Holy Diagon Alley Batman!

[bryanb]

lol.....they built a whole movie studio themed park, an animal themed park and two water parks to keep people away from similar offerings in the area.

Oh gosh... you're absolutely right. I can't believe I didn't even mention those. Animal Kingdom was on my mind, maybe because it is the newest park. But yes, the even more obvious examples are the studio park and the water park!

Not to mention all of the bad ideas from the old California Adventure theme park (Hollywood Land, Paradise Pier, etc.) that mostly existed for competitive reasons and lacked any Disney soul. Thankfully there was a major investment to correct that!

 

[DisUniversal]

We're doing MK, Epcot, DHS, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Sea World, Aquatica, Universal, IOA & Busch Gardens. CAN'T WAIT!!

Can't help but think that there's one more park worth seeing that's missing on that list. What could it be....ah....Legoland!

Enjoy your trip. Sounds like lots of fun!

 

[sethschroeder]

Yes, I'm sure everyone who visits DL takes a 400 mile road trip to S.F.

Well, you never really responded when I asked at which point do you think WDW became a destination except to say it was a different world when it was MK only. So, in your opinion when did WDW become a destination? Was it when it was only MK, Contemporary and Poly? Was it when they added Epcot? MGM? Added ToT and RnR to MGM? Added AK?

Clearly you think that two major theme parks, a nightlife/dining area and four resort hotels falls short of being a destination so curious if the same 'logic' applies to Disney.

I don't know because I am not old enough to have ever even thought about a trip back then. I do know that 1990 and 2014 are completely different generations with how traveling is being done though. Look at the decline of travel agents and the introduction of online travel price websites that occurred after 1990 (Expedia, Travelocity, ticket brokers who have kind of went by the wayside now) Not to mention the number of options today where as 15 years ago how many parks even existed? 20 years ago? 25 years ago? If you were the only theme park in town its completely different than be 2 or 3 of the 10 theme parks....

I also didn't STATE EVERYONE would do exactly what I would do in California I am saying in California if I were to go to Disneyland it is not a DESTINATION VACATION for ME and I don't consider it as much.

Again I do not believe Universal is a destination and neither is Disneyland. If you want to believe that its fine but I would expect a lot of people who go to Universal would also hit up other things and possibly stay at other hotels/resorts even if HP drew them to Orlando in the first place.

I have no clue if there is a statistic around this but I would be interested in WDW-ONLY resort stays vs Universal-ONLY resort stays vs Disneyland-ONLY resort stays. I have a feeling WDW is winning quite a bit partly because of DVC which only helps make it more of a destination vacation spot in my mind.

Believe what you want as there is no right or wrong answer as there likely isn't even any hard facts to compare with who stays where and for how long and if they stay elsewhere as well. If anyone has that data its Disney and they are not giving it to you or me.

 

[disney is my life]

Threads like these are making me reconsider our plans for our trip next fall. We already know on our short trip in March we will be spending a day and a half at Universal staying at Royal Pacific and then moving to Disney for 2 or 3 days. Now I'm thinking about shaving 2 or 3 days off our 10 day Disney trip next fall. It would only be about $25 per person to upgrade from a 2 day park to park ticket we'd be getting in March. I've read all the Harry Potter books and watched all the movies and dd16 is a HUGE Harry Potter fan. Universal is doing a great job at making me reconsider my days at Disney.

 

[sjw211]

Can't help but think that there's one more park worth seeing that's missing on that list. What could it be....ah....Legoland!

Enjoy your trip. Sounds like lots of fun!

Where's the huge embarrassed smiley?....I'd never even heard of it until today..

 

[jade1]

This will be a great day on our next trip.

Open US and knock out DA, train to IOA for DD (FJ once was enough) and the rest of IOA. Back late afternoon for SAB, EPCOT for TT FP+, dinner, Illuminations and the Wind Down-stroll back to BC. Or Shulas, TSM/TOT/Fantasmic-tough call.

 

[Mad Hattered]

This will be a great day on our next trip.

Open US and knock out DA, train to IOA for DD (FJ once was enough) and the rest of IOA. Back late afternoon for SAB, EPCOT for TT FP+, dinner, Illuminations and the Wind Down-stroll back to BC. Or Shulas, TSM/TOT/Fantasmic-tough call.

I've read many many reports of people spending over 8 hours just in Diagon Alley. I guess it depends on how much of a fan you are.

 

[jade1]

I've read many many reports of people spending over 8 hours just in Diagon Alley. I guess it depends on how much of a fan you are.

The kids were, but now are older-loved it though and super impressed with IOA portion. But even that day they knocked out FJ first thing and once actually was enough. Bought some wands, candy and enjoyed the area a lot. Had a butter beer-awesome, and lunch was good. Still far preferred the old fave-D Dragons which never did get much of a line. Then on to HULK and Spidey and the water rides.

Would skip IOA for sure if not for the train and DD-maybe Hulk and Spidey on the way out.

But no way will they stare at DA for more than a couple hours, and certainly couldn't day after day with WDW down the street anyway.

Still will be super fun to see and experience, and take advantage of all the effort and expense they put into it just for our enjoyment.

And actually-even if it was 8 hours, we would still hit TSM/TOT/Fantasmic because of FP+, amazing day.

