Disney or Universal??

[tiffanym5375]

I know this thread will more than likely lean towards Disney.. but I want to hear it. I will post the same on the Universal board. I want to travel with our son who will be 2 in jan 08. Traveling in my party will be DH, DS, grandparents, and myself. DH and I have tickets for universal already.. we had them last year when we were suppose to go before I found out we were expecting. We are doing a cruise this year but want to do a land and sea adventure for Jan 2008. At two is it more about a vacation for him or the adults? I'm not sure which he would enjoy most. I;m not sure which the adults will enjoy most I assume Disney for my son.. but not really sure if it will make a difference. I know he would love sea world and AK. He adores animals! ANy thoughts or advice?

Tiffany

 

[Cass]

I like both Universal & Disney, Universal is a lot of fun, but Disney is magical

I think, inmy personal opinion, your little one would like MK, DAK than Suessland at IAO.

 

[kapoof]

i think disney just because he is two...i believe (don't quote me) that universal is more geared towards older kids. they seem to have more roller coaster rides. disney is great for little ones but the adults enjoyed it too! if he like animals he will love animal kingdon and living seas at epcot, and of course the magic kingdom. univerisal looks like it has some really neat things as well. we are planning on trying universal when ds is a bit older.

 

[MsTinkerChele]

DISNEYDISNEYDISNEYDISNEYDISNEYDISNEYDISNEYDISNEYDISNEYDISNEY!!!! OH YEAH...DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PSISNEY

 

[Laurajean1014]

WDW ............................. all the way!

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

Been to both many times with and without our kids. Just got back from Universal with our 2 and 1/2 year old and our five yeard old. We stayed there four days at the Royal Pacific then drove to the beach in South Florida. We had a great time at Universal. Staying onsite is must, express pass to every ride. I am a Disney Annual Passholder and we intentionally stayed away from Disney because we have a ten day trip coming up in January and feel that too much disney takes away from the magic. That being said, if you have not taken your child to disney, disney wins hands down. We have taken our girls various times often in the 2-3 year old range and disney is just far more toddler friendly. Not only with rides but also with entertainment. YOu come across far more street entertainers and live shows geered toward a younger audience at Disney. There is a feeling of true magic at Disney that I don;t get at Universal. Having just got back from Universal less than two weeks ago I can honestly say it is a place I will frequent more when my kids are older and are looking for thrill rides. As far as is this a vacation more about the parents or the kids?, if you go to disney you will see that all about the kids is also all about the parents. When we took our oldest to Disney at 2 1/2 and watched her run down Mainstreet toward the Castle in a Snow White Costume to meet Snow White and truly believing she was Snow White, Disney had my husband and I hooked for life. At Disney you actually emotionally feel it, at Universal you just have a good time. Hard to describe until you have done it with a toddler who truly believes. That being said my youngest won't actually hug Mickey Mouse, but she believes it and those awestruck eyes are worth every penny disney takes from me. I will do it over and over again. As my kids get older we will also add a few days at Universal. It is an excellent theme park, but not quite everything we look for.

 

[laceemouse]

At WDW you can take him on pretty much every ride with you. As long as there is not a height restiction he is welcome. IOA is almost all thrill rides. I doubt even the grands would be able to do much. Are they just gonna stand around and hold him while your and your dh do the coasters? Even at US most things are geared towards teens and adults. I think he would be bored and miserable there. On the other hand, I think he would be thrilled by Disney, and the adults would be thrilled to see his reactions there. Are the Universal tickets non-expiring? Could the grands maybe babysit one day so you and dh could do all of the thrill junk at IOA/US??? I understand you want to use the tickets you have but there is just no camparing the two for little kids for most folks.

 

[rie'smom]

Our family loves both Disney and Universal but I would have to say Disney with a 2 yr old.

 

[tiffanym5375]

I guess I was afraid Disney wouldn't really entertain him much either. But what do i know... first time parents here I think Disney it is! Now I just have to wait until we finish our cruise this Jan to see if we wish to do just land or land and cruise!

My tixs do not expire for universal. So we have them for a future trip. Thanks so much!!! He will be 26months Jan 2008. I can;t imagine what he will be doing this Jan at 14 months cruise... he changes so much every day KWIM? I just can 't wait to travel with my little guy!

 

[WillCAD]

If he will be 26 months in Jan 08 does that mean he's 11 months old now? Impossible to tell what he'll like when he's 2 then, but many 2 year olds like the costumed characters at WDW and Universal (though some are terrified of them). He may like stuffed animals now, but he might not like real animals on Kilamanjaro Safari or the Pangani Falls Exploration Trail.

