Trip Report Our first WDW trip, not so scary in Disney but so scary in Universal

Hi all,

a day later than promised, but here is our TR from out October 2014 trip to WDW and Universal. It will be a long TR I guess, we have tons of pictures! So please be patient, it probably will take quit some time to finish this TR! This week we still have holidays so not that many time to work on this TR, but from next week I will post as many posts as possible during work time

If you are interested in the PTR: here it is

The overall thought of this trip is marvelous, wonderfull, magical, scary, beautifull! I guess a lot of you want to know the comparison with DLP. My first opinion is that although the parks in USA are older than DLP I am sure that the parks in USA are better!! The cast members are more gentle, easier to talk to! The look of the park is cleaner than in DLP, all the buildings are in a much better shape than in DLP. Off course we are in DLP 4/5 times a ytear, so everything feels 'normal' and WDW was a first timer (yeah I was there 25 years ago, but the only thing I remember from that trip are the pictures (sorry not digital). So when you visit WDW for the first time everything looks better than DLP.

The best thing about WDW in comparison to DLP is the magic band system in WDW. It really worked out very good! We also had the Memory Maker, so beside our tons of pictures we also have 100+ memory pics taken by cast members.

So in short words the days:
Friday October 17th: flight, was ok, not that much turbulence
Saturday October 18th: Magic Kingdom, was great, special, magical
Sunday October 19th (daytime): Universal, Island of Adventure, was also great, Harry Potter was marvelous
Sunday October 19th (nighttime): Universal, Universal Studios, Halloween Horror Night, absolute a thrill!
Monday October 20th: Epcot, not really our thing, Test Track was great, The Wine and Food thing was not our thing
Monday October 20th: Downtown Disney, hard to find a parking lot, and a lot of structure going on, some great shops, but overall not really our thing
Tuesday October 21th: Universal Studios, great day!
Wednesday October 22nd: Hollywood Studios, a more that great day, Fantasmic was a more that special end of the day
Wednesday October 22nd: Premium Outlets, not that great, much shops that were not our thing
Thursday October 23rd (daytime): Animal Kingdom, good, not great! Some great rides, for the rest nothing more than a zoo
Thursday October 23rd (nighttime): Magic Kingdom, Not So Scary Halloween, a more than great night!!
Friday October 24th: flight home, was ok, a lot of turbulence

So this was the trip in a nutshell!

Much, much, much more to come!!

p.s. It was the first time, but absolutely not the last!!!!

 

[FlaggNL]

The final Festival of Fantasy Parade pictures

Jiminy Cricket is on the most favorite characters for Ria. So some than one picture of this magnificent figure

 

[FlaggNL]

When we were preparing our trip to WDW and Universal we watched a lot on the internet. Movies on youtube, and a lot of TR's here on this site. Besides of a list af attractions and rides we wanted to do for sure there were also some food things we wanted to drink/eat for sure. Butterbeer in Universal, Dole Whip, Darth Vader cupcake, Starbucks, Ice sandwich and a Turkey leg! We didn't manage to do all. We couldn't find the Darth Vader cupcake. And we didn't take the Dole Whip and the Ice sandwich. So that will probably happen in October '15. But hey we did the turkey leg! Much better than the chicken legs we have in Europe Great to taste and eat! So here some pictures.

This is it for today! There are more pictures from day one, and off course the final thoughts about MK. You will have to wait for that for the next posts! And there will be much more pictures and thoughts from the rest of the trip. Remember this is just day 1 of 7. And be prepared, there are 2 days Universal so you will see a lot of pictures and thoughts about Universal in the next of the TR!

so...... to be continued.......

 

[DisneyGigi]

Enjoying your report so much, the pictures are great. Glad you guys had such a good trip and looking forward to reading more!

 

[FlaggNL]

Enjoying your report so much, the pictures are great. Glad you guys had such a good trip and looking forward to reading more!

Thanks! And ohw yeah the trip was good! Way too short but isn't that always when you are in WDW And there will be so much more so come!

 

[FlaggNL]

Here we go with the continuation of Day 1 in the Magic World! We still are in MK, the only park we did the first day.

