Holy Diagon Alley Batman!

[robpa]

We were planning a 10 day trip to the gulf beaches this year. Decided to cut it to a week at the beach and 4 nights at Portofino. Don't know if we would get back down as a family anytime soon as our older son will be starting college next year, so would be a shame not to see Diagon Alley while we are in Florida. However spending any money at Disney did not even cross our mind. Made up my mind after last trip that I would not be back until Disney righted the ship.

 

[sethschroeder]

Sheesh. Perhaps I should have stated 42 minutes, would that have made it better? The fact is that you don't know SQUAT about Universal so don't preach to me about wait times. I've been to both more times than years you've been alive. NO, 30 minutes would NOT have been possible TODAY. Just like the wait won't be 7 hours in September. I responded to Jade about how to NOT have to wait 7 hours. Make sense?

I love both Disney and Universal and have forever (Disney longer since they have been around longer...just to clarify so I don't get called out for that). Do I want Disney to get a swift kick in shorts for the place they've become (in OUR opinion)? You bet I do!

Lol I definitely am not preaching. I was calling out the fact that you can guarantee under 30 mins during the middle of the day on any day, as it was a general statement not about September (it was a general statement by the person why they liked FP+).

The biggest benefit of FP+ is being able to pick ANY time you want that's why I like it and the original comment. On vacation I don't want to have to get up at 7-8 am everyday. It's fine that there is way to get around a long wait but that wasn't the original point of the poster responding to you saying your not going back to WDW because of FP+

 

[Mad Hattered]

Lol I definitely am not preaching. I was calling out the fact that you can guarantee under 30 mins during the middle of the day on any day, as it was a general statement not about September (it was a general statement by the person why they liked FP+).

And that, Seth is why you are the crap master. If you had any clue of the posting relationship between jade and I then you would know what we/I were getting at. It wasn't offensive on either's part as far as I could see. Your guarantee that "Universal or Disneyland isn't a destination" argument is pedestrian and immature. I suggest you actually visit places like DL when you aren't the ages of 1 and 7 before making such a statement, but I digress. I will just let you deal with that one. Keep up the good work!

 

[DisUniversal]

Again I do not believe Universal is a destination and neither is Disneyland. If you want to believe that its fine but I would expect a lot of people who go to Universal would also hit up other things and possibly stay at other hotels/resorts even if HP drew them to Orlando in the first place.

So, if I were to spend 5 days at Universal and then went over to Sea World for one day and perhaps even down to WDW to see the amazing super advanced 7DMT coaster, would that mean that Universal was not my destination?

 

[andyman8]

If anyone's interested in a good laugh, The Onion just posted an article about DA. Worth a read!

http://www.theonion.com/articles/in...ocialMarketing&utm_campaign=Default:2:Default

 

[chapie1968]

The fact is that you don't know SQUAT about Universal so don't preach to me about wait times. I've been to both more times than years you've been alive. !

 

[Mad Hattered]

If anyone's interested in a good laugh, The Onion just posted an article about DA. Worth a read!

http://www.theonion.com/articles/in...ocialMarketing&utm_campaign=Default:2:Default

Nice read, Andy.

Daily Prophet publishing office allows curious children to hold real-life versions of print newspapers described in the books.

 

[Suvadoo]

We were planning a 10 day trip to the gulf beaches this year. Decided to cut it to a week at the beach and 4 nights at Portofino. Don't know if we would get back down as a family anytime soon as our older son will be starting college next year, so would be a shame not to see Diagon Alley while we are in Florida. However spending any money at Disney did not even cross our mind. Made up my mind after last trip that I would not be back until Disney righted the ship.

When was you last trip to WDW and what happened? Sorry if I'm being too nosey!

 

[robpa]

When was you last trip to WDW and what happened? Sorry if I'm being too nosey!

No not being nosey. This may get long winded so pardon me if it does. It was about 4 yrs ago. It was my fourth trip and 3rd with my children. They are 2 boys and ages at the time were 13 and 10. The 2 previous trips we stayed onsite(Port Orleans) but the 3rd we stayed at the Vistana Villages. We got a 2 BR for a little over $900 for 2 weeks. I believe to stay at Port Orleans was close to triple that at the time. It was a no brainer to stay offsite. We always did more than just Disney while in fla but the majority of the time was spent there.
We always went in October and it was usually 3 yrs between trips to keep everything fresh. The 1st two trips were great, but the last was just too crowded. It seemed that there were just so many more people in the park and the only way to maximize what you could do was to be an onsite guest and take advantage of EMH. It felt like Disney was overselling park capacity. We just didn't have a good time constantly being run over by strollers and getting pushed out of spots for parades and fireworks. It felt like they were happy to take our money while giving all the benefits to onsite guests. I understand onsite should get perks so that wasn't my problem but then cut down on how many you let into the park. It was about how much money they could squeeze out of everybody which is fine if that is the route they want to take. Which is why the new house arrest bracelets they are giving and selling doesn't really surprise me. Prices keep going up, and you get nothing new in return so I voted with my wallet.
Since the last time I was at Univeral (also 4 yrs ago) quite a bit has changed so I am more willing to go and spend my money there.

