Do any DVC'ers visit the "other parks" if so...I have ??????

[edk35]

We are thinking of possibly visiting the Universal studios on the last two days of our trip in Nov. So it would be Nov. 25th and 26th. If you have been to Universal while staying DVC how far a drive is it?? Is it worth it?? We went to Sea World last Nov. on Monday of Thanksgiving week and it was JUST OKAY to us. After it was all said and done......we all agreed that we should have just stayed at Disney that day. I figure the last two days of our trip (we depart Thanksgiving Night) will be when the crowds really show up at Disney so it might be nice to try Universal those two days.

Do you ever stay at the Universal resorts vs. DVC for those days??? Would that be easier and just save my two nights points?? Thanks.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

GASP!! Universal??!! We have not actually been to Universal except The City Walk and that was during the summer. My husband is a HUGE Jimmy Buffet fan and wanted to go shopping at Margaritaville. We were a little disgusted that we had to pay $11.00 for parking just to shop...hmmm! Our DD8 is a little too young for most of the stuff at Universal and since we have annual passes for WDW...well you get the idea!

Hope you have fun if you go!

 

[segpm08060]

I went to Universal in August,2008. We purchased the 2 park/1 day pass. It is worth the trip, I think. My children 9,11 and 20 love it, and always expect to go to Universal on one of our vacation days. We usually go mid-way through our Disney vacaction. We get to the park when it opens and manage to get through the 2 parks in one day. In November, I assume that the hours are shorter, so I don't know if you can manage the 2 parks in one day. There website is http://www.universalorlando.com/

 

[Caskbill]

You can go to the Universal board here on the DIS and they can answer any of your questions.

We go to SW and UF/IoA during our Disney trips, while staying at a DVC resort. You can stay at one of the UF hotels and you'll get Front of the Line access.

The drive is easy, especially if you don't take the interstate. We like to go up Palm Parkway.

 

[edk35]

You can go to the Universal board here on the DIS and they can answer any of your questions.

We go to SW and UF/IoA during our Disney trips, while staying at a DVC resort. You can stay at one of the UF hotels and you'll get Front of the Line access.

The drive is easy, especially if you don't take the interstate. We like to go up Palm Parkway.

Yeah I have posted some questions over there and they have been helpful...I just wanted to know if any DVC folks include UO in any of their DVC plans and how far it is to drive from a DVC resort. How long of a drive is it?? I am trying to figure out if it is better to try and stay on site at Universal vs. say OKW. Thanks

 

[CraftyMouse]

We go to US/IOA for a day or two on many of our WDW trips. Our kids are older (13 & 16) and they love the rides at US/IOA. IOA, in particular, is beautifully themed and has some great rides. With the addition of the new Harry Potter section I am sure we'll be back.

Depending on traffic and where you are on property it can take 25-30 minutes, door to door.

 

[SandrainNC]

We usually always go to a non-Disney park when we are there. I agree. It is about 25 to 30 minutes to get to Universal. I enjoy occasionally going to the other parks. And I cannot wait until the Harry Potter section of IOA gets done! We were there (IOA) the week after Thanksgiving in 2007 and there were 5 minute waits on everything all day long except one ride that was about 25 all day I believe. It was a nice break from the WDW lines for sure. Of course, Disney will always be my favorite.

Sandra

 

[mel&me]

We go to Universal Studios almost every trip Sea World every few trips. Been to Halloween Horror nights a few times. Those that never go to US or SW don't know what they are missing. It's about 10-12 miles and 20-30 minutes as CraftyMouse said depends on traffic.

 

[HayGan]

We are going to US/IOA next year at the begining of our trip. My boys have been begging to go for a few years and they are finally getting tall enough to ride most of the rides so we said next year is the year.

We decided to stay at US for the first two night for two reasons. First, the FOL access. Everything I have read says that it is absolutely wonderful! I love the idea of having virtually no lines for rides. We are ride junkies so the more riding the better! Second, since we are going for 2 weeks, those first two nights at US save us a ton of points (weekends nights) to use for the remainder of the trip!

