Disney 9 days/ just lost JOB, Is 1 day US worth it?

[jamieT]

I know my title pretty much says it, but heres a bit more detail. My DH, DS7,and DD5 and I as well as (my mom and dad) Maw Maw Paw Paw, my brother his wife and 2 girls 3 and6 are going to Disney Aug 30. I hurt my back two weeks ago and have been seeing a chiropractor as well as last week I found out I am losing my primary source of income ( I am a nanny and my kids are moving) My last day will be about aug 12th and then we are going to Disney two-three weeks later. We have already been pretty tight financially. My mom and dad have paid for our park tickets and our stay at POP (they are doing the same for my bro's fam. This trip was their idea after getting a few thousand from my grandpa, that covered half of our trip and then they saved the other half) We are going during free dining so that is good. Our portion of gratuity is about 150$ Now we were planning on going to Universal because only three people out of the 10 have been ever.

Here is a quick side note about Universal. 10 yrs ago (when I was in high school) we did Disney and planned one day at US. I got food poisoning and threw up for 17 hours at the hotel while they went to US. They came back and just raved, but my mom has been carrying guilt that she went and I didn't. She is so silly. I was in high school.. I mean old enough to care for myself. What was she going to do for me, watch me puke and sleep...? No way! I am glad they went without me!

So anyways when it was brought up to slip in a day at Universal everyone jumped at it (except me, because I honestly am feeling it is too much!)

So now I've hurt my back, lost my job ( I mean between the mears shuttle there and back to Disney, meal deal since we will be there all day and park tickets, and souvineers, we are talking 500 easy) Now I gave my mom 600 to hang on to for Universal and gratuity (I am so glad we did that)

I had been saving, but had to use a lot of it to pay bills off. I am down to about 150 to add. But that is really for BBB.

To add to this situation my sister-in-law was in a car accident this past week so the two moms are having back problems and we have four small children and we will have to stay at US all day, and not going back for that mid-day nap like we will do at Disney. Also I keep hearing that it's not reallly geared towards young children.

Please someone help me. I don't want to let everyone down, but I have no desire to go there at all and run around like a chicken all day, stand in those lines with a bad back, and try to entertain small kids. I would rather hang out at the resort while they go. Please tell me. Is it worth it? Is Universal so great that I should just shut up and go for one day even though it pretty much eats up our budget as to not disappoint everyone else...or should I just say we can't go, but really everyone should feel free to go? Really truely I do not care if they go without us!!!! But my mom just insists I have to seee it. Is it as good or as relevent as it was ten yrs ago,

Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck do I do???

Honestly if it is something I just have to see then I will go, but if it's really not worth the crazy hassle then tell me so!

 

[macraven]

I know my title pretty much says it, but heres a bit more detail. My DH, DS7,and DD5 and I as well as (my mom and dad) Maw Maw Paw Paw, my brother his wife and 2 girls 3 and6 are going to Disney Aug 30. I hurt my back two weeks ago and have been seeing a chiropractor as well as last week I found out I am losing my primary source of income ( I am a nanny and my kids are moving) My last day will be about aug 12th and then we are going to Disney two-three weeks later. We have already been pretty tight financially. My mom and dad have paid for our park tickets and our stay at POP (they are doing the same for my bro's fam. This trip was their idea after getting a few thousand from my grandpa, that covered half of our trip and then they saved the other half) We are going during free dining so that is good. Our portion of gratuity is about 150$ Now we were planning on going to Universal because only three people out of the 10 have been ever.

Here is a quick side note about Universal. 10 yrs ago (when I was in high school) we did Disney and planned one day at US. I got food poisoning and threw up for 17 hours at the hotel while they went to US. They came back and just raved, but my mom has been carrying guilt that she went and I didn't. She is so silly. I was in high school.. I mean old enough to care for myself. What was she going to do for me, watch me puke and sleep...? No way! I am glad they went without me!

