If Universal plays it's cards right...

[RMulieri]

Universal will almost certainly raise prices to match Disney just before Diagon Alley opens. In fact $95-97 at Universal wouldn't surprise me.

Likely...And I will pay it gladly..Why? It isnt all about cost to me.It is because they arent taking away any perks and they continue to add new and exciting attractions and invest money directly in the parks.Over the past 10 yrs I have watched Disney change, and not neccessarily for the better.I will always love Disney, but I am simply not impressed by their track record the last few years.

 

[richmo]

I don't get the "out of sight" comment on Disney ticket prices, when Universal prices are very similar. The press always jumps on those $90+ one day passes, when the reality is (I think) that most at Disney get the multi-day passes that bring down the per day total quite a bit.

Universal has done a great job enhancing their park, especially with Harry Potter lands. Still, to me, Universal lacks the all-encompassing experience that you get at Disney. I could easily spend a couple days there, but that's about it. Part of it is the feel of it...going to Universal, I feel like I'm still in a city (which I am), whereas at Disney, it does seem like another world, even with its own road and transportation systems. Going forward, Universal is going to have a tougher time expanding simply because of space constraints, but Disney still has room they don't know what to do with.

Both will co-exist and I'll continue to do both, although on short trips, it economically makes sense to pick just one. Pricing seems to be roughly equal...I don't think its fair to call Disney pricing out of sight and I also don't think its fair to compare Universal to Six Flags. Its a lot better than that.

 

[Texas Crude]

Is the universal in FL significantly better than the one in California? Wife and I went to the one in CA and left after lunch -- only mildly better than six flags, which is only mildly better than a root canal.

As a Disney share holder, I'm glad they are increasing ticket prices... It's their fiduciary duty to squeeze every last nickel out of their customers. On the flip side, parks have never been busier, so it clearly isn't driving people away.

As for people here now spreading their vacations around... good! The world is a bi place and you should experience as much of it as you can. Go cruise to new countries, go visit new cities, go experience new things. As fun a WDW is, it's not the only place to visit. Just know that your "protest" won't even be noticed. Disney stock is at an all time high and business for them has never been better.

 

[Molyneuxd]

I prefer Universal to Disney anyways but normally visit Uni / IOA on a 14 day ticket and one random Disney park.

Only time I see myself going to all Disney parks on a trip would be if I have young kids. The uni parks are more aimed at adults.

Obviously not the forum to argue Universal is better than Disney.

 

[damo]

Is the universal in FL significantly better than the one in California? Wife and I went to the one in CA and left after lunch -- only mildly better than six flags, which is only mildly better than a root canal.

As a Disney share holder, I'm glad they are increasing ticket prices... It's their fiduciary duty to squeeze every last nickel out of their customers. On the flip side, parks have never been busier, so it clearly isn't driving people away.

As for people here now spreading their vacations around... good! The world is a bi place and you should experience as much of it as you can. Go cruise to new countries, go visit new cities, go experience new things. As fun a WDW is, it's not the only place to visit. Just know that your "protest" won't even be noticed. Disney stock is at an all time high and business for them has never been better.

Universal in Orlando is two parks. It is considerably better than Hollywood. I think that once Harry Potter is introduced in Hollywood with Hogwarts and the other new stuff they have planned, it will be a much improved day. However, their Mummy ride there is awesome and the backstage tour with Kong is also really good. I still don't think you can compare it to Six Flags though. There isn't even one coaster there other than the Mummy. They also just recently added Transformers, so they are continually adding new stuff.

 

[keishashadow]

Ditto...Our family has gotten very spoiled...7 of our last 8 Orlando trips have included BOTH deities...errr...theme parks. We are trying to adjust "on-the-fly" to the never-ending, rapid-fire changes that The Mouse is ramming down our throats, and on this past Christmas trip, Comcrap...errr..Universal received extra funds originally "earmarked" -(get it...EARMARKED...???)-earmarked for Disney.
I do think I've finally got my son talked into trying DL though..gotta go there and scratch it off my bucket list!

ok, I took the cheesegood one

Universal in Orlando is two parks. It is considerably better than Hollywood. I think that once Harry Potter is introduced in Hollywood with Hogwarts and the other new stuff they have planned, it will be a much improved day. However, their Mummy ride there is awesome and the backstage tour with Kong is also really good. I still don't think you can compare it to Six Flags though. There isn't even one coaster there other than the Mummy. They also just recently added Transformers, so they are continually adding new stuff.

We enjoyed visiting the Hollywood park, especially the backlot tour. From the employees we spoke to there and & WDW it seems many out of work actors prefer working in the parks vs waiting tables. They bring a certain joie de vivre to the experience.

