Do you get that magical feeling at Uni?

[bobbie68]

Hi we are a family who has done both with our DD growing up. I would say the magic was there with Disney when my DD was little seeing it through her eyes. We did enjoy Disney very much too but it was different. I agree that I think it is different things at a park that becomes special and magical for them. For us it is going into the HP worlds. We are big HP fans and the feeling I get walking through is like we are home! We do feel excitement when we walk through the entry ways to IOA and the studios.

I have to agree with pp that you should do Universal as a separate vacation at least the first time. I think you will compare it less. I agree stay on site and get in the "Uni bubble". It can make a difference and the express pass is great at the deluxe hotels.

We love the slow relaxing pace at Uni... We never feel rushed and feel like it is more of a vacation .I don't need a vacation from that one like I do with Disney.

I also agree with pp that you need to come in and not compare the two. They really are separate and unique in themselves!!

I hope you decide to go and can have a great time!! We love Uni and go back every year!

 

[heidijanesmith]

Our family does not get that "magical feeling" at US, but we are very relaxed at US.

Since we stay at HRH, the unlimited EP makes touring a breeze with no planning. We just relax and explore the park as we feel like it.

It's a great way to tour!

 

[smiths02]

We are planning our first trip to Uni. This is a good question, but honestly, I am not expecting Universal to be "magic." I grew up going to Disneyland, Disney will always be special.

I am going with the goal of it being relaxing (Express Pass, easy park transportation, expecting not to drive or ride a bus for 6 nights!, ease of dining) and deluxe (the price of Portofino Bay with tickets is comparable to a moderate at Disney with tickets) and just fun (we really like Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, King Kong, the Simpsons, ET, Spiderman, Tranformers, etc as properties)

 

[Tksolomom]

I spent the weekend watching You Tube videos with my son about interactive wand spots, and I almost got teary just thinking about how excited I am. So, yes, Universal to me is magical.

In saying that, I do think that like WDW, part of the magic comes from staying onsite. I feel the magic at WDW, but not really at Disneyland, and I account that to being immersed in a bubble.
Being able to walk to Universal from a deluxe and use an included express pass is definitely part of what makes the experience feel extra special.
As bumbershoot memtioned above, fastpass doesn’t even compare. It might cost in the form of a more expensive hotel, but once you have it, you don’t feel nickle and dimed like I am feeling a bit this trip by all the optional extras at Disney.

I don’t get the whole Disney Bubble thing at WDW. I love it there, but I prefer it like DL and US studios where you can park hop with a 5 minute walk and get to your hotel without waiting for a bus. I don’t think that the US studio rooms are more expensive than the DW hotels. Royal Pacific was 277 a night with Express Pass, Wilderness Lodge, the cheapest Deluxe Resort was 571 for my dates. So Disney is close to twice the price and I don’t get unlimited fast pass access to the rides.

I love planning, and have my meals all planned out for both parks, but I live not having to get up at 3 for dining reservations or at 4 for FP. If I want to change something at US it is much easier. This makes it easier to be spontaneous and enjoy some of those special moments more.

I love both parks. The CMs at both parks are always pleasant, the hotels are great, the theming is fantastic. US has some more exciting rides which is good for our family, but WDW has better nighttime shows. Both parks have street entertainment and character M&G, US has shorter lines for those it seems.

I am a DVC member, so I obviously love Disney, but Universal is just as great.

I do have to admit, there are the small moments at WDW or DL where a cast member goes above and beyond that I haven’t had at US, but I wouldn’t go to Florida without doing both. I normally include a trip to SeaWorld as well. Flights are expensive for me (I live on the West Coast in Canada), so I spend 2 weeks. I normally spend more time at a Disney because it has more parks and the hotel is paid for with my DVC membership.

 

[klo1335]

We love Universal and when we walked into Diagon Alley for the first time...holy cow! I was blown away. We are huge potter heads, much more then my girls ever being disney princesses. I also feel very relaxed at Universal and we stay offsite so don't even have express pass but I never feel rushed or overwhelmed like I did at Disney.

 

[kbelle8995]

I get that I'm on vacation feeling. And magic when I step inside Harry Potter Sections.

 

[BrianL]

It's a different kind of magical feeling, but Uni certainly offers a really great experience. I lean more toward Disney, but Uni definitely inspires me too. I do feel magic in certain areas more, like the Lost Continent area of Islands of Adventure. I'm not really a Harry Potter guy, but the areas are nicely done. I think you'll find that "not the same" doesn't mean "bad" and will likely find different things to appreciate about it.

 

[Catvondita]

Not as much as Disney but I do get the feeling. I also think it's nostalgia. My family and I would go to Disney a lot but Universal less frequent. It's slightly less connected to my childhood minus HP especially since the more nostalgic rides I grew up with are gone (King Kong, Jaws etc).

 

[only hope]

Only when I walk into Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. I grew up going to Disney, so there is less nostalgia. I was already 12 or 13 the first time I went to Universal; I haven’t been there even half as much as Disney. Aside from HP (I’m of the right age I had to wait for books 4-7 to come out), I don’t connect emotionally with any of the IP’s there. To me, the entrances are also less magical. Unlike the four WDW parks, DL, and CA, there is no icon that your eyes are drawn to the second you enter the park.

