Bad Trip

[phamton]

OK, I sent it to them. You can go back and edit your post and take out your email and name for privacy now.

Bev

 

[Keeva]

Phamton Thanks again ,Keeva

 

[phamton]

Phamton Thanks again ,Keeva

You are quite welcome. Universal just emailed me and said they had responded to your email. I hope it is resolved. Thanks again for writing the email. It, hopefully, will make someone else's trip more pleasant. I have confidence that Universal will make this right. They've never let me down.

Bev

 

[greenyskp]

As am I.



I would ask you or anyone to post your exact post on one of the Disney forums but change "Universal" to "WDW" and watch the flames begin. I can guarantee you that they would be a lot more harsh in replying to your post there. We tolerate criticism quite well here, much more so than the Disney people do on their boards.


Really? Well I have but I won't be posting the story on the Disboards.



Everytime? That alone reveals a bias.



Come on! Do you really expect me to believe that there are no bad days for cast members? I suggest you read this board: http://www.stupidguesttricks.com/vb3/index.php
It will be a real eye opener. Also while you are there, be sure to look at the active forums. The Disney forums are very active and the "other theme parks" is virtually dead. Read just how magical the cast members are at Disney and read just how they have treated their guests.

Also everyday on the DisBoard there is a complaint about a not-so-magical cast member. Maybe once a month we read of a not-so-nice team member at Universal.



Once again, I direct you to the link above to see just how sacred and coveted that the CMs see their jobs.


Most? I seriously doubt that "most" get turned off. From reading this board and other boards I would say your statistics are waaaay off. Most of the posts I see here are from people who have never ventured off Disney property before and finally tried Universal and then were overwhelmingly surprised at how much they loved it.




I do think differently and I doubt that I'm in the minority.

Please stop taking this as a personal attack. Its not worth my time to reply to this and explain how your whole argument is biased against Disney people anyway. So please... do us all a favor and stop looking to argue. I'll still go to Universal, you'll still go... we'll all be ok.

Agree to Disagree, instead of making enemies ok?

 

[Sherrilatte]

case in point -

These scenerios RARELY happen at Disney.

Their staff is well-informed of whats going on.

If you speak to 'Clara' in guest relations and she tells you to come back at 4, when you come back, 'Tom' will know you spoke to 'Clara'.

I hate reading this section of the board. Its so depressing. People talking about there favorite Disney this and that on the other boards, and then most people have dissapointing experiences at IOA/US, on this board.

I've never had expectations of IOA/US. Even with no expectations, I'm always dissapointed by staff who doesnt care, dirty parks and general stupidity.

So sorry you had a bad time. They should have replaced your items, or at least followed up to tell you they cant. I guess Universal isnt concerned with keeping up their image....

You must have selective-reading "itis", because there is WAAY MORE complaining, whining and belly-achin about CMs on the WDW boards! I come over here to catch a breather!

 

[JessicaR]

Please stop taking this as a personal attack. Its not worth my time to reply to this and explain how your whole argument is biased against Disney people anyway. So please... do us all a favor and stop looking to argue. I'll still go to Universal, you'll still go... we'll all be ok.

Agree to Disagree, instead of making enemies ok?

You need to take the advice you give! Go play somewhere else. Your entire contribution to this thread is biased. Grow up.

 

[Metro West]

Please stop taking this as a personal attack. Its not worth my time to reply to this and explain how your whole argument is biased against Disney people anyway. So please... do us all a favor and stop looking to argue. I'll still go to Universal, you'll still go... we'll all be ok.

I don't think Phamton was taking as a personal attack. I know Bev personally and she's a nice person who, like myself, enjoys both Disney and Universal. I will continue going to both places since I live here but honestly, I've had more problems with CM's at Disney than the folks at Universal.

For example,

When Epcot was having the AP holder's preview of Soarin', I asked several different CM's what time the attraction was going to be open...they had no answers. A friend who works at Disney called to make sure it was alright for me to take him to the preview and the Disney operator told him yes. Yet when we got over there, the CM working the "door" wouldn't let him in and he works there! It was only when I said something sternly to her would she let him inside.

I think the real problem with threads like this is the fact that so many Disney lovers refuse to see to Disney for what it is...a large corporation who only wants your $$$. They seem to think Disney is Nirvana and everything is always perfect..not so. Those of us who like both parks tend to take that as a strong Disney bias when people post negative comments about Universal.

