Am I the Only One Who Thinks Disney is Failing In Its Progression Vs. Universal

[Motomom06]

oh, i think there are many here who would disagree with that statement

I'm sure that many would, but the first time my then 8yr old saw Mickey at RD at Epcot said "that is just a guy in a suit" , I replied " umm that is soooo Mickey Mouse and you better watch your mouth or you will get us thrown out of here!", he sort of bought it and played along the rest of the vacation, but I have a bad feeling that by the time Oct rolls around, he'll be like "yay, mom, right! Just like Santa?" YEP! and if you tell any other kids I'll kick your behind!!!!!!!

 

[DOOM1001]

Disney opened so many hotels in the 1990's to get people to stay on-site and improve their choices in accommodations, but in my opinion their improvement of the parks has been in slow motion,very slow motion.I love Disney but I will always support Universal,Sea World and Busch Gardens since competition just makes everyone better, a big part of me really hopes Potter will take a big chunk out of Disney and force them to green light projects that have been rumors for years now.Rehashing old parades,pointless refurbishings of Space Mountain and Pirates and overpriced parties might keep some of the crowds coming in but eventually they're not long term solutions to what the parks need, major new E-Ticket attractions and eventually a 5th theme park and 3rd waterpark.

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

The problem with Disney now, IMHO, is that it's all franchises, promotions, brand recognition and DVC Villas right now. But obviously, it's money in the bank, and despite what anyone says, the slow economic downturn over the last decade is not going anywhere. So Disney sees that its long-term strength is Pixie Hollow and Kidani Village. They're not going to reevaluate their approach to business or entertainment if the numbers look good.

As far as Universal is concerned, Disney is certainly falling behind in terms of innovation. But other than that, the mouse does everything better.

 

[KellyNY]

Disney is more then enough for us. We love all the new rides like MS, Soarin, EE, Toy Story(hope to try this time), SOAT, LMA, Monsters Inc and ... I do not need cutting edge roller coaster, my DD might enjoy it but she will not miss it in Disney, we have Six Flags 2 hours away. I enjoy details much more then technology.

Now, I love Universal as well. I feel it is not that far from Disney in quality of experience. However, Universal even with all the technology missing big on major points like parades and fireworks, there is no grand finale of each day like in Disney and there are only 2 parks. I played with idea of doing Universal only trip(to cut a cost of doing both parks) this year to see Potter but my family and I had doubts we can actually find what to do for 7 days, so we might do only 1 day at US and only if crowds will be less by August.

I do hope Disney will do something better and bigger then MK expansion because so much money spent for cute houses for princesses and double dumbo makes no sence to me, plus who will actually spend time there other then little girls and their parents. I want something bigger. Star War project would blow away everyone. It will also bring all the Star War and UFO and technology fans to parks, bringing more money after all.

Universal and Disney both are great and will be a competition to each other but while this competition is pretty real for locals, those who fly in will still spend mote time at Disney.

 

[doggydoc]

As far as Universal is concerned, Disney is certainly falling behind in terms of innovation. But other than that, the mouse does everything better.

I have to agree with both these statements. My DD 10 loves thrill rides and is waiting for the day when she is tall enough to ride all the attractions at Universal. We have a trip booked for Sept. and were thinking about another for early next year so we looked at the Universal website to get an idea of whether or not we might go there instead. DD was very excited looking through the ride descriptions, however once we moved onto looking at the hotels, entertainment and theming she was very underwhelmed. Despite there being only 5 major rides she feels she HAS to do (SM, EE, RnR, ToT & TSM) she prefers the overall experience of WDW. I prefer WDW because it is an immersive experience. I do wish Disney could add a little more of the thrill aspect, the success of what few rides they have at DHS shows they have the ability to combine it with family type experiences.

 

[d1gitman]

I'm sure that many would, but the first time my then 8yr old saw Mickey at RD at Epcot said "that is just a guy in a suit" , I replied " umm that is soooo Mickey Mouse and you better watch your mouth or you will get us thrown out of here!", he sort of bought it and played along the rest of the vacation, but I have a bad feeling that by the time Oct rolls around, he'll be like "yay, mom, right! Just like Santa?" YEP! and if you tell any other kids I'll kick your behind!!!!!!!

and he doesn't enjoy any other element of the parks? Heck, I know mickey is cartoon and a person in a suite, I enjoy it for what it is. The magic i experience comes not from believing in fictional characters, but from the joy i get as a guest and a parent. i am sure the magic comes in all different forms for those of us who 'feel it'.

