Don't blame Universal!

[phamton]

Well, you are a cheerleader for WDW (See below) :

Personally, I've had more unpleasant experiences with the staff/castmembers at Universal's two parks than I've had at WDW.

Like I said, Universal wishes one of their parks would beat AK.

They fell into the same trap that so many of their devoted fans have.

Shouldn't Universal also be allowed its cheerleaders? Universal is the underdog here as far as popularity goes so we have to shout a little louder and a little longer to get people to notice that Universal is not just another amusement park but a theme park in its own right. If the truth be known, Universal gets bashed much more than Disney on the DisBoard. We are the overlooked step-sister, an afterthought on the board. This is a Disney site and I understand that and expect bashing but we complain very little about Dsiney here on this Universal Board. Please allow us to complain or even gloat occassionally.

BTW, I am headed out to Epcot right now to ride Soarin'. I expect to love it. I do both Disney and Universal and have been known to complain about either when the need arises.

 

[Slacking]

Slacking posted that not Hannahouse. I love Slacking's sense of humor. One little secret though---he does go to Disneyworld too but wears a fake nose and a wig so no one recognizes him when he is there.

Bev

Pssssst.........

Nobody is supposed to know that


Seriously though, I do go to Disney, and even enjoy their parks most of the time. But if I had to choose one, Universal all the way.


Bev- Did you like Soarin? I went yesterday (Sat.), and rode it 3 times. The CMs kept putting me in row 3 I love the queue, much better than DCA's!

 

[phamton]

I rode twice today and loved it. It was such a serene, peaceful ride---not a thrill ride like BTTF or Spiderman but very realistic and beautiful. It's one you could take grandma on for a 3-d effect. The seats were very comfortable also. Now my husband wants to go and I'm the only one in the family with an AP. I sure wish I knew someone who works at Disney that I could trade Universal comp passes with so he could go to WDW occasionally. We'll probably break down and buy a seasonal pass for him in the fall.

 

[F-L-A]

Posting attendance numbers that verify my point is an interesting position to take. Like I said, Universal wishes one of their parks would beat AK.

Wish that their parks beat AK in attendance? I seriously doubt they stay up at night thinking about it. A piece of crap that attracts more flies is still a piece of crap. People can actually spend more than 3 hours at Universal's parks, regardless of how many are there.

Oh darn, I done went and picked up my pom poms.

(For the record, I'm not a Disney hater. I'm an AK (and MGM) hater. Don't jump me.)

 

[ChrisFL]

Shouldn't Universal also be allowed its cheerleaders? Universal is the underdog here as far as popularity goes so we have to shout a little louder and a little longer to get people to notice that Universal is not just another amusement park but a theme park in its own right. If the truth be known, Universal gets bashed much more than Disney on the DisBoard. We are the overlooked step-sister, an afterthought on the board. This is a Disney site and I understand that and expect bashing but we complain very little about Dsiney here on this Universal Board. Please allow us to complain or even gloat occassionally.

I agree. It's better than it used to be. I recall a few years ago where the bashing of IOA and Universal was crazy, and you'd hear stories about how IOA is horrible from people who clearly never visited the parks, or the stories of staying for 15 minutes and walking out because it was so awful to them

Many people just can't come to the idea that Universal, and IOA especially is at least on-par with Disney in some areas and MUCH better in others. We often tell people not to compare them, but it is inevitable.

 

[kazzie]

Phantom,the woman,what a

Forget the attendance as a difference between the parks.For me the difference is US/IOA allow us to have a pass so that my autistic and multiple other special needs teen can experince the rides he loves,in a stress free way--fantastic.Whilst WDW cannot accomodate an autistic teen who cannot queue and suffers from claustrophobia

 

[Notatourist]

And he does so well when he doesn't have to queue!

I'm glad Universal does that for folks in need.

 

[goNDmay9]

Phantom,the woman,what a

Forget the attendance as a difference between the parks.For me the difference is US/IOA allow us to have a pass so that my autistic and multiple other special needs teen can experince the rides he loves,in a stress free way--fantastic.Whilst WDW cannot accomodate an autistic teen who cannot queue and suffers from claustrophobia

We went to Disney a couple of years ago with a cousin of mine who is autistic and we had a special pass that basically allowed all of us to go through the child swap entrance. I wonder if they have changed their policy and no longer do that.

 

[Tekneek]

Well, you are a cheerleader for WDW (See below) :

I was making the point that personal anecdotes are unimportant and never tell the whole story. The difference between what I stated and what a cheerleader would do is I did not denounce Universal as a vacation destination because of my own personal experience. Some people relate one or two anecdotes and declare one resort superior to the other based on that alone. I want the Universal parks to stay open and hope to visit them again because I expect that the negative personal experiences were abberations that will not happen again. If I were a Disney cheerleader I would have already written Universal off.

 

[Tekneek]

Wish that their parks beat AK in attendance? I seriously doubt they stay up at night thinking about it.

Do you really believe that? When/if it finally happens, you can expect a lot of press about it (whether officially instigated by Universal or not). They should care about it, and I expect they care very much about it. They hear AK mocked all of the time and must wonder why they get fewer people through the turnstiles. If they are not concerned with it, those individuals should be replaced. You should always care about continuing to get less business than the worst park of your direct competitor.

