The freedom of NOT doing Disney

[ArwenMarie]

Well then, back to the original topic.

When I go to Orlando, I do multiple theme/amusement parks. Airfare is not as cheap as it used to be. I enjoy planning my vacations but have not liked planning this one to the extent required to do and see what I want to. I have a spreadsheet and the Disney days are planned to the half hour. For the Sea World days, I just figure, rides in the morning and shows in the afternoon. For Busch Gardens Tampa, I have a general direction of what to do first then play it by ear. For our on site stay at US/IOA...I don't even have a plan. Except that, since I will be attending HHN on October 30th, I got a 4:45 reservation at Finnegan's for an early dinner. I don't even know which park I will go to each morning and ...I don't have to.

Also, staying at Portofino, I'm not sure how much resort time I will want but can play it by ear. The resort looks so beautiful and relaxing. I have stayed at Royal Pacific and Hard Rock before. Royal Pacific is like a laid back Polynesian. Hard Rock is more high energy and very fun. The location is perfection however.

I am ending my trip with Universal because I will need the rest after the Disney part. I like (need) to plan so I don't miss the important things I want to see and do. However, I don't have to plan that much at US/IOA in order to do that. For WDW, I really feel it is necessary to do this much planning. There are too many changes (some without notice), too many options for restaurants that absolutely require a reservation, and too many variables that can affect my wait times which affect my ADRs which affect my FP+ reservations etc.

Relaxing at a Universal Resort for my last five days is my reward for my heavily planned Disney stay.

That could be a slogan for UOR "If you need to relax and unwind after your Disney trip, we're here for you"

Sounds like an awesome trip you have planned!

 

[RMulieri]

I am glad some people love WDW so much they don't find it stressful..That is not us.I thought adrs 6 months out were bad enough but I did it.NOW I am expected to know WHICH park, WHICH day, WHICH RIDE times on that day and WHICH dining, all while tied to my phone .If I want to meet Anna and Elsa and eat at BOG I need a FP for that...NOPE....Not for me...My job requires me to be rigid in my schedule ALL 12 hrs of my stressful shifts.I work weekends and I work Holidays.There is NO way on vacation ( the one week I get away from it all-I dont have the luxury of long trips )am I doing that kind of routine, and if I choose NOT to do it( because it is that simple for many), then I am rewarded with long lines to stand in for the 5-7 days I am off on vacation..Nope..Not me...If people love that kind of planning and vacation ,Kudos.But not everyone does.After my first Universal-only trip ( which BTW DH had to drag me on since I was not sold on the idea), I was thrilled.I had a great time, I had a relaxing time and a stress-free time and for the first time in YEARS ..I came home rested and not sick ( I always got sick after a WDW trip, no matter how I washed my hands or what vitamins I took).It reminded me SOOO much of the WDW of years past ( 80's /early 90's)

 

[sydneysmom]

Well then, back to the original topic.

When I go to Orlando, I do multiple theme/amusement parks. Airfare is not as cheap as it used to be. I enjoy planning my vacations but have not liked planning this one to the extent required to do and see what I want to. I have a spreadsheet and the Disney days are planned to the half hour. For the Sea World days, I just figure, rides in the morning and shows in the afternoon. For Busch Gardens Tampa, I have a general direction of what to do first then play it by ear. For our on site stay at US/IOA...I don't even have a plan. Except that, since I will be attending HHN on October 30th, I got a 4:45 reservation at Finnegan's for an early dinner. I don't even know which park I will go to each morning and ...I don't have to.

Also, staying at Portofino, I'm not sure how much resort time I will want but can play it by ear. The resort looks so beautiful and relaxing. I have stayed at Royal Pacific and Hard Rock before. Royal Pacific is like a laid back Polynesian. Hard Rock is more high energy and very fun. The location is perfection however.

