First trip! I'm hooked!

[G&J's Mom]

Hi!

This is long, sorry.

Dh, 4 yo DS and 5 yo DD and myself took a trip to US/IOA for a long 4 day weekend this last week. This was our first trip so I was not quite sure what to expect. I love Disney, and we have been to WDW 3 times in the last 2 years and being from CA, trips to Disneyland were a normal part of my childhood, last trip being 12/05.

We decided to plan a last minute trip for DS's 4th birthday. The buy an adult ticket get a childs ticket free with the 3 extra days was too much to pass up. We got the Best Western Universal on Hotel Kingdom for a cheap rate, so off we went.

Again, I was not sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised, cause US and Islands are the bomb!!! We had an absolute blast. When we first went to Disney World seeing my DS's character interaction with Pluto, his favorite was priceless, but let me tell you seeing his reaction to Spiderman and Scooby Doo, WOW!. The atmosphere is so much more laid back and less crowded, and with little kids, that is sooooo nice. 44 inch DD was a little miffed that she was not tall enough for the big rollercoasters, but I humored her and took her to be measured at the entrances anyhow to show her. Every single time, the employees sensing her displeasure, went out of their way to make her feel better and offering ways to help her ride, like stretching her, Made her laugh and made an upsetting situation for her great! SHe LOVED the Unicorn rollercoaster, so that more than made up for it. The employees we encountered everywhere were just wonderful. Shrek even left his photo op to chase DH down and pretend beat him up cause he had a New England Patriots shirt on. It was a hoot!

DD asked if we could return for her birthday in mid May rather than go to WDW, and I can not wait!! We are planning to stay at the Hard Rock. Did I read somewhere that a GA residents discount might be available???

My kids being so little was never a factor. DS is about 1/4 inch below 42 inches, and fussed a bit over that, but when DD rode the Jurassic dinosaur ride for about the 10th time, he was totally content to hang out in the Splash Zone. He was right in the water gun battles at the nearby park, even though he could not see over the wall, hehe. Note to self: Next time bring bathing suits!

The atmosphere, food, everything was amazing. If you diehard Disney fans doubt you would enjoy it, all I can say is give it a shot. I know I am now a big fan. We are supposed to go to WDW in October, and we now will definitely be splitting our stay so DH and I can go to HHN.

Thanks for all the great advice on these boards!

Denise

 

[macraven]

another UO groupie has been born.........woo hoo

so glad you had a great trip

 

[phamton]

Welcome to the darkside.

Seriously, if more people would just give Universal a try, I think they would be pleasantly surprised on how great the parks are.

 

[BrknAngel]

Yay! Glad you had a wonderful time

 

[E&B's Mom]

You will be even more impressed when you do stay on-site. Front of the Line rocks!

 

[Cinderella822]

Thanks for sharing your positive experience. I admit, I've been a die-hard Disney fan, but I'm testing the waters at Universal this summer. The more I learn about it, the more excited I'm getting. I feel a little sad that I won't be visiting Disney this year, but I have a feeling I'm going to love Universal. Glad you had such a great time!

 

[Sylvester McBean]

chalk up another of the converted. everything I've seen looks like UO has torn down the border into GA and you're eliglble for FL discounts. the cup I got from burger king earlier this week had the power pass discount on it for GA residents as well.

glad you guys had fun.

 

[thedisneymom]

I also am a Universal convert. I really would like to change my name to
theuniversalmom but no one on the boards will know who I am!

 

[G&J's Mom]

Thanks for the welcome!!!

And thanks for the info Sylvester. I am hoping to go 5/11-5/14 and was quoted a rate of $149 for Thurs night and $169 for Fri and Sat for a Garden view room. And $169 on Thurs and $189 for the weekend for Pool view. Not too shabby!

Denise

 

[Sylvester McBean]

you're coming back again already? those rates aren't bad at all.

 

[G&J's Mom]

you're coming back again already? those rates aren't bad at all.

I think so. With it being DD's bday and all and about $340 less than WDW with base tickets staying at a value resort. I think US/IOA with a stay at HRH sounds like a splendid idea.

Loved Margaritaville by the way. We went there for DS's 4th birthday and he slept the whole time and missed it. We actually were probably able to stay longer cause of this and drink a couple more of those tasty margaritas and eat in peace. At first we were like, he is missing this, then reality set in, and it was SHHHHHH, don't wake him up!! That is what take out is for,

 

[Sylvester McBean]

Loved Margaritaville by the way. We went there for DS's 4th birthday and he slept the whole time and missed it. We actually were probably able to stay longer cause of this and drink a couple more of those tasty margaritas and eat in peace. At first we were like, he is missing this, then reality set in, and it was SHHHHHH, don't wake him up!! That is what take out is for,

that's a cool moment. we were sitting on the porch of indecision on a vacation when my wife told me it was time to start seeking transfers so we could move down here.

