Looks like Universal win this round

[Mad Hattered]

This photo was taken in March, 2011. If I follow your timeline then Disney cleared all this land and erected the buildings in a month?

http://pix.aerog.com/Images/Disney/Fantasylandexpansionaerials/i-K6TvZj9

 

[FLchick415]

Does it really matter who built what in how long? All that matters is they're both great at what they do and that makes US, the guests, the winners in the long run.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Does it really matter who built what in how long? All that matters is they're both great at what they do and that makes US, the guests, the winners in the long run.

Considering Avatar was announced in September of 2011 it does make it appear a little lopsided.

 

[CAS239]

I'm an annual passholder at WDW, Busch Gardens, and come October an AP at Islands of Adventure/Universal Studios.

We go to Halloween Horror Nights every year. So instead of buying HHN tickets for two nights, figure might as well get the AP's and take advantage of the free HHN tickets it comes with !

 

[FLchick415]

Considering Avatar was announced in September of 2011 it does make it appear a little lopsided.

I'm not one that particularly cares how long something takes to get built, as long as it's built WELL.

 

[Hannathy]

Does it really matter who built what in how long? All that matters is they're both great at what they do and that makes US, the guests, the winners in the long run.

No Disney USED to be great at what they do. They have taken the lazy way & cost cutting way out on so much in the last couple decades, from dressing up carnival rides to excessive meet and greets since they are cheap.

 

[FLchick415]

No Disney USED to be great at what they do. They have taken the lazy way & cost cutting way out on so much in the last couple decades, from dressing up carnival rides to excessive meet and greets since they are cheap.

That's your opinion. And that's fine.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I'm not one that particularly cares how long something takes to get built, as long as it's built WELL.

If only the pace of their increases matched their construction timelines (not including DVC of course).

 

[macphisto96]

Geez, lots of back and forth here.

From observation, Universal has moved a lot faster over the past two years or so. I've been a passholder to both parks during that span and spent a lot of time at both. However, Universal tended to drag their feet a lot before Comcast bought them completely. There were lots of budget issues due to multiple owners not really wanting to spend too much money. That's not been the case since Comcast came in. In fact, I know that Comcast has specifically been allocating a lot of money to improve attractions and soon improve queues as well. They have Disney in their sights and Harry Potter stage 1 emboldened them as they were working the acquisition of NBC Universal at that time. They put a dent in Disney and they wanted to keep doing it.

That's why they haven't let up. Those that think Universal just knocks stuff down and makes another haven't followed them much. The old Murder She Wrote theater was just storage for a decade until they knocked it down and built Transformers. They leveled that building and put crews to work 24/7 so that Transformers was functional only 11 months after demolition of the old building.

Over the past five years USF has added Rip Ride Rockit, Despicable ME, Transformers, Springfield theming and Diagon Alley. In the five years before that, they really only added Revenge of the Mummy, The Simpsons Ride, and a good revision to Earthquake in Disaster!.

Over at IOA, they upgraded Spiderman with the new 4K CGI and added Harry Potter. IOA has gotten less attention due to the expense of building the park from scratch and building the first stage of Potter, but that will change in the next few years. Lot of stuff on the drawing board. Some is a certainty (Kong and Jurassic Park addition), some is possible (new Seuss ride and expansion), and some may or may not happen (rebuild of Toon Lagoon into something else).

Disney has a lot more to deal with and also deals with different crowds in many respects. Magic Kingdom doesn't compete with IOA or USF in reality. They are very different parks. Frankly, there's not tons of overlap except between the Studios. I like Disney a lot, but I'd prefer a visit to USF over Hollywood Studios in some respects. I think Fantasmic and Beauty and the Beast are great shows. I love Toy Story Mania and Tower of Terror. Star Tours is fun. Rock'n'Roller coaster is okay. But USF has more to do.

I look forward to seeing what they do with Pandora. I think it's going to be fantastic, but I also think it's be great to see them focus on Epcot with something. I think the last thing we got there was the Test Track update. Good, but not anything really new. I enjoy all of WDW, but there are improvements that could be made.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

And Avatarland is not something new, and the film doesn't even have a following that warrants a theme area. It's gonna be bad.

Let's see...James Cameron working with Disney Imagineers. Yeah..."it's gonna
bad". They both have a horrible track record.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I enjoy all of WDW, but there are improvements that could be made.

I don't think there is one Disney fanatic(including me) on this thread that would disagree with that sentiment.