I am ending my trip with Universal because I will need the rest after the Disney part. I like (need) to plan so I don't miss the important things I want to see and do. However, I don't have to plan that much at US/IOA in order to do that. For WDW, I really feel it is necessary to do this much planning. There are too many changes (some without notice), too many options for restaurants that absolutely require a reservation, and too many variables that can affect my wait times which affect my ADRs which affect my FP+ reservations etc.

Relaxing at a Universal Resort for my last five days is my reward for my heavily planned Disney stay.

Your trips sounds awesome!! I hope you have a wonderful RELAXING time!!!

That could be a slogan for UOR "If you need to relax and unwind after your Disney trip, we're here for you"

too funny!!!!!

 

[Rileygirl]

I am a planner, I enjoy it mostly. Its part of enjoying the trip before taking it, in some ways. I have done the ADR race for restaurants, done the fp race in the parks at rope drop, and am familiar enough with the disney parks to know what I am doing once we are in there.

Sometimes, its the thrill of the hunt that I love. Scored a great ressie at a great time, slipped into the single riders line with the kids and literally walk on a ride that has an hour wait,, ect.

But this new way of booking fp's , I don't love. I mean, I love the idea that I don't have to be the runner, criss crossing the park for the team. I love that I can pick the actual hour I want to ride an attraction (at this point in time, anyways), so I can plan what area of the park I want to be in, and not have to criss cross all over to avoid lines. I picked my restaurants 180 days in advance so I knew what park I was planning to be in, so have to pick the fp's for that day is not that big of a deal. Thats the arm chair planner in me - we only go every couple of years, so sitting down and figuring this out is enjoyable for me (not for everyone - I completely understand that).

Here are the 'buts' in new system.
1. Being a 'vet' that educates herself on boards like these on how to maximize, or get what you want, does not mean that I can get what I want. For example, the BOG dinner ressie, no matter how well you are armed, its very likely that you can't get it, even if you are staying onsite. Shut out. I don't have any interest in eating here for dinner, but I find it mildly alarming that if I did, I might not, or could not get it. The Anna Elsa meet and greet are becoming next to impossible as well. (I did manage to get one at 45 days out, by sheer dumb luck, but we ended up dropping it because the time sucked, and the girls said they would rather do other things.)

2. Relating to point #1, I think that as more people, i.e. the average traveler starts using mickeys system, the more 'things' will be impossible to get, or very hard to get, unless you are booking at midnight on the first day it becomes available to you. So, 7dmt might be next to impossible, or Soarin or TSMM. As an arm chair planner, I want to keep switching things maybe to massage the perfect plan, and if the number of 'must dos' become white rinos, i.e., the harder its going to get what you want, or to change the plan. I love massaging the schedules or outlines as our trip comes closer, but this may become impossible.

3. I love planning, but half the time when we are in the park, we throw out the 'plan' and do different things, because we feel like it, or someone is sick, or a ride is down, or its piss pouring rain. And being a savvy vet, I know how to still have a lot of fun in the park on the fly. With this new system in place, I am not as confident, because of the impact on all those fun, high capacity rides that we could jump on before, are now bunged up and slowed down with fp+s. And if we have not used up all our fp+s for the day already, and or if those kiosks are miles deep with the public, it could be a real problem for me.

4. The mouse tinkers with park hours and emh schedules, that could render your 'perfect' plan useless. You can't change it because of your ressies, or elusive fp+s, and you can end up frustrated and feeling screwed. After all, you jumped through all the hoops, did all the booking, and now your 'plan' has been tampered with by the park hours god.

5. Weather: We are going to be there in less then a week, and I have been watching how big long storms that are really wrecking havoc with rides going down. Being locked into fp+s will particularly suck for things like the 7dmt. I hold only one fp+ for it, and don't want to do the rope drop race for this ride. Our time for 7dmt is later at night, on our last night, which may have been poor planing on my part. Cant change it now, and I guess if weather (or ride mechanism) does not cooperate, we just won't be seeing it. I am really glad I did not do any mid afternoon fps, but could imagine that people who did all afternoon fp's would have been pretty frustrated this summer because it would have botched their day for sure. I know Disney can't control the weather, but it can really impact on a day that has been preplanned down to scheduled rides. Snowball effect.