 

[Tekneek]

I agree. It's better than it used to be. I recall a few years ago where the bashing of IOA and Universal was crazy, and you'd hear stories about how IOA is horrible from people who clearly never visited the parks, or the stories of staying for 15 minutes and walking out because it was so awful to them

I never liked that either. There are people on both sides who feel that their preferred destination must be built up by spewing venom about the other. It's wrong regardless of the side you are on.

Many people just can't come to the idea that Universal, and IOA especially is at least on-par with Disney in some areas and MUCH better in others. We often tell people not to compare them, but it is inevitable.

IOA is at least even or exceeding Disney in all areas? I'll grant that Seuss Landing is right there, but I'm not sure about the rest. I still think Disney is better, but Universal has a desire that has been choked out of Disney by Eisner. I think that explains Universal catching up.

Seuss Landing is the absolute best thing happening for Universal, IMO. If I could ride Sylvester McMonkey McBean's Very Unusual Driving Machines instead of being teased by it, I would be crazy for IOA.

 

[teachingmyown]

AMEN!!! What's up with that, anyway? Was it a gonna-be ride that never made the cut or is it simply there as a "na-na"? Luckily my little one was 6 when he saw it and we were able to effectively communicate that it was not a "real" ride...I can't imagine the trouble we'd have had a few years earlier with a toddler intent on riding what obviously looked like a really cool ride!!

That said, we love all the parks, but Universal got our vacation $$ last year and will again this year.

If I had to "Disney-bash" it would have to be in relation to their PRICES!!! But, as long as folks are forking it over, who can blame them (Disney) for charging the big bucks?

Seuss Landing is the absolute best thing happening for Universal, IMO. If I could ride Sylvester McMonkey McBean's Very Unusual Driving Machines instead of being teased by it, I would be crazy for IOA.

 

[sha_lyn]

It was intended to be a ride, but the company that designed it messed up big time.
From what we have heard there are 2 problems. The ride cars are not balanced. There is a good posibility that when loaded they would lean to far over in the curves. The other problem is they didn't design a plausable escape if it needed evacuating.
The 3rd and least likly rumor is that universal realized there was no way to stop people from thowing things from the cars onto people below. If that were the case the Ptrondon fliers would be closed.

 

[ChrisFL]

IOA is at least even or exceeding Disney in all areas? I'll grant that Seuss Landing is right there, but I'm not sure about the rest. I still think Disney is better, but Universal has a desire that has been choked out of Disney by Eisner. I think that explains Universal catching up.

I never said ALL areas, but besides Seuss Landing, the Lost Continent and Port of Entry are incredibly detailed and themed with dozens of hidden extras that people never even stop to notice. Ever heard the poker game being played upstairs at the front of the park? Stop and you'll hear it. The only thing I could find that looked "out of place" in the port of entry was the ATM machine, which I guess they couldn't do much about.

Everything else all the way to the trash cans is themed in some way and that is more than i've seen at Disney

 

[phamton]

There are people on both sides who feel that their preferred destination must be built up by spewing venom about the other. It's wrong regardless of the side you are on.

Actually, I haven't read one post in this thread where anyone was spewing venom about Disney. In fact, this board is very good about not demonizing Disney. You don't like that some of us are cheerleaders for Universal. Well we may "Rah! Rah! Rah!" all day but we're definitely not "Booing" Disney.

 

[seashoreCM]

I've been in the crowds at the conclusion of Wishes and they were throwing guests out the back gate over by Tomorrow land before. It looks extrememly taky that you are seeing behind scenes.

Did you mean ... of Wishes and guests were barging out the back gate ..."
?

An older man on an Electric Scooter hit my friends leg from behind THREE TIMES with his cart. She turned around and nicely said, "Excuse me, but would you please stop ramming into my leg." Where upon the sweet man filled with Disney magic said, "F--- You B---h!

What if your friend next turned around, reached over, and took the ignition key from the cart and then sought out security?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm
________________________________________________

Mahatma Gandhi, as some of us know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of callouses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him...a super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis. (Max L. on Hometheaterforum.com)

 

[F-L-A]

Uhhm, Suess isn't even the best section of IOA. Not by a long shot. I'm wondering if someone even stepped foot in Lost Continent, which flat out makes anything Disney has ever created look 2nd rate.

 

[Metro West]

Uhhm, Suess isn't even the best section of IOA. Not by a long shot. I'm wondering if someone even stepped foot in Lost Continent, which flat out makes anything Disney has ever created look 2nd rate.

I'll go along with that. The Lost Continent is my favorite island since it's home to Dueling Dragons. All of IOA is superbly themed IMHO and is, at the very least, as good as anything Disney has done at their parks.

 

[BWVPam]

Wow -- We love Disney, We love Universal! We have been to Universal 4x and to WDW 10+ times. We have never had a bad experience at either park with castmembers. We have only had one bad experience at Royal Pacific, but the management made up for it on our next visit. Will be there in Six weeks and start our vacation at the HRH.

3 days is usually the most time we spend at Universal and then 6 or 7 at Disney (sometimes more) Each park has its own unique theming and rides that make it attractive to us as a family. I personally am glad that we have both options during our annual vacations to Orlando. Honestly, I don't think there is a better vacation spot in the US.