 

[Suvadoo]

Which is why the new house arrest bracelets they are giving and selling doesn't really surprise me. Prices keep going up, and you get nothing new in return so I voted with my wallet.
Since the last time I was at Univeral (also 4 yrs ago) quite a bit has changed so I am more willing to go and spend my money there.

House Arrest bracelets.... I like it. Someone else called them Magic Bandits.

 

[Mad Hattered]

No not being nosey. This may get long winded so pardon me if it does. It was about 4 yrs ago. It was my fourth trip and 3rd with my children. They are 2 boys and ages at the time were 13 and 10. The 2 previous trips we stayed onsite(Port Orleans) but the 3rd we stayed at the Vistana Villages. We got a 2 BR for a little over $900 for 2 weeks. I believe to stay at Port Orleans was close to triple that at the time. It was a no brainer to stay offsite. We always did more than just Disney while in fla but the majority of the time was spent there.
We always went in October and it was usually 3 yrs between trips to keep everything fresh. The 1st two trips were great, but the last was just too crowded. It seemed that there were just so many more people in the park and the only way to maximize what you could do was to be an onsite guest and take advantage of EMH. It felt like Disney was overselling park capacity. We just didn't have a good time constantly being run over by strollers and getting pushed out of spots for parades and fireworks. It felt like they were happy to take our money while giving all the benefits to onsite guests. I understand onsite should get perks so that wasn't my problem but then cut down on how many you let into the park. It was about how much money they could squeeze out of everybody which is fine if that is the route they want to take. Which is why the new house arrest bracelets they are giving and selling doesn't really surprise me. Prices keep going up, and you get nothing new in return so I voted with my wallet.
Since the last time I was at Univeral (also 4 yrs ago) quite a bit has changed so I am more willing to go and spend my money there.

Exactly! Welcome to the "Darkside", robpa! Wallets are the only thing that speak to Disney. We are doing our part to help the cause and it hurts because we are Disney fans from long ago.

 

[sethschroeder]

And that, Seth is why you are the crap master. If you had any clue of the posting relationship between jade and I then you would know what we/I were getting at. It wasn't offensive on either's part as far as I could see. Your guarantee that "Universal or Disneyland isn't a destination" argument is pedestrian and immature. I suggest you actually visit places like DL when you aren't the ages of 1 and 7 before making such a statement, but I digress. I will just let you deal with that one. Keep up the good work!

Last post in this, you might want to go back and read my posts never did I say it's a fact or how you say guarantee that DL or UNI are not destinations for you but it's not how I see them from the outside looking in (unlike WDW prior to last summer). It's my opinion and stated as such your free to think different, I was specifically asked about why I thought so and responded and wasn't even the original person to bring it up.

I have the viewpoint of someone who hasn't visited any of those parks like the majority of people looking for a destination vacation likely. I am sure I will love Universal but you are specifically done with Disney for now likely because you have went so much and possibly know better.

Also sorry I don't keep tabs on you and your interactions like you seem to do with me lol in the end you likely know more about all 3 locations but it doesn't make my opinion less valid as there is no right or wrong answer. It's like arguing which dwarf is better or which HP book is the best. I guess unless there is a definition of destination vacation spot?

/thread for me

PS - Excited to see the WWOHP and what it's all about. Hopefully everyone their the next couple weeks has a great time and has luck beating the crowds.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Last post in this, you might want to go back and read my posts never did I say it's a fact or how you say guarantee that DL or UNI are not destinations for you but it's not how I see them from the outside looking in (unlike WDW prior to last summer). It's my opinion and stated as such your free to think different, I was specifically asked about why I thought so and responded and wasn't even the original person to bring it up.

I have the viewpoint of someone who hasn't visited any of those parks like the majority of people looking for a destination vacation likely. I am sure I will love Universal but you are specifically done with Disney for now likely because you have went so much and possibly know better.

Also sorry I don't keep tabs on you and your interactions like you seem to do with me lol in the end you likely know more about all 3 locations but it doesn't make my opinion less valid as there is no right or wrong answer. It's like arguing which dwarf is better or which HP book is the best. I guess unless there is a definition of destination vacation spot?

