Am I the only who ignores Universal?

[mharrington]

I've been on this forum for a long time now, and it seems as though everyone here seems to think that Universal is stealing away people from WDW. Maybe it's true, but it seems like I'm the only one who would just continue to go to only WDW and just ignore Universal. Every time my family and I plan a trip to Florida, we always fold WDW into the proceedings, but never Universal. Considering all the talk on here about WDW vs. Universal, am I the only one here who doesn't even think about Universal when we do a trip to Florida?

 

[draybook]

Maybe. We didn't go on our first trip but we didn't make that mistake again.

 

[garagely]

I've been on this forum for a long time now, and it seems as though everyone here seems to think that Universal is stealing away people from WDW. Maybe it's true, but it seems like I'm the only one who would just continue to go to only WDW and just ignore Universal. Every time my family and I plan a trip to Florida, we always fold WDW into the proceedings, but never Universal. Considering all the talk on here about WDW vs. Universal, am I the only one here who doesn't even think about Universal when we do a trip to Florida?

that's too bad. no disrespect intended, but you really are missing out on some of the best attractions in central florida.

 

[Zweiland]

Have you ever been? If not, you should at least try it out for a day or two during your next trip. If you've been before, and you didn't like it, than you have every right to ignore it.

 

[mharrington]

that's too bad. no disrespect intended, but you really are missing out on some of the best attractions in central florida.

Then I guess the answer is yes?

Have you ever been? If not, you should at least try it out for a day or two during your next trip. If you've been before, and you didn't like it, than you have every right to ignore it.

No, I have never been. I don't think I can afford to do both WDW and Universal in one trip. I would have to choose one or the other. That's another reason I brought up this topic.

 

[Jenna]

We always do both. Whilst I think I prefer Disney (though with WWoHP Uni are catching up) Universal is definitely worth a visit. It has some of the best rides in Orlando (in fact I'd go as far as to say the best with Spiderman, HP and the Forbidden Journey and Rip Ride Rock it).

 

[epcotisbest]

I've been on this forum for a long time now, and it seems as though everyone here seems to think that Universal is stealing away people from WDW. Maybe it's true, but it seems like I'm the only one who would just continue to go to only WDW and just ignore Universal. Every time my family and I plan a trip to Florida, we always fold WDW into the proceedings, but never Universal. Considering all the talk on here about WDW vs. Universal, am I the only one here who doesn't even think about Universal when we do a trip to Florida?

If you decide chocolate covered strawberries taste bad before you have ever tasted them, does that mean they taste bad or just that you don't know how they taste?

 

[jlsHouston]

Here I am waving.... although I did look at their resorts online and they look really nice.. maybe when the kids are a bit older... I just love WDW

 

[EpcoTim]

That would explain why Universals attendance figures are exactly one person shy of Disney's.

 

[Monty]

I extended our usual week-long stay to a 15-day stay a few years back [a year after Potter opened]. We spent roughly half our time at Universal.

Although we both enjoyed the experience, neither of us have been in any great hurry to go back. To us, Disney is an experience while Uni is an amusement park. We prefer Disney.

You're right about the expense. Buying tickets to both is a lot more expensive than just extending your stay at one or the other. If cost is a factor, doing one or the other is probably a wise choice.

I'll never recommend to someone that they avoid Universal, it's great for some folks, just not my son and I. There are many for whom Universal is the better of the two and I wouldn't presume to tell them they're wrong, they just have different interests than we do. We'll probably go back a year or two after phase two of Potter opens [I've got no interest in dealing with the post-opening crowds] and we'll catch up with the other recent additions. But WDW will always be our first choice, Universal will probably be a once-every-decade or so add-on.

 

[epcotisbest]

I extended our usual week-long stay to a 15-day stay a few years back [a year after Potter opened]. We spent roughly half our time at Universal.

Although we both enjoyed the experience, neither of us have been in any great hurry to go back. To us, Disney is an experience while Uni is an amusement park. We prefer Disney.

You're right about the expense. Buying tickets to both is a lot more expensive than just extending your stay at one or the other. If cost is a factor, doing one or the other is probably a wise choice.

I'll never recommend to someone that they avoid Universal, it's great for some folks, just not my son and I. There are many for whom Universal is the better of the two and I wouldn't presume to tell them they're wrong, they just have different interests than we do. We'll probably go back a year or two after phase two of Potter opens [I've got no interest in dealing with the post-opening crowds] and we'll catch up with the other recent additions. But WDW will always be our first choice, Universal will probably be a once-every-decade or so add-on.

But you did not ignore it. You decided for yourself. We are the same way except WDW is our first choice, SeaWorld second, Uni third, but we like them all, and for us Uni is an experience too.

