If You Like ( ) at WDW, You'll Like ( ) at Universal

[wdwwishes]

Can anyone do this type of comparison for the rides/attractions at Universal and IOA? We haven't been and keep debating if we want to try to visit one or both. We're not really into the big thrills. About as "big thrill" as we get at WDW is Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain.

 

[donaldduck352]

Can anyone do this type of comparison for the rides/attractions at Universal and IOA? We haven't been and keep debating if we want to try to visit one or both. We're not really into the big thrills. About as "big thrill" as we get at WDW is Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain.

Thunder Mountain-ROTM or Spiderman
Splash mountain-Jurrassic Park..

To add Popye &Blutos river ride blows away Kali anyday,along with Dudley-Do Wright,well Splash Mountain times2!!!!

We can go on if you want too...

 

[Planogirl]

If you like Buzz, you will LOVE Men in Black.

If you like Muppets, you will like Shrek.

If you like Kali River Rapids, you will like the Bilge Rat Barges. (If you don't mind getting drenched.)

I can't really compare Spiderman because to me it's very unique. I guess that if you like RnR Coaster, you will like the Mummy but that's stretching it. The Mummy is also quite unique and VERY fun (and I don't like super coasters).

That's all I've got so far.

 

[macraven]

.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

One Fish Two Fish - Aladdin with Water
Caro-Seuss-sel - MK Carosel with different theme
Cat In Hat - Iirc is like Winnie the Pooh
Spiderman - Think most like Dinosaur with a 3D element and less scary.
Popeye & Blutos Bilge - Kali River rapids
Doom Fearfall - ToT but with only one quick shoot up.
Dudley - Splash Mountain but I think with more water.
JP River - Probably more like Splash Mountain...Only one drop near end.
ROTM - Somewhat like Big Thunder but indoors and dark.
Hulk - RNR but outside

I think all the rides at IOA/Universal are more Thrill oriented. A lot are darker, louder, and faster then the counterparts Disney may offer. I would say its worth going even if you skip the 2 coasters at IOA which are the biggest thrills. I think if you can do Thunder Mountain you can probably handle The Mummy.

I say visit them both they are tons of fun and make for a great fun relaxing vacation.

 

[UniversalAddict]

If you like the English Pub at Epcot you'll also like Finnegans at US. Although the servers are not really from Ireland/England.

Also, If you like paying $9 for a beer at Epcot you'll LOVE happy hour at Universal.

Disclaimer - This is not a bash. I gladly pay $9 beer for a beer at Epcot but it sure is nice paying a lot less at Universal.

 

[Docwoods]

If you like the food at WDW,you'll LOVE it at Universal.

 

[Purseval]

If you like the WDW resorts with EMH you will love the USF resorts with FOTL

 

[Sleepy]

Buzz Lightyear Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom vs Men in Black at Universal is like comparing Atari and Playstation 3.

 

[Metro West]

If you like getting around at WDW...you'll love being able to walk between parks at Universal instead of waiting for buses.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

First before giving my synopsis and comparisons, I want to state that I am a DVC member and love wdw and have been going to WDW ever since I can remember. It should be known that US/IOA and is MUCH different then WDW and is mostly geared towards a teen and adult audience where as most of the attractions at wdw are geared towards all ages family experience. As others have noted US/IOA has a lot of thrill rides but also has many "all ages" rides as well. A couple of other things worth noting, IMO, are that the price differences are drastic (gate, food, alcohol, resorts, etc) and the access and size of the campus are drastically different. Op (or anyone else) - if you have any additional questions and or want additional information/explanation after reading this short novel of mine, feel free to ask (or to send me a PM) as I frequent both resorts and have done so with a wide range of ages in my group(s) when visiting Orlando. With those things being said, here are my opinions...

Universal IOA Attractions
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man® - WDW, Dinosaur with 3D experience without the fright factor
Incredible Hulk Coaster® - WDW, Closest would be RNR Coaster
Doctor Doom's Fearfall® - WDW has nothing like it
Storm Force Accelatron® - WDW has nothing like it (nor do I go on this)
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges® - WDW, Kali Rapids to the extreme + viewers with water cannons
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls® - WDW, Splash Mountain X 3
Jurassic Park River Adventure® - Spash Mountain X 2 mixed with Dinosaur
Jurassic Park Discovery Center - WDW, Dinoland Boneyard
Pteranodon Flyers® - WDW has nothing like it
Dueling Dragons® - WDW, Closest would be RNR Coaster (DD is better & two tracks running simultaneously)
The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad® - WDW, Indiana Jones (but not...)
Poseidon's Fury® - WDW, Cant think of anything like it
The Cat In The Hat™ - WDW, Winnie the Pooh
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride™ - WDW, nothing like it
Caro-Seuss-el™ - WDW, cant think of the theme but a standard merry go round

Universal Studios

The Simpsons Ride™ - WDW, Nothing like it (anywhere), closest would be star tours on steroids with simpsons theme
Hollywood Rip Ride RockitSM - Not open yet so cant compare - OPENING 2009
Shrek 4-D™ - WDW, Muppets/A Bugs Life
Revenge of the MummySM - WDW, MT Everest
MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack™ - WDW, Buzz Light Year
Terminator 2®:3-D - WDW, cant think of anything like it
E.T. Adventure® - WDW, Peter Pan
Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast™ - WDW, Star tours in a theatre
JAWS® - WDW, nothing like it
DisasterSM - WDW, Backstage tour at DS (but much different)
TWISTER...Ride It Out® - WDW, nothing like it
Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone® - WDW, Toontown (+ water play area)

Express Lines
Disney Fast Pass - 1 ride per person every 2 hours
Universal Front of the Line Access - Most rides, all day when staying on-site or Most rides 1 time per day if purchased seperately when not on site.

