Do you avoid Downtown Disney when visiting US/IoA for fear of missing WDW?

[jasper]

Taking a break from WDW and doing our first US/IoA trip since 2003. Since we'll be there for 6 nights we'll have time to do some other things. I was wondering if going to Downtown Disney or Blizzard Beach (have leftover passes) would be a good activity, or just make us yearn for more WDW action (MK/Epcot, etc.)? Has anyone experienced those feelings before?

What are the other things you've enjoyed doing near US/IoA other than SW/DC?

Thanks!

 

[kmc]

Actually we always make a trip to downtown disney either for lunch or dinner and to walk around just to get the feeling of disney which we love so much. Believe me, I love going to universal as it is a much more relaxed trip than disney when you stay onsite because of fotl access and you can sleep in and not have to worry about the lines like disney--however nothing compares to the feeling I get walking down main street in disney(I think it stems from childhood memories) thats why I like to take a trip to downtown at least once just to get some disney vibes

I also think it would be a great idea to visit one of the disney water parks especially if you have left over passes--we have also done this in the past when we stayed at universal

 

[Planogirl]

You will probably miss Disney whether you go to Downtown Disney or not but there's nothing wrong with that. I miss both WDW and Universal all the time.

Going to a waterpark is a great idea.

 

[Albytaps]

Yea hit up a waterpark! I went to DTD on my UO trip and it did leave me wanting to go to the MK and more Disney. I think 6 days at UO might be overkill (for IOA and US) so you will definately have time. RPR was beautiful and it's the low budget one so I can imagine the other 2 are even better. We would have spent a lot more time in the pool if we had more days.

 

[arthur06]

I know I have a hard time landing at MCO and seeing all things Disney, and doing nothing Disney... I think a WP and DTD would be enough to fulfill my thirst for disney!

 

[Purseval]

We go to DTD all the time without ever going to a Disney park. It's just a nice place to stroll at night. We actually prefer it to City Walk.

 

[Larrabe]

I actually just booked an ADR, (my first ever!) for dinner at DTD's House of Blues. There's a very good chance that after a long, hot day at SW, we'll be too pooped to go, but I want to find out if our old Disney passes have a day left on them. (We lost our receipt, can't remember if they're no expiration ones, and really wish we could find out beforehand, but at least we'd be able to check out Ghirardelli's!!)

If we do have a day left, we're now thinking about doing a four-parks-in-one-day challenge on our free day. I'm always up for a challenge!!

 

[La2kw]

Taking a break from WDW and doing our first US/IoA trip since 2003. Since we'll be there for 6 nights we'll have time to do some other things. I was wondering if going to Downtown Disney or Blizzard Beach (have leftover passes) would be a good activity, or just make us yearn for more WDW action (MK/Epcot, etc.)? Has anyone experienced those feelings before?

What are the other things you've enjoyed doing near US/IoA other than SW/DC?

Thanks!

If you are a fan of the Harry Potter books, then The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at IOA will make you forget all about missing Disney. Trust me.

 

[Indy Denise]

Taking a break from WDW and doing our first US/IoA trip since 2003. Since we'll be there for 6 nights we'll have time to do some other things. I was wondering if going to Downtown Disney or Blizzard Beach (have leftover passes) would be a good activity, or just make us yearn for more WDW action (MK/Epcot, etc.)? Has anyone experienced those feelings before?

What are the other things you've enjoyed doing near US/IoA other than SW/DC?

Thanks!

During my IOA/US studios we headed to DTDisney one evening. Going there made me appreciate Universal MORE...(less crowds and more room to navigate at City Walk.) Seriously the bottle neck around the Lego area was crazy!..that said I do admit that Epcot is my favorite of any themepark...I just didn't yearn for it and I enjoyed my less stress Universal vaca. I get all Disney Commando when I do the mouse.

 

[drag n' fly]

Taking a break from WDW and doing our first US/IoA trip since 2003. Since we'll be there for 6 nights we'll have time to do some other things. I was wondering if going to Downtown Disney or Blizzard Beach (have leftover passes) would be a good activity, or just make us yearn for more WDW action (MK/Epcot, etc.)? Has anyone experienced those feelings before?

What are the other things you've enjoyed doing near US/IoA other than SW/DC?

Thanks!

We are not doing Disney on this upcoming trip. We have lots of plusses left on our NE tickets so we will use one plus to go on whichever waterpark the kids pick. I am definitely looking forward to relaxation this trip ....no rope drop.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

We generally visit my SIL in Tampa at the beginning of our vacations, so we drive over to Orlando. We stop at DTD first, I do a little shopping with ds and we eat lunch. Then dh has had his fill of Disney, and we move on to a Universal hotel. I like to think it's just enough Disney to keep the magic alive, but then we start our relaxing vacation. I have never had an uncontrollable urge to go in a park, although a water park sounds fantastic at the end of August!

Maria

 

[jasper]

All your replies are great and comforting. I too am a huge, Huge, HUGE EPCOT fan and would love to sneak it in on our IoA/US trip, but definately can't justify the $79 + tax price tag for the day X 4 people. Except for WWoHP early admission it will be nice to not have to leave so early each morning and just have a short 5 to 10 minute walk to the parks. Can't wait.