Why either/or? Do both - Disney parks and Universal parks. I always do both. Each is unique and has different attractions to appeal to a wide range of tastes. Despite what laceemouse said, IOA is definitely NOT "almost all thrill rides"; there is an entire land devoted to Dr. Suess, plus additional kid-friendly attractions in Jurassic Park and the Lost Continent (kids love the interactive talking fountain).

Now I'm going to don my flame suit, because what I'm about to tell you is going to offend the bezeesus out of many parents, but the whole world does not revolve around your kid. You're talking about a vacation for five people. The boy will be old enough to enjoy the trip (some people think a 2-year old is too young to enjoy Disney, but that's bunk). He won't actually remember much of it, but your pics and stories will make it a special time in his mind as he gets older and he'll want to go back.

But to stage an entire vacation completely around what you think a 2-year old might want or need leaves the wants and needs of the 4 adults completely out of the picture.

No matter how precious your little one is, he is still just one member of your family, and your family includes the other 4 people on that trip. I recommend striking a balance - figure out things for everybody to do, otherwise you will wind up with the grans sitting around all day bored out of their minds while you wait in line for the kiddie rides and characters.

WDW is specifically designed to allow everyone in the family, of all ages, have a good time both together and apart, so I suggest that while it's important to keep the little one's needs in mind when planning, you should not plan the whole trip around him.

Rides, shows, parades, restaurants, swimming, golf, shopping shopping shopping - WDW and Universal have it all. Don't spend your whole trip watching the little one ride Dumbo and the Carossell over and over again.

 

[Luv4Disney]

We bought a 3 day pass to Universal...after 1 day, we ditched the other two days and bought more tickets to Disney!

 

[BettyBoop.IOA]

My cousin is a few years older, 5 years old she is She loves Disney, but she didn't even know who Mickey Mouse WAS! She knew who spongebob was and Dora the explorer. Disney overall, but don't miss Universal! Remember Disney was the cartoon for the adults, Spongebob is the cartoon for the new generation. Sounds lame - but hey

 

[The Sweetness]

I think the 2y old would enjoy either

 

[Got Quattro?]

see my sig...we go to orlando a lot, and still have not been to universal. We do sea world every now and then for about a half day, only because we get free tickets.

DISNEY is always changing and thee is so much to see. No need to risk going anyplace new.

 

[fiveforall]

I love both parks. I love the US/IOA hotels and front of the line pass! You can't beat that front of the line. However, we took DS to Disney when he was 2 and DH still gets misty eyed telling how DS clapped and sang along on the Pooh ride. For a 2 year old and grandparents, I'd say Disney.

When your son is about 4, head to US/IOA. Seussville is AWESOME!

As much as I LOVE US/IOA, Disney is still our happy place.

 

[ReallyFunMom]

I think 2 is perfect for IOA/US. We did these parks when the kids were young and exhausted the kiddie things there. If you wait until the kids are 6 & 7 they have already outgrown a lot. Do these parks when the kids are young and more inclined to half days. Take turns watching kiddo play in play areas while adults take in adult ride, maybe using single rider line. Have no lines for merry-go-round and IOA's version of dumbo while others are racing off to the coasters. See Barny show and animal show. IOA/US is inexpensive enough to lap a park in the morning, eat late lunch at citywalk and go back to the condo and not feel like you've wasted money by not going a full day. IOA/US are smaller parks, we liked working our way up to Disney parks. Theme parks are tiring and young children are tiring. I like the two year pass while child is age 2-4 and then heading to Disney until you've done everything which may take a few years. Go back to IOA/US when kids are over 44 inches tall. Can do everything but the big coasters and have probably outgrown any interest in the Barney show or the If I ran a zoo play area, etc.

 

[dbm20th]

I would say WDW because of the age differences in your group. WDW literally has something for everyone's taste and you really can't go wrong. Universal is fun, but it really is about rides and line. At WDW, things liking, dining, shopping and adult beverages are much better than at Universal

 

[ufgator]

Disney! I've been to both and stayed on both properties but prefer Disney. Disney is magical. I don't have kids yet, but I can see teenagers liking Universal. The Portofino hotel at Universal was very nice though, but I didn't care for the parks there. I did like the front of the line pass we got for staying on property but it wasn't enough to make me pick it over Disney.

 

[tiffanym5375]

Thanks so much! Lots of great advise here. tiffany

 

[Doc CW]

WDW WDW WDW WDW WDW DISNEY IS THE BEST!