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

[skier_pete]

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.

The obvious solution would be they could require you to immediately get back in line for the round trip if you didn't want to pay...but you are right it still would be problematic and require additional ticket scans. But it's part of my point - they built it knowing they were using it to take more money from their customers. To force people to buy park-to-park that otherwise wouldn't - an instant 25-30% upsell.

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.

Very, very true - it's one thing that I think Universal/Comcast has been very wise about - they see a group of theme park goers that Disney does not cater to...the thrill rider...and have very specifically targeted them, and been very successful at doing so. They have some truly amazing rides, and I will be the first to admit to be disappointed that Disney has not leveraged the technology to give us true top-of-the-line ride experience like Universal has. (Still hoping Star Wars land will change that.) Forbidden Journey is truly a unique and outstanding experience, Spiderman still stands up 20 years after opening, and DW and I both really LOVED the new Kong rides even though reviews have not been kind. The coasters at Universal are top notch, and I love them...but unfortunately I have to ride them alone. And that's not the theme park experience I want all the time. I was riding Big Thunder Mountain with my wife last Friday after our week at Universal...and I thought to myself "This is such a tame coaster, but I'd rather ride this with my family than ride Hulk by myself."

My point about the Hogwarts ride wasn't that I didn't like it, just that it's a minor ride - in my mind it would be like charging extra to ride the monorail from MK to Epcot. I like the monorail fine, but not worth an extra fee.

And yes, Disney charges extra for park hoppers similar to Universal - and they are also optional. I am not sure what the current price is but I know it varies a little by length of stay -want to say it's around $70. We usually don't buy them.

 

[TheConsciousness]

The obvious solution would be they could require you to immediately get back in line for the round trip if you didn't want to pay...but you are right it still would be problematic and require additional ticket scans. But it's part of my point - they built it knowing they were using it to take more money from their customers. To force people to buy park-to-park that otherwise wouldn't - an instant 25-30% upsell.

I don't think the logistics of sending people to the back of the line for a potential 2 hour wait is easily manageable; especially given the idea that there would be no exit once you've made your way to the second park. If you stand in line for a ride that says 60 minutes and an incident occurs with the ride, you can either choose to wait (if they allow you) or turn around and come back later. Being removed from line isn't an option as they would require extra employees to escort you from the park; and leaving the line wouldn't work as you'd just gain free entry to a second park. If they didn't have a park-hopper and allowed you to use your second park ticket, scanning would activate your second ticket, essentially forcing you to waste 2 tickets in one day.

As a penny-pincher, I hate upcharges and hidden fees; but this is a case where I don't see any way around it.

 

[DisBuckMan]

The obvious solution would be they could require you to immediately get back in line for the round trip if you didn't want to pay...but you are right it still would be problematic and require additional ticket scans. But it's part of my point - they built it knowing they were using it to take more money from their customers. To force people to buy park-to-park that otherwise wouldn't - an instant 25-30% upsell.

It really would have been simple to reverse the scanners. Scan tickets for PTP if people wanted to enter the new land. That way, you'd be "charging" people to ENTER a new land...not to leave the old one.

As it stands....it is a "hook" for an upsell. I can understand the aggravation.

 

[damo]

The obvious solution would be they could require you to immediately get back in line for the round trip if you didn't want to pay...but you are right it still would be problematic and require additional ticket scans. But it's part of my point - they built it knowing they were using it to take more money from their customers. To force people to buy park-to-park that otherwise wouldn't - an instant 25-30% upsell.



Very, very true - it's one thing that I think Universal/Comcast has been very wise about - they see a group of theme park goers that Disney does not cater to...the thrill rider...and have very specifically targeted them, and been very successful at doing so. They have some truly amazing rides, and I will be the first to admit to be disappointed that Disney has not leveraged the technology to give us true top-of-the-line ride experience like Universal has. (Still hoping Star Wars land will change that.) Forbidden Journey is truly a unique and outstanding experience, Spiderman still stands up 20 years after opening, and DW and I both really LOVED the new Kong rides even though reviews have not been kind. The coasters at Universal are top notch, and I love them...but unfortunately I have to ride them alone. And that's not the theme park experience I want all the time. I was riding Big Thunder Mountain with my wife last Friday after our week at Universal...and I thought to myself "This is such a tame coaster, but I'd rather ride this with my family than ride Hulk by myself."

