Do Universal/IoA before Disney if you do both.

[ogreenlee]

Going from Disney to Universal is such a let down when it comes to competence and cleanliness. The bathrooms at Uni/IoA are so gross with nastiness overflowing from feminine hygiene boxes and trash receptacles. You'd have to look in 4-5 stalls before finding a suitable one, and this was in every bathroom I went into. The people who work there are not nearly as knowledgeable or caring. It was just a job to most. Everyone I spoke to at Disney seemed to thoroughly love their job. The rides are fun, but overall.. No magic.

 

[ogreenlee]

Ohhhh! And that stupid locker system is so freaking annoying. I'd rather pay a quarter and get a key. Lines were long and the system sucked. I hated having to use them, especially when it was totally unnecessary.

 

[ogreenlee]

On a positive note: we stayed on site and that was great. Express Pass worked well. It was crowded both days we were there. Tickets bought from Royal Pacific was buy two days, get one free. We only needed two days and skipped the third. Lines without express were awful. We made use of early admission to Harry Potter and I was even able to capture a photo of Hogsmeade Village with absolutely no one in the shot. We weren't even one o the first new there. Loved that. Butter beer soooo yummy!

 

[RMulieri]

Sorry you didn't seem to like it..I never saw bathrooms like that before except at Disney during peak season.Not sure what your issue was with Universal employees, and fwiw MANY cms that work at Disney also happen to work at Universal. I found most of the employees fantastic...Express pass is fantastic,spoiled me to the point I don't even want to deal with fastpass ..I can't say I like the locker system either, but I refuse to travel like a Sherpa scaling Everest so I rarely need to use them anymore.I use a small fannypack..fashionable ? no. But it beats having to deal with the lockers.

 

[damo]

I usually tell people the same thing...go to Universal after Disney...but for a different reason---you'll be so disappointed with Disney if you do Universal first.

I must say that I've seen the same things that you have seen but only at WDW. I've yet to find a dirty washroom at Universal and I've been going for 15 years. I'm not doubting you, but it is very rare. When did this happen?

We, too, avoid the lockers by not bringing carryons. It is one of the major things we stress on this forum to anyone going. Making people store their carryons helps to decrease the number of ride stoppages because of people's things falling on the tracks and getting stuck. The nature of Universal's rides make this much more of a possibility than at WDW. However, it is better to just slow down the culprits with lockers instead of having to close down the entire ride and slow down thousands. It is a safety factor as well. You'll find lockers at most big rollercoasters at many parks around the world.

Glad you found some things to enjoy!!!

 

[ogreenlee]

We just got back two days ago. So it was during a busy time, but Disney seems to manage cleaning up better. We carried a backpack bc we had ponchos stuffed in them, and the temps changed so much from morning until afternoon that we had to carry our layers. I did like the Express pass better than FastPass, and I enjoy walking thru IoA, but overall, I'm still a Disney fan overall.

 

[snoopboop]

Sorry you had such a negative experience. I've never seen dirty bathrooms at Universal, ever. I wonder why they weren't being cleaned up properly the day you were there?

Regarding the Universal Team Members, all of those with whom I spoke were extremely friendly and helpful, and I didn't come across any who didn't seem happy or knowledgeable...

Again, I'm sorry you had such a negative experience... but I don't think your observations are the norm.

 

[ogreenlee]

Oh, I didn't so much mind storing my stuff in the locker. I minded the computerized system of having to put your fingerprint down and there only being so many machines but so many people. .

 

[pigletto]

I am a confirmed Disney lover but I can't say I have seen what you have seen at all. In fact I've had fewer cleanliness and cast member issues at Universal though I haven't had many problems with either.

We always went to Universal first because we were renting a car and just drove right over. This time we are going for our last weekend and I don't anticipate any issues (other than not wanting to leave!)

I have a feeling that the parks are simply completely overwhelmed at Christmas time and that accounts for more of the issues you saw than anything.

 

[ogreenlee]

Sorry you had such a negative experience. I've never seen dirty bathrooms at Universal, ever. I wonder why they weren't being cleaned up properly the day you were there?

Regarding the Universal Team Members, all of those with whom I spoke were extremely friendly and helpful, and I didn't come across any who didn't seem happy or knowledgeable...

