Holy Diagon Alley Batman!

[jade1]

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

Do you mean the early RD? Or does the room key pass work for Gringotts? If not I prefer the 11AM ressie. Plus the BC is our 2nd home so zero chance for 1 ride.

 

[Planogirl]

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.

This is what finally helped me to get past feeling annoyed by FP+. The Universal parks close early during part of the year and I could see us spending the day at Universal and then heading to MK to use 3 FP+. It made sense.

 

[Mad Hattered]

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.

But what about the crowd that stays on site at Universal and hop over to Disney in the evening to use their FP reservations and leave property without even spending a dime? Disney's intent with FP+ was to "lock you in" but they haven't. They make all their money on hotels and dining. Surely this comes across as a failure in their eyes if people are not spending their money on either.

I know that is exactly how we will do it once Avatarland opens. We'll pop in to one park and use our FP reservation for Soarin 2.0, the boat ride and see the new night show. We will use one day of our NE tickets that will be 8 years old at that point so they won't even make a dime on admission. I don't see the smart business move on their part.

 

[sethschroeder]

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?

You explicitly say a false statement and I am somehow the crap master... What exactly have I said that is false except that you possibly disagree with certain opinions I have.

Also the person stated they wish they could ride it at 11am not at 8am with early entry and hoping not everyone rushes there.

By the way I don't need to go to Universal (I am this fall though) to have an opinion on it being a destination or not as I believed WDW to be a destination prior to even going there last summer it's part of the reason I picked it for a honeymoon, or that Disney will somehow crash and burn which has more to do with itself than Universal.

By the way Universal can be amazing and Disney can be amazing at the same time. I have always said if you love Universal than go, if you don't like WDW then don't go it doesn't really matter to me where people go. What I don't care for is people continually attacking Disney over things some people like, like FP+ which I personally am happy to have on our next trip this fall.

 

[Mad Hattered]

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.

We feel the exact same way. We will never go to FL and only do Disney or Universal. We MUST visit the ocean on every trip. The only time we didn't was when a hurricane prevented us from doing so.

And SF is awesome. I highly recommend a trip there. We spent 10 days out there several years ago and there is just so much to do. But just like any visit to Disney or Universal we didn't JUST do that. We spent 4 days driving down the coast, staying in Monterey and driving all the way through Big Sur and then back up into San Jose. Just beautiful.

 

[jade1]

This is what finally helped me to get past feeling annoyed by FP+. The Universal parks close early during part of the year and I could see us spending the day at Universal and then heading to MK to use 3 FP+. It made sense.

Yea I'm loving US/IOA improvements-and FP+ is awesome for the return late afternoon evening.

If WDW doesn't like it-too bad, they made the system. But it's still only one day of our 12 days. Plus it locks us down all 12 days hotels and park passes.

Others have said why not step off WDW property? I agree, but really can't imagine 7DMT/Space/BTMRR and Wishes just 20 minutes away and not taking advantage of it. Plus going back to the WDW deluxe resorts is still better IMO.

 

[jade1]

But what about the crowd that stays on site at Universal and hop over to Disney in the evening to use their FP reservations and leave property without even spending a dime? Disney's intent with FP+ was to "lock you in" but they haven't. They make all their money on hotels and dining. Surely this comes across as a failure in their eyes if people are not spending their money on either.

I know that is exactly how we will do it once Avatarland opens. We'll pop in to one park and use our FP reservation for Soarin 2.0, the boat ride and see the new night show. We will use one day of our NE tickets that will be 8 years old at that point so they won't even make a dime on admission. I don't see the smart business move on their part.

The same can be said for locals with AP.

Keep in mind-I don't really care since WDW made the rules/system-it was their business move.

If WDW really wanted to lock you down-they could have FP+ for hotel guests only-with one key click.

