Holy Diagon Alley Batman!

[NavyDad]

So funny seeing all the agendas playing out on these types of threads.

WDW is the best at what they do. Like millions of families we love our time their and we are looking forward to new things built since our last visit and what's to come.

USO has done some amazing things the last 4-5 years. We took our first trip there in 2012 and now that the kids are getting older we will keep going back. The WWoHP is truly amazing from what we have seen so far and (again like millions of other families) we can't wait to go and experience DA and HE. I have never, in my life, experienced anything like walking through Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. Watching my kids pick out wands and sharing a butter beer with them was an amazing experience. I was giddy like a school girl when I saw the sorting hat. Just incredible.

Also, the Hulk coaster was great! Really on par with anything they have at any of the coaster parks we have visited including Cedar Point. Though the Spiderman ride was really good. The rest of IoA was just OK to pretty average.

At US we loved the Mummy ride and MIB. We were there opening weekend for Transformers. It was pretty cool, but after the hype kind of felt like it was basically Spiderman with a movie. Kind of underwhelmed with the studios but that will change BIG TIME with Diagon Alley opening up. CAN NOT WAIT!

CityWalk is pretty awesome. Very great atmosphere and it's very cool that it is connected to both parks and the resorts. In contrast the worst part of Downtown Disney is that it is so far from everything and it's just so hard to get ther. The resorts are very nice but don't have the same atmosphere as Disney Resorts IMO.

Overall, Disney was absolutely perfect for us when our kids were younger. As our kids have gotten older and USO has added the HP stuff we have started to add on days at USO and it has been great.

IMO WDW and USO are very different experiences that go together like peas and carrots or beer and pizza

Just don't get the "who's better" contests

 

[ArwenMarie]

So funny seeing all the agendas playing out on these types of threads.

WDW is the best at what they do. Like millions of families we love our time their and we are looking forward to new things built since our last visit and what's to come.

USO has done some amazing things the last 4-5 years. We took our first trip there in 2012 and now that the kids are getting older we will keep going back. The WWoHP is truly amazing from what we have seen so far and (again like millions of other families) we can't wait to go and experience DA and HE. I have never, in my life, experienced anything like walking through Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. Watching my kids pick out wands and sharing a butter beer with them was an amazing experience. I was giddy like a school girl when I saw the sorting hat. Just incredible.

Also, the Hulk coaster was great! Really on par with anything they have at any of the coaster parks we have visited including Cedar Point. Though the Spiderman ride was really good. The rest of IoA was just OK to pretty average.

At US we loved the Mummy ride and MIB. We were there opening weekend for Transformers. It was pretty cool, but after the hype kind of felt like it was basically Spiderman with a movie. Kind of underwhelmed with the studios but that will change BIG TIME with Diagon Alley opening up. CAN NOT WAIT!

CityWalk is pretty awesome. Very great atmosphere and it's very cool that it is connected to both parks and the resorts. In contrast the worst part of Downtown Disney is that it is so far from everything and it's just so hard to get ther. The resorts are very nice but don't have the same atmosphere as Disney Resorts IMO.

Overall, Disney was absolutely perfect for us when our kids were younger. As our kids have gotten older and USO has added the HP stuff we have started to add on days at USO and it has been great.

IMO WDW and USO are very different experiences that go together like peas and carrots or beer and pizza

Just don't get the "who's better" contests

I agree, they go together perfectly. I think of them as six great individual parks, each with their pros and cons. I think it's awesome that they are all in the same city and the fact that they are all there make me more likely to see Orlando as an appealing vacation destination.

I feel a little differently about the Disney hotels/restaurants versus Universal's but that's for another thread.

 

[Networth]

You can't really compare the Disney World and Universal Orlando hotels.

The Universal hotels(the 3 nice ones) are owned and operated by Loews Resorts, they sit on Universal property. Disney owns and operates most of the hotels on their property besides shades of green(DOD), Swan/Dolphin(Starwood), and the DTD Hotels.

The only hotel on par or nicer than the Lowes Portifino Bay at Universal is the Grand Floridian IMO. Having said that I do enjoy the theming and location of Disney's Deluxe's more but the interior of the rooms are nice at Portifno besides GF again my opinion.

 

[NavyDad]

You can't really compare the Disney World and Universal Orlando hotels.

The Universal hotels(the 3 nice ones) are owned and operated by Loews Resorts, they sit on Universal property. Disney owns and operates most of the hotels on their property besides shades of green(DOD), Swan/Dolphin(Starwood), and the DTD Hotels.

The only hotel on par or nicer than the Lowes Portifino Bay at Universal is the Grand Floridian IMO. Having said that I do enjoy the theming and location of Disney's Deluxe's more but the interior of the rooms are nice at Portifno besides GF again my opinion.

I agree with this sentiment and was basically trying to communicate the same thing.