So anyways when it was brought up to slip in a day at Universal everyone jumped at it (except me, because I honestly am feeling it is too much!)

So now I've hurt my back, lost my job ( I mean between the mears shuttle there and back to Disney, meal deal since we will be there all day and park tickets, and souvineers, we are talking 500 easy) Now I gave my mom 600 to hang on to for Universal and gratuity (I am so glad we did that)

I had been saving, but had to use a lot of it to pay bills off. I am down to about 150 to add. But that is really for BBB.

To add to this situation my sister-in-law was in a car accident this past week so the two moms are having back problems and we have four small children and we will have to stay at US all day, and not going back for that mid-day nap like we will do at Disney. Also I keep hearing that it's not reallly geared towards young children.

Please someone help me. I don't want to let everyone down, but I have no desire to go there at all and run around like a chicken all day, stand in those lines with a bad back, and try to entertain small kids. I would rather hang out at the resort while they go. Please tell me. Is it worth it? Is Universal so great that I should just shut up and go for one day even though it pretty much eats up our budget as to not disappoint everyone else...or should I just say we can't go, but really everyone should feel free to go? Really truely I do not care if they go without us!!!! But my mom just insists I have to seee it. Is it as good or as relevent as it was ten yrs ago,

Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck do I do???

Honestly if it is something I just have to see then I will go, but if it's really not worth the crazy hassle then tell me so!

it's a no brainer for me.
i would cut back on the number of days staying on site at disney and get a room on site at universal.
i would also cut out the BBB, too expensive. you could use that money for tickets for uo or for transportation and food and souvies for the family.
i don't think you would enjoy universal by the way you have phrased your question, is it worth it to you. you talk about disney and how you want to take naps back at the resort with your kids.
seeing that your kids are 7 and 5, they could get thru the day without a nap.
once kids are school age and in school, naps generally are outgrown by then.
your first shuttle with mears would get you to uo around 9:30 and there are only 2 return times. you wouldn't be staying for the entire time the park was opened perhaps due to the mears schedule.


can't compare the two parks.
what happened years ago to you shouldn't have a bearing on making your decision for this year. if you are feeling it is a crazy hassle, you might be better off cutting your trip short at disney and saving the money for your bills for your doctor visits.

if the worry of paying your bills is ruining your trip in planning, you might want to postpone this trip and save more for another time when you can relax and not have to worry about bills.

there are plenty of things to do at universal for children.
if you look over the website, you can find sections printed on family activities with kids.
many rides and attractions for your children's ages are available.

i would do universal in a heartbeat.
i do both parks each year and wouldn't skip either of them.

you have to do what is best for you and your husband and kids.
don't worry about the rest of the family. your parents covered tickets and room for both sets of adult children and their family.
if you are having trouble to get the rest of the money together for the trip, only you can decide what to do.

hrh

 

[scammermom]

Sorry you're falling on difficult times.

When my girls were 5 & 7, they loved US & IOA.
They're gonna be 8 & 10 soon and I asked them if they wanted to go to Disney (we went last year to Disney) or to US. They decided they wanted to go to US.

Nuff said.

 

[jamieT]

it's a no brainer for me.
i would cut back on the number of days staying on site at disney and get a room on site at universal. This is not a possibility at all. We going in FOUR WEEKS. WE ARE ALL PAID UP i would also cut out the BBB, too expensive. This is not a possibility either. try explaining to three little girls that the thing they have been looking forward to for over a year is no longer happening. Also. I already have my DD5 dress and shoes, so all it will really cost is 54.95 and any souvineer she might pick out. you could use that money for tickets for uo or for transportation and food and souvies for the family.i don't think you would enjoy universal by the way you have phrased your question, is it worth it to you.
you talk about disney and how you want to take naps back at the resort with your kids.
seeing that your kids are 7 and 5, they could get thru the day without a nap. I understand this is your view, but this is my kids first time to Disney and it is going to be over 90 degrees every day. Sometimes the rules that apply at home don't always apply on vacation. And why wouldn't we want to rejuvinate them rather than dragging tired crabby hot, kids all day and all night? Right? Even if my 7 yr old doesn't nap, he will play with his legos or swim at the pool. Just some down time you know? once kids are school age and in school, naps generally are outgrown by then.
your first shuttle with mears would get you to uo around 9:30 and there are only 2 return times. you wouldn't be staying for the entire time the park was opened perhaps due to the mears schedule.


