HELP - I need intervention!

[Cinderella822]

As a die-hard Disney fan, I'm doing only Universal for a week this summer for a change of pace. I'm really looking forward to it, but I have to admit, with Expedition Everest opening and all the press coverage of it on my local TV stations, I'm having pangs of guilt about not going to Disney this year. This will be the first time I've visited Florida and didn't go to Disney. I thought of going, even for a day or two, but my family vetoed that idea as they want a break from it.

So, all you Universal fans, please remind me of all the great things I have to experience there and why I won't miss Disney!!

 

[ruzer28]

I'm in the same situation and I'm staying at the Hard Rock the first week in May. At first I was just going to do Universal, but I broke down and bought AP's for Disney and we're going to work it in to the week. Maybe I'm wrong (I've never been to Universal before), but it doesn't seem like there's enough to keep me busy for the whole week at Universal. I'm not one who can spend a day away from parks in a cabana by the pool. I'd go crazy with boredom! I also have to admit that the opening of Everest had a lot to do with it. I guess I'm no help to you since I'm with you, not your veto-ing family.

 

[Cinderella822]

I'm the same way on vacation. I can't seem to relax and sit around. We are planning the cabana day and relaxing by the pool, but I'm afraid I'll go nuts. I had also asked that question previously - is there enough to do at Universal for a whole week. I'm afraid there won't be for me. Although the family is really looking forward to the down time, which we don't do at Disney because there is so much to do there. I'll probably end up wandering over to Disney on my own one day!!

 

[robvia]

The problem with Disney is everyone is brainwashed into thinking they need an entire day to visit a park. It's really not this way.
Since AK has shorter hours than the other parks, you'd want to go there first thing in the morning. You'd drive over at 7am, park at the All Star resorts or Pop Century, take the bus over and be there when the gate opens. Ride Everest and the other thrill attractions, then head back to your hotel at noon to rest.
At about 4pm, you had back to USF or IOA. Since you mentioned going in the summer time, if it's between July 4th and the 1st week of August, you will get to see fireworks at 09:50pm. Since the parks stay open late in the summer, you can visit a Disney park in the morning before everyone shows up, then use your FOTL in the evening at Universal.
And heck, if your family doesn't want to go over there to ride Everest, but you do, just go alone.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

We're also in the same boat. We'll make the trip to Orlando in June for Universal only. I feel very weird about not going to Disney. So we've decided to do a character breakfast at CM or maybe dinner at Ohana during Wishes. We may even ride the monorail once or twice to get a little bit of that Disney feeling.

 

[Cinderella822]

The problem with Disney is everyone is brainwashed into thinking they need an entire day to visit a park. It's really not this way.

My problem is, I would want to visit more than just AK and Everest since I have many other favorites. Plus, the cost of a one-day ticket is a bit expensive to use for just a few hours in the morning. I don't have an AP.

 

[damo]

I think it is a great idea to do both parks while you are down. If you plan on three days in the parks at Universal you should have a really good experience. The other days can be spent at Seaworld, Wet 'n Wild, factory outlets or other malls or, of course, Disney. The good thing is that with the tickets and the express pass with your hotel key at Universal, you can just pop in and out as you please walking over to your favourite rides from your hotel. It is so easy to do that at Universal.

We love to do half a day and then go do something else and then come back for a while, etc. etc.

 

[savs]

I know exactly how you feel. We are doing a Non disney trip this summer. We usualy go down in May for 10 to 11 days...Disney only. Then last year we decided to spend a few days at Universal and loved it so much we are doing it again this year. This year we are heading down in July and spending 5 days at Universal,a day at Sea World, a day at Busch Gardens and then a beach day.

It is going to seam weird being in Orlando without doing Disney, but with being there last year for 7 days in May and then in August we were at Disneyland for 3 days. So we said we are taking a break this year

Don't feel guilty, go and enjoy your vacation.

 

[Patch'sD]

In 1999 Spent 8 days at Disney ( Dixie Landings) 3 Day Trips to Universal
In 2000 Spent 5 days at Universal ( Portofino) 1 Day Trip to MK
in 2003 Spent 5 days at Universal ( Portofino No Disney
in 2004 Spent 4 days at Universal No Disney
in 2005 Spent 3 days at Universal No Disney

Didn't miss anything. Try a day trip, wait online for two hours to do Everast and go back to Universal and Thank God for FOTL

 

[Cinderella822]

Well, Patch'sD, since you put it that way, I think I'm making a good choice by staying at Universal for the week. I guess I do owe it to that park to give it a fair chance! How did you like Portofino? That's where I'm staying.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Portofino is beautiful but the thing that made us convert to Universal was the Hotel Express or FOTL. We went to WDW so many times I had to make up schemes to keep it fresh. One visit we went to all four parks in one day. Another time I gave the kids each a disposable camera and told them I would pay $100 for the best photo of Daisy Duck. What made me realize that we had been to WDW too many times was a ride on the Jungle Cruise. It was late in the day and the cast member let my DD8 do the narrative. She nailed it. She had it memorized and got the '62 Impala, back side of water, root canal and pointed out 3 hidden Mickeys. The kids really feel like they have outgrown Disney and feel like the coasters and other thrill rides are more mature. I'm OK with that because I hate WDW's endless lines!

