Do many of you DVCers go to Univeral regularly while visiting WDW?

[luckytso]

We are going to WDW in May, and I decided to check on the availability of the Universal resorts. I got a rate for $125 for a garden view room at Hard Rock Hotel. This seems to be a great rate for a deluxe hotel plus front of the line access.

We are WDW AP holders and we probably will be buying AP for Universal.

Many of you on this board goes to WDW very frequently. Do you also make Universal into your plans?

We have never been to Orlando's Universal. But on the Disboard, it seems that some people are Universal converts. Some rather visit Universal and skip WDW altogether.

Do you stay there for part of your stays to get front of the line access?

People recommended to stay at WDW first and then move over to HRH at Universal. Otherwise, we might be disappointed in not having front of the line thing at WDW. Do you do that too? Or you only visit while staying at WDW resorts?

Thanks

 

[Dean]

AAA has a special for AP for $109, last year it was $99. We bought them last year and went 2 weekends then stayed at Marriott's Grande Vista Easter. My wife and I just got back from staying at HRH just before the passes expired. We're Universal'd out. We were talking how easily we get tired of Universal and never seem to get tired of WDW. The front of the line was nice but in reality it didn't help us much as the parks were pretty slow anyway. Unless one were going frequently or for a very long trip, I'd try to avoid having an active AP at both places. I'd try to do it when I didn't have an AP and maybe just do some of the minor parks, DQ, and other non Disney theme park options for that trip. Since I find at times that I don't even mind not going to the parks some trips, this would work well for us. Just a thought.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I have been to Universal 3x's. I have paid only once and I can tell you, I would never, ever go there again, even for free. I do, however, go to SeaWorld every trip for at least a day.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

I would never, ever go there again, even for free.

How come?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We are going to US at the end of our trip this February. We are going at the beginning of our trip next February. This saves us those wekend points that take so much with DVC. That way we usually only spend one weekend night of points and stay at the HRH for two more. By buying the AP this year, next year's trip will be covered.

HBC

 

[WiseGirl]

We have been to Universal 2 or 3 times in conjunction with either DVC stays at WDW or DCL cruises since becoming DVC members in '99. Have stayed at PBH and Hard Rock and liked both hotels, but PBH has the edge with us. The front of the line access is wonderful even in slower times.

We really enjoy Universal/IOA and everything it has to offer and will definitely combine future visits to DVC resorts with Universal. The parks and resorts are very different from Disney and for us it is a refreshing change. All a matter of preferences.

I'm also curious Gail Hayden, what turned you off so much about Universal??

 

[Barb]

We go to Universal every trip to Orlando. As long as we're down there, we do it all. We love the front of the line access you get when you stay at a Univeral resort. So since the resorts opened, we've stayed on site there, too.

 

[jctwizzer]

Went once several years ago; before IOA. Will be a long time before we go back because:

there was absolutely no crowd control.
frequent line jumping by younger guests
wait times about twice the posted time (see above)
significant amounts of trash on the ground and in lakes

 

[mouseclick1]

We bought the Universal annual passes when they were buy one get one 1/2 price, and plan on taking two trips with them. Our first is next month, and we will stay at PBH the entire time (6 nights). I know we won't head into the Disney parks at all, but we might go to DisneyQuest or a water park while we are there. It depends on how much we feel like venturing out. We only have 3 days left on our parkhoppers, and we are saving those for December. That's when we plan on going back to Universal (HRH this time) and finishing up our trip at BWV during Christmas week.

I am really curious to see how we will all feel about Universal after having spent so much time exclusively at Disney. I am guessing that we are all going to love it, but that it is going to be a completely different type of trip, like comparing apples and oranges. We'll see in a month!

 

[beattyfamily]

We go every trip now. We especially love IOA at Christmas time! Suess Landings turns into Whoville and our DD's LOVE that! The Grinch's Lair and all!

And, of course, FOTL access is awsome!

 

[DVC-Don]

We go over some trips for a day. It's not as nice as WDW, but it is nice enough to visit occasionally.

 

[Doctor P]

We may try IOA at some time, but we have been to US (I have been twice) and were very disappointed. I doubt we will go back for a long, long time.

 

[montessori]

Hi Luckytso!

That's good rate for that hotel and I think it would be fun to give Universal a try.
We haven't been there in years, since before Islands of Adventure.
Our daughter goes quite often and she does say it's "just not Disney World", but there are some fun attractions and the hotels are really nice.
Her old boyfriend's father was the main contractor who built Hard Rock Hotel. She says it's beautiful but I think I'd probably like Portofino Bay better. IF the rate was comparable, that is.

