Sad to be planning a WDW and Harry Potter trip...

[Amommy21]

Just spent a few minutes on the WDW and Universal boards... We are planning a trip in Feb and I needed to commiserate with people who would understand. Honestly, any bit of excitement it quickly squashed thinking about our uncomplicated, relaxing Disneyland vacations!

DH wants to take our little boy to WDW one more time while he is still a child and of course they both just have to go to Harry Potter at Universal. We have been to WDW once when he was a toddler and I am sure he doesn't remember.

I admit I have a total panic attack the first day. I didn't realize there were totally separate parks and I just kept thinking "There is no way we can do it all!" I don't mind leaving most of the planning up to DH, but I just remember being beyong exhausted every day... bigger isn't always better I always say!

 

[scion5220]

If it makes you feel any better just know that people who are used to WDW think it's just as stressful to plan a trip to DLR!

 

[kmedina]

I am a super planner when it comes to WDW and only make simple dining reservations when it comes to Disneyland. WDW has so much to offer, so it is impossible to do it all in one trip (even if it a really long one). It complicates matters even more when you leave for other destinations like Universal.

Rather than focusing on doing it all, you should list out your must dos and focus on them. Anything extra is just icing on the cake. We have always wanted to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter but have agreed that we will wait until our kids are older. They are 4 1/2 and less than 2 mos now. There is not a lot to do there with small kids. One day, I will be very excited to go there. We just saw the most recent movie, so I am more excited than ever to see the park. I bet you will love it there.

While I agree that WDW takes more effort and thus is more tiring in the planning and of course the actual trip, I still enjoy it far more than Disneyland. It is so much cheaper for us to go to Disneyland, so we make it there far more often than WDW. I would rather take a cheaper trip to Disneyland than no trip at all. You will be exhausted, but you will have a great time! Don't worry and have fun.

 

[HydroGuy]

If it makes you feel any better just know that people who are used to WDW think it's just as stressful to plan a trip to DLR!

LOL, but WDW vets are stressed about things like not being able to choose six months in advance which parks on which days and which restaurants at which times...

 

[mrswh]

I'll commiserate with you! My DD (7) is DYING to go to HP World. We have been to both WDW and DLR several times, and I love them both, but when I think about going back to WDW, I do dread the hassle of it. We have stayed at the GCH the last two DLR trips and it is going to be rough staying anywhere at WDW - there is no hotel where you can roll out of bed 10 minutes before park opening! We usually stay in a condo at WDW and though it is one mile from Disney (the Disney gates, I guess), it takes a good 40 minutes to MK door to door by the time we drive, park, tram, and monorail. Ugh.

But - look on the bright side! Cinderella's castle is breathtaking. There are tons more dining options. And when it's crowded at WDW, it's not as painful as it is at DLR, where you can literally be at a standstill trying to get from one place to another. Oh, and FPs for TSMM! (If you don't get creamed trying to get there before they run out, of course.)

I'm sure it will be fun, just in a different way. That's what I'm telling myself for when I have to plan the inevitable.

 

[kmedina]

LOL, but WDW vets are stressed about things like not being able to choose six months in advance which parks on which days and which restaurants at which times...

Tell me about it. I got up just before 3am (West Coast time) to book my dining reservations on the 180th day and their Internet system was not working, so I had to wait until 4am when the phone lines opened up. I was in the middle of booking when my cell phone dropped the call and had to call back and rebook the ones she did not save. (She said it was easier to book a lot at one and save them at the end. Not true if the call is lost). Since my check in date is December 1st, the December calendar was not available until two days before I was able to call. It is not as easy to hop, so I need to know the park schedules before I can book dining. At DLR, it is so easy to hop that you can easily hop back and forth for meals.

Then I got up just before 4am on 07-26-11 for a candlelight processional package. I did not get an agennt until 5:20am. That was an hour and 20 minutes on hold (and I am glad I did it, because myy preferred restaurant is all booked now).

Despite the December dessert party times appearing online, they have not even opened them up yet according to the phone reps. That means I have to do it again when they open.

