Should we go to Universal or not ?

[cantwait!!!!!!!!!!!!]

First time taking the children to Florida next year they will be 11 and 7. The 11 year old will go on anything, the 7 year old wont go on big rollercoasters etc.

We are going for 14 days and have 14 day Disney passes, we want to go to Seaworld as I went 15 years ago and loved it but cant decide about universal.

If we do go whats the cheapest way to buy tickets just for a day in each.

Thank you to you very helpful people. Trying to plan so I can make our ADRs next month !

 

[jtlover]

The cheapest way that I have found is via their own website for $99 per adult for 14 days (I think it is that) for both parks.

There is plenty to do in both parks without going on the rollercoasters.

We dont go to Universal everytime but will be going again this year.

Have a look on their website for full details of the rides to work out whether you would want to go.

 

[torsie24]

Universal is a great day out, but don't feel like you have to do it jsut because "it's there" as I can promise you you won't miss it if you don't!

We just had a two week trip where we only left Disney property once (to go to Universal) and there is SO much to do at Disney we don't feel bad we didn't do Seaworld, Busch, Discovery Cove, Wet & Wild etc.

We just didn't see the point in buying more and more tickets when there was so much to enjoy at Disney that our tickets covered.

We are returning again in a year and aren't sure whether we'll go offsite at all!

 

[wayneg]

The cheapest way that I have found is via their own website for $99 per adult for 14 days (I think it is that) for both parks.

I had a quick look yesterday, couldn't see the 14 day tix only 7 day, maybe they have changed the offer.

See post#23 in this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2362482&page=2 I gave a few options for Universal tix.

Unfortunately a ticket for 1 day in each park is same price(or more) than a 7 or 14 day ticket.

 

[luke]

I'd say do it! But then we go on an 'Orlando holiday' rather than a ''Disney holiday', meaning we couldn't even think of not going to Universal/Sea World (and this year hopefully Busch)

 

[Lizzybear]

I would say, go if you want to but don't feel you will miss out if you don't... There is so much to do in WDW to fill 2 weeks. On our most recent WDW trip we only went to Universal for HHN and I have mixed feelings on whether that was worth it. Personally i'm not a fan of Seaworld or US/IOA (love Busch Gardens though) but I know many are

 

[PudseyChancer]

I'd say definitely go to Universal, it's great whether you go on the big rollercoasters or not, plus it has, in my opinion, got the best ride in Orlando, Spiderman. If you also take into account the Simpsons ride and the new Harry Potter attraction, there's a real compelling argument for going there.

I agree regarding Seaworld as I think it has a different allure to the Disney and Universal parks, but I'd say it's a missed opportunity to go all that way and not visit Universal.

 

[Kath2003]

YES.

It has ALWAYS been my favourite park (and I'm a recent rollercoaster convert - I rode The Hulk for the first time on my 8th trip to Universal last year!). It blows Disney out of the water in terms of its rides. Definitely go!

We now ONLY do Universal.

 

[disneycat_f2008]

we always go to universal/ioa/sea world when we go Florida even though we go mainly for Disney we like to mix it up a bit with a few other bits as well. We love Universal & there are rides there for everyone not just big rollercoasters

 

[natalielongstaff]

We skipped universal on our 1st trip and had a fab time, however having now been to US/IOA i wouldnt skip it now in fact i would skip a disney park in favour of universal

 

[wicket2005]

I would say go, we enjoy doing all if the parks and as Luke said we go on an Orlando holiday and not just a Disney one. We actually stay onsite at Universal and park hop round the 7 parks.

 

[jtlover]

We skipped universal on our 1st trip and had a fab time, however having now been to US/IOA i wouldnt skip it now in fact i would skip a disney park in favour of universal

Just shows you that we are all different, as I would rather skip universal or IOA than skip any Disney park

 

[wayneg]

Just shows you that we are all different, as I would rather skip universal or IOA than skip any Disney park

Wouldn't skip Universal parks but thats because we have AP's. Easter we are planning a non-Disney trip but then 4 months later in August we will be doing 20 days of DDP so mainly Disney that trip.

 

[torsie24]

Oh dear - this thread hasn't really done you any favours has it.

We go on a Disney holiday you see.

If WDW were in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no malls/seaworld/outlets/Universal aorund it then we'd still go and love it. But if Orlando had all the malls and other non-Disney parks and attractions then I doubt we'd ever go.

We go for Disney and anything is a plus that we might do if we have the time and want to leave Disney premises. But on our recent trip once we were offsite we were both saying things like "this isn't Disney", "Imiss being inside the Disney gates" at least once an hour!

Yay for Disney!!

 

[suzybear6]

We're going on our first trip as family in October. Our children will be 8 & 7 years old and niether DS or I go on big roller coasters , but from what I can see there are loads of characters at US/IOA that they would like to see so even if we don't go on many rides it will be worth it just to go and spend the day looking around and enjoying the atmosphere. We're not planning on spending more than a day in each US park, but can't go all the way to Florida without at least checking them out iyswim

Sorry can't be of much use with the tickets as I haven't really looked into them that much yet

Luv Suzy

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I would say go to Universal, there are plenty of attractions at both parks well worth seeing and you do not necessarily need to be a big fan of coasters.
It is a myth that there is nothing there for young children.

Our view on the holiday has always been that we are going to Florida, not going to Disney - there is so much to enjoy.
Everyone has their favourite parks it's just a matter of finding yours.

Universal's own website often has offers on and there is also a site called www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com which is good too.

 

[brightspark]

If your children were older I would say definately go. We took our neices and nephews ( 3 of them age 11+) and I think they missed out by not doing the bigger rides at Universal - but financially we couldn't stretch that far.

As yours are younger I don't think they will miss out on the big rides, and it is cheeper just to do WDW.

If this is your only trip then maybe do Universal, although then you get into the debate about also adding Islands of Adventure...

Personally I would choose Sea World over Universal - in my mind it is a more different day out. But then I love all things to do with water...

You will have fun whichever you decide. So be brave, make a decision and don't worry yourself about whether you've done the right thing or not!

 

[Ann B]

We don't do the big roller coasters either but we love going to Universal Studios. We are not such big fans of IoA though. There is very little in Universal Studios that we will not do - probably only the mummy. Everything else I think would be suitable for non roller coaster lovers!
HTH
Ann

 

[Pegasus928]

US and IOA both have very good childrens areas, so you should find something to suit all age groups.
As a family we have done a Florida trip without visiting Disney, doing just US and IOA and had just as good a time as if we had done Disney.
We also tend to find more that our DS likes at the Universal parks than there is at WDW.

 

[higgy66]

If it's going to be your only trip to Florida than I'd say go for it. However, if it's going to be the first of many then what's the rush? Enjoy Disney this time + Seaworld and then next time add Universal.

Last year we spent all 14 days at Disney and still didn't see everything - i.e all the parades and shows etc. As you've been before you know how big the parks are so you need to plan your days to allow for a comforatble pace and not "racing" round to fit everything in.

In the past I've heard people say they needed a holiday when they got back but this last trip we had was the first with the girls and it was amazing. We went at a much slower pace and had the best trip. My DH and I both came back refreshed and relaxed and can't wait to book to go again next year.