Holy Diagon Alley Batman!

[fairyprincess88]

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!

This is hilarious. And I don't mean "oh yeah, show them how Disney is better!" hilarious either. I mean hilarious as in claiming an ice skating ring and some fake snow and a sing along is in anyway a match for Diagon.

I'm sorry but come on now that is not anywhere near accurate. Sure a bunch of kids will get all excited over a Frozen area(heck I love Frozen so I'd get excited too) but kiddie excitement doesn't compare to the creation of an entire new world.

You can't be serious with this right?

 

[PlutoMars]

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!

Shame on me for pointing out the myriad of issues Universal has had since they obviously prematurely rushed an attraction for the summer that wasnt ready yet. Who knew that Escape from Gringotts would take on a whole new meaning of hours to get out of there often times evac'ed off of a ride.

I should have known disagreeing with certain people would get me called names and have unfounded accusations thrown my way. But, hey, when you have no other valid arguments, name calling is the way to go.

Shame on me for going against the ongoing "Disney sucks" narrative that some seemed to be fixated on.

But back to the topic. Diagon Alley is amazing no doubt but Gringotts was not ready to be opened. Seems like the new leaders in innovation would be held to a higher standard. But I guess trying is good enough...

 

[Tonyz]

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

Can you explain what this is to someone who has basically zero knowledge of Universal?

 

[fairyprincess88]

Can you explain what this is to someone who has basically zero knowledge of Universal?

The parks are in easy walking distance or a short boat ride to all three deluxe hotels. You can leave the parks and be back at the hotel and getting pool ready in under 10 minutes. No need to plan out time for transportation like at Disney. It's very easy to just pop out park, grab lunch or a rest and then pop back into the park without any planning at all.

The only on-site hotel that requires a very short shuttle ride is the new Cabana Bay and even that is still walkable if you'd like, it's just a further distance.

 

[JoeA]

This is hilarious. And I don't mean "oh yeah, show them how Disney is better!" hilarious either. I mean hilarious as in claiming an ice skating ring and some fake snow and a sing along is in anyway a match for Diagon. I'm sorry but come on now that is not anywhere near accurate. Sure a bunch of kids will get all excited over a Frozen area(heck I love Frozen so I'd get excited too) but kiddie excitement doesn't compare to the creation of an entire new world. You can't be serious with this right?

You didn't see what I did there? I never said it was as good, I said they brought in bodies by turning a dial. No construction. No thought. Just two little girls and they created long lines and demand. Who needs a "land" when all you really need is makeup, a dress and a few square feet of empty space.

 

[back2disney]

Mystic Manor can not go into any other park period per the contract.

Good lord:-(

 

[Tonyz]

The parks are in easy walking distance or a short boat ride to all three deluxe hotels. You can leave the parks and be back at the hotel and getting pool ready in under 10 minutes. No need to plan out time for transportation like at Disney. It's very easy to just pop out park, grab lunch or a rest and then pop back into the park without any planning at all.

The only on-site hotel that requires a very short shuttle ride is the new Cabana Bay and even that is still walkable if you'd like, it's just a further distance.

Ah... very nice!

 

[Mad Hattered]

Can you explain what this is to someone who has basically zero knowledge of Universal?

Here are a couple aerial views that should help you out.

This is Royal Pacfic in relation to Islands of Adventure. You can take the short boat ride (very timely arrival and departure) or walk the path.

And here is the view from Hard Rock and Portofino to Universal Studios. Both have the same boat option or walking path.

And Citywalk is located in between them all.

Try walking past Margaritaville on your way back to RPH without stopping.

 

[bumbershoot]

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.

Make sure you check back, if you booked directly, as prices sometimes change. I love using this site because you can see them all at once. And for fun check if "APH" works in the code field, because if the AP rate is good enough, you can buy an AP (even a Power Pass, if there are no blockouts during your time, but summertime...I think you'll need to get a Preferred) for the rate. (book it whenever, and show the AP when the front desk tells you to at checkin)

 

[Tonyz]

Mad Hattered... thank ya!

 

[back2disney]

Oh and I've only ridden Little Mermaid at DCA but agree it is not good, it doesn't take you away to something new, just a cheap retelling of the story.

At least it has a short line, lol.
Seriously though Primeval Whirl at AK(Goofy Sky School at DCA) needs to be enclosed with indoor or strobe lights. Whoever signed off showing the tracks did not go to the Disney parks as a child.

