GoofyforDisney3
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2004
- Messages
- 2,346
Just returned from a week in Orlando and thought I would post a few thoughts:
1) WWoHP was really cool, but I'm not in a hurry to return unless they add some more stuff.
2)We got lucky on Monday afternoon and only had to wait about 20 minutes to get into the WWoHP. Had we waiting another hour or so, we would have been able to just walk in like we did on Thursday, but we were happy to get in. Had I wait hours like other people had been, I would have been really disappointed. It just doesn't have enough stuff.
3) Never did get into Honeydukes or Zonko's. The lines for those stores were over an hour each day and did not have any shade. Direct sun on a day that it is 100 degrees in the shade isn't good. Couldn't they have put up some temporary umbrellas or something to make shade?
4) Got lucky on Monday and bought frozen butter beer from a lady standing right by the door to the Owl Post with very little wait. It was awesome! Thursday we waited in a fairly short cool line to get it at the pub. No way was I waiting in that long line to get it at the Butterbeer "trucK". I don't think many people knew you could get anything other than regular beer at the pub. IMO, the frozen is much better than the regular. The regular was just a little to sweet for me.
5) Waited about 2 hours to do Olivanders. Made sure the kids knew that there was only a very small chance that one would be picked to do the wand thing. They were okay with it, so we waited. Ended up to be worth the wait since my DD was picked, but the show was very short and I could see people getting upset about it. Again, can't figure out why Universal couldn't have set up some umbrellas for shade.
6) The food at The Three Broomsticks was okay, but again not worth the long lines. We had the Fish and Chips (which were really good), the pasti's (a little dry and not a lot of flavor), and the chicken platter (basically the same chicken platter you can buy at several other counter services places). The strawberry - peanut butter ice cream was good, but wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be. The strawberry ice cream part was very artificle and it didn't have enough peanut butter.
7) I found that the large store by the entrance and also the Universal store in City Walk had some merchandise. They did NOT have wands, just some t-shirts and stuffed animals, chocolate frogs, etc.
8) The Forbidden Journay was cool, but I didn't think it was that ground breaking. I did not care for the spiders and dementors, but the flying part was cool. It did make me a little sick to my stomach and I don't normally have motion sickness. May have been because it was so hot out, but just beware it could cause you to feel a little off balance when you get off the ride. The seats were not that bad. I actually fit better in those than I did the hulk and Dragons Challenge.
9) The whole Universal experience was okay, but it doesn't allow you to become detached from every day live like a WDW trip does. The music they play is not always the most family friendly. One day they were playing OPP (Nauty by Nature). Not exactly a song I want my 7 year old to learn. Also, the employees were a little to interested in there own thing. Witnessed several times two or more employees talking about there drama instead of working and taking care of the guests. Also heard some choice language from two employees as they were walking thru the park one evening.
10) I don't think Universal was prepared for the impact the opening of WWoHP would have on the rest of the parks. The lines for food were crazy! I waiting over 30 minutes Thursday to get food from a counter service place. Not even one of the cafeteria style place, but one of the counter, counter service places. They did only had 2 of the 4 lanes open in one of the cafeteria style places on Monday during the lunch rush. That wait was about 45 minutes. There were many other places that just were not open at all which contributed to the lines even more.
11) I found it funny that Universal will do just about anything to get a dig in on Disney. A couple times there were jokes or merchandise that pointed to Disney. They were funny, but also a little lame too.
12) The seats for The Hulk, Dragon's Challenge and Rip Ride Rock-it were all as small, if not smaller, than the seats for Forbidden Journay. I could barely move on the Hulk the seat was so tight.
13) Also feel Universal was not very organized when it comes to loading the rides. I understand the front of the line access cost money at Universal, but they will take 50 people from that line before taking even one from the regular line. 45 minutes for the Trolley in the Sky ride is a little much, but it was all because of the express pass.
14) Also did not like the amount of things that are either trying to sell you stuff or cost extra. Sea World did this too. At least when you pay more for a day at a Disney park it includes everything. Cheaper isn't always better.
All in all, we had a great vacation. I like Universal and we will go back again, but it isn't the destination vacation like Disney is for me.
