I can't decide - Universal or Disney

[queen_bee]

WE are planning a trip to FL in January, 2008. I am doing my research and can't decide if it is a mistake to go there and not do Disney. My boys are 11 and 13 and we are giving them this trip for Christmas, so I really don't want to give it away by talking with them about it, but I am thinking they will like what Universal has to offer rather than Disney.

Has anyone here been to all of them and can offer any suggestions?

Thank you.

 

[darlak]

In 2005, we spend a week at WDW followed by 4 days at Universal. My kids were 20, 17 and 11 at the time. We've been back to WDW several times since then, but no one has asked to go back to Universal. My DS is a big coaster fan and he did enjoy the rides at Universal. Overall, the experience just isn't the same though. My DS put it best when he said "Universal is a cool theme park, but Disney is...well, Disney." My DD-20 now and her DBF-21 are going one day this Sept. while we're at WDW because he's never been to Universal. My DD would rather stay at WDW. There's just no magic there. Go and let me know what you think.

Darla

 

[jewell]

Well, I live in WV and any time we'd go to FL (once every 3 or 4 years) we would always go to both parks. But in 2004 we went and stayed on site at Disney for six nights and we throughly enjoyed ourselves, BUT I'll have to admit it was hard to go to FL and NOT go to Universal. This summer I'm planning a trip just to Universal. Both parks are amazing and for different reasons. Your boys are my son's age (12), he loves Spiderman and The Mummy and T2, I would think that at that age, you HAVE to spend at least a couple days in Universal.

In Disney, we loved Epcot and MK, MGM was good, and Animal kingdom... we didn't like, of course Mt Everest wasn't there and the other big roller coaster....oh can't think of the name of it right now was down, so we may have gotten the wrong impression. If you can, I'd definitely say go to both parks, they are both amazing and they are very hard to compare.

 

[macraven]

the first time i took 3 of my sons to universal was when they were 6,8,9 years old. there was only the studio side open at that time.

we stayed on site at disney and had a package there. we did 2 different day side trips to universal that first year we stayed at disney.

they fell in love with universal. we have been going regularly since 1993 now.

there was no rushing around and no huge crowds and strollers to dodge.
they found the park food better than what we got at disney. it is all a matter of personal choice. doesn't mean one park has more to offer than another.



what can i say. when they were little they loved both parks so we would do a split stay.

now that they are older, they will do a few days at disney but they get bored with it after 2 days. they got tired of the bus transportation and park hoping. UO is smaller and walkable back and forth, same with city walk. they like the slower pace.
they like to do disney for a start of the vacation but spend most of the vacation at universal. i think the staying on site there is what wowed them.

we all like different things. you know your kids best on what would appeal to them.

why don't you do what we did and make it a split stay?

do some nights on site at disney then stay on site at universal.
if you stay at the on site hotels universal has you get the fotl perk. you can use the express lanes as many times as you wish and be ahead of the lines.

splitting the trip will let you know for future trips with the kids.


it is perfectly fine to like both parks.
i have done disney since 1974 and universal since 1993.
now i am going solo and split my vacation between the two parks.
i start with disney and stay on site.
then i end my trip at universal for 5 days staying on site there.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Living so close, we've been to both many times. We do like staying onsite rather than commuting though. Have you ever been to WDW? How much time will you have?

If possible, I agree that you should do both. It doesn't matter if you stayed at WDW a month you couldn't see it all. That said, I suggest spending the 1st part of your trip at WDW. Do lots of research, & decide on the "must dos", so you can see as much of what you want as possible.

Move on to Universal for the last 2 or 3 nights. My teenage son much prefers UO. I have to drag both him & my hubby to WDW. That's because we've been so many times, & they're tired of the whimsy. They much prefer the thrill of UO. If your boys have never been to WDW, it will still be new to them. Honestly, I don't know how anyone who's been to Universal, especially staying onsite, could think WDW has a lock on the "magic". Universal is every bit as good, IMHO. I usually say WDW has "magic", & UO has "mystique". One is equal to the other. At UO, book a stay at HRH, & your family will have a wonderful time. If you go to UO looking for ways WDW is better, you will come away thinking that. If you go expecting Universal to be the wonderful experience that it is, it won't disappoint.

