Interesting read about Disney here! I gotta agree!

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I'm also of the mindset that HS is a half day park. That said, I also think many repeaters don't "stop to smell the roses" On our last trip my family slowed down, we saw the shows. We didn't go on a mad dash to ride all the big rides. So if you're a first time family and you take time to enjoy all the shows and everything else I think you could get most of a day out of HS. Now Epcot.... the empty pavilions and innoventions a hot mess....

I would think that return visitors would be more likely to "stop and smell the roses" since they are more likely to know which attractions are their favorites and which can be skipped. Most of the people that I know that go less frequently and usually only have four or five day tickets. For most of them, Disney is a big expense and they are going to try to do as much as they can.

It's not fast enough...WE're talking 6 *years* from Avatar's announcement to opening. WWoHP was announced and completed in MUCH less time than that. Even TDA completely redid an entire theme park (DCA) - while that theme park was still open and operating daily - in less time than it's taking to build *one* land (which is off to the side where construction is easily completed without infringing on the rest of the park operating, unlike say Buena Vista Street which made the whole entrance to DCA a mess).

TDO doesn't get a pass from me when I see the work TDA is capable for a bigger project completed in less time.

I've never been thrilled with Disney's choice to add Avatar to the parks, since I would have liked to see them develop their own IP. With so much time elapsing after they announced it, itseemed even less exciting.

I'm probably not qualified to comment. I was at WDW decades ago as a kid, and in 2003 for work, and in the planning stages for a trip with our kids in May, but...

That is a terribly lazy article. So WDW is going down hill (despite records crowds in 2015) because US has Harry Potter? Because WDW is making attractions years after the movie; even though Star Wars is new again and Frozen isn't dyeing anytime soon. Yet, US is awesome because of Harry Potter, that attraction created in 2009 for a movie first released in 2001? I get the point, but I don't think the author does, or he simply wrote it in five minutes on the plane ride back from an unsatisfactory trip to WDW. Truth is, WDW is still the one place you MUST visit with the kids. I'd like to go to US, but I'm not setting up a special trip for it, and there is a significant chance we never go. There was zero chance we would have missed going to WDW at least once, Zero. I love Potter, but the kids are so-so on it. But they kids, like most kids, are in love with everything Disney.

Reading online it seems that DVC is extremely popular right now; as we were contemplating it and have friends that are in it. That doesn't seem to me to be a facts surrounding a park failing compared to US.

Harry Potter has proven itself to be an enduring movie/book series. Just like many of the Disney classics. WDW has been coasting. They have had to promote dance parties and extended movie previews because that's all they've had. When the Frozen ride does open, it has to better than Under the Sea in NFL.

 

[lugnut33]

I don't agree with the article. There is no clock ticking for WDW theme parks. Even with WWHOP completed in Orlando, WDW's LEAST attended park (DHS), still beats both US and IOA in attendance numbers. Even when you combine the US and IOA attendance numbers in 2014, MK stills beats that total number. In attendance, Universal does not hold a candle to WDW and that really is not likely to change in the years it takes them to build out these new projects.

I would wage a bet that most people who have responded to this thread are repeat visitors, so, yes, the appeal of say the same-old, same-old e-ticket rides is probably going to get old after a while. Remember, we are in the minority. WDW is THE MOST visited tourist destination in the world and, for many, it's a once and done trip and they will most likely be thrilled with riding BTMRR, SM, 7DMT, TT, TSMM, etc. I would bet most don't even know what is in the works in the parks.

I'm a repeat customer, and it's not about being burned out for me. It's about the lack of care Disney is giving to DHS and Epcot. That is what bothers me. Both of those were right at the top of my favorite parks to visit at WDW 8 years ago. However, it's switched back to MK and I'm really excited to see what they are doing with AK (a park that had not fallen behind DHS or Epcot)because the are giving some love to those parks.

 

[bcrook]

Harry Potter has proven itself to be an enduring movie/book series. Just like many of the Disney classics. WDW has been coasting. They have had to promote dance parties and extended movie previews because that's all they've had. When the Frozen ride does open, it has to better than Under the Sea in NFL.

C o a s t i n g. And I agree about Under the Sea, 1965 ride technology repurposed. And probably even worse than that.

I hope that we get something new in either Pandora or Star Wars Land. The toy story land rides looks like they will be purchased from Costco.

 

[Planogirl]

C o a s t i n g. And I agree about Under the Sea, 1965 ride technology repurposed. And probably even worse than that.

I hope that we get something new in either Pandora or Star Wars Land. The toy story land rides looks like they will be purchased from Costco.

Ugh, Under the Sea is awful. It has a nice queue which made it look so promising but the ride itself...l

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Ugh, Under the Sea is awful. It has a nice queue which made it look so promising but the ride itself...l

Is it popular in California?

 

[Planogirl]

Is it popular in California?

I have no idea.

 

[mom2rtk]

Is it popular in California?

No. It doesn't help that there isn't even an interesting queue to redeem it. But at least there's never a line. No FP, but it really isn't needed.

 

[mshanson3121]

I'm curious - for those of you that like US so well, or say that it is better quality than Disney - WHY is it better quality? Is it the themeing, the rides themselves, the character ineractions, less waits... ?

 

[kelleybean]

I'm curious - for those of you that like US so well, or say that it is better quality than Disney - WHY is it better quality? Is it the themeing, the rides themselves, the character ineractions, less waits... ?