1) WWoHP was really cool, but I'm not in a hurry to return unless they add some more stuff.
2)We got lucky on Monday afternoon and only had to wait about 20 minutes to get into the WWoHP. Had we waiting another hour or so, we would have been able to just walk in like we did on Thursday, but we were happy to get in. Had I wait hours like other people had been, I would have been really disappointed. It just doesn't have enough stuff.
3) Never did get into Honeydukes or Zonko's. The lines for those stores were over an hour each day and did not have any shade. Direct sun on a day that it is 100 degrees in the shade isn't good. Couldn't they have put up some temporary umbrellas or something to make shade?
4) Got lucky on Monday and bought frozen butter beer from a lady standing right by the door to the Owl Post with very little wait. It was awesome! Thursday we waited in a fairly short cool line to get it at the pub. No way was I waiting in that long line to get it at the Butterbeer "trucK". I don't think many people knew you could get anything other than regular beer at the pub. IMO, the frozen is much better than the regular. The regular was just a little to sweet for me.
5) Waited about 2 hours to do Olivanders. Made sure the kids knew that there was only a very small chance that one would be picked to do the wand thing. They were okay with it, so we waited. Ended up to be worth the wait since my DD was picked, but the show was very short and I could see people getting upset about it. Again, can't figure out why Universal couldn't have set up some umbrellas for shade.
6) The food at The Three Broomsticks was okay, but again not worth the long lines. We had the Fish and Chips (which were really good), the pasti's (a little dry and not a lot of flavor), and the chicken platter (basically the same chicken platter you can buy at several other counter services places). The strawberry - peanut butter ice cream was good, but wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be. The strawberry ice cream part was very artificle and it didn't have enough peanut butter.
7) I found that the large store by the entrance and also the Universal store in City Walk had some merchandise. They did NOT have wands, just some t-shirts and stuffed animals, chocolate frogs, etc.
8) The Forbidden Journay was cool, but I didn't think it was that ground breaking. I did not care for the spiders and dementors, but the flying part was cool. It did make me a little sick to my stomach and I don't normally have motion sickness. May have been because it was so hot out, but just beware it could cause you to feel a little off balance when you get off the ride. The seats were not that bad. I actually fit better in those than I did the hulk and Dragons Challenge.
9) The whole Universal experience was okay, but it doesn't allow you to become detached from every day live like a WDW trip does. The music they play is not always the most family friendly. One day they were playing OPP (Nauty by Nature). Not exactly a song I want my 7 year old to learn. Also, the employees were a little to interested in there own thing. Witnessed several times two or more employees talking about there drama instead of working and taking care of the guests. Also heard some choice language from two employees as they were walking thru the park one evening.
10) I don't think Universal was prepared for the impact the opening of WWoHP would have on the rest of the parks. The lines for food were crazy! I waiting over 30 minutes Thursday to get food from a counter service place. Not even one of the cafeteria style place, but one of the counter, counter service places. They did only had 2 of the 4 lanes open in one of the cafeteria style places on Monday during the lunch rush. That wait was about 45 minutes. There were many other places that just were not open at all which contributed to the lines even more.
11) I found it funny that Universal will do just about anything to get a dig in on Disney. A couple times there were jokes or merchandise that pointed to Disney. They were funny, but also a little lame too.
12) The seats for The Hulk, Dragon's Challenge and Rip Ride Rock-it were all as small, if not smaller, than the seats for Forbidden Journay. I could barely move on the Hulk the seat was so tight.
13) Also feel Universal was not very organized when it comes to loading the rides. I understand the front of the line access cost money at Universal, but they will take 50 people from that line before taking even one from the regular line. 45 minutes for the Trolley in the Sky ride is a little much, but it was all because of the express pass.
14) Also did not like the amount of things that are either trying to sell you stuff or cost extra. Sea World did this too. At least when you pay more for a day at a Disney park it includes everything. Cheaper isn't always better.
All in all, we had a great vacation. I like Universal and we will go back again, but it isn't the destination vacation like Disney is for me.
I have a habit of waiting until I can spend less than an hour waiting for a ride. 
