Orlando Smackdown: Dis vs. Uni. Ch.16 Japan Hates me, Just Hates me 7-13

[nebo]

Yes, well, that's the title at this stage of the game.
But as you well know, things can change by the time we return from a trip, as in the last report didn't start out to be Satan's Hammer!
I have a feeling that if I'd known I was going to give my self a concussion while there, I probably might not have gone.


I think for this report we are going to take a slightly different approach than we have in the past.

Taking a page from American Idol and all the rest of them,
we'll let Universal go head to head up against the best Disney
has to offer.

We will find comparable rides and try to rate them against each other to see who comes out on top.

No, not everything is comparable, some things just have to be left alone because you don't want to end up with too many "apples to ornages" comps going on, for example, Spiderman has no Disney clone.

But many things have been the results of predessors, such as Dumbo gave birth to One Fish Two Fish, which begat Aladdin's Flying Carpets which begat Triceratops Spin, which begat Isaac,, which,,,,

So , let's put them up against each other and let them duke it out, at least just as a side bit to the report.

I am Nebo, my wife is Smidgy, also known as Steve and Diane, and this is my first trip report, so be kind to me.

Right.

Many of you who know us are aware how often times, things don't go quite right for me, alas, often blood is involved, usually mine.
Hopefully, this report will be the exception to the rule, which also means the trip as well, cuz to be honest, I'm really getting tired of pain.

Our itinerary for this trip is thus:

We fly out of Chicago to Orlando, hopefully we land without getting caught in any of the ubiquitous zip lines or hit a tall miniature golf windmill. If the plane lands allright and I don't have a gator chewing on my leg in a swamp, we spend one night at The Doubletree Inn, which is a ten minute walk from Universal Orlando.
This is all due to finding when flights were cheapest over the holiday, and blackout days as well.

Then it's on to Royal Pacific at Universal for a 3 night stay, with us finally getting to see Harry land, at Islands of Adventure, and Smidgy is already pannicky about trying the Forbidden Journey ride.
I'm already pannicky about the Forbidden Journey LINES!

Then it's a cab ride over to Disney, Caribbean Beach Resort in particular, for a seven night stay with the free dining plan.

Lately these dining plans have been kicking my butt, value wise, but I'm not letting it happen to me again this time; Oh no, I made sure to get my money's worth this time.

I haven't eaten now since September!

Along the way it will include the Candlelight Processional, Hoop de Doo Doo, another chance for the chef to get me with his knives at Teppanedo and much more.

Of course, we will try once again to hit the different resorts to check out the decorations, not to mention the Osbourne Lights.

"Steve, you just mentioned them, when you just said "not to mention " them.

"Huh?"
"You said "not to mention the Osbourne Lights" and in
so doing, you mentioned them."

"Oh".
"Well that goes without saying."

I'm also looking forward to the Extra Special Illuminations during the holiday season, they tack on a speciall ending for it then.

So, keep your money, no, I'm not going to get hurt this time, and I MEAN it.

Plane takes off in a week, I finally talked a buddy of mine who lives back at home to come and stay here, with the proviso he has to feed the cats. I thought he would have jumped at the idea to get away from his folks and live on his own for a bit, but no, not really, not how he saw it.
I don't get it, geesh, they don't make young people like they used to.

But as usual, you are all welcome to come along with for the ride, I guarantee ONE thing, we will have fun re-telling it, no matter what happens, we always do!

 

[jecskc]

I'm in !!! I am so disappointed that we will just miss you guys. It would be so fun to meet and compare scars. I think you should take an extra supply of vikes .... just for back-up. You never know when that pesky gravity will suck you in.

Susan

 

[reelmom]

I haven't been a good TR friend lately, I have missed you guys so much. Hopefully, real life will slow down and I can keep up. You will have a blast at Universal. The perks of staying onsite might make you go back again. It is so relaxing with unlimited express pass. Be sure to go to early entry for Harry Potter. You won't have to stand in line for very long. But be careful, you will not be able to see when you first walk into the ride line. It is very dark as soon as you enter the line inside Hogwarts. I know with your eye issues, you want to be extra careful. We don't want you to shed anymore blood. Tell Smidgy not to be afraid of Forbidden Journey. I can't really explain it but it is amazing. I am sure she will do fine.

 

[cp'ersmom]

Ok she gives tours of Hogwarts, so it's Heidi from Phoenix, AZ, hi from Tori and Mom. That is your mission should you decide to accept it.