 

[Mortlives]

Funny you should mention booking Universal, but wanting to go to WDW. Something similar happened to me. We're going to New Orleans this summer. I've been planning this trip since the hurricanes since I figure they need tourists to come back to get the economy rolling.

Beginning of this week, I started to feel really negative about it, which is peculiar. I love New Orleans, I've never had a bad time in New Orleans, I'm not sure it's possible to have a bad time in New Orleans. Turns out, my problem is that I'm in theme park withdrawal. I knew we were doing the parks in August 2007 when we're doing our 3 night Disney Cruise, but it was just too far away.

So, I talked to DH, and now we aren't doing WDW and UO and DCL in August 2007. We're doing UO and St. Augustine in March 2007, and just doing WDW and DCL in August 2007. Suddenly, I feel much better about New Orleans.

The moral of the story: go to Universal, you'll have a blast. Just decide when your next WDW trip is going to be so you can plan it as well.

 

[OhioTony]

We are in the same boat as you..We're going for 5 days in Aug and skippin WDW this year..I posted on the UNI-BOARD, requesting opinions on our hotel choice ect.. and got NO replies!..If it was Disney I could draw a 4 page thread & get it locked of a flippin mug comment!
Get used to in..we're goin GHETTO this year & will get no DIS-BOARD love!

 

[DisneyWisher]

Cinderella822- another great thing about Universal hotels is pool hopping. Can you believe they allow it? LOL You never see an anti-poolhopping thread on Universal boards. I've never stayed at Portofino but loving Hard Rock and RPR its got to be just as wonderful. Did you buy annual passes for USO? You can get great deals on rooms plus 20% off merchandise at the parks stores and 15% off for at Park restaurants. So much more affordable then Disney. Plus renewing is $99 a pass. Got to love that. My parents are going with DD12 and myself in 2 weeks. Our first trip was July'05. I had Seasonal Passes to Disney which means summer for me was blacked out. So it was do I upgrade to an AP at Disney or try Universal. Well we went with Universal and have been back 2 more times. I warn you though once you try FOTL you won't ever be able to even think about staying offsite again. In July'05 (about the 3rd week of the month) we never waited more than 10 minutes. My DD12 was able to ride Hulk 5 times in 45 minutes (try that at Disney in july). Around 3 o'clock one day we decided to head back to the room for a break. Turned on the Weather Channel and it was 96 with a heat index of 104. What was amazing was we never noticed the heat. I think because we weren't waiting around in lines. Another nice thing about Universal is that they have "yet to be released to video" movies "on Command". Its about $12 a movie but we always watch a few.

Hope you have a wonderful time.

Ok DD12 said I had to say this. Another great thing is that when you are at Universal Studios and want to go to IOA, you don't have a long walk to a bus stop, then waiting for a bus to get you to it. Its just a 3 min walk from Studios to IOA.

 

[Cinderella822]

Thanks DisneyWisher - you said all I needed to hear. You made it sound so nice at Universal. I do have a AAA membership and have already used that to get a deluxe room at PBH for much less, which I was thrilled with. And I understand that most places in Universal take AAA for a 10% discount. I think I got a good deal on the park tickets to with the buy 2 days/get 3 days free. So I have 5 days for only $99 per person. Already, I'm seeing a savings over my previous Disney vacations. I'm sure I'll love it there. And I hate waiting in line, so the FOTL will really be appreciated, especially in the heat of August!

Thanks everyone for helping me through this!!!

 

[muffyn]

Well, Patch'sD, since you put it that way, I think I'm making a good choice by staying at Universal for the week. I guess I do owe it to that park to give it a fair chance! How did you like Portofino? That's where I'm staying.

with staying onsite and getting their head to the front of the line perks, you reallly do not need to spend a week at universal. as much as I love universal, 2 days if plenty for us ( we even get our visits in one day if we don't have much time) a newbie can really see all of the parks in 3 days... you can easily do a day or 2 at disney while you are there! I'd get a park hopper ticket & do the animal kingdom in the morning & hit another park later on to catch anything new you havent seen before, like soarin' at epcot. so close & missing a new ride at disney , just may haunt you!
(btw, I find mon-tues to be the best days to hit Universal)