 

[zalansky]

I agree with all of the posters so far. I definitely agree Disney needs to start producing some new rides and attractions to keep up with the times. My first thought I always think of is Ellen's Universe of Energy. Really? That film of her is so dated, the clothes are so bad. Same with Honey I Shrunk the Audience. My other big thoughts are I hope they start doing something soon, since my kids are 4 & 7 years old, that gives me a few more years before the more exciting parks are being asked to visit. Which we already do, but still Disney is my fave. We're DVC members and I love being one, but what will I do if my kids refuse to go one day? Ugh, the thought of it! i hope Disney is listening. We love Disney but throw us a bone every now and then and re-do these old, tired rides that don't connect to todays world. And by re-do I mean tear down and rebuild something brand new! Not paint some old, tired attraction. Can you say Country Bear Jamboree? Just sayin!

 

[amandals2007]

I am a roller coaster freak. I live 40 minutes from Cedar Point. Yes, I would like to see Disney maybe have one or two more roller coasters, but honestly, I love going to Disney for the theming. Sure the 16+ roller coasters at Cedar Point are a blast, and the rides at Universal may be a bit more thrilling, but those parks are different IMO. Disney is a theme park, and they do an amazing job at it. Yes, I agree that they could add a few lands to a couple parks and spruce it up a bit, but Disney is in its own category. When I am at Cedar Point, I actually wish I could be at Disney World riding IASM and Space Mountain.

 

[TheBacklot]

I love Disney parks but two things have me disappointed in the last few years.

- Relying on 'screened' entertainment. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Nemo & Friends, Toy Story Mania...I want to be in a fully immersvie environment, but the accountants in Burbank trim budgets so much we end up with attractions where we're watching a screen. I can play video games at home, I can watch Finding Nemo at home, that's not what I come to the theme parks for, yet the kids eat it up so naturally Disney keeps producing this type of fare.

-Non-franchised rides. Don't get me wrong, I love Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Areosmith's Rockin' Rollercoaster. But, I also love Big Thunder Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and even It's A Small World. They don't realize that the most beloved attractions that have stood the test of time (and are very much the bar for everything else) are things that aren't from pre-existing brands that are put in just so sell more merchandise at the exit gift shops. Think about it...there has been no unique creativity to come out of Walt Disney Imagineering in the last 20 years (I take that back, Expedition Everest was unique). Everything has to be based on something TV/Film/Cartoon to get a green-light at the parks. I don't mind it, I'd just like to see something absolutely new, fresh, and exciting in between all the selling.

But, we too vote with our pocket books and moving through the turnstiles, I'm just as guilty as everyone else. All Tony Baxter and the other heads at WDI can do is just go with the flow these days, it seems.

 

[TheBacklot]

Can you say Country Bear Jamboree? Just sayin!

I am not a die-hard loyalist, but I think there's some things you just don't mess with. When you know the history of such projects and how it ties into the Disney legacy, you respect what it is, what it meant to be, and how it can tell you not only a good story but the story of the company, and this attraction is one of those. And this is the only one we've got now, since they removed the original in Disneyland....for Winnie the Pooh.

 

[Planogirl]

To be honest, I hate all of this comparison stuff. It often seems like Disney fans are more in competition with Universal than Disney itself is.

I love WDW. I love Universal. They are both fun and special in their own way and with luck, they'll push each other to do more and more. I personally plan to always visit both and I go out of my way to never compare them. WDW could use some help but that's only to make themselves better and not to try to one up Universal. WDW's shortcomings have nothing to do with Universal but with only their lack of effort lately. I believe the same is true of Universal.

Also, saying that Universal is like Six Flags is ludicrous. I've been to Six Flags and no other park has ever pushed me to that level of irritation.

Just my two cents.

