How does this sound??

[KellifromCanada]

Hey!

We are planning a trip for November - 14 + 15th. How do those dates sound in terms of holiday crowds, school holidays, etc...

After the 15th, we are heading over to WDW for a few days.

We are experienced Disney visitos, but can't wait to try Universal for the very first time and I am reading, reading, reading the threads for help. Feeling overwhelmed...

Thanks for your thoughts on our dates to visit Universal!

Kelli

 

[Metro West]

Hey!

We are planning a trip for November - 14 + 15th. How do those dates sound in terms of holiday crowds, school holidays, etc...

After the 15th, we are heading over to WDW for a few days.

We are experienced Disney visitos, but can't wait to try Universal for the very first time and I am reading, reading, reading the threads for help. Feeling overwhelmed...

Thanks for your thoughts on our dates to visit Universal!

Kelli

You should be fine...it's typically slow until Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[KellifromCanada]

Thank you!

Kelli

 

[canadiankim]

Hello fellow Canadian. I am pretty new at the DIS board but not to Universal and I have found the threads to be really useful.

Enjoy your trip!

DH(46), Me (40ish), DS(10), DD(8)

3 weeks, 6 days till our US/IOA & WDW trip.

 

[KellifromCanada]

Hey CanadianKim! So - you are not new to US? Any suggestions? How much planning have you done? Have you done the US/WDW trip before?

 

[FunGuy]

To give you my thoughts being as I was in a very simular situation.

I had (over the years) been to Disney several times and enjoyed it greatly. Its fun, its entertaining, its everything you expect from a first-class company such as Disney.

About three years ago my wife, son and I went to Universal for the first time and had a wonderful time. In the same way as Disney, Universal is fun & entertaining.....only 'different'. Its a hard concept to describe. And I'm not going to ever say one is better than the other.

But what I will say, and what stands out in my mind as the biggest difference is that Universal is smaller. That to me is not a 'bad' thing. And I say smaller only in comparision to Disney which is HUGE. The few times I went to Disney I always left thinking to myself 'I didn't see it all' or that in order to try and see it all I didn't go back and repeat things that I really enjoyed and wanted to 'do again'. I never got that at Universal.

The other item is the target age. I may get yelled at for saying this but I see Disney as targeting more for younger children (i.e. its a small world). They have over the years added attractions that are for us bigger kids
But I still think Universal is better suited to our family that includes a 14 year old. If he were 4 or 5 Disney would be my pick.

Anyway, that's my two cents. I have a feeling you will love universal, if nothing else to experience another first-class vacation destination.

Hope you have a WONDERFUL time.....

 

[KellifromCanada]

Hi Fun Guy:

Thanks - I appreciate your comments. That's interesting to hear what you say about the size of the parks. Very useful information. Our dd is in the older age range you mention and we spent ALOT of time on "The Mountains" during our last WDW trip, so I think she'll have a great time on the rides at Universal.

I do need to research the rides in detail for *me* because I am a reluctant thrill ride person. I do go on Space Mountain, etc. but I'm always convinced I am going to DIE lol. Or at the very least, my glasses will come flying off and I will be virtually blind for the rest of my vacation.

So - I am looking for a good place to get some comparisons of the coasters at Universal vs. the known (to me) coasters/thrill rides from WDW so I can skip the ones I know that will be too overwhelming or ... "sick" which in my case would be literal ) Any thoughts on a good thread or place to start?

Thanks!

Kelli

 

[FunGuy]

If you like Space Mountain (which I do also) you will LOVE some rides at Universal.

My favorites.... The Hulk - a 'typical' rollercoaster but extreme. One word of advice regarding The Hulk, as soon as you sit down place your head against the headrest. The extreme acceleration will surprise you and throw your head backwards if not prepared for it.

Spiderman - is hard to explain. It uses 3-D imaging and 'tells a story'. None-the-less, ride it. Don't miss it!

I have not been to Harry Potter (yet), but from everything I read For. Journey is incredible. Oh, almost forgot, Dueling Dragons or Dragon Challenge. (Before Harry Potter it was called Dueling Dragons). Again, if you like Space Mountain, I think you would like this one too.

If I could offer one word of advice regarding your trip, go to the intrepidtraveler web site (I would post the link but the message I get says I must have a min of 10 posts before I can post a web link) and buy the book Universal Orlando 2011 by Kubersky & Monaghan. It will be the best money you will spend in planning your entire trip.

