Is it really possible?

[torinsmom]

Can I really go to Orlando and visit SW and Universal without going to Disney? I am just so worried that I won't be able to resist buying at least a 2 day ticket. We've never been to Universal:we just have never been able to work it in with the time Disney takes up. Next year, I was looking to save some money and figured Universal would be a good bet, and maybe one day at SW. We do have 3 pluses left for Disney, which would be DQ and one of the water parks(save last plus for 2010 . DS is really excited about Universal and I am too; I just wish they had fast passes, because buying the Express passes will run the cost up. We are not staying onsite--man, those hotels are pricey!

Anyway, can someone tell me that Universal is so great and there is so much to do that we won't miss Disney? We are planning on June 2009.

Marsha

 

[Purseval]

We do it all the time. We come down twice a year, sometimes we skip WDW entirely, sometimes we skip Universal. Usually it's a mix of both but we can easily spend all our time at Universal, especially with Halloween Horror Nights thrown in.

 

[Metro West]

Can I really go to Orlando and visit SW and Universal without going to Disney? I am just so worried that I won't be able to resist buying at least a 2 day ticket. We've never been to Universal:we just have never been able to work it in with the time Disney takes up. Next year, I was looking to save some money and figured Universal would be a good bet, and maybe one day at SW. We do have 3 pluses left for Disney, which would be DQ and one of the water parks(save last plus for 2010 . DS is really excited about Universal and I am too; I just wish they had fast passes, because buying the Express passes will run the cost up. We are not staying onsite--man, those hotels are pricey!

Anyway, can someone tell me that Universal is so great and there is so much to do that we won't miss Disney? We are planning on June 2009.

Marsha

I think you would have a great time w/o Disney. Spending two to three days at Universal, a day at Sea World and some pool time you won't miss Disney at bit.

 

[patster734]

Can I really go to Orlando and visit SW and Universal without going to Disney? I am just so worried that I won't be able to resist buying at least a 2 day ticket. We've never been to Universal:we just have never been able to work it in with the time Disney takes up. Next year, I was looking to save some money and figured Universal would be a good bet, and maybe one day at SW. We do have 3 pluses left for Disney, which would be DQ and one of the water parks(save last plus for 2010 . DS is really excited about Universal and I am too; I just wish they had fast passes, because buying the Express passes will run the cost up. We are not staying onsite--man, those hotels are pricey!

Anyway, can someone tell me that Universal is so great and there is so much to do that we won't miss Disney? We are planning on June 2009.

Marsha

Hi Marsha,

I advise reconsidering about staying on property if you can. Although the rack rates are high, discount rates usually exist. Hopefully, the Super Saver rate would be available for your trip. If not, check the rates for AAA and AP. You don't need to possess either to check the rates or to book at those rates; however, you will need it at check-in. The reason I advise staying on property is because some of the discounted rates aren't much more than the cost of staying off-property and the price of the express passes.

Good luck with your trip!

 

[rwdavis2]

It's not a problem for us. Since 2004 we've been to Disney twice (with Universal side trips) and Universal-only twice. The kids like Disney but don't miss it when we just go to Universal. I probably miss it more than they do. Skipping Disney just makes the next trip so much better.
Bob

 

[LilMommyBug]

We went in May with our kids to just Uni. We really wanted to go to WDW too, but it wasn't financially feasible. We had a great time at Uni & didn't really miss WDW too much.

 

[UKAnnie]

There's certainly enough to keep you going in Universal and Islands of Adventure. (My DH actually prefers them shhhhh!).

We leave in a couple of weeks and having tickets for both, but the first week my DS and his fiancee join us, and they don't want to spend on Disney tickets. They have them for Universal. So....... if they want a Disney fix we are taking them to the Boardwalk, maybe around Epoct firework time to linger around the International Gateway, taking them to Downtown Disney and also for dinner at Boma at AKL, going early around 5pm to watch the animals being fed on the Savannah - so there are ways you can get a little Disney fix without splurging. Oh - I've just thought I think we have some old Disney tickets left with pluses left on them, so might give them those for TL (I think these were issued before the fingerprint scanners so they might work!).

 

[Nickmom522]

I just came back from a Universal/Seaworld trip. Of course, I had to go one day to Disney but that is a story I won't get into. It was really enjoyable at Universal. It is much more relaxed. We stayed onsite and having the FOTL access is great. As one of the other posts said, try to stay onsite. We were able to get the Super Saver rate of 161 per night at RPR. I thought that was reasonable and well worth it.

 

[lisareneeo]

Marsha,
I am in the same situation. We are going to US/IOA and Sea World plus Aquatica for 7 days this Oct/Nov. My children are 12 & 10 and we have been to Disney many times and love it. We have waited until our children were old enough to enjoy all of the rides at US/IOA.

I am a little worried that I will miss Disney and keep thinking how can I be in Orlando and not go...but we are not going. So, I will let you know how it is.

BTW, we are staying at Hard Rock and I am really looking forward to it.
Lisa

 

[macraven]

don't listen to me.

if i go to orlando, i go to both parks.