 

[Feralpeg]

I consider Universal more in the class of Six Flags--a dirty park full of teenagers and great thrill rides.
If Universal was not down the road from WDW, it would not be compared. Universal spends big bucks in an effort to compete with Disney.
I doubt there are many of out of state passholders to US whereas many renew their APs at Disney year after year. We had passes the year IOA opened and have not had the desire to go back since. Have been to the world in excess of 100 days since and always eager for more.
How many Make a Wish kids are dreaming of Universal? What Superbowl Champ says "I won the Superbowl now I'm going to Universal? Any US brides? How many Europeans come over for a holiday to US? Brazillian tour groups?
It just is not in the same class, despite new rides and will always be the wannabe ugly stepsister. Nope, that's Disney too!

There is nothing dirty about Universal parks. They are as clean and maybe even fresher looking that the WDW parks. I visit both on a regular basis since I live within a few minutes of both. Also, most of the people I see at Universal are not teenagers.

By the way, the British seem to LOVE Universal. Try asking about it on the UK board. I think you'll find that many come to Florida in part because of Universal.

It never ceases to amaze me. As soon as someone brings up a thread comparing WDW to Universal, there are those that think they have to bash Universal. Both WDW and Universal have great parks. One can like Universal and not be disloyal to WDW.

 

[Feralpeg]

I just got back from Universal/IOA - my first time back there since the early 1990's (just Universal back then). I was very underwhelmed with the rides and the theming - even the merchandise. The Harry Potter area was cool - but way too crowded with not enough theming. The FJ ride was top notch however - most excellent. The kids loved US/IOA more than me (they are 12 and 8) but still missed Disney. To me, US/IOA is more like a place to go to ride stuff - like a Six Flags.

I do hope they keep pushing each other to improve though.

I am absolutely amazed that you thought there wasn't enough theming in the Harry Potter area. Did you go inside the shops? They are incredibly detailed. In fact, you could literally take hours looking at all the props in the shop areas and around the area. The are amazingly close to the sets in the movies.

I realize it is very crowded. It just opened and everyone wants to visit there. Eventually, things should settle down and it won't be so difficult to get into the shops and enjoy all of the incredible theming.

 

[nytimez]

I agree -- Universal has clean, well-run parks. If not for Disney, these could well be the premiere theme parks in the whole country -- US and IOA stand head and shoulders above Six Flags and the like.

 

[Suzanne74]

I love Disney too but I agree that they need to refresh/revamp some areas. Some things wouldn't even have to be expensive. How about a new 4D movie instead of Honey I Shrunk... Same with Muppet 3D. Love the muppets but how many times can you see the same show over and over again. Just make a new movie every 2 years to keep it fresh.

For bigger projects, I would absolutely LOVE a new country in Epcot. It is soooo needed. Also, everytime I look at a map of MK, I think of all the room for growth if they cut out the Jungle Cruise. I know some people will flame me and yes I love the slap jokes too but come on - it needs a serious update or just get ride of it and use all that land for some good stuff.

 

[tarrbear]

I consider Universal more in the class of Six Flags--a dirty park full of teenagers and great thrill rides.
If Universal was not down the road from WDW, it would not be compared. Universal spends big bucks in an effort to compete with Disney.
I doubt there are many of out of state passholders to US whereas many renew their APs at Disney year after year. We had passes the year IOA opened and have not had the desire to go back since. Have been to the world in excess of 100 days since and always eager for more.
How many Make a Wish kids are dreaming of Universal? What Superbowl Champ says "I won the Superbowl now I'm going to Universal? Any US brides? How many Europeans come over for a holiday to US? Brazillian tour groups?
It just is not in the same class, despite new rides and will always be the wannabe ugly stepsister. Nope, that's Disney too!

I'm not trying to put words in your mouth or anything and I apologize in my implication is wrong, but it seems implied that we teenagers are annoying? Please don't go there, now I'm not trying to be rude but I'm not a person who does well with children, unfortunately I have a short patience span when it comes to the young ones. So I can turn around and say that I don't want to go to Disney cause it's full of kids, and that is not true, I would never single out an age group to stop me from going to a park.

I've met a very good amount of Europeans that have preference to Universal to Disney and in the many times I've been to Universal I've seen the same amount of tour groups I've seen at a Disney park.

