Universal or Extra WDW Day?

[gigi1313]

i'm really torn about how to spend our time in the land of the mouse... to do universal for a day or save money and just do disney stuff... we have an ultimate park hopper, so it seems a bit wasteful to spend $200 just to get into universal for a day... but, will we regret not going?

what's at universal that we just cannot live another year or two without seeing? my children are 7 and 9 and a bit on the "fraidy cat" side... do not like scary stuff at all...

any suggestions?

 

[DNBois]

I am 33 and a bit of a "fraidy cat" myself but I love US; last year, we didn't go to US and we regretted it so this Sept. we bought 1 day US tickets. IOA is not for me as I am not a fan of rollercoasters so US is just my style.
I really do not think that any of the rides (with the exception of The Mummy) would frighten your children. Most of the rides are tame (ET, Jaws, Shrek 3-D, Jimmy Neutron and others) so there shouldn't be a problem. I am going to check out the The Mummy and Shrek 3-D and am really excited to do that.
You should check out the universal website and see what you think - if you can scrape up the $$$, I think your kids would thoroughly enjoy it. Let us know how you decide!

 

[HM]

With UPH's at Disney, I say don't do Universal this time, it would be a waste of your money.

Plan another trip for the future and give yourself at least two days at Universal. You will all love it, but not if you are wasting paid money over at WDW.

-HM

 

[LIFERBABE]

But I agree!

If you have UPH passes skip US this trip. Even if you are never to return I would skip it. There is so much to do at WDW and with the UPH even more. If you factored in your costs for 1 day UPH plus US admission that would be a very expensive day, and without FOTL or purchasing Express Pass, you would be limited in what you will ride at US/IOA that day.

Be sure to visit DisneyQuest and the WaterParks and you will have a great vacation.

ORRRRRRRRR!

Check out of WDW 1 day earlier. Use the money saved to stay at US for 1 night and admission. Use FOTL to see major attractions in each park.

 

[Aimeedyan]

If you already have the passes for WDW, I would do that instead and hit US/IOA the next time.

I enjoyed our time at Universal, but it's not a must-hit for me... it is for DH, though, since he LOVES the thrill rides that aren't found at WDW. I can not get enough of WDW stuff...

If I was a child, I would have not enjoyed it. I was a kid that was scared of most things, and would not have enjoyed most of what US/IOA had to offer.

I'd save the dough for now, and next trip incorporate a day or two to it... your kids will be older and more likely to enjoy some of it, and you could even plan to stay at a Universal hotel and get that FOTL - which absolutely ROCKS. We will never do Universal without that =)

 

[highlander447]

Gotta agree if u have your passes enjoy your disney time and plan a future trip to USO u will enjoy it more if u give it more time and its not already costing u xtra $$

 

[Disney Dee]

I think it depends on how long your vacation is and your financial situation. If you are doing a 10 day trip, then maybe get the 2 day US/IOA ticket and go over 1 day and save the other day for another trip? We did that one yr and were happy the following trip to be able to go to US/IOA for what seemed like free since we already had the left over tickets. That yr we purchased a 5 day hopper instead of 6 day hopper we would have gotten if we didn't have the unused US/IOA, so we felt like we saved money on hoppers the 2nd trip!

 

[zaxmom]

I think Universal is too expensive to go to only one day. For $400 you could take the family for a week. I would enjoy your disney tickets and plan on coming back next year, stay on site at Universal for 3 or 4 nights and enjoy FOTL and the resorts. It will feel so relaxing for a theme park. Then go to another hotel or condo and do Sea World. You can get a 2nd day free from them and go two half days which makes that very relaxing as well. This will feel like a complete vacation in itself.

 

[BarbaraMB]

You should stick with Disney and go to Universal another time when you can stay at one of the on site resorts and get FOTL and have time to enjoy the pools. I don't think there is enough hours in the day to do Disney.

 

[JT3000]

If you have UPH passes skip US this trip. Even if you are never to return I would skip it.

Eh? I wouldn't go that far!

 

[dckiss]

I agree with what was mentioned above, however would add this. Last year when our vacation was over at Disney we weren't ready to come home yet so we decided to stay in Orlando another day and visit the Islands of Adventure. We really enjoyed the rides & food that the park had to offer. However we were really disappointed with the service, not that anything really bad happened it just wasn't on par with Disney. We decided to return to universal staying on site (Royal Pacific) this year & to visit both parks in two days as well as enjoy City Walk. Then we are going to head over to Disney. Point being that Disney spoils you so much when your there & you get used to it quickly, that when you venture back into the real world its a bit of a shock. We think we will enjoy Universal much more this year by visiting there first. (Can't wait to ride the Mummy)

Maximus