Is it worth $260 for the day?

[KimWDW]

We're going to WDW again in October. My son will be 5. I've been thinking of doing 1 day at Universal (both parks in one day). We'll have to take a cab. So, tickets for the 3 of us plus about $50-60 for the roundtrip cab to and from POFQ will total about $260 to go to Universal for the day. That's so much money.

He loves Dr. Seuss books and he's Spongebob's biggest fan. At Disney, he loves kid rides and meeting characters, though he won't try any coasters or scary rides yet. I know he'd love the Dr. Seuss land and meeting Barney, Spongebob, etc. But I just don't know if there's enough there to warrant $260 extra dollars added on to our trip.

Maybe I should wait until he's older and then we can do a Universal/WDW split stay? Any thoughts?

 

[LoveToDisney]

Personally, I would wait until he is bored with Disney...otherwise you risk overwhelming him with too much. We waited until our son was a pre-teen and ready for more than "just Disney." Trying to do US/IOA in one day is not worth it for a child so young. Relax and enjoy another day at Disney since the additional days cost barely nothing. You will know when your kid is ready for more than what Disney has to offer because they will definitely let you know. Before then, I would save my money and do a more relaxed visit of the Disney parks.

 

[robvia]

Lots of thoughts.

Many Disney fans are "dipping their toe in" giving Universal a try. The problem is they want to take 1 precious day away from Disney, and visit both Universal parks. A 5 year old will usually tire out and become cranky in the afternoon before zonking out all together in the stroller. And if you've never been, it's kinda hard to see everything in 1 day, there's not enough time.

You can either buy the multi day tickets and spread your visit out over a couple mornings, or you buy 1 day tickets to 1 park. Universal has the Sponge Bob ride, Shrek, Barney show, ET, play grounds, and the characters meet at the front of the park. That would probably be the best choice.

If you go, it's best to arrive early at 8am. Many Disney people drive up at 11am and run into long lines. If you go early, you'll be one step ahead of the crowd.

It's great you want to do this for the kid, but honestly, they won't remember much of it, and don't understand how much money it costs.

 

[GreenMeanMachine]

I would definitely say yes it is worth it, I think Universal is better than Dis. But just make sure you do IOA.

 

[Flyin2MCO]

As much as I love UO, I'd say wait until you can spend more time there, ideally staying on-site.

 

[Tank]

My 5yr old had a great time at the parks. 1 day would not be enough to see everything but it would be enough to see all the favorites for him. Get to the park at opening, see Jimmy Neutron, Shrek, ET, Animal Actors, let him play in the Feival play area, and if you want to cool off, Curious Georges wet area. They have meeting areas for Shrek and Spongebob that you could take him to. Also at random times they have a lot of other characters that the kids love, Dora, Scooby, the characters from Madagascar, etc.. If he is a brave 5yr old you could take him to MIB and Mummy, my son loved both. After lunch head over to IOA if he likes Spider Man you could ride that, the line might be long without express. If you go that way head to toon town. If you want to get wet you could do Dudley DooRights Ripsaw Falls and Popeye's Bilgerat Barges both were favorites of my kids. If you want to stay dry let him play on Me ship the Olive. Camp Jurassic is another kids favorite if they like Dinosaurs. JP river adventure in another wet ride if he is brave. Then stop by the flying unicorn and the fountain in lost continent and finish the day in Seuss land. Should be plenty to do, you will feel you got your money's worth, just don't expect to see it all in 1 day.

 

[disneygal55]

How does your son do at WDW? Do you park hop or stay in one park all day? My 2 DS's are used to park hopping and we do both US/IOA in one day. Of course we started US as an all day park with them when they were just babies and started the US/IOA in one day when IOA opened. We get there early and do the most popular rides at IOA...especially Spiderman...and usually go over to US towards lunchtime. We get a car for the week so we don't have to use a cab or shuttle so we don't have that extra expense for the day trip. It is a lot of money but definitely worth it IMO. My kids freak out if we say.."Maybe we won't go to Universal this trip." Just map out the things you want to do and try to be flexible...if the line is very long try back later.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

As much as I love UO, I'd say wait until you can spend more time there, ideally staying on-site.

My thoughts exactly...and I am a die hard Universal fan. I would much rather be in Universal than WDW. That being said, given your time constraints and the cab fare, I would say skip it until you are ready to do a split stay and cap off your Disney trip with 3-4 nights at Universal. Definately stay on site so you can really relax.

