My New Disney Touring Strategy

[anniemck]

Can't wait until our December trip. Staying at the Melia in Celebration for 4 nights, One day at Universal, one day at Islands of Adventure, one day at EPCOT and then the MVMCP. And then we will hit up Animal Kingdom and close down Hollywood Studios if the Osborne Lights are back. Then make the 2 hour drive back home. Haven't been to Universal at all in 8 years, so time to see the changes there.

 

[vek239]

This only mentions one-day tickets so not sure if it affects multi-day.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...y-tickets-price-hike-20140223,0,4181646.story

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I was a complete Disney snob until two years ago and my DD who is a huge HP dragged me over there.

Wrong. I haven't waited more than 15 minutes in a ride since I was a kid (or if there was a special event of some sort). I don't need your precious FP to get on an attraction. I actually know how to tour the park.

Yep. We have dozens of trips under our belt. I just won't wait anymore, but I can't go during low times.

That's what I was thinking, especially at the hotel, which was way nicer than the Disney Deluxes IMO. I went in with very low expectations for the parks and I was pleasantly surprised as well. The Express Pass was the key.

We stayed PB and was much nicer that I had anticipated and did not feel like I was slumming it, so to speak.

Disney doesn't have a mess. they have some people with a sense of entitlement not happy with them, but that in itself doesn't constitute a mess.

I like how you had to slam Disney and this perceived mess in the same sentence you criticized others.

Excuse me? The number of threads full of unhappy customers doesn't sound like a mess to you? On a Disney FAN site? Ok.

Disney diminished the value of my PAP by limiting the total number of FPs, limiting FP for individual rides and limiting the number of parks I can get FP's for to 1 park. I AM entitled to dislike that and I AM entitled to split my stays to another property.

My DD just walked into my office and saw the post I was typing. I explained about the changes and her response was "What the poop? Who thought that would be a good idea?

we will have to agree to disagree.

I joined this board for the sole purpose of gathering info and advice. I've long given up any notion of this board being useful for that purpose. a very small but vocal group runs rough shod over the board repeating the same tired mantra over and over. that is what this sub forum is now primarily about. not touring strategy, but a vehicle to be used in the hopes of some execs at Disney seeing the anger and getting the system changed.

I'm sorry you've come to the board at a bad time. Disney changed how we need to tour, not the posters. We've got to figure out how to manage those changes.

What exactly do I mean? We love SE and it is a must do. The best time to ride is late in the day when people are farther back park. What is going to happen to the SB during peak season when there is a FP+ line? I doubt very much it will shorten the SB line.

I am going to stay at Universal and then see both Disney and Universal from there. Then we get the Express Pass for the whole trip and also because I liked Portofino way more than the Disney Deluxes that I have stayed in.

My thoughts are to see Disney in the mornings on the Disney days, and then go to the Universal parks later if we feel like it, or not. Then have Universal-only days as well. I also like the idea in the comments about going to Disney for resort dinners, maybe seeing fireworks from the resorts, as well as the idea about going during the party season and seeing Disney that way. Lots of options.

The main point was that the hotel was very comfortable, and along with the Express Pass, it changed my thinking on the whole thing, in a good, positive way.

We go all the time to Disney as we live a couple hour drive away. We go every few months for usually a quick 3-4 stay. We will shoot over to Universal and Sea World. We think they are both great as well. It's nice to mix it up a bit. We recently stayed at Portofino Bay (we usually always base at a Disney hotel and commute). I will say this. I travel extensively for work and what Disney calls a Deluxe and charges for it is somewhat laughable. They are nicely themed hotels and you pay primarily for the location, transportation, etc. However, they don't compare to some other hotels I would consider deluxe. Portofino Bay was very nice and much cheaper and we enjoyed it a lot. The front of the line pass was great as well. A great perk that I realize Disney can't offer due to the amount of resorts they have. Again, not a knock on Disney. We love it there. But we enjoy exploring other places such as Universal and Sea World. We are Florida residents and get good rates on passes, hotels etc so we take advantage of it.

I've always felt that way. We stay BC Waterview CL and love it but I would never consider it more than a well themed Marriott. The rooms simply are not luxurious, like a Ritz, Four Season's or St. Regis but they are just as pricey.

Soooo...our touring style has been to stay at Universal and visit Disney less days. They have NOTHING NEW THAT WE CARE ABOUT so we'd waste a ticket for a day or two each trip just to ride some old favorites. Meanwhile we could tour the Universal parks at a much less hectic pace and eat a great meal without having to plan it out 6 months in advance.

Now we have no reason to visit Disney because the old favorites are just that....old. Not that there is anything wrong with that...just not worth standing in an inflated line because of "technology". I'm pretty sure there is irony in that statement somewhwere. We will visit again when Avatar is finished ...I guess the Mine Train will be open by then so I guess we might check that out while we're at it.

We just got home from dinner (and drinks) with friends tonight and we changed their mind about going to Disney like they had planned to this September. Instead, they will be enjoying staying onsite at Universal and buying the 6 day Flex ticket and visiting Universal, Seaworld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens. Not to mention that they will get to visit the beach in Clearwater after their trip to BG. So that is 12 people who won't be visiting Disney this year. I can't wait to talk to the other 10 families that want my help planning a trip.

They can try to be "technologically savvy" by removing their FB reviews so the public can't see the negativity....but they can't stop word of mouth. Call me "old fashion".

While Universal has been spending money and investing in attractions. Disney has put a lot of money in their technology. One inhances my experience the other does not. Pretty simple difference. I can't wait to see Diagon Alley.

I have no kids left in the nest and I dislike the planning aspect of FP+ and I am a planner. I also dislike the fact that attractions which previously did not have FP now have FP+ resulting in lines where short waits were the norm previously. I will make the best of it and go through the necessary planning however. It hasn't made me change my plans to go to WDW but it sure makes DLR more appealing.

Yep. I can completely see my family walking around the park saying HM 60 minutes, no way, BTMRR 90 minutes no way. Just nomadically roaming around saying Nope, Nope, Nope. How many times can you watch the Hall of Presidents?

So, since I made reservations months ago for several trips over the year. (Over a year ago for the upcoming April Trip) I can't change coming to Orlando but I can decide that I want a to split two of those stays.

 

[vital]

Just to clarify, I still love love love the Disney parks. That's why the next trip we will combine both, but stay at UOR for the Express Pass. The reason I posted this was because staying at Universal made me realize that I can still enjoy the Disney parks, yet take a step back from this hyperscheduled FP+ planning by touring them in a way that isn't focused on rides, rides, rides. For example, I don't care about Test Track and Soarin' anymore. Next time I go to Epcot, it will be to enjoy the atmosphere especially World Showcase. Then we'll come back to UOR and get our ride fix in with the Express Pass and enjoy those parks as well. Just one example. The "win-win" part was that I actually liked Portofino more than the Disney Deluxes. Hope this makes sense! My heart is still with the Mouse

We are doing 8 nights at Jambo House the end of May and heading to Uni for 2 days afterwards for the first time. This is an interesting thought concept for me. Get my Disney fix by not worrying about "thrill rides", (RNR and TOT excluded ha!) and saving the adrenaline rush for Uni. My DS is now 14 so I'm sure he'll lean towards Uni after our trip in May.

Now that I think a little more about it, having FP+ will allow us to stay onsite at WDW a few days of our trip and give us access to FP+ pre-booking even after we switch to onsite at Uni! Definitely a win-win for us!