Going to orlando...disney or universal?

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Leigh N

I've lived in Orlando for about 3 years now. I do not have kids, but I would say if you have small children, nothing beats Disney World. If you have teenagers or are just going with your significant other, Universal is is where it's at. Even though kids would also enjoy Universal, it seems to be more geared toward the older kid in all of us.
If you do chose Disney, make sure you get a hopper pass for about $20 more. That way if you get tired of a park or find that it isn't really for you, you can leave in the middle of the day and go to the next one. Epcot - more fun for adults who like experiencing other cultures; Magic Kingdom - more fun for little kids with a few classic rides and characters; Animal Kingdom - fun for all ages but obviously better for animal enthusiasts; MGM - fun for all ages, but plan on fewer rides than the other parks but more shows to watch. Need any advice on restaurants? Brown Durby at MGM is one of the best, closely followed by the Mexican Restaurant at Epcot. Make sure you get reservations well in advance.
Another place you should visit is Celebration, FL, it was a town designed by Disney - similar to Pleasantville. It has a very cute downtown with a "soda shop" style restaurant and ice cream parlor and a small theater. All the houses in the town are adorable and immaculately kept. Celebration is just a few minutes southeast of DisneyWorld.

Have a great time on your trip!

Ken J

Def do universal,get the 5ticket offer. That's bush gardens,wet n wild,sea world,universal studios and city walk.Disney we found was for younger kids.Go and see pets ahoy at bush gardens,you'll laugh,but there's just so much,and it's so good.If you like fast rides and coasters,universal the one.

Beach Gal

Definitely Disney. Universal studios is just so so and tends to be a tad on the boring side. However, Universal does own a really cool theme park, which is right next door to their main park, called Islands of Adventure. Definitely visit this park one day! They have the coolest coasters. My favorite is the Dueling Dragons (be sure to sit in front), The Log Flume Ride and The Hulk Coaster. The Spiderman ride is pretty amazing too. They use 3D effects and green screens - I still can't figure out how they made that attraction.

Disney World has 4 amazing theme parks. If you'll be traveling with kids, be sure to visit Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. The Disney Studios can be seen in half a day, so pair it up with another park under the park hopper ticket to save you some time and money. However, you can spend a full day at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom.

Sea World is also very cool. The Kraken Coaster is a really fun ride there.

Dolly's Dixie Stampede Dinner Show has gotten rave reviews and Medieval Times is also a lot of fun!

Visit any of the nearby beaches. Cocoa Beach is the closest - about a 45 minute drive. Siesta Key is my favorite beach, located an hour and 45 minutes south of Orlando in the beach town of Sarasota. Its well worth the drive - its my favorite beach in the entire nation!

Take an airboat ride to see gators! Boggy Creek airboats are a great company and located in the town of Poincicana - just outside of Kissimmee. They have billboards and signs all over the place. They are really east to find. It costs about $21 per person for a half hour boat ride - its so much fun, and it gets you into the real Florida and out of the city for a bit.

If you would like help planning for your next trip or if you would just like to read up on some fun tips and ideas that are updated monthly, visit my Disney Vacation Services Website, at:

http://im-all-ears-disney-vacation-services.blogspot.com/

Have a great time!

PO'd in Portland

I lived in Orlando for years - Universal is definitely more fun!!!!

Jen G

Universal

shayla x x

BOTH!

Soul Sista

Disney World. You can visit me in Miami.

blue121

One of universal's parks has more thrill rides(its the newer one) disney is good too and has more parks I've been to both I like disney more

team hatton

i done the whole tour last year and the year before,just do as much as you can and enjoy it all coz the time goes so fast you will be on your way home quicker than you know it

Disneyâ™¥â™¥Baby

I would say both. Both parks have something that the other doesn't, better and new things to offer. I'm leaning towards Universal though, it's not as crowded as Disney and the hotels in that vicinity are a bit more calmer and less crowded. If you're traveling with little ones, maybe Disney is best. But not all kids are obssesed with Princesses and all that hoopla. If you're into more of a wishy-washy family feel, by all means, go disney. Otherwise, hit Universal for a more adventuruous and upbeat vacation. But I would got o both parks, cause you can have a riot at both, and because, liek said earlier, both have something unique and fun to offer.

Stephanie

Seaworld Orlando!!!!

bowtie70_350

If you have younger kids than I would have to say Disney. Disney tends to be more family oriented. No kids or older kids I think Universal has more to offer. Personally I think that Disney is a has been. The only thing that really interests me there is the countries in Epcot Center. Besides, Universal is on International Drive which has just about anything that you could possibly imagine on it. If you get bored of the park, try I-drive and you won't be bored for long.

crazyantics

UNIVERSAL All the way. More rides, cooler rides, and just as fun for kids. Have a Blast!
SeaWorld is amazing too!

