Walt Disney World and Disneyland(s) Discussion

[ZombieReign]

Sweet! My family and I are going in three weeks as well. Only doing two days at Universal though, we were there last year. Had a blast, The Harry Potter addition is amazing!

Did you just buy the random pins that are sold , like the 50 piece lots etc? I'd like my two kids to do this as well.

Yes. Mostly 50 or 100 pin lots .... I did pop for a 200 pin lot recently, so I think I'm set.

And those Boba Fett and Solo containers are awesome! I hope they have some in FL.

 

[Coheteboy]

And those Boba Fett and Solo containers are awesome! I hope they have some in FL.

They should! Disney rarely does anything exclusively for one resort nowadays, which makes me that much happier that we have "Disneyland" branded napkins and cups right now. It's been a long time since they've done that.


Here's a few more Paint the Night photos..

and from another session

 

[Coheteboy]

Few random pics!

Some Indiana Jones Adventure. They added new projection effects leading into the chambers at the beginning. It's a nice touch.

Attempt number one:

Never tried photographing the boulder before! Thought I'd try!

Attempt 2... got the center one again

And i'm at the last of my pics!

Darth Vader Cotton Candy buckets

Boba Fett cups

Han Solo popcorn bucket

And they turned this shop into a Marvel shop

DEATH STAR BALLOONS!

Donald Duck in Paradise Pier

That's it! Now there's only updates as they happen.

 

[Coheteboy]

SO! Today I got to do a sneak preview of the new FAST & FURIOUS: SUPERCHARGED "ride" at Universal Studios Hollywood. It's misleading because while it probably makes more sense as an individual ride, it's actually the new finale to the tram tour. Think King Kong 360 degrees but with cars. The Rock, Vin Diesel, Tyrese, Michelle Rodriguez, they're all here to play a part. Since it's a 3D thing i don't have any pictures so I'll show a few more other stuff.

the Springfield U.S.A. sign is no longer there.. now it's this

Police car added in front of Lard Lad

Chief Wiggum

Sideshow Bob is escaping

Inside Krusty Burger some decorations were changed up. Simpsons artists added a bit more art to the walls.

Despicable Me

Hogwarts is coming along. There's a store where you can buy harry potter merchandise in advance now.

 

[Apone]

No...it had ended a few days before we arrived.

Yeah, upper 60s to mid 70s without the humidity would be perfect. Did you do the International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot?

 

[I and I]

Just booked three days / two nights for September for us and my brother with his two daughters. They've never been to Disney Land Paris and we're not going to tell the girls It's going to be so awesome, can't wait ^_^

 

[Coheteboy]

Few more shots from Disneyland...

Star Wars Merch is in full blast

You can meet Thor and Captain America

There's a new Cinderella window on Main Street.

Carthay Circle Restaurant & Lounge

Carthay Diamond Manhattan

Reluctant Dragon archival pieces on display

Ant-Man preview in A Bug's Land...

How about some wine at the Alfresco Tasting Terrace?

 

[cokebabies]

Is the Ant-Man preview playing in addition to ITTBAB, replacing it temporarily, or what?

 

[I and I]

damn, really have to go to disney world someday... looks so much better/nicer/grander than land

 

[Coheteboy]

Is the Ant-Man preview playing in addition to ITTBAB, replacing it temporarily, or what?

All previews replace those films temporarily. The Tomorrowland preview in Tomorrowland replaced Big Hero 6 that replaced Guardians of the Galaxy that replaced Captain EO.

damn, really have to go to disney world someday... looks so much better/nicer/grander than land

Grander is maybe the only accurate description there.



Here's more from LAND... Radiator Springs.

Ducks

Luigi's Flying Tires is closed but they're building a new attraction.

Photos from the new Inside Out float as part of the Pixar Play Parade.

These aren't characters with people in them... each one is a puppet that blinks, moves, moves their mouth with the dialogue.

No word on Inside Out at Walt Disney World.

 

[I and I]

Grander is maybe the only accurate description there.

I mean in comparison to Disneyland Paris

 

[RockEzy]

I need some advice. Me and my Wife are planning a vacation to Florida to visit Orlando Studios or Disney World this September. We are both in our early 20s and heard Disney is meant more for young kids. We both like Disney and think Disney world has a bit more to offer than Orlando Studios. What's pulling me to Studios is the Harry Potter alley but my wife don't know anything about Harry Potter. What do you guys think?

 

[cokebabies]

I need some advice. Me and my Wife are planning a vacation to Florida to visit Orlando Studios or Disney World this September. We are both in our early 20s and heard Disney is meant more for young kids. We both like Disney and think Disney world has a bit more to offer than Orlando Studios. What's pulling me to Studios is the Harry Potter alley but my wife don't know anything about Harry Potter. What do you guys think?

That's not much to go off of.

But, I'll go off it anyway!

Disney isn't a place for cynicism. If you go there thinking it's for kids, you'll think it's for kids. Disney is for everyone, and everyone experiences it differently. Sure, it offers more for kids, arguably - including the best thing of all, not paying - but there is so much for adults to experience. But you need to be willing to let your guard down.

Universal is a fantastic set of parks, with probably more 'grown up' things to do. But it's a bit less of an experience, for me.

Ideally, an Orlando trip includes both. But if you can only pick one, I'd say WDW.