 

[macraven]

tarheelmjfan, we always call it the "mummy dust" at UO that gets us thrilled.

 

[CPanther95]

My kids loved our annual Disney trips until our first split trip in 2001 (DD12 & DD11 and DS8). After that, Universal was the unanimous choice. In 2002, we anxiously planned our first exclusive Universal trip - and it ended up the best vacation we ever had. We never left the property. The PBH was as much a draw after that as the parks were. We went again in 2003 and we're going next week. DD18, DD17 and DS14 have no doubt where they feel the "magic" is - and it's not where you're crammed into line for 2 hours at a time smelling what people had for lunch as it radiates out their sweaty pores. (apologies to anyone eating).

At Universal, you ride whatever rides you want, as many times as you like, virtually no waiting in lines at all. Plenty of time left over to enjoy your meals, the pool, and the hotel - no rushing at all. Compared to hitting the park like a group of commandos with a ride-by-ride, minute-by-minute, itinerary that has you running all day just to get in enough stuff to try and justify the high cost of admission. Then you get back from vacation to find out that the kids' favorite part of your vacation was the hotel pool that you spent 2 hours in twice over 7 days. But that was the only 4 hours of your vacation where everyone was relaxed and just enjoying themselves. A PBH (as well as HRH and RPH) key gives each person in your family the sense that they have the key to the whole property. It's like Willy Wonka handed you a golden ticket.

But there's definitely something magical about Disney. Even David Copperfield couldn't manage to have someone that spent a week blowing through their savings account, with about as much free will as an animatron at the Hall of Presidents - leave WDW and start discussing next year's trip on the way home.

 

[NotAmused]

Given their ages, I would think they might prefer Universal Orlando over Disney. I know my teenage brother, along with my entire family, would choose Universal over Disney any day. Don't get me wrong, we love Disney, but I think UO just has more "thrill" rides mixed with the right amount of shows and more gentle rides.

And Universal is definitely much much more relaxing, especially if you are planning to stay on site.


Both Disney and Universal are lots of fun; they just have different things to offer

 

[queen_bee]

Thank you all for your comments. We are planning on staying 7-9 days (I haven't decided quite yet). I was thinking about getting the 14 day pass for Universal, Islands of Adventure, Sea World, Wet & Wild and Busch Gardens. My oldest son loves animals, so that is why I guess I was leaning towards doing Universal rather than Disney. I think he'll love Seaworld.

I want to spend some time on the beach as well. We plan on renting a home or condo, so we won't be staying on site, but close enough hopefully.

I guess the worst that could happen is that we do Universal and have to come back the following year for Disney.

 

[macraven]

queen bee, if you stay at universal, there is a free shuttle at each hotel that will take you to seaworld and the water park

and there is a shuttle for busch gardens.

 

[Mainebound]

Thank you all for your comments. We are planning on staying 7-9 days (I haven't decided quite yet). I was thinking about getting the 14 day pass for Universal, Islands of Adventure, Sea World, Wet & Wild and Busch Gardens. My oldest son loves animals, so that is why I guess I was leaning towards doing Universal rather than Disney. I think he'll love Seaworld.

I want to spend some time on the beach as well. We plan on renting a home or condo, so we won't be staying on site, but close enough hopefully.

I guess the worst that could happen is that we do Universal and have to come back the following year for Disney.

We always do both. We stay offsite and do WDW, USO, and (sometimes) Sea World. You really do not have to choose! both have a lot to offer all ages!

 

[Nolan N.]

Universal is way better than Disney. Way better.

 

[keishashadow]

The mouse owns me .
My heart's @ WDW; my head's @ Universal

Another vote for a split stay; we like 5/6 nights @ Disney & 3 onsite @ U. If you get the base MYW tix no hopping & do 1 park a day thru discount broker (undercover tourist ) and U tix thru AAA or online; it's less than $300 pp for tix.

 

[loribell]

I vote for a split stay as well. We actually go to Orlando for Disney and say that the trip is not complete without the Unviersal portion of it. If you have enough time try to do both.

