Just WDW or do you visit other parks?

[disney magic 06]

Most of our Florida holidays have been to WDW only but this year we started our holiday with 2 nights at Universal, which we greatly enjoyed. I quite fancied a day at Seaworld next year, and have just been checking it out online. I was shocked to see that a one day admission to the park would set us back $84.99, that seems pretty steep to me, and we'd also have to factor in hire car/shuttle bus costs. It would be a very expensive day out, especialy considering that we have a 14 day for the price of 7 Disney pass for our 12 day holiday so we could go to one of the Disney parks instead.

It has made me wonder, do most of you folks stray out of our magical lands on your trips?

 

[captainkidd]

Personally, I don't care for Sea World at all, but if you wanted to go one way to cut back on the expense would be to go on a day you're at Universal. Not sure if you're planning on going there next year, but if you stay at one of the on-site hotels, there is free shuttle service to Sea World.

 

[bmarkelon]

In all of our trips with the kids we have not ventured outside of WDW. We just have not been able to justify the cost when it's cheaper to add the days in Disney. Our kids are 7, 5 and 2; maybe in a few more years when I know they will enjoy the addition of Universal and/or Sea World. We have been closer to adding a day in Sea World though, each year we discuss it.

 

[bgraham34]

We only do Disney and only the theme parks and not the water parks. I am sure sometime when my son gets a little older we may venture out to other parks but not yet.

 

[RoyWalley]

Just Walt Disney World. Have no interest in the other parks.

 

[wiigirl]

We only do Disney and only the theme parks and not the water parks. I am sure sometime when my son gets a little older we may venture out to other parks but not yet.

Same here....but water parks personally scare me.

 

[bgraham34]

Same here....but water parks personally scare me.

I like them but the wife does not, so I dont feel like going alone.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

The only time our Orlando vacations strayed from WDW was the year Universal opened. Since then, every trip I've taken has been WDW only.

We too were playing with the idea of hitting Sea World on our next trip because DS6 just absolutely loves all things ocean life. Like you, I hit the website last week to get an idea of what we'd be looking at and nearly had a heart attack when I saw the ticket prices. It made me realize that everyone who complains about WDW park ticket prices must have no idea what they are charging. Now, sure, usually their tickets are "2 day" tickets (they say you buy one day and get one free but ultiamtely that's 2 days right?). The issue is, to me, they are building in the price of that 2nd day and not giving the option for 1 day. Honestly once I saw how much the tickets were the idea of going dropped into the "low priority bucket."

Now for us, we drive down in our own car so transportation to/from at least wouldn't be an issue but justifying the ticket price is going to be hard.

 

[LivFreeorDisney]

When it was just my wife and I we did go Uni and Sea World but since we have two young girls we haven't been to either one in the last 4 years. Once they are both old enough to enjoy the great rides at Uni and Sea World we will go back, but it's just a matter of time.

I do know that you can get a shuttle to pick you up at any Disney resort to go to Sea World or Uni but its a scheduled pickup and drop off.

I think this link will help out.

http://magicalmouseplans.com/universal-studios-disney-hotels/2012/06/20/

 

[PRNCSAurora]

We have always done just WDW but for our next trip we are spending half off the park and doing a day at IOA and a day at Seaworld.

 

[YoungNY]

Sea World sucks! But I do believe they have something where you can come back a second day for free. At least they did in 2009 when I went. I'm not sure what you have to do, but I think I got a discount for having a delta frequent fliers account or something like that. You have to set up your second day before you leave the park I believe. I hated it so much, once was more than enough. Anyway, most of the time I've visited Florida was to see family, and many live in or around the Orlando area. I went to universal some 15 or so years ago and haven't been back sinceThIs like to go back for harry potter.I've been to city walk several times though.

I've been to wonder works (the upside down building) that was ok, the laser tag at the end was great. And I'd love to visit the titanic experience. I just to have a healthy obession with all things titanic related. My family went to the holy land, which I wanted to go to, but they said it was boring. My grandmother who was a very religious woman was ready to go by lunch and my 12 year old cousin was bored from the get go. I still might go one day just to see it. I've been to countless flea markets in the area and it's always fun to just take a drive down international blvd. It's sort of like driving down the strip in Vegas, there's so much to see.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

But I do believe they have something where you can come back a second day for free. At least they did in 2009 when I went.

See my post above, they still call their ticket "buy one day get one free."