 

[FunGuy]

the link for the book is... www.intrepidtraveler.com

 

[Uncle Greg]

If you like Space Mountain (which I do also) you will LOVE some rides at Universal.

My favorites.... The Hulk - a 'typical' rollercoaster but extreme. One word of advice regarding The Hulk, as soon as you sit down place your head against the headrest. The extreme acceleration will surprise you and throw your head backwards if not prepared for it.

Spiderman - is hard to explain. It uses 3-D imaging and 'tells a story'. None-the-less, ride it. Don't miss it!

I have not been to Harry Potter (yet), but from everything I read For. Journey is incredible. Oh, almost forgot, Dueling Dragons or Dragon Challenge. (Before Harry Potter it was called Dueling Dragons). Again, if you like Space Mountain, I think you would like this one too.

If I could offer one word of advice regarding your trip, go to the intrepidtraveler web site (I would post the link but the message I get says I must have a min of 10 posts before I can post a web link) and buy the book Universal Orlando 2011 by Kubersky & Monaghan. It will be the best money you will spend in planning your entire trip.

Not so sure about some of this.

If Kelli THINKS she may die on Space Mountain I'd say there's a 50/50 chance she will actually die from a heart attack on Hulk or Dragon Challenge. I'd rank those WAY more intense than Space Mtn.

Spiderman...yes, not to be missed. Forbidden Journey...most amazing ride ever created.

 

[FunGuy]

Just a difference of opinon. I look at rollercoasters in general as being 'Intense' (at least the good ones intended for adults). Once a coaster design passes an imaginary point to be considered 'Intense', the level of intensity is of personal taste.

As for myself, I don't care for space mtn because of the darkness and not being able to brace myself to the direction the track is running ahead. I remember the first time I rode it I walked out with a sore neck because of that. It didn't stop me from ever riding again

I figured that since Kelli has been on Space Mtn more than once (and didn't die) she likes intense coasters. Yes, maybe the Hulk and Duel Dragon are more 'intense' but to what degree (in my opinon) is splitting hairs.....they ALL make you feel as though you are going to die...

Again IMO it would be ashame to go to a world-class amusement park and skip going on The Hulk or DD because it might be a little more intense than space mountain.

 

[Troiandan]

If this is any help, it looks like the maximum speed on Space Mountain is between 25 and 32 mph, and there are no inversions (loops and such where you are upside down). The Hulk and Dragon coasters top out around 60-65 mph, and have several inversions. But since they are both outside, you can see where you are headed, unlike Space Mountain.

Have you ever been on the Rock N Roller Coaster at Disney Studios? That's a coaster that has high speeds, inversions, and a "launch" instead of a lift hill - Hulk has a launch too. If you've been on that and enjoyed it, then I do think you would like the high speed coasters at Universal.

Hopefully that give you some data for comparison. I do agree that these are some of the finest coasters anywhere, and while they are quite intense, if you think you might enjoy them instead of being overwhelmed by them, I'd hate to see you miss the opportunity.

Good luck with your decision making, and have a great time!

 

[KellifromCanada]

See, now this is AWESOME! Thanks you guys. You.all.get.it and I really appreciate it. So, I actually did order the Universal book today and I know it will really help with the planning and preparation. So - yes, good call, and thanks for the link.

Do I *like* Space Mountain. Well, the darkness does bother me because I have no way to "protect" myself as I have no idea where I am going. lol Not that there's any actual danger, just what my brain conjure's up.

I DID go on the Aerosmith coaster with my daughter. She was all "no Mom, don't go on, you won't like it, you go upside down" and somehow that became I was going on. I think the huge thing that helped me was knowing its like 1.5 minutes long and so I thought, for Pete's sake, don't be such a baby. Plus we love Aerosmith, and I clearly had my reputation as a self-respecting middle aged woman to uphold.

We also did Everest and I will say my head felt really weird after that ride. The little dude beside me kept saying it would be fine, I would survive! He felt the fact that it doesn't go upside down was ya know, the comforting thing to say as we hurtled backward. He was such a little imp. What could I do, but SCREAM. I went on that one 2x.

So - the guide will help. Your ideas and discussion are really great.

Thanks for making our trip, already, FUN.

Kelli