We love WDW but we are all looking forward to the US/IOA experience.

 

[bookwormde]

After we have done 1 round of the 4 WDW parks we head for SW (15 minutes from OKW) back to WDW and a second visit to SW. Our older DS9 loves animals.

When they are older we will probably do Universal on site for a weekend (for the fastpass) since we do not do DVC on the weekends

bookwormde

 

[dgaston]

I love the FOTL access at the Universal Hotels. We like thrill rides and have a great time at Universal and IOA. Use your AAA card for discounts on food and shops. It is different from Disney, and also very enjoyable.

 

[eliza61]

If we are visiting for more than 6 days we will go to Universal or Sea world. We don't stay at the resorts though. I love the WL & BCV's so it would take alot to move me once I got settled.

 

[gojoe]

We went to Universal on our last trip. We stayed at BWV, rented a car for a day at Swan or Dolphin (can't remember which). Picked up the car at 8 am. Made it too Universal before it opened. We were able to hit all the big rides at Islands before noon. We had lunch at Hard Rock (AAA discount) then headed to Universal for the afternoon. We had a great time but all we keep saying is "This ain't Disney". We did some gift shopping on the way out at City Walk and did the weeks grocery shopping on the way back to our Villa. We unloaded our groceries and had a bell man take them to the room while I dropped the car off at Dolphin or Swan. Just give the key to the valet and your done. We are planning all sorts of day trip for upcoming trips home.

 

[robindennis]

Did Universal and prefer Disney.

 

[edk35]

Thanks for all the replies. We we are for sure going two days. I figure one day at each without rushing around. We don't know the layout of the parks there at all so I don't want to cram two parks into one day. I am hoping that lines aren't too bad if we elect to stay at OKW instead of a Univeral resort. We went to WDW in July for 14 nights and did nothing but DISNEY...so I am perfectly fine giving up two CROWDED days before Thanksgiving day to Universal parks. This will only be our 3rd time going off site since early 90's.

 

[DeeCee735]

IOHO.....never again. We have been to Universal a few times when visiting WDW while our kids were growing up. The first time was great, as with anything new and fun. After that, I was not a happy camper. Place has become jam packed, wall to wall people (we were there once in Feb, once in June and once in March or April, don't exactly remember). Last time we were there was about 4 years ago. City Walk on a Friday night was like Times Square on NYE, only much much smaller space for all those people. We were literally shoulder to shoulder just trying to walk through it, forget trying to sit down and eat. This was a February trip. It was unbelievably expensive for a one day/two park visit - if memory serves about $1000 for 5 of us. Kids only rode 5 rides, once each because of the ridiculously long lines. The walk through attractions, like Twister and the Lucy place (forget the name) were so crowded we couldn't linger if we wanted to. We originally had no intention of going, but we got to FLA a day early due to DH being able to take an extra day off from work when he didn't originally think he could, so we drove down early. We were able to get WDW resort for that one night (on a cash ressie instead of points - All Stars as I recall) and gave the kids their choice of what they wanted to do with that unexpected extra day. They chose Universal since we weren't there for a couple of years, so we went. As I remember it, each store/eatery along City Walk had their own music BLASTING out in front on the "sidewalk", so it was like an instant headache listening to it all from one to the next to the next on top of the wall to wall people. The parks themselves are so much smaller than a Disney park (or so it seems to us), so they had a very confining feeling with all the people. Waited an hour for hamburgers and hotdogs - and crammed onto a dirty table to eat - gross. Best part of the three visits there were the one time each we got to ride Spiderman and the Hulk. For us it's a big "been there, done that, not going back" kind of thing. My kids are in college now, and if they ever want to go back to Universal, they sure can - but on their own dime. It isn't a place my husband and I ever plan to return to.

This is really just our opinion, and not having been there in 4 years, I can't speak to recent crowds, ride lines, cleanliness, noise level, etc. If you do decide to go, I hope you have a much nicer experience.

Have fun planning and enjoy your trip.