Maybe someone else can post about how many attractions are fun for your gorgeous little girls!

14 days until your Disney vacation! Yippeee!

 

[Jollymon]

We are pass holders at both WDW and US/IOA. My kids prefer WDW because of their age. Usually once kids hit 9 years they will refuse to go to WDW preferring IOA for the coasters and thrill rides.

I prefer IOA for thrill rides, I only go to WDW for the kids.

Andrew

 

[Tagrel]

We love spending a couple days at Universal. Last year we moved from DVC to Portofino Bay during the higher cost weekend days for a great Entertainment rate and LOVED it! Hard Rock looked great, and is very close to the parks. We'd like to try it there next.

We bought the APs last year for $99 and will get to go there again this July with no added cost. Won't have the Front of Line access this time though... Front of the line was wonderful last year. I'll just have to learn the ins and outs of Universal Express before we go.

We love the coasters at IOA, and even our young ones found plenty to do (6 and 4). It will be even better when they are older and can do all the rides. US was fun too with the kids areas, Woody Coaster, Animal Planet and Men in Black. They loved seeing Sponge Bob, Shrek, Woody and several other characters as well.

While Disney is our first love, we also really enjoy what Universal has to offer. Next we have to try Seaworld!

 

[ncligs]

We usually go to US and IOA every 2-3 years for a change of pace.But when you are used to the coasters

at Cedar Point(Ohio),
IOA and WDW's coasters can't even come close to Cedar Point's coasters.

 

[Muushka]

We visit Universal every time we go to Orlando. We love the hotels on site and we both really enjoy IOA. I prefer IOA over any park at WDW.

I am a coaster person, and IOA meets my need for speed!

 

[Peggy Sue]

Spent 3 nights at Portofino Bay in December before heading over to BCV's for 8 nights. Stayed over the weekend to avoid high points at DVC and got a great entertainment card rate of $170. a night. We were upgraded to their deluxe suite upon arrival..and the room was fantastic! The service was outstanding and the resort was great. We had prepurchased a speial 5 day pass and the last day we were there we upgraded to annual passes for an additional $15. each so we could use them again when we return to Orlando this year.

We loved the Whoville at IOA all decked out for the holidays. It was really a treat, as it was much more than just a stage show, with the residents of whoville and the grinch always out and about with the crowds.

Crowds? What crowds...no lines anywhere when we were there. We used our room key for FOTL access, but never really needed it. Their attractions are more adult themed.

Universal isn't Disney .. but they have their own version fo "magic"..we really liked how the parks were so close that it's a quick easy stroll between them. The hotel water taxi service brings you to city walk and from there you are literallly a 2 minute walk to either park gate.

I wouldn't hesitate to include Universal in your Orlando vacation plans. We ended up with annual passes for less than $115. each...I realize Disney has 4 parks compared to 2 at Universal, but Universal seems to really be doing things to attact guests.

The Univesal board here is great. They helped me learn about fin club, entertainment, and lowes cards...and they all saved us a ton on money!!

Reality is, we've been to Disney so much the last few years, we realy enjoyed being at a diffent place to check out their attractions...we also loved returning to WDW for a few days there, but at a very relaxed pace......

Enjoy!

 

[vernon]

I tend to visit SW, US,IOA and BG when I stay off site. As others have said, particularly at weekends not paying the premium rate for DVC points is an attractive thought.

 

[WDWguruDH]

We go to Orlando 2 to 4 times a year and usually include one trip to US/IOA for a day during that time. We really like about 6 attractions there, so we can usually conquer it in less than a day...much more and we would be bored. We usually pick up a 3 day park pass that does not expire, thus it is good for about 3 years.
I would definitely include it in an Orlando vacation, Hulk and Dueling Dragons are a blast, Spiderman and T-2 are excellent, and, pardon my sacrilege, MIB is better than Buzz-Lightyear – lunch at Emeril’s is a must as well. The front of line privilege is nice, but we found unnecessary. As some have stated, it is no Disney, but definitely worth some time.
On another note, I think this thread shows Disney should add some “thrill” to their parks. Rock’n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror, their two most popular attractions, also prove this. If they would add a few more thrill rides, or even a 5th park that was mostly thrill rides – a Villain theme (my wife’s idea) – we would not need to go to US/IOA even for the one day. I envision an inverted roller coaster based on the doors scene in Monsters, Inc. Off topic, I know, probably better as another post on another board, but just my two cents.