Now, I compare all of this to my Uni portion of our trip.
Step 1: book on site
Step 2: enjoy

Universal is the vacation from our vacation. Even the planner in me loves the little to no planning needed. Sure we have to work around the DA opening craze, and will probably do EE to get a shot at gringotts, but I know I don't have to subsequently plan the rest of the day, or fret at what time we will be done, because everything else is easy.

I absolutely prefer Universal over Disney these days. Sorry Mickey!

 

[christophfam]

Reservations for lunch? What's wrong with that?

Is it really a reservation? I guess I don't know as it has been a few years since we've been to Disney, but they call it a fastpass which to me means you will get there and get in a shorter line. To me that sounds absolutely crazy for lunch! A reservation is getting there and being seated either immediately or within 5-10 minutes.

I stopped going to Disney a while back after going 2-3 times a year for many years. I LOVE Disney, but I don't like myself there. I was truly a combat Mom and wouldn't let my kids stop for the bathroom if it was going to mean longer lines. God forbid, having to go at rope drop (I have a horrible memory of that happening)! After I discovered Universal, I found a place I could still ride the rides with my kids and feel the magic, but not ruin it for them with rushing around on a tight schedule all day. It is truly my happy place now.

 

[sydneysmom]

I am a planner, I enjoy it mostly. Its part of enjoying the trip before taking it, in some ways. I have done the ADR race for restaurants, done the fp race in the parks at rope drop, and am familiar enough with the disney parks to know what I am doing once we are in there.

Sometimes, its the thrill of the hunt that I love. Scored a great ressie at a great time, slipped into the single riders line with the kids and literally walk on a ride that has an hour wait,, ect.

But this new way of booking fp's , I don't love. I mean, I love the idea that I don't have to be the runner, criss crossing the park for the team. I love that I can pick the actual hour I want to ride an attraction (at this point in time, anyways), so I can plan what area of the park I want to be in, and not have to criss cross all over to avoid lines. I picked my restaurants 180 days in advance so I knew what park I was planning to be in, so have to pick the fp's for that day is not that big of a deal. Thats the arm chair planner in me - we only go every couple of years, so sitting down and figuring this out is enjoyable for me (not for everyone - I completely understand that).

Here are the 'buts' in new system.
1. Being a 'vet' that educates herself on boards like these on how to maximize, or get what you want, does not mean that I can get what I want. For example, the BOG dinner ressie, no matter how well you are armed, its very likely that you can't get it, even if you are staying onsite. Shut out. I don't have any interest in eating here for dinner, but I find it mildly alarming that if I did, I might not, or could not get it. The Anna Elsa meet and greet are becoming next to impossible as well. (I did manage to get one at 45 days out, by sheer dumb luck, but we ended up dropping it because the time sucked, and the girls said they would rather do other things.)

2. Relating to point #1, I think that as more people, i.e. the average traveler starts using mickeys system, the more 'things' will be impossible to get, or very hard to get, unless you are booking at midnight on the first day it becomes available to you. So, 7dmt might be next to impossible, or Soarin or TSMM. As an arm chair planner, I want to keep switching things maybe to massage the perfect plan, and if the number of 'must dos' become white rinos, i.e., the harder its going to get what you want, or to change the plan. I love massaging the schedules or outlines as our trip comes closer, but this may become impossible.

3. I love planning, but half the time when we are in the park, we throw out the 'plan' and do different things, because we feel like it, or someone is sick, or a ride is down, or its piss pouring rain. And being a savvy vet, I know how to still have a lot of fun in the park on the fly. With this new system in place, I am not as confident, because of the impact on all those fun, high capacity rides that we could jump on before, are now bunged up and slowed down with fp+s. And if we have not used up all our fp+s for the day already, and or if those kiosks are miles deep with the public, it could be a real problem for me.

