My New Disney Touring Strategy

[clsteve]

Yes, this was the part that was the best part. Staying there was actually...relaxing. Since we we were onsite, we could go over whenever and then because of Express Pass, we could do what we wanted, when we wanted. The fact that the hotel was very nice was the final part that swayed me (the food at the hotel was very good too).

This! Add in the pool-hopping which the kids really enjoyed. PBH is a true Deluxe, no doubt.

We'll be using your exact strategy this November(and it's a valid strategy for you to post here IMHO). For us, Hopefully 4-5 days Universal, with 2 days WDW Parks and 1 day WDW water park. The funny thing is- I'm the one pushing for the WDW days, the kids and DW would be fine with Universal-only; especially with DA opening.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Thanks. We are very excited and looking forward to this new adventure! By the way, besides your hotel, did you have a chance to eat at any other places you could recommend?

We ate at Mythos twice for lunch, in IoA. So good and very cool-looking. It seemed a reservation helped there during busy days, but we were able to get them the night before.

 

[ArwenMarie]

This! Add in the pool-hopping which the kids really enjoyed. PBH is a true Deluxe, no doubt.

We'll be using your exact strategy this November(and it's a valid strategy for you to post here IMHO). For us, Hopefully 4-5 days Universal, with 2 days WDW Parks and 1 day WDW water park. The funny thing is- I'm the one pushing for the WDW days, the kids and DW would be fine with Universal-only; especially with DA opening.

That sounds like a nice long trip!

I think I am going to be the one pushing for the Disney days too.

 

[ArwenMarie]

This AND with FOTL you can go on favorites over and over again. Just can't do that at disney. My 7 and 9 year olds loved it , both said better than disney. As for my two year old, while she couldn't do a ton of rides, there were plenty of shows, character interactions, and playgrounds (water and dry) to keep her very happy. Nothing made her happier than riding cat in the hat about 15 times in a row with no wait. ,

Yep. We had one incident where one of the kids wanted to go on Spiderman so badly, but was having trouble working up the courage. Express Pass let us go on when they felt ready. And then when we got off and the same kid said, "I want to ride it again!" we could say Yes! and just go back on.

 

[clsteve]

Yep. We had one incident where one of the kids wanted to go on Spiderman so badly, but was having trouble working up the courage. Express Pass let us go on when they felt ready. And then when we got off and the same kid said, "I want to ride it again!" we could say Yes! and just go back on.

A good thing that rarely happens with kids, right......?

 

[mom2rtk]

A good thing that rarely happens with kids, right......?

I really think a lot of the folks so happy with FP+ either have no kids, have very young kids, or have kids who have left the nest.

 

[minniemous]

"I'm a Disney fan as are most of the people on this board. Sure, I hate FP+. But all I have to do is NOT USE IT! No one is forcing you to! I didn't see anyone complaining in 1998 before FPs were invented! FP+ is god awful. Just horrendous. But that is NO reason for me not to visit my favorite vacation spot. Or to give it the old heave ho. Sure, I'll visit Universal, but it'll probably be one day, every couple of years. It is definitely not worth an entire vacation. I work hard to save up money for a vacation. It's not going to be for some second rate theme park, who wishes they could have the same numbers as Disney.

"[/QUOTE]

HI, I am having a hard time understanding what everyone hates about the FP+.
I went this past November and we did not see any real problem with the new system.

I keep reading about people really disliking it and I am just trying to figure out exactly what it is that people do not like.

Obviously it has to do with the rides and getting fast passes. I have been to Disney 2 times in the last 4 years. We do not make it to rope drop. We simply picked the rides we wanted to go on and got a time and went. Mosts of the rides had little wait regardless. I am sure the time of year you visit Disney makes a huge difference.

Best I can understand people used to be able to get unlimited fast passes? We used fast passes in the old system but never really had any master plan just decided on that day we wanted to go on say space mountain and then we would pick up fast passes and do something else as we waited. I think perhaps it is really bad for people who previously had a really good system of accumulating many fast passes. Is this correct?

 

[Ofinn]

I totally get what you're saying. I think it's nice to feel at home in both parks. Disney and uni. There's no reason you can't love both or love some things about one and not the other. Glad you had a great experience like we did!

I'm another person that feels at home in both parks. We started visiting Orlando about 5 years ago and all of our trips have been a combo of Universal/WDW or WDW/DCL or Universal/DCL. We really enjoy both parks. My kids prefer Universal over WDW so I won't go to WDW unless I get a really good deal on a deluxe resort.

I've never understood why some Disney fans get so bent out of shape it you say anything positive about Universal.

 

[clsteve]

I really think a lot of the folks so happy with FP+ either have no kids, have very young kids, or have kids who have left the nest.

You better break out that flame suit, I sense incoming...!!

