Dining at Universal vs WDW

[mefordis]

I read a lot of people complaining about restaurants being too busy to get into and necessity of ADRs, so I thought I'd give you our experience at Universal a couple of weeks ago (first time there).

It was sooo nice, after being at WDW and having to run to make our ADRs, to just walk up to any restaurant and get seated! No reservations!

Honestly, dining at Hard Rock Cafe and Nascar -- the food was on par and even a little better in some cases, with that of Disney.

If you are hungry and can't get an ADR, I'd say plan on heading over to Universal for a couple of days, cut your WDW stay short, and stay at one of their hotels. The front of the line benefits you get (WE NEVER WAITED FOR A RIDE! WALTZED RIGHT ON THE RIDE WHILE OTHERS WERE ON A LINE WITH A 1 HOUR WAIT)

 

[Luv2Roam]

Hard Rock can be just as difficult to get seated in. DH does have some sort of membership card there and gets front of the line.

I do like Universal better for in the park dining. They have more selection and offer the AP holders and AAA members discounts. I think over all, inside the parks, they have better selection and food. They are awfully noisy though. They make WDW fast food seem very quiet.

 

[MrsMud]

We love Universal and all of the Citywalk restaurants! The in-park dining is also quite a bit cheaper than WDW, IIR. That said, I wouldn't expect to walk up to any of the Citywalk restaurants during peak dinner hours and expect to be seated without a wait, but most restaurants will give you a buzzer and you can sit outside in the Adirondack chairs and sip your margarita (or Bahama Breeze, in my case) while you wait!

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I no longer go to USO, but I remember fondly eating at Finnegan's. Other food in the park seemed blecch, but everywhere the beer selection was good.

 

[Kath2003]

I love eating at City Walk - HRC is fairly easy to get seated at as long as you're realistic - my parents went and "checked in" at 7pm and had drinks while my 2 sisters and I rode The Mummy (single rider line). By the time we returned at 7.30 and 2 rides later, we grabbed a soda and while they were being poured it was our turn to be seated. You gotta chillax and be realistic - it's a popular restaurant, a walk-up for 5 at 7.30pm isn't gonna happen!

I also LOVE the bakeries in US/IOA - we get "lunch" here. My Dad doesn't like cakes so has a burger meal - last time he won us a free dessert from the bakery on his coke so clearly we HAD to go back the next day