Universal excitement

[DNSDisney]

I just can't seem to get really excited about our trip this June to US/IOA. Not sure exactly why, could be I am worried (for me) it will be a let down after Disney or could be I have this imagen inside my head that US/IOA is just a bigger "Six Flags".
This trip was planned because my DD and DH want to experiance US/IOA but I am truely a Disney Girl.

So anyway, can anyone tell me if it is an overgrown 6 Flags and can anyone help me to get excited about the trip/experiance?

Thanks,
Sharon

 

[sha_lyn]

I had the same worries before our first US/IOA trip. DS really wanted to go to US/IOA so we suprised him one yr for spring break as an early B-day present. We now all love US/IOA Although DH likes WDW better but that will probably change with the addition of shrek and jimmy nutron at USO (he loves the shows at WDW)


My first comment about IOA was ...WOW they out Disneyed Disney..... So much planning went into the theming of each Island.
Don't rush thorugh, wait back and catch the little things that are gogn on to add to the atsmophere.

US... I like but don't "love" but hopefully that will change with all the changes they have made since our trip in 2002.

 

[Figment22]

I was a "Disney girl" like you for more than 15 years before becoming a full fledged Universal maniac Truth be told, our family has not set foot in a Disney park since 2000. (That doesn't mean we never will again; I just think we get more bang for the buck at Universal.) But trust me, there is absolutely NO comparison between Universal and any Six Flags park. I will not set foot in a Six Flags park ever again. I find them to be dirty, ill maintained and not particularly family friendly. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are both beautifully themed, clean as can be and very family friendly. I'm sure you will be very impressed. Keep an open mind and you'll have a wonderful time.

 

[SEAlla]

Funny you should say that…

It is the opposite for me. I am a huge US fan and my DH and I have decided to hit WDW for the first time this trip. I visited DL in the early 80’s but don’t remember it too well.

Anyhow, I have the same reservations as you do about US. I am worried about the crowds, no FOTL, is it geared too much towards younger people, etc. I am keeping an open mind however. Positive thoughts, positive thoughts

I have a pledge to myself:

I am on vacation, I AM going to have a good time and enjoy myself.

I will not compare WDW to US – It’s not the same,

No one’s opinion is going to dictate mine – everyone is different

I am not going to obsess over every little thing – relax

Other people at the parks are NOT going to ruin my day – ignore them

And again – I AM going to have fun and enjoy the time with my DH - I am on vacation!!!

I know this went off the subject a bit but that is how I keep myself positive about my vacation experiences. Whether I have done it before (US) or not (WDW).

I hope you have a great time at US!!!

Susan

 

[DNSDisney]

Thanks for the responces!
I guess it is I am just use to the hype of planning for Disney that I don't have planning for US. We have about 36 days to go and by now (if we were planning dis) I would be pulling out the old family videos of us at disney, watching disney movies, planning my course of attack of which park which days, and talking about hidden mickeys and penny presses. I just don't have that all with planning for US. I have pretty much decided that with staying on site as we are that we don't need a plan of attack because the fotl access. I don't have any old videos of us at US cause this is the first trip LOL
I do have an open mind about it and am sure my DD and DH will love the rides , parks etc.
Also glad to hear my thoughts of an overbuilt 6 flags isn't true. I grew up going to 6 flags over GA every weekend of my teen life and don't wish to ever go to 6 flags again!
Maybe the title of this thread should of been what do u do to get ready for Universal....... ah i think i have another post to make
Thanks,
Sharon

 

[RC Fan]

I went to all the Disney parks my first trip and then went to IOA/USO and found Disney to be a let-down. IOA especially I feel is very well done and has a great deal of attention to little details. It is a great park! I hope you like it!

 

[Selina]

Universal and IOA are really fab. You'll have a wonderful time. As everyone else has been saying, it's the theming of the rides and the music as you walk from one island to another. As you walk around, you feel excited - the build up to each ride/experience is superb and I think that's why adults, teenagers, kids, love it so much.

Start sorting out your clothes, what you are going to wear. There are some lovely restaurants to go to - so you need to choose for that. Then shop for some new ones.....that's one way....then read these boards and plan your route round the parks....you'll soon get "in the mood!"...

 

[sha_lyn]

I grew up going to 6 flags over GA every weekend of my teen life and don't wish to ever go to 6 flags again!

