Do you feel like you're cheating on Disney when...

[mouseketeer]

You go to Universal Orlando?

It may be a silly question, but I'm just asking for the sake of asking!

Granted they are different experiences and themes, but for some reason I just wanted to know if any of you really hardcore Disneyworld fans feel or would feel guilty for going there, since it's Disney's biggest rival?

I don't, since I've been to Disneyworld and Universal Orlando the same amount of times (4) and I love 'em both...and even if I was a fanatic I don't know that I would anyway. I consider myself a Disneyland FREAK but I don't feel guilty when I go to Universal Studios Hollywood...

 

[dundee10]

Given the 2005 Park Attendance figures I saw recently (expert estimates) -- with Disney parks showing good gains and Universal parks showing surprisingly steep declines -- I wouldn't worry about Disney needing our loyalty.

 

[mouseketeer]

^^^don't take the numbers into consideration....

 

[Haveamagicalday!]

I do feel that way and that is why I have been twice and do not go anymore! Although I feel Universal could never measure up to Disney standards, I try not to support them by not supporting the parks. I know, rediculous, right? My parents all call me a nazi for it. But hey, I just love Disney!

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Don't feel that way about going to Universal..no, but I feel like I am cheating on Disney when I vacation to other parts of the world. Or at least afraid that I will not have as much fun, and wish I would have been vacationing at Disney.

 

[resol37]

I've actually never been to Universal for that sole reason. I'd feel like I was betraying Disney. Plus, my parents went there for a day last year and said the people there weren't nearly as nice as the CMs at Disney.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Absolutely not! I love Disney and it is a part of me that nonDisney lovers will never be able to understand, but I can still appreciate Universal. It's a great park and I always take the time to visit. To me Universal is a different experience than Disney. I love them both for different reasons. Just because you love Disney doesn't me you can't find the joy in another park. Keep your options open people. Disney will not hate you for going offsite!!!!!!

 

[cgcruz]

I've been to Universal Studios Hollywood when I was a kid, but never to Universal Florida. I would love to go though! As much as I love Disney, its not like they are giving me a free weekend getaway or anything like that... I just gotta plan a Universal Orlando trip one day.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

Never been to Universal because there's too much I wouldn't ride, but Sea World is tied to them and I go there every trip. Do I feel like I'm cheating on Disney? Nope, but I'd feel like I was cheating myself if I relied on Living Seas as my marine life experience of the vacation. Plus I need a day away from all things Disney, although Sea World can be a pain to deal with (too many close or overlapping showtimes).

Now, when I go on other trips, like my yearly trip to SC, I feel a twinge when I get off of I-95 instead of keep going to FL (especially when I see those "WDW Tickets!" signs *groans*), but that's not out of loyalty. It's just because I like it there more than any other place, as exhausting as it always is.

 

[Rudegrle]

Not one bit! I like Universal, but I LOVE Disney...what else can I say? I go to Universal and Disney for the same reason, but Disney just has more magic. It's kinda like shopping, I have to go to Macy's to make me realize how much I love Nordstrom.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi - I am from the UK and visit Florida every year with my wife and young son.

I think it's ridiculous to think you are betraying Disney by going to Universal.

For us it's not a competitive thing, we love Disney AND Universal, in fact Universal Studios is along with Magic Kingdom our son's favourite park.
He loves Peter Pan/Winnie The Pooh/Goofy's Barnstormer and others but he also loves ET/Woody Woodpecker/Barney too so.......

There are things Disney can improve on , their car parking facilities are poor and outdated.
Universal's on the other hand are first class and modern.
You can also walk easily from IOA to Universal and the citywalk restaurant and shopping complex compliments both parks very well also.

Whilst Splash Mountain, Star Tours and many more are great rides , so are Spiderman and Shrek also.

They are not rivals in my book, and if ALL the attractions mean that people enjoy going to Florida then that's good for everyone surely?

I always stick up for Universal and always will.

Some of the posts above defy belief, do you not think that's it's just a Disney obsession rather than a dislike of Universal?? How can you comment that the CM's are not friendly when you have never been....

There is an old gentleman who works at the exit gates on Universal Studios who has been there for many many years, I should know his name by now but cannot remember, he is the nicest person I have EVER met at all the theme parks. Always friendly and smiling.
There is also a gentleman who works on the gate at IOA, who remembers me every year when we go and I always stop and have a chat with him, we even went for a walk and an ice cream with him one day.
Now that's friendly service in my opinion.

The most unfriendly CM I have ever met was at Magic Kingdom, my son is Autistic and although he can walk we always have our own stroller, he is a lovely young boy but just cannot talk and so is registered disabled.
The CM wouldn't let us ride on the train because he didn't believe our son was disabled, even though we had a GAC with us - I have never come across anyone so damn right rude.
We naturally reported him.
I realise that is probably an isolated incident and we have always found everyone at the theme parks very friendly towards us and there is a real warmth amongst all the people at the Disney parks, the atmosphere is just very special too.

