Universal Studios vs Epcot

[Wendybird63]

We have three days after our cruise ends on 11/29 to enjoy Florida before heading home to San Diego. There are four things I'd like to do, but I know we don't have time. Can anyone help me decide which ones to do? My husband's a big astronaut nut, so I'd like to do Titusville when we dock on Saturday. We're already doing Kennedy Space Center on 11/21. My kids are huge alligator freaks, and I heard there's an "alligator city" or something near Orlando. I'd like to go to Epcot, and I think our whole family would enjoy Universal Studios. We have one here in So. Cal., but everyone says Florida's is better.
What to do? Titusville, alligators, Epcot, Universal?
I couldn't fit them all into our three days after the cruise, could I?
Thanks for any help!
Wendy

 

[alexandrew]

I would say you should go to a park that you don't have near home - Thus, I would choose EPCOT above all....I've heard Universal is better in Florida as well, but not so much so...

 

[RKB]

You may be looking for gatorland - the website is www.gatorland.com. It does sound like a good idea to go to a park that is not duplicated near your home, though my kids 9 and 13 were bored at Epcot - they liked it the least out of the four Disney parks.

 

[webray]

Epcot with all the holiday decorations is excellent...it would be a great way to end your trip, along with gatorland. (my kids have went there on many school trips...they just love it)

There are a lot of cool things for kids at epcot...they shouldn't get bored.

Save universal for a time when you come back, can stay on site and go to Islands of Adventure also..stay at a universal resort, enjoy front of the line access, etc. Now that is a way to treat yourself.

 

[RachelTori]

Wendy, I've been to both Universals; FL is better but similar. To me, there's no place better than EPCOT. Way too much to do in just a day or 2 so make sure you know what you "must see".

 

[Mjasp]

I would do Epcot If I were you as there isn't an Epcot in CA.

After being in both Universal's, I was disappointed with the Orlando one. Like CA's better.

 

[TootyJane]

Wendy, depending on how old your kids are I'd go for Universal Studios over Epcot. While Epcot is very interesting my 3 boys were totally bored. They were 11, 8 and 4 at the time we went. Universal Studios in Florida is much bigger plus if your kids are into Nickelodeon that's a big plus. HTH

 

[Dodie]

If DH is an "astronaut freak," wouldn't he want to ride Mission:Space at Epcot?

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Wendybird,
Being a Florida native (I've lived in Florida my entire 25 years of life), and living the majority of it in Daytona Beach (moved here to Orlando 6 months ago; I actually live 5 minutes from Disney, Universal, and right across the street from Sea World), I have some tips for you if you choose to make the most of your 3 days after your cruise.
To start off with, I've gone to all of the Disney and Universal theme parks here COUNTLESS times. I reccommend skipping EPCOT. While it was interesting, fresh and new in the 80's, it has seriously fallen behind the times in 2003. I went there for my birthday last month, and was extremely disappointed with the park. Journey Into Imagination is HORRIBLE now (they completely redid it, I wish they would have left it the original show); The Ellen Show ride is boring; when you first walk into the park it smells like a septic line broke somewhere; the only "neat" ride they had was Mission:Space. Unfortunetly, my poor boyfriend and I had eaten a rather large breakfast before going on the ride, so he wasn't feeling to well afterwards. The countries are also a little outdated.
MGM Studios isn't horrible, but once again, a little outdated. Tower of Terror is a must if you've never been there.
The Magic Kingdom will always be my favorite Disney park (Haunted Mansion...ooh!), so if you haven't gone there, YOU NEED TO!!
Animal Kingdom is cool, but you have to hit it at the right time of day to avoid the crowds and to see all of the animals.
Now, for the Universal parks, I would reccommend Islands of Adventure. There is something there for everyone, and it's an exciting place to be (ha, ha! Going there tomorrow and Sunday for Halloween Horror Nights). Universal Studios is still neat, but unfortunetly, it's almost boring. Back to the Future looks bad now (the giant screen had some cracks in it the last time I was there), King Kong/Alfred Hitchcock Presents/Funtastic World of Hanna Barbara/Ghostbusters are all gone now. Shrek breaks down constantly (I have a friend who works there). Same with Jimmy Neutron. The only way to do Men In Black is the single riders lane, and even then it's barely worth it.
Gatorland is on my way to work. There are signs everywhere that claim it's a "half day" park. The parking lot is never full, but I've never been there, so I can't really say if it's worth it or not.
Going to Kennedy Space Center now isn't great. Before 9/11 you could go to many more areas...now, it's a little bit harder and stricter to do anything there.
If you're into the beach or NASCAR, you should go to Daytona Beach (only a 45 minute drive from Orlando) for DAYTONA USA, Daytona International Speedway, and the beach.
Hope all of this helps...only 19 more days until my Disney Wonder cruise!! WOOT!