 

[Mad Hattered]

At least it has a short line, lol.
Seriously though Primeval Whirl at AK(Goofy Sky School at DCA) needs to be enclosed with indoor or strobe lights. Whoever signed off showing the tracks did not go to the Disney parks as a child.

Dinoland is based on a carnvial so the themeing actually fits. Goofy somewhat fits into the Paradise Pier themeing in DCA.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Mad Hattered... thank ya!

No problem at all, Tonyz.

 

[bumbershoot]

Amazing that there wasn't a swarm of people around her...she just wandered into the pub, and you went up to her?

From her video interviews it appears she doesn't adopt a "Luna voice" for the movies...it's just her natural Irish lilt?

It was so cool. We were sitting back behind the 3 Broomsticks, and it was during the HP event back in January. We had booked before the event was announced, and we had decided to not partake in the madness. But we knew that she, the twins, and Matthew Lewis were somewhere around...just didn't know we would see them.

My son started saying "her, it's her...her" and pointing, so we turned around and there she was. She had a few people around her and she was signing things and taking pictures with them. I asked my son if he wanted to meet her, and he said yes just as the other people (all wearing HP robes) were leaving. As she continued to walk (we think she was trying to get food) we hesitantly approached her and asked if we could take a picture with her (we would have understood if she didn't have time). She smiled and VERY sweetly said yes.

As we posed, she noticed my son's red hair and commented that he might be a Weasley. (which is extra funny because my name is Molly)

DH took the picture, we thanked her, and she moved on.

She does have a very small, high-ish, and pretty voice, with a light accent. She was dressed beautifully and her hair is gorgeous. She was basically just lovely in every way and I so appreciate that she took the time to take a picture with us and to be so sweet about it.

 

[Mad Hattered]

It was so cool. We were sitting back behind the 3 Broomsticks, and it was during the HP event back in January. We had booked before the event was announced, and we had decided to not partake in the madness. But we knew that she, the twins, and Matthew Lewis were somewhere around...just didn't know we would see them.

My son started saying "her, it's her...her" and pointing, so we turned around and there she was. She had a few people around her and she was signing things and taking pictures with them. I asked my son if he wanted to meet her, and he said yes just as the other people (all wearing HP robes) were leaving. As she continued to walk (we think she was trying to get food) we hesitantly approached her and asked if we could take a picture with her (we would have understood if she didn't have time). She smiled and VERY sweetly said yes.

As we posed, she noticed my son's red hair and commented that he might be a Weasley. (which is extra funny because my name is Molly)

DH took the picture, we thanked her, and she moved on.

She does have a very small, high-ish, and pretty voice, with a light accent. She was dressed beautifully and her hair is gorgeous. She was basically just lovely in every way and I so appreciate that she took the time to take a picture with us and to be so sweet about it.

That is a great story!

 

[Mad Hattered]

You didn't see what I did there? I never said it was as good, I said they brought in bodies by turning a dial. No construction. No thought. Just two little girls and they created long lines and demand. Who needs a "land" when all you really need is makeup, a dress and a few square feet of empty space.

And it took them how long to realize they could capitalize on this? Universal built Transformers in less time.

 

[back2disney]

I am hoping in four years to get to Tokyo for some touring and some Disney. Disney Sea looks amazing!

If I knew Japanese I would go to. Shame shame shame on Disney Florida:-( All that land just sitting there unused..

 

[back2disney]

Dinoland is based on a carnvial so the themeing actually fits. Goofy somewhat fits into the Paradise Pier themeing in DCA.

Yes Primeval Whirl is better than Goofy Sky School in terms of themeing .
I just think of state fair or side of the highway fair rides when I get on them. Its better than nothing but I would like something more unique ie expensive not cheap

 

[jade1]

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

This is exactly why we do split stays at WDW between BLT (for the MK walk) and BC sometimes BW. Mostly BC as we close EPCOT a lot. We have stayed at RP and HRH hotel as well-same thing, super worth the investment to control our own destiny and not guess/wait for buses.

 

[crostorfer]

Make sure you check back, if you booked directly, as prices sometimes change. I love using this site because you can see them all at once. And for fun check if "APH" works in the code field, because if the AP rate is good enough, you can buy an AP (even a Power Pass, if there are no blockouts during your time, but summertime...I think you'll need to get a Preferred) for the rate. (book it whenever, and show the AP when the front desk tells you to at checkin)

$174 per night in October at RPR with an APH rate! Can't beat that anywhere on WDW property with no room only discounts for that period and a free dining blackout! It's only $5 more than staying at the Pop!