ORALNDO is that something like my friends cutesy name for a colonoscopy, innuendo ?

 

[jedijill]

I'm in!

Jill in CO

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I am Nebo, my wife is Smidgy, also known as Steve and Diane, and this is my first trip report, so be kind to me.

I kind of like your style, I might just follow your posts

 

[smidgy]

ok, I guess I'll come along.

(I meant on the trip, not the report!)

 

[mmeb144]

How long does it take your eyes to dark adapt? Can you just stand off to the side of the Forbidden Journey for a bit and let your eyes adapt before you head down the que? I would hate for you to miss any of the attraction. (And miss telling me about it. Or seriously injure yourself before you even hit the ride.....)

 

[monymony3471]

The link took me somewhere far far far away, but since I have skillz I found it myself.

You are either getting smarter with this technology stuff, or, er, um, ya.

Nice try.

I'm here, that's all that matters.

I agree with the last poster, you should try to hold off and let your eyes adjust. I know Smidgy is good at leading and explaining stuff, I am a good observer, but maybe you can talk with guest services. I think that at WDW you can make special arrangments if you need to where they will accomodate you on rides, but you have to arrange it first.

Why wouldn't US/IOA?

 

[scottny]

I have tried to keep up on past reports and failed but since I am catching this one from the beginning I will succeed.

Looking forward to reading along.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Let's get ready to Rumble.
(Copyright by: Michael Buffer)

 

[Thumper_Man]

Ok she gives tours of Hogwarts, so it's Heidi from Phoenix, AZ, hi from Tori and Mom. That is your mission should you decide to accept it.

ORALNDO is that something like my friends cutesy name for a colonoscopy, innuendo ?

Lady H and I will be there as well. We'll keep an eye out for her as well.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I have tried to keep up on past reports and failed but since I am catching this one from the beginning I will succeed.

Looking forward to reading along.

Scotty, wow. I read some of your reports before (lurker, hangs head in shame). Welcome to the Nebo Family

 

[cp'ersmom]

Lady H and I will be there as well. We'll keep an eye out for her as well.

Great! She will be so surprised if you all say hi to her.

Have a fun time!

 

[oilheadbob]

Okay Nebo, got my seatbelt buckled and am anxiously awaiting this trip report to get underway. I put my money on the mouse!

Bob

 

[MHSweb79]

Ready for liftoff in the aluminum tube of death!

Am happy to report that with no trip to Disney since last February, we are now booked for a week at the end of January. We tried for our favorite 2 resorts- POFQ and Beach Club - but had to settle for POR (where we've never stayed) and the Yacht Club.

DH says, "Well, look at it this way- we'll get to try two new places!"
Me: "Yeah, POR is the sister resort of POFQ, and the Yacht Club is attached to the Beach Club. Way to expand our horizons!"

Back in February, we got a pixie-dust upgrade to Concierge level at the Beach Club. It was amazing. We got a spectacular top-floor room with a balcony overlooking Stormalong Bay and Crescent Lake, tons of free food, and the coolest thing of all - there was a phone in the bathroom! I even got a call in there! The Concierge called looking for DH- there was an issue printing our boarding passes. I told him that DH was walking down the hallway as we speak, and should be there any second.

DH comes back and says, "Wow! These concierges are good! The minute I rounded the corner of they hallway, he said Hello Mr. H, we've been waiting for you!" I didn't tell him how they knew.

Anyway, I'm prepared for a dumpster-view room at the Yacht Club. There's no way we'll get pixie-dusted twice.

Have not been to Universal in about 10 years. My DD is a HP fan, just not a fanatic so it will be interesting to see how you guys compare the different experiences.

 

[nebo]

Ok she gives tours of Hogwarts, so it's Heidi from Phoenix, AZ, hi from Tori and Mom. That is your mission should you decide to accept it.

ORALNDO is that something like my friends cutesy name for a colonoscopy, innuendo ?

What? I made a typo? Get out!
My grandmother's best freind was named Tori, I don't think I've heard that name since. (Except for the jerk that just signed with the Tigers in Detroit, that is.