My point about the Hogwarts ride wasn't that I didn't like it, just that it's a minor ride - in my mind it would be like charging extra to ride the monorail from MK to Epcot. I like the monorail fine, but not worth an extra fee.

And yes, Disney charges extra for park hoppers similar to Universal - and they are also optional. I am not sure what the current price is but I know it varies a little by length of stay -want to say it's around $70. We usually don't buy them.

I think you could compare it to the new park to park bus at WDW that allows you to skip the front entrances and has an upcharge.

 

[schumigirl]

Maybe not worth the extra fee to you, but many people are happy to pay park to park as it's convenient, easy and they get to ride the HE.......which is worth it to some people.

There's nothing wrong with making money........it's what they're all in the business of doing.........why does Universal get lambasted for putting in a ride that does enhance the two park experience, whether anyone agrees or not, but Disney can seemingly get away with it because it's Disney.

Why shouldn't they make money? You can at least see with Universal, the return from the extra money they're making.

Do you think Disney won't implement things that make them more money?? You only have to read the boards to see that they already are........be interesting to see what else they'll do in next few years.........to make more money.

I really don't understand the notion they are forcing you to buy anything .......they really aren't............your choice.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I think you could compare it to the new park to park bus at WDW that allows you to skip the front entrances and has an upcharge.

That comparison only flies if you consider that bus ride to be an "attraction", like Hogwarts Express is. Otherwise, it's not really an apples to apples comparison. There is a difference. You don't HAVE to pay extra to ride a bus a Disney. You do have to pay extra to ride HE.

 

[DisBuckMan]

why does Universal get lambasted for putting in a ride that does enhance the two park experience, whether anyone agrees or not, but Disney can seemingly get away with it because it's Disney.

There is a difference, though. Hogwarts Express doesn't "enhance" the two park experience....it REQUIRES it.

There's is not a single attraction at WDW that requires a park hopper ticket to get to ride...unless there's a secret ride I'm not aware of.

 

[skier_pete]

There's nothing wrong with making money........it's what they're all in the business of doing.........why does Universal get lambasted for putting in a ride that does enhance the two park experience, whether anyone agrees or not, but Disney can seemingly get away with it because it's Disney.

See...I was trying to say the opposite. I have never seen anyone (other than myself) comment negatively about this - yet everything Disney does to make money gets skewered. Of course I don't hang on the Universal forums all the time..maybe this has been roundly criticized.

But yes - Disney should (and I believe would) get rightly lambasted if they put a ride in between say Epcot and DHS that you could only ride with a hopper.

I think you could compare it to the new park to park bus at WDW that allows you to skip the front entrances and has an upcharge.

A good comparison in a way - except (a) that's not a ride and (b) that's actually a double up-charge and would be more analgous if they charged you one price to walk between the two Uni parks, and a higher price to ride GE.

I really don't understand the notion they are forcing you to buy anything .......they really aren't............your choice.

Everyone talks about how you can choose not to do it...and I have agreed multiple times this is technically true.

But Perhaps folks here don't have a pre-teen daughter who loves Harry Potter and wishes more than anything that a wizarding school actually existed so that she could go off on a train to Hogwarts. (Or in America - Ilvermorny as DD will remind me.) When Option A is paying $60 more to ride a train to your child's dreams, and Option B is leave your child sad and angry...there really wasn't a choice, was there? Even though it clearly bugged me...never for a second did I consider not doing it.

There is a difference, though. Hogwarts Express doesn't "enhance" the two park experience....it REQUIRES it.

There's is not a single attraction at WDW that requires a park hopper ticket to get to ride...unless there's a secret ride I'm not aware of.

At least one person gets what I am saying...

 

[schumigirl]

There is a difference, though. Hogwarts Express doesn't "enhance" the two park experience....it REQUIRES it.

There's is not a single attraction at WDW that requires a park hopper ticket to get to ride...unless there's a secret ride I'm not aware of.

For us that do the park to park tickets it certainly enhances it.

I never claimed there was such a ride at Disney.

Again, no one forces you buy it.......it's a choice.........like staying onsite for EP. I've read folks say that's not fair blah blah.........it's a choice.

