Will I miss the "Magic"

[tmbasuhre]

Our family LOVES Disney and is planning a 6 day trip to Orlando in July. Our original plan is stay at Disney all 6 days but now I've peeked around on this board and I checked into HRH and got a GREAT rate and we're thinking of spending some time at Universal, IOA, and Sea World. The best thing about Disney is the unexplainable "magic" I feel the second I step on their property and that's the reason I fork over 3-4 thousand dollars for a week's vacation there and I don't even mind. Will I find that same kind of "magic" at Universal and the other 2 parks? Should I take a chance??? Put my mind at ease. Thanks

Maribeth

 

[Tigger&Belle]

The last time we went to Orlando we split the stay between WDW and Universal. This trip we are skipping WDW and staying at Universal for 5 days. It's a totally different experience and it's hard to compare the two places, but we love Universal and it was hard to go to WDW (and wait in lines) after going to Universal. Go into the trip with an open mind and the desire to experience new and exciting parks and you will be fine. Try not to compare them too much or you may end up skipping WDW next time.

You are wise to stay onsite at Universal so you can be very close to the parks(5-10 minute walk) and can take advantage of the front-of-the-line access. How old are your children?

T&B

 

[No11's Mom]

With each visit to Orlando we have spent a greater percentage of our time at Universal. Last year we would not have done WDW at all, except we had a 6 yo nephew who had never been. This December it is total Universal, no WDW at all. The resorts and parks at Universal are every bit as themed and "magical" as anything WDW has to offer. The proximatey of the resorts to the parks cannot be beat. It makes a vacation so much more relaxing. Front Of the Line access for onsite guests is the greatest thing every. You get much more bang for your buck at Universal, IMO. Last year we stayed at HRH, a fabulous luxury resort, for about $45 more per night than we were paying at Disney's All Stars, which can't even compare. After seeing Universal, the nephew doesn't even want to go back to WDW. If you have little ones, US has the characters they want to see: Spongebob, Rugrats, Shrek, Jimmy Nuetron, Scooby.

If you have to go to WDW, my advice would be to stay a couple of days over there before you move over to US. Once you have experienced FOTL, it will be very difficult to go back to those lines at WDW.

Have fun, whatever you decide.

 

[mouseclick1]

We are huge Disney fans (we are DVC members) and just returned from a 5 day Universal only trip. This was our first visit to Universal and we did have a great time. I was really impressed with Islands of Adventure and thought it was definitely on par with anything Disney has to offer. US was fine, but it didn't blow me away or anything. US/IOA does have some plusses that you can't get at Disney. We stayed at PBH (which was beautiful) so we had FOTL access. This was such a great perk! I also liked the convenience of both parks being side by side, really made it easy to go from one park to the other. I don't know if you have a Disney AP, but the AP at Universal offers so much more. We saved over $100 on merchandise and food using the AP discount.

I thought the employees at the hotel, parks, and restaurant were all top notch. They seemed to go out of their way to provide excellent customer service.

In all honesty, 5 days was a little long for us at Universal. Even going at a slow pace and spending plenty of time at the pool, we ran out of stuff to do and ended up repeated the stuff we liked. Not that it was so bad to go on our favorites more than once, but even the kids said it seems like we're just doing the same stuff over and over after about day 3. We will definitely head back to Unviersal again(we already have 3 days at Xmas booked at HRH before heading to Disney for 6 nights), but I wouldn't stay that long again. For us, I think 2-3 days is a nice complement to a Disney vacation.

I know what you mean by that feeling of "magic" as you set foot onto Disney property. I feel it when we go down too. No, I didn't have that same feeling at Universal but that's OK. Universal is a different place and a whole different experience. We had a great time and will head back down and have a great time again, but we will also continue our trips to Disney for many years to come.

Go and have a great time! Don't try to duplicate the "Disney" feeling- look at this as a whole new adventure and you should have a wonderful vacation!