 

[CraftyMouse]

IOHO.....never again. We have been to Universal a few times when visiting WDW while our kids were growing up. The first time was great, as with anything new and fun. After that, I was not a happy camper. Place has become jam packed, wall to wall people (we were there once in Feb, once in June and once in March or April, don't exactly remember). Last time we were there was about 4 years ago. City Walk on a Friday night was like Times Square on NYE, only much much smaller space for all those people. We were literally shoulder to shoulder just trying to walk through it, forget trying to sit down and eat. This was a February trip. It was unbelievably expensive for a one day/two park visit - if memory serves about $1000 for 5 of us. Kids only rode 5 rides, once each because of the ridiculously long lines. The walk through attractions, like Twister and the Lucy place (forget the name) were so crowded we couldn't linger if we wanted to. We originally had no intention of going, but we got to FLA a day early due to DH being able to take an extra day off from work when he didn't originally think he could, so we drove down early. We were able to get WDW resort for that one night (on a cash ressie instead of points - All Stars as I recall) and gave the kids their choice of what they wanted to do with that unexpected extra day. They chose Universal since we weren't there for a couple of years, so we went. As I remember it, each store/eatery along City Walk had their own music BLASTING out in front on the "sidewalk", so it was like an instant headache listening to it all from one to the next to the next on top of the wall to wall people. The parks themselves are so much smaller than a Disney park (or so it seems to us), so they had a very confining feeling with all the people. Waited an hour for hamburgers and hotdogs - and crammed onto a dirty table to eat - gross. Best part of the three visits there were the one time each we got to ride Spiderman and the Hulk. For us it's a big "been there, done that, not going back" kind of thing. My kids are in college now, and if they ever want to go back to Universal, they sure can - but on their own dime. It isn't a place my husband and I ever plan to return to.

This is really just our opinion, and not having been there in 4 years, I can't speak to recent crowds, ride lines, cleanliness, noise level, etc. If you do decide to go, I hope you have a much nicer experience.

Have fun planning and enjoy your trip.

Hmmmm...we have never had this experience and we've been going every year for the last 7 or 8. While the parks can get crowded, they have never been unmanageable. We've always gotten to IOA just before park opening and have ridden everything by 1 or 2pm, sometimes going on favorites (Hulk, Spiderman, Deuling Dragons) multiple times.

 

[boettj]

We are working on our 09 trip plans. Our kids will be DS10, DD7 (almost 8) and DD3 (almost 4) when we go. Our DS9 was able to ride all of the rides at Disney when he was 6. Yes he is very tall for his age. My DD6 is pretty close. One more year for her. Should we wait until the DS is 12?


Next question, what is there for a DD3(almost 4)? Disney is perfect at her age, but we have been told that Universal does not have much for that age group.



Thank you

 

[mel&me]

Place has become jam packed, wall to wall people (we were there once in Feb, once in June and once in March or April, don't exactly remember). Last time we were there was about 4 years ago. City Walk on a Friday night was like Times Square on NYE, only much much smaller space for all those people. We were literally shoulder to shoulder just trying to walk through it,

The only time I ever seen it overcrowded was going threw the Haunted Houses during Halloween Horror Nights the last time. Was shoulder to shoulder and it was only the Haunted house's, Nothing was scary because with the amount of people it was like cattle being pushed threw a corral. I have been to Horror nights 3 times never again on a weekend. The rest of the park was crowded but not bad considering it was a special event going on.
Adding there is one thing I don't like about Universal. When they have special events, they say they limit tickets, but the limit is jam in as many as you can possibly get threw the gate.

 

[mel&me]

Thanks for all the replies. We we are for sure going two days. I figure one day at each without rushing around. We don't know the layout of the parks there at all so I don't want to cram two parks into one day. I am hoping that lines aren't too bad if we elect to stay at OKW instead of a Univeral resort. We went to WDW in July for 14 nights and did nothing but DISNEY...so I am perfectly fine giving up two CROWDED days before Thanksgiving day to Universal parks. This will only be our 3rd time going off site since early 90's.

The parks are not as big as Disney, If you do 1 park each day, you should have no problem. No need to rush.