Finally made it to Universal - Disappointed:(

[minniejack]

1 more month until Cedar Point, 4 more till Disney World and hopefully 8 more until Universal. Love them all. The trick is to go and have a good time and remember that you are in a theme park. Try not to make comparisons.
Things to remember for all amusement parks:
There will be rude people at any park.
Enjoy the moment and the thrills of the rides.
Cast members might not be in a good mood all the time.
You are not the only one who paid to have a good time, yes, you are special, but no more so than the person in front or behind you.
Get to know those in front or behind you. It will help to pass the time waiting and might be the way to learn something new.
Amusement parks attract kids and teens. Expect kids and teens to act like kids and teens.
Expect to see the sights.
I'm sure there are more, but you get the jist--Go, have fun, and ride the rides not expecting every person you meet in the park to roll out the red carpet for you to walk on.

Oh and I'm not slamming the OP, I just wanted Newbies to realize that they will have fun and to not base your experiences on what is written on the internet. Find out for yourselves.

Actually I'm a little scared about the wait times at Disney--we've gotten quite accustomed to FOTL

 

[disneyfan67]

This post makes me very nervous!

I've been promising my family that US is not a "Six Flags" type of park (no offense to 6 Flags lovers- just not enough theming/not clean enough for us!), but this post makes it sound similar...

I know everyone has different experiences and we will be staying onsite(PBH) and that might make a difference...

This is our first trip to US and we aren't sure what to expect. Anything you can suggest to prepare my family for a fun time? I'd hate to come home disappointed too ...

I haven't read all of the posts here yet, but as soon as I saw yours, I wanted to respond. First off you did the right thing by staying onsite and you went with the best (in my opinion) by choosing the Portofino Bay. That's where I stayed on my first visit to US and it's a truly beautiful resort and I'll put it up against any Disney resort, any day. The place is just so beautiful and unique and take the time to explore it and enjoy the many pools they have. If you have time, pool hop to the other 2 resorts down the line and see which one you like best. Yes, they allow you to do that and encourage it. Hop on the shuttle boats and explore the 2 other hotels. Check out City Walk too and they have some neat food and shopping options.

The best option of staying onsite is your room key is going to give you the chance to skip the lines and ride the cool rides like Spiderman and MIB (Men in Black) as many times as you want. My record on MIB is 5 times in a row and I bet I did it in less than a hour or so

Six Flags doesn't come close to what Universal offers, especially when you do a stay onsite. Don't worry about finding a dirty park, rude employees, etc. It's all good and I never have had a complaint. Universal studios isn't Disney World and never will be, but it's a great place to visit for a few days after or before visiting the mouse. I tried doing a Universal only vacation last year and after 4 days, I was a little bored. So I now do both and have a great time. To me, no vacation to the Orlando area is complete without a few days at Disney and at Universal. Enjoy your stay, keep your mind open, and don't compare it to Disney when you're there. Just think of it as it's own special place and you should do fine.

 

[Lou Holtz]

Minnejack, if you show up at Cedar Point one month from now, you will have the park to yourself. If you can manage to break in.....since it doesn't open until mid May.

 

[*LittleMermaid*]

I think Harry Potter is the shot in the arm Universal studios needs.
I love both parks, without HP. But the general public has become spoiled with parks like Disney and demand a themed, digitalized, state of the art ride experience, which they will get with HP. Spiderman was enough for me.

You say this like if Universal Studios does not have what you consider "themed digitalized state of the art ride experiences." If you feel that way than you really need to do a double take... Universal Studios has some of the most technologically advanced attractions in the world.

 

[minniejack]

Minnejack, if you show up at Cedar Point one month from now, you will have the park to yourself. If you can manage to break in.....since it doesn't open until mid May.

music in the parks mid may

whoa off by a few weeks still my point is the same regarding parks

 

[englishrose47]

We are planning on going nest year and coasters for me wont be a problem as I don't do coasters !!! I was really not keen on going and may not !! I am Disney thru and thru, but now the only rwason I won't go is if the girls bring a friend that will make 5 and 2 rooms are outta the question!!! All I have read on these boards has changed my mind !! I would now like to go and check it out !! Especially Harry Potter !!!

 

[damo]

We are planning on going nest year and coasters for me wont be a problem as I don't do coasters !!! I was really not keen on going and may not !! I am Disney thru and thru, but now the only rwason I won't go is if the girls bring a friend that will make 5 and 2 rooms are outta the question!!! All I have read on these boards has changed my mind !! I would now like to go and check it out !! Especially Harry Potter !!!

You can have 5 in a room. 2 adults with 3 kids.

 

[FINFAN]

I tend to describe WDW as surgary and US as spicy...I do think for overall park themeing, as in the whole place feels like elsewhere, I feel WDW gets the nod, most individual rides have awesome theming at US, but I do notice a break in the areas, minor stuff, just seeing more mechanics of rides etc., but seeing the previews of WWOHP is pretty over the top For thrills, US/IOA gets the nod mostly because of location, WDW you need to hit all 4 parks to hit all the thrill rides. I agree you just have to let each park be it's own thing and enjoy what all is offered.