Shareholders have been well-rewarded by Disney, however; you have to wonder when the changes to the park experience (FP+ and ticket price increases) will start to drive away their core customers who visit once to several times a year vs those who plan a big blow out every few years.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Hope a $4 price increase is NOT what's chasing people away because if it is you shouldn't be going on vacation anywhere ! I will NEVER give Comcast a dime of my money and frankly it makes me laugh out loud when people compare WDW to those wannabees up I-4. If I wanted to go there I would stay local and go to Six Flags.

Now you've resorted to trolling the US/IOA section of the boards?!?!? Weren't you quick to chastise those who posted on the FP+ threads that they'd decided to do US/IOA over WDW?!?! I guess the hoopla is dying down a bit on those threads and someone is bored ........

 

[jon18uk]

Universal in Orlando is two parks. It is considerably better than Hollywood. I think that once Harry Potter is introduced in Hollywood with Hogwarts and the other new stuff they have planned, it will be a much improved day. However, their Mummy ride there is awesome and the backstage tour with Kong is also really good. I still don't think you can compare it to Six Flags though. There isn't even one coaster there other than the Mummy. They also just recently added Transformers, so they are continually adding new stuff.

The big difference with Hollywood though is that is is a working studio and the tram tour still passes through genuine film sets. The theme park area does feel very small compared to Florida though. We did the $250 VIP tour at Hollywood and loved it as you really got to see a lot in the studio and our guide was excellent.

 

[jon18uk]

Universal has done a great job enhancing their park, especially with Harry Potter lands. Still, to me, Universal lacks the all-encompassing experience that you get at Disney. I could easily spend a couple days there, but that's about it. Part of it is the feel of it...going to Universal, I feel like I'm still in a city (which I am), whereas at Disney, it does seem like another world, even with its own road and transportation systems. .

The other difference I feel at Disney is that I am on a holiday, not just visiting a theme park. I love Universal and some of the rides and attractions are better than Disney. But they will never beat the feeling of going into Epcot just to get dinner and watch IllumiNations. Even if I stayed at a Universal resort I don't feel like I would go into US just for an evening.

 

[Texas Crude]

Universal in Orlando is two parks. It is considerably better than Hollywood. I think that once Harry Potter is introduced in Hollywood with Hogwarts and the other new stuff they have planned, it will be a much improved day. However, their Mummy ride there is awesome and the backstage tour with Kong is also really good. I still don't think you can compare it to Six Flags though. There isn't even one coaster there other than the Mummy. They also just recently added Transformers, so they are continually adding new stuff.

We will have to try the Orlando park once the kids are older... The CA experience just left a bad taste in my mouth. Honestly walked away wondering how managed to stay in business.

 

[kimmyann]

Hope a $4 price increase is NOT what's chasing people away because if it is you shouldn't be going on vacation anywhere ! I will NEVER give Comcast a dime of my money and frankly it makes me laugh out loud when people compare WDW to those wannabees up I-4. If I wanted to go there I would stay local and go to Six Flags.

We went to Disney in 2009 & we went to Universal in 2013. Universal blows Disney away when it comes to customer service, food & their rides are state of the art & blew me away. Disney is still existing on rides developed when the park originally was. It's too bad your not willing to expand your horizons & see what is actually out there. We personally had a much better experience overall at Universal. Will we ever go back to Disney? Maybe, but it will be a very serious decision based on what we want to spend our money on. I'm glad you think it's so funny, just as I think it's funny when people give opinions & laugh at others about something they really know nothing about.

So you're fine paying $92 for Universal ($128 for a hopper for both parks) but $94-99 ($134 for a hopper for 4 parks) at Disney is out of sight?

I'm sorry but this made me chuckle, I can understand being upset and not going over FP+ changes or even because of uncertainty but because of a $2-6 price difference on a multi thousand dollar vacation?

Straw that broke the camels back I guess, enjoy your vacation.

Thanks, we plan to. I don't think that everyone holds value to everything equally. I do think that people have limits & it comes to a point where you draw the line. It makes you re-think what your willing to spend your money on & I'm just coming to the conclusion that spending around $600-800 for two (just for tickets) to do something we've already done & deal with standing in line all day & putting up with poor customer service....I can think of some other things to do. I'm mainly discussing how Universal could use this to their advantage.

