Which would you do first... WDW or US/IOA?

[Mercy]

For our Aug 04 trip we are planning 6 nights at the Dolphin and 4 nights at the Hard Rock Hotel and doing the parks at both. Which would you suggest to do first and why?

 

[patsal]

US/IOA first becasue IMHO, though there is some great stuff there, they just don't do magic and theming as well as Disney. I've often been when it is dirty, the costumes and CM uniforms are faded and torn, etc. Not bashing, but the experience is different and not quite as magical to me or the family. If I start there I don't notice the negative things as much and find the experience less frustrating.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

I agree with Patsal


We have done this the past three Summers. We visit Universal and stay at Hard Rock or Royal Pacific for three nights. We buy the Universal Five Day Bonus Pass online. It provides five days for less than the cost of 2 days. We REALLY enjoy the front of the line access. My 2 DD's are 15 & 16 and really love all of the rides at IOA.

We complete our trip at a Disney Resort with another 6-7 nights.

We enjoy the Disney magic and it is the way we choose to enjoy a majority of our time. I would have a hard time leaving directly from Universal to go home...I want to end my trip at WDW!

Enjoy!

 

[nicolep91]

My advice is the opposite of Mercy and pastal. I think you should do Disney 1st, then Universal. Especially since you are staying onsite at Universal and will have FOTL access. If you went to Universal 1st, standing in line at Disney would seem twice as bad after having no lines! And if you have little kids, they won't understand why you have to stand in line when you didn't at Universal.

Just my opinion,

 

[Muushka]

We try to do Universal at the end of our trip. Why?? Because I HATE to stand in line and that is pretty much all you do at WDW. At Universal, with FOTL for staying at their hotel, it makes if a much nicer way to end the trip. I know that many say Disney is more magical, but Univeral is more fun! (IMHO )

 

[Muushka]

nicolep91! You beat me to it!!

 

[dylansdad]

agree with last 2 posts--sooo relaxing doing HRH 2nd

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi..

2 years in a row we have done US/IOA first...

Last year 5 nights at RPR and 9 nights at AKL

This year 6 nights at HRH and 7 nights at BC/3 nights at AKL

US/IOA is fun.. lots of fun.. and relaxing no pressure because of FOTL access... but Disney is magical I want the magic to last so I save Disney for last.

You will have fun at both... whichever way you do it

>>^..^<<

 

[TINK61]

I would do WDW first. Why? Because, as others have mentioned, you do spend a lot of time standing in line, it's a bigger resort, and more energy will be necessary to traverse all four parks and plus whatever else you wish to do while there. When you get to Universal, since you are staying at the Hard Rock and will have FOTL (which is awesome, believe me), you will find it to be a less taxing way to end a fun, but exhausting vacation.

 

[Mickey76]

I would do US/IOA first, just to get it out of the way. It just can't hold up against Disney. The funny thing is is that when I was in WDW for 12 days in 2002 I actually had tickets to go to IOA and didn't use them because I wanted to get as much of WDW as I could.

Mickey76

 

[hercamore]

Hi,

If you're going to be theme park touring for l0 days, I would definitely do Disney first.

FOTL is a wonderful perk and the after 6 days, you will be tired of standing in line.

herc.

 

[Luv2Travel]

When we went in May we stayed at the HRH and did US/IOA first, then we moved to the DD Hilton and did WDW. It was almost a big let down. We got so spoiled to the FOTL access and the HRH was great. This October (in 2 weeks! ) we'll be doing the opposite - staying at WDW at the Dolphin first and then moving to the HRH and doing US/IOA. It worked out this way because of our AP's at WDW expiring on this trip, but I'm glad. Even though we'll be at a nicer hotel at WDW this time, it's better to save the FOTL experience for the end. However, I agree with the above post in that I'd rather leave from WDW, so we're doing MNSSHP on our last night before we head home! Worked out well for us. Hope you have a great vacation too!