I like Disney as much as the next person but, I don't LOVE it any more or less than Universal. Actually, if you want to talk about the differences, let's talk about the benefits of AP's for both places. Disney doesn't discount anywhere near the number of things that Universal does. I feel very ordinary when I go to Disney since they don't care that I have an AP especially when I get food. All they want is the $$$. Disney doesn't offer park discounts on food or merchandise and won't offer your friends a discount when you go with them. Universal makes me feel a lot more special than Disney ever will. The FL resident AP for Disney is a great deal to be sure since it's so expensive to go to the parks today. But, I feel they could do a lot more but won't because they're Disney. But will I stop going? NO! I will keep supporting both parks as best as I can.

Personally, I don't feel like Disney is any better than any other amusement park I've ever been to. Do they keep it clean? Yes. Do they make you feel welcome? Most of the time. Is every CM always happy and covets their job? Definately not. Is Disney just like every other major corporation in the world who wants to make a profit? YES!

I'm not trying to start an arguement here but, I think it's time for the Disney lovers who ONLY believe Disney is heaven on Earth need to lighten up and realize that both Disney and Universal offer many great features for everyone. There's no need to say "that rarely happens at Disney" when you have no idea what happens to others.

Just my opinion and thanks for reading.

 

[phamton]

Please stop taking this as a personal attack. Its not worth my time to reply to this and explain how your whole argument is biased against Disney people anyway. So please... do us all a favor and stop looking to argue.
Agree to Disagree, instead of making enemies ok?

Did you notice that i had nothing bad to say to Keeva. If I were biased against Disney people, I would have lit into her. She had a legitimate complaint.

I am not taking anything you wrote as a personal attack. I am just trying to let you know that you are posting on the Universal board among people who like Universal. Of course we would defend it.

I tell you what. I have taken your same words and changed them to Dsineyworld instead of Universal. Copy and paste your words onto the Disney Attractions board and expect to get flamed. The replies to your post there will be much more harsh there. Here's your post (give it a try):

These scenerios RARELY happen at Universal.

Their staff is well-informed of whats going on.

I hate reading the Disney Attractions board. Its so depressing. People talking about there favorite Universal rides on the Universal board, and then I come here and read how most people have dissapointing experiences at WDW.

I've never had expectations of Disneyworld. Even with no expectations, I'm always dissapointed by staff who doesnt care, dirty parks and general stupidity.

I guess Disney isnt concerned with keeping up their image....

I KNOW I had more fun at Universal that year then I had at WDW.
But IN MY OPINION Universal just has more to offer me. Ive NEVER had an issue with a team member at Universal. Yet I have plenty of issues with Disney employees everytime i've been. There are no bad days for team members at Universal.

To me, Disneyworld seem like just another job for their employees, while Universal employees hold their jobs sacred, and act like they are coveted postions.

Everywhere you go there are going to be good and bad experiences, I was merely saying from MY experience, most people get so turned off by Disneyworld that they never go back.

Universal is magical to me.
Disneyworld is like every other theme park in america. I wouldnt be that affected if they closed it.

Wait wait... i would be... because then all of those people would be at Universal.... ?



__________________

 

[Keeva]

Yes Phamton I received a reply from Universal today.They have it down that the Spinner& cup were replaced on the 7th.The 7th was when I filled out the form and then went back that evening and they did not know what I was talking about.I sent her another e-mail to inform her that if it was replaced it was given to someone else.They also offered me a one day 2 park ticket but I told her it would be a long time before I went back ,If ever.Thanks again for your help She said she would make sure the e=mail reached the proper channels.Maybe it will make the parks better for others so they won't have to contend with what we did .
Thanks again Keeva

 

[sha_lyn]

I really don't even now what to say after reading this thread.
I have never ever had a bad experience at US/IOA with line jumpers, rude or drunken guest, rude or unknowing employees etc.
However I have had more than my fair share at WDW.

most people get so turned off by IOA/US that they never go back.

Really... you know this how? Oh well then that just makes the parks more enjoyable for those of us who know a good thing when we see it.

