Do you like Disney World or Universal more? And why?

[perditax]

We did four days at Universal on site (HRH) a few weeks ago. Being able to walk to the parks was insanely convenient, as was the express pass. I really enjoyed the smaller feel of the parks--and so did my feet. The new theme restaurant at CityWalk (Toothsome) was shockingly good (I'm a theme restaurant skeptic). The one tour group we saw seemed to be staying together and behaving. We followed the appropriate advice on when and when not to go to HP areas, and did the headliners with 15-20 minute waits. (I will admit the train is underwhelming. But I'm still dreaming of that Apple crumble ice cream.)

Crowds, transit times and lines were so much more manageable than when I went to WDW at the same time of year in 2015, and we were able to do so much more. I'm glad we bought APs.

 

[cbsnyber1]

Universal was awesome, but my children could not ride every ride and there was one ride in IOA that I couldn't ride. In Disney I felt like 90% of the rides were family friendly. Many of the rides in Universal rely on CGI, loud noises, and shaking. That's just not my style. I also found the signage at Universal to be severely lacking. I walked past things more than once never realizing they were there.

This, I believe, is the whole point here: you are gonna go where you believe you get the most value for your vacation dollars, and there are many factors that impact that decision. Age of children and personal preferences are two big ones.

I do have to comment on the signage issue: at Disney, it's real easy to find attraction entrances; just look for a huge gaggle of strollers. You found it.

I do agree that Universal could do a better job with their attraction signs. It took us three trips before we eventually found the kid's area in Jurassic Park.

 

[darnheather]

We did four days at Universal on site (HRH) a few weeks ago. Being able to walk to the parks was insanely convenient, as was the express pass. I really enjoyed the smaller feel of the parks--and so did my feet. The new theme restaurant at CityWalk (Toothsome) was shockingly good (I'm a theme restaurant skeptic). The one tour group we saw seemed to be staying together and behaving. We followed the appropriate advice on when and when not to go to HP areas, and did the headliners with 15-20 minute waits. (I will admit the train is underwhelming. But I'm still dreaming of that Apple crumble ice cream.)

Crowds, transit times and lines were so much more manageable than when I went to WDW at the same time of year in 2015, and we were able to do so much more. I'm glad we bought APs.

You point out something you liked and I am reminded of something else I didn't. I didn't feel the on site hotels were worth the money at Universal in the way they are for Disney. No theming matching the parks!

 

[damo]

You point out something you liked and I am reminded of something else I didn't. I didn't feel the on site hotels were worth the money at Universal in the way they are for Disney. No theming matching the parks!

Did you visit all the hotels?

 

[casnider]

We love Universal just a little more. Our kids are older and the rides at Universal have a little more thrill factor. We love the Wizarding World SO much. I also love the food at Universal just a bit more than Disney. I love the hotels and that they are all different. To walk to the parks is the best and the Express Pass is the bomb.

 

[Planogirl]

You point out something you liked and I am reminded of something else I didn't. I didn't feel the on site hotels were worth the money at Universal in the way they are for Disney. No theming matching the parks!

Do you feel that the theming of the Disney hotels somehow match the theming in the parks? AKL maybe but otherwise?

 

[DisBuckMan]

I've already offered my opinion, and it may have already been covered in this thread, but I thought I would add one thing.

One thing that Disney does better than Universal HANDS DOWN is ticket media. Universal needs to trudge into the 21st century on their ticket media, and ditch the cardboard (I hear the term Tyvek used here...they're NOT Tyvek) tickets in favor of the plastic "credit card" style Disney has employed for years. The cardboard bends and wears easily.

I realize that Universal finally began offering plastic tickets for their AP holders (the week after we left Universal last year, btw), but it should have been done long ago, and it should be done for all tickets.

 

[nighttowll]

Definitely agree about the paper tickets. I had the old paper AP too which was the worst! I don't know how Universal expected guests to keep that thing from disintegrating over multiple trips. I was always so nervous it was going to get wet or damaged in some way. I love the new plastic AP cards, so much better. It would definitely be great if they had the option to get plastic tickets or put your tickets on your plastic room key or something. The water rides make me the most nervous.

 

[darnheather]

Do you feel that the theming of the Disney hotels somehow match the theming in the parks? AKL maybe but otherwise?

For example when my family went in 2013 we stayed in a Princess Tiana room. It was so perfect and magical. Lots of the other resorts have themed rooms. None of the rooms are themed at Universal hotels and the prices are very high.

 

[darnheather]

I've already offered my opinion, and it may have already been covered in this thread, but I thought I would add one thing.

One thing that Disney does better than Universal HANDS DOWN is ticket media. Universal needs to trudge into the 21st century on their ticket media, and ditch the cardboard (I hear the term Tyvek used here...they're NOT Tyvek) tickets in favor of the plastic "credit card" style Disney has employed for years. The cardboard bends and wears easily.

I realize that Universal finally began offering plastic tickets for their AP holders (the week after we left Universal last year, btw), but it should have been done long ago, and it should be done for all tickets.