I don't think it's necessarily better quality but for us it's better value. Especially with AP discounts, we can stay at the deluxe hotels at Universal for much less $ than Disney hotels and get unlimited express passes. Much more user friendly than FP ... unlimited rides and can do it any time. We got the Premier AP's for much less than Disney's lower tiered AP with no blackout dates, preferred parking, and one express pass per ride after 4:00.

I also love that Universal has been adding new things. Diagon Alley is incredible. They are opening King Kong later in the year. And building 2 other rides: Fast and Furious and a Jimmy Fallon themed one. And building a new hotel. Also a water park.

I love Disney but I do feel like they are coasting, as others have said. They have incredible attendance so I guess from a Disney standpoint they don't have to work as hard as Universal. Disney has pretty much lost us except for the Halloween and Christmas parties (and if they keep packing people in for the parties like we experienced last year we might give up on those too). Maybe they will get us back for Avatar and Star Wars but it sounds like those are years away.

 

[jenrose66]

I'm curious - for those of you that like US so well, or say that it is better quality than Disney - WHY is it better quality? Is it the themeing, the rides themselves, the character ineractions, less waits... ?

It's the entire experience. I will say I was pleasantly surprised. The theming was on par with Disney in my opinion and the grounds were kept beautiful. Bathrooms were clean.

Plus the size was manageable. It's easy to navigate and express pass is huge. You can go from ride to ride and reride. Before I left Disney I didn't think I cared about being able to do a ride multiple times....but I guess I do.

Disney suffers from its own popularity. It's just too busy and crowded and the lines are too long and it's too expensive. And it's a huge deal for me to say that because my family dragged me to universal for our vacation last year but the minute I got there I was a convert.

 

[hsmamato2]

what the two pp's just said sums it up nicely..... Universal is getting BETTER- Disney is moving in the opposite direction. Disney still costs more. It may take a while for the average consumer to notice, but it is bound to happen. All that said,as I said before, Disney is sliding backwards from wonderful,innovative, and mostly affordable to coasting on old stuff and taking things away while raising prices across the board....
So Disney's not "terrible" by a long shot...this article is correct. If they want to keep the balance shifted in their favor, they need to pay attention to what people are moving towards.
The new stuff at Universal is amazing. Their hotels are also amazing. I want Disney to go back to being amazing.

 

[jade1]

I wonder if Disney read this yet. Certainly they will open TS Land and Avatar and Star Wars land in 2016 if they did.

They can't phone it in-it says so right there.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I'm curious - for those of you that like US so well, or say that it is better quality than Disney - WHY is it better quality? Is it the themeing, the rides themselves, the character ineractions, less waits... ?

For us, the onsite experience at Universal is better than the onsite experience at WDW. The hotels are better IMO, as is the food, add free Express Pass along with not having to commute miles and miles and you have a pretty great and easy vacation. Of course, you have to be interested in what the UOR parks have to offer in terms of attractions. But I think the onsite experience as a whole is where Universal really wins.

Once you go offsite and just compare parks, then it goes park-by-park for me with MK being the best, then USF, DAK, IoA, Epcot, DHS.

 

[jade1]

For us, the onsite experience at WDW is better than the onsite experience at Universal. The hotels are better IMO, as is the food, add free Magical Express along with not having to commute miles and miles and no bags plus food/alcohol delivery (and having a kitchen) and you have a pretty great and easy vacation. Of course, we split stays with BLT and BCV so we can walk to parks-and the value (and SAB) is amazing. But I think the onsite experience as a whole is where WDW really wins, esp with AP and FP+ each evening and Great night shows.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm curious - for those of you that like US so well, or say that it is better quality than Disney - WHY is it better quality? Is it the themeing, the rides themselves, the character ineractions, less waits... ?

For me it's really simple. I was blown away and I fell in love with everything Universal. I have an absolute blast when I'm there and it's all so easy and relaxed.

 

[ArwenMarie]

For us, the onsite experience at WDW is better than the onsite experience at Universal. The hotels are better IMO, as is the food, add free Magical Express along with not having to commute miles and miles and no bags plus food/alcohol delivery (and having a kitchen) and you have a pretty great and easy vacation. Of course, we split stays with BLT and BCV so we can walk to parks-and the value (and SAB) is amazing. But I think the onsite experience as a whole is where WDW really wins, esp with AP and FP+ each evening and Great night shows.

If you want to reply to me, just reply!

 

[jade1]

If you want to reply to me, just reply!

Reply.

 

[Kingslayer]

free Magical Express along with not having to commute miles and miles

Isn't the reason Magical Express exists because the resorts are miles away from the parks and require commuting?

 

[mom2rtk]

Isn't the reason Magical Express exists because the resorts are miles away from the parks and require commuting?

The reason ME exists is to keep guests from renting cars that could also take them to other Orlando destinations.

It was a brilliant move on Disney's part because it was a win/win. Disney won by containing guests in the Disney bubble. Guests won by saving the cost of car rental.

I wish Disney would go back to this model of rolling out things that benefit Disney as an outgrowth of being wildly popular with guests.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The reason ME exists is to keep guests from renting cars that could also take them to other Orlando destinations.

It was a brilliant move on Disney's part because it was a win/win. Disney won by containing guests in the Disney bubble. Guests won by saving the cost of car rental.

I wish Disney would go back to this model of rolling out things that benefit Disney as an outgrowth of being wildly popular with guests.

Yep. I think Universal is getting a service soon, I got a huge survey about it about a few months ago. Sounded like a done deal, they were just looking for opinions on what the name of it should be and things like that.

That along with the new water park is really going to be interesting to watch. But even if you're a WDW fan, competition is always a good thing.