Universal traitor

[Marijil]

OK guys help me out....we (my wife and I)like most on these boards are Disney freaks..I have every Birmbaum book since they started writing them....anyway we go at least once per year, stay on property eat on property...never leave the property......

My kids are now 8 and 5, they are Jr. Disney freaks but........they do watch Nick......and they do like Shrek......I feel like I'm being unfair being dowm there and not going....you know...to that other place.....I'm sure we could work in a day, besides Emeril's sounds yummy...any way....any advice on how to sneak out for a day, what should I see....any tips....Disney I know but this is all new.....I will only allow myself one day...after all this is just a fling and I dont want to get emotionally attached....

 

[wdwfan65]

Ok there is still help for you,I had thoughts several years ago about taking my kids to universal for nick,but we where strong and once we where at Disney the kids changed there minds,thank God.I'm sure I would be sick going to Universal:hurl: Be strong and stand yoour ground you can buy Emeral food and spices in your local grocery store Emeral wont be cooking it anyway.good luck:sohappy:

 

[Sherm00]

whats great about competition is the only winner is us. go spend a day. if you have kids maybe 2 days one in ioa and one in universal. haven't tried emmerils but the hard rock cafe is really nice. in universal don't mis hanna barbara, back to the future, twister or MIB (i still like buzz better but MIB is ok). not many food spots in the park besides mels diner, however universal parks sit right on top of city walk imagine downtown disney with a theme park at each end. there are lots of resturants and bars and shopping in city walk, the only classy resturant being emrils. now in IOA don't mis the cat in the hat, posidens fury, or spiderman. everything else is just a basic thrill ride or roller coaster. personally i would only get one day spend the morning in the studios side see the few things i want to see have lunch at the hard rock and hop over to IOA. when we went to universal we were through IOA in just a few short hours since there were only 3 or 4 rides we could ride. theme wise it's really neat, just wish they had better rides and not so many roller coasters or log flumes. the studios side is better but i hear more coasters are going in there, so universal should be just a day trip.

 

[wdwhoneymooner]

I love Disney with as much passion as anyone, but wouldn't feel guilty about visiting the "other" place at all. Allow your children the opportunity to try it and decide for themselves if they would enjoy it.

Honestly, I have not visited either Universal parks the last 4 times we've been to Florida. Last visit there was in 1999.

 

[Marijil]

Originally posted by Sherm00
personally i would only get one day spend the morning in the studios side see the few things i want to see have lunch at the hard rock and hop over to IOA. [/B]

I am assuming theres no one day hopper at Universal...

 

[hadesrules]

I wouldn't worry about it. We went to IOA two trips ago. We weren't all that impressed, but we went anyway. This trip (in 38 days) we plan to go to the studios. It's good to expand your horizons and see what the other guys are doing.

 

[ToWeroFTerRor67]

there are lots of resturants and bars and shopping in city walk, the only classy resturant being emrils.

I can't believe you don't think the Nascar cafe is classy :lol:

 

[wdwhoneymooner]

Originally posted by ToWeroFTerRor67
I can't believe you don't think the Nascar cafe is classy :lol:

"Ill have the Pitstop special - lunch served in under 20 seconds and my wife will have the Restrictor Plate - salad with no dressing."

Waiter: "Very good. But may I recommend the Tony Stewart combo?" *bumps me then punches me out*

 

[tomman710]

Do you and your family a favor, STAY IN DISNEY. You will regret wasting time at Universal or IOA. I made this mistake in the past, I thought these parks couldn't be so bad. Yes it's true I used to not be such a Universal hater, I had hopes for it ... that is until I went. I wasted two days that could have been spent at Disney and have regretted it ever since. Go check out their sites, there isn't a whole lot to do there, and the stuff that is there, they have it at Disney and they have it better. Trust me, stay in Disney.

 

[mrtoad]

I would not feel guilty if I were you, go and check it out. It was not my taste but we did try it. I have been to the Studios 1/2 once in 95 or 96 I think. I did not like it. Of what we went on, I thought Back to the Future was good. Other than that, not for me. They also fibbed about the wait times. We stood on line for Jaws which might have been ok if I was not so ticked when I got on. The way said 40 min, which is a lot but everyone wanted to do it. We were on line for 1 1/2 hours.

Last trip to WDW in 2000 we did IOA. My wife was pregnant so he did not go. I took my two brothers who were about 7 and 9 at the time. They loved it, I did not. I will say Spiderman was excellent. Other than that, I did not care for it.

That night we went to dinner with my wife to NBA City on City Walk. That was not bad at all. The food was good and they have 2 huge screens where you can watch old clips.

Also there is a section while you wait were kids and adults can get tickets and play games, like shootouts and trivia if I remember correctly.

I would go again to get dinner at City Walk but I don't think I will go back to the parks. That is until my daughter is old enough and starts asking for it.

 

[mrtoad]

Originally posted by tomman710
Go check out their sites, there isn't a whole lot to do there, and the stuff that is there, they have it at Disney and they have it better.

I think this statement is correct.

 

[RogueHabit]

Personally we love both USF/IOA and WDW.

On our next trip, in three weeks, we plan to spend about 6 days in Disney, 3 days in USF/IOA, 1 Day Seaworld, 1 Day Busche Gardens and 4 days to do whatever else takes our fancy.

I guess that for us Brits we normally take 2 weeks in Florida and 14 days of pure Disney, even for hardened fans, might just be a little too much...