 

[sethschroeder]

But what about the crowd that stays on site at Universal and hop over to Disney in the evening to use their FP reservations and leave property without even spending a dime? Disney's intent with FP+ was to "lock you in" but they haven't. They make all their money on hotels and dining. Surely this comes across as a failure in their eyes if people are not spending their money on either.

I know that is exactly how we will do it once Avatarland opens. We'll pop in to one park and use our FP reservation for Soarin 2.0, the boat ride and see the new night show. We will use one day of our NE tickets that will be 8 years old at that point so they won't even make a dime on admission. I don't see the smart business move on their part.

Your smarter along with most people on this board than the normal Disney or Universal traveler. I would guess quite a few people don't consider doing both parks in one day as it would be too daunting. Also is it better to have you at Universal only? Or WDW for at least the evening where you might buy a snack and possibly dinner?

I mean the people who disney locks in likely have FP+ earlier in the day anyways right????

 

[Planogirl]

Yea I'm loving US/IOA improvements-and FP+ is awesome for the return late afternoon evening.

If WDW doesn't like it-too bad, they made the system. But it's still only one day of our 12 days. Plus it locks us down all 12 days hotels and park passes.

Others have said why not step off WDW property? I agree, but really can't imagine 7DMT/Space/BTMRR and Wishes just 20 minutes away and not taking advantage of it. Plus going back to the WDW deluxe resorts is still better IMO.

The Disney resorts are a little too pricey for me unfortunately. I priced them for my week in December and I almost passed out. I know that it's a busy time but wow!

I do love certain Disney resorts and the Universal resorts too. Money being no object I'd probably split between the two.

 

[Beer Me]

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.

Doesn't anything feel "been there done that" if you do it often enough? I can't imagine leaving Disney property when I'm there. It feels like a waste. Then again I'm averaging about one week every three years (which I realize makes me an outsider on this board). It keeps it fresh though. Honestly if I went even once a year I'd get tired of it.

 

[Planogirl]

Your smarter along with most people on this board than the normal Disney or Universal traveler. I would guess quite a few people don't consider doing both parks in one day as it would be too daunting. Also is it better to have you at Universal only? Or WDW for at least the evening where you might buy a snack and possibly dinner?

I mean the people who disney locks in likely have FP+ earlier in the day anyways right????

I've often visited both in the same day too. I call it my own version of park hopping.

I don't mind driving though. We had a great car the last time so I kept on suggesting that we go somewhere just so I could drive it.

 

[Mad Hattered]

You explicitly say a false statement and I am somehow the crap master... What exactly have I said that is false except that you possibly disagree with certain opinions I have.

Also the person stated they wish they could ride it at 11am not at 8am with early entry and hoping not everyone rushes there.

By the way I don't need to go to Universal (I am this fall though) to have an opinion on it being a destination or not as I believed WDW to be a destination prior to even going there last summer it's part of the reason I picked it for a honeymoon, or that Disney will somehow crash and burn which has more to do with itself than Universal.

By the way Universal can be amazing and Disney can be amazing at the same time. I have always said if you love Universal than go, if you don't like WDW then don't go it doesn't really matter to me where people go. What I don't care for is people continually attacking Disney over things some people like, like FP+ which I personally am happy to have on our next trip this fall.

Sheesh. Perhaps I should have stated 42 minutes, would that have made it better? The fact is that you don't know SQUAT about Universal so don't preach to me about wait times. I've been to both more times than years you've been alive. NO, 30 minutes would NOT have been possible TODAY. Just like the wait won't be 7 hours in September. I responded to Jade about how to NOT have to wait 7 hours. Make sense?

I love both Disney and Universal and have forever (Disney longer since they have been around longer...just to clarify so I don't get called out for that). Do I want Disney to get a swift kick in shorts for the place they've become (in OUR opinion)? You bet I do!

 

[Mad Hattered]

I've often visited both in the same day too. I call it my own version of park hopping.

I don't mind driving though. We had a great car the last time so I kept on suggesting that we go somewhere just so I could drive it.

