Has anyone ever been to Theme Park Insider? What hateful things they say about USO!

[flatline]

my family has AP's for WDW, Universal, SeaWorld/Busch Gardens. I could pick them all apart if I wanted to. Brian B saw more things wrong in a day at both parks than I've seen in years of visits to Universal. TPI is as much to blame for actually posting his obviously biased rant.

 

[macraven]

Let me start out by saying I love Universal Orlando,that
is why I am sad to say everything at theme park insider is true.Universal
has become so greedy.The worst thing they have done is take away
the free express pass,this has made the regular lines much longer.
I watched the same kids ride spiderman twice with thier resort room
keys before my family rode once. I dont have a problem with the resort
guest having FOTL pass,but it was just wrong to take away free express
pass for other guest,when your pass gave you a time to come back and
ride.If this park continues catering to only families that can afford to stay
at onsite resorts they will continue to have problems.

you have 3 posts since you joined the dis.
it always amazes me that a newbie would come to a controversial thread as a starter.

you say you agree that the article is true because your kids had to wait in line due to express pass being discontinued.

you mean the so called filthy conditions and all the other fabrications are true since you encountered long lines at the park.


i bet if you didn't wait in long lines you would have said the article was bogus.

 

[mjmcca]

When I was young and single I had APs to Universal before IOA opened. I had PAP to Disney and SW APs. I would always spend at least 2 days at US and 1-2 days at SW when I went to Fla. I loved all of the parks. I loved going when they have Halloween horror nights. It was great!

Then I had some kids and money got tight and I had to stop going to Fla as often and gave up all of my APs. In the past 2 years I was able to get SW APS( the one that let me take the kdis to Sesame place too) and Disney APs. This past trip I took the kids to IOA for the first time. They are 4 and 5 and they loved it. This was the first time I had spent any length of time in IOA. I had gone one time when DS was less than a year old but I didn't stay that long.


I was impressed the themeing was awesome. Very well done It was much cleaner than most theme parks are maybe not quite as clean as Disney is a but close.
We only got the IOA and my DS cant wait to go back and do the "other side" of universal. ( I had told him that there were 2 parks there)

With the new Bealls deal I am seriously considering getting APs for us since I know that in a 2 year time frame we will be back at least 2 ( and if I have APs I will go for 2 days each trip instead on only one) times maybe more.

 

[wayne1959]

I don't remember saying the article was true because we stood in
line,I said taking away the free express passes added to the
problems at the parks.I come to this site to read about peoples
experinces at UO,while some others come here to bash people
who encounter problems at the parks.

 

[goofy!]

you have 3 posts since you joined the dis.
it always amazes me that a newbie would come to a controversial thread as a starter.

Perhaps Wayne is the same poster as the two other recent names that came here with brand new accounts and started a bashing thread on the elimination of the Express Pass. That thread was eliminated, and the posters disappeared. But now we have a brand new poster, whose first posts consist of complaining about the elimination of the Express Pass.

Coincidence?
Perhaps - Perhaps not

Although, to give him credit, his very first post was in defense of being able to buy the Express pass, so maybe not.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Perhaps Wayne is the same poster as the two other recent names that came here with brand new accounts and started a bashing thread on the elimination of the Express Pass. That thread was eliminated, and the posters disappeared. But now we have a brand new poster, whose first posts consist of complaining about the elimination of the Express Pass.

Coincidence?
Perhaps - Perhaps not

Although, to give him credit, his very first post was in defense of being able to buy the Express pass, so maybe not.

There's nothing wrong with what Wayne said. The Express Pass issue is definitely one that causes (sometimes heated) discussion and there are very mixed opinions regarding it.

 

[flatline]

I'll bash away at the elimination of the free EP's. I can't do anything about it, but I can disagree nonetheless. We're not to the point of not renewing our AP's over it, but I feel it's a huge mistake on Universal's part in regards to overall customer service. We've been spending more time at BG, SW, and WDW lately. WDW still has FP's and we get 'ride again' at the AB parks. We used to hit Universal at least 3 times a month, we haven't been there since March. all because of the standby times this year.

 

[goofy!]

There's nothing wrong with what Wayne said. The Express Pass issue is definitely one that causes (sometimes heated) discussion and there are very mixed opinions regarding it.

Now, now. I never said what he said was wrong. Just responding (perhaps a bit too snarky) to Macravens observation that Wayne came to a controversial thread with his very first posts. Coincidentally, this is the same pattern as the two other posters who were removed.

As for the EP's, I don't love the idea ofUniversal's business decision of getting rid of them, but I don't hate it either. It doesn't affect us adversly as we are from out of town and always stay on site. In fact, the decision just makes our lines shorter. However, even with FOTL, we have used them during the few times they limited FOTL.

I tend to think that to compete with WDW, they need to have at least some EPs - even if they just offer them the first hour of the day. Did they really give that many out that it adversly affected lines? I strongly support the idea that they do something for locals who support them during the off times. Perhaps a county rate on the EP's.

But then, even though I don't completely support it, I think I understand the business of the idea. Universal offers a 5 day pass for $99.00. This averages to less than $20.00 a day - $10.00 per park. That is absolutely nothing. Practically for free. Also, you can renew your AP for $99.00. Again, this is practically for nothing. If locals go once a month for 10 months of the year - this is only $10 ($5.00 per park). It is the "base" price to get into the parks. You want to upgrade, then you pay. Kind of like buying a base car and then adding the upgrades you want. You want the luxury of listening to more than a radio - you pay for it. You get the base price and then you can decide to pick and choose if you want base or luxury.