 

[benebire]

Go to disney first, Front of the liine access at Universal is awesome and you wont want to stand in line after front of the line access. Have a great trip.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by Mercy
For our Aug 04 trip we are planning 6 nights at the Dolphin and 4 nights at the Hard Rock Hotel and doing the parks at both. Which would you suggest to do first and why?

Hello, Mercy! (Where have you been?...I've missed seeing you on the Swan/Dolphin thread). You KNOW I always do five eves or more at the PBH in a Villa Suite and visit US & IOA FIRST (before Disney). This summer was wonderful, as WDW LifeLong Fan
pointed out, we too made use of the 5 for 2 day pass special they sell online ($89). It's so much more fun to END with the MAGIC of the WDW Dolphin and Disney. I love the FOTLA, and go WILD on seeing everything in the parks. SO...when I visit WDW, I enjoy the SLOWER pace, and just use the express/fast pass for the attractions we MUST experience first. Either way, enjoy your trip.


>>^..^<<~So...when are you guys going to do the PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL? You would LOVE it! Give it a try, you'll never stay anywhere else (in U.S.).

 

[JOC]

Last year we did Disney first then Universal; it was great not having to stand in line at Universal. This December we'll be doing Universal first then Disney; I'll let you know how that goes when we get back.

 

[ripleysmom]

I agree with doing Disney first and US second. Not having to stand in line will help you to spend the last few days of your trip relaxing.

 

[SondraD11]

In May, my son (22 yo) and I spent one night at HRH before heading to Disney for four nights at WL. I would suggest doing IOA/US first for a couple of reasons. I found that the IOA/US parks felt more like local Six Flag parks rather than "theme" parks. Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed our time there (loved the Jimmy Neutron chicken dance), but it didn't have the magical coming home feeling that I get when I go to Disney. I preferred ending my vacation with the Disney "glow".

Another thing you might want to consider is shortening the time you have allowed for IOA/US and lengthening your Disney stay. May was a slow time and we really didn't need front of the line priviledges but I consider IOA/US to be "one day" parks. Two days would be all that I would need for my Universal visit. Even going to Disney once a year, there are still things that I haven't done at the end of every visit and it keeps me coming back. I could visit the Universal parks once every 2-3 years and not feel that I missed something. Just my 2 cents.

Sondra

 

[ktglads]

I have to agree with the Disney first, Universal second crowd if you expect to do anything at Disney. We did Universal first and got so used to the fact that we never had to wait in line that we got into the habit of going to the park around noon and starting then. Well, its tough to get back onto schedule for PS's for Disney when you were able to walk onto rides all day at Universal. Plus, you get so spoiled with not having to wait in line.

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the Dolphin have double beds in some rooms? I am pretty sure that is what we had before. The Hard Rock has queen size beds. That is just another thing to consider. Bed size and the size of the rooms. You would want the bigger rooms at the end of the trip to store all the things you buy!

 

[*Fantasia*]

I love both themed parks. April and June of this year...we did Universal first and finish our trip with Mickey.... It was great!! Our second part of our trip was magical. And I want to finish it with that Disney magic.

August of this year...we did Disney first and did Universal last. Well....I couldn't seem to leave Mickey! I kept adjusting our reservation at the Universal and lengthening our stay at Disney. I love Disney soooo much that it was sooo hard for me to leave and go to Universal.

So I learned my lesson. Do Universal first and finish it with Mickey...Disney style!!

 

[Mercy]

Ok, so now I'm totally confused!!!

At this point I'm leaning to doing Universal last, that FOTLA just seems like it would be so great, also we have never stayed at any of the Universal hotels, so that would be special. Another thing is that my boys will be 14 & 17 and really enjoy the more thrill type rides, so I know they will enjoy IOA, especially if there are no lines!

BUT... on the other hand... there's Disney <ahh sigh> and the magic of being there and ending the trip there. I guess in the end I will leave it up to my family and see what they would prefer to do.... because left up to me, I'll NEVER be able to make up mind!