Universal vs. Disney

[Spring Training Fan]

I am heading to Disney next month with my Little Brother and he is 14. He has never been to Disney or Universal and when I showed him the attractions online, he immediately said he wanted to go to Universal. Since we will only have 3 days to spend at the parks, I am wondering where to go with him. I know Universal will be at least one day, but my question is, can you do both Universal parks in 1 day, or should we spend 2 days there? I plan on getting us the Express pass for Universal, so I am wondering if you could do everything in 1 day there. I don't want to wear us both out, but also don't want to buy a 2 day pass and be done with everything on the first day. Also, do you have any recommendations on which Disney park/parks to take him to if we have only 1 or 2 days? I was thinking to take advantage of the Magic Hours since we will be staying at SSR, and wanted to hit Disney Quest one day/night also. So, I was thinking if we only had 1 day, maybe go to MGM since he is 14, it seemed to have some good rides, also maybe Animal Kingdom, although Epcot would be great also. See my delima!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think you need to take a bit more time. There is no way you could see all of one Disney park in a day for a first visit and do it justice. You might be able to do both Universal parks in a day if you know ahead of time what you want to see, where it is, and how to best tour it to get the best time advantage. For a 14 year old, I think MGM would be a decent park for a day, but Epcot would have more variety. It's hard to say, since you have never experienced any of them, you don't really know what the intrigue is. My favorite is Epcot followed closely by MGM and Animal Kingdom with Magic Kingdom bringing up the rear. That being said, they are all miles ahead of any of the Universal parks in my book.

 

[Granny]

With the Express Pass, you can do both Universal parks in one day, but it will be a long one! It sounds like your Little Brother is a ride hound, and Universal has more thrill rides than Disney. Just plan on getting there a little before the park opens so that you don't spend much time parking...it's a 10 minute walk from the garages to the front gate even if it's not crowded.

I think MGM would be your best park if only going for one day. With Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster, plus the stunt shows, I think MGM is a good idea. It's also the smallest Disney park making it easier to get around in a day.

The other day I'd hit EPCOT for Test Track & Mission Space and then head over to AK for Dinosaur & Expedition Everest.

 

[hoopsrob]

I'd spend one day at each Universal park----he's 14 and will love the Studios as well as Islands of Adventure. Don't try to cram both in one day---even with the Express pass.

 

[donny]

if hes 14 he probably loves thrills and will love both universal parks so you should do both a day for themselves

 

[Spring Training Fan]

Thanks guys! I asked him to make sure and he said 2 days at Universal, so I will do that. Can I ask you guys about Disney Quest? I thought he might like that as well, and wanted to spend some time there. How much time would you allow for that and is it worth it for a 14 year old?

 

[clm3]

My kids love DQ! The first time they went with DH and spent from 2pm til 10pm. They were 12 & 7. The next year we went and took DD-5 and we spent about 6 hours. There is definitely ALOT for a 14 old to do. Does he like virtual reality games? If so he'll have a blast.

 

[F-L-A]

I think you need to take a bit more time. There is no way you could see all of one Disney park in a day for a first visit and do it justice. You might be able to do both Universal parks in a day.

Regardless of what you think of Universal - this made no sense whatsoever.

 

[HopperFan]

Well, in July, an express pass may be a must at Universal. My DS and I did Studios one day in January, finished all we wanted by mid afternoon and went to IOA to scope it out as we were returning the next day with rest of family. We managed to do Hulk, Dueling Dragons 2x, Jurassic Park, Posiden and a few other things in a couple of hours. What I would do is study what there is at Studios and see what he really wants to do there, maybe only a couple hours there is plenty, then move on to IOA. My teen DS thought studios was basically boring except for Mummy. Make sure you have the two park tickets. IF you would be returning consider the power pass. We got ours at AAA, 15 mos for the cost of a two day ticket.

Disney, well my DS's high school athletic team goes every year and the kids always say (they only have one park day) that the only place they want to go is Magic Kingdom because it has the most to do. EPCOT and AK are never on their radar (although EE wasn't open yet). I would think that for your time constraints I would decide if hopping is worth it. MK one day - maybe leaving early that evening for DQ, then AK to ride EE/Dinosaur....hop over to MGM for rest of day.

We always get discount tickets for Disneyquest from Ticketmania. Quite a discount, enough to pay for our dinner that day.

 

[ChrisFL]

That being said, they are all miles ahead of any of the Universal parks in my book.

If you're a thrillseeker, Disney parks are at a disadvantage to Universal parks in general.

 

[scarboroughmom]

If you are going to spend two days at US/IOA, you might consider staying at one of the 3 US hotels. Your room key is your express pass. The express pass you buy at the gate gives you one express entry per ride. With the room key, you can use the express line as often as you want. That benefit beats a few really crowded extra magic hours at a WDW park. With a fourteen year old, I would recommend MGM also. I have spent alot of time at both places with my 3 sons, 11,9,& 9. I haven't taken them to Disney Quest yet, but they would really like to go. I just hate arcades. But if I had 3 days, I would spend 1.5 at US/IOA, and go do DQ for .5 day, and spend one day at MGM. I would not spend the extra money to park hop at WDW. You're both gonna be plenty tired at the end of those three days.

 

[Spring Training Fan]

Thanks for all your help! I talked to him and he really wants 2 days at Universal, so we will do that. I will probably splurge and get the 2 park pass each day just in case he likes one more than the other. And I will definitely get the Express pass so we aren't standing in line in the hot sun all day. I will do one day at Disney and his friends have told him to go to MGM, so we will probably just do that and not get the park hopper. I may extend the vacation 1 more day. I think we both would like Disney Quest, so we may have 1 day that will be a little more restful with DQ and maybe catch a show at night like Mideval Times or Arrabian Nights or something like that. Are those shows worth it? I have never been, but that may be a good day to do both of those.

 

[scarboroughmom]

My sons loved Medievel times. So did my husband and I. If you search in the Orlando board, you'll see lots of positive reviews.

 

[HappyLawyer]

i agree more time would be needed, there is no real comparison because each one offers a different experience, our family likes US/IOA more then disney but we still do our disney stuff each trip because we enjoy it too, if we only had 3 days, we would do one or the other it's not enough time to incorporate both.