Getting Worried..

[Shunasee]

We are headed out to WDW for 11 days in Feb. Within that time we have two days for IOA and US, tickets already purchased and all.

My friend just recently went to IOA an hated it.

I am afraid I am going to be disappointed. I do enjoy US in CA, and can't wait to see Springfield and Harry Potter.

 

[damo]

We are headed out to WDW for 11 days in Feb. Within that time we have two days for IOA and US, tickets already purchased and all.

My friend just recently went to IOA an hated it.

I am afraid I am going to be disappointed. I do enjoy US in CA, and can't wait to see Springfield and Harry Potter.

If you enjoy US in CA, you'll love it in Florida! Some people have a really hard time liking Universal when they are so used to Disney. Don't expect a bunch of rides where you just move slowly in a little vehicle and watch stuff. Universal keeps you moving and shaking!!! If you're a mover and a shaker, you'll love Universal. Just don't go in expecting another Disney park because Universal and IOA are NOT Disney parks.

Also, take the time to enjoy all the little things. Very often, people take a day out of their WDW vacation and run around like maniacs jumping from ride to ride at Universal. It is difficult to enjoy things when you are that rushed.

I find Universal/IOA to be much more like Disneyland. It is a bit more geared to the older ages and everything is nicely compacted.

 

[Kimberle]

Well, exactly what did she "hate"???? I know lots of people who "hate" WDW too. Not everybody likes the same things. That's OK!

Do you research and have a great time!

 

[bumbershoot]

My friend just recently went to IOA an hated it.

What did she hate about it? Are the hated things in categories that you might have a problem with, too?

We loved the place the moment we even neared the turnstiles, so it's really hard for me to fathom even mildly disliking the place, LOL. But thinking about WHAT she hated about it can often help someone else see what they might have an issue with.

 

[Serialjoker86]

You have nothing to worry about both US and IOA are fun. They have plenty of rides for everyone to enjoy.

 

[Shunasee]

She thought the employees were rude and there was not a lot to do there. She does not do thrill rides and was already upset that she did not have enough time to go to EPCOT (she was out for a lacrosse tourny for her daughter), so I have a feeling that really colored her view on things. :|

I really am looking forward to the days we are spending there. That is the reason for the long trip.

 

[SAHMKC]

Sorry your friend had such a bad time. We just got back from US/IOA and we had the opposite reaction - we loved Universal. My son said he never wanted to go back to Disney again. I found the cast members to be really wonderful. I especially loved the cast members at the Harry Potter World. When we purchased some goodies from Honeydukes, the cast member noticed we had purchased a chocolate frog and fudge flies. She promptly launched into a warning about opening the two together as the frog would eat our flies. She continued on with that for several minutes recommending the best way to eat the frog so it wouldn't escape. It was really delightful. So go with an open mind you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[bumbershoot]

When we purchased some goodies from Honeydukes, the cast member noticed we had purchased a chocolate frog and fudge flies. She promptly launched into a warning about opening the two together as the frog would eat our flies. She continued on with that for several minutes recommending the best way to eat the frog so it wouldn't escape. It was really delightful. So go with an open mind you might be pleasantly surprised.

That's lovely.

On our last trip I was having a hard time with the Honeydukes line because I'm short, and finally a Team Member got my attention to call me alllll the way over to her (she was at the last register from the candy part of the store, all the way in the magic shop part), and I was mentioning how difficult the lines are, and hopefully they would change the way the registers are in the Diagon Alley area... She started on a riff about how since they allow Muggles in they have to have these register things, and that it's so much easier when it's only us wizards and we can pay by magic, etc. wonder if it's the same person?

She thought the employees were rude and there was not a lot to do there. She does not do thrill rides and was already upset that she did not have enough time to go to EPCOT (she was out for a lacrosse tourny for her daughter), so I have a feeling that really colored her view on things. :|

I really am looking forward to the days we are spending there. That is the reason for the long trip.

I bet that did really color her trip, to not be where she wanted to be.

The funny thing about when I say the Team Members are nicer than Cast Members, or that people say that CMs are worse than TMs is...quite often they are the same people. I mean, not that we are actually encountering the same people on a trip. But that many people work part time at BOTH places, so if we decide all TMs are good and all CMs are bad, well, you can see how that's funny.

 

[macraven]

so true bumbershoot.

many that work part time at the motherland as CM/castmembers, also work part time at the darkside as TM/team members.


sometimes i think that when peeps say the TM's are rude just want to stir the pot.

if a person goes to any theme park unwillingly, they can always find something negative to complain about.

 

[happysummer]

Well if you like thrill rides you will like it. I agree with your friend the workers there are rude reminds me of a regular amusement park. lots of smokers walking around the park.

 

[Kimberle]

I didn't encounter any rude team members during our April visit. I have encountered rude CM's at WDW.

