Just returned from Universal -

[Disneycrazymom]

I was completely surprised by how much I liked it! We stayed on-site and had FOTL. That is the best on-site perk ever!

The rides were honestly very good. Believe me I didn't want to think that, but really, now, most of the Disney rides just seem outdated. Spiderman, Jimmy N, Men in Black, ET, the Dinosaur splash ride were all really good rides for our whole family to ride together.

I am posting here to see what you all think. I think Disney may be at risk of losing some of it's core audience. Especially with the new ticket and hotel price increase. I know our family will split our week from now on. No way we could go as far as Orlando and not head over for a few days now that we have seen how good it is! Or possibly just spend our vacation at Universal for the 7 day $85 ticket. These are words I NEVER thought I would use in this order! But seeing is believing.

Is Disney worried? Enough to make some improvements and updates?

 

[Metro West]

I was completely surprised by how much I liked it! We stayed on-site and had FOTL. That is the best on-site perk ever!

The rides were honestly very good. Believe me I didn't want to think that, but really, now, most of the Disney rides just seem outdated. Spiderman, Jimmy N, Men in Black, ET, the Dinosaur splash ride were all really good rides for our whole family to ride together.

I am posting here to see what you all think. I think Disney may be at risk of losing some of it's core audience. Especially with the new ticket and hotel price increase. I know our family will split our week from now on. No way we could go as far as Orlando and not head over for a few days now that we have seen how good it is! Or possibly just spend our vacation at Universal for the 7 day $85 ticket. These are words I NEVER thought I would use in this order! But seeing is believing.

Is Disney worried? Enough to make some improvements and updates?

I'm glad you had a good time and enjoyed yourself at Universal. It's funny that so many Disney people simply won't go because of some silly misconceptions or they would feel disloyal or whatever. I never understood that one!

Anyway....again....glad you had a good time and will be back again!

 

[toaster6.54]

The FOTL priviledge is great - if you have it. If not, it can be infuriating to watch people exit a ride and run right back in repeatedly while you move up about 6 feet with each ride cycle.

US/IOA does have some great rides, when they work. We've been stranded on ET many times, once for over 45 minutes. MIB is always hit or miss.

 

[rpbert1]

Glad you had a great time. I love US and IOA. Last year we stayed at Universal 1 week and Disney for 2 weeks, we went this year and only done US IOA and Sea world, as we where at Disney last year. We stayed on site for the 3 weeks, not that we where at the parks everyday for the 3 weeks, but FOTL and being able to walk over to the parks makes them more enjoyable and not an endurance.
Next year DD wants to go to Disney parks for a week, so still deciding but at the minute we are planning to stay at Universal again ,and if we get Disney tickets will drive down rather than stay on Disney property.

 

[Slothman23]

It always drives me crazy when people act like you can't enjoy both resorts. They're good for each other. The competition drives them both to want to improve their parks and that is always good for us.

 

[Wick]

Was this your first US/IOA trip?

I've had FOTL before and yes it is amazing! Initially it may seem like it puts Disneys FP system to shame; after my first US/IOA trip, I found myself asking how could Disney ever compete with FOTL?

Consider the sheer size difference between US/IOA and WDW with respect to on-site accomodations. US/IOA can allocate FOTL access so easily because they only host 3 hotels (currently), while WDW has 25+.

But it's not like you can't enjoy both! US/IOA has some great attractions. I just prefer not splitting up my visit because, to me, WDW still has the advantage of making you feel like you're really in another world (as Walt so aptly planned it to be). US/IOA just doesn't wield this same effect, though you still have an awesome time there.

 

[KPOP]

FOTL = ???

Thanks

 

[toaster6.54]

FOTL = ???

Thanks

Front Of The Line

All US/IOA guests staying at one of their three on property resorts get FOTL for their length of stay.

 

[Wick]

FOTL = ???

Thanks

Front Of The Line is a perk of staying at a US/IOA resort where guests literally show their room keycard to the attraction attendant and they can go in thru the back. It's like an unlimited fastpass with no time restrictions.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I don't think Disney is worried yet but I do think they ought to be worrying about it. Right now I have a 2 year annual pass to Universal purchased for next to nothing. Unless Disney makes some serious changes I'll be back to my old Orlando vacation mode of half Disney half something else...or even worse 1/3 Disney, 2/3 something else...there is quite a lot to do in Orlando these days. And part of that third will be at a Disney water park or Disney Quest. Disney hasn't given me a big enough reason to behave otherwise except for the Food and Wine Festival.

At the same time Universal occasionally takes a page from Disney's book and stands still on new rides and maintenance. To me it doesn't make sense for the other guy to screw up and act like you but that seems to be Disney's plan.

 

[G8RFAN]

I don't think Disney is worried yet but I do think they ought to be worrying about it. Right now I have a 2 year annual pass to Universal purchased for next to nothing. Unless Disney makes some serious changes I'll be back to my old Orlando vacation mode of half Disney half something else...or even worse 1/3 Disney, 2/3 something else...there is quite a lot to do in Orlando these days. And part of that third will be at a Disney water park or Disney Quest. Disney hasn't given me a big enough reason to behave otherwise except for the Food and Wine Festival.

At the same time Universal occasionally takes a page from Disney's book and stands still on new rides and maintenance. To me it doesn't make sense for the other guy to screw up and act like you but that seems to be Disney's plan.