 

[macraven]

sorry double post.....see below

 

[macraven]

whenever i go to orlando, i wouldn't dream of not doing both parks, universal/ioa and disney.

the only issues i have ever had at universal is with the hotel ( hard rock hotel), and that issue was solved and corrected within a reasonable time.
the hotel belongs to loews, not universal so therefore, my visits at universal have been great.

only at halloween horror nights have i been disturbed over a few things. but it is packed and lines are long and i do expect a few things go wrong. such as having a beer spilled on me, some loud mouths getting a little over excited type of thing. i ignore those things as it is a hard ticket event and does not reflect on the employees.

at disney i probably have more issues there. i can remember back in 1975 when it was clean all the time. even in 1993, cleanliness was next to godliness theme............but not anymore. i just deal with that.

i always use the hotel key to charge everything with at disney as i stay on site. more than three trips i have had to spend too much time at the front desk at the resort straightening the final bill out.

the cms at disney are not what they used to be in my opinion. but i deal with it.


no matter what, i will still spend my children's inheritance at both parks.
there is no way i could go to one park and not the other.
i split my visit over a 10 to 14 day stay between them

 

[Johnfish]

I have only visited WDW and US/IOA once. I am also visiting both parks again this summer. I think first impressions are very important when it comes to entertainment of this type. My first impressions of Disney did not meet with some of the posts in the Disney forums. I read a lot of posts that said that Disney had lost its magic and that the parks were not the same as they were years ago. Since this was my first experience i could not gauge what years ago was like. I personally found Disney to be a very magical place. The park was extremely clean and there wasnt one CM that wasnt pleasent and happy to help me. This was really impressive as we were there during hurricane Charlie and many of the CMs were dealing with major problems at home.

As for IOA I found that most of the CMs were pleasent but not as outgoing as the Disney folks. At US I found most of them to be mediocre to down right rude or incompetent. Again these are only first impressions so maybe everyone in US was just having a bad day.

My Own feelings about US/IOA is they are great theme parks better than the 6 flags and almost on par with BG SW (although I think the CMS at the Bush parks are definitely friendlier). But they arent Disney and they never will be. Disney is much more of an experience and therefore cant be in the same class with all the other theme parks.

Again this is based on first impressions. I love the thrill rides at US/IOA but Disney has it beat for overall magical experiences.

John

 

[Keeva]

I received a reply again today from guest services ,thanks to Phamton. I can't seem to get an e-mail thru.Their records show a sipper cup and spinner were purchased in my name by guest services.I guess they gave them to someone else.They wanted my address to send me one. I sent another e-mail.Maybe it will go thru,I won't bother Phamton again.They wanted me to give US/IOA another try,and offered me one day tickets.They also said my e=mail has been viewed by management,so maybe some of it will be addressed.Maybe in a few years I'll go back, but I doubt it............
Keeva

 

[phamton]

I'm glad to see that they are trying to help. When I forwarded the last email to them, they told me that they had already received the same email from you, so maybe the emails are getting through now.

You mentioned the lack of security officers in your last email so today I decided to count how many I saw today as I never really pay attention to that. I was only at the park for 3 hours today and only in the Men in Black/ Back to the Future/ Jaws area. I didn't go anywhere else. I counted 9 security officers today (this doesn't include the ones that check your bags at the entrance.) These security officers were actually walking around.

I really hope that you'll try Universal again. My first trip to Disneyworld was a total disaster. My husband and kids never wanted to go back again. I pushed them to try it again and the next trip was great. Many have mentioned that they have been to Universal many, many times and had wonderful experiences. I know your first trip was bad but I honestly think you encountered some bizarre occurances, which are not the norm. Any or all of them could have occurred at Disney also but just as it isn't common there, it also isn't common at Universal.

My first trip to Disneyworld we had an air conondtioning unit in our room at Dixie Landings that leaked all over the carpet. Our socks were soaked from walking on the floor. It took them 3 days to finally get someone up there to fix it. A cast member at SpalshMountain yelled at me for going to the wrong spot to load the log. I couldn't hear what she said and so I went to the wrong number. I explained that I couldn't hear her and she said maybe I ought to start listening and then she rolled her eyes. My son's eyes were burned badly from the pH in the pool at Dixie Landings. No one cared. A man cursed my husband out for smoking in the smoking area and threatened to beat his ***. We went to the America Experience at Epcot. A cast member let us in to wait for the next show which she said would start in a few minutes. We waited 30 minutes and no show. Finally I asked another CM and were told that the last show was an hour earlier. I took my family to eat at Prime Time Cafe at MGM. I was so excited becuase I had heard about the interaction with the servers. Our server ignored us. Never joked with us even once. I even tried to get him to interact and he looked at me like I was bothering him. People at other tables were having a blast and we felt like we had leprosy. Buses were continually running late. There were times we waited an hour for a bus from our hotel to Magic Kingdom. we also had several problems with the boat transportation to Downtown Disney. The whole trip was just horrible. I begged my husband to try it again 2 years later and we had a wonderful time. Now we have APs at Disney and go often.

