What Percentage Of Your Trips Include Another Park?

I haven't made it anywhere else so far. Maybe someday, after I've seen everything at WDW, I'll check out Universal.

Hi,

One of eight (12.5%); I took a Mears bus to Sea World Orlando on Sunday, October 15, 2000, during my first solo trip to WDW. After a day in Sea World, which I left at 3:30 pm, I ate dinner at Big River Grille and Brewing Works.

Jim

How'd you like BRG, Jim? I was enamored with their chips and dip for quite some time, and then the poor service kind of did them in in my opinion.

To answer your question, cdub, I've only made it off Disney property (besides for work conferences) twice--both times to Universal and IOA. I have to admit that I was such a Disney purist I figured I'd hate both parks and be all judgemental the whole time, but I actually enjoyed it (I was still judgemental the whole time, of course...that's just my loving nature ).

I'm a pretty big disney purist myself, but I have done the Cypress Gardens, Busch Gardens, and Sea World gigs in the past. I'm really glad Cypress Gardens seems to be staying afloat; it was an old-fashioned experience when I was last there, but worth it.

I think I've gone on one trip where I tried the "other" parks. I thought it was worth it though, kind of fun.

Is anyone going soon? I need a trip report! I'm having withdrawal!

We usually make it to Universal about once every 2 or 3 trips. We can pretty much ride/see everything we want to at both US and IOA in one day. It was averaging out to 1 day every 2 years.

However once Harry Potter opens up, I can't say for sure that we won't make it over there at least 1 day each trip. I'm just going to have to wait and see if The Wizarding World of Harry Potter lives up to the hype.

From what I understand it's going to be another land at IOA, but could pretty much be a stand alone park in it's own right. I believe there is an indoor rollercoaster and they are changing dueling dragons to be themed to the Harry Potter thing. I know there has been some rumors that there is going to be a Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts with shopping and dining.

Really, really like the idea of dueling dragons being Harry Potter themed.

What's the date of this to be opened?

the first phase of it is scheduled to be open in 2010 I believe

Being in the media, I get a one day pass for two to those parks complimentary, but even with that I don't find the need to go that often.

We usually get to Universal or Sea World about every five years or so. Hopefully there are a BUNCH of WDW trips between those "side distractions".

Thanks for the info Shelley! I think we'll have to try it at least once when Harry Potter World opens!

Someone said ( I think it was bali):

>How'd you like BRG, Jim? I was enamored with their chips and dip for
quite some time, and then the poor service kind of did them in in my
opinion.<

I thought that the restaurant was a little less clean than one would expect at Disney, service was slow, but the food was decent. I had the Drunken Ribeye.

Jim

I think that was my restaurant that started my distaste for any restaurant on property that isn't operated by Disney.

Nope, nope, nope.. only WDW for me! We did that "U" place a few years ago. Got the passes for a week and all that. By Wednesday I was bored.

The Eating Machines used to talk about going to U. They're tempted by the roller coasters I guess. I told them they'd better get jobs 'cause I wasn't paying for it.

NO KIDDING. Now, Disney rides aren't necessarily a thrill-a-minute, but I really was bored with Universal and IOA after two days. Though I have to say the water rides (Bilgerat Barge and the log flume-y thing) were quite fun

Looking forward to the Harry Potter thing, though. That'll probably bring me back for a bit.

I'm also looking forward to Potter and that might just take me back to U for a while.

Maybe half a day......

If they have a really good discount ......

Like darn near free admission!

Yeah, I'd be bored after 2 days at Universal, too. Granted, I've never been there, so it's probably not fair of me to judge, and I know other members of my family love it more than Disney, but that's because they're ride freaks. They'll go on the same rides over and over. I'd get bored doing that. I've researched Universal to try to fill an itinerary for a vacation, and I just couldn't come up with more than 2 days of things to do. 2 days is a weekend, not a vacation. (Now that I think about it, I don't think my family's ever been there for more than 3 days, either. Hmmm...)

To me, Disney offers so much more than just rides. It's a total immersion experience, not just a theme park. The one area where I would bet that Universal is superior to Disney is nightlife. I've heard great things about City Walk. It's exactly the kind of place I would want to hang out at night on vacation. I wish it were closer to Disney.

We always stop by Sea World for one day and sometimes we go to Universal. I would love to try Discovery Cove sometime.

I agree, I'm super excited for Harry Potter to be at IOA. I think IOA is an outstanding park, but I really don't care for Universal, perhaps because the Universal Hollywood is a hundred times better.

But even with Harry Potter coming, it will be hard to tear us away from WDW. Especially when you factor in the cost for either a taxi or bus or whatever to get us there. But I'm gonna have to go at some point to see Harry Potter!!

I would go to more than 1 park in a single trip but I can't afford to fly to Florida and California during the same vacation.

That must be my problem as well.

Pretty much 0% of my trips include anything going on off of Disney property. It's not that I object to it or don't want to go, I think it just means that I need longer vacations.

We included 2 days of Universal on our last trip and probably won't be back for quite awhile. Maybe if/when the rumored expansion to WWoHP comes.

If it's just hubby and I, or hubby, our friends, and I, we spend no time at non-Disney parks.

But when we go with sister & family, who are huge Harry Potter fans, that number changes. For our upcoming trip, it'll probably be 65-75% non-Disney parks.