Again, I'm sorry you had such a negative experience... but I don't think your observations are the norm.

We went into the gelato shop at Universal, and I asked the young guy why the vanilla was so yellow. His answer was.. "Well this isnt ice cream, its gelato. It's different, not that I'm some gelato expert." OooooKay. Well, I've ordered gelato in many places in America and Italy, and it looked weird. I was just asking out of curiosity, but his bothered answer bothered me. Not everyone was like that, of course. Our server at Finnegan's was fantastic. The store clerk at the Spiderman gift store was great. The one at Seussland did not want to be there. No smiles, etc... It just didn't seem as consistent to me. Many reminded me of the teenagers who work at Six Flags near my house.

The bathrooms experience (sounds weird, huh?) was like night and day, to me, from Disney to US/IoA. Maybe it was the crowd level? Not sure, but from the stalls to the sink counters... I saw a major difference.

 

[snoopboop]

We went into the gelato shop at Universal, and I asked the young guy why the vanilla was so yellow. His answer was.. "Well this isnt ice cream, its gelato. It's different, not that I'm some gelato expert."

Honestly, I would have told a manager about this. That's unacceptable. Yikes.

I can't stand a dirty bathroom... ugh! I'm thinking it must have had something to do with crowd level, but still, they should have had their act together. I maintain that Uni is NOT usually like that - hopefully next time your experience will be better!

 

[ogreenlee]

We will definitely go back b/c I gotta get some more butter beer!!

I really enjoyed Islands of Adventure. It was our first time back in 11 years. Walking thru it is very cool and I appreciate the way it is set up. Just looks so neat. Now that my daughter is old enough to ride, we'll continue to go.

We will also stay at one of the Loew's resorts b/c that was worth it's weight. I guess if we go during a low season period it won't be as important, but with any type of crowd, that early admission into WWoHP is awesome and riding the water taxi made it all so simple and easy. Not to mention the Express Pass. I wish Disney would make their FPs so easy.

I hate to complain, but those were the issues I faced and wanted to pass on.

 

[Planogirl]

I love the gelato at that shop but I've never asked questions about it.

I've never seen messy bathrooms at Universal either. I'm sorry that you had a bad time.

 

[snoopboop]

Oh, I didn't so much mind storing my stuff in the locker. I minded the computerized system of having to put your fingerprint down and there only being so many machines but so many people. .

It's so frustrating to stand behind someone and watch them struggle with the screen.... SO many times, I've wanted to just reach over their shoulder and do it for them, LOL!!!

 

[ogreenlee]

Just wanted to clarify.. I didn't have a bad time at all. It was actually our best family vacation to date. We've been on many nice trips/vacations, but this one was smooth sailing in regards to our family and getting along, and getting to do pretty much everything we wanted.

I was just assuming that it looked like that all the time, and we're usually so impressed w/ the cleanliness/attitude at Disney (even tho it's been getting worse since I was a kid) in comparison to the next set of parks after we left.

I just figured, if you're gonna do both parks.. do Disney afterwards... but if it's not typically like that, don't mind what I say unless it's during peak season.

 

[ogreenlee]

It's so frustrating to stand behind someone and watch them struggle with the screen.... SO many times, I've wanted to just reach over their shoulder and do it for them, LOL!!!

and sometimes it wouldn't accept fingerprints to re-open. and then there were the kids fighting their parents wanting to use theirs, etc.. lawd have mercy. just let me use a quarter!! lol

 

[macraven]

Just wanted to clarify.. I didn't have a bad time at all. It was actually our best family vacation to date. We've been on many nice trips/vacations, but this one was smooth sailing in regards to our family and getting along, and getting to do pretty much everything we wanted.

I was just assuming that it looked like that all the time, and we're usually so impressed w/ the cleanliness/attitude at Disney (even tho it's been getting worse since I was a kid) in comparison to the next set of parks after we left.

