wdw or universal?

[onslow]

Hey,

Which park should i choose and why?
We have planned 3 days in Orlando.
Is wdw better for small kids (we don't have kids)
Is universal better and more interesting for adults?

thanks for your reply

onslow

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Sorry all you Disney fans, as much as we love Disney if we were only having three days we'd go for 2days in Universal any time - one in Studios, one IOA.

They are both our favourite parks - children and adults alike.

Hard to pick a real Disney favourite, bet for all of us to get something out of the day it would probably be MK or AK.

Have fun

 

[tikkipoo]

I would do 2 day IOA and 1 day Sea World.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Assuming you have never been to WDW, how could you even THINK of doing Universal ????

 

[onslow]

I have been to Florida and to wdw in 1990 and it was really great (as they say in Amerika...) My wife hasn't been there before. I want her too see the best of the best of the parks.
I haven't been to Universal so that's a point for me. But i also want to go back to wdw. (bit of a dilemma)
Travelguides (as national geographic and lonely planet) say universal is more advanced and more modern.

onslow

 

[safetymom]

I think you should experience both Universal and WDW. They are both places to go but they are different. I enjoy WDW because there is more to do than ride the rides.

 

[AJKMOM]

Sorry, all you Universal fans, but we don't like it there at all. No magic to us. Three days for a newbie? Our first 3 choices are: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Sea World. USF was ok when we were in Orlando for 10 days, and IOA was cute, but if I didn't have kids, I wouldn't spend the money to see it. I also wouldn't go there unless I stayed onsite, the front-of-the-line access made the whole thing bearable.

 

[Uncleromulus]

"Modern" and "Advanced" may not be the best words to judge a theme park!! IF thrill rides are what you seek, then an amusement park like Universal/IOA may be best for you---.

 

[onslow]

Back in 1990 if found Epcot a bit out of date but it still was a great park and at night the lasershow was really great, till today i never saw a show that good (i'm a European...)
Magic Kingdom was the max. Indeed, it's the magic that's most important there. But in my humble opinion it's more for smaller kids (some parts of the park, not all)
The mgm studios where interesting and i still remember the Indiana Jones-show.

I'm not particular a great fan of rollercoasters and thrills but i like a modern and sophisticated park.

On the other side, my wife want to meet with Mickey and Goofy...

 

[safetymom]

What is a modern and sophisticated park? Could you give an example?

 

[onslow]

Well, i give it a try...
For example, the theme's are a bit of today (bv. in Universal: The mummy ( the movie is a few years old), the hulk (the movie isn't also that old), spiderman (also a very recent movie). Ok there are exceptions in Universal (ET, Blues brothers,...)
Overall you could say that the themes in Universal are of the '90, till today.
In Disneyworld it's all about Mickey and Minny and so on, ok, these figures are timeless. You also have there Indiana Jones (early eighties), Star wars (also eighties).
Maybe i could give other examples but this shows what i mean.
And with sophisticated i mean the attractions are state of the art with the newest technology. But there i'm not too sure about my point, you can discuss about it.
For example the space mountain is still the same as 15 years ago (correct me if i'm wrong) and in Disneyland in Paris it's a more recent version.(with more special effects, more lasers,...)

Don't understand me wrong, i'm not against wdw. Back in 1990 i really enjoyed it. I have the best memories of it. And i'm certain that i'm going to visit wdw again. Maybe it's not going to be this year but certainly in the future.
I also think that you can go more often to wdw then Universal, just because the magic.

I also looked to your pictures, i liked them.

onslow

 

[twoeeyy]

Both Universal and WDW are good. It all depends on what you are looking for.
Last year we did Universal and stayed on-site. What an experience! It was Great. I loved the FOTL well worth it. This year we are doing WDW, much to my husbands dis satisfaction, He vowed after staying on site at Universal that her would never go to WDW again and wait in lines.
Lines or no lines my daughter and myself need to go back to WDW we need our mickey 'fix'

 

[safetymom]

Onslow, so you are comparing Island of Adventure which is fairly new to WDW. I think the original Universal is quite dated compared to WDW. I do enjoy the original Universal much better though because of the theming so I guess I like old themes that are timeless.