 

[BiffyClyro]

I love Universal! Universal studios was a bit disappointing this year, simply because literally, half the park was shut due to refurbs, but apart from that, it is a great place. City Walk is fun too!

 

[James122]

I always try to spend a day or two at Universal whenever I visit Orlando. The Spider-Man ride and Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey alone are worth the price of admission.

 

[Britt]

I will never ignore Universal again! Love WDW and love Uni too! I can't wait until our next trip...I'll try and make sure to schedule more days for Uni. We only did one day and spent a good deal at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The rides there blew my mind, I'd never been on anything like "Journey Through the Forbidden Forest".

I'll never make the mistake of only scheduling one day again! You're definitely missing out. Attending Uni, takes nothing away from WDW.

 

[Monkee Girl]

I guess I can be considered as ignoring Universal. With dining reservations, a young female cousin who isn't interested in anything Uni has to offer and just the fact that we like being fully Disney immersed, we have not had the chance to go to the other parks.

We made it to Sea World one year but that was because a snow storm on the night of our flight fouled us up and we ended up gaining a day in Florida. Instead of buying another day at disney or just doing nothing, we chose to go to Sea World; I haven't been there since I was a kid and we had a blast.

My cousin and I keep saying 'yea, we wanna check out such and such this year' but we never do, lol. I know I would love it because of all the Marvel stuff. Someday we will, but for right now, Disney is our thing and so we stick to it.

 

[jaklgreen]

We have gone to Uni a couple of times, but we prefer WDW. Uni has more "thrill" rides and my kids are not into that just yet(1 may never be into thrill rides). We might try them again when the kids are older. Hubby and I prefer WDW to any other theme park we have been to.

 

[copcarguyp71]

Although currently disheartened with WDW to the point that we changed our plans to go next year I can say I have never been to Uni (nor do I feel the need) so my feelings have nothing to do with comparing anything other than my memories of WDW past.

 

[Zipadeelady]

I extended our usual week-long stay to a 15-day stay a few years back [a year after Potter opened]. We spent roughly half our time at Universal.

Although we both enjoyed the experience, neither of us have been in any great hurry to go back. To us, Disney is an experience while Uni is an amusement park. We prefer Disney.

You're right about the expense. Buying tickets to both is a lot more expensive than just extending your stay at one or the other. If cost is a factor, doing one or the other is probably a wise choice.

I'll never recommend to someone that they avoid Universal, it's great for some folks, just not my son and I. There are many for whom Universal is the better of the two and I wouldn't presume to tell them they're wrong, they just have different interests than we do. We'll probably go back a year or two after phase two of Potter opens [I've got no interest in dealing with the post-opening crowds] and we'll catch up with the other recent additions. But WDW will always be our first choice, Universal will probably be a once-every-decade or so add-on.

Well said @Monty

 

[Figments Friend]

I have also never visited Uni on either coast.
Never had a real desire to be honest.

I have come close to spending one day there a few years ago, when i met up with some friends in Orlando and they expressed interest.
It never happened, as we ended up going to Sea World instead which i later regretted.
SW was very dissapointing to me.
I remember when it used to be a beautiful local attraction with a lot to see and do and now it just comes off as a thrill-park wannabe.
For someone who is not a major coaster enthusiast and extreme thrill ride fan there was little to do there.
I spent most of my time sitting around while my friends rode all the main attractions.

Great for them...dull as blunt nails for me.

I think that experience really soured my desire to explore further down the road.
The money lost on a day at SW made me bitter ( same admission as the MK at the time!)
Uni markets itself as primarily a 'thrill ride park' and i am just not a huge fan of extreme coasters and ride experiences that throw my body around.
I prefer tamer experiences and beautifully themed areas, which i am sure Uni has but it is not enough to get me to visit.


So yeah....i have little interest in Uni.
Who knows though, i may give it a chance in a couple of years.

Disneyland is where i am investing my visitation dollars now.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I ignored it for years. Thought: "Lame second-rate WDW wannabe". The Potter ride is what got me to visit. And then...holy crap! The whole PARK blew me away. It made me want to weep - not only at the blatant creativity I was seeing all around me, but for the relatively uninspired modern-day WDW I had steadfastly adored in the past. I'd have to say that at this point, my loyalties are nearly torn. Avatar Land dismays and disgusts me. Star Wars Land only inspires my indifference. And MARVEL...god I want to puke to think about the Hulk anywhere near a Disney park. Universal may be a hodge-podge of different properties, but that hodge-podge suits the place since, for all of its laudable merit, Universal doesn't have the strong identity Disney has, plus the properties in that hodge-podge are well-realized for the most part.

So yeah, I used to ignore Universal. But never again. That's where I'm spending my Florida vacation next year (if Cabana Bay is open by then).