Universal Virgin and Disney Lover--HELP!!

[alaskanmommy]

Hi Guys.

HELP! My sister and I, and our respective families, are planning a trip next January/February and will be in Orlando for 10 nights and 11 days. I have only been to WDW and previously haven't been able to pry myself away from Disney to visit Sea World or Universal.

Soooo, we are big Harry Potter fans and are planning to visit the Wizarding World next year. I think I am only really interested in visiting the Harry Potter part and would like to spend any extra time I have a Disney. Is this insane?? My sister wants to plan 2 days at Universal, EEK, and I'm not so sure I want to commit two days there when I could go to Disney one of those days.

I would especially appreciate some input from those that have been to Universal but have a hard time pulling themselves away from WDW!!

WWDD---What Would Dis-ers Do??

Thanks for all your Disney/Universal wisdom!!!

 

[Kimberle]

We love WDW. A couple years ago, we spent a whole week {gasp} at US. We stayed at RPR and loved it. We had a great week.

The #1 piece of advice I can give is *don't* compare US or Seaworld to WDW while you are there. They will never measure up and you'll end up having a miserable time. US & SW are their own unique resorts. They have their own unque pro's & con's.

We found our US vacation to be very relaxing. We could sleep late, b/fast at leasure (no adr's needed), then take the charming boat over. Didn't matter when we arrived because we had FOTL (front of the line) privilege with our on-site stay. (It was REALLY hard to go back to long lines at WDW the next year.) We play a few hours then go back to the resort for a late lunch and afternoon of swimming. You can pool-hop at the US resorts! There pools are amazing.

Competition between the Orlando resorts is a good thing! It keeps everybody on their "toes".

The DIS has some wonderful US boards. Stop over sometime. The posters are very friendly.

 

[alaskanmommy]

Thanks for the info. I think we are going to stay at a WDW resort the entire trip and then buy the US tickets that included to/from transfers. I realize we won't get the front-of-the-line passes but we're hoping to get there at opening to alleviate some of the waiting times.

Does anybody have experience staying at Disney while taking day trips to US??

 

[Sphyrna]

It can be a tough decision. Like they were saying on the podcast, US and SW attendance is down b/c Disney is holding guests captive. Once on property you question if you want to go elsewhere. I've been asking myself if I want to do US and SW on my next trip.

If I was in your shoes I would do at least 1, if not 2 days at US. Since you're going already for WWHP you might as well see what the rest of IOA and US are like. I don't see it being worth it to go all that way just for WWHP. But that's just me. Might want to even consider getting a room at a US resort for a night so you can have FOL access.

As for SW, I love SW!! I may be biased since I have a background in marine biology, so it's right up my alley. Last time I was there my friend and I agreed next time we should plan for 2 days at SW. You can spend your entire day running from show to show. And even though I've seen all the shows a dozen times I still enjoy them.

That's my suggestion, hope it helps.

 

[Pooh's Hunny]

We have gone to US and IOA while staying at Disney. I-4 can be a nightmare trying to make it from WDW to US before opening so allow extra time. Remember it is a good walk from the parking garage to the turnstyles.

I agree with the previous poster--don't compare the two "worlds". We enjoy both US and IOA and will definitely be visiting next time we go--we are big Harry fans too.

 

[wishspirit]

Thanks for the info. I think we are going to stay at a WDW resort the entire trip and then buy the US tickets that included to/from transfers. I realize we won't get the front-of-the-line passes but we're hoping to get there at opening to alleviate some of the waiting times.

Does anybody have experience staying at Disney while taking day trips to US??

I always did this growing up. We would spend two weeks at Disney (coming from abroad means that we stay longer to make the 9 hour flight worth it!), usually staying at Caribbean Beach.

