I'm debating here..help me decide.

[*Fantasia*]

We will be there on April 17 through April 24. I know it is going to be very busy in the parks. I love Disney...but I don't know if I will be able to handle the crowds with my kids (6 and 4). The fast pass is not going to help that much...I can see running out of the fastpass.

At Universal..they have this thing called...FOTL (front of the line) and that is one of the benefits if you stay on-sight. Plus right now...even during the bussiest season...Universal is still giving out discounts on their resorts.

At the moment...I have a ressies at ASSp and RPR. I'm not so sure which way to go. Should I just go with Disney or try Universal and just do Disney later this June?

 

[jaysue]

I have not been to Universal but it strikes me as a park/complex for older kids and not for 4/6 years old.

MK is open from 0830-midnight so lots of opportunities to go back to the hotel and rest and then go back to the parks.

Having said that and based on discounts, I would do Universal in April and WDW in June provided I thought there was enough for my kids to do which as stated above I do not think there would be.

Of course, if you go to other Orlando attractions then Universal might work out well

Thanks
Jason

 

[hockey mom]

We will be there the exact same time and we plan on doing both. I know Disney will be busy but we plan on doing as much as we can and not stressing on what we didn't do. Universal is great with fotl access but is also limited with options for your kids. So my suggestion is to do both and if you go back in June do both again.

 

[Michelemouse]

I agree with jaysue...Universal is not a great park for younger kids. Even our kids, at 7 & 9 were not able to go on several rides due to the height requirements. There are other rides (Kong, Earthquake, Jaws, etc.) that are pretty intense for younger kids as well.

If it were me I might stay a couple of nights at Universal, but I wouldn't make that my only destination. Even with the crowds I would do Disney most of the trip. I'd just realize that I wasn't going to be able to see/do it all and just have a great time with the kids. I'd take advantage of EE on MK mornings and do as much with FastPasses as I could.

Just my opinion. Have a great trip!

 

[zakatak]

Fantasia!

I went in March with my three kids (ages 6, 4 and 2) by myself for 3 days. We stayed at ASMu. Here is what I found worked WONDERS!

1. Do EE or first thing in the morning (we were up anyways). Then head back to the hotel BY 10:30/11am. We went to each park with a mission (Fantasyland, Little Mermaid/Beauty & Beast, etc). Once we were done with the mission, we slowly made our way back to the exit (having a couple snacks and people watching) and headed back to the pool.

2. While waiting we played, "Let's look for a Goofy Shirt" or such not... helped keep them occupied while we waited.

3. Pool time was FUN! But we also had down time in the afternoon to watch cartoons or the zippy channel! Time for Mamma to rest, kids are out of the sun, etc...

4. Night time we also had a mission. Then headed back to resort for bed.

This was BY FAR one of the best trips! We were so relaxed. In fact, on of my favorite memories was after EMH at Fantasyland, we wandered up Main Street, stopped in the Bakery for some cookies and a muffin, sat on the curb and people watched! The looks on their faces (when seeing the castle) were priceless! Then, out of nowhere, the Quartet comes over and starts talking with my kids! They were flabergasted! It was alot of fun!

One time we went into MK just to ride TTA. We rode it 3 times in a row (it was pretty empty). My kids love that, especially the 2 year old!

Feel free to PM me. I understand your situation and since I just did it myself with kids the same age, we can chat!

Good luck! It really is alot of fun when you take it easy with a mission.

Hugs,
Karen

 

[*Fantasia*]

Everyone thanks for the replies. Thanks for the tips. Great plan Karen. I am still debating here.

Do you guys think that maybe going back to the parks after 8pm the parks would still be busy? Or do you think it will mellow down a little bit.

Do EE then leave at noon...go back to the resort to nap/swim then go back out to the park after 7/8pm. I am wondering if the Fantasyland would still be packed. I know most of the the young children they go to sleep early...but my kids stay kind of late. So I was hoping that the Fantasyland would not to packed at nite.
Any opinion on this one?

Yikes...I have to really decide here. My 5 day cancellation on the resort is tomorrow!!!! I can do both...but now I am thinking that it might be too much to move from one resort to another (WDW to Universal).

Please anymore opinions out there you are welcome to chime in.

 

[gonga]

I do not have children but I do have a neice and nephew ages 3 & 5. They loved Universal and spoke of it more than Disney. They did a split vacation. I have been to universal many times myself and the FOL access is the greatest! You may see a long line for attractions, but you go to the spacial access gate and hop right on the ride. I have never waited more than 10 minutes for any ride.

Back to the children.......they loved the interaction with Scooby doo, Jimmy Neurton, Shrek, Sponge Bob they still talk about it and their trip was last year. Seuss landing is great for them and there are many other things they can do in the studios..Nickelodeon is there. They always ask when they can go to Sponge bob's house again....

Yes there are rides for bigger kids at Universal, but I think from my experience, if you stay at Universal, with better discounts, FOL access your kids will not be disappointed. There is a lot more interaction with their "celebrities" which they love anyway! To them its like hanging out with Julia Roberts or Brad Pitt! Also the hotels are much more "kid freindly" espically the Royal Pacific they have a great pool.

The Hard Rock has movies at night on a large screen in the pool...they serve popcorn and you can hang out in the pool in a tube, or on a lounge chair and watch a family movie - lots of fun.

The Portofino has a wonderful pool, and the atmosphere in the evening in the "village" is great fun for families.

They also have Kid suites in the Universal Hotels....

