Props to Universal

[IndyPrincess]

After just getting back from 5 days at Disney I have to say my next several trips will be BACK to Universal! At this point I think Universal has really surpassed Disney in many ways. The ONLY leg up Disney has IMO at this point is just more parks, but the rides, crowd control, fast pass system, even a lot of the actual theming is just way superior at Universal at this point.

This was my first trip to Disney in about 10 years, previously I had done Universal several times in the last several years. I was pretty disappointed in Disney. Dinosaur was way inferior to Jurassic Park IMO. The Safari and Expedition Everest were quality rides, but that was about it out of Animal Kingdom. I would do Dinosaur again, but compared to Jurassic Park, it felt pretty rinky dink.

The new area at Magic Kingdom was themed well, you could almost sense they had in mind Universal as their competition in the designing of the area. It is well done, but the 7 dwarfs mine train and the Mermaid ride were both really inferior to Universal, by a LONG shot IMO.

About the only thing going for Disney at this point is it is a little more child friendly and geared towards little girls, which I have a 7 year old girl. So she loved it. But all in all I was a little disappointed. Didn't feel near the magic that I do at Universal AND I HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE NEW HARRY POTTER STUFF YET!!! Next few years will definitely be back to Universal and staying on site.

ALSO BIG NOTE HERE. The Disney Fast Pass system IMO is a total joke and not even worth doing. I realize this has probably been said a million times on here but it is true. When we got to Epcot one day, we were told there were none left for the main 3 rides we wanted to do OK. And I will NEVER EVER Go back to Disney when school is out. The crowd levels were insane. At least with Universal when you stay onsite, their REAL fast pass system really allows you to manage the crowds. Posting this here because I did not want to post anything negative as a trip report on the Disney side. But Disney is still the 2nd best park in the world, Universal really is No. 1 at this point IMO.

 

[sydneysmom]

reading your review makes me feel SO much better that we made the decision to skip Disney entirely and only do Universal for our next trip. We've never been to Universal, so this was a HUGE decision for us to pass on Disney.... We're big Disney fans, but to be honest, the crowds and lines are what got to us. Plus, with all that's new at Universal, it's a brand new vacation for us. And how can I pass up all things Harry Potter!!!! So everything you said about the rides being better and crowd control being better just confirms it. Great review and thank you for sharing!!!

 

[IndyPrincess]

reading your review makes me feel SO much better that we made the decision to skip Disney entirely and only do Universal for our next trip. We've never been to Universal, so this was a HUGE decision for us to pass on Disney.... We're big Disney fans, but to be honest, the crowds and lines are what got to us. Plus, with all that's new at Universal, it's a brand new vacation for us. And how can I pass up all things Harry Potter!!!! So everything you said about the rides being better and crowd control being better just confirms it. Great review and thank you for sharing!!!

You will be totally blown away with your first trip to Universal. Disney people have tried to label it a Thrill Ride Park, but nothing could be further from the truth. The theming in not just the rides but the entire park/architecture etc., is definitely better at Universal. I left Disney thinking the ONLY think it had to compare to Universal was Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Cinderellas Castle, a few things at Animal Kingdom and the whole AK park, but other than that, there is almost no comparison.

Make sure you stay onsite, big perk there with your room key acts as a real fast pass (you don't have to schedule times, just walk up) on all but a few of the new rides.

You will feel the magic X 10 at Universal, its very magical and beautiful. Plus the whole layout with staying onsite and being able to walk or take a quick boat trip to all of the parks is amazing. You will be hooked once you go TRUST ME! I can't even imagine trying to go to Disney in a peak time, that sounds like a complete nightmare to me. We were there the 2nd week of June and the total peak hadn't hit just yet, it was probably 65% peak, but even still the crowds were crazy.

 

[sydneysmom]

You will be totally blown away with your first trip to Universal. Disney people have tried to label it a Thrill Ride Park, but nothing could be further from the truth. The theming in not just the rides but the entire park/architecture etc., is definitely better at Universal. I left Disney thinking the ONLY think it had to compare to Universal was Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Cinderellas Castle, a few things at Animal Kingdom and the whole AK park, but other than that, there is almost no comparison.

Make sure you stay onsite, big perk there with your room key acts as a real fast pass (you don't have to schedule times, just walk up) on all but a few of the new rides.

You will feel the magic X 10 at Universal, its very magical and beautiful. Plus the whole layout with staying onsite and being able to walk or take a quick boat trip to all of the parks is amazing. You will be hooked once you go TRUST ME! I can't even imagine trying to go to Disney in a peak time, that sounds like a complete nightmare to me. We were there the 2nd week of June and the total peak hadn't hit just yet, it was probably 65% peak, but even still the crowds were crazy.

That's exactly when we were at Disney too and the crowds were crazy.... my husband just had the worst time. So when I told him about the "skip the line" perk, he was like "sign me up!!". We're definitely staying on-site... we can't decide between Portofino and Royal Pacific.... it's a hard decision.

I'm so excited to go now!!!! You can tell how much you loved it.... that's totally so awesome!!! Did you go to City Walk at all for dinners or eat at the resorts? Looking at all the pictures, it's just crazy how detailed everything looks....the whole Harry Potter area blows me away.

We went on YouTube the other night to look at the rides.... if my husband could have jumped through the screen onto the rides, he would have... the man is so flippin' excited about the coasters. I'm more excited now than ever!!

 

[macraven]

glad to read you enjoyed your trip to the darkside!

it sure is a fantastic place to vacation.


i hear you on the fast pass + at the motherland.
when i was there in january, even using the mobile app was not good.
system was down more than up to help us.

i do both parks on my visit to orlando.
the motherland might have the pixie dust but the dark side has mummy dust.

hope you get to do a repeat and enjoy the parks again in the future.

