Going to Florida and NOT going to WDW

[BarbaraMB]

Has anyone gone from out of state to Florida and only when to Universal and NOT to WDW? We are seriously considering driving again from NJ but only going to US and not to WDW.

 

[wendypooh]

All the time!!! We love both........ but YES, we go down and do not do Disney........... ALTHOUGH........ we do go down and only do Disney.............

And then sometimes........... WE DO BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tricia1]

We started going to Universal a few years ago and only go to WDW if we have some extra time. But, we're in Alabama so it's easier for us to get their pretty often.

 

[tinroad66]

We've been to WDW 6 times and NEVER left the property... but this year it's going to be Universal only. Time to try some different... and considerably cheaper, too!

 

[kellymonaghan]

I do it all the time!

 

[ksdave]

Yes, the last four trips we've done this. Ever since we discovered the Portofino Bay Hotel and FOTL access, we have no interest in going back to WDW. UO has everything my teen kids, my wife and I need, without the lines and expense of WDW. Our next trip (in only five weeks!!!!) is six days at UO with no interest in going off-property.

 

[Michelina]

We're going down in two weeks for 4 days and are only going to Universal. We usually go there on an off day from Disney but there is really enough there to have a vacation of it's own! Plus we're staying on property and really looking forward to the Front of the Line priveleges!

 

[AllieKat]

Yep, did that last year and I'm doing it again this year. I personally have no interest in WDW after visiting MK and AK in 2002. My first visit to WDW was probably my last. The only way I'll go there again is if my niece shows interest in it, if she wants to go then I'm there.

 

[RescueRanger]

Yep! We will be doing our second USO only trip in May/June. I know alot say Universal can be done in a couple of days, but we feel it is much more enjoyable to take our time. By the way, we drive from Texas.

 

[BuzzLightYear3]

We're die hard Disney fans (Disney Vacation Club members at BWV), but we just returned from a 5-day Universal-only trip to Orlando. FOTL was the only way I'd even consider Orlando during Easter Week, and it was great......very short waits all day, every day even though it was a prime travel week. We let the kids sleep in because there was no rush to arrive early as we knew we'd be able to do everything we wanted to do with FOTL. We're heading back to Disney in June, but I'm guessing we'll do more non-park activities as the kids have been spoiled by FOTL and won't have the patience for Disney lines.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I have not been to a Disney park since the late 80's when I went to Epcot with my mom and sister. We have UO annual passes and have been lucky enough to go to UO (only) twice last year and plan to go twice this year. The only other attraction I have an interest in seeing is Discovery Cove.

 

[damo]

We never do Disneyworld anymore. However, we are going to do Disneyland this summer.

 

[AlexandNessa]

We did this in March and LOVED it! Six glorious days at UO. Planned on doing it again in October, but we're going with friends then and they talked us into 2 days at Disney. So, it's 2 days at Disney and 5 at Universal!


BTW, I work in Bedminster, NJ. Are you anywhere near there?

 

[themepark]

We are preparing for our 4th trip to Universal. We have stayed at RPR the previous 3 times and never left the property. Our kids are 10 and soon to be 8 and LOVE Universal. I don't think they realize or care that their are other parks and things to do in Orlando! LOL We do enjoy Seaworld but haven't been in several years.

 

[Planogirl]

I was planning to only visit St Augustine and Universal during our upcoming trip but DS is only 11 and can't really imagine not visiting WDW at all just yet. I guess that it would be hard for me to skip MK too.

So we plan to go to only two WDW parks, MK and probably Epcot so it will still be strange for us!

 

[zaxmom]

We have done it a couple of times, but we only drive 8 hours. You might want to add on a day at Sea World or Wet n' Wild or even Blizzard Beach like we are doing our next trip. Or even a couple of days at the beach. That being said, we spent 6 days at the Hard Rock and it was the most relaxing vacation we have taken with the kids.

 

[RonnieM]

We did a week in October at Universal only and never got bored. Cheaper admission, cheaper hotels and FOTL make it a better value money and time wise for my family.

 

[highlander447]

We did it in march for 2 weeks all the way from the UK we did do SW & DC but no disney 10 days aside for USO & IOA it was great infact people are still commenting on how relaxed I look after our holiday so it was well worth it

 

[sha_lyn]

In our 4 family trips to Orlando we have never done WDW and US/IOA at the same time. We've done 2 trips to WDW and 2 to US/IOA. Well we did have to go to SOG at WDW to buy our US/IOA tickets so we had dinner at the GF, does that count as doing WDW at the same time LOL? During the first trip to US/IOA we did go to Sea World.

We are planning 3 days at us/ioa this summer and will not be going near WDW property (if we can get our tickets at the base for the same price at SoG).

Of course we are only a 7 1/2 hr drive from orlando so it is easy to alternate our vactions between the 2.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

It's funny you should ask this. We're driving from NJ also. The original plan was to go to US/IOA HRH for 5 nights and not go to WDW this year. Ended up not being able to be that close to Disney without doing it. Not we're doing 5 nights at HRH and 5 nights at GF. Of course our kids are young 6, 5, and 3 and we've never been to Universal or IOA so we're hedging our bets by doing Disney too. The kids only know we're going to HRH so it will be a complete surprise when we get to GF since they'll think they're on their way home.