Defending Universal

[WillCAD]

Isn't it ironic how so many Disney fans complain inceasantly about how people don't "get" Disney, but turn right around and rail about how Universal "has no Magic" or "just doesn't appeal" to them?

I constantly praise the high level of service I have gotten on my last few trips to Uni, the cheerfulness of the Uni employees (they all seem to be really happy to work there and truly enjoy their jobs), the cleanliness of the parks (the bathrooms have been better than Disney the past 2 years), and the far superior bennefits given to Uni AP holders.

But it falls on deaf ears. "Yeah, yeah, Universal is nice and all, but it just doesn't have any Magic."

Uni does have Magic - Movie Magic. It may not have Mickey and Goofy, but I have always been delighted to hear the Blues Brothers singing, see Groucho and Marilyn and Doc Brown around the park, or get my pic taken with Spidey or John Hammond.

Disney people tout Buzz Lightyear's Spaceranger Spin as the cat's meow, but MIB blows it out of the water for excitement, and attention to detail.

Disney people praise the high level of service and the class of the Disney resorts, but I've seen the Uni hotels, and they are without a doubt equal or better than any of the Disney Deluxes. RPR makes Poly look weak and faded by comparisson, and there is nothing on Disney property that even begin to compare with Portafino.

I have also written at length about the superiority of the Uni AP. From the card itself (a hard-laminated plastic card, like a drivers license, with the Passholder's pic right on it), to the in-park discounts (20% off merchandise at any shop - including sale stuff! and 20% off most of the restaurants - including the counter-service places!), the Uni AP costs less than half of what the Disney AP costs, but delivers way more.

I gave up on trying to explain Disney to people who don't "get" it years ago. Yet somehow I constantly find myself trying to explain Uni to Disney fans who don't "get" it - usually without success.

I think I need to ride MIB and work out some of the frustration.

 

[RC Fan]

I think the biggest problem is that the diehard Disney fans won't give either Universal park a fair shot. If they were willing to look at the parks objectively, without constant comparison to Disney, I think they would find lots to like.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

It's also the mentality - which may be human nature - that if you like or love one - you must dislike or hate the other.

I work at Universal and I LOVE going to Disney. Both have things I really like. I can appreciate both.

 

[robvia]

We were talking about this in another thread. The Disney die hards are basically "brainwashed" like a cult or religion. Why this happens is beyond me but I'll give a few reasons why.

Babies grow up in Disney rooms, with decorations on the walls, toys, bed sheets, pillows, furniture, all theamed after Disney. Parents take the little ones to see the mouse and keep going back. Other parks don't have a character that starts at birth, and goes thru age 9. About the closest USF comes, is with Shrek.

It almost seems like the die hards are out to prove something, with their allegience to Disney. They come on this forum, almost ashamed to talk about driving up to IOA/USF for ONE day. The problem here, is these people cram too much in one day, don't stay onsite, and don't get the full "magic." Then they go back and say USF was just "ok."

Lately, people have been doing better. They visit IOA/USF staying onsite, and then realize what they were missing. Same thing with SWF. Many are finding this park for the first time and enjoying it.

When the kids reach the age of 9, and can make the height requirements for the coasters, then it's ova. But what gets me, is the kids have to say they are bored with Disney, before the parents will visit USF/IOA. The kids have to ask. The parents have no clue.

The new ad campaign will help, where the little girl says she's going to hurl if she sees another princess. That's the exact message they need to get to the parents.

But why the parents stay "brainwashed" is the question. Besides USF/IOA and SWF, there are many parks in the USA to visit. There are the thrill parks up north, such as Cedar Point, and Kennywood. There's the west coast, with SFMM, Knotts, USH, and DisneyLand. Many parks to visit, yet the parents seem to drag their kids to Disney, even when they are bored with it.

 

[Laurabearz]

We are die hard Disney fans who dont understand why everyone doesnt love US/IOA TOO!!!

The Flying Unicorn has to be THE BEST rollercoaster for the 36 in club Heck ALL of us loved it... rode it over and over.... To heck with Goofy's barnstormer herky jerky ride..... The Flying Unicorn FLIES!!!!

Suess Landing is beyond marvy....

The way I look at it... you can lead them to water...

 

[RUDisney]

It almost seems like the die hards are out to prove something, with their allegience to Disney. They come on this forum, almost ashamed to talk about driving up to IOA/USF for ONE day. The problem here, is these people cram too much in one day, don't stay onsite, and don't get the full "magic." Then they go back and say USF was just "ok."

This is exactly why we've waited to go to USF. We didn't want to do it an injustice by only going for a day and trying to cram everything into it. I want the whole experience. I'm certain that we are going to love our vacation this year!

We love the mouse. Our kids still love the mouse, but then again, we've never tried to force princesses or buzz lightyear on them. We go with the flow of what they like and all being equal, they like Shrek better than <gasp> Mickey.

We'll go back to WDW, and that's all we'll do. I am sure that we will go back to USF, and that's all we'll do. The difference is that we're going to USF for 5 days and we'll go to WDW for 10. As USF grows, we may have to add more days to our leisurely park vacation to do it justice, too.

 

[sorcerermick]

I am definitely a die hard Disney fan, but I also enjoy US too. In fact, we stayed on site for the first time in septmeber, a little two night trip before we headed to disney, and i must say, it was the most fun we ever had at US. We bought the annual pass, and had FOTL access for three days. It was a great trip. I think we will surely be adding a day or two on before each Disney trip, if finances allow. I will not go to US as a day guest anymore. For us, it now has to be as an on site guest.