As it stands now, it is an option to pay the bare minimum and still get to enjoy the parks or pay a little extra for the added convenience of Express. It opens up the parks to those who may not be able to afford the higher price of Disney. But it also gives those who want it, a stress free day of not having to worry about lines. But, as done in most businesses, if you want extra perks, you will have to pay extra.

I would hate to see the EP rolled into the price of the tickets, like Disney does. I would hate to see the price of the AP renewal go up to give one "free" EPs. I would hate to see the price of tickets go up substantially to give the illusion that you get free EP's. And I am business savy enough to know that I can't have both. I can't have practically free entrance tickets AND free perks. I, for one, like the idea that I can customize my Universal experience.

That said, I wonder what they are saying in the board room about FOTL. Getting rid of Express Passes does make me wonder if the next move is to limit FOTL. If they do, then I will probably be the loudest, most obnoxious of the complainers on this board.

As to Flatline - yes, you can make a difference. Write the bigwigs. Get friends to write the bigwigs. People can make a difference. As long as the letters are not hostile and present a well thought out argument as to why taking EP away from the locals hurts their business. They get enough of this feedback, EP might be an added agenda item to the next meeting.

 

[Peter Pirate]

As I said, I wrote them and got a typical response...But I did receive an on line survey from USO yesterday where this type of issue was able to be addressed so I think they are hearing the dissention. Therefore, I urge everyone to drop them a note of displeasure regarding EP.

 

[flatline]

As to Flatline - yes, you can make a difference. Write the bigwigs. Get friends to write the bigwigs. People can make a difference. As long as the letters are not hostile and present a well thought out argument as to why taking EP away from the locals hurts their business. They get enough of this feedback, EP might be an added agenda item to the next meeting.

they started hooding the EP machines last September. now they're removed, and not coming back. we'll keep our AP's because they're only $300.00 per year. but we're not using them like we did before. we still make Citywalk a dinner stop on the weekends, and maybe a quick trip into US for a ROTM ride. but the weekend trips to UO have pretty much dried up lately. the pundits that claimed that the removal of free EP's would speed up the standby lines were wrong. the focus has shifted to moving the EP lines and giving the people that pay for it their money's worth.

letters and emails aren't going to change anything. we'll just do other things on the weekends.

 

[goofy!]

they started hooding the EP machines last September. now they're removed, and not coming back. we'll keep our AP's because they're only $300.00 per year. but we're not using them like we did before. we still make Citywalk a dinner stop on the weekends, and maybe a quick trip into US for a ROTM ride. but the weekend trips to UO have pretty much dried up lately. the pundits that claimed that the removal of free EP's would speed up the standby lines were wrong. the focus has shifted to moving the EP lines and giving the people that pay for it their money's worth.

letters and emails aren't going to change anything. we'll just do other things on the weekends.

Ah, but see. This is the perfect time to bombard them with statistics. Now that it can be shown that the move didn't work out as planned, push them to change something.

Perhaps not the actual machines back, but perhaps suggest a solution for the locals that support them throughout the year.

Peter Pirate said he received a survey. If that really is a change in how they responded before, then it might be a sign that they are open to changing their position. Maybe not, but they will never change it if they think the masses are accepting their decision. The bottom line doesn't care if you are happy about the decision, just that you accept it.

As PP urged all to do, write if you don't like it

 

[flatline]

give me Bob Gault's email address and I'll write a very eloquent letter to him with my ideas for a solution. until then, the Premier Annual Pass isn't what my family is looking for. nor are the 'deer in the headlights' looks from the Team Members in guest services when you make your complaint.

AP's are as scannable as any other pass. one trip through each EP line per day is all I want to see.

 

[Peter Pirate]

I might add that the survey was definately looking for something specific and I think AP/locals were the target.

One question asked if I planned to go to (1) WDW (B) USO (C) SW (D) BG (E) CG this summer. My response was (1) WDW ... The follow up was why WDW? The answer I wrote was WDW has FASTPASS.

They're looking for something and, with this survey at least, are gving the respondants lots of lattitude to express their feelings.

If you're unhappy drop them a note, even if you think it'll do no good, you just never know. Remember WDW reversed themselves on early entry after the barrage of complaints.

 

[phamton]

the 'deer in the headlights' looks from the Team Members in guest services when you make your complaint.

Honestly, tell them you want to fill out a guest comment at Guest Services. The only way changes are made is to make your opinion known. I suspect that guest comments were what brought back Jaws from "seasonal" status. Your views do make a difference.

 

[lindalinda]

They absolutely respond to customer complaints. I am one of the people who sent an email about the Movie and meal deal coupons not being honored. They reversed themselves very quickly on that.

 

[flatline]

Honestly, tell them you want to fill out a guest comment at Guest Services. The only way changes are made is to make your opinion known. I suspect that guest comments were what brought back Jaws from "seasonal" status. Your views do make a difference.

that's the one. I've stopped by to voice my opinion a couple of times, I just got polite apologies. I'll ask to fill out a guest next week, I'm not going near the parks this weekend. Memorial Day is best spent on a beach, not in a 90 minute queue.

I'll send an e-mail and see if they respond with the survey, I'd love to fill it out.