IOA named the top theme park around the globe

[Bluer101]

2015 Tavelers Choice Award goes to IOA!!!

Universal is making the mouse lose its ground.

TripAdvisor travelers have spoken and Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida has been the named the top theme park around the globe.

1. Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando

2. Discovery Cove, Orlando

3. Magic Kingdom, Orlando

4. Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles

5. Disney's Hollywood Studios, Orlando

6. Universal Studios Florida, Orlando

7. Disneyland Park, Anaheim

8. Disney's Animal Kingdom, Orlando

9. Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio

10. SeaWorld Orlando



http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2015/...amed-best-theme-park-in-world-by-tripadvisor/

 

[Robo56]

The secret is out. It was only a matter of time. Universal has been our family's favorite park for years. It has been amazing to see the changes and continued growth of Universal over the years. Congrats to Universal and all the fellow Universal fans that have supported it over the years.

Congrats to all those who continue to share their love of Universal on this site with others.

 

[schumigirl]

Brilliant news!

We've all been noticing on here for few years the massive increase in people who a few years back never considered coming to Universal..........huge change of opinion in a lot of people.

Haven't been to Disney in years and have no plans to go back..........Universal all the way for us and always have been......

 

[kbelle8995]

Good for IOA. It is one of my favorite parks. Just a beautiful park. Love every land and love to walk through every section riding rides and browsing the areas.

Port of Entry is one of my favorites entry area into the park. I feel like I never have enough time to spend there.

 

[johde]

I don't know, I wonder about the methodology of most of these top 10 lists. The list this year is very similar last years list. But any list that can put DHS as the second best Disney park in the U.S. is questionable. It scored above Disneyland and DCA (which isn't in the top 10). Comparing This years and last years list though the big news would be USF joining the list at number 5 after being out of the top 10 in 2014.

2014's List.

1. Discovery Cove – Orlando, FL
2. Universal’s Islands of Adventure – Orlando, FL
3. Magic Kingdom – Orlando, FL
4. Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Orlando, FL
5. Disneyland Park – Anaheim, CA
6. Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Orlando, FL
7. SeaWorld Orlando – Orlando, FL
8. Cedar Point – Sandusky, OH
9. Universal Studios Hollywood – Los Angeles, CA
10. Busch Gardens Tampa – Tampa, FL

 

[Bluer101]

I don't know, I wonder about the methodology of most of these top 10 lists. The list this year is very similar last years list. But any list that can put DHS as the second best Disney park in the U.S. is questionable. It scored above Disneyland and DCA (which isn't in the top 10). Comparing This years and last years list though the big news would be USF joining the list at number 5 after being out of the top 10 in 2014.

2014's List.

1. Discovery Cove – Orlando, FL
2. Universal’s Islands of Adventure – Orlando, FL
3. Magic Kingdom – Orlando, FL
4. Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Orlando, FL
5. Disneyland Park – Anaheim, CA
6. Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Orlando, FL
7. SeaWorld Orlando – Orlando, FL
8. Cedar Point – Sandusky, OH
9. Universal Studios Hollywood – Los Angeles, CA
10. Busch Gardens Tampa – Tampa, FL

It's what was compiled from trip advisors reviews from the public. So from year to year the public has changed their mind.

I have to say even here on the boards we have seen a increase of people flipping over to the darkside fed up with all the planning, dinner reservations, fast passes, and such. You pay a big premium being Disney and the only thing that's getting bigger is their bank accounts.

Today's generation is not what it used to be. Yes, many still love Disney (we like it once and awhile) but they are not keeping with the times and demand of the public, fresh!

 

[saskdw]

First off, Congrats to IOA!! It is a great park!!

But, I agree the list is a little suspect.

Discovery Cove wouldn't make most people's top ten that I know, especially 1st or 2nd.

I agree with PP about DHS. DHS would be most people's 3rd or 4th ranked park just at WDW. Pretty sure most of us would have Epcot ahead of DHS.

I'm one of the few who loves WDW and Universal. I don't feel the need to pick a side. Both places have their appeal to me. I still feel WDW offers more overall as a vacation destination. It's hard to compete with 46 square miles of resorts, theme parks, golf courses, fishing, mini-golf, DTD, etc. Having said that I have had 6 and 10 night stays onsite at UO without leaving the property and enjoyed every moment.

However, if you only had one day to spend in Orlando you would have the most fun at IOA. It has the most top notch attractions in close proximity.

 

[StarWarsJez]

Great news! Let's hope that more press like this helps to convince Disney that they really need to invest in WDW.

Too little spent for so many years is starting to have an impact for Disney.

 

[saskdw]

Great news! Let's hope that more press like this helps to convince Disney that they really need to invest in WDW.

Too little spent for so many years is starting to have an impact for Disney.

Didn't they just approve a $3 Billion project for DHS? Avatarland?

The reality is that there hasn't been an impact for Disney. There resorts are full and profits are through the roof. I agree that it is a real head scratcher that Universal gets things done so quick and Disney seems to drag things out, but their changes are coming.

Bottom line is that it hasn't effected their profits at all.