I loved SF over GA growning up and had hoped to have good memories of trips there with my kids. Tried it with DS abotu 12 yrs ago and was ok. Returned every yr for a few yrs. Had 2 horrible experiences about 4 and 5 yrs ago. Didn't return until last yr. I have to say while is sure isn't USO or WDW they had finally cleaned up the park and added more kid/family rides. We go again in 2 weeks and hopefully they are living up to their claim of improving the kids/family areas even more. They have added 5 new kid/ family rides this and have added 1 or 2 every yr for the past couple of years. When we stopped going they only had about 5 kid/family rides

 

[No11's Mom]

There are lots of movies you could be watching to put your family in a US/IOA mood. We are driving, so we will be taking some for the dvd player on the way down. These are the ones we have:

Jaws
Men In Black
ET
all 3 Mummy movies
Twister
Terminator
Ghostbusters
Spiderman
The Hulk
all 3 Juraissic Parks
Shrek
Jimmy Neutron
The Grinch

If you have younger kids you could probably get the Fivel mouse movies (not sure of the names), Rugrats, SpongeBob, Barney.

There are probably others that I'm not thinking of. Is Cat in the Hat out on DVD yet?

The parks are wonderful. We always found there to be more character availability and interaction at US/IOA than at Disney. I'm sure you will have a great time.

 

[No11's Mom]

You can also go to the Universal Orlando website and see short videos for most of the attractions. We like to do that.

Also, I forgot to include Back to the Future to my movie list.

 

[Figment22]

Originally posted by No11's Mom
Is Cat in the Hat out on DVD yet?

It is.

 

[RC Fan]

Hi Figment22!

Let us know how you like"The Mummy"!

Have a good trip! You are getting close too!

 

[highlander447]

I am sure that u will enjoy the theming of IOA

 

[Robinrs]

Let's put it this way...

I live 20 mins from Six Flags over Georgia and got free tickets because they were a client of the radio station I worked for.

I live 7 hours from Orlando and have to pay for an Annual Pass to Universal every year.

I do NOT go to SFOG... been there done that.

Universal I canNOT get enough of. Went 10 times in the past two years.

There is a major difference between a theme park and an amusement park. It's hard to put your finger on but the difference is HUGE.

You will love it.

Have a great time!

 

[Prince Eric1]

Universal is NO six flags. It is a greatly themed park with atmosphere and high tech rides and clean and neat in every way. Six flags are rundown and like an overgrown carnival. The rides, animatronics, and theming at Universal is equal too and often superior to Disney's. Disney has a magic to it that makes it a world unto its own, but Universal has in my opinion passed them in the quality of the rides and shows. Don't go in with a negative attitude or you'll bias yourself from enjoying a great park.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by No11's Mom
If you have younger kids you could probably get the Fivel mouse movies (not sure of the names)

An American Tail (Tale?)

& Fievel Goes West

 

[Tina26]

I'm so glad you posted this question, I was feeling the exact same way. This thread has made me feel much better about what to expect. I've been considering the 5 day passes but just couldn't see giving up disney parks all together this year, but I think I might just go ahead and order them. We've been to Disney so many times and have seen every attraction at every park a zillion times, so I'm so looking forward to all new, different experiences this year

I can't wait!!

 

[threeboysmom]

The movie idea is GREAT! We watched most of those last year with our boys in the few months leading up to our trip. It was great for them to be familiar with the storylines behind most of the rides. Also, try to get the familiar with all the superheros (maybe pick up some comic books?) and also the cartoon strip characters. My kids didn't know who Popeye was when we went....

Sometimes the Travel Channel runs specials on Universal Orlando. Check their website & see if anything is coming up this month.

Have fun!! I KNOW we will!!! The more we go, the more we LOVE it!!

 

[Beanie]

I agree with what has already been posted here...Universal Studios/IOA and Six Flags are like Night and Day! You will love US/IOA so much and have a wonderful time!!

Thanks for the tip on the movies, great idea!!

 

[Regenia]

Not excited? Oh my goodness...We did Disney 2000 and snuck over to US/IOA...we have not been back to Disney since. DS is now 10 and there are a few rides he really enjoyed at Magic Kingdom but he's a big movie fan and US was amazing us! He actually thought Jaws was real that was priceless
We have been to Orlando 2001 & 2002 and both times it was US/IOA.

Being a FL resident (now) we could take advantage of the 4 day hopper pass for $109 but honestly, I don't feel it's worth it...the few rides we enjoy at MK (we're thrill seekers) and when we went to Epcot we were out of there by mid afternoon. I'm afraid to go to MGM b/c I'll be comparing it to US. I asked which one he wanted to go to this time and the first thing he said US/IOA. I purchased the US/IOA 5 days for 2 ($86.95) and we're going to take our time and really enjoy the parks/hotel this time. And not be in a rush to do everything. The other day he saw me reading the tips for MIB....I am ready

Excited???
I tried to keep quiet about the Mummy ride (DS HUGE fan of The Mummy movies) but couldn't
Not to mention Shrek 4-D.

And they say kids have a hard time sleeping the night before, LOL. I CAN'T WAIT!:happy2: