Finally made it to Universal - Disappointed:(

[Saratoga Souris]

Went for the first time....

1) We didn't buy an Express Pass - I guess that was a mistake - waited a long time for everything... (9don't like the idea of "the more you pay..")
2) Thought it was messy/dirty
3) Guess I am spoiled by Cedar Point! The coasters didn't compare......
4) Worst "stunt" show I have EVER seen... cheese... and no REAL stunts
5) Found the "locker" thing to be a pain ... they were always full or the "touch pads were not working properly

OVerall, just a disappointing experience.

 

[Metro West]

Sorry.

 

[GemmaPixie]

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[h20jag]

But roller coaster rides are nice to have this time of year, huh?!
Messy? Probably just an "off" day, they didn't notice your "white gloves" were on.
Lockers - yep, they're a pain.

There's a stunt show?

 

[Saratoga Souris]

It WAS nice to have roller-coasters this time of year!

Stunt Show =Sinbad

 

[floridianer]

Where is that Stunt Show??
Never seen it yet... (edit: AAAAAh, sindbad... Agreed! Not very good IMO)

It sounds like you simply had a "bad day" because normally the parks are not "messy"... They even paint all fascades new every night!!
(do they STILL do that even in that economy????)

Well, I like Universal very much but have to agree that the parks are NOT Disney perfection but I guess even THAT is a matter of perspective and many others may think different...

 

[Coach81]

Sorry you didn't enjoy it.. We really enjoyed the Sinbad show years ago.. my kids thought it was very entertaining, and comedic.

Perhaps Harry will increase you enjoyment next time.

 

[keishashadow]

Went for the first time....

1) We didn't buy an Express Pass - I guess that was a mistake - waited a long time for everything... (9don't like the idea of "the more you pay..")
2) Thought it was messy/dirty
3) Guess I am spoiled by Cedar Point! The coasters didn't compare......
4) Worst "stunt" show I have EVER seen... cheese... and no REAL stunts
5) Found the "locker" thing to be a pain ... they were always full or the "touch pads were not working properly

OVerall, just a disappointing experience.

cedar point is swell, the coasters are killer

yet the lines are the worst i've ever seen at any park, anywhere, including disney; oh for an express pass to be offered @ either of them jmho, the express pass revenue is a way to help curtail overall park costs (i.e. tix media)

at least you can cross it off ur bucketlist

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I took my first trip to Universal in 1998 - before IOA opened. DH and I drove over for a day from Disney, parked in the garage and walked forever to get to US. I hadn't done any research, and we waited for most rides about 45-60 minutes for each ride. Seems like we didn't have a great lunch either - I hadn't done my homework. The rides were cool (I still remember Earthquake and Kongfrontation). I thought Universal did a way worse job than Disney as far as managing lines - we didn't even go at a busy time and the lines were nuts.

The next time (and each time after that), we stayed onsite and have been totally spoiled by the FOTL access. We have eaten great meals at Mythos and Mama Della's as well as many at City Walk. We've been blown away by the theming at Seuss Landing. We've watched our kids love the play areas. It is a totally different trip for us now, and we can't wait until July when we go again and experience WWOHP.

That's not to suggest that you didn't do your homework, OP - only that I didn't do mine. I'm just saying that we now go to Universal with a good idea of what to expect, along with strategies to beat the heat and the lines, and we know where to go and where to eat. Once I gave Universal the benefit of the planning I have always done for Disney, it has made all the difference in our ability to appreciate the Universal parks.

I hope you have a better time next time!

 

[diskids2]

OP....I appreciate the review....it's good to get opinions from everyone.

Now I have a question, we will be going for the first time and I understand the locker concept...is there a list of rides that require the locker somewhere?

 

[Metro West]

Now I have a question, we will be going for the first time and I understand the locker concept...is there a list of rides that require the locker somewhere?

The attractions that require lockers to be used are: Hulk and Dueling Dragons (Dragon's Challenge) at IOA and MIB and Revenge of the Mummy at the Studios...I can't remember if Dr. Doom requires lockers or not. The lockers at these locations are free for a hour while you're on the attraction.

 

[damo]

The attractions that require lockers to be used are: Hulk and Dueling Dragons (Dragon's Challenge) at IOA and MIB and Revenge of the Mummy at the Studios...I can't remember if Dr. Doom requires lockers or not. The lockers at these locations are free for a hour while you're on the attraction.

Rockit also requires lockers.

At Dr. Doom you can just leave you articles in the same little room since you are the only ones in there at the time.

 

[cieslack]

I always laugh when people imply that they are morally opposed to the express pass because they don't like the idea of the people who pay more being given special priviledges. Welcome to earth. Fly or drive, luxury hotel or budget, McDonald's or Emeril's...I love having the choice to buy express or not.

 

[Metro West]

Rockit also requires lockers.

Yup...forgot that one.

 

[ready4mouse]

This post makes me very nervous!

I've been promising my family that US is not a "Six Flags" type of park (no offense to 6 Flags lovers- just not enough theming/not clean enough for us!), but this post makes it sound similar...

I know everyone has different experiences and we will be staying onsite(PBH) and that might make a difference...

This is our first trip to US and we aren't sure what to expect. Anything you can suggest to prepare my family for a fun time? I'd hate to come home disappointed too ...

 

[Nie0214]

It is Spring Break season, so I'm sure that didn't help the lines/cleanliness.

 

[Mtnman44]

Yeah, the same argument could be used against the requirement for admission tickets. People that buy tickets get more privileges than those that can't or don't.

I always laugh when people imply that they are morally opposed to the express pass because they don't like the idea of the people who pay more being given special priviledges. Welcome to earth. Fly or drive, luxury hotel or budget, McDonald's or Emeril's...I love having the choice to buy express or not.

 

[damo]

This post makes me very nervous!

I've been promising my family that US is not a "Six Flags" type of park (no offense to 6 Flags lovers- just not enough theming/not clean enough for us!), but this post makes it sound similar...

I know everyone has different experiences and we will be staying onsite(PBH) and that might make a difference...

This is our first trip to US and we aren't sure what to expect. Anything you can suggest to prepare my family for a fun time? I'd hate to come home disappointed too ...

Please don't worry. There are always going to be people who don't like things, no matter what. Heck, there are some people who don't like pizza!!!

Most of us here on these boards have been going to US/IOA for years and years and years and we keep going back. We love it.

IMO, the parks are nothing like Six Flags. The OP was comparing the coasters at Cedar Point to the coasters at IOA. I agree that there is nothing like Millenium Force or Dragster at IOA but the two inverted coasters by B&M would give Raptor a run for its money. There is no sit down launched B&M coaster at Cedar Point, so there is nothing to compare there but Hulk is way better than Magnum.

As far as lines go, you will not have to worry. If you aren't looking for major stunts at Sinbad, you won't have to worry. If you aren't looking for hyper or giga coasters, you won't have to worry. And believe me, the parks are clean.

 

[Magpie]

This post makes me very nervous!

I've been promising my family that US is not a "Six Flags" type of park (no offense to 6 Flags lovers- just not enough theming/not clean enough for us!), but this post makes it sound similar...

I know everyone has different experiences and we will be staying onsite(PBH) and that might make a difference...

This is our first trip to US and we aren't sure what to expect. Anything you can suggest to prepare my family for a fun time? I'd hate to come home disappointed too ...

I'll be going to US for the first time this December, but I'm not too worried. Mainly because I've read similar rants about Disney parks - someone will go and then come back to these boards and post that the park was dirty, the crowds were horrible, the magic is "gone", and cast members were rude.

But I did my research both times before I went to Disney and we had a great time. I even managed to make the Disney Christmas Party bearable for my crowd-phobic husband. No regrets!

I've never been to US, but I already know not to expect much from Sinbad - the Unofficial Guide says it's definitely one you can skip. I also know that the Revenge of the Mummy is going to be great. I know that I hate lines, so that's why we're staying onsite at the RPR.

Dirty... well, that depends on your standards. I've been looking at a lot of tourist pictures of Universal lately - it looks lovely. Much cleaner than Canada's Wonderland and much, much cleaner than the Central Canada Exhibition (which always smells like garbage).

Bad luck can happen to anyone. I was stuck in a Disney monorail car once with a kid who kept puking on the floor. And then the monorail itself got held up for 15 minutes on the line, while we're all dying inside.

As for coasters - we're not big coaster-fanatics. We like shows. And concerts. And dark rides. And educational stuff. We like poking around and looking at things. Some people go tearing through Animal Kingdom in two hours and then complain that there's nothing there to do. For us, it's a two day park, at minimum.

So, I've never been to US, but I'm quite sure we'll have a great time!

 

[Saratoga Souris]

It is very possible that the crowds were bigger than expected and thus the "less than tidy" conditions.
What is a B&M?? Coaster??

AND I agree.... I should have done more research.