 

[smiths02]

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

CR-tomorrowland
Poly-Adventure land
WL/Ft. Wilderness-Frontierland
GF-idealized Victorian era (a little fancy Main Street USA)
POR and CBR have themed rooms
AoA is all Disney theme
AKL-already mentioned

Then there are just Disney touches and hidden Mickeys, etc.

 

[schumigirl]

See...I was trying to say the opposite. I have never seen anyone (other than myself) comment negatively about this - yet everything Disney does to make money gets skewered. Of course I don't hang on the Universal forums all the time..maybe this has been roundly criticized.

But yes - Disney should (and I believe would) get rightly lambasted if they put a ride in between say Epcot and DHS that you could only ride with a hopper.



A good comparison in a way - except (a) that's not a ride and (b) that's actually a double up-charge and would be more analgous if they charged you one price to walk between the two Uni parks, and a higher price to ride GE.



Everyone talks about how you can choose not to do it...and I have agreed multiple times this is technically true.

But Perhaps folks here don't have a pre-teen daughter who loves Harry Potter and wishes more than anything that a wizarding school actually existed so that she could go off on a train to Hogwarts. (Or in America - Ilvermorny as DD will remind me.) When Option A is paying $60 more to ride a train to your child's dreams, and Option B is leave your child sad and angry...there really wasn't a choice, was there? Even though it clearly bugged me...never for a second did I consider not doing it.



At least one person gets what I am saying...

Every so often the Universal boards get visits from Disney fans telling us how awful Universal is, the hotels aren't worth the money and so on.........we are told how they think Universal nickel and dimes them for everything.......so yes, you would have seen it if you posted here before. It gets old.

I have seen it the other way to a lesser degree.

I disagree the park to park is a rip off. We can agree to disagree with that. I do get what you're saying, I just don't agree it's an issue. If its so important to your daughter, then it's worth it. For me........

But, as you say, you won't be back again and have done it. I'm glad you enjoyed some of your time at Universal. That's always good to hear.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I don't think the logistics of sending people to the back of the line for a potential 2 hour wait is easily manageable; especially given the idea that there would be no exit once you've made your way to the second park. If you stand in line for a ride that says 60 minutes and an incident occurs with the ride, you can either choose to wait (if they allow you) or turn around and come back later. Being removed from line isn't an option as they would require extra employees to escort you from the park; and leaving the line wouldn't work as you'd just gain free entry to a second park. If they didn't have a park-hopper and allowed you to use your second park ticket, scanning would activate your second ticket, essentially forcing you to waste 2 tickets in one day.

As a penny-pincher, I hate upcharges and hidden fees; but this is a case where I don't see any way around it.

It could have been done, still could be, but it would have been easier to do when they built HE. A raised walkway beside the HE track, from Hogsmeade station and terminating on the street inside US between Mummy and the north/east end of RRR. The walk wouldn't be much further than the walk from the front entrance of US to the front entrance to IOA, as the terminal point for the train at IOA isn't that far into the park.

 

[damo]

Just because WDW doesn't do it, doesn't make it wrong that Universal does. WDW doesn't have to be a benchmark for everything.

Most people here seem to get park to park at Universal, just like at Disneyland, since the parks are right beside each other and it is so nice to hop back and forth to do different things. It only comes up occasionally on this board as an issue.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I never claimed there was such a ride at Disney.

If not, what was the point of this comment?

why does Universal get lambasted for putting in a ride that does enhance the two park experience, whether anyone agrees or not, but Disney can seemingly get away with it because it's Disney.

 

[schumigirl]

If not, what was the point of this comment?

I was referring to park to park tickets.

I believe Disney sell a park hopper ticket.

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

I thought the addition of HE was a brilliant move by Universal. My family was already hooked on multi day visits with park-to-park, so not so much of a pain in the wallet. The fan base for HP is absolutely obsessed, so why not use that to your advantage? Is it the greatest ride ever? Not nearly, but it does enhance the HP visit for that fan base, as the train was so integral to the books/movies.

Another fan base that is as obsessed or more is the Star Wars fan base, and for the amount of money that WDW is spending to bring it to life (I really hope they do a great job at it), I will certainly bet that there will be just as many money grab opportunities to take advantage of. And those on the WDW boards will complain, then spend the money with no issue.

It is just how it works - high demand = profits to be made.

