Defending Universal

[damo]

Beth you will also love that you can walk to everything from your hotel! With young kids it is often the case that one gets tired and wants to go back to the hotel while the other wants to stay and play. Universal makes that so easy. You and your guys will have a blast!

 

[ChrisFL]

yeah thats one big advantage I dont think Universal has posted on their website.

Disney's massive land is both an advantage and a disadvantage.

 

[lindalinda]

I was actually talking about that to a friend at work tonite...about being trapped in world showcase, exhausted with no escape....lol....it is easier on the feet at Universal!

 

[Nellas Elensar]

Our family (we used to be a unit of 5, but it's now my parents and myself; my two brothers are married and moved out) always stayed off-site because we are not what most people call "wealthy" or "rich"; we make a comfortable living. We also pick and choose which parks we want to go to. We always have to go to SWO (my favorite park; Shamu and I are pals practically). We also try to spend a day at a UO park (mostly USF; we aren't thrill seekers and so the roller coasters and FearFall don't appeal to us, so we have never returned to IOA [we only been there once in 1999, when it opened]) and then spend a day or two at select Disney parks (mostly EPCOT and Magic Kingdom; we don't enjoy Animal Kingdom [only been there once in 1999] and there isn't much to do at MGM Studios [as I said earlier, we aren't the roller coaster or free-fall types]). I like Universal and Disney equally and that will never change. This year, we're going to Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios Florida, Sea World, and possibly MGM Studios (my mom's choice; I don't know why, but this is the contingency plan just in case Sea World doesn't offer its 2nd day free admission anymore).

 

[MrShiny]

Not quite sure what you mean here. Aren't many of the rides at Disney based on movies and many are actual re-enactments of parts of the movies? The Shrek ride isn't simply a repetition of the movies but has it's own new storyline.

I meant the actual 3D ride frilm for Shrek was released on DVD (when Shrek 2 went on sale) - so I had seen the film in 3D already before ever saw it at the parks!

 

[goofie4goofy]

I have read soooo m any threads "spoiled by WDW", and "cheating on WDW" I really don't understand.

I love both and are completely different from one another. We go to both often, but they are not our only destinations there are much nicer places to go and interesting things to see. IMHO, I could never go to just 1 place over and over again, but that is just me.

I think there are 2 kinds of people in the world toruists and travelers. There are many people that only vacation in WDW and have never seen the actual locations which inspired the theme. People get set in their ways, WDW, like USO is a theme park...very eleborate and fun but still a theme park. WDW is almost a lazy vacation choice, much like a cruise...there is no adventure or exploring or expanding one's horizons. Many don't realize or care that some other types of vacations may inspire their children (and themselves) that do not involve mega input. Most of these people scrimp and save for a year sometimes two to get there. Most don't realize that another vacation, which costs much less would be more relaxing, fun and great for a family. So when WDW is the only place you have been, and you go someplace new , (most likely USO) since there is only 1 place to compare it to you will defend it. Most people are afraid to try something new, that's why the most popular ice cream flavor is vanilla.

Actually in comparing the GF RPC to PBH CL, I think the PBH is a much nicer hotel. The rooms are larger, the hotel is just beautiful. Actually USO is a very relaxing vacation. There is a nice balance between the parks and the hotel, since USO is not huge, you can really enjoy the hotel, spa and pool. Also the food is excellent. Bice, The Palm, Tchop Tchop are among our fav's.

 

[macraven]

vanilla, all this time i thought it was chocolate............

 

[Snoopymom]

For some reason, I love reading posts comparing the two. I guess I find humor in the silly controversy, LOL.

Honestly though, I don't think Disney has enough for boys. Girls can love princesses and castles forever, but boys are only excited about Mickey, Donald, Tarzan, Baloo, Woody, Buzz and Stitch until they're about 4 or 5?

I think Spiderman, Spongebob, The Hulk, Shrek, and Popeye are timeless and cool for everyone!

Most of all, I love the great price of Univ's AP and...ssshhh....
the lack of strollers, uhumm, I mean the close proximity of everything, LOL.

 

[WillCAD]

For some reason, I love reading posts comparing the two. I guess I find humor in the silly controversy, LOL.

Honestly though, I don't think Disney has enough for boys. Girls can love princesses and castles forever, but boys are only excited about Mickey, Donald, Tarzan, Baloo, Woody, Buzz and Stitch until they're about 4 or 5?

I think Spiderman, Spongebob, The Hulk, Shrek, and Popeye are timeless and cool for everyone!

Most of all, I love the great price of Univ's AP and...ssshhh....
the lack of strollers, uhumm, I mean the close proximity of everything, LOL.

I never thought about it till now, but I have never been bashed by a stroller or accidentally tripped into the path of one at Uni. Are they banned or something?

 

[macraven]

i see strollers on very few occassions.

last hhn, i saw 3 of them.
what were those parents thinking?????

not a time for the kidlettes there.

