Orlando but No WDW? Can I Do It?

[mm6mm6]

A bit of history:

DW, DD6 and me (DH) drove to WDW in June 2001 for our first family vacation and our first trip to WDW. Total newbies!
Loved every split second of it! Stayed at the CBR and hit every park and TL.

Part two was August 2002 when we returned (DD now 7 years old) and stayed at the CSR. We did everything we missed the year before and still had a glorious time. Then we went to Disney's Vero Beach and fell in love with the resort on the ocean!

This year: After initially figuring on a non-Florida vacation, we could think of nothing we would rather do. But we decided on the following itinerary - Radisson Twin Towers for three nights, Discovery Cove on day 1, SeaWorld on days 2 and 3. Then the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Studios for three nights, Universal Studios on day 4, Islands of Adventure on day 5.

Then a free day on day 6. Day 7 sees us relax until after lunch and then drive again to Disney's Vero Beach (we can't stay away!) for four more glorious nights.

Do you see the problem? No WDW on the schedule. Four Day Park Hopper Plus tickets and three plus features still on our tickets from last year. We were saving them for a future (a few more years when DD is around 10 or 11 or 12) WDW stay for seven days.

We'll be so close to WDW! On that free day we could at least go to Typhoon Lagoon right? I dunno if I can stay away. I feel like a traitor going to Universal and staying at the RPR anyway.

You must understand that we have matching Disney outfits, tshirts, caps, and we decorated our home kitchen in Disney!

Will we enjoy Universal? At least I can come back on these boards and compare and know from where I am speaking, right?

 

[Sarahsmom85]

Not all Orlando is Disney. We are planning 15 days and we have tickets for Universal and maybe we will do Seaworld, thanks to the dam commericals my DH has been watching. We love Universal. My advise is go and have a great time no matter where you go.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Hey your next trip almost mirrors ours! We are going in August we went the last 3 Augusts and it is just so hot and humid every year I say never again. Then my twins start talking about going for thier Birthday so we end up planning our trip. Last year there were really long lines and we did not get much done. So being as we just went in December, we too are only doing Universal and Sea World this time.
Our itinerary goes somthing like this....

4 nights Hard Rock Hotel, a 5 day 2 park pass for Universal. My hope is that the combination of being able to walk in and out of the parks,The front of the line access, and a cabanna day will make for a relaxing vacation! No rental cars, no buses or trams, and the kids still get to got to a theme park.

Then we move over to The Seaworld Rennasaince(SP) for 2 nights length of stay passes for Seaworld included, and a dinner with Shamu. Again walking over to the property.

I will not go over to Disney property (however my kids have been 4 times this year) If this works out well for us I will chnge my travel style and always do Disney in December and Universal and Seaworld in August! Lets hope it works!

 

[vald1977]

Universal is great! I've never been to Seaworld but have heard good things about it. I think you'll have a wonderful vacation as planned. You always have the option of using one of your plus options if you really can't stay away and you could always do Downtown Disney one night too. Have a great trip.

 

[Mom2Madi]

WOW ! Us too! I am a Disney/WDW fanatic! However, My DH said that Orlando is a big place and there are so many other things to do/places to go! So, the plan was for us to go down at the end of June - check into the timeshare and do Universal/IOA - Discovery Cove and Sea World - no DISNEY!

Well, I couldn't let that happen! I booked us two nights at POP before the timeshare and told DD (who is 5) that she could "pick a park" to do before the other vacation starts! Whew.... I've also planned some PS's at resort restaurants and shopping at DTD - and some time at DisQuest for DH and DD - plus a boat ride! I just couldn't be that close and not see Mickey!!

 

[exwdwcm]

It's hard not to do disney while there.....but let me tell you, i regret missing out on so much other stuff.

I lived there for a semester back in 1996 while doing the WDW college program. I was such a disney freak that I spent most of my off days there.......I spent a little time downtown etc., but I never went to Universal, Seaworld, the beach, NASA or anything.....I did visit some outlet malls, but that was it. there was so much more I should have seen and totally regret not doing. Disney will always be there. Perhaps get your taste by at least doing some shopping DTD and maybe doing dinner at one of the resorts!! When I was down there last year on business, i didn't have time to go to the parks, but I still managed to get in some shopping and resort hopping!! hope you have a blast!!

 

[Lexxiefern]

I am sure you will have a great time. I really enjoy Universal. We stayed at Portofino Bay in October and had a wonderful time.

The only thing I see on your plan is days 2 and 3 for seaworld. We did one day of seaworld in October and that was plenty - I can't imagine spending 2 days (especially in a row) there. But that is just me!!!!

Have a great trip!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

When we went on Aug 23 we went to Seaworld our first day (Im a big marine animal enthusiast) my Godfather as part of our Honeymoon gift hooked us up with "swim with False Killer Whale Program" It was AWESOME you have to make reservations well in advance, they really limit the amount of people who get to meet the whales.
We were the next people in line to get on the Kracken when a T-Storm rolled in....we waited an hour before we could ride it!! Its the fastest roller coaster, but a short ride, but very fun.
Dine with Shamu, another one you need to make reservations for is good. Dont miss the ride Antartica directly across from the Shamu entrance, thats fun too, and cool- even in line you can feel the A/C. If you do the swim with....you get a free lunch voucher and a free t-shirt.
Seaworld shops have lots of promos. Like "buy 2 T-shirts, get this special Killer whale one free"

Universal we hit on our 4th or 5th day and it was fabulous, the Suess area is not to be missed! Their fastpass system is far inferior to Disney, so if you want Spyderman go directly there, as well as The Hulk ride. Dualing Dragons is SO GREAT!!!!!
I liked getting around the park, its set up is very easy to manuver around, it seems fairly circular to me.
Just be aware if there are items in the Suess area, or genre specific area, buy it then, because otherwise you will have to go back to that area if you really want it.

We went for just the one day, I really liked it and was not expecting to.

Ill always remember this 20ft tall character looking down at me while I was sitting at an outside table, I had an Eyore-face stuffed animal backpack resting on top of the table....she stopped on her stilts looked down and said..."Oh my!!You've beheaded Eyore!!!! Oh the Horror!!!"
It was pretty funny and a good day.
Hint: Long lines at Spiderman Ride and Universal (unlike Disney)does not have fans blowing on you to keep you cool, I felt like a steaming lobster!!!
But Have Fun!!!