Universal - NOT LIKELY TO RETURN

[william4192]

1) The Jetsons don't walk on them, so I didn't think I had to. I always figured it was the whole park in a driveway, drive on the parkway thing.

2) Universal used to have the fast passes, but a lot of people have it in their head it makes the lines longer. In fact it might, I have not read the research. But for us, we get a fast pass and then shop (not getting in another line). Of course, we live in Florida so we normally only rides with fast passes. Thus, we now tend to skip Universal altogether.

 

[william4192]

Universal only offers deep discounts for multiple days b/c you don't really need it. I also wish UO and IOA had more sit down resturants.

 

[CJN]

Universal only offers deep discounts for multiple days b/c you don't really need it.

See, it's statements like this I just don't get and adds to my frustration every time I read one of those "We only saved one day for Universal so can we do both parks in one day?" threads. Of course, you can't! At least you can't do it well.

Maybe multiple days aren't needed for people who live close by who drop in often or for the attention deficit folks who constantly rush from one thing to another. But for those of us who like to walk rather than run, people-watch, re-ride and re-ride JPRA (or mummy, or spidey, or mib), take pictures, catch all the shows, snack, introduce our unsuspecting sister to the talking fountain, laugh at the kids playing in the water...in other words take a real vacation...then the multiple day passes are a requirement. And the best deal out there.

 

[william4192]

CJN,

Believe it or not, I'm like you. I think a Day per park is fine. If you wanted a 3rd day to do your favorites and look around, I can see that. My problem is with Universal it lacks the "themed" resturants. I know you can find somethings at City Walk, but I don't personally like the City Walk "customers". Too many teenagers and drunks hanging out at night.

Even so, 4 days is really pushing it at Universal if you ask me. If you like spending a week there, I find that wonderful (and cost efficient!), but I don't see it.

Just for the record, I'm a big fan of Universal (not big fan of SeaWorld although I see the value) Studios. UO is a great park and so is IOA. To me it complments Disney very well. I remember my first day there I had a great time. I love walking around and checking out IOA (which might be the best themed theme park I've ever seen!).

I'm a big fan of Animal Kingdom (go ahead make fun of me). My wife love to walk around and see the animals and walk the trials


Sorry if my comment was disneyboard "offensive". If it was me and I had a week, I'd spend 6 days at Disney and 3 days at Universal/SeaWorld.

The only reason I say 6 at Disney is b/c I always find so much to do at the resorts. I'll be honest, the resorts are the biggest thing that keeps me coming back to Disney.

But I'll be honest, if they keep building theme parks in Orlando, I'll keep buying passes. Universal, Busch, Disney...all fun to me!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

CJN,

Believe it or not, I'm like you. I think a Day per park is fine. If you wanted a 3rd day to do your favorites and look around, I can see that. My problem is with Universal it lacks the "themed" resturants. I know you can find somethings at City Walk, but I don't personally like the City Walk "customers". Too many teenagers and drunks hanging out at night.

Even so, 4 days is really pushing it at Universal if you ask me. If you like spending a week there, I find that wonderful (and cost efficient!), but I don't see it.

Just for the record, I'm a big fan of Universal (not big fan of SeaWorld although I see the value) Studios. UO is a great park and so is IOA. To me it complments Disney very well. I remember my first day there I had a great time. I love walking around and checking out IOA (which might be the best themed theme park I've ever seen!).

I'm a big fan of Animal Kingdom (go ahead make fun of me). My wife love to walk around and see the animals and walk the trials


Sorry if my comment was disneyboard "offensive". If it was me and I had a week, I'd spend 6 days at Disney and 3 days at Universal/SeaWorld.

The only reason I say 6 at Disney is b/c I always find so much to do at the resorts. I'll be honest, the resorts are the biggest thing that keeps me coming back to Disney.

But I'll be honest, if they keep building theme parks in Orlando, I'll keep buying passes. Universal, Busch, Disney...all fun to me!

Your comments arent the typical experience just yours. The restaurants at Universal/CityWalk and the on-site resorts blow anything Disney has to offer away. I'm not a Disney hater at all but the food is seriously lacking. I only noticed that after being spoiled by Universal.

We are also a family that can spend a week at Universal no problem and still want more. I have never encountered a bad crowd at CityWalk and have had many many meals there.