I haven't been a good TR friend lately, I have missed you guys so much. Hopefully, real life will slow down and I can keep up. You will have a blast at Universal. The perks of staying onsite might make you go back again. It is so relaxing with unlimited express pass. Be sure to go to early entry for Harry Potter. You won't have to stand in line for very long. But be careful, you will not be able to see when you first walk into the ride line. It is very dark as soon as you enter the line inside Hogwarts. I know with your eye issues, you want to be extra careful. We don't want you to shed anymore blood. Tell Smidgy not to be afraid of Forbidden Journey. I can't really explain it but it is amazing. I am sure she will do fine.

You vanished ever since I made you remember a jerk you met from Adairsville but glad to have you with us again. We took a state route last trip and amazingly, found ourselves going through Newnan again. I looked, but didn't see you anywhere.

I kind of like your style, I might just follow your posts

Hmm, don't know the name, but the glass of wine looks familiar.

How long does it take your eyes to dark adapt? Can you just stand off to the side of the Forbidden Journey for a bit and let your eyes adapt before you head down the que? I would hate for you to miss any of the attraction. (And miss telling me about it. Or seriously injure yourself before you even hit the ride.....)

It actually is beyond waiting for, over a half hour before they really settle in, so sounds like I'll be at Smidgy's mercy. hmm, this shojuld be interesting since I tole her I'd ride it first, and let her know if I think she can handle it.

The link took me somewhere far far far away, but since I have skillz I found it myself.

You are either getting smarter with this technology stuff, or, er, um, ya.

Nice try.

I'm here, that's all that matters.

I agree with the last poster, you should try to hold off and let your eyes adjust. I know Smidgy is good at leading and explaining stuff, I am a good observer, but maybe you can talk with guest services. I think that at WDW you can make special arrangments if you need to where they will accomodate you on rides, but you have to arrange it first.

Why wouldn't US/IOA?

Yes, there is a card you can get at Disney Guest Relations that can help on some rides to bypass the regular queue, I'm not sure how much that will help me though.
ANd I am SO sorry I let you down with the hyperlink, I actually had it up and working, and then I tried to change the color and font and that blew it for me.
( "A man's got to know his own limitations." Harry Callahan, Magnum Force)

I have tried to keep up on past reports and failed but since I am catching this one from the beginning I will succeed.

Looking forward to reading along.

Hey, howdy, yours is a name I've seen on the boards before, nice to meetcha.

Lady H and I will be there as well. We'll keep an eye out for her as well.

Great, by the time we are all done with her, she'll think she's being stalked.

Okay Nebo, got my seatbelt buckled and am anxiously awaiting this trip report to get underway. I put my money on the mouse!

Bob

Hey there Bob, welcome back. And I wouldn't hand the trophy to Disney just yet, even with Universal as underdog, I already know of a huge upset in one case.

Ready for liftoff in the aluminum tube of death!

That makes one of us.

Am happy to report that with no trip to Disney since last February, we are now booked for a week at the end of January. We tried for our favorite 2 resorts- POFQ and Beach Club - but had to settle for POR (where we've never stayed) and the Yacht Club.

DH says, "Well, look at it this way- we'll get to try two new places!"
Me: "Yeah, POR is the sister resort of POFQ, and the Yacht Club is attached to the Beach Club. Way to expand our horizons!"

Yeah, no kidding, like having to stay at Movies instead of Music, but hey, as we always say, now we can knock that off our list. But when you check into Riverside, hacve a good knowledge of the building numbers, and FIGHT for the closer buildings to the main food court. Oak Manor and Magnolia Terrace in the mansion section, and building 14 and 18 our perfect in the bayou. You DON"T have to take the first room they assign you, this is why we never use the premature checkin.
Hmm, that sounds funny,, oh, Early Bird check in, yeah that's better.


Anyway, I'm prepared for a dumpster-view room at the Yacht Club. There's no way we'll get pixie-dusted twice.

We have also said the exact same thing, only to be pleasantly surprised time and again, with a little work sometimes.

Have not been to Universal in about 10 years. My DD is a HP fan, just not a fanatic so it will be interesting to see how you guys compare the different experiences.

It's been over 3 years now since we've been there, and to be honest, the last time there we found some disappointments, such as Simpsons replacing Back to the Future, and a reworked Earthquake, that both fell short of fun.

 

[nebo]

I'm starting to get excited, the closer we get, for a few reasons. One is that I'm looking forward to being back at Uni, it's been a while and now we have a few new things to try there: The Cinemasmope nighttime show, Harry Potterville, Despicable Me ride, and hopefully getting to see Fear Factor again.
Not sure that one is still up and running, but the one time we tried it we had a blast watching those idiots.