 

[Mad Hattered]

The kids were, but now are older-loved it though and super impressed with IOA portion. But even that day they knocked out FJ first thing and once actually was enough. Bought some wands, candy and enjoyed the area a lot. Had a butter beer-awesome, and lunch was good. Still far preferred the old fave-D Dragons which never did get much of a line. Then on to HULK and Spidey and the water rides.

Would skip IOA for sure if not for the train and DD-maybe Hulk and Spidey on the way out.

But no way will they stare at DA for more than a couple hours, and certainly couldn't day after day with WDW down the street anyway.

Still will be super fun to see and experience, and take advantage of all the effort and expense they put into it just for our enjoyment.

And actually-even if it was 8 hours, we would still hit TSM/TOT/Fantasmic because of FP+, amazing day.

Which is exactly the reason we will not visit WDW again for 4 years. Different strokes...

 

[jade1]

Which is exactly the reason we will not visit WDW again for 4 years. Different strokes...

Yep, far and away the best change WDW has ever made for us.

Now if we could just reserve Gringotts for 11AM and avoid the 7 hour line there as well.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Now if we could just reserve Gringotts for 11AM and avoid the 7 hour line there as well.

Stay onsite and you can avoid even a 30 minute wait.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The kids were, but now are older-loved it though and super impressed with IOA portion. But even that day they knocked out FJ first thing and once actually was enough. Bought some wands, candy and enjoyed the area a lot. Had a butter beer-awesome, and lunch was good. Still far preferred the old fave-D Dragons which never did get much of a line. Then on to HULK and Spidey and the water rides. Would skip IOA for sure if not for the train and DD-maybe Hulk and Spidey on the way out. But no way will they stare at DA for more than a couple hours, and certainly couldn't day after day with WDW down the street anyway. Still will be super fun to see and experience, and take advantage of all the effort and expense they put into it just for our enjoyment. And actually-even if it was 8 hours, we would still hit TSM/TOT/Fantasmic because of FP+, amazing day.

How's this for a new WDW ad campaign...

"FP Plus: The Plus is getting to spend all day at Universal"

 

[sonofanarchy]

Leaving Universal for Disney tomorrow and the ridiculousness has already begun. I called Disney to try and modify one of ADR's. Woman on the phone couldn't find ADR and I didn't have number since the app was down. So I dug out the email and she was able to look it up with the confirmation number. Couldn't modify ADR even though it was available. So then she asked me for our resort reservation number. I gave her the exact number on the DVC reservation and she couldn't find it with that. She was just about to put me on hold for the 3rd time when I told her to forget it. I wanted to enjoy my last night of vacation before heading to Disney.

 

[Mad Hattered]

How's this for a new WDW ad campaign... "FP Plus: The Plus is getting to spend all day at Universal"

Ohhhhh.....I love it!!

 

[sethschroeder]

Stay onsite and you can avoid even a 30 minute wait.

Wow is someone full of crap. Also if the rumors are true about 1-3 new hotels say goodbye to the fast lane unless they only lock it down to certain hotels which the already do....

Nothing bad about that but it is hardly a 30 min wait automatically if you stay onsite.

 

[JoeA]

Stay onsite and you can avoid even a 30 minute wait.

Sorry, but the math isn't working for me unless the hotels are empty now. Then again, if you can get them for under $200 (which a lot of people said you can), then they just might be

I'm sure once things level out then <30 mins is realistic, but not when stand bye is 7 hours.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Wow is someone full of crap. Also if the rumors are true about 1-3 new hotels say goodbye to the fast lane unless they only lock it down to certain hotels which the already do....

Nothing bad about that but it is hardly a 30 min wait automatically if you stay onsite.

Seth, you are the crap master so I suppose you know what you're saying.

Of course you aren't going to get a 30 minute wait right now, the thing just opened today and early entry isn't possible unless you booked the Potter package. It isn't always going to have a 7 hour wait like today either. I thought you Disney peeps were the "master planners". Surely you could manage to plan your early entry and be able to get on Gringotts in a very reasonable time, jumping in front of all the offsite guests.

30 minutes will be very doable. We got on FJ in less than that the year it opened by staying onsite and having early entry. Perhaps you should try out Universal before you tell this expert of both Disney and Universal what is and isn't possible. Let me guess....Autocad is better than Pro-E too, isn't it?

 

[jade1]

How's this for a new WDW ad campaign...

"FP Plus: The Plus is getting to spend all day at Universal"

Actually that's not bad IMO, at least for us. FP+ gives us every morning off to do what we want. It could be RD at a park, golf, fishing-but yep it could/will be be US/IOA.

What it does for sure-is lock us there for the stays and a daily park pass. I'm not sure they really care if I'm not clogging things up.

 

[Jennasis]

I believe Ricky Brigante had posted a sign with a 450 minute wait for Gringotts today. It's on!

 

[Planogirl]

Actually, I can't see going to WDW for a week without stepping off the property either. And certainly, if we are considering San Diego to SF a week vacation then why not throw in all the folks that do WDW and a cruise, or a trip to the Keys, or other parts of Florida.

I can't either. Maybe at one time but WDW has too much of a "been there done that" feel to me right now. Many attractions are dear to me but it doesn't take a week to see those.

San Diego is worthy of a full week all by itself. I can't speak for SF because we certainly didn't have time to go there. California is stuffed with an incredible amount of things to see.