I dont find your comments offensive in the least. They are however the opposite of my famlies experiences.

 

[CPanther95]

Seems ridiculous to praise the FastPass system vs. the Express Pass when the OP didn't even purchase the Express Pass to be able to compare. Then at the same time comparing the price of both programs while disregarding the price of the underlying cost of entry doesn't make much sense.

I couldn't stand the Fast Pass system, and if Universal ever gets rid of the FOTL access for onsite guests, we'll stop taking Universal vacations.

One thing is certain, and obviously holds for the OP as well. Wait times standing in line can have a huge impact on the overall quality of your vacation. Touring 90% of a park by noon or 1 pm leaves a heck of a lot of time to enjoy the resort/pool before returning to get your fill of your favorites.That's something to keep in mind when valuing the onsite hotel stay vs. staying off-property. It's very easy to be penny wise and pound foolish.

I'm not anti-Disney, but I'm too thrifty with my vacation time and all the planning involved to leave the "success" of the trip up to chance. Personally, I view the great unknown of wait times at the Disney parks on any given trip to be a chance not worth taking. A Universal vacation with FOTL eliminates that huge variable and the only things remaining that can cause a problem (room issues, bad meal, etc) only impact a finite part of your vacation - or can be corrected "on the fly".

 

[Mari annie]

We have AP Passes because we travel to MCO frequently, and I would NEVER buy the EPasses, you don't really save any that much time, if you go on the rides after 430 or later the crowds are (less) at that time, and you don't have to stand for hours for a few minutes on a ride-can you tell I don't wait in long lines?!!!LOL!

Less than 30 days to return! can't wait!

 

[Mari annie]

We did Disney for years and now we too do Universal much more, alot more for teens/adults and Disney just seems to be quietly slipping.........
each year............... after nearly 20 years of the parks, we decided it was time! We still go to DTD, but it's not the same Disney at it was my kids were small!
They don't want to go anymore, couldn't even get them to go to MGM last week, it was Universal!

less than 30 days until FL!

 

[Brook1099]

I kinda agree with my kids being ages 5&7 , we've been twice and this next trip we are going to skip it! Can't seem to find that much that my kids enjoy. We do more walking around than anything! Maybe in the next few years we will try it again.

 

[yaytezIOA]

I kinda agree with my kids being ages 5&7 , we've been twice and this next trip we are going to skip it! Can't seem to find that much that my kids enjoy. We do more walking around than anything! Maybe in the next few years we will try it again.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1353733
or

http://ioacentralradio.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=205620
Just a little research

 

[Nolan N.]

Universal is not as bad as you are making it out to be. I love Universal more than Disney.

 

[Metro West]

My problem is with Universal it lacks the "themed" resturants. I know you can find somethings at City Walk, but I don't personally like the City Walk "customers". Too many teenagers and drunks hanging out at night.

Are you talking about the Studios or IOA because IOA has the best "themed" restaurants in town. Have you been to The Enchanted Oak, Mythos, Thunder Falls Terrace, The Burger Digs or Circus McGurkus? What does Disney have that's better "themed" as those? I can't think of anything. You are right about the teenagers but I haven't seen many drunks at CityWalk. But, I'll take the teenagers over the small kids and strollers anytime.

 

[william4192]

Metro West,

I was talking about sit down (servers) type resturants. We do love Mythos. I like Tony's at MK, anything at EPCOT etc.. 50's Prime Time, sci-f- at MGM. I just think Universal lacks these types. They do have fine counter service.

 

[macraven]

universal rules..........

 

[kanga24roos]

We just returned from our second family trip to WDW first family visit to Universal. I must say I was extremely dissapointed with IOA. I love the way it looked the "sets" were all great, however the lines were unbelievable and the crowds were worse. Example while we were in line for spiderman our first rides my kids and I were surroounded by thugs...no other name for them. They were all teens and they were screaming at each other they were jumping line shoving people out of the way at times I was actually worried for my sons safety and this was while we were still in line. I have never experienced anything like that and any other park. While we were on Blutos Bilge ride there were teens in the raft behind us smoking...whats up with that? We could hear the staff over the intercom "reminding" people there was no smoking on the rides but they were ingnored and when the ride was over I was hoping to see some kind of security removing the trash....but no.. they just walked off the ride shirtless and barefoot and went about there business so if the rules aren't going to be enforced why bother having them? The other thing I found EXTREMELY irritating was the number of soliciters around the parks. It started in the parking lot with people trying to give us backpacks in exchage for filling out a CC application to people at every intersection trying to get us to come look at their condos or new hotel or whatever...and they follow you, very annoying... we paid to be there and should be left to enjoy our vacation.
My boys are 10 7 4 and 2 and even though ALL of them are coaster junkies we have decided we will not return until all our boys are teens and are able to defend not only themselves but Mom while wating in line.

