Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Hey all, my family and I are going to use a timeshare in Orlando from 6 Apr til 14 Apr and after researching WDW, I am tempted to not even take my family there this trip. It seems there are 2 classes of citizens at WDW, those that stay at the resort, and those that stay off resort. If we skipped WDW, we would spend 3 days at Universal, 1 day at Sea World and 2 days just relaxing in the area, or should be do 4 days at WDW and 3 days at Universal? We are a family of 4 (kids 9, 6) who have been to WDW around 8 years ago, DLP about a dozen times the past 5 years, and DL just last summer, we have never been to Universal Florida. Any help you can offer would be appreciated, I am just not excited at all for Disney this trip as the restaurants are uber expensive, and it seems the magic isn't what it once was.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip You've listed my number one complaint about WDW and the reason I'm not going there this year for the first time in almost 20 years. While enjoyable, it just is no longer worth what they charge. Admission, Food and Merchandise is all way more expensive than at Universal, which as far as I'm concerned offers just as good an experience. I definitely agree with your plan to spend three days at Universal. Personally I'm not a fan of Sea World, but then it has been over 15 years since I visited there so that may have changed. You might want to think about a trip to either Bush Gardens or Cape Canaveral instead. If I were to choose one WDW park to visit in your situation it would probably be Animal Kingdom. DL and DLP would have provided much of what you would experience at the MK and DHS. Epcot just seemed wrong somehow when I was there last October. Although the Food and Wine Festival was enjoyable, the park itself seemed tired and stale. The big globe used for Illuminations wasn't even working properly. I hate saying that because Epcot was always my favorite park. Animal Kingdom has it's faults (non-working Yeti which I never notice) but it is very different from other parks you've visited lately. And I still think it is Disney's absolute best park anywhere when it comes to providing a sense of place. The architecture and landscaping are nothing short of spectacular.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh I think Universal has an even greater chance of making you feel like a second class citizen if you stay offsite. Unless crowds are very light or you spring for an Express pass, you will be waiting in long lines all day while resort guests use the Express lines to pass you by. Still, the Orlando flex pass is a pretty good deal.
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF WilliamK99....having just returned from WDW in December.....and I had not been in 6 years....I can tell you it was a wonderful trip Yes, the food is expensive inside the parks ....we were lucky enough to get "free dining" and while I also love Universal....WDW was great My own heart will always be with DL over WDW....but, for my family .....Our Florida vacation was wonderful
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "WilliamK99....having just returned from WDW in December.....and I had not been in 6 years....I can tell you it was a wonderful trip" This was me too. There in December after 6 years away. Great trip. It's not like your required to eat at Disney's restaurants. I love Islands of Adventure, but found 1 day was enough for the Universal parks.
Originally Posted By seafairy1622 We went to universal and Islands of adventure in 2008. It was fun to do something different, we still did 3 days at DW. I thought Universal was fun but didn't have the same disney magic feeling for me. I would do the 4 days at DW and 3 at universal if you really want to do universal. Have you thought about the dining plan? We also get it when we go. It is really cheap for kids 9 and under. I really like having having my food paid for when we get there and not worry about that part.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Universal was way more expensive than WDW when we went last year when it came to dining. So were the goodies if your interest was anything Harry Potter. Way overpriced. WDW was cheaper in our experience.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Universal was way more expensive than WDW when we went last year when it came to dining. So were the goodies if your interest was anything Harry Potter. Way overpriced. WDW was cheaper in our experience.>> You have GOT to be kidding! Now I know you are a full-time Disney apologist. Here is a link to a menu from Mythos, probably the finest in-park restaurant at Universal. <a href="http://allears.net/uni/menu/men_myth.htm" target="_blank">http://allears.net/uni/menu/men_myth.htm</a> Here is a link to Le Cellier, one of the most popular in-park restaurants at WDW. <a href="http://allears.net/menu/menu_lcd.htm" target="_blank">http://allears.net/menu/menu_lcd.htm</a> You tell me... which restaurant is more expensive??
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I love Islands of Adventure, but found 1 day was enough for the Universal parks.>> We spent two days at Universal (one at the Studios, one a IOA) during a SLOW period and could have easily used one more day there. It sounds like you probably bypassed the Studios... they have some new attractions that are really enjoyable. Of the two parks, the Studios is probably more family-friendly than IOA.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh We ate at the Three Broomsticks in January and I thought it was really good and a good value. We got a family platter for about $50.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I'm not anti-WDW. I own in DVC and certainly don't plan to sell. I think I maybe got burned out on WDW by going there 25+ times over the past 20 years. I'll probably enjoy it more by waiting a few years until my next visit. At this point, I feel that Universal has made far more improvements over the past 5 years than WDW has. The only real change I noticed at WDW last October from our visit the year before was higher prices!
Originally Posted By danyoung The only thing I can add is to go or not go based on YOUR personal experience, NOT on what you read online. If the magic isn't there for you, then skip it. But don't let others' negativity affect your vacation plans. For me there's plenty of magic left in WDW. My next long weekend vacation is about 9 days away, and I just can't wait!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Whatever you decide to do theme-park wise, I would definitely encourage you to work in a trip to the Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral if you can for a day. It's one of my best memories of our visit a few years ago. The tour is really great, and recreates the excitement of the first moon shot as well as looking at the future of space exploration.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo " It sounds like you probably bypassed the Studios... " Nope. Did both. But I admit I don't love the Studios.
Originally Posted By tashajilek After reading about a lot of the negative comments about WDW i was thinking twice about it too. My trip was excellent and i cant wait to return. There are things you just cant get at Disneyland like Epcot, Dak, visiting bigger resorts, ferry rides and monorails that actually go somewhere. Seeing as you have kids going on the vacation i think you guys will really enjoy your vacation.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "After reading about a lot of the negative comments about WDW i was thinking twice about it too. My trip was excellent and i cant wait to return." Yeah. While there's definitely merit to a lot of the complaints and criticism, keep in mind that the Disney fan community can be over critical. Things can get blown out of proportion sometimes.
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl I could never go to Orlando and not spend at least one day at WDW...just sayin"
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS <You have GOT to be kidding! Now I know you are a full-time Disney apologist. Here is a link to a menu from Mythos, probably the finest in-park restaurant at Universal.> There really isn't any need for you to get your panties in a bunch and leap out of the gate with insults. I said "IN MY EXPERIENCE". No need to make it about you.
Originally Posted By disney pete Ive had nightmares about going tp orlando and not going to a Disney park.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<There really isn't any need for you to get your panties in a bunch and leap out of the gate with insults. I said "IN MY EXPERIENCE". No need to make it about you.>> I didn't mean to make it about me. I just feel posts that are clearly so factually incorrect need to be challenged. If you want to say WDW is more expensive but it's worth it, that is fine. I would respect your opinion on that. But to say that Universal is more expensive than Disney is just plain wrong.
