Day Trip or Stay onsite (and another couple of questions)

[aussietravellers]

We are going to WDW for three weeks and we are going to go to US for a day or two days and have never been to US before.

Would we be best to do a day trip or two day trips (not in a row, but over the three weeks we are at WDW) or to go and spend two nights at a US onsite hotel and do the parks two days in a row staying onsite?

I am not sure how far away from WDW that US is, but I assume that it is not far so to take a taxi from either AKL or BC (where we are staying) will be ok.

Having never been, I really don't know anything about it other than what I can see on their website and what I have been reading here. It looks fun and with Harry Potter and The cat in the hat, I love the sound of some of the characters they have there. My DS really isn't into roller coasters, he loves Toy Story, Tea Cups, Buzz, Soarin, those type of rides at WDW & DL so am really not sure wether to just do a day trip/s or to add a couple of nights and stay onsite. I'm assuming there are some tame rides there and great shows too.

Can you upgrade tickets like you can at WDW, so if we don't stay onsite and do travel from WDW, can we get a one day ticket and then as we are leaving upgrade to a two day ticket if we decide to go again during that trip?

Would love some advise for a first timer to US.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

We are going to WDW for three weeks and we are going to go to US for a day or two days and have never been to US before.

Would we be best to do a day trip or two day trips (not in a row, but over the three weeks we are at WDW) or to go and spend two nights at a US onsite hotel and do the parks two days in a row staying onsite?

I am not sure how far away from WDW that US is, but I assume that it is not far so to take a taxi from either AKL or BC (where we are staying) will be ok.

Having never been, I really don't know anything about it other than what I can see on their website and what I have been reading here. It looks fun and with Harry Potter and The cat in the hat, I love the sound of some of the characters they have there. My DS really isn't into roller coasters, he loves Toy Story, Tea Cups, Buzz, Soarin, those type of rides at WDW & DL so am really not sure wether to just do a day trip/s or to add a couple of nights and stay onsite. I'm assuming there are some tame rides there and great shows too.

Can you upgrade tickets like you can at WDW, so if we don't stay onsite and do travel from WDW, can we get a one day ticket and then as we are leaving upgrade to a two day ticket if we decide to go again during that trip?

Would love some advise for a first timer to US.

If it were my vacation I would do the one night onsite hotel and use a 2 day ticket to get Express for both days.

Hmmm....now that you mention Soarin I am kinda curious if the new potter will be almost identical do that. Its a popular ride for Disney and they do seem to imitate each other a lot.(Sorry thinking out loud)

I don't know how old your son is so I am not too sure how much he can appreciate or if he has seen the movies. Shrek is kinda cool if it doesn't terrify him, they have Jimmy which is simulator esque, the Simpsons which would be fun, and MiB is like Buzz but imo is better.

Younger kids prob like buzz better cuz its semi trippy and more fun yet if your gonna play it for being a game then MiB is one of the greatest rides I have ever ridden.

The others at US are kinda loud and semi scary...Jaws, Disaster, and Twister. The Mummy being a "high-speed" coaster. Even though I think its semi tame coaster and prob one of the best I have ridden.

Onto the counterpart IOA...They have a tea cups called Storm force based on X-Men comics, Spiderman is awesome if he likes him he prob will like the ride(Assuming he isn't afraid of 3-D).

They have two water rides. One is a rapids(best I have ridden)and the other being a flume that is semi intense ride. +1 possible water ride which is Jurassic Park and you rarely get too wet on this so I barely consider it one consider both the others you almost never walk off not soaked.

Took me half hr to convice my nephew to get on JP because he was apparently afraid of dinosaurs. But if your kid likes them its fun ride and I enjoy it.

It all comes down to personal preference....There is a great playground/ballpit in US also so time can be wasted there if you run out of rides to do. Imo its worth two full days of Express but I am into all the movies of the rides they offer and I enjoy the express over the long lines at Disney.

I believe you can upgrade assuming you do it the day you use the ticket. I would call Universal directly to confirm that though if its something you may do.

Anyways there are some that I didn't mention but my advice would be the one night onsite and two days in park for Express.

Hope my advice helps...

 

[Darcy03231]

I would do one night at a US/IOA hotel. That way you get two days of unlimied express pass use (check in day and check out day).

US/IOA is about twenty minutes to half an hour from WDW, depending on traffic.

 

[donaldduck352]

I would do one night at a US/IOA hotel. That way you get two days of unlimied express pass use (check in day and check out day).

US/IOA is about twenty minutes to half an hour from WDW, depending on traffic.

Thats what I would do.The onlything is do it at the end of your trip,FOTL will spoil you..

 

[klmall]

Thats what I would do.The onlything is do it at the end of your trip,FOTL will spoil you..

Totally agree! I am a big WDW fan but it was a stay at the Hard Rock Hotel and FOTL that totally saved our vacation one spring break after our disastrous stay at the AKL. I am so glad we did WDW first and had Universal last.

We are planning a similar visit next winter!