Is it just me or....

[dtum]

We did one day at IOA and 1/2 day at US. 1/2 day was all it took for us to go around the park and ride the rides and then we were done. Nothing else left to do. IOA was much better, but still not DW...but then again it's not supposed to be DW. Have to agree the family admospher at DW is so much better. Even the kiddie rides are so much better. Riding the kiddie rides at US was really lame.

 

[wcw57]

while i agree with all of you that WDW has the bestest atmosphere in the whole wide world.....
my point was that they now seem REactive with their innovations rather than PROactive.....with exceptions, as noted by all of you, they seem content to "answer" other people's initiatives and expansions.......

and again, Star Wars:hardly anything (percentage-wise, of the parks)
Avatar: a whole "land"!?! not evena Disney production as an excuse for the "investment"

just sayin' that's what I think

 

[fairyprincess88]

I seem to be the opposite of everyone on this thread. I used to be one of those people that could go to Orlando, spend a week on Disney property and not even care if I ventured outside of it or not. I did a CP at WDW, took yearly vacations ect ect. Well, then Universal announced the WWoHP and if there is one thing that could distract me from Mickey it is Harry. So as soon as WWoHP was opened, I left Disney property for 2 days on that summer's trip. I haven't been back on Disney property since.

I fell in love with Universal and well, give me a butterbeer and a couple credit cards and I could wander around the WWoHP for days happy as a clam. Now that doesn't mean I no longer love Disney, but Universal just appeals to me more at this stage in my life. I just had to get over there for more than just a few hours to discover that. I love the rides, Spiderman, Forbidden Journey, Mummy ect are just amazing and far beyond anything Disney offers. There are more grown up things to do and shows that are not on a family friendly child level such as the Horror Makeup Show. It's just a different experience. Plus the WWoHP is beyond extraordinary when it comes to themeing and experience.

I do still love Disney but feel that until I give birth they are not really creating anything new that will fit my age group. I am excited for the Fantasyland expansion because it's new and I love fairytales and all that classic Disney magic, but it's not something that is going to make me rush out and book a trip right away either. I don't know, I guess I just love both now and I hope that both Disney and Universal keep pushing each other in newer and fresher directions because it's win win for everyone.

 

[KellyNY]

I seem to be the opposite of everyone on this thread. I used to be one of those people that could go to Orlando, spend a week on Disney property and not even care if I ventured outside of it or not. I did a CP at WDW, took yearly vacations ect ect. Well, then Universal announced the WWoHP and if there is one thing that could distract me from Mickey it is Harry. So as soon as WWoHP was opened, I left Disney property for 2 days on that summer's trip. I haven't been back on Disney property since.

I fell in love with Universal and well, give me a butterbeer and a couple credit cards and I could wander around the WWoHP for days happy as a clam. Now that doesn't mean I no longer love Disney, but Universal just appeals to me more at this stage in my life. I just had to get over there for more than just a few hours to discover that. I love the rides, Spiderman, Forbidden Journey, Mummy ect are just amazing and far beyond anything Disney offers. There are more grown up things to do and shows that are not on a family friendly child level such as the Horror Makeup Show. It's just a different experience. Plus the WWoHP is beyond extraordinary when it comes to themeing and experience.

I do still love Disney but feel that until I give birth they are not really creating anything new that will fit my age group. I am excited for the Fantasyland expansion because it's new and I love fairytales and all that classic Disney magic, but it's not something that is going to make me rush out and book a trip right away either. I don't know, I guess I just love both now and I hope that both Disney and Universal keep pushing each other in newer and fresher directions because it's win win for everyone.

Did you manage spending the whole week in Universal and not being bored? I am asking because it was my plan last year but I was afraid to get bored and went to Disney instead.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Did you manage spending the whole week in Universal and not being bored? I am asking because it was my plan last year but I was afraid to get bored and went to Disney instead.