4. The mouse tinkers with park hours and emh schedules, that could render your 'perfect' plan useless. You can't change it because of your ressies, or elusive fp+s, and you can end up frustrated and feeling screwed. After all, you jumped through all the hoops, did all the booking, and now your 'plan' has been tampered with by the park hours god.

5. Weather: We are going to be there in less then a week, and I have been watching how big long storms that are really wrecking havoc with rides going down. Being locked into fp+s will particularly suck for things like the 7dmt. I hold only one fp+ for it, and don't want to do the rope drop race for this ride. Our time for 7dmt is later at night, on our last night, which may have been poor planing on my part. Cant change it now, and I guess if weather (or ride mechanism) does not cooperate, we just won't be seeing it. I am really glad I did not do any mid afternoon fps, but could imagine that people who did all afternoon fp's would have been pretty frustrated this summer because it would have botched their day for sure. I know Disney can't control the weather, but it can really impact on a day that has been preplanned down to scheduled rides. Snowball effect.

Now, I compare all of this to my Uni portion of our trip.
Step 1: book on site
Step 2: enjoy

Universal is the vacation from our vacation. Even the planner in me loves the little to no planning needed. Sure we have to work around the DA opening craze, and will probably do EE to get a shot at gringotts, but I know I don't have to subsequently plan the rest of the day, or fret at what time we will be done, because everything else is easy.

I absolutely prefer Universal over Disney these days. Sorry Mickey!

That is SUCH a great take on everything Disney..... we haven't had to deal w/ the FP+ yet... we would have for this trip if we stayed w/ the original plan. It seems insane. When I told my husband about the new fast pass, where you book them 60 days out... he asked me, "how are we going to know what we want to ride in 60 days on a particular day?". Yeah... well I was going to go w/ the flow and book what we thought was important... then I started hearing horror stories that FP+ was booking in time slots where people had booked BOG or CRT.. .so then what? you lose those reservations?? Are you kidding? It just seemed like it HAD to be easier... it's too tiring having to keep up w/ everything. Our last trips, I brought our spreadsheet to the park, we were on the app all day, etc. It's "too planned".

Then I came over and started reading about everyone's experiences at Universal and IOA. Well, that's what changed my mind about us trying this for vacation... all of the reasons you stated above. I'm so excited to check into the Royal Pacific, get the EE and the front of the line... that to me is gold. I don't want to plan... I want to DO. We're totally excited for this.... and it's so funny, I'm such a total Disney nut... I had eye twitches in the beginning "how can I fly into Orlando and NOT go to Disney??? Will this trip suck??". But now, I couldn't be more excited !! I love how you described everything! Spot on!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Hey, thanks for the links and advice helping me out with BOG. I have pretty much given up on dinner (I would keep checking but that's part of my issue….why should I have to? I have checked a bunch of times since getting shut out and it's just so irritating that I even have to!) but I WILL do the FP for lunch. Thanks for giving me the info in this thread! You have saved me time!

eta: so I clicked the FP link for lunch and it says (surprise surprise!) no FPs are available for the whole week I'm there. It's not quite 60 days out, more like 66. Do I have to keep checking back? (groan).

LOL, this is like poetry in motion, given the topic of this thread! This is what we are talking about….in action!

Keep checking - they have probably not opened for FP yet. There is a thread on the restaurants board that is updated frequently as dates get released.

Getting a lunch FP was easy once the dates opened - I had our pick of dates and times. You will have a 30 minute window to arrive, and you can order your lunch in advance or when you get there.

Edited to add: The Beast is only at dinner, so if that is important, keep checking for dinner.

 

[Rileygirl]

Sidneysmom

You are going to love front of the line access. Love it, love it, love it. Honestly, its the best perk ever.