 

[kbelle8995]

I don't know. I think that if Disney wasn't looking over their shoulder and see that more guests are going over to Universal for a day or two, they wouldn't be putting that money into DHS. Universal is really putting money into their parks and it is showing. They are also doing hard work with customer service. Pete said it on the podcast better than I could. While it might not effect Disney's bottom line I think that they looking at what Universal is doing

It's making either parks great for all of us in the end.

Years ago I wouldn't even considered going over to Universal. Now I can't wait to go.

 

[saskdw]

I don't know. I think that if Disney wasn't looking over their shoulder and see that more guests are going over to Universal for a day or two, they wouldn't be putting that money into DHS. Universal is really putting money into their parks and it is showing. They are also doing hard work with customer service. Pete said it on the podcast better than I could. While it might not effect Disney's bottom line I think that they looking at what Universal is doing

It's making either parks great for all of us in the end.

Years ago I wouldn't even considered going over to Universal. Now I can't wait to go.

Absolutely Disney is paying attention to what their competition is doing. They need to continue to keep their product modern and they are, albiet slower than most would like.

I was just making reference to the comment that "it's really starting to impact Disney". Reality it hasn't impacted Disney at all so far.

Having said that, we are taking a break from WDW this year and doing Universal exclusively. We spent 16 nights at WDW last December, 12 nights the December before that. With half of AK/DHS closed down and all the new attractions at UO that we haven't experienced since our last visit in 2012 it was an easy choice.

Keeping in mind we approach our Orlando vacations a little different then some. For a lot of people on DIS UO is a 2 day stop. We will be there for 10 nights. We like to completely immerse ourselves in the whole experience. Thoroughly enjoy the resort, Citywalk, and experience everything we like in the parks 10 times over.

 

[Georgia dad]

We hope to visit IOA next summer. It looks like an amazing park!

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Hollywood Studios 5?

 

[StarWarsJez]

Didn't they just approve a $3 Billion project for DHS? Avatarland?

The reality is that there hasn't been an impact for Disney. There resorts are full and profits are through the roof. I agree that it is a real head scratcher that Universal gets things done so quick and Disney seems to drag things out, but their changes are coming.

Bottom line is that it hasn't effected their profits at all.

Yeah yeah yeah we've been hearing all about the Disney Board 'approving' all kinds of things for years. Bottom line is Disney have been lacklustre in WDW park improvements for a long time and people are getting tired of more promises of things that may come in many years to come.

Like I said, hopefully things like this will make Disney think they need to actually go out and do something!

 

[saskdw]

Yeah yeah yeah we've been hearing all about the Disney Board 'approving' all kinds of things for years. Bottom line is Disney have been lacklustre in WDW park improvements for a long time and people are getting tired of more promises of things that may come in many years to come.

Like I said, hopefully things like this will make Disney think they need to actually go out and do something!

I agree with you.

The point I was making is that it is a false statement that this is affecting Disney profits at this time. It is common place here on DIS for people to say they are fed up with Disney lack of improvement or this is having a big effect on Disney. But the reality is that their resorts and parks are full and profits are soaring.

I'm not the Disney cheerleader, I agree with you. We are going to Universal this year not Disney. Just stating the facts.

 

[StarWarsJez]

I agree with you.

The point I was making is that it is a false statement that this is affecting Disney profits at this time. It is common place here on DIS for people to say they are fed up with Disney lack of improvement or this is having a big effect on Disney. But the reality is that their resorts and parks are full and profits are soaring.

I'm not the Disney cheerleader, I agree with you. We are going to Universal this year not Disney. Just stating the facts.

I never stated it was hitting Disney's profits!

BTW here's another article on Universal's huge growth rates. Like I said ,hopefully if things like this continue the Disney exec will speed up their current 'snails pace'park development

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/07/25/1-company-is-giving-disney-fits.aspx

 

[saskdw]

I never stated it was hitting Disney's profits!

The PP had stated that and you quoted my response to him. I believe we are on the same page.

 

[Monykalyn]

I don't know, I wonder about the methodology of most of these top 10 lists. The list this year is very similar last years list. But any list that can put DHS as the second best Disney park in the U.S. is questionable. It scored above Disneyland and DCA (which isn't in the top 10). Comparing This years and last years list though the big news would be USF joining the list at number 5 after being out of the top 10 in 2014.

Maybe the closures at DHS just hasn't caught up with the readers yet. Wonder if next year and the year after will be different (when is Avatarland done? 2018? and they haven't even announced -officially- what is happening at DHS). I wonder if this will see an impact in WDW attendance in the next year or 2 - As MK only gets more and more crowded the other 3 see drops-so overall attendance can be misleading.

Personally-I could spend hours in Diagon Alley alone taking in all the details!

 

[StarWarsJez]

The PP had stated that and you quoted my response to him. I believe we are on the same page.

Not sure what point you're trying to prove. I'm not overly bothered about what you, OP or anyone else has said. I can only speak for myself and didn't say this was hitting Disneys profits.

...but it will if it was to go unchecked. However the Disney exec won't let this happen and if the noise about Universal growth continues then Disney will probably look at timescales.

Bottom line is Disney has all the best assets at their disposal and already has plans to exploit them. The issue at the moment is around timescales - which could be accelerated if need be.

 

[River Country]

Doesn't Disney own Marvel? Isn't Marvel a big part of UO/IOA? just saying