/thread for me

PS - Excited to see the WWOHP and what it's all about. Hopefully everyone their the next couple weeks has a great time and has luck beating the crowds.

Simple answer from me....don't put words in my mouth. I have the experience to back it up. Enjoy life and learn...

p.s. But I do think the Packers suck..but that is coming from a fellow sports fan. I'd even buy you a Duff beer at Moe's Tavern if we ever happened to end up there at the same time.

 

[nluvwithdisney]

For us it is a Florida vacation. However, we prefer to stay at Disney onsite. We have not been to islands of adventure in years since there isn't much there we can ride without extreme headaches lol. I am talking to you, Hulk! But Universal still gets a day of my time but for us to spend a week at Universal won't happen anytime soon.

 

[BugsDaddy]

Last post in this, you might want to go back and read my posts never did I say it's a fact or how you say guarantee that DL or UNI are not destinations for you but it's not how I see them from the outside looking in (unlike WDW prior to last summer). It's my opinion and stated as such your free to think different, I was specifically asked about why I thought so and responded and wasn't even the original person to bring it up.

I have the viewpoint of someone who hasn't visited any of those parks like the majority of people looking for a destination vacation likely. I am sure I will love Universal but you are specifically done with Disney for now likely because you have went so much and possibly know better.

Also sorry I don't keep tabs on you and your interactions like you seem to do with me lol in the end you likely know more about all 3 locations but it doesn't make my opinion less valid as there is no right or wrong answer. It's like arguing which dwarf is better or which HP book is the best. I guess unless there is a definition of destination vacation spot?

/thread for me

PS - Excited to see the WWOHP and what it's all about. Hopefully everyone their the next couple weeks has a great time and has luck beating the crowds.

I wouldn't sweat the regulars who will try to convince you that their opinion is the only one that matters. They think that the average theme park visitor to Florida goes to the parks 4 or 5 times a year whereas most either go once every few years or just once ever. For those people, Universal is not a destination but a park that they might add a day or two outside of Disney. Universal fan boys will never admit that Universal is still growing and has a LONG way to go to ever possibly threaten Disney's domination of the vacation dollar in Florida. And I am not making the argument as to whether Disney is more/less innovative than Universal because in the end game, it just doesn't matter. Disney has spent years acquiring a loyal following and they indoctrinate new followers every day through their various media outlets. Universal has great thrill rides and is doing great things with the HP area. It's not going to help them much when a million plus 5 and 6 year olds are screaming for Anna and Elsa.

Universal is great but needs to get over the little brother syndrome it has with Disney.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Universal is great but needs to get over the little brother syndrome it has with Disney.

I think they might have started acting on that very thought already.

 

[Planogirl]

Why is it that a themepark resort has to have so much to be a destination? I know people who visit resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico and they treat them like destinations and they don't even have a single themepark.

A destination is whatever a person considers a destination. It would be easy to just treat the Universal resort as a place to relax and swim and dine. The same is true of WDW.

 

[robpa]

You go to an amusement park to be amused and that means different things to different people. I don't know why everyone tries to continually try to fit square pegs in round holes. Some people are thrill junkies some like the themeing and storytelling. People are going to like what they like and both parks fill that niche so who cares. If you think you are getting value for your dollar than good for you. I stopped going to Disney because the value was no longer there. I love all the memories my family made at Disney and hope Disney can forget about ROI just a little while to start being the innovative company they used to be. (P.S.
character meet and greets aren't innovative or an attraction.)

 

[BugsDaddy]

Why is it that a themepark resort has to have so much to be a destination? I know people who visit resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico and they treat them like destinations and they don't even have a single themepark.

A destination is whatever a person considers a destination. It would be easy to just treat the Universal resort as a place to relax and swim and dine. The same is true of WDW.

I would define it as would you take a trip to Florida to exclusively visit Disney? Many, many people do. Would you do the same to exclusively visit Universal? Most would probably not. Even if you didn't visit Disney, you would probably have to combine Busch Gardens, Seaworld, and various water parks to fill out a trip that included Universal.

That is what I mean by "vacation destination". Exclusivity. Disney has that dialed in. They bring you into the Disney bubble and you don't want to leave.

 

[robpa]

I would define it as would you take a trip to Florida to exclusively visit Disney? Many, many people do. Would you do the same to exclusively visit Universal? Most would probably not. Even if you didn't visit Disney, you would probably have to combine Busch Gardens, Seaworld, and various water parks to fill out a trip that included Universal.

That is what I mean by "vacation destination". Exclusivity. Disney has that dialed in. They bring you into the Disney bubble and you don't want to leave.

I think it depends on how far you are travelling to get there, how often you think you will be back and your financial situation.