Has Universal surpassed Disney on "Imagineering"?

[Bone Daddy]

As I anticipate the Grand Opening of WWoHP-DA, I find myself questioning if Universal has met, or (shockingly) exceeded Disney's creative ability to produce the most progressive/immersive attractions in our domestic theme parks to date. From my preliminary observations, it appears Universal may have surpassed Disney from a pure technological ride experience. I will always admit that Disney perpetually dominates my recreational culture, but I find myself committed to finding time at Universal Studios and their resort area.

 

[MommaPeel]

I recently watched the Making of Diagon Alley video that NBC made after hearing my boyfriend rave about it.

I would have to say that they have exceeded Disney's immersive imagineering. I think the closest thing to WWoHP that Disney has done is (maybe) that Tangled BATHROOM!

After watching the episode we are cutting our last 4 days of our trip and heading over to Universal for a 4 night stay. Oddly enough, it's way cheaper and we will be staying in the on site nicer hotels. (With tickets included its cheaper than the Beach Club resort alone for those nights WITH my 40% military discount at Disney)

That is 4 days Disney isn't getting my money. How about everyone else?

This also dropped us down from needing annual passes to only needing 10 day park hoppers! So more money saved by me and lost by Disney!

 

[surferdave]

You would probably have to make a trip to Japan to find out. Disney doesn't give us their best imagineering anymore.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Yes. If you have been to universal, you could never say no to that.

 

[nugov2]

I think so, but because of Universal, WDW will be getting our money sooner than we planned. DD is a huge HP fan so we are now going to go Sept. 2015 and will head back to the world too b/c while we are blown away with IOA/Uni we still love the MK. I will say that only Universal has lured us to stay on site with their beautiful resorts/perks while WDW still does nothing for us. We are doing 9 days in a house, but will leave the house and still pay for a deluxe hotel. The price and perks at Universal can't be beat

 

[JimmyV]

Yes. If you have been to universal, you could never say no to that.

While US is building Spiderman, Men In Black, Mummy, Transformers, WWoHP, Diagon Alley and Springfield/Simpsons, WDW builds a Little Mermaid ride-through that is less sophisticated than PoTC circa 1971, a Barnstormer level coaster with a nice shell and a themed bathroom. EE (especially when the Yeti worked) and TSMM are good examples of what Imagineering can do when they are allowed to. But lately, Disney has held the leash too tight and the products coming out of US, (many pushed along by people with a Disney Imagineering pedigree) are blowing Disney away.

You would probably have to make a trip to Japan to find out. Disney doesn't give us their best imagineering anymore.

In the same vein, I agree that here is where Disney is letting the technology loose. Meanwhile, we are stuck with a giant hair on the Soarin' screen that no one has the technological ability to remove.

 

[dawgsgirl]

There is no doubt(in my tiny mind) that the Harry Potter attractions put the new Fantasyland to shame. Hope Disney is paying attention!!

 

[Lizzim]

Having just returned from a trip which included both WDW and Universal there are patches which are as good (if not better) at Universal but what they are missing is the quality of the transitions between lands that exists at WDW.

I also don't feel the same emotional connection at Universal.....it's the whole package at Disney not just the rides etc.

 

[Jennasis]

They sure seem to be. If I recall correctly many of USO's creative folk are former Imagineers who jumped ship.

 

[rstamm]

Universal is getting me 2 days next year and probably from now on.

Disney's attendance keeps growing with them doing nothing so why spend any money on attractions and when they do want to build something it takes 3 years.

The new Snow White ride was a major disappointment for my family, just a kiddie coaster with really small seats.

Expect meet and greets and minor attractions, while Universal is building incredible attractions.

I love Disney but it is so sad that they sunk all that money into a wrist band while Universal is building awesome new attractions.

 

[Rileygirl]

I am going to be able to do a first hand comparison in a couple of weeks.

Hogsmeade blew disney out of the imagineering water a few years ago, in my opinion.. Diagon Alley will leave me no doubt of this fact, I am sure.

If you have the time and inclination, compare some of the you tube videos out there, the recent ones from the designers of DA at Universal, and compare it to the suits talking about the fantasyland expansion at WDW (before it opened).

The imagineers from Universal are about bursting with glee and excitement of the space they have created for guests, the detail that abounds EVERWHERE, while the Disney suit drones on about a freakin fountain. Even he appears bored talking about it. This sums it up.

