Remember, mid September is the SEA DO V.

Later September would work, giving time to find cheap fares and hotels.

Keep us posted Prncess.

If people are really going to go to Epcot, etc. on May 4th I might be able to run down there. I've never actually visited any Disney theme park because I've been waiting for a guided tour from PremEx... that's not actually true since I've only known PremEx for about 4 or 5 years. But it's ironic for reasons of which PremEx is well aware.

Hey! I'll be at WDW May 12-17th with my sister.

Would be happy to go again in September. I must admit to doing a MR to go to Disneyland for a day (well, 8 hours) - DTW-IAH-LAX-IAH-EWR-DTW.

I like this site for things Disney: http://www.disboards.com/

Tolarian, SeeYa, Mister G, et al...I'm available all day Sunday May 4th for Epcot, and might be available for something else Monday May 5th, depending on a pitch I have to make. But Sunday I'm off and available, for sure. Departing MCO Tuesday May 6th.

RichG...I'd love to take you to The Big Bamboo(Don't ask, but you'll love it)! Come on down! We can both do some corporate bashing while riding The Universe of Labor Unions attraction (located in Fantasyland in "right-to-work" Florida)!

All sounds like a definite E ticket, so when details are solid I'll see what I can do!

I agree...better roller coasters/thrill rides. That being said I could always be convinced to go to the do and perhaps spend a day at Disney and a day at Universal.

Well in a perfect world I could go to all the theme parks. I could live without the Magic Kingdom, but I have never been to Animal Kingdom so I would like to check that park out and I think dining around the World Showcase in EPCOT would be cool. I haven't been to Islands of Adventure so it's on my must do list but I have been to both Universal Parks fairly recently so I could live without that one as well. I like MGM as well just so I can go on Tower of Terror.

Why am I always a day late & a dollar short? I would have loved to join you.

Any hope for Memorial Day?

Mary

Animal Kingdom ... I'd go to Busch Gardens in Tampa before Animal Kingdom ... better rides ...

I can't even imagine going to a Disney Park anymore anyway ... at Universal Studios Florida/Islands of Adventure (USF/IOA) I always stay on-site at the Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Bay Hotel and you get Express Access to all the rides with your room key ... I've never waited more than ten minutes (average of less than five minutes for all rides) to get on a ride at USF/IOA ... who would want to mess with Disney and the lines (though I hear there aren't a lot of lines these days at the parks ...).

Personally I think the Hard Rock Hotel/Universl Parks combo can't be beat, you can walk to either of the Universal parks or City Walk in five minutes from the hotel, plus they have self parking lot that is much closer to either park and City Walk than the park's own parking decks, which makes it real easy to go out for lunch or run to the store or what ever.

Sorry, letting my strong USF/IOA bias show through ... sorry Mr. Love

I think maybe a good compromise for an Orlando get together might be a USF/IOA weekend. I have come to your side Beckles. These parks can be done in a weekend and the line jump feature can't be beat. There are good restaurants to be chosen from for a dinner on Saturday. So how does the weekend of May 9th look for USF/IOA DO look? I will get my Disney fix later in the year.

Beckles...don't be. Unlike most of the Universal Studios half (a park based solely on death and destrution...think about it), so many current, former or furloughed Disney Imagineers worked on the Islands of Adventure half that they call that one park "Disney's 5th Florida Theme Park." It's great and comes off about 65% to Disney standards overall, IMHO.

They are both very different animals. Disney is a complete experience and tends to immerse guests in more of a total storyline with an express purpose in mind (other than emptying your wallet), not just a collection of rides. Most often the Disney experience is educating or inspiring while being entertaining (or at least not totally boring). If just going on rides (mostly thrill) is what you want, Universal is probably the place to be without question.

Personally for thrill rides alone, I prefer Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Island's and Disney's thrill rides lose some of their thrill for me because I know that nothing can go wrong. Amusement Parks that have a history of some accidents and lazy handymen with wrenches where you know that a bolt or two is probably loose somewhere...that's what gives a ride just that extra thrill, in my book!

So now I have been checking on USF/IOA vacations. You can get a

2-Park Annual Power Pass - $99.95
Enjoy 1-year admission to both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure! Some black out dates apply.
June 28 & 29, 2003
July 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, & 27, 2003
August 2, 3, 9, & 10, 2003
December 24, 2003 - January 1, 2004

http://themeparks.universalstudios.c...amenities.html

The Royal Pacific Annual Pass Holder rate for the weekend of May 9 - 11 is $129 which is really quite good!

For anyone who really, really loves roller coasters, Cedar Point can't be beat. Some of the best coasters in the country, and so many you sometimes can't get on them all in one day.

Anyway, I'm looking at my calendar. Not sure about that weekend, Rach, but I'd love to do the hardrock/US tour.



[This message has been edited by I012609 (edited 04-08-2003).]

The weekend in May is just a starting point. I was trying to give people atleast 21 days to buy airline tickets and avoid the black out dates for the Annual Pass. I am open to suggestions for a weekend.