Yep. I spent 2 days in just WWoHP without getting bored. I also like Universal because it was relaxing. No getting on a bus, no running for fastpass ect. The resorts are either a short walk or a boat ride away, you can walk between both parks, express pass for all(well most) rides when staying on site. The three resorts are all deluxe and you could easily spend a few hours at the park, head back and relax by the pool or nap without hassle. Plus there is City Walk with all the shops, clubs, movie theater ect right there. It's just a more laid back theme park experience. Of course if you are a theme park commando I can see it getting boring but it's a nice change of pace. And I really, really love the no bus thing....a lot!

 

[KellyNY]

Yep. I spent 2 days in just WWoHP without getting bored. I also like Universal because it was relaxing. No getting on a bus, no running for fastpass ect. The resorts are either a short walk or a boat ride away, you can walk between both parks, express pass for all(well most) rides when staying on site. The three resorts are all deluxe and you could easily spend a few hours at the park, head back and relax by the pool or nap without hassle. Plus there is City Walk with all the shops, clubs, movie theater ect right there. It's just a more laid back theme park experience. Of course if you are a theme park commando I can see it getting boring but it's a nice change of pace. And I really, really love the no bus thing....a lot!

Thanks. We actually not commando at all, we usually hang around resort till afternoon and then go to parks for few rides and shows. We did Universal many times but always combined with Disney and only 2 days per trip and never on Universal site. I am looking forward for Universal hotels, one part that I really like that I heard you can poolhop there and all their pools look amazing. I am still scared about the whole week but I must agree that I can definitely get lost for few days in WWOHP, I am a big fan, unfortunately only fan in a family.

 

[Jennasis]

while i agree with all of you that WDW has the bestest atmosphere in the whole wide world.....
my point was that they now seem REactive with their innovations rather than PROactive.....with exceptions, as noted by all of you, they seem content to "answer" other people's initiatives and expansions.......

and again, Star Wars:hardly anything (percentage-wise, of the parks)
Avatar: a whole "land"!?! not evena Disney production as an excuse for the "investment"

just sayin' that's what I think

Why do you assume that every new thing WDW is doing now is a reaction? You seem pretty sure that FLE and Avatarland are "reactions" to WWOHP. Maybe they are and maybe they aren't. IF they are, that doesn't make EVERY move they make now and answer to WWOHP...it means that one idea was.

As for your problem with Avatarland (which I am against personally. Avatar had the weakest plot and characters ever), a great MANY of Disney's attractions are based on non-Disney IP's. Like:

Star Wars
The Great Movie RIde
THE MUPPETS
Peter Pan
Winnie The Pooh
Mary Poppins
The Twilight Zone
Aerosmith
Indiana Jones

 

[wcw57]

Why do you assume that every new thing WDW is doing now is a reaction? You seem pretty sure that FLE and Avatarland are "reactions" to WWOHP. Maybe they are and maybe they aren't. IF they are, that doesn't make EVERY move they make now and answer to WWOHP...it means that one idea was.

As for your problem with Avatarland (which I am against personally. Avatar had the weakest plot and characters ever), a great MANY of Disney's attractions are based on non-Disney IP's. Like:

Star Wars
The Great Movie RIde
THE MUPPETS
Peter Pan
Winnie The Pooh
Mary Poppins
The Twilight Zone
Aerosmith
Indiana Jones

peter pan, pooh, mary p. all were adapted into popular Disney films....muppets are now Disney-owned....star wars: well, again a reactive strike against Universal , indiana jones: they needed SOMETHING to be a "current" attraction at MGM-Hollywood (as it was called) ....aerosmith? got me? can't figure it out.....,

my point is that, when EPCOT opened there was true innovation (from the touch-screen reservation kiosks to the wire-in-the-floor guidance systems....Ben Franklin walks up stairs! ) stuff that was NEW and almost cutting edge.........
now, if one more person mentions kim possible (which is cool) as innovative rather than a way to get kids to at least not be bored to death in the World Showcase, I think I will scream.....yeah, its cool but not as cool as all the things my phone can do (and I OWN that) where are the forward thinking imagineers who created soarin's infrastructure?

best storytelling...best atmosphere, best heart....all of that but not much spark left, i'm afraid (imnsho) not tryin' to upset people, ahm jus' sayin'