WDW or US/IOA?

[PeterPanMan]

I'm a looooooong time WDW fan, but I want to try something different for a Dec. 18-23 trip to Orlando. US/IOA came up. Would my family of Disney-philes be disappointed in this switch? I've heard differing reports. We would want to stay on-site. The kids are 8, 12 and 12. Help!

 

[macraven]

you'll never know what you are missing until you try it.


i say go for it,
spend time at universal, you will never regret it and might even send us a thank you card once you have been there.............






then we will have another universal groupie among us........

 

[yasuern]

US/IOA is FANTASTIC!!

Our family LOOOVVEESS WDW! we go an average of 2 times/year. But since we discovered US/IOA - we now spend 2 -3 nights on each trip at one of the onsite hotels - I found that older kids(our DD is 10 1st trip just 9y/o) - and she loved it! Although she is the type that loves big rides roller coasters and such.


I say give it a try!!


Sue Marino

 

[PeterPanMan]

But does US/IOA have the same magic as WDW? I grew up in Huntington Beach CA and grew up at DL (I still have several ticket books with one containing an actual E-ticket!)

Our last trip to WDW was 6 nights at the Polynesian, Concierge level and it was amazing. Does the RPH compare?

Thanks alot for all the imput.

 

[etink67]

After over a dozen trips to Disney, we went to US/IOA for the first time last summer. The kids LOVED it. I thought that the rides were just as good, if not better than Disney. If you stay on site then you get the front of the line access. The kids are begging to go back. It helped that they got to meet Spongebob and Shrek.

I didn't see RPH at all but both Portofino and Hard Rock were really nice. If you are staying onsite you should sign up for the Loews frequent stay club. You can do that online at Loews.com. It gets you free or cheap upgrades to bigger rooms.

I would say that the only negative would be that the CM's at Universal, while nice, lacked that Disney spirit of going the extra mile to help out guests.

 

[macraven]

But does US/IOA have the same magic as WDW? I grew up in Huntington Beach CA and grew up at DL (I still have several ticket books with one containing an actual E-ticket!)

Our last trip to WDW was 6 nights at the Polynesian, Concierge level and it was amazing. Does the RPH compare?

Thanks alot for all the imput.

i'm going to take a stab in the dark with this question, are you saying you have never been to us/ioa?

 

[keishashadow]

My family drug me kicking & screaming away from the mouse...and I loved it!

Only mistake made was stoping @ Universal first - FOTL spoiled us. The first time we ever had a relaxing time @ an amusement park.

It was tough to revert to commando-mode @ WDW during Pres. Day weekend.

With apologizes to Dr. Seuss...try it, try it - you will see...but, my heart still belongs @ WDW.

 

[PeterPanMan]

Never ever have I been to US/IOA. When we do get a chance to break free of the Lonestar State and visit Orlando (5 times in the last 15 yrs), we have only frequented WDW. Now, I can go on and on about WDW.

The second to last post said something about the CM's not going the extra mile,... We have several Six Flags parks around here and they are generally one step above a traveling carnival. It's always wonderful when the employees make you feel special. It's all about the escape, right?

Tell me more, Tell me more

 

[PeterPanMan]

My family drug me kicking & screaming away from the mouse...and I loved it!

Only mistake made was stoping @ Universal first - FOTL spoiled us. The first time we ever had a relaxing time @ an amusement park.

It was tough to revert to commando-mode @ WDW during Pres. Day weekend.

With apologizes to Dr. Seuss...try it, try it - you will see...but, my heart still belongs @ WDW.

Universal Express does work then? I read a review somewhere that said it made no difference. I'm glad to hear different.

We are positive that we'll be staying on-site. The Poly at WDW was the best, but the Contemp had it's charm too.

 

[robvia]

When you stay onsite, the "magic" will be there.

I don't know why people are so brainwashed with Disney. They almost seem ashamed to visit IOA/USF for even a day. It's ok people, you can visit, and you'll have a great time.

 

[keishashadow]

When you stay onsite, the "magic" will be there.

I don't know why people are so brainwashed with Disney. They almost seem ashamed to visit IOA/USF for even a day. It's ok people, you can visit, and you'll have a great time.

"brainwashed with Disney"...I prefer to think of it as a "mind-meld"

Disney's not dumb, they've structured the MYW tix so that visiting the parks for 7 days is only a few dollars more than 3 or 4. Combine that with the free transportation from MCO to the Mouse & length of stay dining option = a captive audience...at least with the folks on a budget.

 

[macraven]

i took that ME transportation last year and it sucked big time....

i have always done the car rental or car service prior to last years trip.

you go to one line, wait and then directed to another line and wait.

i arrived on a tuesday thinking the airport would not be as crowded.
that was correct until i went to the lower floor for the ME.

it took me 35 minutes in line for the first counter, then directed to the line for my hotel which i stood for 45 minutes. on that day i went, they were holding up the bus for a full load............i missed the other bus by minutes so was in the holding corral for the next.

it took me close to 2 hours once i landed to get to the hotel at disney.

i am used to a quick 22 minute ride in the back seat of a sedan.

but, i had to try it once to know.


i like disney as much as the next person, but my heart belongs to universal. especially for HHN.........

if someone has never been to universal before, it is a good thing to stay on site for at least one night to be immersed in the total atmosphere there.

come on, you can like both parks, it is not a competition.
you just might enjoy it like keishashadow did........