If going to Universal is what will make your vacation then go for it. That is what vacation is all about. Have a great time.

Orlando loves tourists.

 

[powellrj]

we have done both and just wanted to add if you are thinking about going to Universal check out the Universal boards on the DIS. They can give you great information about staying on-site and what discounts they have for tickets! Front of the Line at Universal is great.

 

[goofyernmost]

OK, I'll wade in here...First of all I like Universal Studios. They have some great attractions. Shrek, Terminator, Men in Black, Back to the future, Twister, Earthquake and more. IOA is a waste of time for adults. Unless, of course, you are into carnival like thrill rides. Spiderman is the only one, in my opinion, worthy of the walk. The rest is a long, hot walk, into a mostly "child" oriented setup. Good, but not my cup of tea. If a one day park hopper were not available there I would never go into IOA.

Epcot is quite different than what you remember from 1990. There has been the upgrade of Universe of Energy, Mission Space (you don't get much higher tech than that), Test Track, Sourin', and Illuminations is not to be missed.

MK may be for children, as you say, but at 57 years old I still love it. Space Mountain is the same but there is splash mtn, Thunder Mtn., Classics like P of C, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Stitch's Adventure, Philharmagic and on and on.

Disney Studios has added Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster plus the classics of Indiana Jones, Star Tours, and the Muppets.

Then there is Animal Kingdom that really is hard to describe. You must experience it to appreciate it.

We, of course, cannot make up your mind for you but at least don't measure WDW by what existed in 1990.

 

[SnowWhite]

It is a debate as old as time! Really it totally depends what you are interested in but honestly we love BOTH. We are skipping Universal this trip because our DS is only 2 and when we took DD last time she was 3 and was scared of all the fire on the rides. Universal is an absolutely fantastic park for adults and bigger kids but then again so is WDW.

I know I didn't really clear that up for you but if you haven't been to either why not experience both??!!!

 

[Ilovestitch]

WDW has a lot more to do and I think the rides and atmosphere is better overall.

My bf and I have been to Universal several times, sometimes staying onsite at HRH.

On our last trip we stayed at WDW for 10 days, but went to Universal for one day.

We got there when the Universal opened and we had breakfast, did BOTH parks- many rides two or 3 times, ate lunch walked around Citywalk and were done and ready to go back to the hotel by 5pm!!

We spent 9 days of our vacation at the Disney parks and still didn't get to do everything we wanted!!

I also think WDW parks are cleaner than Universal. We noticed lots of trash in the lines and lots of chipped paint- especially at the Suess Landing at IOA. The MK is in much better shape and its been open 20-some years later!

 

[ukcatfan]

I personally feel like Universal is just one step above Six Flags. It is cleaner than Six Flags, but not as clean as Disney. It has more theming than Six Flags, but not as much as Disney. When you step out of a Disney park, you are still in the middle of the magic. When you step out of a Universal park, you are in tourist trap central. Unless you really enjoy three tooth carnies trying to talk you into buying his three for $15 "Official" T-shirts.

 

[slp87]

I know Disney is thought to be more for kids, but as an adult I think Disney is more interesting. If you're "into" thrill rides, then Univ. is for you. I agree that Univ. lacks the spark that puts it on the level with Disney.

 

[rmontgo892]

Although my family and I prefer WDW, we still had a blast at Universal/Islands of Adventure.

If your asking where to stay then you can't go wrong with either Universal or WDW resorts.

Limited time will let you see just about all of Universal with their Front Of The Line pass only available to guests staying at their resorts.

The "other" front of the line pass" can be purchased for extra $$ on that day depending on availability at the ticket booth. They can sell out. It's a great option if not staying onsite at Universal.

If your not asking where to stay and just which parks to visit than that is a bit different. WDW has 4 parks and Universal has 2. Oh yea, whether Disney or Universal both have little kid rides but the most famous of course is Fantasy land at Magic Kingdom with Dumbo, Small World, Peter Pan...

Universal can be done in 2 days with FOTL pass...all of WDW can't. If doing WDW I would include the Magic Kingdom and one other park to concentrate on. They have so many beautiful resorts to choose from!

Have fun deciding!!!