can't compare the two parks.
what happened years ago to you shouldn't have a bearing on making your decision for this year. MAybe I didn't specify that I got food poisoning at DISNEY and was unable to join my family the one day they went to Universal. I was very disappointed, so that would only make me want to go more! if you are feeling it is a crazy hassle, you might be better off cutting your trip short at disney and saving the money for your bills for your doctor visits.

if the worry of paying your bills is ruining your trip in planning, you might want to postpone this trip and save more for another time when you can relax and not have to worry about bills. I maybe should have been more specific with this. Everything is paid for already. My flight, food, park tickets, resort stay. the only thing not covered right now is BBB, Universal. Like I said BBB isn't even an option for canceling. We are doing that and having dinner with Cinderella at 1900 Park Fare!!! We are so excited! That is coverd under the free dining we got, so really my only cost is souvineers and Universal. That is why my only debate is over going to Universal. I can't cut my stay short or stay at Universal, the only debate is whether to go to Universal one day or not. I had sort of thought that I would like to do the Universal thing another vacation when I could do both parks plus sea world.
there are plenty of things to do at universal for children.
if you look over the website, you can find sections printed on family activities with kids.
many rides and attractions for your children's ages are available.

i would do universal in a heartbeat.
i do both parks each year and wouldn't skip either of them.

you have to do what is best for you and your husband and kids.
don't worry about the rest of the family. your parents covered tickets and room for both sets of adult children and their family.
if you are having trouble to get the rest of the money together for the trip, only you can decide what to do.

Thank you for taking the time to try to help me. Sorry I left out the important detail of the fact that everythin is paid for except for Universal and souvineers, and I guess I should also add gratuities for the restaurants (about 150) and any other food we eat. Also, we will save 150 dollars by just not being home with buying our weekly goceries and another 80 for the gas in our cars... So i guess my only concern is if I shoud use 2/3 of my vacation money for 1 of our 9 days! Right?
hrh

oh you also said look on the wesite. I have and nothing is really flipping me out. I think my other major concern is that every daywe are at Disney we have allowed some sort of chill out time. Since I have hurt my back ( I am finally not in pain every moment, so we are making progress! ) And my sisters back after she was just in an accident. I know that since we are only there one day and we have never been, it will be more of a theme park comando day One last thing. Is Universal as awesome as my mom and dad say it waswhen they went, and will I be disappointed if I don't go?

 

[Andrea from PA]

Just my thoughts ---

1. Lose of job is frazzling, but I am sure you'll find another. Nannies will also be needed.

2. BBB was so worth the $!!!
Just do the cheapest package. If you are pre-buying the photopass it is a great deal -- I got so many great pictures cheaper then I ever got from Sears, etc. And after all, with the girls ages pretty in pink to tween black happens in the blink of an eye. BBB was as much for me to see the joy as it was for my DD to fell like a princess.

3. I am easily overwhelmed with too many choices. I can't do split stay yet. Like you said -- commando mode -- just doesn't make a good vacation for me personally.

4. Any park with the reputation to detail attention that WDW & US/IOA have deserve to be lingered. Yeah, my kids can do all the rides in commendo mode, but in my mid-life I want to slow down & take it all in.

5. I don't do well in large groups. I appreciate some down time with just my kids.

SO -- IMO since WDW is all paid up & booked & overwhelming enough & $ concerns are stressing, why not just say your immediate family wants to take that day & relax together. Let the rest of them go to Universal.