After the Festival of Fantasy parade and the Turkey leg we went to Haunted Mansion. First we did Memento Mori. It was still crowded so we had to wait in in line. Who could imagine that! Waiting in line for a gift shop

The first thing we did before looking around was the picture! Ria, Sacha and me all now have our own scary picture

The next pictures are taken in the waiting line for Haunted Mansion!

 

[FlaggNL]

Haunted Mansion is marvelous. Have to be honest that we thought it would have the Halloween/Christmas theme what you can see on some Youtube movies. But after HM we found out that the theme is only in the California park

In comparison with Phantom Manor in DLP I have to say that the USA version is better situated and the story is better than in DLP. In Paris it feels like you have 2 different stories in one ride. Off course the first part is a bit similar only the sequence is different. The second part in Paris is an old western town. Also the waiting line is USA is much better situated than in DLP, but that almost counts for every attraction and ride!

After that we went for the Winnie attraction. We don't have that one in DLP.

 

[FlaggNL]

So we finally are at the final post of just day 1! Like I promised we have a lot of pictures so expect much more to come!

We also did the hall of presidents! What a great experience and how wonderfull situated and done by the Disney engineers!!

In the evening we walked around, had something to eat and did some attractions. We don't have much pictures from the first night in MK. We were more tired than expected so we didn't stay until closing time. One of the reasons for MK on the first full day was that the park had maximum opening hours from 08.00 until 0.00. But the first (travel) day made is more tired so we left and went for a good night of sleep.

Some pictures of the walk to the exit

And here is the final picture of day 1.

What a great park MK is! In comparison with DLP it is bigger, better situated, more rides and attractions, more shops, better situated restaurants. That is one the biggest complaints about DLP. There are a lot restaurants but many of them close early. The maintenance in MK is much better than in DLP. Everything looks brand new, good painting and if a light is broken it is fixed fast! In DLP it can last days! There are more characters in WK than in DLP and there are more 'street' shows! And the crew in MK (and other USA parks) is better than in DLP and makes you feel more comfortable. It feels like they are proud to work for Disney, not matter what age!! And off course one other thing: the language! So much easier to talk in English always instead of the French in DLP.

Like I said we went for the villa for a good night of sleep! Universal Island of adventures was waiting! And off course the Halloween Horror Nights in Universal Studios! So expect the next bunch of post about Universal!

To be continued...........

 

[epcotisbest]

Good parade pics, especially Tink. Great TR so far. Looking forward to more.

 

[Lyear]

Enjoying your report. Sounds like you had really good weather and packed a lot into that first day. The pics from the parade were very good.

 

[FlaggNL]

Good parade pics, especially Tink. Great TR so far. Looking forward to more.

Thanks! Like I said to others, have to pass the compliment to Ria, she took almost every pic and about 73GB of video The Tink picture is great! Right moment! And there is lot more to come!!

Enjoying your report. Sounds like you had really good weather and packed a lot into that first day. The pics from the parade were very good.

Thanks! The weather was really marvelous! Hope it will be the same in October '15 And we not only packed a lot into day 1, but every day was packed..... we were only there 7 days and there is soooo mich to do! Thanks for the picture compliment!

 

[FlaggNL]

So here we go with day 2! A day full with Universal. When looking at the opening hours we decided to go to Island of Adventures at first and then at the end of the afternoon grab a bite and then for Studios... At the start of the day we didn't had tickets for Halloween Horror Nights '14. By the time we bought our tickets there was no deal for the HHN and a couple of weeks later there was. Off course we contacted Universal but they could not present us the deal for cheaper tickets for HHN, but they assured us that it would not sell out and we could buy tickets the moment we arrived at the gates. And they were right! First thing we did when we were inside was buying the tickets. An hour later HHN got sold out so we were right on time!

Off course we did some homework about the parks and decided at home we, off course just as a lot of people do, first had to got to the Harry Potter part of Island of Adventure! Have to be honest WDW and DLP are absolutely the greatest parks in the world. With probably California en Tokyo on place 3 and 4. But the Harry Potter part is astonishing! There is no attraction in whatever park in the world that is so great (at least until today, my best guess is that Avatar Land in AK will be even better, although that will be more science fiction that Harry Potter).

