Help me!! Sorry, long and rambling

[KimCon]

Please help me make up my mind! Here's my dilemna, first of all, I had reservations at the Swan for 5 nites for Disney, but then, I started reading this board and decided I would rather do Universal and IOA because of front of the line. I got 3 nites ressies at PB and 2 nites at HRH. I also think the Orlando 5 park flex tickets are so much of a better deal than Disney tickets. Had myself convinced, how could I lose with FOTL and 5 Park Flex tickets (also going to Tampa for 2 days.)
Well, for some reason, I am beginning to think I will miss going to Disney. I know if anyone can convince me otherwise, it will be you guys. BTW, I am the only one thinking we will miss Disney. DS, 14 and his friend 16 are excited about Universal and FOTL. Daughter, 10 is anxious to see it too.

I think I just need reassurance.

TIA

Kim

 

[Linda/MA]

I am a Disney lover. However, I have been to Universal twice, most recently last month. I think that both Universal Studios and IOA are wonderful parks. And with kids that age, you may find that they would prefer the rides at Universal more than Disney. At this stage, my teenager really only likes MGM and could care less about going to Epcot, MK and AK. She liked all the thrill rides at IOA. If your 10 y/o likes thrill rides, then she would probably feel the same.

 

[Robinrs]

I understand your dilemma!

I'm trying to figure it out for my next trip and it's only in 2 and a half weeks!

I have 2 days at the Hard Rock and 5 days at the Dolphin. My son is 8 and he loves all the park but is so psyched by the FOTL. He's imagining MIB for HOURS!

I'm just afraid that after 2 days of FOTL that the lines at Disney will make me crazy!

Oh, well, I still haven't figured it out.

I have NO problem at all doing Universal alone. I've done it before and will do it again. I think by the time my son is your kids' ages I'll have to drag him bodily to Disney. At this point he only likes the thrill rides at Disney and we all know how few they have! I've already told him that I will not go to Magic Kingdom one more time just to do the Mountain rides!

 

[lookingforward]

I had the exact same decision to make last month. I finally cancelled the Swan and stayed at HRH with my two boys, 8 & 10. I do not regret it at all! We had been to disney three times (except Animal Kingdom) and my kids like thrill rides. Also, the FOTL acess during Easter week clinched the deal with me. It was awesome. We rode rides four and five times, never waited more than a few minutes and really got to relax instead of rushing from ride to ride. The HRH was a great place and the pool slide was a favorite with my boys. I really liked the HRH location, just a few minutes walk to Citywalk, US or IOA. Awesome. Let us know what you decide.

 

[SRRN]

Like you,we were a Disney family when our daughters were younger.Now at l6 and l3,US and IOA are the ONLY parks we do!We're going for 12 days in December and it's the 4 park Flex-ticket for us.I think US/IOA have so much more to offer for this age group and to be honest,my husband and I enjoy it better.We've put the 'mouse' aside for awhile.Have a safe trip!

 

[Disney Debbie]

Kim - You'll never know until you try! Give it a try and if you don't like it you can do Disney again next time!

 

[KimCon]

Thanks guys! I feel much better about my plans now. Portofino and HRH, here we come! Only 41 more days!
Plus, I have never been to Sea World. 10 yr old is very excited about that!!

Kim

 

[Vicky Fla]

I love Disney. We have been over 20 times! Now that my kids are teenagers I couldn't drag them back to Disney. My kids are the same age as yours. I think they will love Universal!

 

[sha_lyn]

When we went to US/IOS/SW last month I tried every way to come up wiht just one day at WDW. I just could not imagine going to Orlando and not going to WDW. Well we compromised. Arrived in Orlando around noon and did lunch at RFC in DD and walked around DD for a few hours. We them picked up out tidckets at SoG and had the villian dinner and watched the water pageant and the fireworks from the GF. I got my dose of WDW with out giving up a park day at IOA/US/ SW. As for enjoying the other parks, they were great. We have a WDW trip planned for next May and we might return to IOa/US before then.
I really could not pick a favorite out of all the parks but I think FOTL at US/IOA blows away EE and FP at WDW anytime.

 

[nhrenee]

Don't worry! You'll really enjoy what you have planned. I agree that the teens will probably enjoy IOA more than Disney.

Have fun!

 

[Radar]

Would you agree that the greed of Mr. Eisner in that he offers no FOTL for staying in WDW and the fact that the rooms on the monorail are at least twice what HRH is, and the fact that for you to park hop you got to buy hoppers for four days, and the fact that if you buy universal tickets from discover you get a free day, the kinds of things that persuaded me to skip the mouse this year. I do miss some of their magic but they have got to do some serious management changes in this company. For five us the "free day" admission alone is $250 less we're spending. Sorry but Universalis light years ahead of Disney in this respect.Oh yeah and don't get me going on florida residents getting cheap passes....

 

[KimCon]

FOTL and Orlando 5 park flex ticket was what got me to consider Universal. I have considered 3 nites at Disney and 3 nites at Universal, but since I would have to purchase 4 day park hoppers to be able to go from park to park, I have decided against that.

I am looking forward to a fun and relaxing vacation!!

Kim

 

[horseshowmom]

We've been to Disney many, many times (often combining Disney and Universal). No matter what else we go to, we never miss Sea World.

Our last trip (last April) we got the FlexTicket. I think it's one of the best bargains around. At the time it was for 7 days, but I understand that it's for 14 days now.

We used early entry for US/IOA. When the parks started to crowd around 12:30, we left for lunch and spent the afternoon at Wet'N'Wild. Since you only pay for parking once, we went to Sea World whenever it was most convenient. We never felt like we had to make sure we saw everything just because "the clock was ticking". We knew we had plenty of time. It was great to come and go as we pleased! We stayed offsite at Embassy Suites (their free breakfast kept us going until over in the afternoon).

We may stay onsite (for 2-3 nights) next time due to the all day FOTL for hotel guests and focus on US/IOA for 3 days instead of park hopping. Then we can come back at our leisure, while we stay offsite for the rest of the time.

Due to the great bargain, we probably won't be back at Disney for quite some time (unless the teacher discount at the Swan/Dolphin gets even better).