It's 7.4 miles from WDW property to Universal when driving up Turkey Lake road. It's not that tough.

 

[Planogirl]

It's 7.4 miles from WDW property to Universal when driving up Turkey Lake road. It's not that tough.

Plus we get to stop somewhere and get something (anything!) besides Coke.

 

[jade1]

It's 7.4 miles from WDW property to Universal when driving up Turkey Lake road. It's not that tough.

It's over 5 miles from MK to DTD as the crow flies. So why not enjoy both IMO.

My buddy kept saying they were going to US-when he always meant DHS. They were only doing a WDW trip, for the first time.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Plus we get to stop somewhere and get something (anything!) besides Coke.

At least Universal has Coke Freestyle machines in the parks.

 

[Mad Hattered]

It's over 5 miles from MK to DTD as the crow flies. So why not enjoy both IMO.

My buddy kept saying they were going to US-when he always meant DHS. They were only doing a WDW trip, for the first time.

I hear that one a lot from friends. True story that happened 2 weeks ago...at my Mother's surprise 70th BD party my cousin (who I hadn't seen in over 20 years) was explaining to me that they were leaving straight from the party and driving down to Orlando to visit Disney. She started going on and on about how they couldn't wait to see Harry Potter. I said, cool, so you are going to Universal on this trip too? Yep. So I start quizing/explaining to her daughter about what to see and she stops me and says that they are going to DHS, not Universal. So then I just explained to her that no matter what, they have to get there early and head straight to TSMM. Sheesh.

 

[jade1]

[/b]

I hear that one a lot from friends. True story that happened 2 weeks ago...at my Mother's surprise 70th BD party my cousin was explaining to me that they were leaving straight from the party and driving down to Orlando to visit Disney. She started going on and on about how they couldn't wait to see Harry Potter. I said, cool, so you are going to Universal on this trip too? Yep. So I start quizing/explaining to her daughter about what to see and she stops me and says that they are going to DHS, not Universal. So then I just explained to her that no matter what, they have to get there early and head straight to TSMM. Sheesh.

Yep not surprised.

Even our first trip in 1997-DD was 2 and had to see Barney, which we heard was down there as well. Back then we rented 2 cars (10 of us) and the drive to US just blended into our Disney trip. Never really seemed separate for many years really.

 

[johde]

At this point, I couldn't imagine going to central Florida without doing both WDW and Universal. With my current mix of tickets though my planning has changed. I'm currently planning a 10 day vacation to Busch Gardens, Sea World, Universal, Islands of Adventure, a Water park (if the weather in January cooperates), and only 1 day at the WDW theme parks using a day off my No Expiration. My next trip will be the reverse, 7+ days at Disney and 1 day at Universal using a day off an old no expiration ticket I have from there.

Right now, Disney has me for the nostalgia. But right now, Universal has me excited about "What's are they going to do next?" My last visit was New Years 2012-2013. Looking at the new stuff I'm looking forward to. At WDW, we have 7DMT and a bit more exploring around new Fantasyland. If the crowds, I never did make it over by the new Dumbo area. At Universal, I have Transformers, Diagon Alley with Gringotts and Hogwarts Express, the rest of the Springfield overlay (the Simpsons ride was open but everything else was under construction), and like Parts of New Fantasyland there are parts of Hogsmead I still need to explore -because of the crowds I did the single rider line for Forbidden Journey so didn't get to explore Hogwarts Castle (Castle tour was closed).

I'm not a fanatic of the movie but I think Avatarland could be great if Disney does it properly. But, that probably won't be open until 2017. I would like to see Star Wars land get the green light. But, I want them to do it right. If they cheap out in the attraction department, they could turn an already busy DHS into complete gridlock.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

I am a huge fan of HP and my three year old is Obsessed with the HP night bus.
can't wait to see the new Diagon alley but won't be till next year, no matter how much I beg my husband.