As for Universal v's Disney, well I will say this.
I don't like Mickey. Don't like that mouse at all !
If I ever find that mouse I'm going to pull his head off, I will.
Universal Orlando is a 3 day trip.
Walt Disney World is about a weeks worth of stuff
I wasn't a fan of Disney until we went for the first time - i would recommend it to everyone as it really does have 'magic' and the place is wonderful.
In terms of the rides, Disney are more family type rides with only 2 top drawer roller coasters (Everest and Rock n Roller Coaster) whereas Universal has loads of thrill rides and things that go upside down - this might be more appealing to children of 10 and 14.
On rides Universal wins hands down - Disney has lots of family rides, 3d films etc and the place is fantastic but the rides at Universal are different class.
I agree with the above poster - you can do Universal in 3 days but Disney takes at least a week.A lot of the rides at Universal you can go on a few times though.
If you can manage it, 3 weeks is the way to go.Do 10 days at Disney and 11 at Universal / Sea World and around Orlando.The flights are the main expense so going for longer makes sense (easy to say i know!!)
Disney normally do promotions where you can get free dining if you stay onsite - this makes it more financially viable as the food is excellent.Still not cheap but staying onsite is great and very convenient.
The suggestion of staying onsite at Universal is also a very good one.If you are going in July it will be very busy - getting a couple of days of Express Pass is fabulous.The hotels are great too (Royal Pacific is cheaper than the others but just as nice so we like staying there)
Whatever you choose you will have a good time.I didn't want to go the first year we went but it really is an amazing place.
I would add, if you have the time withing the span of a trip, to build in non-park foils to the parks to give yourself a "break" from the fun/madness. The "space coast" is an example. A beach town for the beach, is another. Maybe go to see gators ...... etc
I think doing this would not only add other interest but also enhance the enjoyment of the parks when you return to them.
Perhaps you can identify the busiest days and go elsewhere on those days.
So been pricing up some options at Thomson. We got the following options for end of June next year (inc park tickets as part of cost):
- 14 Nights in Disney hotel (moderate) for about £6600
- 14 Nights in Rose Inn Hotel for about £4048
- 14 Nights in Villa in Kissimmee for about £5400
Think the Mrs prefers offsite for saving money and that is includes car hire plus flying on 787 from Glasgow. I'm thinking the villa might be the better option as we'll get more than one room to share data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
How many is that for?
I've never entertained multiple stop flights as prefer non stop, but a guy at work took his family to Florida this year during the Easter school holidays and saved thousands on the flight costs. It might be worth having a look at the costs just to see. The time of year you are going it might not be so much of a difference.
If you are happy to book everything separately try ownersdirect for the villa. You'd be amazed what you can get for the money!
I did have a scan previously there but my current thinking is with currency rates fluctuating just now, and maybe likely to keep doing so, it might be better to get a package option rather than price maybe changing for booking a villa directly and waiting on the flights.
Maybe next time I'll book direct data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
We're going 4 weeks today. Flights are crazy Birmingham>Amsterdam>New York>Orlando but at £1100 for 4 of us instead of £4000 direct, it was worth it.
A villa for 4 people would be cheap as chips. There's 14 of us for 3 weeks in a 7 bed villa, right outside Disney with oversized pool for under £4000 (13 per person per night). If you don't mind staying a few miles further out they're really cheap.
Not sure if it's the same but as I mentioned earlier, we flew back from Miami with Thomas cook, fraction of the cost. Three of us for a total of £450