Lauretta R

I love Disney if you go there here are a few tips.
1.Make your priority seating reservations as soon as possible. Most of the restaurants accept them 90 days from the first day of your vacation. You are aloud to start calling at 7:00 am. Start dialing at 6:58 am and keep hitting redial until you are through. You might even want to call ahead of time and write down the number sequence that you have to punch in. You can get through to a real person faster that way. For instance Cinderellaâ€™s Castle usually books up by 7:05am. Call (407) WDW-DINE and ask them the exact date that you can call.
2.If you want to do Fantasmic ask them about the Dinner and a Show option. Be sure to leave yourself plenty of time between the reservation and the show. I think that they will let you have dinner around 2 and still give you priority seating at Fantasmic in the evening.
3.I always buy the park hopper pass, because I try never to stay at the Magic Kingdom after 11:30am. I get there when they open. The opening celebration is really neat. They sometimes open early for Disney Hotel Guests. Check on line for the extra magic hours. You can find them at www.Disney.com. I go directly to the rides that my kids want to ride. We may pick up a Fast Pass on the way. If you have more adults then kids then you can spread out your fast passes. (pick up more than 1 ride at a time, One adult with each child). For instance my daughter loves the Honey Pots so we go directly there sometimes at 7:00 am. We never have a line. Sometimes they even let us ride 2 or three times without getting out of our car.
4.Mickeyâ€™s Toon Town Fair usually opens later then the park. If you have small children plan to be there when it opens. You will have Minnieâ€™s House and Mickeyâ€™s House practically to yourself. And no line to see Mickey.
5.Always plan your afternoon reservations at one of the other parks. Unless you have lunch at the Castle (try to make it early)
6.The Hoop â€“ De â€“ Doo and the Luau (at the Polynesian) are great evening shows. Your ticket covers an all you can eat meal at your table (not a buffet) and all you can drink Beer, Wine and soft drinks. I believe that you can call up to 2 years in advance. Call ASAP for the best table.

Have Fun!!!!

Venus Mantrap

I've never been but I say go to Disney World. There isn't hardly as much to do at Universal studios as there is at Disney World. I've been to both in SoCal.

cheeze whiz

i would go to universal. disney isn't really ment for anyone over 10. it's so lame.

Lisa

Disney!!! There are more things to do there and its more fun then universal. But if you can do both, then do so!

Michael

go to orlando Floreda! there is a hotel and a cool arcade!

marie

I would say if you have small kids you be better of going to Disney world but if your kids are teenagers then universal is the place to be, also island of adventure is good for both ages....

Tones

Go to Epcott Center, then Universal. They're both near by.

saveourchildren

You will have so much fun! We went this past August, it was very hot but Disney is great. The water parks are well worth the extra money! I suggest you go to Sea World (if you like that sort of stuff). Have a safe trip!

Lauren S

Nope I think you know where you want to go!!

disney of course!

desilou

If you have younger kids, concentrate on Disney, if you have older kids, do Universal. Or split your time between the two.

Seaworld is great too!

Claire2006

If you have two weeks like i did, as i went in late Nov, do one week disney, two / three days ie, shopping on international drive, sea world, gatorland etc and then spend the last few days doing universal parks.
You can do all in a week,(if thats all you have) and to do this a disney pass and universal pass is best, so that you can skip from one park to the next during your stay.... but you will be knackered as it will involve early starts and late finishes. Take some good shoes as all you do is walk walk walk and walk as the parks are massive!!!

Hope you have a great time and make sure you check out the addy below for more info!

xXx Orange Breezer xXx

corrrrrrr yeah there is so much

Seaworld
Busch gardens (the best place for roller coasters)
Wet n Wild
Disney takes 7 days
Universal takes 2 days
Disney has alot of water parks in there

I have been swimming with the dolphins in the keys, errrrrr hire an airboat

Go gator watching at night lol

Go treking through the everglades on a horse

There is so much to do you will love it

Monica T

Do both!

I like Universal better, but I am a 30-something childless person. Disney is fun, too, but there are a bunch of screaming kids running around.

We typically stay at the Univeral Resort and take a day at Disney. It's more economically to stay at Universal. I have stayed at the Disney resort as well and loved every minute there as well. Disney is so vast and little kid oriented and Universal is compact and more young adult and adult oriented.

So, it depends on your taste.

You should try to spend a few days at the beach. i enjoyed the gulf coast of Treasure Isand, Fort De Soto, and St Armand's Key.

mhireangel

get a park hopper pass and you can go to most of the parks

Unverisal !!

Harmon

both- split your time- a day in each minunum

munki

Universal definately!! also visit Old Town in nearby Kissimmee on a Friday night-excellent night out.

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