 

[Snoopymom]

I never thought about it till now, but I have never been bashed by a stroller or accidentally tripped into the path of one at Uni. Are they banned or something?

It's nice isn't it, LOL. I think most families wait until their kids are a little older to go to Univ. That's what we did, actually got Disneyed out the first few years which made Univ a really nice change of pace. With the close proximity of the parking and hotels, you really don't even need one for all your stuff, which is what we used to use ours for, ds never rode in it.

 

[deelam]

Last year we did Universal first and then went to Disney. So we came from no lines when staying onsite to waiting forever in line at Disney. I must say the Universal part was more enjoyable for the whole family.
And my 8 year old just loves Universal--we go and ride Jaws and the Mummy countless times. I only wish that Universal would add another park.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

there sure has been quite a few people stopping into the UO forums looking for advice on their first trip lately. maybe the new 'rude' ad campaign is actually...working.

 

[jarrdisney]

I have been to US and IOA plenty of times. I love how US updated their park with great rides like mummy (one of my faves) and shrek 4D. I think, hands down, Universal has the best food. Both Emeril's and Tchop Tchop are places I have frequented on trips. Mytho's is my fave as far as food in a park. All the other restaraunts (in park), however, are subpar. I think their resorts are beautiful and definatley rival, if not surpass, those at WDW.

That being said, the parks are not as clean, staff not as friendly, and most importantly, they don't seem to care about what guests do. This is extremely evident at IOA where teens (and adults) run rampant, cutting in line and being flat out disrespectful. The only other place I could compare this experience to is Six Flags in NJ, which is a dirthole.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

That being said, the parks are not as clean, staff not as friendly, and most importantly, they don't seem to care about what guests do. This is extremely evident at IOA where teens (and adults) run rampant, cutting in line and being flat out disrespectful. The only other place I could compare this experience to is Six Flags in NJ, which is a dirthole.

I'll debate you on the cleanliness and attitude of the UO TM's until the very end. as far as people's behavior, UO has nothing to do with it. if you allow someone to cut in line, you allow it. as far as the people that attend UO, people from NJ come down here a lot. maybe that's why you see the similarities.

 

[WillCAD]

I gotta agree with Sylvester - my experiences with Universal TMs over the past few trips has been extrememly impressive. They have all been friendly, helpful, and cheerful to me, and all seem to truly enjoy their jobs. I would compare the current state of Universal TMs with that of Disney CMs in the golden days.

 

[goofie4goofy]

I gotta agree with Sylvester - my experiences with Universal TMs over the past few trips has been extrememly impressive. They have all been friendly, helpful, and cheerful to me, and all seem to truly enjoy their jobs. I would compare the current state of Universal TMs with that of Disney CMs in the golden days.

I agree 100%.

If you allow someone to cut you in line that is your problem.

As far as being clean...I have never seen a rat as big as a cat is USO, I have never seen anyone washing their kids behind in a water fountain, I have never seen random doodies and poopies in the toilet, no multi colored gum stuck on any of the attractions....but I have in WDW.

I have always found the employees to be happy, friendly and very funny and entertaining.

There are boorish people everywhere and from everywhere... you will find them espically at theme parks

 

[damo]

I have been to US and IOA plenty of times. I love how US updated their park with great rides like mummy (one of my faves) and shrek 4D. I think, hands down, Universal has the best food. Both Emeril's and Tchop Tchop are places I have frequented on trips. Mytho's is my fave as far as food in a park. All the other restaraunts (in park), however, are subpar. I think their resorts are beautiful and definatley rival, if not surpass, those at WDW.

That being said, the parks are not as clean, staff not as friendly, and most importantly, they don't seem to care about what guests do. This is extremely evident at IOA where teens (and adults) run rampant, cutting in line and being flat out disrespectful. The only other place I could compare this experience to is Six Flags in NJ, which is a dirthole.

We're going to visit the dirthole this summer. If it compares to Universal/IOA, I can't wait!!!!!!

 

[sha_lyn]

actually I've never had anyone cut in line at US/IOA, but I can think of 3 times that someone has at WDW. Also you read all the time about one person holdign the place for a group of 20-30 at WDW. Never heard of that at US/IOA. There was a CM right there when (a father and 2 kids) were cutting at TOT and nothing was done about it. DS actually had a bruise on his side from where the one kid kept elbowing him. About the time we had had enough and I was about to snatch the kid up (dad would not do a thing) they snuck under and got way ahead of us.

 

[macraven]

universal rules..........

it is clean and kept up quite well.

even after hhn which ends at 2 in the morning and then the parks reopen at 9 just 7 hours later, the place is extremely clean.

just because the parks close at 2 am, it is not until close to 3 that all guests are out of the park.




during other times in the year, the trash is picked up reguarly, even during the summer.


employees are always accomadating and polite.



now, don't get me started on disney. i do go there before my universal portion of my vacation and i could bend your ear......