Bev

 

[Keeva]

Phamton,I'm sorry about you first trip to Disney but you are differant than me.If that had been my experiance I would probably not went back.I shouldn't be that way but I don't make a fuss I just don't return.I live 1 hour away from six flags and have not been in over 17 years because of some of the same things I encountered like we did at us/ioa(rude clerks& drunks).I will drive 8-10 hours if I know I will enjoy my time.I work 14 hour days standing on my feet and I really look forward to my precious vacation time.Now days we have many choices for our vacation Dollars and we don't have to go somewhere to gamble on having a good time.I have owned my own business for over 24 years and I know that most of the time a first impression is the only chance we get.Maybe us/ioa will listen to my views and retain more people like me that otherwise would not be back. If not for you I would have never have sent an e=mail. That's just the way I am. I don't complain I just don't return and I know there are others like me.So maybe they will listen and change some things for others. Thanks again for all you help. Keeva

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

We really like both also. They're both just wonderful to us. How can you beat staying on site at Universal and being able to jump all the lines! We now try to split our stay at least a night or two at Universal just to be able to get right on the lines, you can't do that at Disney. The fast pass is ok but still the lines really can get to you. It sure beats the places by us in NY, last year we went to 6-Flags, NJ, Great Adventure and my husband (who is the calmest guy in the world) almost got in a fight with 20-year-old gang bangers who purposely banged into him (then they went walking along and then banging purposely into someone else) and I thought my big buff husband was going to kill someone, he was furious, and I was petrified he was going to hurt them or get hurt. It was absolutely horrid and I never want to go back there.

 

[Harmony]

One thing, I think we've all learned from this thread is that you only get one chance to make a 1st impression.

 

[JLTraveling]

I'm jumping in a little late here...to Keeva, I'm very glad that with Phamton's help you were able to get some sort of resolution to your very reasonable complaints. And I hope that you decide to take Universal up on their free pass offer...I truly do believe that your first experience was the exception and not the norm.

I'm a former Disney CM, former Universal team member, and have just started a job with SeaWorld. I just moved back a few months ago after 3 years in New Orleans, and am now in the parks several times a week. In my personal opinion Disney has gone waaaay down in cleanliness, maintenance, and CM morale during the time that I was away. Every Disney bathroom I've been in recently has had a wet, dirty floor and overflowing garbage cans seem to be the norm around the parks. I can tell you, as I have a lot of CM friends, most CMs actually hate their jobs now...the company has become "not so nice" to work for...and more and more CMs are starting to take it out on guests. Meanwhile, conditions seem to be improving at Universal. I'll be the first to admit that Disney always set the gold standard...but due to budget cutbacks and management mediocrity, they are seriously slipping...and parks like Universal and SeaWorld have seen an opening and are taking it...they're moving up the ladder towards what Disney used to be.

Does it make me love Disney any less? Not at all. It makes me sad to see a place that I love so much falling apart, but I'm hoping that with Eisner's exodus we will start to see a change back towards what Walt would have wanted.

Everyone is, of course, entitled to their own opinion. I just think that it ultimately comes down to this: all of the Orlando area theme parks are owned by huge conglomerates, and all employ multiple thousands of people. The management hierarchy alone is mind-bogglingly complicated. They all do their absolute best with screening job applicants, and they all do their best to monitor employees once they are there. But occasionally, people/incidents will fall through the cracks. There is simply no way to track every moment of an employee's day...and most people who are unhappy choose not to complain. So management really has no way to know if an incident occurs. And this is true at all of the parks, including Disney. An in-person complaint to Guest Relations, followed up by an email if the situation is not resolved in person, is the absolute best course of action when anything you are unhappy with happens at any of the parks.

Once again, Keeva, I am truly sorry that you had such a bad experience, and I am happy that Guest Relations is now working with you. For myself, I will continue to love all of the theme parks in the Orlando area, and to know that sometimes things happen, no matter which park I'm in.

Just my two cents.

 

[Slacking]

JLT- did you get the job you were looknig for at SW?

Keeva- don't let first impressions rule your life. Sure, Universal may have disappointed you the first time you visited, but don't let that attitude affect how you think about it the rest of your life. If everyone went on first impressions, I don't think I'd have any friends, because I personally do not make good first impressions. And like was stated, things that happened to you can happen anywhere and to anyone on any given day, but are not the norm. I hope that one day down the road you'll give Universal a second chance, because in my own opinion, right now, they're giving Disney a run for their money.