That said, with FOTL, is it still adviseable to get to the parks at opening which we ALWAYS did for WDW, or can you stroll in at 10 am or after and be OK?

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I haven't been since WWOHP opened, so bear that in mind. We were there over Thanksgiving and again in January, and you could arrive whenever you wanted and not have a wait with FOTL. We got a lot of dirty looks as we kept strolling past the line to do MIB, Spiderman, the Mummy and the Simpsons multiple times! In my experience you really can sleep in and go over whenever you are ready, without worry.

Maria

 

[kmc]

I haven't been since WWOHP opened, so bear that in mind. We were there over Thanksgiving and again in January, and you could arrive whenever you wanted and not have a wait with FOTL. We got a lot of dirty looks as we kept strolling past the line to do MIB, Spiderman, the Mummy and the Simpsons multiple times! In my experience you really can sleep in and go over whenever you are ready, without worry.

Maria

This is what I love about universal--its much more relaxed and can even go for an early moring swim before hitting the parks----I really hope WWOHP hasn't completely changed this

hopefully by october it won't be as crazy

 

[keishashadow]

Taking a break from WDW and doing our first US/IoA trip since 2003. Since we'll be there for 6 nights we'll have time to do some other things. I was wondering if going to Downtown Disney or Blizzard Beach (have leftover passes) would be a good activity, or just make us yearn for more WDW action (MK/Epcot, etc.)? Has anyone experienced those feelings before?

What are the other things you've enjoyed doing near US/IoA other than SW/DC?

Thanks!

if u r onsite @ U, i can't imagine spending $$$ and not enjoying FOTL perc. If you think 6 nights is 'too much' why not just do a split stay for 2 days elsewhere...offsite or @ WDW.

jmho, i wouldn't dream of going to DTD on U only vacation. I had a hard enough time driving past the exit on I-4 to WDW one year on way to cruise in TPA. Glad we snuck in most of prior day @ U, figuring it was best use of our limited time.

This is what I love about universal--its much more relaxed and can even go for an early moring swim before hitting the parks----I really hope WWOHP hasn't completely changed this

hopefully by october it won't be as crazy

i had my choice of either park for 2 night quickie trip end of month. Pricing approx the same, yet i just can't bring myself to deal with the throng @ U this summeri'll joing u hoping it slows down!!!

 

[KellyNY]

I honestly do not feel Disney spirit in DTD, except stores but I have Disney store at my mall. The most difficult part would be not to go to Epcot and not to see Illuminations and not to walk WS. We spend half of our vacation in Epcot. MK would be easier because I can see fireworks and castle from CR and Poly but I would definitely miss POTC and HM. 6 days at US/IOA may be too much but if you stay on site, take advantage of pools in all 3 hotels, it is allowed. Go to City Walk at night. I would suggest Blue Men if you feel like spending extra money. Since you have so much time, try to take it realy easy. Explore both parks, there are really a lot to do if you want to see everything. Headliners can be done in 1 day but to see everything you need 2 days per park. Water park for a day is a good idea, try to combine it with DTD if you wish and Wishes from Poly. Have fun.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

We always try to do both Uni and WDW on every trip -- even if it's only a day squeezed in to either park.

But on those few times where we weren't able to spend a day at WDW (or a Uni park when we'd do exclusive WDW parks), we'd opt for an evening at one of the WDW hotels with a nice dinner, as well as cocktail hour. Go early, walk around, shop at the gift shop, grab a drink at the bar and have a nice dinner at, say, Jiko, Citricos or Cali Grill. I mean, you could time your dinner at Citricos or CG to coincide with Wishes.

DTD doesn't equal Disney magic for me, either. It's shopping time, usually for early Christmas presents. It's done on our last day, on the way home ... we always pack some Earl of Sandwiches in the cooler, too, as they're perfectly reheated when we get home.

So if you can swing it financially, I'd say plan an evening or two at Disney hotels.

FWIW, this past January, DH & I hit WDW for a four-day last minute trip and stayed onsite there. Ugh, we have to drive right by Uni and our hearts were breaking since we weren't going to be able to hit any of the Uni parks. We took an evening to spend at RPR and have dinner at Tchoup Chop, enjoy some Mai Tais in the Orchard Lounge, enjoy that awesome music they play in the lobby, got there early so you could still hear the Hulk whooshing. It definitely took some of the heartbreak away

 

[Albytaps]

I went to the T-Rex restaurant at DTD. Awesome place!

 

[TaylorsDad]

I went to the T-Rex restaurant at DTD. Awesome place!

To me this is the only reason to visit DTD- for the T-Rex, other than that I prefer City walk to everything else. I just dont think there is much more to buy there than at WDW or local mall. I have been thinking of the hot air ballon ride though if it is still there next time I visit.

 

[indimom]

We did a week at Universal at Christmas (2008), we visited DD one day after seeing the ICE exhibit at the Gaylord Palms. No problem there. I agree with another poster, it's not soooo Disney that it made me feel I was missing out on anything. We ate at T-Rex, played at the Lego store and had a nice time.

On another night, we parked at DD, then hit the bus to the monorail resorts, resort hopped, had dinner at Grand Floridian, then hung out on the dock for the MK fireworks. That made me miss it a little bit.