IMHO I say give Universal a try, you will love it..and you will save some $$ too! My brother was apprehensive about Universal as well due to the kids being 3 & 5, he did not think they would have enough to do - they ended up liking it more than WDW.

Hope this helps you!

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thank you gonga for sharing your experience with your neice and nephew. Actually the resort is going to cost me more at Universal . RPR is about $153 and ASSp is $109. But however at the RPR you are staying in their deluxe w/ lots of room ammenities plus robes and 24 hr room service and you can pool hop to the other resorts which this is a bug no no to Disney. I know the food at restaurants at those deluxe hotels are probably going to be alot...but I know I can take my kids to the park and just eat there...I think it's cheaper.

Wish I wasn't a Disney crazy here...then this way I wouldn't care where we stay or where we go... I do however appreciate that we are going...We want to have fun and have a relaxing trip without too much stress or headache.

Thanks everyone! Anymore opinions...advice..thanks in advance!

 

[tinaluis]

My DDs prefer Universal too. They are 6, 4 and almost 2 (I'm not too sure about the youngest though, she's just happy to be out without a coat, scarf, hat, mittens, etc) and they love it. In fact when I say we're going back to Disney they assume I mean Universal. Sure, there are more rides geared toward an older crowd but I think they have a nice mix and my girls are never bored when we're there. I think Universal definitely offers much more to onsite guests and I think FOTL is awesome. Hope I didn't complicate things for you.

 

[palmtreegirl]

We went over Easter week last year and I will never ever go back at that time again-lol. It was so mobbed, it was nuts!!! The parks would be closed due to capacity by the afternoon(even water parks!) and fast passes for rides like the mountains and test track were gone within 2 hours of park opening, seriously it was crazy!! We finally gave up trying to go to the parks during the day because we were going to be there the following week and a CM/manager told us it would be a whole new world the next week. So we just went out at night after that. The next week was so much better, we heard people complaining on the bus about the crowds the next week and we LOL because to us it seemed empty after the previous week.

That being said, EE was not in effect when we went, so if you got up for EE and then left at like 10 am and then went back out towards the night it might be better. But even late at night, around 10 pm, there were still lines 30-40 minute lines for Dumbo and Peter pan, you really have to have a fast pass not to wait, or be there till closing time.

If you have a choice, which it seem like you do, I'd definitely switch the trips around and do Universal for Easter break. I've lurked on the Universal boards here and people swear there are plenty of things for smaller kids, check them out.

Another reason I say switch is because even if you use fast pass and EE you still have to use the transportation and just deal with the mob that is Disney on Easter break, lines for the monrail, super crowded busses...crowds everywhere-lol.

 

[DisOrBust]

Personally I would stay at RPR do the universal parks and Seaworld. Seaworld is a great relaxing park. You can get the 5 day passes for Univ. and a one day pass for SW which is actualy a 2 day pass they give you a second day free ask for the details. I believe there is a shuttle from Univ to SW. It is hard not to do WDW but it can be Hell as Easter. We were there Easter 2001 and Fantasy land was packed untill 11pm. The late spectro 9pm also made it impossible to get around. From 10-12pm we did a lot og the rides but it was no funl getting my DD's on the bus and back to the room. Yes its doable but I am not sure what the crowds will be like this year with all the changes to the hours etc.. Rent a stroller what ever you do. We also did USF over Easter when they were 4 and 6yo and they had a blast! They loved FOTL more then I did,lol! Just stay away from Pentadron Flyers that ws an hour wait!

 

[*Fantasia*]

bump! need more opinion plz.

 

[eeyore0062]

DO NOT CANCEL!!! You will have fun... just do the EE mornings until noon, take advantage of all of the fastpasses you are allowed to get your hands on, and then leave the parks at noon, swim, rest, and return around dinner time... 5 pm, or so. That way you should be able to take full advantage of everything.

I also have to agree that with a 4 and 6 year old, there wouldn't be much to do at Universal, and they would enjoy WDW much better. Wait until they are a bit older and they will get much more out of a trip to Universal. Personally, I think that your money would be more wisely spent by staying with your original plans.

Universal is a nice amusement park, but WDW is THE best of the best in Theme Parks!!!!

 

[alyssa810]

Does anyone remember seussland (or whatever it's called) and the cartoon land in Universal!?!?!? Those are littler kid geared!!
I love WDW but when we stayed at the Hard rock last year, the FOL totally rocked!!! Disney could never do it because there are too many resort guests, but we really loved it at unversal.
You know your kids better than any of us, so you would be a better judge at determining which parks they would prefer, but if they prefer popeye to pluto or woody woodpecker to winnie the pooh, hit universal. You will all have a blast no matter where you go!!

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks guys for your input. UUUGGGGHHHH!!! Today is the day..I have to make up my mind... pressure--pressure. I kind of wanna split my stay...but 3 days here...3 days there...I think that is too much moving for a short stay. I knew I should have extended my stay longer, but unfortunately our air tickets are set.

Maybe we'll just do Universal for Easter and if the kid's enjoy the Universal Parks..then for June we'll just stay longer in Orlando and do Disney and Universal. Crossing my fingers...I hope we will be able to head back to Orlando in June.

Last call...anyone else would like to chime in...now is your chance!

 

[zakatak]

Fantasia!

Come down with us in July! July 3-13th! We (me, dh, ds 7, dd 4 and dd 3) will be staying at POR.

How's that for chiming in?!

Relax and have a great trip! Disney will be there for the next time!

Karen

 

[Antonia]

Last summer we did Univeral and no WDW and it was fine. Don't stress about it and also I think you will find plenty to do with the kids. Also, pool hopping and FOTL is great!