You can usually call 2 weeks before your DLR trip and get a decent reservation time to almost any restaurant. Got a World of Color package in less than a week's notice and ate at The Blue Bayou in two days notice. It is not the same as WDW where you need almost the entire 180 days to eat at CRT or Le Cellier.

 

[disneydenisel]

We live here on the West Coast and have loved our trips to WDW ! Being a Disneyland fan since I was born , I thought it was going to be too big and hot and overwhelming to go to Orlando, but it was actually relaxing and we LOVE it there, too .

Our vacations are usually pretty simple though, no ADRs and no rope drops. We always stay onsite at one of the DVC villas with full kitchens. Groceries get delivered, and we are good for breakfast and snacks, usually. The Magical Express picks us up, so no car rental or parking hassles. The buses take us to whatever park we want to go to. The GREAT thing about being from the West Coast is that we can stay at the parks every night that they are open late because we are wide awake! One time I was riding Big Thunder at 1:20 AM! At DLR, we are really tired by 10..... Because we can stay up late in Orlando, we never rush to get out early in the morning, so usually wander into the parks late morning/early afternoon.

Since we are trying to go back to WDW every other year, we don't try to cram too much into our week there. Maybe the OP can just stay onsite and not go anywhere else like Universal or Harry Potter?

We were at DLR in June for the first time in seven years. I was nervous about those parks since it had been so long, and I was freaked out after reading the WOC thread . But it all turned out great and we will go back there next June (or whenever Carsland is open).

I hope you can find a way to make your WDW trip relaxing!

 

[HydroGuy]

You can usually call 2 weeks before your DLR trip and get a decent reservation time to almost any restaurant. Got a World of Color package in less than a week's notice and ate at The Blue Bayou in two days notice. It is not the same as WDW where you need almost the entire 180 days to eat at CRT or Le Cellier.

FWIW, we are at DLR this week with a smaller crew than normal. Usually we have 4-6 but this week it is just me and DS16. So parties of two are of course easier.

Even so, we were able to call on Monday afternoon (while in route to the airport in Denver BTW) to get a Tuesday WOC dining package at AG for the early show. I would have preferred 6PM but could only get 5:30PM. No big deal.

On Tuesday morning at 11AM we got a walkup res at Cafe Orleans for noon. This morning I got a BTRBBQ res for 5PM tonight. And on Tuesday I got a BB res for lunch at 11:40 o Thursday.

While some WDW vets get stressed about not being to make dining reservations earlier, it is really so much easier than WDW. Although the online ADR's at WDW are so much easier than the old over-the-phone approach.

 

[skiingfast]

It's so easy to get to WDW. Hop off the plane and onto Magic Express. All for free Magic Express will take you to your resort and you bags right to your room.


But how to get from your resort to IOA, or Universal if you prefer. Hmmm, better tread through the Mears website and decide if cab or shuttle bus is better.

 

[vettegirl]

Don't stress . The new Harry Potter world is amazing!

 

[mrswh]

Don't stress . The new Harry Potter world is amazing!

How is it for younger kids? My DD just turned 7. I (the meanest mother in the world) have only allowed her to read books 1 and 2 and see the first movie. Is HP World more of the dark side or the fun magical side? She likes BTMRR, Matterhorn, GRR, etc., but not Space (too dark) or Indy (too scary) - would there be enough rides/attractions there for her or would it be better to wait a couple of years?

 

[disneymom0104]

If it makes you feel any better just know that people who are used to WDW think it's just as stressful to plan a trip to DLR!

I'm one of them! I can plan a WDW trip and touring plan with my eyes closed- but the DLR stuff is much more nerve wracking to me. I haven't been to DLR as an adult with a family (and it was pre DCA) so I think it is just fear of the unknown. I am hopeful that when we get there it will be a walk in the park

You will love WDW and I have not been to Harry Potter world but everyone I know that has been says it is absolutely AMAZING!

 

[oc_tony]

How is it for younger kids? My DD just turned 7. I (the meanest mother in the world) have only allowed her to read books 1 and 2 and see the first movie. Is HP World more of the dark side or the fun magical side? She likes BTMRR, Matterhorn, GRR, etc., but not Space (too dark) or Indy (too scary) - would there be enough rides/attractions there for her or would it be better to wait a couple of years?

