Help me be not quite so sad

[figmentfan423]

With the increase of Disney ticket prices tomorrow my dh said we may not include Disney as part of our 2017 vacation. APs for UNI were the best way for us to go so we'll be back again next year. Help me realize this may not be a bad thing. THNX UNI fans because it looks like we're doing back to back vacations for a place we've never been

 

[macraven]

if you want to do disney, buy their tickets online and save them for 2017.
or use UT for their tickets.

on the other hand, its not a bad thing to return to the darkside for a swell vacation !

i do understand your sadness but you will have fun enjoying a different type of park.
i find universal to be exciting and not as expensive as the motherland.
i do both parks each year and i hear you on the increase ticket prices that disney is having.

 

[schumigirl]

I may be the wrong person to cheer you up as we never go to Disney.........Universal is enough for us year after year.........never get bored there.......ever!

It is an amazing place and so much fun. Lots of newbies focus on Potter, but there is so much more to Universal than Potter.........magnificent as it is.......

Both parks have amazing rides, shows, character meets and great food........the atmosphere around the parks is tremendous. Last few years Universal has really upped their game in the parks........entertainment all around from Beat Builders and various singing groups littered around the parks. They have such a good vibe........

Universal has so much more to offer than people think........we see and read of people who 7-8 years ago wouldn't set foot in Universal as they were "Disney People"..... Never quite understood that .......but now they flock to Universal......


It really is a fantastic fun way to spend a whole vacation.........

 

[mkwj]

We just got back from our first trip to Universal. We absolutely loved it. We traded our tickets in for AP and can't wait to get back. It broke my heart when my 10 year old told me he loved Universal better than Disney.

 

[tarheel618]

Disney tickets going up again tomorrow? Must have missed that news. I was totally a disney person but we've been priced out. Did annual passes for Universal last year and got to tell you- I am missing not having them this year. The plan was for us to save to buy Disney passes for 2017 but I think we will do Universal instead. I love that I can walk every where Park to Park, City Walk, Hotels, hotels with the Express Passes and the fact that I don't have to PLAN every detail of my trip.

The big thing not to do is compare it to Disney. It is a whole different, wonderful experience. If you spend your time comparing you will miss what Univ has to offer.

 

[macraven]

Did you read the rumor that not only prices going up but single day tickets could have a 3 tier system on their price
The rumor is on the tier pricing
The ticket increase starts tomorrow

 

[mkwj]

The tier pricing is going to happen. They have also been making lots of cuts. Apparently Shanghai Disney is way over budget so they are making cuts at the US parks to pay it. It is really sad

 

[dja14]

If it makes you feel better we cut Disney from our trip this fall. I love Disney and really wanted to go back but with all of our insurances going up again this year I just felt that money would be better spent. I started seeing so much closed in Epcot and HS. I was going to do one MK day but it really isn't worth the price for one day. Even going off or near off season. People are reporting bigger than ever crowds and less staff and service. I love Disney and wanted to take my teens back one more time before they moved out but I just couldn't bring myself to spend the $.

Kids are happy and excited to be going to Universal though. I think we will really like it. I figure I can use that one days worth of money to do other FL things

 

[imprint]

figmentfan423, can you let us know what are some of your family's favorite things about Disney World? Maybe we can help guide your planning and focus on things you enjoy.

 

[pcstang]

We used to Disney a lot. I grew up in Orlando so I have no idea how many times I've been to WDW. However, we have only been once in the last 5 years. We went last October and couldn't wait to come back to Orlando the next week to go back to USO. Don't get me wrong, WDW is great but we are definitely USO converts. We live 6 hrs away. Have had AP's for USO for 4 years now and visit between 6-12 times a year for a minimum of 7 days each visit. Everything mentioned by PP's are some of the reasons why!

 

[macraven]

sweet.....

i have the one that bluer made and then the next week, received the UO ap one in the mail.

come to think about it, your magnet one looks very familiar.....

 

[pcstang]

Bluer special for sure! One on my wife's vehicle to. I have the UO magnet on the side of my beer fridge.

 

[macraven]

I was handing out those bluer specials

Think I only came home with 2 left over

 

[figmentfan423]

If it makes you feel better we cut Disney from our trip this fall. I love Disney and really wanted to go back but with all of our insurances going up again this year I just felt that money would be better spent. I started seeing so much closed in Epcot and HS. I was going to do one MK day but it really isn't worth the price for one day. Even going off or near off season. People are reporting bigger than ever crowds and less staff and service. I love Disney and wanted to take my teens back one more time before they moved out but I just couldn't bring myself to spend the $.

Kids are happy and excited to be going to Universal though. I think we will really like it. I figure I can use that one days worth of money to do other FL things

It looks like this year's trip may be the last for us. We got a great deal on the tickets 2 increases ago and added WP and hopping for the first time. At least we may go out with a bang.

 

[figmentfan423]

figmentfan423, can you let us know what are some of your family's favorite things about Disney World? Maybe we can help guide your planning and focus on things you enjoy.

Thanks great idea.
Dining is big my ds and I have allergies and must be GF and DF Disney has always been great dealing with that
Star Wars we always went during SWW now they're gone
EPCOT a nice mix of rides strolling, shopping and did I mention food and drinks
AK my dh's least favorite park but I love the quiet there and the shows
DHS or mostly what it was and Star Wars
Night time shows, we're big fireworks fans
MK maybe mostly the nostalgia, Pirates and coasters
My boys are Potterheads so I'm planning 3 days for them to do mostly Potter. I know my dh and boys will wear the batteries out of their wands.

 

[macraven]

If the batteries would wear out, take the wand to the shop there so they can change the tip

 

[mkwj]

Since we just got our AP passes will they send us a sticker? I would love to have one.

 

[kbelle8995]

I switched from Disney to Universal about a year ago and have been pretty happy about. AP I feel at Universal is a better value.

Universal has some construction but it is out of the way and not everywhere like Disney.
Tm's are just really nice.
Everything at Universal is close so if you want to change parks it's not a big deal.
No need for ADR's really.

 

[bumbershoot]

Apparently Shanghai Disney is way over budget so they are making cuts at the US parks to pay it.

Bet it's from all the sick days b/c of the heinous pollution there.


The ONLY reason we keep going back to WDW is because we bought DVC and becaue of rundisney.

The ONLY park I went to last week was Universal.

We keep APs and hae since 2011, even though we live in WA. It's THAT important to us to have access. The cost has been such that even if we miss one year's visit (might happen this year) the overall expenditure is still lower than buying tickets each time or letting the passes lapse then rebuy.

That said, we haven't gotten the stickers/magnets. Nor have I been there at a time bluer or mac was there to get one of bluer's. Sadness!


The onsite resorts are awesome; you can have a TRUE vacation there.

 

[macraven]

i have a couple of Bluers ap car decals left.
next time i go to the darkside, i'll bring them along to hand out if one wants it.

i did not get my UO one mailed to me for passholders until last October, the week after i returned home from the darkside.
They started mailing them out in the fall last year.
don't know if they are still doing that.