However, walking into DA...I’ve walked in dozens of times now, and that still brings a smile to my face and instant happiness every single time. Even MK doesn’t do that for me every time.

 

[DrummerBoy523]

The Harry Potter areas rival any magic I will get at Disney - and I felt they were the best part of both parks...but I still prefer Disney.

 

[Michael Webb]

Wow. I can't stop myself from responding to this thread.

NO. The magic is not the same.

There is something about Disney...be it the history..be it the characters...be it the way they bend over backwards to make you feel special (most of the time)...that makes your love of family swell up in your breast. You don't HAVE to have an advanced technology awesome ride...,you just experience the voice of Mickey or Goofy and you melt. I have stayed on site at Disney and off site and the magic is there - on site. Can't explain it. But can't deny it.

Having said that...and being at the stage of life (in my 60's with grown up kids), I can tell you that Universal is special too. They have developed "lands" that are so "all-encompassing" that I feel they give competition to Disney. And my adult children like them better. So I enjoy my time at Universal. But I treasure my time at Disney.

Does that make sense?

 

[Beezle2]

I get that magical feeling at UNI every time I get front of the line access for being an onsite guest. I love it and am always happy to shell out for RPR <3

 

[mitsukoshi samurai]

More magical feeling at hp world than wdw combined

 

[glocon]

We love both- and both have a magical feeling- just different magic. If you go to UO and expect it to be Disney, you probably will feel let down, just like if you go to Disney and expect it to be UO you’ll feel let down. It’s a different magic. Expect that and you will feel the magic.
Wizard magic and Pixie magic are just different.
To get the best UO experience, definitely stay onsite at a resort with the ep’s... it’s a totally different vacation.

 

[FargoBear]

I can't quite describe the feeling that washes over me when I round that corner and see Hogwarts.

I'm just blown away. Sort of feels like, well, home. I could just wander around that area for hours and be happy.

 

[luvsJack]

Yes, there is magic. Its not princesses and Mickey but its witches and wizards, Dr. Seuss, movies that you love and just that overall feeling of leaving your real life behind. Its that same feeling of walking into a world of make believe or fantasy.

We have always been a Disney family. And still love Disney. There is a feeling you get when you walk on Main Street. That same feeling is at Uni. the theming in each area is so immersive. That you truly feel you are in those places, just like at Disney.

But, don't go trying to "find" Disneyesque magic. Go looking for the magic in Universal. Its there.

 

[TommyJK]

For me there are a few points of "that magic feeling" when I go.

1. As @damo mentioned, walking into the Port of Entry at Islands of Adventure. The music playing, the ambiance. For me it's like the feeling many describe when walking into Main Street USA at MK.
2. Walking into Diagon Alley. The sheer beauty of its theme and construction is just fantastic
3. Walking into Hogsmeade and then through Hogwarts to ride FJ. Again, the sheer beauty of its theme and construction is just fantastic.
4. Riding Forbidden Journey itself. I literally get goosebumps every time I ride it.

 

[Scifidiner]

Yes. It's not quite the same as Disney, but it's very close. My wife and I have been going to US almost as long as WDW, so I agree with a PP about that magical feeling being connected to nostalgia. It's different than WDW but that's a good thing. Both places have their own advantages and disadvantages. If go to both sides of HP and can't have a good time, something's wrong with you.

 

[skylock]

I started going to Disney 32 years ago. Every year, I couldn't wait to go back.

I have not been back for 4 years now and it is because of many factors.

A lot of it is the clear cost cutting measures Disney has made.

I found myself every year just shaking my head at what I was seeing. Trash everywhere. Streets not being kept swept. Buildings with peeling paint. Worn carpet. Dirty walls and it goes on. I used to think to myself Walt has to be rolling in his grave.

The last time I visited, there was a pile of trash behind the castle. We went back two days later and that trash was still there. The pile was bigger than 2 days before. We were sitting back there watching the fireworks and a mouse ran up my nieces pants leg. (I am understanding of rodents get everywhere, but they are much more likely when trash is about) BTW, she jumped back and scraped her leg quite badly because she was sitting on one of those low brick type wall things. We went to first aid and they took so long, we just left and stopped by walgreens.

So what I am sayings is WDW has lost a lot of the magic I used to feel for it.

That combined with the having to plan so far out, I just lost a lot of my love for WDW esp after I discovered how wonderful using EP at UO was.

Now UO also has problems with keeping the parks clean. They do a good job, but I have been going since the first year they opened and basically, I don't see much change. In my opinion, it was never as pristine as Disney used to be, so I am basically satisfied with what I see. Where disney had become a huge disappointment.

I will be going back to disney in the spring and I am hoping for improvement in the place since my last visit. But I am not expecting much.

 

[cschaaf]

We were sitting back there watching the fireworks and a mouse ran up my nieces pants leg.

You're lucky they didn't charge her extra for an exclusive character Meet & Greet