Honestly I don't think the two are all that comparable, they are both on different levels. They both go for different crowds, one is more family oriented and one is more thrill seeker oriented. And frankly I like both, Universal has all the thrills you can't find elsewhere and Disney has that magic touch you can't find elsewhere. My point, they are both great parks in their own ways.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

I too agree that Disney needs to update some of its attractions, while there are many points that we love about Disney, my three boys will only be interested so long. I really don't understand why they don't try to update a little, I know that TSM is still new, but with the popularity of Toy Story 3, I would like they would really try to build more on the pixar side of things. Why do we need to expand for the fairies, when there isn't even one dining experience for the boys. Yes they can eat with Mickey in friends, lilo and stitch....trust me we have done them all, but something just for boys. I personally feel that Disney is aimed more towards girls, which makes it hard when families have all boys and a husband. I would love to see some show with Buzz and Zurg, dining with heroes....anything. Right now my kids are still in the magic mode, my oldest playes along with the younger ones....so we keep coming to Disney, but if something don't change I don't know what we will do in a couple of years.

 

[hoverpumpkin]

Why do we need to expand for the fairies, when there isn't even one dining experience for the boys. Yes they can eat with Mickey in friends, lilo and stitch....trust me we have done them all, but something just for boys. I personally feel that Disney is aimed more towards girls, which makes it hard when families have all boys and a husband. I would love to see some show with Buzz and Zurg, dining with heroes....anything. .

It's also hard when you have girls who aren't into frilly stuff! The girls in my family doesn't give a fig about princesses (I know, we're a strange bunch) but they'd KILL for a pirate breakfast. (And so would I, as a matter of fact!) A Toy Story or hero character meal would also be SO awesome... I just am sad that Disney keeps rehashing the same tired old stuff and building exclusively on the fantasy/princess concepts when they have SO much at their disposal.

Ditto also to the person who said we need a new Epcot country. I want Russia. If it's ever built, I will be on a plane to Orlando before you can say "nuclear wessels." (/star trek joke)

Another way Disney is getting tired is with their lazy, homogenized merchandise, such as the phasing out of resort merch and the standardization of other things like drink menus. BORING, and not at all good in cultivating repeat visitors. They are making Disney into a "been there, done that, bought that, going to Atlantis next time" experience.

The Six Flags/Universal comparison is so ludicrous as to almost not require comment. Universal runs delightful, clean parks with very cool attractions, and even as a wee kid I loved them. We're heading down next week and we'll be doing a split stay between Universal and WDW. There's no need to be a hater, both the parks are great in their different ways, and Universal has its own little magic sparkle.

 

[mmtska]

I am a roller coaster freak. I live 40 minutes from Cedar Point. Yes, I would like to see Disney maybe have one or two more roller coasters, but honestly, I love going to Disney for the theming. Sure the 16+ roller coasters at Cedar Point are a blast, and the rides at Universal may be a bit more thrilling, but those parks are different IMO. Disney is a theme park, and they do an amazing job at it. Yes, I agree that they could add a few lands to a couple parks and spruce it up a bit, but Disney is in its own category. When I am at Cedar Point, I actually wish I could be at Disney World riding IASM and Space Mountain.

I'm in complete agreement with this! I love Cedar Point....until we moved to Japan, I hadn't missed a trip there for 15 years. However, that's my thrill park (much better than any Sicks Flags) and Disney is a fun, get to be a kid park. I loved going in high school and I still love it 10 years later!

 

[dudelydude]

Well my head's spinnin'.

I agree with almost everything that was said here. Disney should expand, modify some things in some of it's WDW parks, but they also have to be careful. There is more of a theming "experience" that WDW offers that is unmatched and they shouldn't mess with that....just enhance it.

There is a psychology to what Disney is doing. Although they have some larger thrill rides for older kids and teens, I think there is a purpose to them focusing a majority of their efforts on the youngest of young. For small kids, Disney builds memories very early in their lives to make them still want to visit when they are teens. For the parents of younger children, same thing....they see the memories that were built within their kids (not to mention their own memories when they were kids) and they still want to visit WDW as they (and their kids) get older.

Disney has a way of tugging at your heart strings. It has a way of creating experiences that pull emotions from deep down inside of you, making you want to come back year after year.

I have to go cry now.