I fault neither company for doing it.

Do I understand the upset teen scenario? Yep, which is why I shell out $90ish dollars per person for an average breakfast with the princesses. I do get an 8x11 glossy print though for my hundreds of dollars, though...but I digress.

And I am also a believer that if Disney parks weren't so far apart (even Epcot to HS), that it might just be copied at WDW. Maybe at Disneyland at some point.

Anyway, don't stop now...this is fun!

 

[DisBuckMan]

Just because WDW doesn't do it, doesn't make it wrong that Universal does. WDW doesn't have to be a benchmark for everything.

Most people here seem to get park to park at Universal, just like at Disneyland, since the parks are right beside each other and it is so nice to hop back and forth to do different things. It only comes up occasionally on this board as an issue.

It comes up occasionally on this board as an issue because it's the only circumstance where not buying the PTP ticket excludes you from participating in the full experience of the parks.

I have AP's for Universal, so it technically doesn't affect me, but I'm not going to refuse to see the other side of the argument just because it doesn't affect me.

 

[skier_pete]

Every so often the Universal boards get visits from Disney fans telling us how awful Universal is, the hotels aren't worth the money and so on.........we are told how they think Universal nickel and dimes them for everything.......so yes, you would have seen it if you posted here before. It gets old.

I have seen it the other way to a lesser degree.

I disagree the park to park is a rip off. We can agree to disagree with that. I do get what you're saying, I just don't agree it's an issue. If its so important to your daughter, then it's worth it. For me........

But, as you say, you won't be back again and have done it. I'm glad you enjoyed some of your time at Universal. That's always good to hear.

I can tell folks are used to Universal bashing from Disney people - some of you seem to take it very personally - but I really don't intend to be one of those people. Overall, I don't think Universal is a rip-off versus Disney. Both parks take advantage of you in various different ways. Universal is great and it is better for many people.

So let me rephrase this all because I am probably not saying it right - I agree with you that if you want to do the park to park, the price is not unreasonable, and I totally get why folks would want to just use the park-to-park throughout your stay.

I personally don't feel park-to-park (OR the hopper at WDW) is necessary for me. I look at it as this:
"I can by a 3-day park-to-park ticket for $275, OR I can by a 4-day single-park admission for $220. I am down in Florida for a week, so 4 days is no problem. I take 2 FULL days in each park and I'll save money versus having only 2 days that I hop from park to park. I actually get MORE time in the parks, and I spend LESS money - for 4 people that's $220 I saved! I get more leisurely park time, Universal gets 4 days of me spending money instead of 3, and everyone is happy." (And in case you were wondering - I use the same logic at Disney 5-days with a hopper costs more than 8 days without a hopper, so I buy 8 days without a hopper and spread out our park time more.)

But now I look closer and say "Wait a second, I can't ride the Hogwarts Express if I do that." So now I have to pay $220 that I wouldn't otherwise have spent - for ONE ride. For you, the ride just adds to your experience, you would buy the park-to-park anyways - you prefer that. Great! For me - I wouldn't be spending that money otherwise...but my DD wants to ride that ride. That's the reason we're going is to ride that ride. Sure I have a choice, but I don't REALLY have a choice - but I have to pay $220 to ride it.

Edit: I will point out in the end I bought 3 APs - so spent EVEN MORE because of this one ride, and will be coming back next year because of this one ride...so it was an extremely effective installation. BUT - it also has angered me disproportionately, and will likely prevent me from coming back anytime soon. (I know I am in the super minority here - but I really feel burned by this.)

 

[DisBuckMan]

I was referring to park to park tickets.

I believe Disney sell a park hopper ticket.

Of course they do...but the entire point of this discussion has been the REQUIREMENT to buy a PTP pass to ride the HE. There is no such requirement to ride any single ride at Disney.

 

[damo]

It comes up occasionally on this board as an issue because it's the only circumstance where not buying the PTP ticket excludes you from participating in the full experience of the parks.

I have AP's for Universal, so it technically doesn't affect me, but I'm not going to refuse to see the other side of the argument just because it doesn't affect me.

I think both sides have very valid points. I can see it as a great money making opportunity for Universal and I can see it as a point of contention for park goers. I do think that if WDW had done it before, nobody would be giving it a second thought. It always seems to come down to comparisons.