 

[Coheteboy]

I need some advice. Me and my Wife are planning a vacation to Florida to visit Orlando Studios or Disney World this September. We are both in our early 20s and heard Disney is meant more for young kids. We both like Disney and think Disney world has a bit more to offer than Orlando Studios. What's pulling me to Studios is the Harry Potter alley but my wife don't know anything about Harry Potter. What do you guys think?

I'm gonna have to ask how often you'll be able to hit up the Orlando parks. My best advice is to do BOTH Universal and WDW.

For the money, you'll most likely have a better time at Universal Orlando in a shorter amount of time. The hotels on site are extremely reasonably priced (the Cabana Bay Hotel for instance) and is in walking distance from Citywalk, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

If you skip out on Harry Potter, you will regret it. That area is remarkable, EVEN if you don't know a thing about Harry Potter, there is something to appreciate, and maybe... just maybe she'll come out a fan. Universal also has Jurassic Park, Men in Black, Revenge of the Mummy, an INSANE set of roller coasters including The incredible Hulk, Dr. Seuss, and the Simpsons. Universal also has the best water rides you'll find in either resort.

The two Universal Parks being in closer proximity to each other means there is less transportation time to get everywhere and you can just spend your time exploring, and I spent literally six hours in Diagon Alley alone and still feel it wasn't enough.



The stereotype that WDW is just for kids is a false one, but I understand HOW they can come to that conclusion. The resort in the last decade really hasn't tried that hard, and shutting Pleasure Island down for more shopping certainly secured that. But seeing the plans they have for the future of the resort, there's a lot more bars coming back in so they're finally starting to turn things around.

There ARE a lot more kiddie rides in the Disney Parks but I mean... there's just a lot more variety period. A lot of things in WDW do feel more out dated though and that's where Universal will feel a lot more fresh and alive, but WDW does have some great rides too. Certainly less extreme than Universal.




The ideal trip would be for 2 days at Universal and at least 4 days at WDW minimum. But that's just me. I can see how expensive that can get.

 

[RockEzy]

That's not much to go off of.

But, I'll go off it anyway!

Disney isn't a place for cynicism. If you go there thinking it's for kids, you'll think it's for kids. Disney is for everyone, and everyone experiences it differently. Sure, it offers more for kids, arguably - including the best thing of all, not paying - but there is so much for adults to experience. But you need to be willing to let your guard down.

Universal is a fantastic set of parks, with probably more 'grown up' things to do. But it's a bit less of an experience, for me.

Ideally, an Orlando trip includes both. But if you can only pick one, I'd say WDW.

The ideal trip would be for 2 days at Universal and at least 4 days at WDW minimum. But that's just me. I can see how expensive that can get.

I was starting to lean more towards WDW but you got me interested in Studios. Going to probably take your advice and do 2 Universal and 2 WDW. 4 days should be good enough for us I believe also really like the idea of a resort in studios with everything at walking distance.

 

[Coheteboy]

I was starting to lean more towards WDW but you got me interested in Studios. Going to probably take your advice and do 2 Universal and 2 WDW. 4 days should be good enough for us I believe also really like the idea of a resort in studios with everything at walking distance.

Ok cool.. also consider 1 day at Universal and 3 at WDW too. Definitely look into all the things both resorts have to offer and you can see how you want to best handle your days.

The thing about Universal is that you'll need to park hop if you want to experience the Hogwarts Express between the two parks.

 

[RockEzy]

Ok cool.. also consider 1 day at Universal and 3 at WDW too. Definitely look into all the things both resorts have to offer and you can see how you want to best handle your days.

The thing about Universal is that you'll need to park hop if you want to experience the Hogwarts Express between the two parks.

What do you mean park hop?

 

[cokebabies]

What do you mean park hop?

There's a Harry Potter section of both parks. So in order to see all of the Harry Potter areas, you need to buy a 2 parks 1 day ticket. If you only buy a ticket for IOA or USF, you can only do the HP stuff in their respective parks.

The hotels on site are extremely reasonably priced (the Cabana Bay Hotel for instance) and is in walking distance from Citywalk, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

The USF hotels do offer a lot of perks - proximity and Express Pass being the biggest draws. However, Cabana Bay is the loser supreme. It's the furthest from the parks, it's not very nice, and worst of all you don't get the Express Pass. So there's real no incentive to stay there at all. We do Royal Pacific, which is the best balance of price and perks.

 

[RockEzy]

I see what you mean now, so far this is what I'm looking at. 3 days at 69$ per day. So far as hotels I was looking at cabana and really don't mind if it's far or the pass to skip the lines. I figured if it was a resort type hotel then the rooms most be pretty but you say it's not that nice so I'll start doing some more research. Btw thanks guys for the help, I really appreciate it.

 

[Coheteboy]

I personally dig the Mid-Century theming of the Cabana Bay and for the price and value, it's better than many Walt Disney World hotels that cost a whole lot more.

But yes, it is the furthest one (it's about 15-20 minute walk to the parks) and doesn't offer you the front of the line pass.


I did stay at the Royal Pacific as well but it didn't stand out to me... it's just a hotel. It was fine for what it was but the Express Pass you get IS really something. Reason I say that is because you get to skip all the lines for the other rides and shows and that left us more time to explore all the Harry Potter stuff, which was a lot of fun.


But you DON'T need three days at Universal if you're on a limited schedule. Two complete days at Universal is definitely enough as a first time trip.


Also when you stay on Universal property, you can access Diagon Alley an hour early... DEFINITELY make use of that time and do it. Also something to note, about every ride at Universal requires you to stow everything in a locker so when you visit, try not to bring too much with you and save your shopping for the very end.