Does anyone skip WDW and go to US\IOA instead?

[cruise-o-matic]

I meandered over to the Universal threads and I was wondering if anyone stays in DVC but hops over to US\IOA?

I've never been, so how does it compare?

 

[Laurabearz]

Over the summer US/IOA offered great AP's prices... I got 2 years for $170. Both parks no blackouts.

Not sure how old your kids are, but we felt the kids area at US was wonderful (wet, but wonderful), The girls enjoyed Jimmy Newtron and Shrek.... and have asked to go back to the Woody play park this trip.

If your kids are older... both parks ROCK!

With the great AP prices we got, we plan on spending at least a couple of our park days there for the next two years. Are the CM's as nice... some are... is it as clean.. well, it isnt dirty... are there more roudy teens and young adults... yes.

But the parks get 2 thumbs up from our family.

 

[goofy4dvc]

We usually try to spend one day at both US/IA parks. We really like to eat at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. DH and I much prefer the CityWalk area of US over PI. My older grandkids (and DH) really like the roller coasters at US/IA. I don't like roller coasters and, while the parks are nice, you can just tell that it's not Disney. You don't feel the magic and they don't keep the parks quite as clean as WDW. We usually spend one day at US/IA to four or five at WDW.

 

[bjakmom]

We haven't stayed at DVC and gone over, but we love spending either the weekend before or after our DVC stay at one of the US hotels - with FOTL access we have never waited more than a few minutes for a ride, even when the regular lines were quite long. We prefer to end our vacation at US as we find it much more relaxing than WDW and it gives us a chance to unwind before heading home - we love their pools and being able to walk to and from the parks - great places to eat like Margaritaville, Mythos, HRCafe and Tchoup -chop !! - It's a great alternative to using up our points on the weekends !

 

[dgaston]

After our February cruise, DS16 chose Universal over WDW, so we're staying at RPR for one night. DH and I got Universal AP's with the Burger King 2 years for 1 deal in 2003 and enjoy Universal and the discounts too!

 

[spiceycat]

I am an animal lover - so I prefer SW - but I did enjoy US/IOA - stay at OKW cheaper on points and easily to get out to other places (my opinion)

remember after you park you car at US/IOA you are a half mile from either parks - so be prepared to walk.

 

[gnome1b]

We are flying in on a Friday night and staying at RPR for Fri and Sat night and spending one day at Universal before going to BCV. I thought it would be a nice way to spend the Fri and Sat night instead of using points. Although, because of the time I'm going (the week before Easter), there were no specials on the room. $264 a night Yikes!! But we've never been to Universal, so we thought it would be fun none the less. I'm sure at some other time of year we could get better rates at the resorts.

Another reason I wanted to stay on site was for the front of the line ride access. I felt it would be worth it for a busy time of year!

Brad in Ma.

 

[Granny]

I meandered over to the Universal threads and I was wondering if anyone stays in DVC but hops over to US\IOA?

I've never been, so how does it compare?

We visited US/IOA last summer while staying at DVC, and frankly it compares very poorly with WDW park visits.

Imagine that you are staying off-site and want to visit WDW. First come the parking hassles. Then, you notice that everyone who stays on-site gets to go to the front of the lines. You also notice others who basically paid for a days worth of Fast Passes. Any idea how long the wait in the regular lines would be in that scenario?

Well, that's the way the US/IOA treats their park guests who don't stay there. Frankly, we found it to be quite a rip off since we were able to do 3-4 attractions at most each day before the lines got to over 90 minutes long at all attractions.

 

[Mary Ellen]

We're usually in Fla for about 2-weeks each trip. Going to US/IOA for a few days before checking into BWV works great for us.

1) Now that DVC assigns rooms at check-in, we're able to check-in earlier when we're coming from US/IOA instead of flying in that day. The VERY earliest a flight arrives at MCO from our home town is 2:30pm. Most other flights are in the evening - we get the 'left-overs' when it comes to rooms.

2) LOVE FOTL access.

3) We go to US/IOA before WDW also, because it seems like a let-down if we go after WDW. Looking at some of the decor (park - NOT resort) this last time, I mentioned to DH that it looked like it was painted for a HS drama production. Just not up to WDW standards.

4) We've stayed at all 3 resorts now. HRH and RPH are our favorites, but if we moved to one of them after a 1-br at BWV, it would adjusting to a smaller room.

5) Our US/IOS APs are for 15 mo.