 

[surferdave]

She thought the employees were rude and there was not a lot to do there. She does not do thrill rides and was already upset that she did not have enough time to go to EPCOT (she was out for a lacrosse tourny for her daughter), so I have a feeling that really colored her view on things. :|

I really am looking forward to the days we are spending there. That is the reason for the long trip.

Do you ever listen to the DIS Unplugged Podcast? Some of those guys were reporting the opposite; that they had encountered more rude CMs at Disney than they expected recently and that the CMs at Universal have seemed happier and friendlier lately.

 

[damo]

I'll admit that the TMs at Universal are different from the CMs at Disney. However, that is not a bad thing. I just find them to be normal and friendly. In my 18 years of going to Universal/IOA and WDW and DL, I honesty don't remember any rude employees. The Universal TMs may not wish you a magical day, but they are far from rude.

 

[Seeker615]

IOA is wonderful. The theming there is just amazing and there are so many photo ops everywhere!

I found the employees there to be great. I have yet to encounter anyone rude or indifferent. They are great about taking pics for you with the characters as well. I found this awesome as we got quite a few pics together as opposed to taking turns.

The rides are amazing. Yes there is a lot of thrill rides but there are several shows and many shops as well.

You will love it!

 

[RMulieri]

I'll admit that the TMs at Universal are different from the CMs at Disney. However, that is not a bad thing. I just find them to be normal and friendly. In my 18 years of going to Universal/IOA and WDW and DL, I honesty don't remember any rude employees. The Universal TMs may not wish you a magical day, but they are far from rude.

Not to mention alot of the Tms are or were also Disney Cms

 

[schumigirl]

She thought the employees were rude and there was not a lot to do there. She does not do thrill rides and was already upset that she did not have enough time to go to EPCOT (she was out for a lacrosse tourny for her daughter), so I have a feeling that really colored her view on things. :|

I really am looking forward to the days we are spending there. That is the reason for the long trip.

Sounds like you will enjoy it, don't worry.

Universal parks are amazing......there's more.......much more than thrill rides in both parks so she had obviously made up her mind before she went she would hate it. Her loss.

In all our visits we have never....ever had a rude employee.......the Team Members we have encountered in all our trips have always been amazing........ultra friendly and very helpful when required.

I hope you have an amazing trip when you go

 

[redrosesix]

She thought the employees were rude and there was not a lot to do there. She does not do thrill rides and was already upset that she did not have enough time to go to EPCOT (she was out for a lacrosse tourny for her daughter), so I have a feeling that really colored her view on things. :|

I really am looking forward to the days we are spending there. That is the reason for the long trip.

I've only been to US and IoA twice, but I would say I don't think the employees are paid by the size of their smiles. Same deal at SeaWorld. They aren't the same as WDW CMs -- they're more like "regular people" lol.

That being said I loved it and we're putting it into our itinerary for this upcoming trip. I liked US so much I now dislike DHS -- it just doesn't measure up and its very very similar. Most of the rides are more like thrill rides so if your friend doesn't like thrill rides she'd probably only like Seuss Landing (which is AWESOME btw)

 

[Florida Bill]

I've been to both WDW and Universal MANY times over the years, I never ran into a rude TM at Universal and only 1 rude CM at WDW, the one rude one that I did run into ticked me off enough to report her and I normally would never even think about doing that! I had a Guest Assistance Card as I've had 6 operations on my back and 2 on my neck all in the past 12 yrs, sometimes I have trouble standing or walking for a long time and sometimes I don't, just depends, I see a pain management doc. once a month and I'm on all kinds of pain meds.

Anyway, the GAC allowed me to use the wheelchair entrance, had it stamped right on the card, at the Safari in Animal Kingdom there was a bench just inside a small gate that was the entrance to the wheelchair entrance, my family and I started to go through the gate so I could sit down on the bench for a bit as my back was absolutely killing me, the CM started yelling at us from way down the line not to use that entrance, I showed her the card and she was still yelling at us not to use that entrance! Needless to say it was very embarrassing having her yelling and everyone looking and commenting about us!

 

[SAHMKC]

That's lovely.

On our last trip I was having a hard time with the Honeydukes line because I'm short, and finally a Team Member got my attention to call me alllll the way over to her (she was at the last register from the candy part of the store, all the way in the magic shop part), and I was mentioning how difficult the lines are, and hopefully they would change the way the registers are in the Diagon Alley area... She started on a riff about how since they allow Muggles in they have to have these register things, and that it's so much easier when it's only us wizards and we can pay by magic, etc. wonder if it's the same person?
QUOTE]

I bet it was! We rang up at the last register too! We also had a great TM at Despicable Me. He came up to my daughter and wanted to know if her store bag was a gift for him. I told her give it to him - He pulled out the pink pug pajama pants from MIB and held them up to himself. He was so funny and everyone in the line was laughing by the time he was done.

 

[labfan]

Definitely go. I think you'll have a great time. You can't compare Universal/IOA to Disney. They are different. I love them both and do a split stay when I go. My kids like IOA better. More thrill rides.