And on top of that having to actually hand over my ticket every time I enter the park (including for the train) was ridiculous and took up massive amounts of time. I'm used to Busch Gardens where you scan the ticket yourself. This way one employee oversees two turnstiles allowing for WAY more turnstiles open.

 

[schumigirl]

My ticket lasts me 19 days every year with no damage to it at all. Ours are in lanyards. Wouldn't have a problem if they were plastic, but don't have an issue with them as they are.

It takes seconds to bring it out to scan at the gate and same with the train! Never felt it took too long.

There are themed rooms at the hotels....the Jurassic Park themed rooms at RP and Minion themed rooms at PB. They are fabulous.........

 

[DisBuckMan]

Oh...one other thing while I'm rolling...Universal's website is awful. Disney's isn't great, but Uni's is even worse.

You would think that two media giants would be able to design and run decent websites.

 

[skier_pete]

And on top of that having to actually hand over my ticket every time I enter the park (including for the train) was ridiculous and took up massive amounts of time. I'm used to Busch Gardens where you scan the ticket yourself. This way one employee oversees two turnstiles allowing for WAY more turnstiles open.

I agree with this. Disney ticketing isn't perfect, but now that they have the MB and touch points in generally works 90% of the time. We were at Universal for 4 days with APs, and the ticket scans NEVER worked the first time for all 3 of us.

And the extra ticket scan at the Hogwart's Express is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen. An AP holder should be able to show their pass with a valid date to get through - not have to go through the whole scanning process again and wait in line for 5 minutes. It's bad enough there was a 45 minute wait for that silly little train ride...and that I had to pay a up-charge (park-to-park) to ride it.

 

[schumigirl]

I agree with this. Disney ticketing isn't perfect, but now that they have the MB and touch points in generally works 90% of the time. We were at Universal for 4 days with APs, and the ticket scans NEVER worked the first time for all 3 of us.

And the extra ticket scan at the Hogwart's Express is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen. An AP holder should be able to show their pass with a valid date to get through - not have to go through the whole scanning process again and wait in line for 5 minutes. It's bad enough there was a 45 minute wait for that silly little train ride...and that I had to pay a up-charge (park-to-park) to ride it.

I wouldn't say the ticket scan not working the first time is a big deal...........takes seconds to do it again.......

Never had an issue with showing my ticket again to ride the HE either, takes seconds to bring it out of the lanyard.......is that really an issue for some people???? They are checking if you have a Park to Pass ticket......we have seen many people try and blag their way on without a park to park ticket.

You also didn't have to pay to do park to park. It's an option.

I see you didn't like the HE very much as you describe it as a silly little train ride, but folks wait in line for all sorts of things. May be silly to you, but many folks love it. Me.......I wouldn't wait longer than 15 minutes for anything........

I see you aren't impressed with many things Universal. That's ok........many of us here love it. And will continue to go. At least you know you won't need to go back again.

 

[TheConsciousness]

We were at Universal for 4 days with APs, and the ticket scans NEVER worked the first time for all 3 of us.

Seems like you had bad luck with everything Universal. Certainly couldn't be your disposition towards the place. There comes a point in time where you ask yourself, "is it me?"

 

[skier_pete]

I wouldn't say the ticket scan not working the first time is a big deal...........takes seconds to do it again.......

I agree not a BIG deal on the tickets - except that we were at the park when it opened, yet it took nearly 10 minutes to get into the park when we had about 15 people in line in front of us. Minor annoyance because everyone was delayed, but the system in place is just sooooo slow.

You also didn't have to pay to do park to park. It's an option.

I told you not to get me started....

You are right it's an option...you can either tell your Harry Potter nut of a kid that they can't ride the Hogwarts Express, or you can pony up $60+ per person to ride it. It remains a ride that you can ONLY ride if you pay that upgrade. Can you choose not to ride it? Sure. But I knew my kid would love it, and so I paid up.

At Disney I don't often pay for a park hopper (10 trips and we've only had hoppers the year we had an AP and in 2013 when we did the YES program)- and I don't miss out on anything by not doing so. It is in my opinion (and this is just my opinion) the dirtiest of dirty pool for Universal to put that ride in that requires an upgraded ticket. In our case it led to me buying an AP and going back again next year, so they really poached the heck out of me. And it makes me even hotter after riding it - the ride is a trivial nothing of a ride...if it wasn't Harry Potter, who would even want to go on it! It quite honestly turns me off to ever wanting to go back to Universal. I certainly never, ever will pay for a hopper upgrade again.

Can you IMAGINE the uproar if Disney put in a Star Wars ride that the only way to ride it was to pay $60 for a park hopper???

 

[skier_pete]

Seems like you had bad luck with everything Universal. Certainly couldn't be your disposition towards the place. There comes a point in time where you ask yourself, "is it me?"

I may have come off as having a bad attitude towards the place (especially after my last post regarding the Hogwarts express...and yes that one point gets me really hot), but we really had a good time. I only posted a list of why we found we liked Disney better than Universal. I actually like Universal a lot, but wish my family enjoyed those type of rides more to make the visit "worth" it. To each his own, certainly some like Universal best and that's fine. I believe they are only a small notch down from Disney.

