B2B2B

[MiddKid]

From the research I'm doing the only place Universal skews small is for the outdoor roller coasters I don't really wanna do anyway. I MIGHT do a couple of HP related coasters if the theming is strong enough (Gringotts) or Mummy, but for the most part roller coasters are not a big thrill for me at my age, I LOVED them when I was younger now they just rattle these old bones around too much to be worth what little adrenaline rush I still get from them. It looks like I should be able to ride simulators, and rides like the Jurassic Park Log Flume, with no issues - which is where I get my thrills. I know not everyone agrees but for me a simulator is far better than any roller coaster I've ever been on. I can let my mind suspend all disbelief while on it and so I can get experiences that they could never give me on a real coaster without the damage to my body.

Just did 4 days at WDW, 4 day cruise on the Dream, and 2 days at Universal (stayed at Royal Pacific so we had Express Unlimited). The only highlights for our family of 5 were Hagrid’s, VelociCoaster, Butterbeer, Borne Stuntacular (beat low expectations), and the classic Horror Makeup Show (always great for a laugh). Yes it was Spring Break, but the WDW experience was so much better. Operations at Universal were so poor that my wife vowed to never go back (“next time leave me at WDW while you go to Universal”).

• We just get so sick of the throw you in a box, shake you around, play loud noises, and spray water on you of all the simulators (plus the IPs hold virtually no relevance to my three daughters).
• Gringott’s Express line had a “1 to 1.5 hour wait.” (Standby was 3 hours). When we questioned that we were told the only promise Express makes is that it will be at least 1/2 of standby. We skipped it (have ridden it before, low appeal to us).
• Decided to have dinner at 3 Broomsticks. Line outside was small (one switchback). Quickly made it inside. Finally got our food 55 minutes later. Not only that, 25 of those 55 minutes were after we ordered but that’s how long it took us to simply GET our food. The line to pick up food was so long that the order takers stopped taking orders and stood around and socialized (see attached picture) while we all waited for food.
• After that we did a mobile order at Mel’s Diner. Placed the order, hit the “I’m here button”, and promptly got the “your food is ready” message. I went up and checked in…and waited another 15 minutes for my food. Upon asking why they told us “too many people order and don’t show up so we don’t prepare it until after you check in.” Uh, isn’t that what the “I’m here” button is for? In comparison, our multiple WDW mobile orders were flawless.
• Saw lots of line skipping issues (WDW is not immune but more CMs manning lines means less of it)
• My wife said it best about the majority of Uni employees we ran into: “It just feels like they could care less about helping us.” I’m sure this is amplified by the proverbial few bad apples that spoil the bunch.
• Woke up early for Early Entry the second day. Headed right to Hagrid’s. Ride didn’t open until 1.5 hours later…then it was a 40 minute wait. 2.5+ hours of the day gone. Again, WDW is not immune from downtime (looking at you Rise), but we were cranky at this point.

I will admit that reading everything online I was dreading the WDW portion of the trip. While I’m no fan of G+ (That’s a whole separate post) we landed up having a delightful four days (despite the spring break crowds).

Those two Uni days were likely also impacted by exhaustion. 4 days at WDW, 4 day cruise, we were all kinda ready to go home.

This is not a Uni sucks, WDW rules post…we had been previously and will go again…just pointing out that WDW isn’t as bad as social media makes it out to be while (to us) Uni’s operations just weren’t up for the crush of Spring Break.