If I have to hug one more princess, I am going to hurl!

[georgina]

We live just over an hour from all the parks and we have resident passes for WDW and Sea World. We went to Universal once and will not go back. Call me a Disney Snob if you must, but compared to WDW and Sea World, Universal is trash.

Wow! Trash? My kids can't wait to get back on Hulk and Dueling Dragons. We love IOA, but then I have always been more of a Dr Seuss type than a princess type. The Studios park doesn't have much appeal, except for the playgrounds and Men in Black (might try the Mummy ride this summer), but IOA is gorgeous, with wonderful theming and rides. I am glad so many DIS folk won't go there. We enjoy both Disney and Universal, and I can't understand the hatred so many have expressed, especially those who have never tried it.

 

[G&J's Mom]

Oops, double post!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I've been to Universal. Once. Have no desire to go back there again. I went, not expecting it to be anything like Disney. I just wasn't that impressed by the rides there (I'm not a major roller coaster person).
I don't like that commercial. Not because I'm "too sensitive about Disney", but because the commercial was done in poor taste. As has been said already, if they want to sell themselves, they should show why they deserve consideration, and more often than not, it's not the fact that they don't have princesses

Universal has Princess Fiona.

 

[willis37862]

Personally I love all the comments about the "snotty" kids in the US video. Because we all know the kids at the Disney parks aren't acting bratty at all.

 

[Cass]

It made me think of Princess Fiona and I thought US was being hypo-critical.

Fiona is an ogre

I LOVE Disney but I must say I had a fun and fabulous stay at Universal (especially with Front of the Line)

I think that particular commercial is funny, it doesn't turn me off of Universal, the commercial - as in true life, is just pointing out that Universal and Disney are complete opposites.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Everything about that commercial was intentional. Love it or hate it, you have to admit it was well done in that it hit the demographic they were aiming at right on the mark. They were aiming at teens who want non stop thrills (a la a glorified Six Flags) and who think Disney is sissy stuff. These kids will think it's a riot and probably will exert more pressure on Mom and Dad to at least spend part of the vacation at US. From a purely advertising standpoint, I thought it was very effective.

Considering attendance is off 15% for Q1 and was off last year as well, I'd say it was completely inneffective.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Considering attendance is off 15% for Q1 and was off last year as well, I'd say it was completely inneffective.

You cant know its efficacy since its still running now and in some areas its just now airing. The 2nd quarter isnt even over. You would have to wait till peak summer season is over to count your chickens.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I think it's a riot. As much as I love Disney, it's not necessarily a bad thing to poke a little fun and Disney certainly do their share of poking back. These are big businesses, first and foremost, and you can bet your bottom dollar Disney didn't say, 'Ooooh, that's mean!', they more likely said, 'Ok, what can we do to dig at Universal?' Or they ignored it altogether and put up a new ride for toddlers.

I'm so glad we have the choice of both. I'd hate to be stuck with only 4 parks when I can enjoy all 8 major parks in Orlando/Tampa.

I'm with you!

I love the Universal parks and WDW! Haven't been to Seaworld or to Busch Gardens/Tampa. My family prefers Universal and as to which parks I prefer really depends on what I'm looking for, so I just keep going back to them all, trying to decide which I like best.

As to the commercial, they are poking fun. Should be say bad things about Whispering Canyon because if a person goes in there wearing a Universal shirt they will give the person a bad time. It's all part of the fun and games (and ribbing) that goes on between the two companies. Part of the rivalry.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

DH and I are huge Disney fanatics (have both lived in Florida most of our lives and have never been to Universal, but have had Disney APs for several years now)....

and we think the commerical is hilarious!

 

[amy4bruce]

Excuse me, but I think everyone is missing an important truism in advertising -- Number 2 bashes Number 1. Number 3 bashes Numbers 1 & 2. Number 1 stays above the fray, until Number 2 starts gaining on them.

Examples: "We're Avis. We try harder."

"I don't understand why Coke changed its formula?" (Teenage girl drinks Pepsi.) "Now I understand."

A clown and someone dressed as a Burger King employee are walking on the road, complaining that Wendy's is better.

I agree with those who say thay'd rather hear what was good about Number 2 then hear it attack Number 1, but it's really standard in the industry.

 

[Planogirl]

Doing away with FastPass has probably hurt Universal more than anything else. I hope that they reinstate that.

As for the ads, I think that they're hilarious. Disney can handle a bit of poking fun. I don't see any problems and I'll personally continue to enjoy both resorts.

 

[tmt martins]

I have no idea how my post about pnnies jump on here

 

[eclectics]

Considering attendance is off 15% for Q1 and was off last year as well, I'd say it was completely inneffective.

Kind of a generality to blame that on advertising. Lots of other factors involved. If US thought the ad was ineffective, I think they would have pulled it a while ago.