Dining/Shopping/Clubs
Disneys Down Town Disney/West Side/PI (former) = City Walk (more food and clubs then shopping)

 

[hmhs]

What a helpful idea for a thread! We've been to Disney the past 2 years and our 5 year old is kinda picky about the rides... I'm going to hang onto this thread for him when we do Universal next week.

Would also love to hear about any WDW/Sea World similarities too !!

 

[acc82]

I agree with BostonDisneyKid - you had some great comparissons! I view universal as more adult than disney. Example, if you like splash mountain, you'll love dudley do right's ripsaw falls. But, if you're a little hesitant on splash mountain, then you would most like not enjoy dudley's. most everything at universal is more extreme and they do simulators like nobody else. I think disney does better at accomodating families and they do have very creative rides there, though.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Would also love to hear about any WDW/Sea World similarities too !!

These are MUCH different and cannot really be compared. There are 4 rides I believe at Seaworld (each has an additional cost besides park entry). There are 2 coasters, 1 simulator and 1 water ride. Seaworld is mostly shows featuring aquatic animals/mammals performing and it also has some neat aquairium like attractions as well. They also have a beer tasting exhibit (Anheiser Bush) which is a nice treat for the adults and they also host Clysdales horses (again, Anheiser Bush) which are very impressive. Then they also have discovery cove which is a seperate park in itself and incredible experience (but very expensive) which is a kind of like a waterpark with marine life in many of the areas and a swimming with dolphins experience. IMO, they also have the best lazy river with the exception of The Atlantis Resort (Bahamas).

But again, Seaworld cant really be compared to WDW or Universal as it is themed around aquatics and marine life, not rides or theatre attractions.

 

[Metro West]

They also have a beer tasting exhibit (Anheiser Bush) which is a nice treat for the adults and they also host Clysdales horses (again, Anheiser Bush) which are very impressive.

The hospitality houses were removed when AB was sold to InBev...no more free beer. The horses are still there though.

 

[apulk]

This is REALLY great and helpful information. I'm on the fence about a visit. We're DVC members, long time Disney vistors but never been to US/IOA. We actually have 4 nights booked at Pop Century (after a week at DVC Hilton Head) but were planning to skip the disney parks and take advantage of the $99 2 parks special to save money. But........as we are getting VERY close (about 10 days) I'm having second thoughts.

Will we like it? We won't have FOL passes for budget reasons -- so no fast pass like options -- will we be disappointed that we're waiting 60-90 mins for everything, is it as nice, fun, "magical", yada yada.

For budget reasons -- we are leaning toward not doing the addon days in Orlando and just be happy with the week at the beach but this has helped.

Any other advice and encouragement would be appreciated.

andy

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Will we like it? We won't have FOL passes for budget reasons -- so no fast pass like options -- will we be disappointed that we're waiting 60-90 mins for everything, is it as nice, fun, "magical", yada yada.

I say "Go for it !!!"

I too am a DVC Member (home resort OKW) and have been a wdw patron/lover for many, many, many years. With that being said, I feel that Universal too, is a great resort and has great parks and is often over looked by wdw fan(atics), which is their loss...

Even on the worst days at US/IOA it is nothing like MK on a peak summer day. You will see huge lines for the newest attractions (simpsons and rip rocket if it opens on time) and modest lines (40-60 mins?) for the high demand attractions, but again nothing like wdw. If you go early when the park first opens you will be able to do all the main attractions early with little to no waits, because the resort guests stayin on-site at universal all have FOTL access and have no need to rush to the parks, unlike at wdw. They tend to sleep in and relax knowing they can/will do all the rides they want, with little wait times using FOTL. If you strategize correctly, you should be fine without FOTL.

Andy (or others) - If you have any specific questions feel free to ask here and/or PM me...

 

[apulk]

This REALLY helps. Not having been there we don't have the perspective. I am picture MK in July with no fastpasses. I wouldn't do WDW at this time of year without them anymore -- or at least know that we're leaving the park by 3pm each day. Our kids are 10, 12, 17 and 19 so they should really love the place. To be honest -- none of them are bored with WDW but last year no one cared if we hit Fantasyland (which nearly broke my heart....even my "baby" isn't a baby anymore) or even any of the shows. It was all -- "let's see if we can do TOT, RNR, Everest, etc. 5-6 times today."

We're going to decide tonight for sure -- I think I'm back in the for it category. And, being away from work another 3 days isn't bad either.

Thanks much.

andy

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

let's see if we can do TOT, RNR, Everest, etc. 5-6 times today."

Then they are going to LOVE US/IOA !!! Probably IOA more so as they have intense, thrill rides which are incredible. I have brought many people to both WDW and US/IOA through out the years and the vast majority like wdw but they all RAVE about US/IOA for the rides. Be warned that you are going to be creating monsters as they are going to want to go to US/IOA on every trip to Orlando (since you are dvc members) so start saving (or get a second job) as trips are going to cost you more and more.

 

[apulk]

Oh no.....you hit on one of my fears -- that everyone WILL want to do both parks each visit. My son (17) has already said he was OK if we skipped this year because the Harry Potter ride will be open for next year.

I think we're going. It means taking one month off of our Dave Ramsey debt reduction plan but it is sounding more and more like something everyone will love.

thanks much