You are going to love the ease of distance between your hotel, and the theme parks. Love it, love it love it. Its so easy to go back to your hotel and enjoy all the gorgeous amenities there in the afternoon, and laze around the pool with a little fruity drink in your hand - and wander back into the parks to take in a favourite ride or two as 'walk ons'. This is truly 'vacation'. And, if you have teens, its so easy to stay at the pool, and let them walk over for an hour or two, and tell them to be back in time for dinner. (no horrible bus problems, or worrying if they will make it back in time)

I find the food is significantly better and mostly cheaper then Disney. Wayyyy better. In the theme parks, and at City Walk. You are going to LOVE that you can walk to any number of fantastic restaurants, from your hotel room. No hour long bus/boat ordeal. (actually, I like taking the boats at disney, but I am weird that way)

This made my eye twitch: not booking the said restaurant six months in advance. Really? Can you just decide what you feel like eating that night, and get in? Yes, its true. You really can. Or make a reservation or two through open table or concierge just before your trip. But you really can decide on the day where you want to eat. Its liberating :>)

The hotels are destination worthy. In my opinion, they are better kept up then the Disney counterparts. The landscaping is gorgeous. Pools are so much fun. If you wander over to the hard rock pool hotel, you really must get the nachos from the outdoor pool restaurant. So good!!!

The parks themselves: I love the details. In Disney, it was all about the details, the theming, the amazing immersion. Right now, in my opinion, Universal is doing a way better job of this then Disney. Hogwarts castle is mind blowing. I could spend hours just wandering around in the que. I imagine that Diagon Alley will be even better.

I have not been to Universal for a few years (2 or 3?) but there is so much change that has happened, I can't wait to check it out. Transformers, the minions, the new Simpson area, and the entire land of Diagon Alley. I have been pretty much away from Disney for the same amount of time (if you don't count a day at the MK 18 months ago) and the only new area is fantasyland, the 7dmt (everything else was around, dual dumbos, votlm, ext)

You will have an amazing time, and a vacation. As others would say, welcome to the dark side.....

 

[robndani]

I keep my un-Disney trips away from Disney or we would just end up there somehow. We do go to WDW twice a year, which does allow us to relax our plans a little.

 

[sydneysmom]

Sidneysmom

You are going to love front of the line access. Love it, love it, love it. Honestly, its the best perk ever.

You are going to love the ease of distance between your hotel, and the theme parks. Love it, love it love it. Its so easy to go back to your hotel and enjoy all the gorgeous amenities there in the afternoon, and laze around the pool with a little fruity drink in your hand - and wander back into the parks to take in a favourite ride or two as 'walk ons'. This is truly 'vacation'. And, if you have teens, its so easy to stay at the pool, and let them walk over for an hour or two, and tell them to be back in time for dinner. (no horrible bus problems, or worrying if they will make it back in time)

I find the food is significantly better and mostly cheaper then Disney. Wayyyy better. In the theme parks, and at City Walk. You are going to LOVE that you can walk to any number of fantastic restaurants, from your hotel room. No hour long bus/boat ordeal. (actually, I like taking the boats at disney, but I am weird that way)

This made my eye twitch: not booking the said restaurant six months in advance. Really? Can you just decide what you feel like eating that night, and get in? Yes, its true. You really can. Or make a reservation or two through open table or concierge just before your trip. But you really can decide on the day where you want to eat. Its liberating :>)

The hotels are destination worthy. In my opinion, they are better kept up then the Disney counterparts. The landscaping is gorgeous. Pools are so much fun. If you wander over to the hard rock pool hotel, you really must get the nachos from the outdoor pool restaurant. So good!!!

The parks themselves: I love the details. In Disney, it was all about the details, the theming, the amazing immersion. Right now, in my opinion, Universal is doing a way better job of this then Disney. Hogwarts castle is mind blowing. I could spend hours just wandering around in the que. I imagine that Diagon Alley will be even better.

