Is it worth considering taking time from Disney?

[Royal Consort]

No offence OP, but having visited Warner Brothers in Australia and Universal in LA, Orlando and Singapore, I really think that Universal is much much better than Warner Brothers. I personally feel that Warner Brothers is a poor cousin compared to the Universal Parks (the Police Academy show did not change for 12 years from my first visit in 1994 to my second visit in 2006!), but again, it's my personal opinion. Give Universal a chance. You never know if you'll like it unless you've tried it. Have fun planning.

I agree, but we have a small population so the parks aren't as big or technical as the US. My only point was that Universal isn't really marketed to us and I think that's partly because of WB Movie World covering the film and super hero theme. Not a statement on quality at all.

 

[perdidochas]

Hi everyone,
We're planning our trip for later in the year and I've just started looking into Universal/IOA.

We're staying on Disney property for seven nights and thought we could pop over to Universal/Islands of Adventure for a day trip. But looking at the rides, and seeing them all on youtube, there's very little I actually want to do. I don't like thrill rides and there are just so many of them.

The attractions that I'd like to see if I went are:

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges
Jurassic Park River Adventure
The Cat In The Hat
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Shrek 4D
Twister
Men in Black: Alien Attack
Simpsons
Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time
ET

But even in that lot only a couple really excite me (i.e. Potter, Spiderman, Simpsons). Many of the rides I've also seen are rip-offs of the very same things at Disney. Therefore I'm wondering if it's really worth the day trip at all? For those who have been (and don't do thrill rides), was it really worth it or would I be better off spending that extra time remaining in Disney World?

Thanks everyone!

Hogwarts is great. So is the area with Jurassic Park, and the Seuss area. The rest, IMHO, is take it or leave it, in IOA. Haven't been to the other Universal Park.

 

[perdidochas]

Right, there's always going to be some rides that are similar, but Universal's attractions are the most high-tech on the planet.

So far, nothing Disney has really compares to the excitment and theming of Spiderman, Forbidden Journey, The Mummy and IMO, MIB is also quite good (MUCH better than Buzz Lightyear)

Universal has been pushing the envelope of themed attractions since IOA first opened in 1999 and Disney, as much as I love it....hasn't.

Do you mean the incessant faux metal sounds blaring at Spiderman?

I was underimpressed at Spiderman.

Harry Potter is pretty good, but there are too many places in it where you can see the wizard behind the curtain. For example, they stopped the decoration of Hogwarts castle just short of the end of the building. Makes you realize that it's just a big warehouse. Never see that in Disney. Also, in my case, the line queue went into the area behind the Dinosaur pizza place. Nothing takes you out of the magic of hogwarts like watching a pizza slinger smoking in the designated smoking area next to the fire lane.

 

[Marquibiri]

I'm still trying to figure out exactly which rides Universal ripped off?

Kali River Rapids is the equivalent to Popeyes but I do find Popeyes a hundred times better!

Tea cups... not my thing... on either Disney or IoA.

I always plan my trip around Universal.. if I can, THEN I add a few days for Disney (but I always make sure to go to Disney first).

Not in Orlando. With the popularity of HP there is no need to let people in for free.

Universal Hollywood offers specials but only until HP is built...then I would expect any ticket specials to disappear there as well.

...and with the new HP expansion.... it will be some time before crowds start dying down...

Cheers!


Marquibiri

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

If you have 7 days and it is just 2 adults you can do each Disney park once and each Universal park once and still have an extra day for downtown Disney or cirque. On our adults only trip we found one day to be plenty to do each park. You won't need 2 days at Mk if you don't have kids and you can do the front half and back half of Epcot in one day. I would spend a day in each park. As someone else has said definitely add the Beetlejuice show and horror make up show to your list. They are both at US.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Oh and I also do not like big coasters but you do need to try the Mummy as well. Awesome ride. My kids liked US/ IoA better than Disney.

 

[ChisJo]

Do you mean the incessant faux metal sounds blaring at Spiderman?

I was underimpressed at Spiderman.

Harry Potter is pretty good, but there are too many places in it where you can see the wizard behind the curtain. For example, they stopped the decoration of Hogwarts castle just short of the end of the building. Makes you realize that it's just a big warehouse. Never see that in Disney. Also, in my case, the line queue went into the area behind the Dinosaur pizza place. Nothing takes you out of the magic of hogwarts like watching a pizza slinger smoking in the designated smoking area next to the fire lane.

Not to start an argument, but, what about the fact that test track breaks down ALL the time, 3 times while I've been on the ride, including when I was in the corrosive room? Thats not cool. Or when I was on tower of terror, and it shut down just before we enter the elevator - I saw the makings of that ride and was unimpressed with that. No offence, but yes, the Harry Potter ride is a big warehouse....how do you think it operates? Magic? Would you like me to name the rides in Disney that are essentially giant warehouses? Off the top of my head, I can think of 3. And yes, you DO see that. If you want to do a comparison with Disney, fine....you can spend all your time at Disney oohing and awing over how awesome Disney is, and how warehouse like Universal is, but, as a person who can appreciate BOTH parks for what they offer, I can tell the OP that Universal/IOA has amazing theming and rides and it shouldn't be missed.

The first time I went to Universal, I so badly had my Disney blinders on that I was unable to appreciate what Universal has to offer. Now, I love going to Universal for SO many reasons. I can see not appreciating a couple of rides - hey, we all have our favorites, but to do a comparison with another theme park is unfair, especially with blinders on.

 

[ChisJo]

Oh and I also do not like big coasters but you do need to try the Mummy as well. Awesome ride. My kids liked US/ IoA better than Disney.

So did my 15 year old step son - he doesn't want to go back to Disney...only Universal!

 

[Planogirl]

Do you mean the incessant faux metal sounds blaring at Spiderman?

I was underimpressed at Spiderman.

Harry Potter is pretty good, but there are too many places in it where you can see the wizard behind the curtain. For example, they stopped the decoration of Hogwarts castle just short of the end of the building. Makes you realize that it's just a big warehouse. Never see that in Disney. Also, in my case, the line queue went into the area behind the Dinosaur pizza place. Nothing takes you out of the magic of hogwarts like watching a pizza slinger smoking in the designated smoking area next to the fire lane.

You are literally the first person I've ever seen criticize Spiderman. Wow.

 

[rwdavis2]

You are literally the first person I've ever seen criticize Spiderman. Wow.

Ditto. It's the best attraction in Orlando.

 

[RMulieri]

Do you mean the incessant faux metal sounds blaring at Spiderman?

I was underimpressed at Spiderman.

Harry Potter is pretty good, but there are too many places in it where you can see the wizard behind the curtain. For example, they stopped the decoration of Hogwarts castle just short of the end of the building. Makes you realize that it's just a big warehouse. Never see that in Disney. Also, in my case, the line queue went into the area behind the Dinosaur pizza place. Nothing takes you out of the magic of hogwarts like watching a pizza slinger smoking in the designated smoking area next to the fire lane.

You are entitled to your opinion.However it is easy to find faults with stuff if you go in looking for them.As for "Never see that at Disney" I can name various places where I have seen that and worse.Disney is DISNEY and Universal is Universal.You can't compare them and it isn't fair to do so.You are seriously missing out on life if you go everywhere with Disney Blinders on.

This also has to be the first time I have heard someone complain about Spiderman

 

[Fabinva]

We visited last week, first time at Universal, been to Disney many times and split trip between both. My kids liked Universal better than Disney, our favorites are Spiderman and Simpsons, it is totally worth it.