Now, if USO ever builds a completely HP themed resort hotel that was as nice as the Lowes hotels that would be a very interesting development

 

[Planogirl]

So funny seeing all the agendas playing out on these types of threads.

WDW is the best at what they do. Like millions of families we love our time their and we are looking forward to new things built since our last visit and what's to come.

USO has done some amazing things the last 4-5 years. We took our first trip there in 2012 and now that the kids are getting older we will keep going back. The WWoHP is truly amazing from what we have seen so far and (again like millions of other families) we can't wait to go and experience DA and HE. I have never, in my life, experienced anything like walking through Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. Watching my kids pick out wands and sharing a butter beer with them was an amazing experience. I was giddy like a school girl when I saw the sorting hat. Just incredible.

Also, the Hulk coaster was great! Really on par with anything they have at any of the coaster parks we have visited including Cedar Point. Though the Spiderman ride was really good. The rest of IoA was just OK to pretty average.

At US we loved the Mummy ride and MIB. We were there opening weekend for Transformers. It was pretty cool, but after the hype kind of felt like it was basically Spiderman with a movie. Kind of underwhelmed with the studios but that will change BIG TIME with Diagon Alley opening up. CAN NOT WAIT!

CityWalk is pretty awesome. Very great atmosphere and it's very cool that it is connected to both parks and the resorts. In contrast the worst part of Downtown Disney is that it is so far from everything and it's just so hard to get ther. The resorts are very nice but don't have the same atmosphere as Disney Resorts IMO.

Overall, Disney was absolutely perfect for us when our kids were younger. As our kids have gotten older and USO has added the HP stuff we have started to add on days at USO and it has been great.

IMO WDW and USO are very different experiences that go together like peas and carrots or beer and pizza

Just don't get the "who's better" contests

Great post.

I don't understand the constant bickering either. I like both and want both to do well. Disney has been sliding downhill a bit lately but the company is still pretty amazing.

 

[agavegirl1]

I won't quote NavyDad's post again but I wholeheartedly agree. We did a WDW only vacation when DD and DS were 11 and 9 respectively. It was totally appropriate and they had a great deal of fun. Then, when they were 16 and 15, we did US/IOA only and they really blossomed. We went for Mardi Gras. I was so impressed with the entertainment value for kids this age. We stayed at HRH and they reveled in the pool atmosphere, played ping pong, hung out listening to rock music underwater etc.

This was before HP. I went with my DBF to US/IOA in 2010 after Hogsmeade opened sans kids and I had a fabulous time.

Theme parks in the Orlando area expanding, improving, innovating etc. only make Central Florida a more favorable destination for me, even as an adult.

I travel...a lot. I have been to the Caribbean 26 times, Europe twice and all over the USA too many times to count. Competition between parks is good for me and will make me come to Orlando when I may not have otherwise.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I agree with NavyDad's post as well. Disney has just gotten too stale, generic and scheduled for our tastes over the last several years.

I look forward to seeing what the future holds, though. If it takes Universal kicking them in shorts for the next few years then so be it. I hope it works.

 

[Beer Me]

You can't really compare the Disney World and Universal Orlando hotels. The Universal hotels(the 3 nice ones) are owned and operated by Loews Resorts, they sit on Universal property. Disney owns and operates most of the hotels on their property besides shades of green(DOD), Swan/Dolphin(Starwood), and the DTD Hotels. The only hotel on par or nicer than the Lowes Portifino Bay at Universal is the Grand Floridian IMO. Having said that I do enjoy the theming and location of Disney's Deluxe's more but the interior of the rooms are nice at Portifno besides GF again my opinion.

True and the Universal hotels cause some sticker shock with me. In the summer I'm looking at $350 at least? Maybe more?
Coming from Disney deluxe that may not seem bad but we've never paid that much for a room anywhere.

 

[Planogirl]

True and the Universal hotels cause some sticker shock with me. In the summer I'm looking at $350 at least? Maybe more?
Coming from Disney deluxe that may not seem bad but we've never paid that much for a room anywhere.

They're not always that expensive. I was pricing hotels on Expedia for our week in December and the Royal Pacific is coming up at $196 per night. That is still pretty expensive in my world but it's during a busy time so I can't complain. Port Orleans Riverside is $225.

 

[Mad Hattered]

They're not always that expensive. I was pricing hotels on Expedia for our week in December and the Royal Pacific is coming up at $196 per night. That is still pretty expensive in my world but it's during a busy time so I can't complain. Port Orleans Riverside is $225.

That is why we love owning APs to Universal. The hotel discounts are pretty nice. And like you said, it's about the time of year. We are paying $150/night for our 4 night stay in September. The rates for All Star Music is $173 and the Poly (while being refurbished) is $403 during the same time.

 

[crostorfer]

True and the Universal hotels cause some sticker shock with me. In the summer I'm looking at $350 at least? Maybe more?
Coming from Disney deluxe that may not seem bad but we've never paid that much for a room anywhere.

