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

[RCharnay]

A few years ago, we had only two days in Orlando and thought we would try something different. The boys were 12 and 16 and we thought they were the perfect age for Universal. Well we went and they did the coasters and spinning things and had some fun. We didn't encounter big crowds. In fact, they did everything they wanted to do (a few rides twice) by mid day so we moved over to IOA. Same thing-fun rides but nothing else. When it came the next morning, the kids didn't want to go back. They begged to go to WDW so we did EPCOT. They had had all the rides they wanted and were ready for something a little more interesting rather than "exciting."
I'm sure we'll go back again but I'm guessing it will be every 10 years or so rather than the same kind of frequency we do WDW. Maybe when we have grandkids to let them try it once.

 

[eleven24]

Dec 2008 we went to Universal - had a horrific time. Waited in line for over an hour in the cold (yes, it was 45-55 degrees) TWICE on two different rides only to have them tell us inside that it was being repaired & to come back later. We left the park, discarding the remaining days on the pass, vowing to not return.

June rolls around & we're getting ready to head back to Disney and our 5-year old son asks if he can go see Spiderman again at Universal. It angers me again, so I call and politely tell Universal of our experience. They comp us a week's worth of passes.

This time around everything is working - but it's still not Disney. Rides are impressive, if not awe-inspiring, but the park pales in the attention to detail you get at Disney. My wife called it "Disney wannabees".

We called Mears and a shuttle took us from SSR to Universal. Two hours before leaving we needed to call Mears again (407-839-1570) and ask for a pickup. Which worked out well, because it took that long to meander from the park gate, through City walk to where the busses/shuttles pickup. If I remember correctly, it was less than $40 for all 3 of us.

 

[xipetotec]

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.

Meh, we like to go to one of the parks ever couple of trips. It's just not the same "feeling" but they're still fun parks and it's nice to check up on what's new there.

2010 we may actually go for TWO days if the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is open when we go.

And as mentioned, the drive is between 20-30 minutes

 

[edk35]

Dec 2008 we went to Universal - had a horrific time. Waited in line for over an hour in the cold (yes, it was 45-55 degrees) TWICE on two different rides only to have them tell us inside that it was being repaired & to come back later. We left the park, discarding the remaining days on the pass, vowing to not return.

June rolls around & we're getting ready to head back to Disney and our 5-year old son asks if he can go see Spiderman again at Universal. It angers me again, so I call and politely tell Universal of our experience. They comp us a week's worth of passes.

This time around everything is working - but it's still not Disney. Rides are impressive, if not awe-inspiring, but the park pales in the attention to detail you get at Disney. My wife called it "Disney wannabees".

We called Mears and a shuttle took us from SSR to Universal. Two hours before leaving we needed to call Mears again (407-839-1570) and ask for a pickup. Which worked out well, because it took that long to meander from the park gate, through City walk to where the busses/shuttles pickup. If I remember correctly, it was less than $40 for all 3 of us.

That was nice of them to comp your tickets. When we went to Sea World last year...we felt the same.....and we actually feel that about othe theme parks.....but we will give them a try. Thanks for the information.