 

[Slacking]

I saw a couple posts early on in this thread that concerned me. A couple posters made a judgment on how all Universal Employees must be because of these ads. So, do you hold it against the person loading you onto Spiderman that these ads offend you when obviously all the advertising stuff happens in higher up offices such as marketing. Thats not fair to the hard working employees at both parks.

I am a theme/amusement park enthusiast. I love all sorts of parks, whether its Disney, Universal, Six Flags, or even small family-owned parks like Knoebels. They're all great, and they all offer their different things. I think we're fortunate in Florida to have so many world-class parks in such a small distance from each other. As a lover of theme parks, I don't understand this whole "Disney-colored Glasses" thing. And having read this board for over 2 years now, I just can't believe the narrow mindedness I see when it comes to non-Disney theme parks. Sure, I enjoy the Disney Parks, but Universal gives me rides I can't find down the road in an atmosphere that is just as well themed and immersive.

As for the advertisement, I think its funny. But whether you all like it or not, it is doing it's job. We're all talking about it (time and time again), aren't we?

 

[Notatourist]

I know...that just shows you what kind of people work for Universal. That was a low thing to do, and I should hope that our friends and CMs at Disney would never stoop to that level. IMO, Universal will never be able to top Disney, regardless of how many insults they throw their way.

Excuse me. How can you say that? You like stereotyping one commercial to an entire company full of employees? Do you watch anything on NBC? You know they are Universal as well. Did you see Back To the Future? Have you ever even gone to a theme park other than Disney?

The commercial is poking fun at Disney. It's all about having a sense of humour, which, by this post, you don't have.

 

[tmt martins]

I have no problem with the message or the add.

I just think the kids in the ad are portrayed as to young for what they are coveying.

Yes I could see even a 12 -14 year old in that role but those kids look like they're 8 or 9.

I have had no problems at US/IOA that I have not ran into at Disney even though it seem Disney is a bit better at takiing care of these things.

If I could afford it and we lived close I would go to Disney most of the time but like now .We have season passes to Six Flags ,We go to Hershey a few times a year as well as local fairs and carnivals.I feel your cheating yourself if you only do Disney there's plenty more out there but are ALL measured by Disney standards and thats just the nature of the Beast..

 

[tmt martins]

Excuse me. How can you say that? You like stereotyping one commercial to an entire company full of employees? Do you watch anything on NBC? You know they are Universal as well. Did you see Back To the Future? Have you ever even gone to a theme park other than Disney?

The commercial is poking fun at Disney. It's all about having a sense of humour, which, by this post, you don't have.

The funny thing is 99% of Cm's and other employees have no Idea of the commercial until they see it like us.

It's done by some Marketing firm and signed off on running after that.

It's like saying it's the Disney CM's fault Baseball players are using steroids because it was shown on ESPN.

Some people are just way over the top.

 

[arminnie]

First - I've never been hugged by a princess in my countless visits to WDW and DL

Second - My first trip to Universal was in CA about 1977 several years before my first WDW trip. It was SO LAME - you got in a little cart and at one point a Jaws shark came out of the water. That made me avoid anything to do with Universal for decades.

I still find Universal to be just okay but was really shocked to find out how much I liked IOA - considering that I am not a big thrill ride person. I think they did a terrific job with the details of the theming. Something that WDW has always done, but I'd never noticed at US.

 

[Caradana]

Advertisers work by one mantra - be remembered. It's not always about being liked, it's about being remembered. Universal is banking on the truth that very few people fantasize avidly about a trip to Universal (it's not like Disney, it's not a childhood dream with castles and princesses) - instead, they discover it online, or they hear about it from co-workers, or they live close by, or find a coupon, or they somehow otherwise trip across it. All of this becomes really apparent in market research. So Universal needs you to sit in front of the computer and recall that commercial. Do you? Are you thinking about it now?

I actually think that kid is pretty funny.

 

[ChrisFL]

I agree with the people who say that you can't blame all of the great creative minds, friendly staff etc. on one ad agency's idea of a funny commercial.

I don't disagree with the ad because of it's content, I never have liked the lack of Universal being able to advertise well, and most of that isn't because of anything bad, but more like they can't show people how incredibly well themed and fun it all is. Also, the old campaigns never really showed that there are 2 separate and unique theme parks, plus entertainment, hotels, etc. And obviously most you would have no idea since you've never been there.

Let's be honest, many of you never wanted to go there in the first place and this ad only gave you an excuse to repeat why. It would be hard to imagine a theme park made by ex-Disney imagineers with more money and time to work on new, thrilling attractions if you have no interest in it. It isn't Disney, and it isn't trying to be, but people still feel the need to bash it incessantly as if it's the work of the devil.

I still have no way to figure out why going to a park outside of Disney is considered a bad thing, but whatever they put in that mickey mouse kool-aid must be some good stuff.