Its not that I think Disney does not have talent, they wrote the book on it really. But they have been leashed by the bean counters, who used the money to make them lots more money in the form of magic bandits. (ok, I am totally stealing that phrase from another diser on these boards, I will have to go and find out their name and post it here for credit)

If Universal's marketing team was half way decent, Disney would be in for some serious competition. Its all good news for Disney regarding this though - they have created marketing imagineers that have taken over the attraction imagineers, and these guys are the cutting edge, blow you out of the water brilliant.

 

[DOOM1001]

Aside from the Diagon Alley show on NBC you should see some of the other more detailed videos out there on Youtube,they actually show a lot more than the TV show.The level of detail is on a level beyond anything Disney has ever created in the US parks.

 

[HWY20RIDE4MYSON]

I have to agree they have more exciting rides but they also cater to a different age group. Peter Pan ride vs The Hulk? Lol.. Disney def needs to make more rides like expedition Everest or something off the charts. 7DMT is really not that great for a new ride in todays world. I liked it but still pretty much Average

 

[JimmyV]

I have to agree they have more exciting rides but they also cater to a different age group. Peter Pan ride vs The Hulk? Lol.

A common refrain, but not accurate. Hulk competes with EE, not PP. Universal has a host of rides that are designed for younger kids. (Like Seuss Land). The idea that US is a teen thrill ride paradise is way overplayed. In my neighborhood, the majority of kids who dress up like Harry Potter on Halloween are around 8 years old. WWoHP was not built for 17 year olds (exclusively). US is more "whole family" oriented than most here give it credit for.

But I agree with the balance of your post. WDW needs to up its game. It is losing both the "ride war" and the "resort war" over the past 5 years. Let's hope Avatar levels the field.

 

[CindyCan]

I know US is building new HP things (and someone listed other attractions) but if they're not open yet, how does anyone know they'll blow everyone away?

Just my take on HP world: we went to US specifically for this because my girls are HUGE HP fans (late teens). They thought Diagon Alley was cool, but WAY too small and didn't allow for traffic flow, and were really disappointed when we figured out that the duelling dragons ride had just been renamed. We spent the extra $ to stay at the Hard Rock to get in early to HP, and went to the fancy new ride, only to stand in line, and stand in line, and then continue to stand in line. We were there in the dark, at rope drop.

And then the fancy new ride: they thought it was cool, but not worth the wait. I thought I was made to feel inferior due to the concern about body size and different seats (hey - you're fat - sit here!). I also thought it was Peter Pan but moved faster, which made it hard to follow the images and process what I was seeing.

I'm happy lots of people think HP is better because it is healthy competition, and really US is the only possible major competition to WDW, but I am in absolutely no hurry to go back to US, even for the new stuff.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

As soon as my little guy is tall enough to really enjoy US they are getting us for a few days on every trip. What they've been doing is amazing, while sadly I think WDW has almost all their eggs in the Avatarland basket, which no one I've met cares about at all.

 

[over50visits]

Disney doesn't have the money right now to spend on attractions, they just invested heavily ($1-$2 billion) on the tracking bands, and a lot of follow-up money on fixing the IT problems and advertising them. Give them a couple of years to get this new system under control, then I bet they will have the cash to begin planning major new attractions, such as the oft-wished for Star Wars section.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

We went to US last year. While the HP area was neat, all my daughter and husband could say was imagine what Disney could have done with this area. They believe so much more could and should have been done with HP.

 

[Suvadoo]

Disney doesn't have the money right now to spend on attractions, they just invested heavily ($1-$2 billion) on the tracking bands, and a lot of follow-up money on fixing the IT problems and advertising them. Give them a couple of years to get this new system under control, then I bet they will have the cash to begin planning major new attractions, such as the oft-wished for Star Wars section.

Disney has the money if they really wanted to spend it. But IMO they are raking in the money on their hard ticket items. Why should they spend money on new attractions when they can get $79 per child and $119 per adult for special events like Harambe nights?

 

[over50visits]

Disney has the money if they really wanted to spend it. But IMO they are raking in the money on their hard ticket items. Why should they spend money on new attractions when they can get $79 per child and $119 per adult for special events like Harambe nights?

Yep, I have to agree with that. Harambe night - stations with several of the foods or types of food offered at the Boma buffet. Subtract the cost of that buffet (which at Boma has much more variety of food and an actual place to sit), and you're paying $100 for a 30 minute African music show (the other 30 minutes is clips from the movie) on a stage that's too small. And people love it…Disney seems to have the Midas touch, leveraging our emotional attachment to their cartoons.