Will I be Disappointed?

[Ils]

If you book in the winter months then you shouldn't be too disappointed as if you purchase as some have advised previously the Uni/SW combo ticket you get 6 parks for just over £1500 for a family of four. For Disney you pay £1600 for 5 parks as they choose to shut down one of the water parks for some rubbish excuse rather than be honest about it being about cutting costs.

I love Disney as much as most on here but in my humble opinion both Universal parks and Busch Gardens are as good as days out as you will get at Disney and with less of a crowd.

[Ayefour]

It's easy to get a Disney fix without being onsite. watch the fireworks from the polly. A day a Disney springs. A trip on the skyliner across the resorts and then to the boardwalk or boatride back to Hollywood studios.

We are foregoing Disney this year (if we get to go) and already planned about 5 Disney days (without the parks)

[sheluk]

I’ve done many a family holiday that’s just been universal and had an amazing time! Yes it’s different to Disney but the lack of planning out every day / ride etc is really refreshing.

I’ve last stayed at that resort in 2016 and loved it.

Have an amazing time

[fredflintstone]

From a hotel perspective you and the kids will probably like Cabana Bay and your eldest one, maybe two might prefer universal over Disney. You can use transportation to visit all the hotels, just like disney, so use the boats a few times from across the road and go to Portofino Bay for the opera singing.
If you are getting a family suite with a seperate living/kitchen area it will be a bonus, well worth it.
If you have a car Disney is near and as others have said, watching fireworks from Poly can give the Disney fix or even Disney springs or a 1 day pass. If you are going when DNSSHP or any other night time special it can also be a cheap way of getting a disney fix, without the long queues for rides that are open plus other bonuses such as candy.

[MillyMoo]

You won't be disappointed at all! On our last trip we stayed 4 nights at Disney and the rest on International Drive, it was so much calmer going back to the universal parks, no planning, no rushing to get to each ride or place, its a completely different atmosphere. Harry Potter is amazing!
You will have a fab time!

[florida addict]

Last trip 2019 after a week in the Keys and Miami we had 16 nights in Orlando. We stayed in a villa and did DC BG SW AQ and Kennedy
We had a brilliant time
Also found time to do things we never got to do on previous trips like airboat and wonderworks which were great too

[dx4100]

Universal is fantastic - we love the place. Our next last trip to Orlando and our next trip didn't involve Disney and we had a great time.

[cartoonp]

Originally Posted by mini_princessx2

So we have been to Orlando 4 times in the last 8 years and each time we have stayed Onsite at Disney with Dining, flown direct.

We have never been to Universal

This year to save money we are going indirect Staying at Cabana Bay Universal and only doing Universal Parks... no dining etc.
Will we be dissapointed?

We are a Family of 6, 4 children ages 11,9,7,5

See more...

Hi if your children are in to Harry Potter and the super hero’s then no. We stayed at cerebration suites at old town as we where working on a budget we payed roughly 550 pound for 14 night this was a special price it know around 700 to 800 but this is a motel so got kitchen ect and sleeps 6. The best thing for me and my partner was we where so close to old town we could go over to old town and the parks where with in easy reach.

[Wobbles]

So first off, Disney would be very different this year, some of the stuff you are worried about missing won't be there and you could be even more disappointed by comparing like for like.

Personally we love Universal, we've never been rushed, enjoy the atmosphere (and you can pool hop so that's 4 or 5 days at different pools and hotels sorted). We love the Dive in Movie nights as well which you can pick and choose at different hotels as they show different films at different times

If you have a HP fan the interactive wands are a must, you can waste a day with those.

We also love the closeness of everything, If we've had a morning in the parks, we can do the cinema (love those reclining chairs) or golf at City Walk on the way back to the buses. Or IDrive or the Malls all in easy distance. The Orlando Eye and everything is close as well loads of places to eat.

Best advice is don't compare, treat it as a completely different holiday

[bosshogg]

No.
But maybe.

Let us know. 👍.