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Disney has a lot more to offer.... we spent a day in the studios and a day at IOA last time we went but we could have done both in a day and spent early evening in citywalk.

IOA was ok, but felt like Six Flags to be honest. Some great rides, especially if you like rollercoasters and getting wet, but overall the park just really lacked.

The studios was ok, but once you've done Shrek, T2, Back to the Future and MIB, there isn't much else. Jaws is ok, but its old hat now.

Oh and don't expect the staff to be like they are at Disney. We found that at Universal, everything was a hassle for them and I didn't see a single smile!

 

[KevinPage]

If you want to go, go with a positive attitude. You are not betraying anyone, you are just out there to have a good time.

The Universal parks are not "horrible". I prefer Disney in a heartbeat, but sometimes something "different" is a nice change of pace. And if for some reason you have a bad/disappointing time, then that will allow you to appreciate Disney that much more. The worst thing is to always wonder what something is like, just do it and experience it for yourself.

The first time I went to IOA I had a great time, no lines, everything was fresh and new. But it's not a repeat type of park for my wife and I, it's fun, but not something we need to go all the time to. (mainly cause of the parking, clientel it attracts, rides that have no depth, more flash in the pan)

Universal Studios doesn't thrill us by any means and has some of the most boring rides/attractions I've ever been on (given the hype and money spent on them), but Jaws is fun and Terminator is OK.

 

[ChrisTUK]

This post is ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!

It seems a little imatuer to feel that going to another great theme park outside of WDW is like going behind Disney's back. Why go all the way to Orlando without experiencing everything it has to offer, just for the sake of feeling like your letting the mouse down.

Going to Universal doesn't make you a bad person, you never know.... you might just like it....Millions of others do!! :veryconfu

 

[Testtrack321]

Throw yourself into the fry Testtrack!

If you want to go, GO! But remember that Shrek hasn't gotten good reviews, and all the Paramount parks have a Nick place. Plus, most shows arn't taped at the Nick Studios at Universal anymore. It's up to you, but remeber that....

 

[CTXRover]

In my opinion, give it a go. Especially if you've never been there before. I enjoy Universal for a day every other trip or so. Shrek is a pretty good show. It wasn't the show-stopping, hand-clapping, crowd-roaring romp that some made it out to be, but I still found it enjoyable and I really don't like Shrek, the character. He just annoys me rather than making me laugh. Oh well.

In the main park, be sure to do: MIB, T2: 3D, Jaws, Earthquake, Twister, and perhaps Back to the Future. (some of these may be somewhat frightening for a 5 year old, but then again maybe not). Of course, the whole family can enjoy Shrek and Jimmy Nuetron, which has Nick characters including a very small cameo from Spongebob (this replaced Hanna Barbarra.) Take your time and you can fill your day.

That's about it for the park. Depending on when you go, you can finish these pretty fast (my brother and I have already done all the above except BTTF and JN and left to go to IOA by lunchtime: granted at a fast pace ) It is fun, lacks some of the charm and class (especially with Shrek now) that Disney has, but still a good time.

My suggestion is to definetely bypass IOA with a 5 year old. Its just too much "thrill-ride" stuff. Unless you're 5 year old is into that, wait to their a little older

To eat, you can find something good. I have never tried Emeril's, but it is supposed to be fantastic. Other places include traditional themed restaurants like Hard Rock, Nascar Cafe, Basketball Cafe and some latin restaurant. Pretty much the same fare you can get at DTD with Planet Hollywood, Rainforest, Bongos, Wolfgang Puck and House of Blues, so try Emeril's Enjoy.

(And don't feel like a traitor, you're on vacation. I love Disney and could easily never visit Universal, but it is a nice diversion)

 

[burbur]

i love both uni studios and ioa.... in fact, i used to be a passholder at ioa back when i was working at dak.

ioa is a hot theme park... you get rides that disney doesn't... mainly coasters. the hulk is just brutal. and spiderman is awesome as well...

and if you compare mgm with uni, then you will see that the themeing at uni is actually better in a lot of areas than at mgm. before mgm had tower and coaster, i would say that uni would be twice the park. but now mgm is rocking with aerosmith, so i love that place too.

but anyway, go for both... a little competition never hurt.

 

[Shaman]

I'm a Disney fan...but that doesn't mean I can't go to Universal every now and then....Why would that make me a traitor?? After all I'm the one with the control of MY money and I choose to spend it where ever....Disney does not control me in anyway... Universal has its good points and its bad ones...overall its a nice place to visit...it is a little reminder of how better it has gotten but how far it has to go before it reaches Disney's level.

I however think the best way to experience Universal is to stay at one of the three hotels they have on property. You get unlimited Express Pass in all rides as many times...and transportation to the parks......(but nothing compares to Disney--except Portofino which gives any Disney hotel a run for its money...except AK Lodge).

Disney will always be Disney....but hey Disney ain't the only park in Orlando...try the experiment....go to Universal....anyways that my 2 cents.

:lookaroun :wave:

 

[smilez4011]

I'm ashamed to admit that I have gone to Univeral and IOA one time. Although I would never have actually bought tickets and gone. My vacationing neighbors at my timeshare had extra UIniversal tickets because they ended up not going, so they gave them to me. I would never go again (even if I were to get free tickets again). i did not have an enjoyable time and would have much rather spent my time at WDW!!!!