 

[Minnie & Me]

Unless Universal comes up with better ticket deals for families with young children, I would say no!

We decided not to go this summer because we only wanted to visit either 2 mornings or 1 long day and hop. In the past we use to get the 3 day non expiring tickets and visit one day each summer. Now they are gone. So is their free Express Pass(unless you pay more than $200 plus for a room) On top of that you have to pay for parking.

I have emailed asking for the price of their 2 day non expiring gate only prices and they are $136 for one adult! Wow, that is $68 a day.

At Disney, we are getting a room at Pop for $82 dollars a night with free dining for 4, no parking fees and our tickets upgraded to non-expiring hoppers comes to $42- per day. Not to mention fast pass is still free at Disney.

Their $85/ 7 day ticket is great; but how many times can you see Barney in one week! I can definitely ride Hulk and Spiderman for 7 days; but not my 3 year old. US/IOA have these great themed areas for young children; but they seem to be taking the all or nothing approach on trying to get people thru their gates.

With free dining a reality this Aug/Sept how is Universal planning on getting some of these Disney folks to come over?

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Unless Universal comes up with better ticket deals for families with young children, I would say no!

We decided not to go this summer because we only wanted to visit either 2 mornings or 1 long day and hop. In the past we use to get the 3 day non expiring tickets and visit one day each summer. Now they are gone. So is their free Express Pass(unless you pay more than $200 plus for a room) On top of that you have to pay for parking.

I have emailed asking for the price of their 2 day non expiring gate only prices and they are $136 for one adult! Wow, that is $68 a day.

At Disney, we are getting a room at Pop for $82 dollars a night with free dining for 4, no parking fees and our tickets upgraded to non-expiring hoppers comes to $42- per day. Not to mention fast pass is still free at Disney.

Their $85/ 7 day ticket is great; but how many times can you see Barney in one week! I can definitely ride Hulk and Spiderman for 7 days; but not my 3 year old. US/IOA have these great themed areas for young children; but they seem to be taking the all or nothing approach on trying to get people thru their gates.

With free dining a reality this Aug/Sept how is Universal planning on getting some of these Disney folks to come over?

If you only went to Universal 2 days with the $85 ticket, it comes out to the same price-per-day as your Disney ticket... however many days you're going.

If you wanted the same 2-day non-expiring ticket from Disney, it'd cost you $200 (or $100 per day).

So please don't make Universal out to be the bad guy when Disney's tickets are the same or worse.

Plus, Free Dining is only for a few weeks. Universal's had this ticket deal for months.

 

[macraven]

minnie & me, that free dining at disney is if you book a package.
it's only for some days short a month as the bounce back program is for 6 weeks of free dpp.

be prepared for crowds there. i read that pop is already sold out for the package w/free ddp. on monday, only disney visa holders could buy into it.
it went public today and already rooms are had to get. also read that le cellier is booked completely for august and all of september.

i can see the crowds there for september ......yikes.....
and a double yikes as i will be there for the end of september until i switch over to hrh at universal for the last portion of my trip.

there is a lot universal has to offer families with young children.
there is an on going thread now in the forums that list many things a family can do at universal with young children. enough listed to entertain the family for more than a short time.

hope you try UO in the future.

 

[Minnie & Me]

We love US/IOA. We enjoy visiting every year. My only beef is that they have eliminated their non-expiring ticket options. At Disney we can still buy a 10 day non-expiring ticket which we can use over 3 years. I guess we just got too use to the 3 day non-expiring at par ticket from AAA. It just does not make $ sense for our family to buy the $85 ticket for a family of 4 to visit 2 mornings.

Sorry for the rant; but I'm just sad that we will not be going this summer.

Anthony, I remember seeing some of your great reviews over at SeaWorld boards last year.

 

[macraven]

i bought the 10 day hopper expiring one.
i would have to pay another $140 to make it non expiring. once you buy a ticket that is for more than 6 days, that extra fee is high.


it's just too much for me.


i thought you could still buy the non expiring UO tickets at guest services.
send them an email and ask.

someone on a thread mentioned the non expiring tickets a few months ago

i do both parks each year. but my heart belongs with the mummy dust.

i hope you will be able to swing a mini trip to UO soon.