WDW cost vs. US / IOA cost?

[caroline1851]

We're planning a trip for Nov 2010. I'm now rethinking Disney and thinking of doing Universal STudios, IOA and Sea World. Not sure where to stay. I like the Nickolodeon Suites but I like the fast pass type thing if staying on Univ property. Or...should i look into some other off-property rental? If so, any suggestions?

For those who have done both vacations? How do the overall costs compare? At WDW last time, we stayed Mod and had the meal plan.

Are there buses that take you from the hotels to the parks? Or should we rent a car?

My kids will be 5 and 8. Is there enough to do at those parks vs. Disney for them?

Thanks for your input!!

 

[damo]

If you stay onsite the parks are within walking distance of the hotels and there is also a boat shuttle and a bus shuttle. Are your kids boys or girls?

I find a Universal vacations to be much cheaper. Hotel prices should be really good in November and if you get tickets now, they are only $99 for 7 days of park hopping.

 

[breebella]

We're planning a trip for Nov 2010. I'm now rethinking Disney and thinking of doing Universal STudios, IOA and Sea World. Not sure where to stay. I like the Nickolodeon Suites but I like the fast pass type thing if staying on Univ property. Or...should i look into some other off-property rental? If so, any suggestions?

For those who have done both vacations? How do the overall costs compare? At WDW last time, we stayed Mod and had the meal plan.

Are there buses that take you from the hotels to the parks? Or should we rent a car?

My kids will be 5 and 8. Is there enough to do at those parks vs. Disney for them?

Thanks for your input!!

We have always been a "Disney" family. However, 3 yrs ago, we decided to split our trip and try Universal. We stayed at the Royal Pacific. We loved it so much that we went back again this past August and stayed at Hard Rock. We love Universal. My oldest who is 16, doesn't want to go back to Disney again, she's more into Universal now because they have a lot of thrill rides. My 7 yr old, loves Dis and Universal. What we love about Universal is that you can walk from your hotel or take a water taxi to parks. One thing I've learned is that if you want to go to Sea World or Wet n Wild and you don't have a car, you have to sign up @ the front desk the day before (I was told as early in the morning as possible) to get on shuttle schedule. If you rent a car, I believe the charge is $15 per day to park. Universal does not offer transportation, like Disney's Magical Express, you will have to pay to get there whether you take a cab (it was $43 + tip) for me from airport to Hard Rock, or use Mears or Quick Transportation or arrange for a Town car to take you. The FOTL is the best perk. We go in August when the heat is just awful, so not having to wait in long lines for the rides is the BEST Also, the hotels are gorgeous and the service is incredible. The staff at the Hard Rock always went out of their way to make sure we were happy. It can get costly to stay on-site at Universal, but if you check the site regularly, they are always running some sort of special and if you watch for the super saver rates, you can really get some great deals.
When we went in August, we did Hard Rock first for 5 nights, then transferred over to Disney's Coronado Springs. Now I've always loved the Coronado, but after leaving the Hard Rock, & we opened to our door to the Coronado, man were we disappointed. You just can't compare. If you are going to split your trip, be sure to do Disney first. Now we've stayed at Disney's Contemporary before and that was beautiful, but there is just something about those Lowes Hotels.....
BTW, I've never stayed at the Nick hotel, but I can tell you that I haven't heard many good things about it. Sure, it does look like lots of fun, but many of the ppl I know that have stayed there said they'd never go back.

 

[caroline1851]

It definently seems like staying on site makes more sense than off site. I like the fact that you can walk to the parks. that's awesome! Is there enough to do for 8 year old son and 5 year old daughter?

 

[macraven]

since the early 1990's, i have stayed onsite at both the motherland and darkside hotels.

i do the motherland first and then the darkside as the loews hotels spoil me!

i feel the hotel costs at universal are much better than what i pay at disney.


i find my Universal portion of my vacation is so much more relaxing.
no rushing in the early morning to beat the crowds.
no busses to deal with.
many choices of dining places.

 

[damo]

I think there is lots for an 8 year old boy and 5 year old girl but then again it has been a long time since mine were that age!!!

The hotels are also great and keep kids well entertained.

There are lots of pictures and videos as www.universalorlando.com to give you a good idea of what to expect.

 

[Pinkpony]

since the early 1990's, i have stayed onsite at both the motherland and darkside hotels.

i do the motherland first and then the darkside as the loews hotels spoil me!

i feel the hotel costs at universal are much better than what i pay at disney.


i find my Universal portion of my vacation is so much more relaxing.
no rushing in the early morning to beat the crowds.
no busses to deal with.
many choices of dining places.

DITTO ALL OF THIS!!

My boys have preferred Universal over Disney since they were 8 (now 16). I'm not sure about as young as 5. I do know the 5yo will LOVE Seussland.

 

[jenseib]

Well DH doesn't want to do any vacation this year because of cost, but he says that alot, so I price stuff out anyways just in case and then I'm prepared. I priced 5 nights at pop with dining and basic tickets for Disney (plus you do get the 300 gift card for the time I priced) and it was $2056 and change. Last year our trip cost just over this including our flight and we stayed one night more. Disny really raised the prices and the deals are not as good this year.
I priced a 5 night at fairfield inn on the universal site and it was 532 and that included the tickets. Of course no meals either, but I think that is a heck of alot cheaper. They say they have a continental breakfast and a shuttle. Not sure how the shuttle works. so we might drive each day anyways...and not sure if we have to pay for parking, but I assume so.
So I ran it by DH and he still grumbled. Gotta love men!

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

The tickets for universal (if you prepay) are about half of what disney's are for park hoppers, however comparing apples to apples with size and numbers of rides and parks I would say that was fair. We found the prices of hotels comparable ie: deluxe vs deluxe. This year at AKL we paid $400 plus change with free dining, and stayed at PBH for around $360 a night CL. The only thing I would say is Universals seems cheaper in some cases is the food in sit down restarurants ie: Mythos but counter service seems comparable. However, and the big HOWEVER is FOTL is priceless.