 

[PeterPanMan]

Although I grew up on Disney, I'm willing to try US without feeling guilty. Lord knows I've spent enough money at WDW to feel they "owe" me one. Like I said, I just want the total submergence in the atmosphere.

Staying offsite was never an option. It's cool to hear that there are so many perks to go along with it.

Not that $ is a deciding factor, but US/IOA seems to be a better bang for the buck. We're a family of 5 and that eliminates the one room option at most of the WDW hotels.

Here's another question: are the parks as pretty as WDW?

 

[lindalinda]

I have checked a couple of times just to see how much it would cost to do concierge at poly. Its right at double the price of club level RPR! I have never stayed there so I cant compare the two but that itself would cheer me up.

As far as which is "prettier" I thinkthe landscaping is probably prettier at disney. The walkways from the hotels to the parks are lovely. The rides themselves are really charming...very different from disney but dramatic and interesting. Take a look at the pictures on the universal pics thread , there are some really good ones. Also on the hotel threads for pics of the hotels themselves. And I gotta give robvia a hand for his website ( he has links posted all over ). It pretty much has averything youd want to see on it.

 

[robvia]

Thanks for the kind words.

The "Why People are so loyal to Disney?" question could be a new thread. The MK had an estimated 16 million people for 2005. DL had 14 million. IOA had 6 million with an 8% drop.

I just see it over and over in the posts lately. People want to visit IOA/USF, but only for a day or two. It's almost as if they feel guilty taking any of their Disney days away. What makes them so loyal to the mouse?

If you drive up to IOA for only 1 day, and try to visit both parks, then the "magic" will not be there, because you're going commando style. One reason I think people like Disney so much, is they stay for a week, taking their time.

So to really give USF/IOA an even chance, you have to stay onsite, and visit for 3 days (2 nights). It's best to do this at the end of a trip, because you'll be spoiled with FOTL.

 

[yaytezIOA]

As you may tell...I'm not a big fan of disney, though I do have an AP. But i will be the first to say that there is much more to do in the whole disney complex than there is the Universal complex, but I think most of that has to do with sheer size. Disney is what? The size of the city of San Fransisco? Universal is not. But I agree with Robvia whole heartedly, just because you spend a few days at Universal doesnt mean the disney police will come and arrest you. Disney is all about the "magical" concept of it all, and it shows, its all fake...not that Universal isnt, but they have more of a real feel to it. From the characters they use, to the way that team members interact with the guests, its an overall better feeling. I always feel at Disney they are being nice just because I'm spending money, which I know is true in both occasions, but they dont make you feel that way at Universal. Again like Robvia said, give UO a chance. Stay at the onsite hotels which you will most likely see are better than most of the disney hotels. Use the transportation, which takes less time than disney trans. Go to Citywalk in the early evening hours. Leave the kids at the pool or in the room and you and the wife go at night, its cheaper and more fun than PI. Take some time, check things out. Before long we'll see you posting on the IOA boards.

 

[PeterPanMan]

Thanks for the kind words.

The "Why People are so loyal to Disney?" question could be a new thread. The MK had an estimated 16 million people for 2005. DL had 14 million. IOA had 6 million with an 8% drop.

I just see it over and over in the posts lately. People want to visit IOA/USF, but only for a day or two. It's almost as if they feel guilty taking any of their Disney days away. What makes them so loyal to the mouse?

If you drive up to IOA for only 1 day, and try to visit both parks, then the "magic" will not be there, because you're going commando style. One reason I think people like Disney so much, is they stay for a week, taking their time.

So to really give USF/IOA an even chance, you have to stay onsite, and visit for 3 days (2 nights). It's best to do this at the end of a trip, because you'll be spoiled with FOTL.

Can I have the link to the site?

I'm a compulsive trip planner and need as much info going in as I can get.

As to the idea of why so many people are brain washed (I liked the term "mind meld) to WD, I've had friends from college who went on to work in FL for WDW. There's a level of almost fanaticism they call being "pixie dusted." Maybe it rubs off on the guests or gets in the water.

Here in TX, we have no such magic. The parks (with the occasional exception of Six Flags in Arlington) are sparse, hot and gum laden. Living with this reality, it's easy to see why we seek the atmosphere.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[macraven]

mike p, which link do you need?

 

[yaytezIOA]

http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/orlando/website/index.php?__source=UO.REDIR

Thats the link to the main site.

 

[PeterPanMan]

lindalinda said something about robvia's website. That's the link I would like to see.

I've been all over the official site. Are there any more?

Poking around WD park sites is relaxing for me. Plus like I said, I'm a compulsive planner.

I'll have to agree about waiting for buses from airports. We made the mistake of taking a Disney sponsered bus on a trip to DL in '98. Not only was it late and long, the wrong way trip down a street and the curb hopping made it almost a rival to any of the thrill rides they had to offer. From there on out, we have hired a private van or town car.

There's nothing like door to door service.