If you had your choice, what would you do?

[eeyoregirl]

Hi DISers:

I have a dilemma. My family is having a Magical Gathering May 19-28, and we are staying onsite (CBR). We have a MYW package, complete with all of the options. Here's the cast: DDad, DMom, Dbrother25, Dbrother'sgf25, Dsister23, Dsister'sbf25, Dbrother18, DD7, and me.

Here's the problem: would you use a Disney day to go to Universal or spend your whole vacay at the World? We went to Universal when it first opened, and we also visited US in California 3 summers ago.

What are your opinions?

FYI: we tend to do everything as a family, so majority usually rules with us. We rarely split off and do our own thing.

 

[jann1033]

we've gone to universal 2x and it hasn't really impressed us so we pretty much just stay at disney. we rarely go to "amusement" Parks and that is pretty much what universal puts me in mind of with more themeing, so if it were me i'd stay at disney.

 

[disgram]

Lots have enjoyed Universal and that is fine for them. We spent one day there on our last trip 2 yrs ago and it was a big waste!!! It was ok from about opening till 11 o'clock. the lines were not too long and we did get to do about four attractions. Then it was like someone opened a gate and the grounds were flooded with humanity!!! We never got to another attraction without a 90 to 120 minute wait! Getting something to eat never happened. The paths were so crowded that you had to walk single file everywhere you went. We finally gave up about 2. We felt as though we wasted the 60 something dollars. It was the last part of May first of June when we went. I know that others have enjoyed the park, I just know we didn't!!!

 

[Lanie]

When we went on our 2 weeks vacation in September, we figured that it would take us at least 3 days to do Universal and Islands of Adventure...well we did the 2 parks park in one day!!!!
I think that it is worth doing if you like thrill rides, but don't expect Pixie Dust!!! It is more like a really really good amusement park!!! If you get there early and take the 2 parks one day ticket, you can probably do everything in a full day. We really like the thrill rides, but we preferred Busch Gardens .

 

[WantToGoNow]

We stayed off-site last trip and spent a day at Universal Studios and a day at Islands of Adventure. Both are very nice parks and the crowds were signifacantly smaller than the crowds at the Disney parks. I love the theming at Islands of Adventure better than any park ever. However, my dh is not a thrill ride person and my two small children were too small for practically every ride -- I think they did the 4 rides in Seuss Landing and that was it. My older dd and I love roller coasters and had a blast but the rest of my family was bored to death. There are more "family" attractions at Universal Studios -- although I think we warped my then 3.5 y/o with some of them - Twister, Terminator, Jaws, Men In Black and Back to the Future. He said he never wanted to go to that park again. I had to literally leave Terminator with him - all while my 1 y/o slept through it. Since your family is all older except the one child you may very well enjoy these parks.

 

[powellrj]

check out the universal boards, we are doing our 2nd Universal only trip this year because we love it! They are having a great sale on tickets now, buy an adult 5 day for $99 and get a free childs five day!

There are 2 parks now plus city walk. Its much more than an amusment park. They have some of the best rides in Orlando. Spiderman, Mummy, Hulk, are all great!

 

[my3princes]

We like US and IOA, but really only feel the need to go about every 5 years or so. We have 3 younger children that aren't yet tall enough to ride the thrill rides so we have to baby swap which is time consuming. I would say for a group of adults you could probably do both parks in one day. If children are involved it will take 2 if not 3 days to do everything.

Deb

 

[BuzzNutt]

I am 100% Disney for us. Maybe when my son, 5 now, gets older. I say check it out on the boards and look at the books maybe and see that there are enough things to do that will keep you interested for the day. I find there are so many things at Disney I want to do, there just isn't time to do anything else.
Have a great family adventure!

 

[eeyoregirl]

Thanks, everyone.

Most of you confirmed what I felt in my heart: Disney is the place for DD7 and me. I don't think that she would enjoy IOA because of the thrill rides, and when we went to the US in CA she opted out of the big name rides like Jurassic Park. Worst comes to worst, I can hop on the bus to the Magic Kingdom while the others go to US. I am trying to avoid that though!