 

[PrincessJo]

I agree with everything you said 100%. Very well put!

We had already booked our Universal vacation when DS said he wanted to go on a cruise for his 18th b-day in November. That's the only reason Disney is on our itinerary. We weren't planning on going back any time soon.

Our main focus now is WWOHP!! We can't WAIT!

Thanks for posting your thoughts

 

[IndyPrincess]

That's exactly when we were at Disney too and the crowds were crazy.... my husband just had the worst time. So when I told him about the "skip the line" perk, he was like "sign me up!!". We're definitely staying on-site... we can't decide between Portofino and Royal Pacific.... it's a hard decision.

I'm so excited to go now!!!! You can tell how much you loved it.... that's totally so awesome!!! Did you go to City Walk at all for dinners or eat at the resorts? Looking at all the pictures, it's just crazy how detailed everything looks....the whole Harry Potter area blows me away.

We went on YouTube the other night to look at the rides.... if my husband could have jumped through the screen onto the rides, he would have... the man is so flippin' excited about the coasters. I'm more excited now than ever!!

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts.

On Royal Pacific vs. Portifino, they are both very different 2 different themes, (I've stayed at both) usually do RP just because its cheaper and I do love the Tropic Pacific theme there probably a little more than the Portifino, but the P has several things going for it over and above RP, the rooms are very high class and luxurious, better bathrooms AND you can get a balcony room at the P and see fireworks, the lighthouse etc., from your balcony very amazing magical view. (Be sure to request a balcony room) Plus the P has a little better pool area IMO with a castle slide and waterfalls coming off the slide. The P is very elegant, you feel like you are in world class hotel there, and the RP too, just not quite as luxurious. But you can not go wrong either way at all. The Pacific theme at the RP is very cool.

City Walk is a great area, Jimmy Buffetts is my go to place to eat there although its obviously not fine dining. But probably the best place to eat in Universal IMO is Mythos inside IOA, very magical theming and a great menu in that restaurant. Mythos and that whole area at IOA the Lost Continent IMO is the best themed area for any park anywhere period, its awesome.

 

[mrsabbott]

Our whole family fell in love with Mythos.. Probably my favorite restaurant in the world!

 

[Tres Vegas]

been to WDW 2009 and 2012 and loved it but the difference in 2012 is we hit Both Universal and Islands for the first time.....next trip for my family is back to Universal and especially Islands of Adventure. The magic at WDW is not what is expected these days plus the crowds, pass mess and other issues we noticed my two boys (today ages 12/14) enjoyed Islands so much better on our last trip to Florida. we will return to Florida some day but specifically for Islands and then take a drive to Tampa to check out Bush Gardens to see what they have to offer. WDW is cool but for what is paid they are missing something that used to feel more magical in the past.
my .02

 

[TeacherDL]

I'm very glad to read this. We are going to do other things in Orlando for our next trip (besides Disney). My youngest daughter is a huge Harry Potter fan. We are renting a condo. I hope we can still enjoy Universal for a couple of days!

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[ChristaDeVil]

So glad to read this. We have been to WDW for the past 6 years and are doing Universal this year instead. I went in 93, my husband in 2001, and my son has never been, so this is huge for us. So excited! We will be there in 14 days.

 

[disney is my life]

Add me to the list of people that are glad to read this! We recently decided that both of our Disney trips for next year are now going to be split between Disney and Universal . After seeing Diagon Alley I am truly amazed. DD16 and I LOVE Harry Potter and while Hogsmeade wasn't enough to drive us to Universal Diagon Alley sure is! I'm also really looking forward to staying onsite with unlimited Express Passes!
Thanks for posting this!

 

[IndyPrincess]

Add me to the list of people that are glad to read this! We recently decided that both of our Disney trips for next year are now going to be split between Disney and Universal . After seeing Diagon Alley I am truly amazed. DD16 and I LOVE Harry Potter and while Hogsmeade wasn't enough to drive us to Universal Diagon Alley sure is! I'm also really looking forward to staying onsite with unlimited Express Passes!
Thanks for posting this!

And keep in mind, I have not been to Universal since 2009, so my last visit was BEFORE the Harry Potter stuff! And actually several other of their new rides like Transformers, the new tall roller coaster etc., so it is no doubt even more amazing now. Point is Universal and Islands were terrific even before HP, so you can multiply this by 10 at this point! I have no doubt you all will be hooked after seeing how amazing it has become. I know people that haven't been since they created Islands of Adventure, so with the addition of that Park, it is a totally new ball game now, and even more so with HP.

 

[schumigirl]

And keep in mind, I have not been to Universal since 2009, so my last visit was BEFORE the Harry Potter stuff! And actually several other of their new rides like Transformers, the new tall roller coaster etc., so it is no doubt even more amazing now. Point is Universal and Islands were terrific even before HP, so you can multiply this by 10 at this point! I have no doubt you all will be hooked after seeing how amazing it has become. I know people that haven't been since they created Islands of Adventure, so with the addition of that Park, it is a totally new ball game now, and even more so with HP.

Glad you had such a good time and came back to tell us.......we love hearing how much people enjoy Universal........it's such an amazing place

 

[bumbershoot]

The new area at Magic Kingdom was themed well, you could almost sense they had in mind Universal as their competition in the designing of the area.

Yes. I agree.

Of course, if you saw that part of WDW first and THEN saw Universal, you would want to think the opposite. Until you realized the timing of everything.

DCA's (in Anaheim) new entrance and theming opened after we started visiting Universal Florida, and the first thing we thought when we walked into DCA after the new stuff was done was "I think we're at Universal". It was like Port of Entry and also like that Hollywood-ish area in the Studios. Lovely, for sure. But not original.