Is Universal for us?

[thisismyusername]

We're headed to Disney for the fourth time in a year in June. Initially, we were planning to spend a week and a half at Disney, but after so many visits this year, we're considering shortening our Disney stay and either taking another short trip at the end of the summer (a Disney cruise/perhaps a day or two at the park), or doing a few days at Universal.

I have three kids--one will be turning 13 on our trip, one is 11 and one is 7. The 13 and 7 year old do not ride anything adventurous--the 11 year old sort of does. In fact, my husband and I just took an adults-only trip to Disney over Labor Day so we could do all of the rides we haven't had a chance to ride, like TOT, RnR, Everest...

We spent one half day at IOA last year to see HP. It was the day of a tropical storm, so we were all sort of miserable, and during a small rain break, the kids did a few rides in the Seuss land, but we mostly just explored HP shops, did the walkthrough of Hogwarts, and ate at the Three Broomsticks.

We love Disney and find it suits our family very well since there's still plenty for us to do with three kids who are not adrenaline junkies. Would we find the same at Universal if we did three days there? If the HP expansion were not open, I think we'd cancel our plans as that's what we'd mainly like to see.

 

[macraven]

We're headed to Disney for the fourth time in a year in June.

If the HP expansion were not open, I think we'd cancel our plans as that's what we'd mainly like to see.

without UO releasing the date of the new HP2 opening, i can't answer your question.

UO states it will open in summer '14.
you posted June will be your vacation period but will that be early, end of the month June?

but you said you might do the park at the end of the summer and shorten the June trip.
hopefully, that might work for you as HP2 should be out at that point.


many speculate the dates varying from late spring to early summer.

if you only reason you want to do the darkside is to see the new HP2, you might want to wait until the opening dates are released.


with the opening of this new section, the parks will be crowded.
it could be a good thing to do a 3 day visit if you are going in the summer.
that would give you time to cover everything of HP and the rest of the parks.

 

[kohlby]

I cannot comment on the opening of HP, since I'm don't know when that is exactly - or if it will actually happen on that date. If it is open, it will be extra crowded, making it harder to get as much done as usual, so you would likely need extra time.

As for if there's enough at IOA/US for 3 days, there would be for us. The most we've ever had is 2 days for IOA/US, but we have 6 days for our next trip. (We bought some really cheap 7 day passes several years ago, for less than the current 2 day price). When we had 2 days, we spent 1.5 at IOA and 0.5 at US - and that was before HP was open! On our last trip, we only had one day, so we spent it at IOA. We very easily filled the day up. Now that my kids are a little older and a little taller, I expect it to take us more time. They're 4, 7, and 10 but the eldest will only go on a ride if his petite 7 year old sister will - so not a big thrill rider. Rider swap works great at Universal - you all go into together and wait inside the ride. On our last Disney trip, they wouldn't let us use child swap with our 40" 3 year old on 40" rides - even making him get measured on several occasions! (Looking up the policy recently, that shouldn't have happened. But it did over and over and over). But universal has always been wonderful about doing rider swap for ANY riders in your group who don't want to ride. They also have single rider lines which make it easy for one of us to stay with the kids while the other one goes on the thrill rides. We've actually found single rider line to be faster than Express Pass rides at many times.

 

[Eureka]

We went this summer and are not thrill ride people either. The boys are 10 and 12 and we all loved Universal. There is a lot more to do than just the thrill rides. We spent two days there and we didn't get to everything we had wanted to do. Personally, I liked it a whole lot more than I thought I would, which surprised me because I am not really into superheroes, roller coasters or HP. We all want to go back.

 

[donaldduck352]

We went this summer and are not thrill ride people either. The boys are 10 and 12 and we all loved Universal. There is a lot more to do than just the thrill rides. We spent two days there and we didn't get to everything we had wanted to do. Personally, I liked it a whole lot more than I thought I would, which surprised me because I am not really into superheroes, roller coasters or HP. We all want to go back.

Universal has that kind of oh I did not know!!

 

[heidijanesmith]

We're headed to Disney for the fourth time in a year in June. Initially, we were planning to spend a week and a half at Disney, but after so many visits this year, we're considering shortening our Disney stay and either taking another short trip at the end of the summer (a Disney cruise/perhaps a day or two at the park), or doing a few days at Universal. We enjoy Universal very much, especially after a WDW trip.

I have three kids--one will be turning 13 on our trip, one is 11 and one is 7. The 13 and 7 year old do not ride anything adventurous--the 11 year old sort of does. In fact, my husband and I just took an adults-only trip to Disney over Labor Day so we could do all of the rides we haven't had a chance to ride, like TOT, RnR, Everest...
There are lots of rides and shows at US that are not thrill seeker rides.
We spent one half day at IOA last year to see HP. It was the day of a tropical storm, so we were all sort of miserable, and during a small rain break, the kids did a few rides in the Seuss land, but we mostly just explored HP shops, did the walkthrough of Hogwarts, and ate at the Three Broomsticks.
We went to HP one month after it officially opened. It was crazy busy. I imagine HP2 will be crazy busy too.
We love Disney and find it suits our family very well since there's still plenty for us to do with three kids who are not adrenaline junkies. Would we find the same at Universal if we did three days there? If the HP expansion were not open, I think we'd cancel our plans as that's what we'd mainly like to see.

I think there are quite a few of thrill rides at US, but we found lots of other fun things to do as well. We usually tour for about 2 1/2 days at US.

Stay on site at a US hotel if possible. We like HRH, as it's only 3-5min walk and you get the unlimited express pass. This year we got a towncar to pick us up this year. It was so easy, they picked us up at the airport-to the Poly, then the Poly to HRH and then HRH to the airport. It was quick and cheaper then renting a car for our US stay.

 

[SoarinSC]

Here's my list of low-thrill rides and activities at the Studios...there's quite a bit for non-thrill fans!

USF
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem...the movie has a lot of motion in it, but the ride vehicle itself just rocks back and forth...but doesn't move anywhere.
Shrek 4-D
Twister
Blues Brothers show
Beetle Juice Graveyard Review
Disaster! the train shakes...that's the worst of it
Men In Black...if your kids are okay with spinning
Animal Actors Live
E.T. Adventure
The Horror Make-Up Show...really fun and a favorite!
Terminator 3D...just a movie and effects

IOA is a good bit skewed towards medium to high thrill rides with the exception of Suess-Landing...but even Cat in the Hat can be a bit much spinning-wise for those sensitive to motion.

Have a great trip if you go!