[kdrsc]

The family and I are heading to WDW on 01182002. My wife, God love her, wants to venture to Universal, Holyland, and Kennedy Space Center. I'm all for Kennedy but I'm not sure about the other two. She is convenced that Universal is as good or better than WDW, you can tell she has never been there.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!

[YensidFan]

Hi kdrsc!
My wife and I were down in WDW in November '02 and we spent a day at Kennedy Space Ctr. I thought it was great (my wife was a bit bored). But I'm a space nut so it was very cool to be there. I think it took us about 45 minutes to get from Cape Canaveral to WDW. Not a bad drive. Didn't hit any traffic until just prior to the Disney exit off of Rt 4. Kennedy Space Ctr is a must!
:D
Last year we went to Universal and stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel. It was a horrible experience. The service stunk on ice and the Universal employees are not at all educated about their surroundings. We were very disappointed.
Granted the parks have some great thrill rides ... but overall WDW is far superior.
Universal is very close to WDW so spending a day there is easy. If we ever went back (which is doubtful) - we would stay on Disney property and just visit Universal and Islands of Adventure for a day. (Hard Rock Hotel was a huge disappointment.)
I'm sure you will find people who think just the opposite ... but we are long time WDW visitors and so we can't help but compare the theme parks.
It's very possible (depending on how long your stay is) to hit all of these places and WDW too. I'm sure you guys will have a blast.
I don't know anything about Holyland. What is it?
:angel

[Nlk]

Universal is not as clean as Disney, but it's still fun. It depends if you like thrill rides of not. If so Islands of Adventure is great and can't compete with Disney. If not it's really not worth the trip. Kennedy is very good and has a very nice drive . I don't know what Holyland is, sorry. Have a great trip

[kdrsc]

Holyland is a new attraction that was suppose to open November 2002. I haven't heard anything other than it is suppose to have replications of parts of the actual Holyland, artifacts, etc.

[YensidFan]

here's a holyland link-
http://www.travel-affiliates.com/holyland.htm
it's located off of Rt 4 ... so it's convenient to WDW.

[wdwspider]

I have been wanting to go to Holyland also, I will on my next trip. I think it will be very good. Less than a theme park, but better than Ripley's. Maybe a slightly better than Gatorland attraction. I would recommend the Titantic Experience if you have time. Universal does have a few Disney moments, and some very good and unique rides and shows, you will enoy it, but it's no Disney.

[Jimbobpetemoss]

I went to the Holyland Experience this past February. It's alot like those Medievil Rennaisance faires but in biblical times. People are dressed in biblical attire and there are walk-through attractions and shows. There's a replica of Herod's palace and the tomb. There's also a marketplace set to resemble one from Jerusalem.

It should really only take about a half of a day to see everything. I think we did it in about two hours.

It's really kind of neat and interesting BUT it's still fairly new. They are still adding things. You can just tell it's not done yet.

[Amethyst]

I share the same sentiments as Yensidfan, Universal was a huge disappointment. We didn't go to Islands of Adventure because it was raining but Universal and Citywalk have nothing on WDW. Unlike Disney, the staff was completely unappreciative of its guests. One even made a comment about not understanding why people must go out in the rain. Now, I could kind of understand if we were wearing Mickey ponchos but there was nothing on us that said we were from WDW (unless it was the disappointment on our faces that gave it away.) The rides are a bit rundown and certainly outdated. And quite frankly, it was a bit dirty. As for Citywalk, there's really nothing there except Emeril's & Margaritaville that you can't find in a mall back home. The pluses was the Alfred Hitchcock attraction and if your wife loves I love Lucy as I do, the Lucy attraction. It has dresses, letters and pictures in a museum style setting. Let's just say, the kid was right, I shouldn't have wasted $50+ for the ticket or the shuttle from Disney property. I'd much rather had pranced in the rain at World Showcase. :)

[PiratesFan]

Everytime we go to Disney, my DW always mentions that she would like to got to US for the first time. We never have. I'm curious, but I can't justify going there while staying in Disney. No matter how long our stay is, we can never seem to cover everything we want to, and would not consider using our precious Disney time to go. We will, however, visit Kennedy Space Center for a half day. I am a space buff and actually work on a part of the Space Shuttle. But be rest assured, we will be back in the MK by late afternoon. It is only when we stay somewhere else in FL do we go to other attractions. In hindsight, I wouldn't want it any toher way. :)

[lymami]

First of all, thanks to everyone for all the info on Disney and beyond. You have all been incredibly helpful and everything I've learned is sure to make our Feb. trip more exciting. Now as far as Universal Studios goes, which is better? Islands of Adventure or the original Universal Studios? Or can you do both in the same day? We have a day or two unplanned and wondered if we should taxi over to one or the other. Thanks again!

[lopo]

I love US! I have not yet stayed on-site but I have heard many people rave about the experience. I hope to try it the next time I visit Orlando.

I do not know if you like the "thrilling" rides or not. If you do, you definitely want to visit Islands of Adventure. Some people actually think that the Spiderman attraction/ride is the "best" theme park ride in the country. I really enjoy it and I usually try to go on at least twice when I visit the park.

There are also some fine attractions in US, but they are definitely tame when compared to IOA. The Terminator 3D show is entertaining. When I was there last Aug., I learned that the King Kong ride was being shut down. I do not know if something replaced it. Back to the Future and Men in Black are popular.

I think that you can do both parks in one day if you do not want to try and see everything in both parks. In my opinion, visiting US and IOA is a "must do".

[Michael Darling]

Kongfrontation has not yet been replaced, but it will be in the near future. A roller coaster based upon the movie The Mummy will be taking the place of our friendly banana hog.

[Amethyst]

Originally posted by PiratesFan
I'm curious, but I can't justify going there while staying in Disney. No matter how long our stay is, we can never seem to cover everything we want to, and would not consider using our precious Disney time to go. :)

That's how I felt and still do. I reluctantly went after my dear fiance pleaded all week. I preferred finishing Animal Kingdom (missed Asia & Rafiki's Planet Watch) that day over going to Universal. I was disappointed but at least now, it's out of the way. :)

[jeannej]

I can't speak for the hotels at Universal but I have been
to both Universal and IOA several times. Each time I have had encounters with the employees there, they have nothing but friendly, courteous and helpful.

I have been goin WDW since the place opened and in the last decade I had seen a perciptious decline in the quality of service and cast members who go the extra mile.

I was at WDW yesterday and had a great time but nothing was better about my experience than at Unviersal. What made my day such a great one wasn't the cast members, it was my children and the time we spent together. ;)

jeannej