We would hire a car for the whole time we were there, so we could drive out to supermarkets, do shopping and eat away from Disney. We would also drive to Universal. We would usually spend at least 2 days at Universal and 1 day at seaworld. We would get there for opening (since we are 5 hours ahead, we use this to our advantage) which would be almost empty, do all the rides we wanted and head out for a late lunch, then back for a swim at the CB pool! We would then go back to Disney for the evening fireworks, so we got the best of both worlds! (I must also mention that it was easier and cheaper just to buy two week tickets, especially if you are a Brit and can get reduced prices on longer stays).

This trip (June) we aren't having a hire car as it is too expensive, but staying at RPR and then taking a town car to Pop. Hopefully this will work well for us, but we'll let you know.

I guess that with the opening of Harry Potter, the almost empty entry will be long gone. I would still recommend going for two days to get everything done, and like other posters have said, just appreciate it for what it is! Disney will still be there when you get back!

 

[mainegal]

WDW is wonderful, but it is not the only wonderful theme park out there.

Please do give Universal a chance. It may not be the same, perhaps some standards are different. But I thought it was pretty cool. I was impressed with the good theming and architecture.

US and IOA are worth two days. Even throw in Sea World. You will still have six or seven days at WDW. And you will have an interestingly balanced vacation.

Have fun planning!

 

[FanO'TheMouse]

Just like the OP we are Disney fanatics who are going to US for the first time because of Harry Potter. Just wondering from some of you who do both, better to drive over to US or to buy the tickets with the free shuttle transportation? How long of a drive is it from Disney to US? Does the US shuttle drop you off closer to the gates than if you park?

I am hoping to love US and IOA but I am not a big coaster fan so I am still unsure. My favorite ride at WDW is more in the line of Winnie the Pooh!

THanks for the advice!

 

[Metro West]

Just like the OP we are Disney fanatics who are going to US for the first time because of Harry Potter. Just wondering from some of you who do both, better to drive over to US or to buy the tickets with the free shuttle transportation? How long of a drive is it from Disney to US? Does the US shuttle drop you off closer to the gates than if you park?

I am hoping to love US and IOA but I am not a big coaster fan so I am still unsure. My favorite ride at WDW is more in the line of Winnie the Pooh!

THanks for the advice!

Glad you hear you're going to try Universal and there plenty of attractions besides coasters for you to experience. I think lots of people are going to come to Universal because of WWoHP and see that Disney is not the only game in town.

It's not a bad drive from Disney property to Universal but it depends on where you are starting. From the DD area, you're only about 25 mins or so but from AKL it's more like 45 mins. Traffic will play a role too...if you decide to drive yourselves.

Taking the Mears shuttle is good and bad. Good because you can leave the driving to someone else and not pay the parking fee but on the shuttle you're only someone else's schedule. The shuttle stops at different Disney hotels and picks up people who are also going that day so that will slow you down.

If you decide to take the shuttle, you are closer to the parks than the garage is. The bus drop off is at the rotunda which about half way to the parks...so it will save you some steps but there are moving sidewalks to assist as well.

Come over to the Universal boards if you have any specific questions and we will be glad to help.

 

[FanO'TheMouse]

Glad you hear you're going to try Universal and there plenty of attractions besides coasters for you to experience. I think lots of people are going to come to Universal because of WWoHP and see that Disney is not the only game in town.

It's not a bad drive from Disney property to Universal but it depends on where you are starting. From the DD area, you're only about 25 mins or so but from AKL it's more like 45 mins. Traffic will play a role too...if you decide to drive yourselves.

Taking the Mears shuttle is good and bad. Good because you can leave the driving to someone else and not pay the parking fee but on the shuttle you're only someone else's schedule. The shuttle stops at different Disney hotels and picks up people who are also going that day so that will slow you down.

If you decide to take the shuttle, you are closer to the parks than the garage is. The bus drop off is at the rotunda which about half way to the parks...so it will save you some steps but there are moving sidewalks to assist as well.

Come over to the Universal boards if you have any specific questions and we will be glad to help.

Thanks for the advice. I will check out the Universal boards too!!