 

[ky07]

We started going to Orlando in 2005 and did Disney and Universal and Universal won our hearts and now we only do Universal and always have plenty to do .

 

[torinsmom]

I just came back from a Universal/Seaworld trip. Of course, I had to go one day to Disney but that is a story I won't get into. It was really enjoyable at Universal. It is much more relaxed. We stayed onsite and having the FOTL access is great. As one of the other posts said, try to stay onsite. We were able to get the Super Saver rate of 161 per night at RPR. I thought that was reasonable and well worth it.

Wow! $161 is way out of our league. We are budget-minded folks for sure(single mom + teacher= poor, LOL) We are used to $73/nt at Pop Century and I had planned on doing a $50 Comfort Inn type deal with free breakfast next trip. We really only sleep in the room anyway. If I paid $161 for 7 nights, I could pay 1 1/2 mortgage payments

Marsha

 

[macraven]

Wow! $161 is way out of our league. We are budget-minded folks for sure(single mom + teacher= poor, LOL) We are used to $73/nt at Pop Century and I had planned on doing a $50 Comfort Inn type deal with free breakfast next trip. We really only sleep in the room anyway. If I paid $161 for 7 nights, I could pay 1 1/2 mortgage payments

Marsha

disney no longer has those rates anymore.
last year they changed to a daily rate system.

you can expect to be paying $100 + tax for the value resorts now.
and that is not preferred building cost.

 

[patster734]

Wow! $161 is way out of our league. We are budget-minded folks for sure(single mom + teacher= poor, LOL) We are used to $73/nt at Pop Century and I had planned on doing a $50 Comfort Inn type deal with free breakfast next trip. We really only sleep in the room anyway. If I paid $161 for 7 nights, I could pay 1 1/2 mortgage payments

Marsha

Are you sure its out of your league? The savings of buying the multi-day Universal ticket vs the multi-day Disney ticket might make up the difference between the hotel rates. Another option is to plan a 3 or 4 night Universal vacation instead of 7 nights that's typical for a Disney vacation.

 

[Disneyof3]

Torinsmom we are in the same boat as you. We have gone to WDW the last 4 years and this year we have had to put up a fence and buy a new vehicle (used but a 2007). We are going to try and do US/IOA and Seaworld this time. I found a decent place off site and we are going in March before the crowds rush in. The hotel is right across the road from US and it is just over 100 a night but that is a suite because we are a family of 5. They are serving us breakfast, 1/2 hot and 1/2 cold, it has a fridge and a microwave. We won't be eating in the hotel except for breakfast. We are only staying for 5 days but feel that will do us. We are then heading to the inlaws in Clearwater for a couple of days to shop and relax. I keep thinking that I will miss disney but have realized that this year WDW is out of the budget and we can try again next year. My kids are also getting older so I want to see if they will enjoy US as much. We will always have our memories of WDW and if we don't like US then we can go back to WDW next year. My kids understand that going away every March is not a automatic it is a priviledge and it only happens if we can afford it. My kids are excited and as the days get closer, I'am as well.

 

[torinsmom]

disney no longer has those rates anymore.
last year they changed to a daily rate system.

you can expect to be paying $100 + tax for the value resorts now.
and that is not preferred building cost.

Actually, this was August 3-11 of 2008, with the daily rate system. The AAA rate was $65 and with tax it was $73/nt. This was during value season, but still. Looks like the value rates are the same for 2009. I could stay at Pop for around $100/nt next June since it is summer season then, but if we are doing Universal and SW, we will probably either stay in a Comfort Inn type deal for $70-$80/night. Comfort Inn has free breakfast(we love their waffles) so that will save us $ as well.

If I'm going to spend $160/nt, I would rent a pool house with a full kitchen. But that's just me. We are definitely budget travelers--that's how we've been going to Disney every year on a single $40,000/yr. salary, LOL.

Marsha

 

[LilMommyBug]

Another option is to plan a 3 or 4 night Universal vacation instead of 7 nights that's typical for a Disney vacation.

This is what we do. There is no way we could afford to stay on site at Uni for 7 nights. So instead, we just stay like 2 nights on site. We also have AP passes - so we can take a couple trips down a year.

 

[torinsmom]

We plan on staying seven nights--four days at Universal, one day at a Disney waterpark, and one day at Disney Quest. I don't like to spend less than 6 nights, because it seems like you just get settled and have to turn around and come home. I am trying to keep lodging under $700 for the week; at
$80/night I could come in well under that.

Anyway, thans for all your help! I may waver and buy one day Disney tickets if we have the extra $.

Marsha

 

[YouJustBideYourTime!]

As far as getting bored in Uni and thereby buying Disney tix, I would think not. I had a Universal annual pass for almost a year and never tired of it. I miss Uni more than I miss Disney most of the time! There is a lot to do there. My family once bought 10-days I think it was, and had lots of fun.

 

[Metro West]

As far as getting bored in Uni and thereby buying Disney tix, I would think not. I had a Universal annual pass for almost a year and never tired of it. I miss Uni more than I miss Disney most of the time! There is a lot to do there. My family once bought 10-days I think it was, and had lots of fun.