Opinion on Universal and Island of Adventure

[jenniferm]

If you aren't staying onsite or buying their express pass, then get there right when they open. The express pass machines were not working when we went so the wait times were long at the rides when we went to Universal Studios at 10:30. IOA, we got there closer to 9am and we rode Spiderman 3 times in a row with little wait. Beating the crowds makes a HUGE difference.

I don't remember if you'll have kids with you or how they are, but US and IOA are geared more towards older kids. There wasn't a whole lot that my 7 and 5 year olds could ride. Only one roller coaster at each park that I remember (Flying Unicorn and Woody Woodpecker) and neither one of them was as good as Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mtn RR. They were meant more little kids. They were still fun, but not big thrills.

We went to all 4 disney parks, IOA and US and the best ride was SpiderMan at IOA. That ride was amazing and if that was the only ride we got to ride on, it would have been worth the price of admission because it was that spectacular. Shrek 4D and Twister at US were great and well done, and Seuss Landing was fun at IOA. I wish there were more rides in Seuss Landing, but the ones they had were fun and the theming of SL was truly wonderful.

I guess there actually was one more roller coaster that my 7 year old could go on at US but we didn't do it since my 5 yo couldn't go. That was Mummy, which I have heard great things about. We usually have one of us go with our 7 year old and then the other goes with the 5 yo on a different ride, but there weren't any rides that didn't have a long wait time nearby so we opted not to do it.

 

[nhpooh]

Thanks to all who answered my post. Now my decision has become even more difficult now trying to decide what universal hotel to try.

If it was me I would try Royal Pacific, I have stayed at Portofino Bay it was lovely. But PB is more for grownups where as Royal Pacific the kids would really like. The price is lower too. Have fun.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Phantom, We had to use the locker for Jimmy Neutron- mild kid's ride? Anyway, maybe I was having a bad day, obviously people like the park or they wouldn't have enough business. Just my impression that day, like I said.

Maybe I love the mouse too much?

 

[phamton]

Phantom, We had to use the locker for Jimmy Neutron- mild kid's ride?

Maybe for a large backpack but not for a purse.

I love Disney also and have a PAP there also.

 

[All Aboard]

Another WDW PAP holder here that also finds UO to be absolutely fantastic. I never get the feeling that they are "trying to be Disney". Instead, I think they have created many attractions that are just as sophisticated and story-rich as what Disney has done. And for theming, I'd say that the theming of the Lost Continent and Jurassic Park are about as good as anything I've experienced at Disney parks with the exception of New Orleans Square. Not necessarily better, but on par.

The chief difference between Universal parks and Disney parks is that the Universal parks lack a lot of the emotionaly attached charm many people get at Disney.

There is no equivalent to Mickey Mouse or Cinderella. Nothing that really brings a tear to the eye. But, Universal more than makes up for that in high energy entertainment.

I can't imagine not having an annual pass to Universal Orlando.

 

[ChrisFL]

Another WDW PAP holder here that also finds UO to be absolutely fantastic. I never get the feeling that they are "trying to be Disney". Instead, I think they have created many attractions that are just as sophisticated and story-rich as what Disney has done. And for theming, I'd say that the theming of the Lost Continent and Jurassic Park are about as good as anything I've experienced at Disney parks with the exception of New Orleans Square. Not necessarily better, but on par.

The chief difference between Universal parks and Disney parks is that the Universal parks lack a lot of the emotionaly attached charm many people get at Disney.

There is no equivalent to Mickey Mouse or Cinderella. Nothing that really brings a tear to the eye. But, Universal more than makes up for that in high energy entertainment.

I can't imagine not having an annual pass to Universal Orlando.

that about sums up my feelings for it right there!

 

[Meagansmom]

We always do both parks also. Highly recommend staying on site!!!

 

[phamton]

The chief difference between Universal parks and Disney parks is that the Universal parks lack a lot of the emotionaly attached charm many people get at Disney.

There is no equivalent to Mickey Mouse or Cinderella. Nothing that really brings a tear to the eye.

Oh I totally agree--I still get teary-eyed during Fantasmic and Wishes. But honestly Mickey is our childhood. Spongebob and Nick characters are our children's memories. My kids just never had the attraction to the Disney characters as I did. I grew up watching the Wonderful World of Disney. My kids grew up watching Rugrats.

I watch the kids at Universal squeal with excitement when Spongebob, Jimmy Neutron, Dora the Explorer, and other Nick characters come out. I expect that if Mickey and Spongebob walked out at the same time, most of the kids would go running to Spongebob. Maybe not your kids or mine because we created memories with our kids at Disneyworld, but for the average tourist, their kids find magic in the Nick characters.

I can take Spongebob or leave him but I have to see Snow White and Cinderella because I grew up with those fairytales.

 

[micksterlee]

I love Disney as well as Universal and I think where a lot of people make the big mistake is they try to compare the experiences. Both are great but but different.I think a week at Universal onsite is much more laid back and relaxing, I have time to see the parks at my leisure, enjoy City Walk and kick back at the resort. I also enjoy hitting WDW like a commando for a week.

 

[macraven]

i can tell you this, if you go past the hour limitation on the "free" lockers, you stil don 't have to pay the $2 to open them up.

last october i placed my belly bag and a merch bag in the locker for the mummy. after i got off that ride, i went to see the blues brothers out door performance.

an hour after that, i realized i didn't have my stuff ............i was going to make a phone call and thought, holy cow, my cell phone is in my bag !!

i raced back to the lockers and told the attendant, yea, i know its been over 2 hours since i put my belongings in the locker, but i got caught up in having fun and forgot about it.

of course my money was in the bag that was in the locker.
the sweet employee told me, no sweat, i'll open it, and there is no charge for the locker. just continue having fun.

just another super star employee at the park helping out a guest there.

so for those that think you have to pay if you over extend your time limit on the lockers, you don't ...see an employee that is in that area for help.

 

[yaytezIOA]

I think thats one thing that both parks stepped away from, and UO seemed to step back to it a lot quicker, the customer service. You used to go to WDW and get treated like gold, now you're just a tourist. UO, to me anyway, treated you like you belong...they went away from that for a while, but everytime I go back I see it going back more and more to how it should be. They just to me seem to make you feel more at home then disney does. Again, thats just an opinion.