Looks like the park reservation system is here to stay.

[Gr8scott]

On our last trip to Orlando we visited Universal and stayed at the Royal Pacific hotel which included unlimited express pass (their lightning lane) and I have to say it was a refreshing change. We could freely go between their parks, ride all the popular rides (maybe one wasn’t included in the Express Pass), and ate at some great restaurants. All the while without having to start the day at the crack of dawn to reserve rides at additional cost and my face being glued to my phone managing every move the entire day thereafter (Genie+, LL).

My wife and I were married at Wedding Pavilion with our reception a the Boardwalk, own multiple DVC contracts, and have been Disney loyalists for many years spending God only knows how much money there over the course of the last 20+ years. So before you say “Yeah but it‘s just not Disney” that is ironically the exact reason we are considering future theme park visits elsewhere. We are seriously questioning if all of the hassle is worth the Disney Magic anymore.

 

[Disneychick75]

Have used it my last two trips... the park reservation system does not bother me or hinder my vacation. I am a planner, i think that is what I enjoy most about my WDW vacations... the planning, the research, and especially the spreadsheets.

People are annoyed most by that which negatively affects them. I am DVC. I dont buy annual passes. I buy length of stay tickets (oh how I miss the no expiration tickets. But I already plan my vacations years out, so making a park reservation for a specific day is not a big deal to me. I am used to having to essentially do the same thing... planning ahead and scheduling a park for the day... if I was scheduling dining or the old E- fast passes. I find it eases my anxiety... ok check... prospective plans (spreadsheet fun).... now match with actual reservations. I love my playing on my phone... so taking a minute here and there is not a problem. Loved being able to mobile order. Used all forms last trip... made in advance TS reservations... spur of the moment walk up CS... mobile orders.

Last trip (Jan 2022) I committed to checking it out and used Genie+ and ILL for my whole week, and I felt I got my money's worth the last vacation in terms of time and rides. Being someone who does not like to go to the parks first thing in the AM... some of the previous FP systems were not the best for my style. So I would use it, pay for them again. So far every version has had their +/- for me. DO I like paying extra? nope... but I was able to get all the reservations and rides I wanted to with the system (Genie+ and ILL) and I did enjoy just walking onto rides .... both of which were not something that I was always able to do/get with the previous FP versions.

We sold our points a few years ago when Disney changed FastPass+. Food quality has gone from nice restaurant food to Golden Corral, the FP+ made it almost impossible to do what we wanted to do in a day, maintenance at both resorts and the parks are not what they once were, etc.- yet people still defend them so I cannot imagine there is motivation for Disney to improve. Disney World under Michael Eisner was its Golden Age. WDW now is what Six Flags was in the late 70's/early 80's, in other words, NOT a premium experience.

 

[Alicefan]

We sold our points a few years ago when Disney changed FastPass+. Food quality has gone from nice restaurant food to Golden Corral, the FP+ made it almost impossible to do what we wanted to do in a day, maintenance at both resorts and the parks are not what they once were, etc.- yet people still defend them so I cannot imagine there is motivation for Disney to improve. Disney World under Michael Eisner was its Golden Age. WDW now is what Six Flags was in the late 70's/early 80's, in other words, NOT a premium experience.

I have to agree. I've been reading the Allears page as a part of my daily routine for gosh, at least 10 or 15 years or more, and never have I seen more articles about rides shutting down and just general bad show that you used to hardly ever see. I've been going at least twice a year since the 25 year celebration and I can say without a doubt, the magic started trickling away for me about 4 or 5 years ago. I kept hanging on to hope that it was just growing pains but I don't get that same excited feeling about the place that I used to. It was a feeling that you just couldn't explain to people that had never been. I would swear that Disney had to have some sort of subliminal messaging going on throughout the parks because as many times as I would say, "ok this is it, we NEED to try out new places." I just wasn't interested in any place without a Disney fix. I would start planning my next vacation back to the mouse as soon as I got home. I still can't explain it. I still like to plan trips but these days they revolve around Universal Studios with a side trip to Disney maybe every other visit. I NEVER thought I'd see that day because there's no doubt that Universal doesn't have the magic, but they DO still have value for your money IMO and I don't have that feeling of being money grubbed to death there with things constantly being taken away but costing so much more. I feel like Disney thinks of it's guests these days as suckers more than anything else. It just feels icky.

 

[New Mouse]

On the rides breaking down part, these are machines that have been around for decades. If you don't replace them over time, things will break more often as they get older, even with basic upkeep.

Let's face it, Magic Kingdom has probably 80% of it in need of an overhaul.

The one thing I like about Universal is that they don't hold onto the past so tight. He'll I'd argue they follow Walts vision of not becoming a museum more than Disney does. They have turned over the entire opening day park except for 2 attractions.

 

[BaybeeYoda]

Hi everyone- new here-- have been going to disney yearly for over a decade but now exploring the possibility of Universal. Kids are 9 and 12-- I heard once kids are much older (12+) they prefer Universal? Both children are boys.

 

[BrianL]

Hi everyone- new here-- have been going to disney yearly for over a decade but now exploring the possibility of Universal. Kids are 9 and 12-- I heard once kids are much older (12+) they prefer Universal? Both children are boys.

Hey, welcome to the DIS!

It's pretty common that kids that age may start preferring Univeral as it has bigger thrill rides, but they may still like Disney too. There's no harm in traying it out - maybe do a little of both. Disney does have some new thrill rides coming, like Guardians of the Galaxy and TRON (Guardians is open at the end of May), so your boys may really like those.