 

[mischief32]

We just love Universal Studios now. We went Disney 2 years in a row when they were offering the stay for 4 get 3 days free offer. We have not been back since. I even offered to take my daughter (7) to Disney last August but she wanted to go to Universal instead. We can get a deluxe hotel for most time under $200 night with the annual pass. I paid 279.99 for my annual pass and I get hotel discounts, ticket discounts and 10% off at alot of places in the parks and CityWalk. No need to worry of making ADR's just walk up. My pass renews for I think $170. An annual pass to Disney is 634. I do not know if you get a discount when you renew. No need to ride buses to park just walk on over. Mid day naps and pool are just s hort walk away. You can only do this if you stay at a deluxe hotel at Disney that can run $400+ a night. We were prices out of disney. $1000+ for tickets since we like to hop and the water parks. My husband just commented last night he thought Didney was for kids. My daughter loves her coasters. I do agree each to their own. I did enjoy Disney but we have our grown it now and need excitement and speed in our rides. We are going for 8 nights at Christmas to Universal. I really loved the Christmas spirit I felt at Universal. We did the Christmas party at Disney one year and we could not get on any rides and it was 2 busy. We went in early November even. WE just go with the flow when at Universal. Love the HRH.

 

[rowan555]

Don't worry..as stated will never go there. One thing you have wrong however is I am NOT disillusioned Very happy with WDW and again that "other" place is not even in Disneys radar ........or mine !!
I do agree to each their own however so enjoy.

Yep, to each their own. We have 6 days left on Disney passes and I have no idea when we'll use them. My 12 year old daughter wasn't impressed by Disney and found Universal Studios/IoA to be tons more fun. And so did I! So much so that we're going back in May. I asked her if she wanted to spend a few days at Disney since it's "free" and we need to use those passes, but she said NO THANK YOU.

 

[tweak89]

So you're fine paying $92 for Universal ($128 for a hopper for both parks) but $94-99 ($134 for a hopper for 4 parks) at Disney is out of sight?

I'm sorry but this made me chuckle, I can understand being upset and not going over FP+ changes or even because of uncertainty but because of a $2-6 price difference on a multi thousand dollar vacation?

Straw that broke the camels back I guess, enjoy your vacation.

Using the price difference for a one day ticket is deceiving. Comparing the multi-day/multi-park/park hopping ticket is a better comparison, since the average vacationer will be spending multiple days at the parks.

With that in mind, the max days available from the Universal website is 4 days so going with a single adult 4 day park to park pass (price+applicable tax):

Universal: $178.91
Disney World: $377.01

$198.10 difference, that is significant. With that price difference you can move up to a 4 day park to park ticket with Unlimited Express Pass ($372.74). And, just for arguments sake, the closer park comparison would be Disneyland (2 parks and 3 resorts, similar in overall layout): 4 day park hopper ticket: $285 (before taxes-don't want to create an account to see the tax-if any). $106.09 difference-still significant.

Of course you can always argue how much cheaper a Disney ticket gets the more days you add, but the average family is generally not taking a 10 day Disney vacation (now the longest duration ticket you can get). With vacation lengths of that nature, you can hazard a guess that money is not really a consideration. But, to the everyday average person, it is. Of course, this is all semantics and the bottom line is that a person gets what they feel is good value for their money.

 

[buckeev]

Bite your tongue with the "Comcrap", . What they have done for Universal is wonderful not only for Universal but for all of Orlando. We need to speak their name with more reverence...

You should definitely try DL. It's such a great place.

Oh trust me..I DO bite my tongue...well I TRY to bite my tongue every time our Comcast signal drops while watching a movie, TV show, ballgame...etc...
AND, of course, when I pay that monthly bill!
Of course, I tell my bride.."We just paid Scooby & Shaggy's salary this month."

 

[rowan555]

Oh trust me..I DO bite my tongue...well I TRY to bite my tongue every time our Comcast signal drops while watching a movie, TV show, ballgame...etc...
AND, of course, when I pay that monthly bill!
Of course, I tell my bride.."We just paid Scooby & Shaggy's salary this month."

One option is to get rid of cable and switch to Netflix/Hulu - you'll save enough in a year to take an extra vacation to Orlando

 

[Rip]

It's always hysterical to see Disneyphiles make ridiculous statements regarding Universal not being on their radar and the like. They're totally unaware that the ONLY reason Hollywood Studios even exists is because of Universal.

LOL

 

[Tramp68]

I count 51 rides and shows in Disney's 4 parks and 46 (including Diagon Alley) in Universal's 2 parks.

They really seem pretty even to me.

Onsite Disney stay = FP+ (meh)
Onsite US stay = unlimited express pass

It really is all about taste. Universal doesnt have as much that is entertaining for the very young and Disney does not have much for the thrill riders...
Personally, I like both, and the few dollar price hike is not going to matter

Universal tops Disney in immersive theming by far. But they do it in several niche markets (Simpsons, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, etc...) Disney is basically 1 big theme with minor subdivisions.

Admittedly, it was hard to tally and I may have missed a few things on both sides. But it does become hard as to what do you count and what don't you count...

 

[LilMommyBug]

It is so bizarre to me that people would take the time out of their day to come over here and say they're never going to Universal and blah blah blah.

No one cares.

 

[jjas]

You're an angry elf!

He must be a South Pole elf!