Disney Wonder 10/23/03

 

[professorandmom]

Coincidently, our family did three parks the three days before our cruise (not recommended) - Epcot, Universal and Magic Kingdom.
First DO NOT consider Universal without staying onsite unless you will be there at a very off time. Front of the line is NOT like fast pass and it allows you to see the entire park EASILY in one day. I researched and got a $90 room at Royal Pacific. My kids really liked the park (twin boys, 9 and DD 13).
Now for Epcot - I've been there multiple times but never with the kids. For the boys, it was a dud (except for Test Track which they rode over and over). Boys were not happy. On the other hand it is simply very different than Universal...different atmosphere...I enjoyed it, of course.
Good luck on the decision but please hear the FOL suggestion.
Barbara

 

[jrabbit]

Universal Florida = BORING except Men in Black, Terminator 3d and Shrek (which you can see at home)

Islands of Adventure = A whole lot of fun, Great theming, great rides, and be prepared to get wet if you ride Dudley Doright ripsaw falls, Popeyes/Blutos barge rats and/or Jurassic park. Dudley DoRight is a very good water ride and Popeyes/Blutos is the best raft type ride we have been on.

good luck choosing!

 

[Wendybird63]

Gosh, this is amazing!
Thanks so much for all of the great information. I wish I had time to do them all, but we're keeping our boys out of school two days as it is. And I used to be a teacher!
It looks as if we'll do Titusville, (whatever that is; I don't have the heart to tell my DH I have no idea what's there.), Gatorland the next day, and finish off our trip at Epcot. This will be on the Monday following Thanksgiving; am I fooling myself, or will it actually be sort of "quiet" that day?
I had considered doing Titusville and Gatorland on the same day, thus allowing us an extra day to squeeze in Islands of Adventure. I had never heard of it, and it sounds like a riot. I'm not sure who suggested it, but I'll have to put the whole Universal Studios into another trip and take advantage of the "front of the line" thing.
Again, thanks for all of the info.
I am sooooo excited about this trip!
Wendy

 

[NJ Cruisers]

WendyBird - the week after Thanksgiving is one of the guietest - we usually go to WDW that week. This year we're cruising. So ... yes, the Monday after Thanksgiving is a great day to go to the parks.

 

[jiminy579]

Wendy,
I don't want to stress you out with yet another suggestion, but feel you will really be missing out not having been to Islands of Adventure! I am one of the BIGGEST Disney nuts out there, but will quickly admit Islands is the COOLEST theme park. The Travel Channel has rated it the number one park in the WORLD, not just the USA. It is great for kids and adult's alike. I would definitely skip Epcot if faced with your decision. A good idea would be to check out Island's website and check out some of the photos and info. They list all of the attractions as well.
Whatever you choose, have a GREAT time!!!

 

[modiey]

There is an acronym for EPCOT:

Every
Person
Comes
Out
Tired

To this day the only time I have had a fight with my wife at a DIS park and we both realized that we just wanted out of there.

Universal Islands is incredible - I grudgingly went and was impressed - even the characters though lacking nostalgic appeal, were cool.


Mo

 

[MO64RN]

Out of all the theme parks in the Orlando area, Universal's Islands of Adventure is our favorite. My kids are 10 and 13 but we have had season passes for the last 4 years. Definitely the place to go if you like rides ans your kids are old enough to ride most of them.