 

[phamton]

The last few weeks there have been band competitions, cheerleading competitions, and several school groups (class trips). It sounds like you were there for some of the school groups. I am sorry you had some problems--the Brazillan tour groups have nothing over the American teens. Your best option was to stop at Guest Services while you were there and voice your displeasure. Hopefully, they would have been able to determine what school or schools were causing a disruption.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

We just returned from our second family trip to WDW first family visit to Universal. I must say I was extremely dissapointed with IOA. I love the way it looked the "sets" were all great, however the lines were unbelievable and the crowds were worse. Example while we were in line for spiderman our first rides my kids and I were surroounded by thugs...no other name for them. They were all teens and they were screaming at each other they were jumping line shoving people out of the way at times I was actually worried for my sons safety and this was while we were still in line. I have never experienced anything like that and any other park. While we were on Blutos Bilge ride there were teens in the raft behind us smoking...whats up with that? We could hear the staff over the intercom "reminding" people there was no smoking on the rides but they were ingnored and when the ride was over I was hoping to see some kind of security removing the trash....but no.. they just walked off the ride shirtless and barefoot and went about there business so if the rules aren't going to be enforced why bother having them? The other thing I found EXTREMELY irritating was the number of soliciters around the parks. It started in the parking lot with people trying to give us backpacks in exchage for filling out a CC application to people at every intersection trying to get us to come look at their condos or new hotel or whatever...and they follow you, very annoying... we paid to be there and should be left to enjoy our vacation.
My boys are 10 7 4 and 2 and even though ALL of them are coaster junkies we have decided we will not return until all our boys are teens and are able to defend not only themselves but Mom while wating in line.

We just returned, too. While we didn't have to deal with the salespeople as you exit the parking garage, since we stayed onsite, the kids' groups were pretty obnoxious. We normally visit Orlando in mid-September, mid-December, and the end of February, and the kids with their groups this past trip is definitely not "normal" park environment. We, too, dealt with the screaming, shrieking, inappropriate language, kids pushing and shoving. It was a headache to say the least.

I wouldn't say it "ruined" our vacation, but in the future, I'll always double-check to see if these crowds are going to be dominating the parks when we visit.

FWIW, I'm pretty sure all the theme parks in Orlando host cheerleading, band and kids' groups at some point. I remember dealing with the same thing some years ago at WDW.

Hope you give it another chance sometime

 

[wwessing]

The last few weeks there have been band competitions, cheerleading competitions, and several school groups (class trips). It sounds like you were there for some of the school groups. I am sorry you had some problems--the Brazillan tour groups have nothing over the American teens. Your best option was to stop at Guest Services while you were there and voice your displeasure. Hopefully, they would have been able to determine what school or schools were causing a disruption.

phamton,

Are these groups generally at the parks at the end of april/beginning of May?

 

[phamton]

Last week in April and first week in May seem to be when most of the class trips are. The high school my husband teaches at went to Seaworld this year. If you have issues, let Guest Services know.

 

[tlinus]

See, it's statements like this I just don't get and adds to my frustration every time I read one of those "We only saved one day for Universal so can we do both parks in one day?" threads. Of course, you can't! At least you can't do it well.

Maybe multiple days aren't needed for people who live close by who drop in often or for the attention deficit folks who constantly rush from one thing to another. But for those of us who like to walk rather than run, people-watch, re-ride and re-ride JPRA (or mummy, or spidey, or mib), take pictures, catch all the shows, snack, introduce our unsuspecting sister to the talking fountain, laugh at the kids playing in the water...in other words take a real vacation...then the multiple day passes are a requirement. And the best deal out there.

AMEN!!!! We spent Day 4 of our vacation doing that. We knew the parks would be packed so we went to IOA and kinda "hung out". It was GREAT!!!!