Give up a day of Disney for Universal?

[diskids2]

I will post this on the theme park attractions and strategies board as well, just to get as many opinions as I can.

We have been to WDW five times as a family. We have never been to Universal. This Easter we will be in the world for 7 full days, not including travel days. This time we will be driving down and will have access to a car as well. My children will be ages 9 and 13 and do enjoy roller coaster rides and can tolerate "scary" rides.

Should we give up one of our 7 full days and go to Universal? What do you think?


__________________

 

[nicolep91]

No.

Don't give up one of your days - give up 2! That way you can visit both Studios and Islands of Adventure!

Kids your age would really enjoy Universal, IMO!

 

[ksdave]

In 2001, when my son was 9 and my daughter 11, we went on another trip to WDW for five days, and added two days at UO. My DD had been to WDW 4 times and my son 3 times up to that point. We had been to Universal once back in the early 90's.
We have not gone back to WDW since. Both of my kids completely fell in love with UO and its more mature attractions. Since then, we have been staying onsite at Portofino and the whole family loves it. We were there this past February and will be back again in 20 days. Our goal is to make two trips a year to UO until they leave for college. We might try a day or two at WDW sometime in the future, but right now it is not a priority for us.
Hope you take a couple of days out to visit UO and see all it has to offer. If at all possible, stay onsite and get the express access.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I agree, Universal Studios is a completely different experience!

Your kids may enjoy the more "mature" atmosphere of Universal. There are roller coasters and thrill rides over at Islands of Adventure and other cool things at Universal Studios. Your kids would love it!!

I agree about taking 2 days so you can do both parks (and if you did that, don't get 2 one-day passes, get a 2-day/2-park pass so you can go back and forth between the parks during the day).

If you want any specific information, feel free to ask...we'd love to help you out!

Just don't expect Disney and it's "kiddie nature" there are 3 shows over at Universal Studios with a PG-13 rating. This would be Terminator 2:3D, Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue, and the Horror Makeup Show. Nothing else has a rating, but I wanted to forewarn you, in case you don't want to let your kids go see something with that rating.

 

[Robinrs]

My son is 10 and I have a very hard time trying to talk him into taking a day away from Universal to go to Disney now!

We started going when he was 6, our trips used to be half and half now they're totally Universal. I hope in time he will decide to give Disney another chance!

 

[SpideyHulk24]

People don't realize what a great vacation experience they now provide. They used to have their problems, but they are now giving Disney a run for their money IMO.

 

[damo]

We haven't been back to Disney since IOA opened and we discovered a park that was themed and had great rides and great hotels and you still had money left over at the end of the vacation!!!

 

[Patch'sD]

I am the same, in 99 we stayed on-site in Dinsey and Day Tripped to UO, in 00 we stayed at Universal and Day tripped to MK, in 03 Stayed on Site in Universal and Never went to Disney. I would recommend that you try to book a Universal ON-Site Hotel and stay at Universal towards the end of your trip. Expierence FOTL and two great parks, and you'll never go back.

 

[dturner]

My upcoming trip in September is ALL being spent at Universal, mostly in part to being cheaper than Disney but also because DS (7 going on 16) loves Spiderman, Men in Black and just recently watched all the Back to the Future movies so I thought a vacation away from Disney this time was warranted. Can't wait since the only time I was at Universal was back when it first opened.

 

[webray]

Give up two days and go to Universal and IOA if your kids like adventure and excitement these parks are for you. The parks are excellent.

Why not stay at a universal resort for a night and get front of the line access for two days, before or after checking into your disney resort.

 

[Mickeygirl]

We have done WDW every year for the past 9 years, this year we stayed at Usf and did 1 day at WDW at MK. My 4 and 6 YO niece and nephew couldn't wait to get back to Universal so they could use their card and not stand in line. Next year we are doing only USF. It ruined us of ever staying at WDW again for the price and all of the extras

 

[bethinks2]

My sweet family has refused to visit WDW for even one day when we go to Orlando this March. They think that Disney is for small kids with my dh saying "It's a park for babies." Ever since we went to IOA , Disney is totally out of our plans. We all love US and especially love IOA, but I still would like to visit WDW for at least one day just to see it again. IMO, your family must try it for at least 2 days, and I think your family will be so happy that you introduced them to IOA experience! But be careful, you may never get to go to WDW again!

 

[robvia]

Just got back from a 2 day trip to Disney with the wife and kid, drove up, stayed at Movies. The place is really for little kids, aged 4-8. After that, it's over.

Each park has two attractions that are worth doing for thrill fans and they're next to each other. Anyone notice that?
MK - Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain.
Epcot - Test Track, Mission Space
MGM - RnR, ToT
AK - Primevil Whirl, Dinosaur

We had fun, but the 12 year old daughter only cared about the thrill rides. For example, at MK, we did the stuff in Tomorrow Land, then did Thunder Mountain railroad, Splash Mountain had a 90 minute line, and we skipped it. Asked the kid if she wanted to do anything else, and she said no, it's all boring, so we went back to the hotel. You'd think that Eisner would notice that the thrill rides have long waits, and that's what people want.

I don't know why people think they need 7 days at Disney. If USF was smart, they'd run ads telling the people from the UK that they only need 3 in Disney, and then spend 3 at USF. Somehow, the word hasn't gotten out about USF, and that you only need a few days at Disney, not a full week.

 

[sters]

7 days at Dinsey is hardly adequate to do and see everything there. Not everyone is into thrill rides 24/7. I have 3 kids and each one has an adversion to one type of thrill or another. Sorry, Disney does it better.

 

[damo]

Disney does do it better for those who like the "cute and wholesome" factor. Universal and IOA are for those who aren't into "cute" but like some meat on their bones.

 

[h20jag]

I like that comparison damo!

As long as Uni & Dis are competing we'll always have great opportunities to "do both" as we choose.
We like Disney when the mood is right. The mood is certainly dictated by any decent discounts too though! (which are seldom, unfortunately)
Bang for the buck principle!

 

[Jon99]

I can go to Six Flags and get the Universal feel, only one place in the world to get the Disney feel....

We are spending 10 days at WDW in April, will spend one day at Universal and a few nights at City Walk.. The only thing we prefer at Universal when compared to Disney is City Walk...

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I respect your opinion Jon99, but which Six Flags would give the Universal feel? I've been to a couple Six Flags and wasn't the least bit impressed and the atmosphere was obsolete compared to Universal Studios (and Disney, for that matter). Of course, I've only been to 2, and that would be the one in Gurnee, IL and Georgia.

Then again, maybe I'm not interpreting your comparisson correctly. Sure Six Flags have rollercoasters and thrill rides closer to Universal's IOA, but the theming and atmosphere at Universal is mucho better. Plus Universal is cleaner and just seems to have had more "thought" put into the planning and design...of the rides and the park itself.

Universal has that "unique" quality that makes the park so enticing...rides more thrilling...like maybe Six Flags, but theming up to par with Disney.

JMHO

 

[Jon99]

We go to IOA and we walk away thinking we could have had the same experience we get at Six Flags, to us its just a thrill ride park with very little theming...

I do enjoy Universal Studios almost as much as MGM, though they don't have anything as spectacular as Fantasmic...

JMO, but I think WDW has the 4 best parks and more options with the water parks, water fun on SSL , the campground activities, better dining options and better shopping... To us, the only thing Universal has is that we prefer Citywalk to Pleasure Island...

 

[damo]

Well, smack me on the head. I'd better head out to some of those Six Flags Parks!!!!!!!!!!