 

[ChrisFL]

I tend to describe WDW as surgary and US as spicy.

Good Analogy

 

[donaldduck352]

1 more month until Cedar Point, 4 more till Disney World and hopefully 8 more until Universal. Love them all. The trick is to go and have a good time and remember that you are in a theme park. Try not to make comparisons.
Things to remember for all amusement parks:
There will be rude people at any park.
Enjoy the moment and the thrills of the rides.
Cast members might not be in a good mood all the time.
You are not the only one who paid to have a good time, yes, you are special, but no more so than the person in front or behind you.
Get to know those in front or behind you. It will help to pass the time waiting and might be the way to learn something new.
Amusement parks attract kids and teens. Expect kids and teens to act like kids and teens.
Expect to see the sights.
I'm sure there are more, but you get the jist--Go, have fun, and ride the rides not expecting every person you meet in the park to roll out the red carpet for you to walk on.

Oh and I'm not slamming the OP, I just wanted Newbies to realize that they will have fun and to not base your experiences on what is written on the internet. Find out for yourselves.

Actually I'm a little scared about the wait times at Disney--we've gotten quite accustomed to FOTL

A very good synopise of how to take Universal,thak you!!!

 

[MadeToLove]

Get to know those in front or behind you. It will help to pass the time waiting and might be the way to learn something new.

I find this to be key to making your trip really fun. The last time I went to WDW I went solo and had the best time. I met so many cool people in lines, and waiting for shows and had the most interesting conversations. It really is a small world after all and you never know who you might run into and what you'll learn.

Also, strike up conversations with employees at the parks. Being friendly with them, especially when they've been having a bad day and feel they're being treated as scenery instead of as a person, will bring you all sorts of karmic magic. I've learned more about what goes on behind the scenes, and where the hidden magical places in the park are from the employees than I ever did from a book or forum. I've had cast members at Disney give me and my family a tour of the control room at Space Mtn, an extra fastpass and several incidences of free sodas because I've been friendly with them and made them smile.

In short, if you want to see magic at a theme park, you have to bring a little of it with you, then the powers that be in the universe will return it to you tenfold. At least, that's always been my experience.

 

[Lucky4me]

You say this like if Universal Studios does not have what you consider "themed digitalized state of the art ride experiences." If you feel that way than you really need to do a double take... Universal Studios has some of the most technologically advanced attractions in the world.

I think I put the wrong smiley in.
Spiderman is my all time favorite themed ride in any park, anywhere.
I do think the perception is that Disney does it better. In the past on this site, if anyone even hinted that Universal may be equal, they were chased out of town.
The point I was making is Harry Potter will push Universal over the top. It will no doubt pull in a ton of people who otherwise would have been at Disney, or not in any theme park.
I"d rather all those people stay at Disney or at home, so I don't have to buy an express pass.

 

[Timmy Boy]

^Yeah, don't we all. It's funny, because we as guests want the place empty, but Universal wants the place wall to wall packed.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

I always laugh when people imply that they are morally opposed to the express pass because they don't like the idea of the people who pay more being given special priviledges. Welcome to earth. Fly or drive, luxury hotel or budget, McDonald's or Emeril's...I love having the choice to buy express or not.

 

[LilMommyBug]

I always laugh when people imply that they are morally opposed to the express pass because they don't like the idea of the people who pay more being given special priviledges. Welcome to earth. Fly or drive, luxury hotel or budget, McDonald's or Emeril's...I love having the choice to buy express or not.

Yup, express pass is awesome. Just like i'm sure flying first class, driving a Maserati, having a housekeeper and living in mansion is. I can't afford those, but good for those who can.

 

[damo]

Yup, express pass is awesome. Just like i'm sure flying first class, driving a Maserati, having a housekeeper and living in mansion is. I can't afford those, but good for those who can.

Not to mention that many people can't afford to go to the parks in the first place.

 

[englishrose47]

You can have 5 in a room. 2 adults with 3 kids.

I would make 6 !!! Judy and the 3 kids plus a friend of the girls !!! If she doesn't go then I willbe #5!!!! I would just nstay at Disney for the nights they were there !!

 

[damo]

I would make 6 !!! Judy and the 3 kids plus a friend of the girls !!! If she doesn't go then I willbe #5!!!! I would just nstay at Disney for the nights they were there !!

Sorry, I must have understood your post. I thought you said that that would make 5 in total if a friend came.

 

[englishrose47]

Sorry, I must have understood your post. I thought you said that that would make 5 in total if a friend came.

That's Okay !!! I was prolly confusing it is a Natural Talernt I haveWhen I first srtarted posting on the Universal threads I really had no plns to go, but you guys have definately changed my mind !!I will be asking lots of questions as I am sooo OCD about these trips , I feel I have to know all the ins and outs before I go and I know I am in the right place for my answers !!

 

[donaldduck352]

That's Okay !!! I was prolly confusing it is a Natural Talernt I haveWhen I first srtarted posting on the Universal threads I really had no plns to go, but you guys have definately changed my mind !!I will be asking lots of questions as I am sooo OCD about these trips , I feel I have to know all the ins and outs before I go and I know I am in the right place for my answers !!

Bring on the questions,we all love to help here!