I wasn't the one that brought up the ticket scans, but the OPs point I found interesting about the tickets was that you had to hand your ticket over to the TM...they wouldn't let you scan it yourself. We even had APs, yet the they had trouble getting the tickets to scan, and then we had constant trouble with the finger scan. Disney's ticket scanners aren't perfect either, but they've gotten way better with the Magic Bands. It really was just a minor annoyance, and certainly didn't really negatively impact our trip. (I found it more annoying on the Hogwarts Express.)

 

[casnider]

We have stayed at the Pop and the Coronado and they, while they matched the theme of the resort, did not really match Disney park magic. And we stayed at SOG which was just a very nice big room and we loved it.

At Universal we have stayed at Cabana Bay and Royal Pacific, which again completely matched the themeing of the resort. We loved them both!

As far as park ticket scanning, I have never had to take my ticket out of the clear lanyard that I keep them in and they scan beautifully every time. Yes, bands would be great with no lanyard but it does the job.

 

[damo]

I agree not a BIG deal on the tickets - except that we were at the park when it opened, yet it took nearly 10 minutes to get into the park when we had about 15 people in line in front of us. Minor annoyance because everyone was delayed, but the system in place is just sooooo slow.



I told you not to get me started....

You are right it's an option...you can either tell your Harry Potter nut of a kid that they can't ride the Hogwarts Express, or you can pony up $60+ per person to ride it. It remains a ride that you can ONLY ride if you pay that upgrade. Can you choose not to ride it? Sure. But I knew my kid would love it, and so I paid up.

At Disney I don't often pay for a park hopper (10 trips and we've only had hoppers the year we had an AP and in 2013 when we did the YES program)- and I don't miss out on anything by not doing so. It is in my opinion (and this is just my opinion) the dirtiest of dirty pool for Universal to put that ride in that requires an upgraded ticket. In our case it led to me buying an AP and going back again next year, so they really poached the heck out of me. And it makes me even hotter after riding it - the ride is a trivial nothing of a ride...if it wasn't Harry Potter, who would even want to go on it! It quite honestly turns me off to ever wanting to go back to Universal. I certainly never, ever will pay for a hopper upgrade again.

Can you IMAGINE the uproar if Disney put in a Star Wars ride that the only way to ride it was to pay $60 for a park hopper???

I can see where it ticks people off but not sure I see any other way around it unless the train didn't go anywhere and didn't transport you to the other park. The way it stands, it is a big part of both HP worlds.

 

[schumigirl]

I agree not a BIG deal on the tickets - except that we were at the park when it opened, yet it took nearly 10 minutes to get into the park when we had about 15 people in line in front of us. Minor annoyance because everyone was delayed, but the system in place is just sooooo slow.



I told you not to get me started....

You are right it's an option...you can either tell your Harry Potter nut of a kid that they can't ride the Hogwarts Express, or you can pony up $60+ per person to ride it. It remains a ride that you can ONLY ride if you pay that upgrade. Can you choose not to ride it? Sure. But I knew my kid would love it, and so I paid up.

At Disney I don't often pay for a park hopper (10 trips and we've only had hoppers the year we had an AP and in 2013 when we did the YES program)- and I don't miss out on anything by not doing so. It is in my opinion (and this is just my opinion) the dirtiest of dirty pool for Universal to put that ride in that requires an upgraded ticket. In our case it led to me buying an AP and going back again next year, so they really poached the heck out of me. And it makes me even hotter after riding it - the ride is a trivial nothing of a ride...if it wasn't Harry Potter, who would even want to go on it! It quite honestly turns me off to ever wanting to go back to Universal. I certainly never, ever will pay for a hopper upgrade again.

Can you IMAGINE the uproar if Disney put in a Star Wars ride that the only way to ride it was to pay $60 for a park hopper???

No real need to get started.......?

You do seem to have many minor annoyances. But, to be honest your review was exactly what I expected to read from you. You don't hide your allegiance to Disney and that's ok.

I think dirtiest of dirty pool to describe a Universal ride is extreme........and an overreaction. But, it's your right to feel that way........

I also had no idea Disney don't charge extra for park hopping tickets.......that's news to me, so I learned something today.......for me, it's so easy to park hop.....parks are so close together......I find myself at JP and want to go to Gringotts.......I either have a nice air conditioned train ride, or a pleasant walk. Win win for us........we always have a park to park ticket and always will. So convenient for the way we do the parks.

Your description of the train is how I could describe many things at Disney.......but, I won't. I don't need to put down their rides.......Disney for me is somewhere we went years ago, no need for us to go back. It offers us nothing. Well, maybe ToT or RnRC.........that's it for us. Bit like you with Universal.........so I see what you mean.

As for uproar with Disney........they seem to be able to get away with a lot right now. I sometimes venture over to the Disney boards and there can be an awful lot of uproar about things. But, there's those that will defend Disney regardless what they do.