I just figured, if you're gonna do both parks.. do Disney afterwards... but if it's not typically like that, don't mind what I say unless it's during peak season.

from all your other posts, it sure sounded like you didn't have a good time.



the motherland is very large and i have run into everything from broken beds at the resort to nasty, unclean parks there.

it happens.



but, it doesn't stop me from going there yearly.
(1974 was the first year for my motherland vacations.)


i can always find some good in where i am on vacation.
if i couldn't get past certain park issues, i would contact the company and express my experiences on that visit.



in my case, i have never done that.
what might have been an aggravation for me at the time, went by the wayside later.
i don't dwell on negative things that happen on a vacation.
i prefer to move past that.

it's my time to destress and have fun!


i can't imagine going to Orlando and not enjoying both the motherland and the darkside resorts and parks.
i do split stays for 19 days each fall.

there are always somethings to do that keeps me occupied and happy.


for my darkside vacations, i have not seen what you posted.
i have no idea what dates you were on vacation but that surely could be taken into account for what you said you saw.
crowds create big messes.


at universal, all you would have to do is let one of the TM's be aware of a problem restroom so they could contact the proper staff to handle it.

i go to hhn and do see a few restrooms in dire need of clean up.
once a guest informs the TM, the situation is taken care of quickly.

it is that simple.

i have friends that are TM's and CM's at the same time.
their personality is the same at both parks.
i've not run into any staff members at either parks that didn't represent their company well.


i go to a lot of the forums on the Dis.
i think you will realize that most on the darkside portion of the boards, that we are a friendly sort that tries to help others.


posters here on the universal boards don't bash or make anyone feel uncomfortable for their opinions.

we understand people are frustrated and want to vent and we don't take it personally.


but, we do want to share what you have seen is not typical of universal parks.


i'm sure the holiday time period from christmas to new years day is caotic in any park for clean up needs. the parks are packed shoulder to shoulder.



we all have opinions on what arrangement we do our park stays.
for me, i am like the others.

i do the motherland first as i do it commando style.
get up early and stay late, sleep is not an option.


then i switch to the darkside and completely relax and enjoy the parks, city walk, pools and hotels.


i like to end my vacation at the darkside and totally immerse myself in the ambiance.


do hope your next trip to the darkside resorts and parks improves for you and the family. there might come a time where you won't need to compare the two companies.


since disney is your first love, i understand why you want to end the trip there.

others have posted they did the uo first than moved to wdw for their stays.
after a few trips like this, they discovered more of a love for the UOR at the end of the trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

Going from Disney to Universal is such a let down when it comes to competence and cleanliness. The bathrooms at Uni/IoA are so gross with nastiness overflowing from feminine hygiene boxes and trash receptacles. You'd have to look in 4-5 stalls before finding a suitable one, and this was in every bathroom I went into. The people who work there are not nearly as knowledgeable or caring. It was just a job to most. Everyone I spoke to at Disney seemed to thoroughly love their job. The rides are fun, but overall.. No magic.

That has definitely not been our experience at Universal, that's for sure!

But I know that one person can experience trash and ickiness, never knowing that 2 minutes behind them is a CM/TM cleaning it all up, so someone 5 minutes behind you will have a completely different experience.

And it's like that at Universal, WDW, and DLR (and almost certainly all other theme parks out there).

We end the trip with Universal, when we can, because fastpass is so pathetic and clunky compared to the hotel's Express Pass. We're coming from DVC villas, so the rooms feel very small, but EP makes up for it all.

Ohhhh! And that stupid locker system is so freaking annoying. I'd rather pay a quarter and get a key. Lines were long and the system sucked. I hated having to use them, especially when it was totally unnecessary.

A helpful hint (hopefully) for you and others is to just go through the crowds to the far back of the locker area. There are multiple rental stations, and the one I have in mind right now, at MIB, has stations waaaaay back there, with almost no lines. It's a lot better than dealing with the crowd at the front.

Also, the ones in bright sunlight are harder than the ones in shade, using your knuckle to touch the buttons works better than your fingertips, and if you can't get it to scan your fingerprint when you come back, just go grab an attendant. They'll get you in faster than scanning and rescanning.

 

[mrs06chris]

Last year we went to Universal first and then Disney. From now on we'll do Disney and then Universal. Universal felt more like a vacation for us. Staying on-site with the Express Pass is soooo nice. That part of our trip was relaxing and easy going. The Disney part...not so much.

 

[Metro West]

Last year we went to Universal first and then Disney. From now on we'll do Disney and then Universal. Universal felt more like a vacation for us. Staying on-site with the Express Pass is soooo nice. That part of our trip was relaxing and easy going. The Disney part...not so much.