I have not been to Universal for a few years (2 or 3?) but there is so much change that has happened, I can't wait to check it out. Transformers, the minions, the new Simpson area, and the entire land of Diagon Alley. I have been pretty much away from Disney for the same amount of time (if you don't count a day at the MK 18 months ago) and the only new area is fantasyland, the 7dmt (everything else was around, dual dumbos, votlm, ext)

You will have an amazing time, and a vacation. As others would say, welcome to the dark side.....

I love the "Dark Side"!!! OMG, everything you've said has just got me even more excited, if that's even possible. It was so funny, when we were deciding on 1/2 Disney/ 1/2 Universal or all Universal, we went out to You Tube and pulled up the coasters.... Oh lord, my husband was in his glory. He said, "I'm good... I've seen all I need to, let's book Universal and skip Disney". Then I told him about the front of the line... I think he shed a tear or 2...

That's the one thing that got us.... we went in June so it was packed, hot, we got cranky, rides were long waits... so hearing about all of your experiences out here, it's almost surreal. It's liberating to think I don't have to care where we eat that night until we're hungry! Or if I make reservations for this.... are we even going to want that in 180 days? OY. That's what gets me... too much pre-planning in order to make it "perfect". From what you've said above... this is paradise!!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Reservations for lunch? What's wrong with that?

Well, nothing in theory. But now it requires planning two months in advance to eat at a COUNTER SERVICE restaurant. And it is less a reservation than a FP - it is not like Disney is holding a table and a server for us - it is counter service. I'm glad the FP was available - I had no interest in waiting in line an hour to eat, and I had no interest in eating lunch at 10:45.

It all goes back to the topic of this thread which you seem to take issue with - Disney requires advanced planning to decide where to eat (180 days in advance), what rides to ride (60 days in advance) and even where to have counter service lunches (60 days in advance, sort of, but you have to keep checking because it might be 62 or 58 or 23 days). Even if you stay onsite at Disney, you have to jump through all of these hoops or spend a long time waiting in line (and standby lines are longer now that FP+ has arrived). In contrast, if you stay onsite at Universal, you are granted the equivalent of a FP+ for any ride that has one - no deciding between Soarin' or Test Track and between RNRC or TSMM, no tiering of rides, no riding a ride only once with your FP+, no deciding 180 days in advance where to eat, no no-show fee if you change your mind about a restaurant less than 24 hours in advance (or heaven forbid your child is sick or tired and is not up for a table service meal), and no scramble for new FP+ if you change your mind about which park you want to go to. At Universal, with the exception of a few rides that don't offer express (and Disney has the edge there because they do allow FP+ even for brand-new rides), you can pick your park in the morning, sleep in if you want, decide where to eat when you are hungry, and get express access to rides without deciding two months in advance what day and time you want to ride them. You can ride Hulk or Dragon Challenge or even Cat in the Hat seven times in the row if you want (and are staying onsite) - try that at Disney with Space Mountain or RNRC or Peter Pan, even if you are staying onsite. It would take you most of a day.

I enjoy planning Disney trips, although it is getting a bit ridiculous. But there is no way a Disney trip is less stressful than a Universal trip. If you decide not to plan at all for Disney, good luck having a sit down meal in any park or spending less than 30 minutes in each line if you go in the summer or on school breaks. We saw 45 minute lines at Spaceship Earth - really? That's just crazy. Even our FP+ time was 20 minutes, but we had to use our FP within that hour. At Universal, you can come back later if the express line looks too crowded.

 

[Rileygirl]

On our first trip to universal, the kids wanted to go back into the park in the afternoon before dinner and ride 'mummy' one more time. They were too young to go by themselves, so I went with them, and waited for them on the bench at 'finnegans'? I think.

