Who else is cutting their days at Disney and adding Universal

[bitty246]

My DD (who got me to US in the first place, big HP fan) and I saw back to back commercials for US and WDW. WDW - "The best thing about staying at WDW just might be the resort" showing the monorail going into the Contemporary" while US - showed its great new attractions.


Great responses so far and this seems to sum up Disney's new theme, pay no attention to Universal adding all those major attractions, with 3 fast passes you will love your resort. lol

Just kidding people I really do love Disney but really want more awesome attractions added.

Ok... now that was funny!

 

[gdrj]

Not cutting down. While the FP+ may cause some angst, we enjoy not just the parks but all the other amenities on property. We tend to spend time at parks early and late, and spend time at pools and other things midday when parks seem to be most packed, or go to EPCOT and HS and walk around.

Our trip that starts in 7 Days, will be first with all parks on FP+. If lines are crazy we plan to visit attractions that we usually bypass that aren't as crowded. It will be a good excuse to do attractions that we sometimes just blow by. The key for us is that we are on vacation and we're not going to stress out about things. If we get on less attractions, we'll spend time on boats, shops, hotels, pools, mini-golf, Ft. wilderness, the boardwalk, EPCOT countries, DTD and take advantage of EHM's when available.

A few reasons for us not splitting time is
1-Familiar with Disney World, been to Universal once for a day.
2-Added cost for passes (AP holder for Disney)
3-Wife is big Disney Fan

I would like to visit Universal and might on a future visit, if timing and costs work out

 

[ddesi]

We're doing two days at Universal because we want to do Universal, not because of the FP+ thing.

same here, staying onsite at Universal for the 2 days. I've never seen their hotels, looking forward to it.

 

[mrsp1030]

Until my youngest (20 months) can enjoy it, we won't be going there. Not enough to keep him entertained yet.

 

[cgrise]

I love Disney but while they are putting billions in a wrist band, Universal is building incredible attractions.

I would normally do 1 day Universal every couple of Disney trips but starting next year I am staying at Universal to get front of the line and doing 2 days while cutting back on Disney park days and hotel stay.

I have read so many posts that people are unhappy with Magic Bands and lack of new attractions, so will you do Universal or other parks during your trip and cut your days to Disney?

My husband and I usually spend two days at Disney World:
One day at Magic Kingdom and one day starting at Hollywood Studios and then go to Epcot. That is plenty of Disney for the two of us. We much prefer Universal Studios. Not that we don't enjoy our time at Disney World but for us Universal Studios is just more fun.

Part of the reasoning behind that is I am a huge Harry Potter fan. However, the rides the food the staff are just far superior in our opinion.

It should also be noted that we are both adults with no kids. So we prefer roller coaster more action packed rides. I'm sure it is a completely different thing for people with small children, obviously it would be better for them to go do Disney World. For us however, the Peter Pan ride just can't compare to The Forbidden Journey for us. However, parents with teens/ tweens, their kids may enjoy Universal Studios more...

 

[Suellen]

We do both all the time. Both have their own drawbacks and highlights.

 

[CarlaLovesDisney]

Since I'm a huge HP fan, as soon as the new section opens, I'm planning on adding a day and a half of Universal. I've never liked the main Universal park because it had none of my "fandoms."

But I'm actually only cutting Disney down by a half day. Disney is always the focus of the trips, and I couldn't imagine switching that.

 

[anniemck]

Our next trip is one day at MK for the MVMCP and then two days at US, one at IOA and one at US. Looking forward to it very much, haven't been to US in about 7 years. Not big thrill riders and have never even watched a HP movie, but will ride anything but a roller coaster.

 

[MichiganDVC]

We were the same way for so long...they HP was the reason to try Universal. We stayed onsite, and WOW. I mean WOW. The hotel was exceptional, we could walk to the parks if we wanted to, we loved having unlimited front of the line (their version of fast pass), not having to have FP runners (not not having to schedule our day ahead).

Strange that Universal fans love the FOTL pass that either costs $80+ in addition to your ticket or if you stay at their deluxe hotels.
And then dislike the FREE Fast pass system Disney has.

And if Disney started a FOTL pass for Deluxe guests, you all would lose your freakin' minds! "That's not what Walt would have wanted!" "Disney should treat all guests the same!" And on and on.

 

[MichiganDVC]

This should have been a poll, FYI...

Anyway.... I know I've answered this question on other threads, but here goes again:
I have never been to Universal Orlando. I have been to WDW probably north of 25 times in my 35 years of life. I am an AP holder and a DVC member and I average 3-4 visits of varying length each year.

Perhaps if I lived in Florida or within driving distance, I might consider Universal. But when I have to pay $400 per person, per flight each time down, why would I pay all that extra money for a 2-day ticket and rental car and/or taxi fare, and hotel stay?! Currently, at WDW, my ticket, transportation, and lodging are all "free."

Plus, I don't care about HP or thrill rides. I honestly couldn't think of a reason to spend an extra $1000 for a couple of days at Universal, especially if it takes away from my WDW time.

In fact, on my last few trips to WDW I have been scheduling the 6pm flight home so the ME doesn't pick me up until 3pm. Then I can go to a park for the morning/early afternoon! Last trip I started to pout around 1pm because I didn't want to leave...I wasn't ready yet!

So no, I'm not going to spend extra money to leave Disney early.

 

[EMode]

We will be skipping the next WDW trip and going to Universal instead.
Its really a combo of things, my kids are getting older and I am getting less and less enchanted with WDW so when this whole FP+ mess started it made the decision easy for me.