From all my research I think your kids would love US/IOA, but if you can't cram everything in 1 trip without stressing then forgo it now & make it a goal to do with your kids in the future (Hopefully not at graduation with food poisoning).

All in all -- It will be a great trip no matter what!

 

[mslclark]

If you've got the Disney portion already paid for and feel that it's going to be a strain to stay all day at Universal, then I'd postpone it for another trip. Trying to get in both parks in one day would be a rush, especially with kids and parents that aren't in the best condition. Let your kids get another year older, and then plan a Universal vacation. My kids would choose Universal over Disney any day! That way you can plan a stay at a Universal hotel and experience front of the line access with your room key.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It sounds to me that you sort of want to go and are looking for posters to talk you into it, however deep down you do not really want to. By the way you answered macraven, you strike me as not wanting to go. Your best bet is to go with your gut feeling & just not go this trip. You have come up with every reason not too.. so do not do it.
Only you can make this decision. You can sit down and write the reasons why you should go on one side of the paper, then on the other write the reasons not to.. then decide. Like I said, deep down it sounds like you do not want to..... this may not be the right time with everything happening in your life to do it. Wait until a better time.

 

[RAPstar]

One though I had, was since you are set on doing BBB, maybe go to the Downtown Disney one if you have a non-park day. That way you and your daughters can possibly enjoy the dress up more, since you won't have to deal with the hustle and bustle of the park. Just my opinion.

 

[d4est]

My first thought was...GO, GO, GO!! I love Universal...so much fun, so relaxing.

After reading and re-reading this thread, my thought is DON'T GO. I'd rather see you go when you will actually have the opportunity to enjoy the parks and take everything in. From the way it sounds, you will be rushed and frenzied. You, most likely, won't enjoy it and it may ruin the whole experience--you know, give you an unfair "bad taste" for Uni. I say go when you can take it all in, experience it for all the wonder and glory that it really is!

Heck, would you spend a ton of $$$ on a lobster and caviar dinner and then gulp it all down in one bite? Where's the joy in that? You should go when you can savor it!

Okay, that last bit sounds a bit corny, but you get the idea...

 

[keishashadow]

at the risk of being too personal, & from having back issues myself, im zeroing in on that portion of your post.

You say you hurt your back, now seeing a chiropractor...

You don't say how you hurt your back or whether you saw a medical doctor/clinic, etc.; before going to the chiropractor. Hope you did, manipulation onseveral conditions w/o diagnostic xrays can make the problem much worse, be careful.

I'd say until you are cleared by a medical doctor to travel, let alone enjoy the rides; put the trip on hold...disappointing, yet less so than developing a true emergency in Orlando & worrying about out-of-pocket exprense that insurance (even if you do have it) may not cover & you'd have to wait to be reimbursed, etc.

 

[deelovesdis]

You hurt your back and are planning on going on the rides? being tossled around can really exacerbate the problem. not to mention all that walking. Its just AUgust 1st, so a lot can happen in a month. you can feel alot better by then. Think positively.

I hurt my back in a car accident a few years ago, and I had a Disney trip planned and my trip was totally paid for too. What to do? I felt I had to go on my trip, even though I was in a lot of pain. and yes, I managed to enjoy myself. I paced myself, we came back to the hotel and enjoyed the pool in the afternoon or enjoyed the pool in the morning and went to the park later in the day because sometimes they are open till 11 pm.

I rented a motorized scooter so that took care of the walking issue , I did attractions, no real "rides" . Its easier to do that in Magic Kingdom. Alot of Universal is attractions, but the lines are really long, but if you are in a scooter you usually bypass the lines, so does your entire party.
You will be surprised how many rides and attractions are handicapped accessible. some attractions will even slow down or stop the mechanisms so you can get on.
I love both Disney and Universal. I always do both parks.

What you need to do is just relax, chill out, stop worrying. Worrying will not help you . Take each day as it comes, does every day have to be preplanned??? Worrying about money and not having enough, doesnt bring you the money.