Would you believe me if I told you I'm tempted to sign up for it?
Can you picture me running , jumping, climbing, throwing, oh what a chapter that would make!
If I lived to write it.

Also, when comparing rides and whatevers, I'm going to use a 10 point system, with 10 being the best, this should prevent namby pamby "ties".
I hate when nobody wins and did I just use the phrase "namby pamby"?

At some points, I might differentiate between Overall rating, and "Technical" rating. Some rides might be fancier, have more glitz, more attention to detail, more famous than it's counterpart, but the other ride may just be a better value of your time, which also translates to being more fun, so, since I like being critical and putting things down, this should be fun for me to do.

Along with Hooop de Doo and Teppanedo, we are also having lunch at Le Cellier for our Candle light package, hey, its' two credits for Le Cellier at dinner now, and the CP is also 2 credits not matter where you eat, so we get to eat there without seeming to be ripped off of a credit for the processional.

WHat else do we have?
Oh, early dinners at Grand Floridian Cafe, and a first on our list, Captain's Grill at the Beach Club.
Not sure if we'll be able to fit in a Planet Hollywood voucher this time, this will kill me not to use that 15 dollar off coupon. What do you think the odds are that they will not care about the expiration date on it and let us use it next year?

But now here's something I really am looking forward to, and it's something I'm sure that none of you would have foreseen:

We have been to Universal Studios, at least on 7 different trips over the years, and IOA at least 5 times, so the parks are nothing new to us.
However;
We have NEVER seen the parks, either one of them, at night!

Universal always closes before it gets dark when we were there. Whether September or May, even late August, nope, they kick you out before dark. One time in '06 in early May we dilly dallyed at IOA as the sun was setting, but they kept moving barricades pushing you towards the front like a herd of cattle.

"Heard of what? "
"Herd of cattle."
"Sure I've heard of cattle".
"No, a cattle herd."

"What do I care what cattle heard, I've got no secrets from cattle."

sorry

Anyway, I've always wanted to see what Yurasick Park looks like at night, or Dr. Seuss land.
And maybe get to see tons of new stuff in the dark rides I've never really seeen before in the day, Spiderman, Poseiden's Fury, and especially Yurasick Park River Adventure.

The theming at the Studios in pretty much non -existent, but still some of the dark rides might be btter as well, like E.T. , and especially Men in Black.

It now looks like I'm going to be having a birthday dinner at Jimmy Buffets, looking forward to get the Volcano Nachos again, yes, its huge!
Doesn't it seem like he's missing a marketing ploy by not having a buffet there? I also have to remember that even though we arent driving this trip, to bring the AAA card, as all the restaurants at Universal, even counter service, give a ten percent discount with the AA card.

AAA card.
No, don't have the other one.

Yet.

"Hello, my name is Nebo, and I had a flat tire!"

What is going to be strange, is that our first day/night there is Saturday at the Doubletree Hotel, no, never stayed there, but the cost of flying that day compared to the next day was so much cheaper that we STILL came out ahead, and it's walking distance to CityWalk should we choose to do so. Who know, Universal has now added two Mini Golf courses at Citywalk, supposedly they are worth checking out.

One thing that's always disappointed me at Disney was their Mini golf, from great imagineers, i expected much more elaborate ideas than what they came out with.
I think they used the same people that they used ot come up with Journey into Imagination, or Captain EO or Sounds Dangerous.

Another thing you can count on, is that Tuesday night we will be at Pat O'Brian's again.
Remember back in Still Feeding Nebo, the wonderful time we had there, when the fight broke out and I was trying to keep this other guy's blood off my white jean and white tank top? Ya, now that was some good times!

But tuesdays are not only 2 Hurricanes for the price of one, but any drink,,,, and,,,, APPETIZERS as well.
Dinner that night is probably going to be BBQ Wings and Poppers and Fried Mushrooms. Now, that's some quality, healthy eatin' that is!
And I remember a few doors down was another hall with a stage that also had Karaoke.
Hey, you never know after a couple of drinks, face it, you'd love to see me make a fool of myself up on stage, right?

Well, I guess that' s it for now, so much for my pre-trip report.

 

[nataliej_vk]

I am in!!! And going to be in Disney at the same time too!!!! I totally agree with your le cellier reasoning for the candle light too, we are doing the same thing!

 

[jecskc]

You skipped me ....waaahhhhhhhhh !!!!!