 

[rastuso]

In your post, it seems your mind is made up. Ironic, no? IOA--I lOVED HP, I think Seuss land rocks, Jurassic is okay--but mostly because I love tropical like theming and I do enjoy the one ride that is there (they have two, but the fall risk from the supposed kiddy ride just has me too freaked to ride it--did it once and ). The super hero section? Truly does NOTHING for me. I do not like the genre, one bit. (my husband sees all those movies solo because they bore me). While well themed, it is visually noisy to me. I don't like the spiderman ride--and I'm a hit or miss on roller coasters and just about injuried out of them. But still ride some. So though my kids love Hulk--I'm not sure I will ever ride it again. Then there is the cartoon section. It's okay. It doesn't excite me. The water ride was closed on our last visit--the last time I rode it, I don't remember it wow-ing me. Will I be back? Sure--I think HP is that good. I haven't been to Universal in ages. I LOVE the movie studio look. Hollywood Studios has lost all of their production, and what it was in 1989 excited me, what it is now doesn't as much. However, none of that matters--so long as my small fry remains small, Disney will see the large majority of our dollars. She isn't too keen on being a window shopper when there are rides everywhere. Baby swap doesn't matter if she has to do it on the large majority of rides present. So logically, since we like for her to enjoy her vacation as well, our time will be limited at the land of HP. I'm perfectly fine to plop down a one day admission and just do HP. But HP didn't account for short 3 year olds. So I won't go as much as we could. It seems by your post that you are a huge Universal fan. There are rides at Disney you could ride, but feel your money is better spent at Universal. If you could ride no rides at Disney, or just a select few, and Universal wasn't even an option, would you waste your money? All that said, I'm perturbed that to rider he new HP train (pardon my lack of naming knowledge )--you have to have a 2 park ticket at Universal. I get why they did it, but it does seem that profit was a prime reason and logistics secondary. I hope they advertise it will or they will upset many unsuspecting guests who want to line up and can only do so with a ticket upgrade.

Yeah, I usually go to Disney because it is always clear profit is not a consideration in their pricing. They are very altruistic with their $6 churros and $4 drinks.

I also enjoy buying their single park tickets. They are a good value, compared to multipack tickets.

I will give you hope though. Three year olds turn into 4 year olds. And usually get taller! When this happens, they will also be less and less impressed with kiddie rides, hence their name kiddie rides. I'm sure you'll still convince yourself Universal isn't for me.

The reason Disney is losing me is FP+, and no new rides. Even if I did have a three year old, I know they would only get to ride the dwarf ride once a day tops, the it's back to the selection of thirty year old rides.

-Jason

 

[rastuso]

I would venture a lot more.kids these days know/have seen HP than know/have actually seen snow white.

Yeah, so if you aren't a Snow White fan, the Dwarf ride doesn't matter to you, right? That seems to be the logic of this thread.

I can't imagine very many 3-4 year olds who walk into the magic Kingdom have any clue who Snow White is, unless their parents have purposely shown them the movie, I preparation for the ride,

-j

 

[Hannathy]

Yeah, so if you aren't a Snow White fan, the Dwarf ride doesn't matter to you, right? That seems to be the logic of this thread.

I can't imagine very many 3-4 year olds who walk into the magic Kingdom have any clue who Snow White is, unless their parents have purposely shown them the movie, I preparation for the ride,

-j

That response was in response to someone stating that Harry Potter was a flash in the pan and snow White was Timeless.

People were saying that Harry Potter has been around for a long time and is still going strong with many many fans and that most kids don't know Snow White at all.

 

[rastuso]

One last time not half the time. New fantasy land constructions started a whopping 4 months before Diagon Alley And not everyone wants classic things steamrollered for new things constantly.

Too bad you are wrong. NFL started construction in 2010

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/fantasyland.htm

Too town fair was closed Feb 11th 2011, but construction started WELL before that on the old submarine grounds.

Jaws gave its last ride Jan 2nd 2012, and needed MASSIVE demolition, removing a huge lake. If we want to start the timer then, when did the subs lagoon get filled in? Ten years ago?

Disney absolutely took about double. Why are you so obsessed with lying about the dates construction began?

-Jason

 

[sheetz]

Does it really matter who built what in how long?

Actually yes, it does matter. If Uni can build comparable attractions at a faster pace and lower cost than Disney it puts them at a competitive advantage that will make a big difference in the long run. Think GM vs Toyota.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Yeah, so if you aren't a Snow White fan, the Dwarf ride doesn't matter to you, right? That seems to be the logic of this thread.

That's putting quite a few words in my mouth. I wasn't commenting on whether the SDMT "mattered". I'm looking quite forward to the ride, actually.

 

[Angel Ariel]

That response was in response to someone stating that Harry Potter was a flash in the pan and snow White was Timeless.

People were saying that Harry Potter has been around for a long time and is still going strong with many many fans and that most kids don't know Snow White at all.

:thumbsup
Thanks

 

[Kate and Family]

I have not been to Universal in years and years. If we ever have more time to vacation, I would like to spend some time at Universal as well as WDW - with a little Sea World thrown in.

I am confused as to what has opened and what we are waiting to open in Universal. (and when it is slated to be open).

Is Diagon Alley open? If not when will it be open?

 

[surferdave]

The reason NFL has taken so long is it wasn't very ambitious to start with and they added the mine train after their feedback told them nobody was impressed with a bunch of princess M&Gs, and the mine train was the worst thing to do last since it's in the middle of the area. If they plan future adds better they will get them into production faster, but they are just not feeling the urgency that Uni is right now.