Last month, we bought the 2 year AP's for US/IOA also for about a third of what it cost us to renew our PAP's at WDW. I've always liked IOA for the higher thrill ride quotient, but this is the first time I committed our family with AP's there. The value of staying at their resorts for the unlimited FOTL is enormous and I was surprised to see that the room keyes came with charging privelidges. Not sure if I would like to see FOTL at WDW, just due to the sheer size of their room inventory. Just imagine how nuts the FP lines would be. SW is another great bargain with their fun pass for a few bucks more than a one day pass that is good for the rest of the year.

 

[larry_poppins]

I, for one, am looking forward to Harry Potter arriving at IOA in 2009.


Larry

 

[yensidretlaw]

We always love our Disney Vacations. We can do the original Universal Park in 1/2 a day and not being a big thrill rider, the Islands of Adventure is not something that draws my attention. Now come 2009, I will be venturing off Disney Property right over to the new Harry Potter Park!

 

[Tissa]

I'd never thought I would say it but next year we are doing Universal/beach and skipping WDW
My WDW AP will expire in October and I will not be getting a new one. I have already bought us the Universal AP with the 2 year deal.

I'm not saying that we will never return to WDW, it still holds a special place in my heart but I just do not feel that I am getting what I pay for any longer.

I do not expect Universal to be WDW but then again I'm not paying WDW prices either.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I seriouly doubt Disney is "worried". In fact, didn't I just read somewhere that Universal was losing attendance??
Anyway--it's a nice place to go now and then. We stop over there every 3-4 years just to see if anything new that we might like.

 

[newnana]

My family goes to Orlando every year or so. One year we do only WDW the next year at US/IOA/SW and other area attractions. Doing this keeps things fresh and there's always something new to experience. Disney has many memories for my family, but the kids are older and even though they enjoy WDW, they enjoy going over to check out whats going on at US. Now with HP coming to IOA and Aquatica opening, things are getting very interesting again in that side of Orlando. As for next May, we're taking our 3 year old grandson on his first Disney trip!!! We are taking a side trip to SW so he can see the animals. ( he is enthralled with anything sealike).

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

The sad thing is that so many people see this as an "us vs. them" thing. But who's us and who's them? Both WDW and USO want one thing from us and we all know what that is.

I look at all of the Parks as opportunities for fun. Universal is great because it's just two Parks side by side with City Walk right there. The bad thing is that very little significant change has happened here since IOA. Of course people who have never been before find it all new and exciting but still you can only take the same ole, same ole for so long. WDW has so much more but it's all spread out and not so easy to just pop in and out making it a pain to really enjoy.

I don't think Disney is worried about USO when the brand new state of the art IOA did virtually nothing to WDW when it opened so there is no way (IMO) that a new land in IOA (Harry Potter) which will be mostly smoke and mirrors anyway (meaning little of substance other than great visual themeing, like already exists at IOA, and a bunch of gift shops). We already have heard how few actual attractions there will be...

The point is that neither company is benevolent and neither care about any of us to any degree that reaches any further than getting us to part with our money. That's it.

 

[Another Voice]

The sad thing is that so many people see this as an "us vs. them" thing.

It was bound to happen when Disney stopped being a creative company and turned itself into a lifestyle brand.

What the company sells today is the idea that if you associate with Disney, your life will be better. Go to WDW and "experience the magic". Go on the cruise ship and be "magical". Buy this breakfast cereal for a "magical morning". Dress up your daughter as a princess and she'll feel "magical".

A lot of people have bought into this idea. When it comes down to it - buying something to make your life "magical" is a lot easier than fixing the real problems in your life. It’s no different than a cigarette company selling people that smoking makes you subversive and coolly dangerous, that buying this sports car means your man parts are bigger than the guy with a mini van or that weighing over 85 pounds means you’re an hideously deformed woman and bound for an old age surrounded by fifty cats. Disney is selling "magic" to the affluent middle class as an instant cure for their emptiness and unhappiness.

The "logic" is simple: Disney is good. By liking Disney, that makes me a good person. People who don't like Disney are, therefore, less good than I am.

If we had Disney’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Animal Kingdom you would see such venom spewed at that stupid half-day zoo with those short carnival rides and all the heat and there’s nothing but plants to look at…the boards would melt were it not for all the praise being heaped on the “magical” Dr. Suess area and the stunning views over the lagoon.

P.S. - Mr. Pirate, if the whispers coming out of the Black Tower are true about the main attraction planned for the 'Harry Potter' area...Disney is in deep and serious trouble.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The Harry Potter franchise is going to be huge for Universal Orlando. Universal is also finally investing in some new rides over at the Studios too. While they just matched the Disney price increase on 1-day tickets, the multi-day tickets and annual passes are an incredible value and Disney can't touch it. More and more people are including Universal Orlando in their Orlando visit. And each day spent over at Universal is one less day with the Mouse. Disney and Universal are completely different experiences.

BobK/Orlando

 

[ChrisFL]

If we had Disney’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Animal Kingdom you would see such venom spewed at that stupid half-day zoo with those short carnival rides and all the heat and there’s nothing but plants to look at…the boards would melt were it not for all the praise being heaped on the “magical” Dr. Suess area and the stunning views over the lagoon.

What a difference rose colored and mickey shaped glasses makes