 

[tmbasuhre]

Thank you all so much for your replies. With your help we decided 2 days at Universal with 4 days at Disney. We have ressises at HRH which looks like soooo much fun and Port Orleans which isn't nearly as fluffy at HRH but actually costs more. I think we will have a great time. Thanks again!! Oh, to answer a question asked my DD is 7 and DS is 9.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

i think you'll find universal a refreshing change from disney. enjoy and have a great time!

 

[TreeOfLife]

The best thing about Disney is the unexplainable "magic" I feel the second I step on their property and that's the reason I fork over 3-4 thousand dollars for a week's vacation there and I don't even mind.

Honey, honey, stop right there. The "unexplainable magic" you refer to is the magic as defined by a marketing department. The true magic of a vacation is in the smiles of your children and the special time you share with loved ones doing something different.

We were Disney die-hard fans too, until I visited Universal for the first time. I went by myself and recall thinking:"Man, I *got* to bring the kids to see this"! When I did, my 8 yr old back then told me he liked Universal better than Disney.

This year we are doing both. I love the Animal Kingdom park but Disney does not offer what Universal does, and we'll visit IOA for the first time. I really look forward to feeling special with front of the line privileges too!

Please do not let anyone but you define what your magic is.

 

[DocBosch]

You've already associated that "magic" with Disney, so you won't be feeling it at Universal. But maybe you'll feel a different kind of "Disney Magic", something I like to call "Universal Appeal".

A lot of the other people have testified to having a great time at Universal, but you won't get anywhere near that if the moment you enter the Universal "Universe" you start picking everything apart because it's "not Disney". Don't think of Universal as a Disney knock-off, or even a competitor, but as another great place that you can experience while on vacation. The great thing about this "other" place is that, unlike the other "other" places, like Sea World, Busch Gardens or Six Flags, Universal's themeing and attention to detail is up to par with Disney's.

The way that you go to Disney and feel tingly because of the innocence and nostalgia and history the place represents, at Universal you should let yourself experience the marvel of their innovation and creativity and persistence to showmanship. You can think of Disney as a "Magic Kingdom", but consider this other place an "Incredible Universe", where you can meet Superheroes, encounter Dinosaurs, talk to fountains, and ride the movies!

The same can be said about anyplace else you go. Even though Universal is my home, I still get nostalgic for Busch Gardens, where I rode my first coaster and once spent a birthday with my dad. Or I get the urge to try out Kraken at Seaworld, and maybe check out a sea creature or two. And every so often, I also like to go over to the Disney parks to experience their brand of magic.

All you have to do is remember that you are not at Disney, but that you are there to have fun!

-Kevin

 

[kellymonaghan]

Well said, DocBosch! I think you really hit the nail on the head.

So there's really nothing for me to add except to say, "Like he said."

 

[BarryHom]

Oddly enough, I went to Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ with a friend and we were saying, "Universal would do this better" and "Universal wouldn't do that." We did not compare one thing to Disney!

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Universal Appeal...I LIKE THAT!

Great post Doc Bosch!

 

[Glory Days]

Two year ago, after 7 visits over 10 years to Disney we decided to try Universal, mainly because the BeachClub was so expensive at Easter, and the HRH was knew and offering unbelievable entertainment during the same time. We did 3 days at HRH and saved the "magic" for the last 4 days. We all loved the HRH so, so much, that we felt a little deflated going over to the BC and the long Easter lines. Last year we did it in reverse and it worked out better.
Give it a try and split your week. I still love Disney, but I would always do it this way whenever I have the chance to spend a week down there.

 

[DocBosch]

Originally posted by Spaceman Spiff
Universal Appeal...I LIKE THAT!

Thanks, but hands off. I'm copyrighting it for a possible future website.

-Kevin

 

[webray]

I think you will find the quality at a Universal resort to exceed the quality at any disney resort. The parks are cleaner.

Sea World...well, that park is just wonderful. We never missed going there on our disney vacations when the kids were little.

Give some time to the other parks....besides disney, you won't be disappointed.

 

[nhrenee]

Those are the best explainations I've ever heard to the "Universal/Disney" comparison.