a schedule 50 weeks a year the 2 I'm not, I refuse to be bogged down by a clock. (Yes from the times I do go during the quiet times of the year).

 

[shortnsassy730]

You don't get the "scraps" if you aren't able to book FP+ till a few days or even day of. I am an AP holder for both Disney and Universal. I go every weekend including the crazy summer weekends and holidays. I never book my fast passes for me and my friends (anywhere from 4-8 people) until the Wednesday before and usually the night before. The only two things we never have the option to book are the Mine Train and Anna & Elsa. But we go at rope drop to MK and are on and off the mine train in 25 minutes even on level 10 days. We also do not pick our restaurant for dinner until about an hour before we eat and there are always tons of options with availability.It's not the end of the world and its still being tested.

Universal is awesome in its own right. Their hotels are 10x better than Disney's. They have thrill rides for older kids and adults. The downside for me at Universal is no express pass options for AP holders unless you book a room or pay for them. It would be nice as an AP holder to get some type of express pass option for the busier times even if its just three rides. Universal is growing and as they add more and more resorts, the unlimited express pass is going to become less and less of a benefit during peak season. It will be interesting to see what options they come up with in the future.

 

[damo]

You don't get the "scraps" if you aren't able to book FP+ till a few days or even day of. I am an AP holder for both Disney and Universal. I go every weekend including the crazy summer weekends and holidays. I never book my fast passes for me and my friends (anywhere from 4-8 people) until the Wednesday before and usually the night before. The only two things we never have the option to book are the Mine Train and Anna & Elsa. But we go at rope drop to MK and are on and off the mine train in 25 minutes even on level 10 days. We also do not pick our restaurant for dinner until about an hour before we eat and there are always tons of options with availability.It's not the end of the world and its still being tested.

Universal is awesome in its own right. Their hotels are 10x better than Disney's. They have thrill rides for older kids and adults. The downside for me at Universal is no express pass options for AP holders unless you book a room or pay for them. It would be nice as an AP holder to get some type of express pass option for the busier times even if its just three rides. Universal is growing and as they add more and more resorts, the unlimited express pass is going to become less and less of a benefit during peak season. It will be interesting to see what options they come up with in the future.

None of the new resorts (Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls) have the express pass.

AP at WDW for Florida residents is $634. AP for Universal for Florida residents is $384 with the Universal express pass (one ride per ride) after 4 pm.

 

[shortnsassy730]

Oh I know. But I thought I read an article recently with a new higher end resort coming. I may be mistaken. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Universal. I'm just interested to see how they grow and maybe learn from some of their competition's mistakes over the next 10 years or so. Because I do believe that Disney has made some big ones. I just don't believe its anywhere near as tragic as some folks make it out to be.