 

[NightStar]

We go once every couple of years to Universal. I love HP, but I don't like giving up my Disney days.

 

[MaggieMouse]

We are going to SeaWorld this trip but only because my daughter insisted. As a person who was on the larger side when we went, I did not enjoy Universal at all! Disney I was/am able to do many more things. Maybe as I continue to shrink I will give it another try but definitely not this trip.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Eh. We went to Wizarding World once. It was pretty fun. I don't know that it's worth admission just to go there for us, especially not every trip. Maybe once every couple years.

We like Mummy at Universal Studios. Both parks have attractions we like, but not many. If one ticket got us into both, maybe we would consider going every trip, but that's not the case. I just don't feel that either of the parks are complete full day parks. So we go for a day every 2 or 3 trips.

We're Disney fans. We are for the most part still happy with what we are getting for our money. I wouldn't mind it being cheaper. But otherwise, we're still totally happy with Disney. There's no where else in Orlando we care to spend our money.

MagicBands brought us to Disney more often, not the other way around.

 

[goofyluva9293]

We tried just doing Universal once and although we had a lot of fun, we found ourselves feeling disappointed to not be at Disney! To be that close and not go just seemed wrong. We are huge HP fans and love the WWoHP and we will be back when the new section opens for sure! For us though, Disney is where the magic is and FP+ and Magic Bands aren't enough to diminish that. Now we try to hit US or IoA for a day and spend the rest of our time at Disney! That's just what works for us!

By the way, my DD's are 20 & 22 and love thrill rides! We just prefer the whole feel of Disney. So I don't think having "little kids" or being adults is always the best guide as far as which park you prefer.

 

[EMode]

Strange that Universal fans love the FOTL pass that either costs $80+ in addition to your ticket or if you stay at their deluxe hotels.
And then dislike the FREE Fast pass system Disney has.

And if Disney started a FOTL pass for Deluxe guests, you all would lose your freakin' minds! "That's not what Walt would have wanted!" "Disney should treat all guests the same!" And on and on.

Free doesn't always mean better (or even equal). Disney's FP+ system has more restrictions than Universals. Universals deluxe resorts are less expensive and according to many who have stayed there are just as nice or even better than WDWs.
I don't think its strange at all, the reasons are pretty obvious.

 

[bobbie68]

Strange that Universal fans love the FOTL pass that either costs $80+ in addition to your ticket or if you stay at their deluxe hotels.
And then dislike the FREE Fast pass system Disney has.

And if Disney started a FOTL pass for Deluxe guests, you all would lose your freakin' minds! "That's not what Walt would have wanted!" "Disney should treat all guests the same!" And on and on.

Hi I respect your opinion on this, I would like to add mine, so please do not flame me. If you buy the express pass you get one ride front of the line, for many of the rides. At Disney right now you get three fp for one day. If you go to a Universal park you can use that pass more than 3 times in one day.

Now if you use the FOTL pass unlimited for staying at the deluxe hotels you have unlimited ride times for most of the rides. How does that compare? We easily used a FOTL pass (on site ) about 15 times one day.

2 of Universals deluxe hotels are cheaper than a lot of Disney's Deluxe and are nicer. IMHO feel that it is ok for people paying deluxe prices and getting more perks. Universal just opened their value resort and can't get the FOTL pass but have early entry. I think that is fair. Now Universal does give another perk where you can pool hop. It seems that they try to balance it.

 

[MichiganDVC]

2 of Universals deluxe hotels are cheaper than a lot of Disney's Deluxe and are nicer. IMHO feel that it is ok for people paying deluxe prices and getting more perks. Universal just opened their value resort and can't get the FOTL pass but have early entry. I think that is fair. Now Universal does give another perk where you can pool hop. It seems that they try to balance it.

As a DVC member and, therefore, deluxe resort guest, I can't say I disagree with you about the perks since they'd be coming toward me. And I hear what you're saying...just pointing out that FOTL pass that Universal offers isn't free and DISers would have an absolute fit if Disney did something like this. So we really can't compare them.

How much would you pay for unlimited FP+? (Maybe time for a new poll...)

 

[rajak73]

Strange that Universal fans love the FOTL pass that either costs $80+ in addition to your ticket or if you stay at their deluxe hotels.
And then dislike the FREE Fast pass system Disney has.

And if Disney started a FOTL pass for Deluxe guests, you all would lose your freakin' minds! "That's not what Walt would have wanted!" "Disney should treat all guests the same!" And on and on.

I will agree with you and could you imagine the uproar if Disney built an attraction and you HAD to buy a Park Hopper pass to visit? With that being said, yes we are going to Universal this Dec when we have our Disney trip, can't pass up Margaritaville, the best part of Universal, and yes HP was one of the best rides we've been on but not someplace we could spend 14 days. . Just my opinion of course and I don't expect everyone to agree with it but it's what WE want to do.

 

[EMode]

As a DVC member and, therefore, deluxe resort guest, I can't say I disagree with you about the perks since they'd be coming toward me. And I hear what you're saying...just pointing out that FOTL pass that Universal offers isn't free and DISers would have an absolute fit if Disney did something like this. So we really can't compare them.

How much would you pay for unlimited FP+? (Maybe time for a new poll...)

That is because it is free and making guests pay for it now would be taking that away.
I have no problem buying my way to the front of the line, I've done it at SW and BG because that is how their system works. I'll do it at Universal by staying in at one of their deluxe resorts because that is how their system works.
IMO WDW took away from us when they changed the legacy FP to FP+, all the while increasing their ticket price. I think many people would have a fit if Disney started charging for FP because something is being taken away from them, it wouldn't be a new added perk at a cost.