universal vs bush gardens

[papersoilder1]

me and my wife are takeing are 1st trip to wdw 8 days and 7 nights, should we visit one of these parks or just stick to disney and so those another time. If we were to visit one of those parks which one would you recommend and why?

 

[Beastlover]

Personally, we did not like Bush Gardens. Definately go to Universal. It is a full day there...love it!!

 

[powellrj]

we have never been to bush gardens, but we LOVE universal and IOA. We usually try to do both while we are in Orlando.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

If you're going to try one of them I'd say make it Universal. That being said, if this is your first time at WDW and you plan on making future trips, I'd stick to just Disney. There is so much to see and do I'd just concentrate on that and try Universal another time.

 

[aengus]

We always visit Universal (studios and IOA) during our vacations, and on occasion we also visit Busch Gardens. These are all excellent choices. IOA is incredible if you like thrill rides. Studios attractions are visually incredible. Busch Gardens has a great mix of both thrill rides and animal exhibits, several roller coasters.

To be honest, if this is your first trip to Disney, however, I would just stay at Disney. AK = 1 day, MGM = 1 day, MK = 2 days, Epcot = 2days, DTD/PI= 1day. Some resort hopping is fun too if you get tired during any of that. If you are going in the middle of summer you probably would want to visit the water parks also. (Typhoon lagoon and Blizzard beach)

I would save Universal and/or Busch Gardens for future visits if it were my first time in the area.

Sea World, and Discovery Cove are also great ideas for future trips also.

 

[pixiepower1971]

I would suggest going to a different park. I always find it nice to break up the Disney parks with a visit it US/IOA or SeaWorld.

SeaWorld is a one day park, US/IOA can both be done in 1 day DEPENDING on the time of the year. In the summer you need 1 day per park unless you purchase express pass for all the rides.

I live close to BG then Orlando so I go there all the time. It is a day trip for me. If you are into roller coasters they have some great ones and the rest of the park is really wonderful BUT you have to drive from Disney and that takes up a good bit of the day, especially is you hit traffic or there is an accident on I4.

If it were me and I wanted to only do one day I would choose SeaWorld. I love that place. They have a few rides but the rest are animal shows, attractions. A very different experiance and the park is clean, well laid out and all employees are wonderful. I have never had a bad day there.

If you want a more "exciting" ride day I would go to US/IOA. Even if you only have one day I would get a pass for both parks and hit the highlights at both. They have some AWESOME rides.

 

[mattr555]

Between Universal and BG I would say Universal but I would substitute Animal Kingdom for Busch Gardens. I saw more animals closer up and Gwazi and Montu are fabulous coasters. AK is very poor for a Disney park, the only good things being the tree of life which is very impressive and It's a Bugs Life which is excellent.

 

[jmclester]

Ditto....USF over BG.

 

[janethill]

Busch Gardens is nice, but totally different park experience than Disney or Universal. If I were at Disney for first time, I would just do Disney and save others for later. Busch Gardens is more like a prettier version of Six Flags. I will say though that I have found the Busch employees more helpful and friendly, than the Disney employees.

Also don't feel as ripped of by Busch, if you keep your souvenir cup, you can get it refilled for 1.00.

 

[mattr555]

ditto the employee comment. with the exception of the serving staff in the restaurants, it was an effort for the disney CMs to even raise a smile. they all looked truly pissed off. i was expecting the painted smile thing after being really disapointed at the moodyness of staff at disneyland paris.

the BG employees were fantastic, it was raining when we went, and the staff were happy to call up the different ride ops to let us know whether a ride was open or had been closed before we walked accross the park. also Jose who was manning the turnstiles wouldnt shut up, and talked non stop about his favourite theme parks and his family until the park opened.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

ditto the employee comment. with the exception of the serving staff in the restaurants, it was an effort for the disney CMs to even raise a smile. they all looked truly pissed off.

I must be going to a different WDW than you.

 

[jeffn5631]

If I were going to another park in Orlando, Sea World would be a good choice.

J & J

 

[Tarzan]

For my first time I would stay at Disney, or possibly visit Sea World as Disney has nothing like it. The CMs at Disney are very friendly, very polite and I was so impressed with a few that I did contact Guest Relations to praise them. I can't imagine anybody finding the CMs anything other than nice

 

[mattr555]

Seaworld is excellent. When we went, while we were waiting at the rope for the park to open, everyone turned to the flag on the observation tower and started singing the us national anthem. we found that a little bizarre.

also at the start of the shamu show, they did a salute to the heros where all the servicemen had to stand up and they were shown on the large plasma screen. a nice touch but nothing like that would happen in europe. we dont identify servicemen in public incase they are then targeted by terrorists.

 

[pixiepower1971]

Every time I have been to SW or BG they start the day with the playing of the national athnem. My family enjoys this touch to the beginning of our day.SW and BG are and have been supporting the troops for a very long time. It is wonderful that they respect the people giving so much of themselves and their families. Not Bizarre for an American company!

As to iding servicemen and thanking them for their service and sacrifices for our country...wonderful. I wish more places would do it. And most of us wives have to kick our hubies to stand up and be recongnized. They don't realize what they do is special. It is just park of who they are. And most that I know are easily identified by the way they look and carry themselves. If you look closelt SW and BG also give military personnel special lanyards to wear that id them as servicemembers and thank them for serving their country.

I say thank you AB company. You continue to amaze me with your support our troops.