DW here . When we went to WDW last Christmastime, I took DS9 to IoA to see WWoHP. He and I had both read all of the books and seen the movies, so we were very excited. We had a rental car, so getting there was a breeze.

The WWoHP land itself is very kid-friendly with fun shopping, street performers, Olivanders, Butterbeer, Three Broomsticks restaurant, and lots to look at. However, there are only 3 rides and two of them are pretty intense for young ones. There's a kiddie coaster, a big coaster, and the Forbidden Journey ride (which is in Hogwarts castle). Even if you do not ride FJ, you can still go through the queue, which is fantastic. We skipped the big coaster, but thoroughly enjoyed FJ (twice). We loved our visit to WWoHP.

 

[bumbershoot]

For me, the (relative) hardship of a WDW/Uni trip is that it means we can't go to Disneyland for a longer amount of time.

I'll commiserate with you! My DD (7) is DYING to go to HP World. We have been to both WDW and DLR several times, and I love them both, but when I think about going back to WDW, I do dread the hassle of it.

FWIW, you *could* just plan a Universal trip. Stay onsite there, get the great benefits of it, just focus on Uni. In our opinion it's worth it, and while our first and upcoming second trips include both, we definitely sense a Uni-only trip (more than one!) in our future.


And remember, Wizarding World of Harry Potter is only a *small* part of ONE of their two parks. There is SO much more to see and enjoy at Universal than HP.

How is it for younger kids? My DD just turned 7. I (the meanest mother in the world) have only allowed her to read books 1 and 2 and see the first movie. Is HP World more of the dark side or the fun magical side? She likes BTMRR, Matterhorn, GRR, etc., but not Space (too dark) or Indy (too scary) - would there be enough rides/attractions there for her or would it be better to wait a couple of years?

I would at least introduce stuff about #3 for WW. If she rides Forbidden Journey she'll want the concept of Dementors. I *think* the acromantulas are in #2; those are in FJ as well.

DS at 6.5 just loved BEING in WW, even though he only walked through FJ's line (he was scared to ride, but wants to ride in September) and didn't ride Dragon Challenge. He *loved* Flight of the Hippogrif and rode it, literally, 14 times in a row one morning.

But he also loved the *rest* of the two parks. Jurassic Park? INCREDIBLE! We were there, the day of the 14 FotH rides, on THE DAY, at THE moment, that they opened Triceratops Trail for the first time since Katrina, where you got to see a "real" Triceratops up close and personal, along with a baby one being carried...wow was that cool! Marvel Island was great, all of Universal park was great... We didn't even ride the "big" rides, apart from me going on Forbidden Journey and us going on Spiderman, but we had a GREAT time.

 

[Amommy21]

Well, our son will be 10 by february.. so perfect time for Harry Potter! He has read up to #4 and seen those movies. We had a special Harry Potter Birthday last year (PM me if you want details - best party i have ever thrown.. a special session of hoggwarts, tons of fun!)

Plus DH and DS are total ners and want to see the marvel land too.. to one day at Universal won't kill us and will make us love Disney more! LOL! (kinda like the one day we spent at Legoland... never need to do that again! LOL!)

ANyway, we are planning to stay at the Beach Club Resort, which is central, has a great pool... But yeah, reservations for dinner 6 months ahead? We don't even know park times and haven't bought our flights! SOOO agrivating. I like that you can just show up as DIsneyland. FOr us because we go every year there is VERY LITTLE planning!

We do get a ONE DAY QUICKIE at Disneyland in January, the month before.. so that will be a fun warm up. Thanks for comiserating with me... I hate to complain to anyone that doesn't get it! I just want a relaxing trip and WDW is just such a massive excursion. I know it will be great for DS am excited he will have an awesome trip!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I agree with Bumbershoot in considering a week long Universal vacation, stay onsite, and it is completely hassle free. Walk to both parks, and fastpass for every ride. We have spent new years and Thanksgiving week there different years, it was great even during those busy times. The Hard Rock hotel ROCKS, best pool ever.