 

[Soprano]

I find it amazing people who have been going to Orlando for YEARS and have never been to UO. Seems such a waste. I enjoy what Disney has to offer, but could not go there for more than two straight days without a break.

Its a bit like Marvel Vs DC fanboys or something

 

[JohnnySharp2]

For us we like Disney and Universal.

I think too many people are obsessed with WDW, many as have been said have not been to Universal, yet still seem keen to look upon it as being inferior.

 

[Cruz Family]

Though I have only been to Disney once in 2004 (twice really, but the other one I was very young) I am a big Disney fan. But for our next trip in Oct we are spending a day at US and IOA (I know it is not enough time to see everything) and I am looking sooo forward to something new.
Just to give you some insight on my thinking, here are a few reasons we have choose to stay at Disney rather then USO.

1. Planning, where WDW offers the vacation planning kit w/ maps, and info on resturants, travel, hotels, shopping, etc. The only info I could find for US was on the web site. I even emailed them to see if I could get information sent to me and I never even got a reply. Maybe I am a bit of an over planner but I really like to have an idea of exactly where I am going before I get there.

2. Varitey, with WDW I can go to four very different parks rather than two parks with the same theme.

3. Comfort, this is probably the dumbest reason but I think there is a lot of truth in it. Everybody knows Disney and Mickey Mouse, the first time you walk down Main St. and look at the castle you feel like it is something so familar to you because you have seen it so many times. You feel comfortable because for the most part you know what to expect. USO is less known and though you know you will probably enjoy it will you want to spend a week there?

4. Disney just makes everything easy. I don't have to worry about renting a car because Disney will pick me up at the airport and provide me with transportation my entire vacation. The planning kit I mentioned before, and just in general there is so much more WDW info out there (web sites, books, tv, etc.).

Who knows maybe I will like it so much on this trip I will want to stay there for my next one???

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

I was just reading the thread on the Attractioins boards about the new US commercial; if I read one more time how they've never been to US/IOA, but they know it's substandard to Disney I was gonna hurl.....

We love them both, but go to US/IOA more.

 

[macraven]

i see it as two sides to this issue.



if the new ad and promo brings a lot more people to UO, maybe universal will add more attractions/rides eventually. the ones that will be coming to the other side, might fall in love with UO and add it to future trips.


the flip side is, what if too many people start coming to UO.
and, if they all want to stay on site.......

rates will go up, harder to get a room and the crowd factor at the parks.


universal is orlando's best kept secret.

i don't want the crowds at uo like they have at disney..........i want to keep it all for myself.

i like my annual trips to universal in october for the parks in the day and hhn at night.

i don't want to share......................

 

[Sylvester McBean]

before we moved to Florida, we were like most people. we've got to take our daughter to WDW for a vacation. other familes we knew went there, that's what ordinary people do. the only knowledge I had of universal was a trip to USH when it was just the tram ride, and Nick shows that were taped at UO. some friends came back from florida with a photo album filled with UO pictures, and we knew we had to try it. my daughter got on slime time live, and got slimed. she got to be on television. we were hooked. we live here now, and will never let our AP's expire. we love WDW, but UO's a different place. it's special in it's own right.

 

[ChrisFL]

2. Varitey, with WDW I can go to four very different parks rather than two parks with the same theme.

FYI, Both parks really aren't the same theme, they're very different. Universal is to "ride the movies" with soundstages and behind the scenes type of decoration where IOA is more of a total experience in fantasy lands and areas, but still vastly unique from WDW

 

[JohnnySharp2]

2. Varitey, with WDW I can go to four very different parks rather than two parks with the same theme.

US and IOA are very different theme parks, there are no real similarities between the 2.

 

[Slacking]

I've never understood the whole magic thing.

Are these people taking something I haven't tried?

 

[Cruz Family]

FYI, Both parks really aren't the same theme, they're very different. Universal is to "ride the movies" with soundstages and behind the scenes type of decoration where IOA is more of a total experience in fantasy lands and areas, but still vastly unique from WDW

I am not saying they are exactly the same. (I haven't even been there yet!)
But compared to WDW's parks they seem to be quite similar. From what I know about US and IOA they are "entertainment" themed. Disney has MGM (wich I am sure doesn't touch US) that has a movie theme, Epcot has future world and world showcase, Animal Kingdom "animals" dahh, and everybody knows the Magic Kingdom. That is a lot of variety.

My point is not that WDW is better then US/IOA. I just wanted to show you the point of view a novice like myself has.

 

[rie'smom]

The only similarity is that there are rides. IOA and US take their patrons to the next level.
I guess because these parks are aimed at a bit older group,US and IOA make you think.
WDW just spoon feeds you the "magic".

 

[Sylvester McBean]

I am not saying they are exactly the same. (I haven't even been there yet!)
But compared to WDW's parks they seem to be quite similar. From what I know about US and IOA they are "entertainment" themed. Disney has MGM (wich I am sure doesn't touch US) that has a movie theme, Epcot has future world and world showcase, Animal Kingdom "animals" dahh, and everybody knows the Magic Kingdom. That is a lot of variety.

My point is not that WDW is better then US/IOA. I just wanted to show you the point of view a novice like myself has.

I can't think of anything similar between the 2 parks, except that they are both a 5 minute walk from each other. just like the WDW parks, they're completely different experiences.

 

[Laurabearz]

IOA is all highly themed 'lands' You feel a different vibe in each area (Suess Landing vs, Jurasic Park vs Marvel Comic book world et all)

Macraven... Im with you 100% I would love to see some new attractions, but I love the lower crowds....

We will always add a couple of nights onsite at US/IOA. I have stayed at both RPR and HRH, and the Hard Rock.... ROCKS!