Anyhoo, it was taking a bit longer then I expected, because they had front of the line, so I kept a closer watch on the exit area. Caught the little munchkins sneaking out of the exit only to whip around the corner to ride again. Apparently it took 5 or 6 rounds before I figured out what they were up too... its one of their favourite Universal memories (and mine too!) The total glee, well, it was just a lot of fun to see, and the kicker was they were fooling 'mom'.

I let them ride a couple more times, because, well, we had the time.....

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

It'll be even more interesting if Disney's new fastpasses to wait in line actually go beyond Anna and Elsa. I don't consider the thought of that relaxing at all, in fact quite the opposite.

But we all do have differing ideas on what is relaxing and what is stressful. WDW is stressful for US and anyone else disagreeing doesn't change that.

O.M.G. What is this fast passes to wait in line thing? I just finished looking at the A&E FP+ saga on the FP+ "tips" thread and I am about to cry. Apparently the whole system crashed last night as people tried to get in at their 60 day window at midnight or 1am or whatever godforsaken time your window opens. ALl I can say is I want to vomit after seeing that.

 

[Sparkly]

Why does it have to be one or the other? Can't someone like BOTH?

 

[macraven]

Why does it have to be one or the other? Can't someone like BOTH?

many people do like both but the snarkiness that has happened in this thread has esculated to a level where some posters are here just to stir the pot.

i do both parks for different reasons.
i would have my life in my hands if i posted on the theme park forum any rant against the motherland.

read the post the moderator made a few pages back to understand why i
posted this.

this isn't a debate thread but one that enjoys the darkside can tell their personal thoughts and experiences on why they enjoy their vacations there.

to stay on topic, i have always enjoyed staying on site at the darkside and taking my time doing things in the parks and city walk.
i used to breeze through all of it when i started doing day trips there back in 1993.
once the hotels were built, i didn't do the travel to and from the motherland for day trips or on some trips, stayed at the doubletree near the UO parks.

once i started to extend my stays for the darkside vacations, i learned to slow my pace and explore everything that was on the site.
that is when i discovered that this is my style of vacation.

first time for me at the motherland was in 1974 with my parents.
i can look back and see the changes over the years there.
started to go yearly/semi yearly to the motherland in the 1990's when my kids were out of nap time.
staying onsite there, i was able to explore and see everything but with the crowds growing each year, had to make priorities on doing what we planned to hit on each trip.
i start with the motherland stays and am rushed from sun up to late night.
spend time on the bus for traveling, and run into a lot of down time.
i asked myself, is this the type of vacation that lets me do it all at a slower pace or must i plan extensively and freak out if i over sleep in the morning.

well, i still do disney but don't like being sleep deprived for the week.


when i transfer to the darkside hotels, i relax to the level where planning is not required.
i return home not worn out but relaxed and fulfilled.

 

[johde]

Now, I compare all of this to my Uni portion of our trip.
Step 1: book Deluxeon site
Step 2: enjoy

Fixed your post slightly. But I thought that might make a good Universal Resort Hotel's web commercial.

How to book the perfect Disney Vacation

Step 1, Book your hotel
Step 2, Link reservation to your My Disney Experience Website
Show mockup of MDE Error Message and person on phone talking to "tech support"
Step 3 Make Dining Reservation
Person 1: Honey do you want Italian or Japanese food.
Person 2: Well we had Italian yesterday.
Person 1: No not for today for six month from not while we're on vacation.
Step 4 Make Ride reservation.
Person 1: At 2:00 60 days from now would you rather be riding the Haunted Mansion or The Pirate Ride.
Step 5 Hopefully rearrange everything on the fly once you get there.
Picture of someone "at the park" frantically fiddling with the smartphone

How to book the Perfect Universal Vacation
Step 1: Book a Deluxe resort onsite
Step 2: Enjoy
Then summarize all the benefits of staying at a deluxe onsite.

 

[sydneysmom]

Why does it have to be one or the other? Can't someone like BOTH?