 

[3happydancers]

We ate at Mythos twice for lunch, in IoA. So good and very cool-looking. It seemed a reservation helped there during busy days, but we were able to get them the night before.

Thanks. We'll check it out!

Yep. We had one incident where one of the kids wanted to go on Spiderman so badly, but was having trouble working up the courage. Express Pass let us go on when they felt ready. And then when we got off and the same kid said, "I want to ride it again!" we could say Yes! and just go back on.

This! When my teenage finds a new ride she likes she does the same thing! I'm so excited she'll have that opportunity at US this year

 

[mom2rtk]

You better break out that flame suit, I sense incoming...!!

Are charred remains even flammable?

 

[Ofinn]

I really think a lot of the folks so happy with FP+ either have no kids, have very young kids, or have kids who have left the nest.

Or families like us that don't do a lot of rides. We show up at rope drop do the headliners a few second tier rides and were done by noon. We spend the rest of day at the pool, working out in the gym, playing in the arcade, dinner in Epcot. My kids are 10 and 11. Everyone has a different vacation style. I was happy with fP-. Not really sure what to think about fp+. We were testers last September and liked it. We shall see how I feel after the August trip.

 

[agavegirl1]

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.

 

[3happydancers]

Or families like us that don't do a lot of rides. We show up at rope drop do the headliners a few second tier rides and were done by noon. We spend the rest of day at the pool, working out in the gym, playing in the arcade, dinner in Epcot. My kids are 10 and 11. Everyone has a different vacation style. I was happy with fP-. Not really sure what to think about fp+. We were testers last September and liked it. We shall see how I feel after the August trip.

From your description on how your family enjoys the parks, you should be fine with FP+.

 

[clsteve]

Thanks. We'll check it out!

Try their Mediterranean Flatbread

If the new Mexican place on CityWalk is open by the time you go- it looks great!

 

[3happydancers]

Try their Mediterranean Flatbread

If the new Mexican place on CityWalk is open by the time you go- it looks great!

Thanks for the recommendations!!! I'll have to write these down (I'm part of the CRS group!)

 

[ArwenMarie]

I'm another person that feels at home in both parks. We started visiting Orlando about 5 years ago and all of our trips have been a combo of Universal/WDW or WDW/DCL or Universal/DCL. We really enjoy both parks. My kids prefer Universal over WDW so I won't go to WDW unless I get a really good deal on a deluxe resort.

I've never understood why some Disney fans get so bent out of shape it you say anything positive about Universal.

That's how I felt...that all six parks are equally awesome in their own way and I'm glad they are all there. Liking the hotel (and the cost!) more than the Disney deluxes we have stayed at, plus the Express Pass, was just the icing on the cake.

 

[glocon]

Though I am a WDW girl, my family prefers UO, so we have been splitting onsite at both venues. The feeling of Disney magic and memories keeps me wanting more, but we are "ride repeaters" and don't enjoy spending "quality family time" in long lines. I think that since we have done both WDW and UO numerous times, both have a "magical" quality to us, albeit different types of "magical" qualities. Staying onsite and not making it a one day trip makes a difference at UO. A big big big difference.

We love riding both mountains numerous times in a day, as well as Buzz. FP- helped make our trips better. I am going to hold out on WDW this year I think until I get a better feel for how the FP+ will be in October which is when we will be going. This trip will probably be a split UO/beach vacation for us.... but I can't wait to see the 7DMT..... maybe one night at MNSSHP.... where FP doesn't even matter....

Gotta make reservations, just holding off until I know how FP+ works during busier times.

 

[Ofinn]

That's how I felt...that all six parks are equally awesome in their own way and I'm glad they are all there. Liking the hotel (and the cost!) more than the Disney deluxes we have stayed at, plus the Express Pass, was just the icing on the cake.

Yeah cost is a big factor. We are have AP's at Universal. We weren't planning on going to WDW this year, but I got a good deal in August so we decided to go. We have been to WDW so many times I'm not going do spend a ton of money to go anymore. Been there done that.

It's so much easier to get a good hotel rate at Universal. Their rack rate is usually less than a Disney deluxe with the 35% off. We just stayed at RPR CL for 198.00 a night plus tax. You really can't beat that.

 

[oliviaik]

I LOVED Portofino Bay! I can see why someone would want to stay there and then travel over to Disney. The pool was awesome, and I am not really a person who likes to stay at the pool for long periods of time. It was kind of like a beach. The rooms were quite luxurious, the exterior was beautiful, the boat rides to the Universal parks were pleasant. It was nice. We liked having the FOTL passes because we could spend part of the day at the park and then go back to the pool as we pleased. We were quite relaxed and never rushed. I thinking adding Disney to the mix would have made things more stressful, but I love Disney so it probably would have been worth it.