Sit down and go over your finances. I see that the real issue is you dont have enough spending money with you. THings will be tight if you want any extras. SO save Universal for the last day, if you have saved enought to do it, do it.
If you go to Universal at the beginning of the trip that could leave you strapped towards the end. those water bottles each day add up, in that heat I usually buy one every two hours or so. I know the dining plan gives you one snack per day, so that would cover the one water bottle, but are you going to tell me the kids wont be allowed to have even one ice cream or anything that is not covered by the dining plan? Of course not.
If your mom was so generous to buy your tickets and pay for the room, do you think she might treat the kids a bit here and there? that could surely help your money issue.

Is it just Universal you are worried about? not enough money to go, dont know if you want to lose a day at the disney parks to go there? correct?
well, go online and look at the attractions. do any of them interest you>? do you think the kids will like them? Ok, the park is pretty much the same as ten years ago, except for THe MUMMY< SHREK, are new, and Back to the future is now gone, so is KONG and Ghostbusters , gone. . oh, there is the new Simpsons ride. I happen to love all the parks. Spiderman alone is worth going to Universal

again, nothing in life is written in stone. see how much you do at the disney parks, if you have the money and time allows try to fit in Universal. I mean some of us arent really into ANimal Kingdom or Disney studios, so I dont plan for those parks.
if all else fails, you can sit through an agonizing 90 minute timeshare tour, do it early in the morning or in the afternoon while the kids are relaxing in the pool if thats possible, and before you book it you make sure you let them know you want Universal TIX to do it! There are so many timeshare people down there, they give away discount tix or rooms really cheap. I know 90 minutes of your morning is tough, but how bad do you want free tickets? . something to think about
Listen I am in the same boat now-- again. I have my whole trip planned, prepaid and I am out of work now for two months already. WHo knew six months ago that I would be out of work? I didnt. YEs, My spending money is nil, I have my Universal tix and my seaworld tix, some dinner shows prepaid, but nothing else. we are staying in a condo, so will only need to buy food. Doubt we can get to Disney this year, things are tight, but I am not going to sit here and let it get me. no way.. I know something will break for me and I am keeping the faith, I am staying positive.
Stay positive JamieT, things will work out, they always do! Have faith. good things happen when we least expect them.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

One though I had, was since you are set on doing BBB, maybe go to the Downtown Disney one if you have a non-park day. That way you and your daughters can possibly enjoy the dress up more, since you won't have to deal with the hustle and bustle of the park. Just my opinion.

ditto on that thought!! The little girls look so pretty all dressed up at the parks, but in reality, they are not comfy on the rides...at least mine weren't way back when (before the BBB) They can stay dressed up and walk around the shops all day.. they can shop like a princess instead of going on and off of rides in long gowns...

 

[DisneyYahoo]

ditto on that thought!! The little girls look so pretty all dressed up at the parks, but in reality, they are not comfy on the rides...at least mine weren't way back when (before the BBB) They can stay dressed up and walk around the shops all day.. they can shop like a princess instead of going on and off of rides in long gowns...

I absolutely agree on this. Plus some of the rides at US will just aggrivate your back more. Relax and enjoy yourself instead. Splurge on a big ice cream or whatever the favorite family treat is instead of going to US - kids will go for anything fun! Maxing out and stressing out about your budget is never worth it. There will be a 'next time.'

Kiersten

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I love Universal but under the conditions you described I wouldn't do it. If Disney is paid for and money is tight just roll with that. It isn't just your kids that'll need a nap in the afternoon if your back is bothering you. Plan another trip in the future when the kids are a little older. Make it a Sea World/Universal trip and skip Disney altogether. Odds are it'll be cheaper and you'll enjoy it immensely.

 

[futureman]

Disney's prices make is harder to go to Universal, they almost make you go to either Disney or the other parks on each trip. I probably wouldn't go to Univeral in your situation.