WDW vs Universal

[Atchley]

My DSIL is wanting to try take her son to Florida on vacation this year. It would more than likely be DSIL, DN, DMIL. DSIL and DMIL both love WDW. Problem is that DSIL said she has been pricing and thinking of going to Univeral Studios instead because it is cheaper. Can this be true? Has anyone went and stayed at both Universal and WDW and Universal be cheaper? She would want the DDP and would like to stay at a mod (DMIL is used to Poly). Can anyone tell me if a trip to Universal, same # of days in park and nights at hotel at Universal, with Dining Plan (if they have it or just adding in cost of food) would definately be cheaper than a vacation to Disney? I am hoping not and to convince to go back to their true love but I haven't been to US so I just don't know. TIA

 

[Kimberle]

I have stayed at both. We spent a week at RPR. We LOVED LOVED LOVED our stay there. US has 3 resorts. They are all luxury resorts. The RPR pool totally blew away any WDW pool I'd seen. You are allowed to pool "hop" as well. Go over to the US resorts brds and see the comments and reviews. The US resorts also have suttles to Sea World and Wet & Wild.

Right now, US is running a ticket special. 7 days for $81 per ticket (not per day).

 

[ElizabethB]

US has nice hotels and good parks, although I think the parks are better for older kids and teens. We've stayed at Hard Rock, which we didn't care for much, and Royal Pacific, which we loved. The Royal Pacific can often be had for about the same prices as a WDW moderate, even though it would qualify as a WDW deluxe. If I ask my teen nephew whether he'd like to go to WDW or US, he would always pick US. We're going to WDW for free dining, however, so he doesn't have a choice.

 

[kirbsam]

if you compare apples to apples(park admission, and deluxe room rates) universal is much less expensive. when you talk about the dining plan, value rooms, etc. you throw more variables into it.

 

[Lilolvr]

If it's cheaper, its for a reason. Most likely because the Disney name carries so much with people, it doesn't have to discount anything. US and IOA are trying to get people to come over so they always have some promotion on tickets (buy two days, get three free). They have some great rides at US/IOA but it just isn't the same, it's just not Disney. You get what you pay for...

 

[Tink415]

Universal hotels cost less and tickets cost much less, and you get FOTL for rides and attractions. Meals at the hotels cost a little more than the hotels at WDW, meals at the parks about the same. Its a nice change from WDW. You can actually visit the parks and have lot of time to relax. The resorts a beautiful. The attractions are great, I think its that the characters at the US parks just don't same the same emotional pull.