 

[macraven]

I also am a Universal convert. I really would like to change my name to
theuniversalmom but no one on the boards will know who I am!

create another screen name if you wish.

many people have more than one

 

[krismom]

Wow! Glad you had a great time... We are heading there in 2 weeks with my 5 year old sons and 7 year old daughter. It will be our first time at IOA and Universal (that ticket deal was too good to oass up!) and I am hoping that change is good. We have a breakfast planned with Spidey and some other fun stuff as a surpirise. Other than the bathing suits- any other tips?!

Thanks!

 

[coastermom]

Ok i am a Disney junkie and going back to USF/IOA after 6 years . we are staying on-site this time . My kids are 14,11 and 4. We are rollercoaster buffs and looking forward to IOA . i too am concerned with my DS that is 4 . I hope there are lot's of fun things for him to so . maybe i will be brought over to the darkside as well.

 

[Robinrs]

Wow! Another angel got his wings!!!

I cannot say I'm a "convert" since IOA was my FIRST park and will always be my "Main Street". I LOVE Universal and after 33 trips since 1999 it's STILL my all time favorite.

BTW, my son was not tall enough for the big rollercoasters for 2 years. He FINALLY made it on our 7th trip. Needless to say it is a plus to ride the big guys but it's obviously not the only thing they offer. Lots of people only see the Hulk from a distance and assume they're going to a wild rollercoaster park. There is SOOOOO much more to them.

Now my son is 5 inches taller than Me!!

I'm so glad you liked your trip. Like me, I plan my NEXT trip on every trip!

 

[stevenpensacola]

Chalk us up as having gone over to the dark side also. We stayed at Royal Pacific last Chrismas....the employees at RP made us feel like celebrities....we wanted to stop them and ask "you realize we're not famous or anything..."

Highlights:
eating lunch at Mythos,

dinner (two nights in a row at PastaMore),

Spiderman

the whole Suess land

the MUMMY! wow

Like others have said, we just enjoyed the laid back atmosphere of the place...never felt like we or anyone else was in commando mode.

 

[Mainebound]

Hi!

This is long, sorry.

Dh, 4 yo DS and 5 yo DD and myself took a trip to US/IOA for a long 4 day weekend this last week. This was our first trip so I was not quite sure what to expect. I love Disney, and we have been to WDW 3 times in the last 2 years and being from CA, trips to Disneyland were a normal part of my childhood, last trip being 12/05.

We decided to plan a last minute trip for DS's 4th birthday. The buy an adult ticket get a childs ticket free with the 3 extra days was too much to pass up. We got the Best Western Universal on Hotel Kingdom for a cheap rate, so off we went.

Again, I was not sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised, cause US and Islands are the bomb!!! We had an absolute blast. When we first went to Disney World seeing my DS's character interaction with Pluto, his favorite was priceless, but let me tell you seeing his reaction to Spiderman and Scooby Doo, WOW!. The atmosphere is so much more laid back and less crowded, and with little kids, that is sooooo nice. 44 inch DD was a little miffed that she was not tall enough for the big rollercoasters, but I humored her and took her to be measured at the entrances anyhow to show her. Every single time, the employees sensing her displeasure, went out of their way to make her feel better and offering ways to help her ride, like stretching her, Made her laugh and made an upsetting situation for her great! SHe LOVED the Unicorn rollercoaster, so that more than made up for it. The employees we encountered everywhere were just wonderful. Shrek even left his photo op to chase DH down and pretend beat him up cause he had a New England Patriots shirt on. It was a hoot!

DD asked if we could return for her birthday in mid May rather than go to WDW, and I can not wait!! We are planning to stay at the Hard Rock. Did I read somewhere that a GA residents discount might be available???

My kids being so little was never a factor. DS is about 1/4 inch below 42 inches, and fussed a bit over that, but when DD rode the Jurassic dinosaur ride for about the 10th time, he was totally content to hang out in the Splash Zone. He was right in the water gun battles at the nearby park, even though he could not see over the wall, hehe. Note to self: Next time bring bathing suits!

The atmosphere, food, everything was amazing. If you diehard Disney fans doubt you would enjoy it, all I can say is give it a shot. I know I am now a big fan. We are supposed to go to WDW in October, and we now will definitely be splitting our stay so DH and I can go to HHN.

Thanks for all the great advice on these boards!

Denise

I could have written this post in March 2004 (in fact, I think I did!), after everyone told me my boys ages 2 and 4 were way too young to enjoy Universal. Well, they LOVED it, my elderly mother LOVED it, and DH and I LOVED it. We stayed at the Hard Rock (back in the days of really good discounts -- we payed about $160 a night, ahhhhh...) and LOVED that hotel as well. Now we wouldn't plan a trip to Orlando without spending several days at the Universal parks. They are just terrific.