 

[Funfy]

It is hard to say. We went to Sea World and were not that impressed, but, we have two really good aquariums close-Atlanta and Tennessee. One trip and we are done-maybe grandkids down the road. But, now we don't have to wonder-and someone else may love it. Food is also more expensive there in my opinion.

Universal-just okay. Love HP world and will probably venture back for the extension-but no rush. The rest is just sad to me and our two older kids (they were 17 and 20) at the time didn't care much for it-my husband liked it okay. Worth a day of your time and the admission-yes, but, no desire to darken the door for awhile. Regular food there not great.

However, that is our family's view-as you can see opinions vary greatly.

 

[draybook]

We spend two days at Universal and the rest at Disney. We've been to Sea World on two of our trips but it's just not worth the money or days lost.

 

[LowesChevy]

Every other year we opt to spend a couple of days at Universal before spending the majority of the time at WDW. We used to just come over for the day, but now with the two parks and CityWalk, its definetely worth staying there on property for us. It is not nearly as special as WDW, but a change now and then is fun too.

 

[disney magic 06]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm surprised by the lack of love for Seaworld, I thought it was very popular but clearly not with everyone. We'll be sticking with WDW next year, although I would definately go back to Universal at a later date - like Funfy, probably when the new HP stuff opens.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

So far it's been just Disney World for us. Since we go in late October or early November, I'd love to catch Halloween Horror Nights one of these years. I also feel remiss in that I haven't been to IoA for the Harry Potter stuff yet. I just never can seem to swallow the price of a one-day ticket to Universal, though. I always think "maybe next year" and of course next year the price is always even higher.

Oh well, maybe next year.

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm surprised by the lack of love for Seaworld, I thought it was very popular but clearly not with everyone. We'll be sticking with WDW next year, although I would definately go back to Universal at a later date - like Funfy, probably when the new HP stuff opens.

Don't worry there are those of us who do love SeaWorld. Although my wife and I are doing a strictly Disney trip this Novemeber, I plan on incorporating SeaWorld and Discovery Cove on the trip there after. I have been itchingto go to SeaWorld but just felt like that my children would enjoy Disney more at their current ages.

In my opisnion, visiting other parks can easily be influenced by a child's age. As my children get older we will branch out and visit other amusement parks that have more "thrill rides" that aren't as toddler or small child oriented. Disney is great, but lets be honest, it's not known for roller coasters that are going to make you hurl. At some point in fatherhood I want to experience that with my sons.

 

[disneygirl76]

Most of our Florida holidays have been to WDW only but this year we started our holiday with 2 nights at Universal, which we greatly enjoyed. I quite fancied a day at Seaworld next year, and have just been checking it out online. I was shocked to see that a one day admission to the park would set us back $84.99, that seems pretty steep to me, and we'd also have to factor in hire car/shuttle bus costs. It would be a very expensive day out, especialy considering that we have a 14 day for the price of 7 Disney pass for our 12 day holiday so we could go to one of the Disney parks instead.

It has made me wonder, do most of you folks stray out of our magical lands on your trips?

My DH and I run into this every trip. Do we spend the extra money and go to Sea World or IOA/US? I really want to see Harry Potter and Sea World. We went to IOA/US a few years ago while HP was still being built and I don't mind skipping US again. But there is really nothing else at IOA that I want to see. So the money just to see HP and the steep - yes steep price of Sea World, we just never do it. I suppose one time we will finally pull the trigger and spend the extra money, but so far, we don't. We just stay at WDW.

 

[disney magic 06]

My DH and I run into this every trip. Do we spend the extra money and go to Sea World or IOA/US? I really want to see Harry Potter and Sea World. We went to IOA/US a few years ago while HP was still being built and I don't mind skipping US again. But there is really nothing else at IOA that I want to see. So the money just to see HP and the steep - yes steep price of Sea World, we just never do it. I suppose one time we will finally pull the trigger and spend the extra money, but so far, we don't. We just stay at WDW.

We DID feel US was well worth it. We stayed two nights at the Holiday Inn at considerably less cost than the WDW section of our holiday (WL) so that partly covered the cost of the park tickets etc, give or take. We loved IoA, especially HP, as we walked into Hogsmeade it literally took my breath away. Some of the rides were completely different to any others I'd ever experienced, and all in all I felt it was money well spent.

Seaworld is a different kettle of fish. I'm not sure it would be worth laying out a lot of money and missing a Disney day for. We are an adult-only party so no children to consider.