I have repeatedly stated, as have others, that I love all things Disney... I truly do. It was a huge conflict for me to "give up" Disney for our upcoming trip. I think it's like your kids, or your dogs... you love both but for different reasons... they're not all the same. Some are more difficult, some are just easy, some are serious, some are funny, etc.

For me PERSONALLY, we made the choice to go to Universal to help alleviate some of the stress that goes along with planning. It doesn't mean I hate Disney... not by a longshot. But it's okay for me to try something new too...and to like it.

I think most people on this thread have been nothing but informative and sharing with their experiences and their stories. That was THE whole point to me posting this thread... I wanted to get some insight into other people's experiences. I wanted to know that I was making the right choice, and frankly, it's really making me excited to go on my vacation. Nothing wrong with that. I think there were a few pot stirrers that jumped on her simply to cause issue and to just frankly, cause problems just because it's sport to them. It's evident in their responses how angry they are with everything. This isn't an "I hate Disney" thread... I'm sorry if you get the impression that it might be.... Me, I think it's an "it's alright to love Universal and the perks that come with a Universal Vacation ALSO". So I'm going to continue to enjoy reading everyone's experiences and choose to remain positive!

 

[kbelle8995]

I love Disney I really do but I want to see the New HP section badly.

The Last time I went for Disney, I went early, I reserved my FP+ rides and was just stressed out the entire time. Looking at my phone constantly to make sure I didn't miss the FP. I had a moment of relaxation when I sat on Main Street to eat a cake pop. After that morning I said I need a break from Disney.

I will go to Disney again but let's just say that morning made me take a long look at other options available. And Universal is one of those options.

 

[Rileygirl]

Lol

I forgot the Cabanas don't have front of the line, only early entry.

Sparkly, I am a DVC owner, and still see the Disney magic. I do love both, and enjoy both. However, I love Universal MORE. And I love the direction it is going MORE. But that is just me. If everyone loved the same thing, then everyone would want my husband :>) Thats no good.

My Universal commercial would be more like the old mac vs pc commercials. Picture one dad frantically on a computer at some party close to midnight, banging away at keys and swearing. Party ongoing around him.
Buddy standing in the background asking him, 'Hey Guy, what are you doing?'
Guy on keyboard, I am going on vacation to Disney!
Buddy, ' cool, I am going on vacation too. We are going to Universal."
more banging and cursing from keyboard guy, with noticeable sweat on his brow...more people in the background party having a good time, but keyboard dude is oblivious....
Buddy "so when are you going?"
Guy on keyboard shouts ' six months" then some audible moaning and groaning now from keyboard dude, perhaps some quiet muttering cursing to Anna and Elsa....
Buddy 'is it this hard to book a hotel?"
Guy on keyboard, "Quiet! Quiet! Im not booking my hotel! That was easy! I am trying to book my place to view fireworks!
Buddy 'six months from now?" pregnant pause.....how do you know it won't be raining?"

:>)

 

[schumigirl]

O.M.G. What is this fast passes to wait in line thing? I just finished looking at the A&E FP+ saga on the FP+ "tips" thread and I am about to cry. Apparently the whole system crashed last night as people tried to get in at their 60 day window at midnight or 1am or whatever godforsaken time your window opens. ALl I can say is I want to vomit after seeing that.

Don't get upset .........I'm sure it'll all work out for you

For me PERSONALLY, we made the choice to go to Universal to help alleviate some of the stress that goes along with planning. It doesn't mean I hate Disney... not by a longshot. But it's okay for me to try something new too...and to like it.
This isn't an "I hate Disney" thread... I'm sorry if you get the impression that it might be....

I'm sure you're going to love Universal..........it's a fantastic place and reading your posts you really will enjoy it. Especially the stress free part......no planning is amazing

No I don't think anyone thinks it was an I hate Disney thread.......we just don't do that over this side of the boards. It was a fair question to ask