For now there will be a lot of posts on its way with pictures and comments about Universal. At the end of the day 2 posts I will give my overall thoughts about the difference between Universal and Disney!

It's nice to see that Universal uses E.T. it as a sign on the parking lot. So we took the picture to remember where the car was parked

If you read the PTR of our trip you know that Sacha is crazy about Minions. I made her a promise at home that she would get the biggest Minion she could find as a present. So on the way tot the park she already found out that there are a lot Minions in Universal, really a lot

And there was the biggest she found in that little shop. She didn't get it right away And well inside the park there are bigger ones as we would find out later that day

Some pictures from the way to Universal.

More to come of day 2!

 

[FlaggNL]

Still on our way to the inside of Universal Island of Adventure!

We didn't get to the Blue Man Group, but I guess if you go the show will be worth it!

We also didn't take the Hogswarth Express. We had no hopper option for our tickets for Universal. And when you wanna ride the train you have to pay $40 per person extra so we will do it on our next trip!

Forrest Gump

I have to say that it is great what Universal has done with the shops and restaurants. Disney has Downtown Disney, but to come there you have to have transportation. With Universal you just do it by foot. And after you parked your car you have to go through this part! So in my opinion better than Disney..........

Off course the day have to start with Starbucks

Heaven? And Starbcuks And Hard Rock Cafe!

That view..... what a ride.... I (and everybody else of our group, besides Sacha) was very sure that that ride was too much for us.... well come back on that later in this TR

Almost there........

And then we were inside! Here we bought the tickets for HHN!

More to come

 

[FlaggNL]

Here we go with the last post of today! As you know we spent the whole second day in Universal. We already are in the park and we decided to go directly to the Harry Potter part. On the way to Harry Potter Ria took a lot of pictures. So no comments and just pics

That's it for today! For the continuation of the TR you have to wait until monday! No time this weekend!

So for know have a great and magical weekend! Feel free to comment

To be continued........

 

[epcotisbest]

E.T. Adventure at Universal Studios is a fantastic ride.

 

[FlaggNL]

E.T. Adventure at Universal Studios is a fantastic ride.

You are so right Thanks!!

 

[Disneydreamer23]

Can't wait to see how you liked universal! It truly blew me away!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Great TR!!! What's funny, I was looking at your FoF parade pics and thinking...man, they look really similar to mine. Sure, it's the same parade, but then I realized were standing in almost the same spot when we saw it this past Tuesday. Can't wait to see/read more!!!

 

[tor29c]

I followed your PTR so it's interesting seeing all that waiting pass and now you actually reporting on the trip! Enjoying the photos and your commentary. Let's keep it coming!

 

[Doc Disney]

Really enjoying your report! I like the comparisons you give...I have only ever been to WDW and would love to see the other parks and compare them someday Sometimes I wonder if I got spoiled going to the World first since its so much bigger than the other parks...

 

[FlaggNL]

Can't wait to see how you liked universal! It truly blew me away!

Universal was great and like you said, blew us away, although a lot of rides are simulators!

Great TR!!! What's funny, I was looking at your FoF parade pics and thinking...man, they look really similar to mine. Sure, it's the same parade, but then I realized were standing in almost the same spot when we saw it this past Tuesday. Can't wait to see/read more!!!

Much more to come! Great that the place we saw the parade was almost similar to your position

I followed your PTR so it's interesting seeing all that waiting pass and now you actually reporting on the trip! Enjoying the photos and your commentary. Let's keep it coming!

Thanks! Much more to come

Really enjoying your report! I like the comparisons you give...I have only ever been to WDW and would love to see the other parks and compare them someday Sometimes I wonder if I got spoiled going to the World first since its so much bigger than the other parks...

When you visit WDW you are spoiled We feel similar! We have been to DLP so many times and now we done WDW, well DLP is so tiny in comparison! We had planned a december '14 trip to DLP but cancelled because we go back to WDW in October '15