Over a Labor Day week I paid $25 less per night at the Royal Pacific Resort than I did at the Port Orleans Riverside, and comparing those two resorts is like comparing apples to potatoes.

I always find the prices for Loews properties significantly less than Disney deluxe prices, most often times 40-50% less. When you calculate in that staying at the Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, or Portofino Bay affords you the all coveted "golden ticket", end-all be-all of theme park perks in that front of the line access, staying on property at Universal trumps staying at a Disney deluxe.

 

[agavegirl1]

I have stayed at HRH and RPR for around $200 per night during a slow time. This time I went for Portofino which is more money but I haven't stayed there and since going to Italy, I really want to. So, going for it. For about $100 more than Pop Century, I'll gladly pay it.

ETA...cheapest Deluxe at Disney for the same time period was $528.22 per night at CR.

 

[Tonyz]

Anyone think that you're gonna see an increase in hotel prices now that they'll be drawing so many more people in with Diagon Alley?

 

[Mad Hattered]

Anyone think that you're gonna see an increase in hotel prices now that they'll be drawing so many more people in with Diagon Alley?

We paid $144/night for the same time frame last year so there has been an increase.

 

[agavegirl1]

Oh yes, price increase for sure but not obscene by any means. These are Deluxe resorts with Early Entry, Express Pass and pool hopping permitted.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Oh yes, price increase for sure but not obscene by any means. These are Deluxe resorts with Early Entry, Express Pass and pool hopping permitted.

And you can be at the parks or back to the pools/pool bar in minutes. That is a huge thing for us.

 

[JoeA]

I don't know. Last time I flew back here to Orlando, why did Southwest tell me the plane was leaving at 3pm when it didn't leave until nearly 7pm? Why did my doctor tell me to show up for my appointment at 10am last week and then didn't see me until 11:30am? Perhaps unexpected things just happen in life. They are executing better than Disney simply by having a new attraction. btw: Why were there 5 hours waits to meet Anna and Elsa at Magic Kingdom? Disney's execution fails lately when all it involves is hiring a couple extra college girls to play dress up. Can't imagine how well they would do if technology was involved in a new attraction. Fortunately they're sticking with what they know...new parades, new merchandise, a corny sing along and a renamed fireworks show.

Let's see:

A 7 hour wait to ride the most innovative (broken) ride ever built. But hey, they tried so they ROCK!

Or a 5 hour wait to see two girls.

I'm guessing two girls cost less than that ride and they're packing the place! Want to talk about a return on investment! Here's a wig, some makeup and a dress...stand over here...!!

And for all you people who have been praising Universal and now putting that PlutoMars on ignore...shame on you!

 

[Mad Hattered]

Let's see:

A 7 hour wait to ride the most innovative (broken) ride ever built. But hey, they tried so they ROCK!

Or a 5 hour wait to see two girls.

I'm guessing two girls cost less than that ride and they're packing the place! Want to talk about a return on investment! Here's a wig, some makeup and a dress...stand over here...!!

And for all you people who have been praising Universal and now putting that PlutoMars on ignore...shame on you!

Did you miss the part where there is a whole land called Diagon Alley? Yes, I would be ticked if I planned a trip there and Gringotts had issues. I guess that is why I was smart enough to plan my trip accordingly.

As far as "he who shall not be named"? You have no idea what is going on. Perhaps I should go post in this thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3301768

I'm pretty sure I can find a lot of twitter posts about the disappointment. Or should I just post in this thread, which I didn't start, and sometimes be able to have civil conversations about the two parks?

 

[agavegirl1]

Wow. Gosh nobody saw my earlier post where I went to CA specifically to see Carsland and Radiator Springs Racers. And....it had been open for three months...and it never opened the entire day.

Please people. New rides/technology does need time. I usually wait a few months to check it out for that reason (that and crowds).

 

[JoeA]

Did you miss the part where there is a whole land called Diagon Alley? Yes, I would be ticked if I planned a trip there and Gringotts had issues. I guess that is why I was smart enough to plan my trip accordingly. As far as "he who shall not be named"? You have no idea what is going on. Perhaps I should go post in this thread. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3301768 I'm pretty sure I can find a lot of twitter posts about the disappointment. Or should I just post in this thread, which I didn't start, and sometimes be able to have civil conversations about the two parks?

Oh, I get that part. I just laugh about...

Mine breaks down = epic kiddie ride fail and Disney blows

New Universal ride breaks down = who cares! That Alley thing is cool! Let's all genuflect toward Universal!! All Hail Univeral! Ohhh...Universal!

Still, you have to give it to two girls and an ice skating rink or whatever they're doing over at DHS. Immersion smersion. Throw a few kids on the M&G trail and just like that Disney matched your little alley.

Haha!