What Do Youth Group Leaders Really Think About Orlando’s Parks?
Orlando is, without a doubt, the theme park capital of the US. More groups visit here for the thrill rides, themed attractions and amazing weather than any other destination in the country.
In recent years, the region has seen an escalating debate over the true ‘king of the kingdom.’ This past year, we sought the perspectives of our group leaders who have been bringing their groups to Orlando for over 20 years, and they shared their insights and experiences:
simplicity & Fun Between Universal’s two theme parks
The four theme parks at Walt Disney World are spread out, so to go from park to park, you have to take Disney transportation like the monorail or a bus. On the other hand, Universal’s two theme parks — Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure — are next to one another, so it’s easy to walk between the two parks or if your group has the park-to-park pass, enjoy the added benefit of riding the Hogwarts Express train between the parks. (It IS worth it, the ride changes each direction).
Reservations to Visit The Parks? Only Disney
If you have a 2-Day/2-Park Universal theme park pass, you choose which park you want to start at…no reservations required.
But, if you have a multi-day Disney pass, Youth Groups are required to make a reservation (typically months in advance) to enter each of its theme parks. GTC is glad to set this up for your group, but payment in full
is due at that time.
Many group leaders found this to be one of the most frustrating rules they experienced during their planning and travels with their bands, choirs, theater groups and general youth groups.
Although Disney changed this policy for the general public in 2024, Youth Groups are still required to make reservations for the foreseeable future.
Without a doubt, group leaders prefer the flexibility to plan a day and if weather or the group situation changes, be able to adjust accordingly.
App Needed to Ride Rides
Universal does have a fairly good app that can be downloaded to view the ride status’, make restaurant reservations and view their property maps. This app, however, is NOT required to make reservations for park rides and group members can simply ‘get on line’ at any Universal park ride.
On the other hand, the most popular rides at Disney parks require that guests download the “My Disney Experience” app. Once they have that, the morning they are visiting a Disney park, they must log-in and try to get on a virtual line for those popular rides. If they do not have the app, there is a very good chance that the student will be unable to ride the most popular Disney rides.
Group leaders have told us they do not like the fact that students must download apps in order to travel and indicated that many are unable to make purchases with their phones as they do not have the required credit cards for purchases.
The secret of success
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