 

[Daisy06492]

My kids are 15 and 13. Universal def. We have done disney several times and as awesome as it is they are at an age where universal is just more age appropriate. My kids are very active and adventurous and universal has more to offer them at this age. I would however highly suggest staying at one of the on site properties that way you can get the front of the line perk. We are going back the week of 4th of July and will be staying at the Hard Rock Hotel again. It was awesome the first time and we cannot wait to go back again.

 

[FayeW]

All you folks recommending a split stay please remember that WDW tickets are NOT CHEAP. Buying the 14 day Orlando 5 park flex ticket PLUS WDW tickets will be very, very expensive for the OP.

OP, if this is your first visit with your family, I recommend the US/IOA/SW/BG/WNW tickets. They are excellent value, and having 14 days available, spread over a 7-9 day vacation will give you plenty of flexibility to go to a park for just a few hours if you want to, or take a day or two to just relax and enjoy your resort.

On our first trip in 2003 (which was supposed to be "once in a lifetime, but I digress...) we went to SW twice (admission ticket is good for 2 days), US/IOA for 5 days, and MK twice (once for the full day, and a second visit after a day at IOA so we could attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party). Since it was our first time, I adopted the philosophy that "we don't know what we are missing" by not doing the other WDW parks.

We went again 2 yrs later, and did all the WDW parks, both waterparks, and Disney Quest. We also went back to US/IOA for 3 days during that trip because having been there, we can't imagine a trip to Orlando and not going to the Universal parks!

Our kids were 7 &9 when we first went to Orlando, and we all loved US/IOA. I think that your boys will have a fabulous time with the tickets you've chosen. You might want to consider an evening at Disney Quest (since the parks will close early in Jan). My kids love going there as well.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

All you folks recommending a split stay please remember that WDW tickets are NOT CHEAP. Buying the 14 day Orlando 5 park flex ticket PLUS WDW tickets will be very, very expensive for the OP.

I agree. I suggested a split stay, before the OP mentioned purchasing the 14 day pass. In the OP, she sounded like she was really 2nd guessing the idea of going to Orlando & not going to WDW. So most people, me included, thought a split stay would be the best of both worlds. If she thinks the 14 day pass is the best option for her family, that sounds like a great plan. We go to Orlando often, w/o going to WDW. That's my family though. Only she knows, if her family will be disappointed to be so close to WDW & not go to the parks. Personally, I think the parks included in the 14 day pass have more than enough to entertain them for 7 to 9 days. Plus, there's so many other things to do in Orlando that doesn't involve any of the parks, they couldn't possibly get bored. As a side note, Tampa also has a plethora of things to do. They could spend some time in the area, while they're here to visit BG.

 

[GreenMeanMachine]

I have to disagree with some of the WDW first crowd. Don't get me wrong I love WDW and think both is the best plan, but I think Uni is terrific. An Orlando trip to me and the kids would not be the same without Uni. And I think overall IOA is the best park in the world. Now we still love Disney, but IOA has things Disney just does not have and vice versa.

I DEFINITELY would not say its a mistake to only do Uni. Especially if ya'll have done WDW every other time. I LOVE universal, can't go wrong there at all. And the resorts are great too. If you've never been you definitely have to go at least once.

 

[Darcy03231]

My kids are 13 & 15. We're going for two weeks in August and we've decided on the 5 park flex passes too. I think they're a great value for the money. When I asked my kids whether they'd rather do WDW, the answer was NO! They're really into the thrill rides and big roller coasters. They named off about 6 things in WDW (Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Rockin' Rollercoaster, etc) they would want to do and other than that they wanted US/IOA & BG. I think at 11 & 13 your kids are at the right age to really enjoy US/IOA & BG as well as SW and WNW.

 

[johde]

If you don't want to go to ALL of the parks the Orlando Flex Pass is more expensive than other options. Right now, Busch Gardens has $51.95 for 2 days (be a kid again special with free second visit upgrade at the park) or 2 park Everything Pass for $85. (Sea world and Busch Gardens for 7 days). Universal Orlando has $85 7 day passes as well. If you didn't want to go to WNW you could almost get annual passes (or at least funcard/Power pass) to all 4 parks for the cost of a Flex pass.