Thousands of people from the UK visit Florida and many of them return year after year, if they do so because there is such a great selection of attractions at Disney and Universal then surely that must be a good thing.

We are returning again this coming August.

 

[Kristina]

I'm with Johnny, I can't understand folks who feel disloyal to Disney regarding Universal..because that park and Islands of Adventure are wonderful places that should be enjoyed! Believe me, I love Disney and out of a two week vacation we only spend 2 days at Universal, but if we didn't I know we would be cheating ourselves . IOA especially, so much imagination has gone into that park you would swear it was Disney and in fact, I believe it was designed by disgruntled (for whatever reason) former Disney Imagineears.

We just love rides like the Mummy but also this year we went on Jimmy Neutron Boy, what a riot that was! Me before I thought it was just for kids, only I forgot I am a big kid .

People go to Universal, it's really cool and the competition between the parks is a good thing! Honest!

 

[wilma-bride]

As Johnny says, Universal and Disney may be business rivals but their attractions are what bring people to Orlando (and Florida). To me, asking if you feel like you're betraying Disney by going to Universal is like asking if you're betraying McDonalds by going to Wendy's. They have different things to offer and I certainly would not go all the way to Orlando and NOT visit Universal, just the same as I wouldn't go all that way and NOT visit Disney. Maybe it's different for us Brits. I understand that we all have different tastes and Universal/Islands of Adventure may not appeal to everyone, just as (shock, horror) Disney may not appeal to all.

All I will say is don't knock it till you've tried it. We love Disney and Universal equally but in different ways, similar really to how I love my Mum and Dad. My Dad has parts of his personality that appeal to me, as does my Mum. I don't love either of them any less because they are not exactly the same

 

[JPN4265]

You go to Universal Orlando?

It may be a silly question, but I'm just asking for the sake of asking!

Granted they are different experiences and themes, but for some reason I just wanted to know if any of you really hardcore Disneyworld fans feel or would feel guilty for going there, since it's Disney's biggest rival?

I don't, since I've been to Disneyworld and Universal Orlando the same amount of times (4) and I love 'em both...and even if I was a fanatic I don't know that I would anyway. I consider myself a Disneyland FREAK but I don't feel guilty when I go to Universal Studios Hollywood...

Not at all!

 

[pepe of ohio]

I don't feel guilty but I've never been to Universal and have no intensions nor interest in going either. Disney has all I need and like and has for us since 1977. Used to feel bad going to Florida and not spending one day on the ocean but that notion passed long ago. Seedy old resorts along the coast for big bucks. Now we just get to Disney, as fast as the train gets us there.

 

[tmt martins]

No not at all however if Disney ever gets as bad and starts Benchmarking it's self against the others it would surely cut down on my Disney .

Yes US?IoA are very nice parks on the Ride department but just not the Disney Magic.

I also have season passes to SIX FLAGS as well but boy does that make me want my Disney trip even more.

 

[jim and meesie]

Thee first time we went to Universal we went because we were frustrated after a horrible visit to Disney staying at the Beach Club. We have reached the point were we have been on every Disney ride, experience many many times and now my kids are teens. What we found at Universal were fun resorts with a high level of customer service and in some case PBH, really friendly, human staff. The Universal hotels are nice and now they upgrade us to suites because we've been there so often. The parks IOA & UF are amazingly imaginative and the food is really good. If you love rollercoasters these are the parks for you (I know, not everyone does). The best feature is the "front of the line privelege" for resort guests. The last time we actually stayed at Disney there was a 2 1/2 hour line to get into MGM studios, from the parking lot through the turnstiles! I'm not patient enough to spend the entire vacation standing in long, long, lines.

All that said, I'll be going to Universal for President's Day week and staying at the the Hard Rock and then going to the Beach Club for 5 nites in mid March. We may venture into the Disney parks for a couple of fast passes.

We took hard core Disney friends to Universal two years ago and they whined the whole time. On the day we spent at Disney they spent the whole time running from store to store to buy stuff or following various celebrities around the park for a chance to talk to them. (this family doesn't allow their young teen daughter to go on Space Mountain because it might be too intense)

We all have different vacation styles and that's why people go to both Universal and Disney. If you like the exciting parts of Disney, you shouldn't miss Universal (but definitely stay at an on-site hotel to get "Front of the line").

 

[Slacking]

Never been to Universal because there's too much I wouldn't ride, but Sea World is tied to them and I go there every trip.

The only way that Sea World is tied to Universal is that they are both included in the Flex Ticket. They are owned by two totally different companies, Universal is owned by GE (NBC/Universal), while Sea World is owned by Anheuser-Busch.

 

[ktglads]

The last time we actually stayed at Disney there was a 2 1/2 hour line to get into MGM studios, from the parking lot through the turnstiles! I'm not patient enough to spend the entire vacation standing in long, long, lines.

Wow! When were you there last? Was there something special going on? That is just an amazing amount of time to get INTO a park!

 

[phisigprincess]

Yes I do.