 

[Dcgc28]

Hi everyone- new here-- have been going to disney yearly for over a decade but now exploring the possibility of Universal. Kids are 9 and 12-- I heard once kids are much older (12+) they prefer Universal? Both children are boys.

just be aware that universal isn’t exactly a week long thing right now. I’m sure you could stretch it into a week with water parks and everything.

But people don’t have to choose one or the other. They can both be enjoyed. Your sons will definitely love Universal.

 

[BaybeeYoda]

just be aware that universal isn’t exactly a week long thing right now. I’m sure you could stretch it into a week with water parks and everything.

But people don’t have to choose one or the other. They can both be enjoyed. Your sons will definitely love Universal.

Oh, so Universal isn't a week or even a two week thing? We have gone to disney for anywhere between 5-10 days, with the 10 days option being our favorite trips....

 

[BrianL]

Oh, so Universal isn't a week or even a two week thing? We have gone to disney for anywhere between 5-10 days, with the 10 days option being our favorite trips....

Yeah, I wouldn't think you would want to do Universal for that long. They only have two parks and one waterpark. Often they are not as busy as Dieny eitehr, so you can really make good time. Even after doing your favorites a few times, you'd have tons more time. I once had tickets that were buy 2 days get a third free, and I didn't even use the third (this was before Volcano Bay though). Universal is just not as big. I'd recommend that you try it out for couple days first and see what you think.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

Yeah, I wouldn't think you would want to do Universal for that long. They only have two parks and one waterpark. Often they are not as busy as Dieny eitehr, so you can really make good time. Even after doing your favorites a few times, you'd have tons more time. I once had tickets that were buy 2 days get a third free, and I didn't even use the third (this was before Volcano Bay though). Universal is just not as big. I'd recommend that you try it out for couple days first and see what you think.

Agreed, 3 days was more then enough for us. We also thought outside of HP it felt cheaper. Maybe I look at everything through Disney colored glasses, but it def felt different to say the least

 

[Dcgc28]

Oh, so Universal isn't a week or even a two week thing? We have gone to disney for anywhere between 5-10 days, with the 10 days option being our favorite trips....

I’m sure others will disagree with me and that’s fine but we did IOA and Universal in one day, definitely didn’t do everything, last trip and felt like we’d done enough to not worry about coming back. (On that trip. We will go back on future trips)

But we’re Disney obsessed. Universal was a fine park to me. But not what I like. I’m sure your sons will have a blast though. Do a half/half stay. Shouldn’t cost much if anymore when you start taking park days from Disney and paying to go to Universal.

 

[Dcgc28]

Agreed, 3 days was more then enough for us. We also thought outside of HP it felt cheaper. Maybe I look at everything through Disney colored glasses, but it def felt different to say the least

I think their new areas will fix that and not to start a whole tangent lol but I’m not super excited for Super Mario Land, or whatever it’s officially called, it’s a lot of theming. But it just seems like a lot of wasted space. Like 2 attractions?

 

[Jrb1979]

Agreed, 3 days was more then enough for us. We also thought outside of HP it felt cheaper. Maybe I look at everything through Disney colored glasses, but it def felt different to say the least

For me I do 5 days almost always at Universal. It's mainly cause theming is not my number 1 thing for a park. My number 1 thing is how many thrilling rides they have and how many are not 1 and done. A good example last time I went to Universal I rode the Mummy 11 times. For Disney I find the majority of their attractions are 1 and done.

 

[Dcgc28]

For me I do 5 days almost always at Universal. It's mainly cause theming is not my number 1 thing for a park. My number 1 thing is how many thrilling rides they have and how many are not 1 and done. A good example last time I went to Universal I rode the Mummy 11 times. For Disney I find the majority of their attractions are 1 and done.

I think this is a great point especially to the poster who asked. If her sons, or anyone who wants to go, want to ride multiple times Universal is probably more friendly for that right now than Disney.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

I think their new areas will fix that and not to start a whole tangent lol but I’m not super excited for Super Mario Land, or whatever it’s officially called, it’s a lot of theming. But it just seems like a lot of wasted space. Like 2 attractions?

Now that I think about it the problem that I have with universal is that it’s too disjointed. Small areas packed together, it’s like they can’t focus, and affects its flow. Epic universe to me feels more of the same, kind of like an extension of islands of adventure

 

[Douglas Dubh]

For me, Disney has several rides which I can ride repeatedly, but if I tried that at Universal I’d be sick. There’s very few rides at Universal my wife can ride once since she gets motion sick easier than me.

 

[BaybeeYoda]

I think this is a great point especially to the poster who asked. If her sons, or anyone who wants to go, want to ride multiple times Universal is probably more friendly for that right now than Disney.

There's just so much to do at Disney-- the Pirates and the Animal Kingdom scavenger hunts, the pins, the parades and fireworks, and even just walking around the resorts. Not sure if Universal has so many distractions?

 

[Dcgc28]

There's just so much to do at Disney-- the Pirates and the Animal Kingdom scavenger hunts, the pins, the parades and fireworks, and even just walking around the resorts. Not sure if Universal has so many distractions?

I’m definitely not an expert enough to say. But I’m sure others on here will definitely be more than willing to help you out!

 

[disney-inspired]

There's just so much to do at Disney-- the Pirates and the Animal Kingdom scavenger hunts, the pins, the parades and fireworks, and even just walking around the resorts. Not sure if Universal has so many distractions?

They're only good if people enjoy doing those kinds of things and with the cost, I can see why people want more thrills for their buck.

 

[BaybeeYoda]

They're only good if people enjoy doing those kinds of things and with the cost, I can see why people want more thrills for their buck.

Yes, the price of admission has become a huge deterrent.