ehagerty
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2001
- Messages
- 2,099
Context / Expectation Alignment:
A bit of background on what we knew about Universal before this trip
------------------------------------------------------
What we knew from experience - 1993 Vacation:
When: In November, 1993, we went to Universal Studios for one day
Who: Cast at the time - ME39, DH37, DS5, DS3, BIL34, SIL29, DHN1
When we returned from this trip, a relative of DH47 inquired how we liked US compared to Disney. I commented that we like it all, but noted that we hadnt felt compelled to return to US the way we did to WDW. At the time, I didnt realize that there was a whole vocabulary identifying the missing ingredient; I.e. pixie dust, magic, total immersion, etc. but we just never felt compelled to return until DS3 became DS13 and started pitching for more thrill rides.
As far at the rides themselves, well, in 1993 I described them as the wham-bam, thank you maam school of attraction design. What did that mean?
- You waited in a somewhat uncomfortable queue (cement, occasional video, hot; nothing to get you into the story of the ride you were about to experience; I.e., the mood)
- Next, you were shepherded (well, it FELT like a cattle chute) into a ride, where the CM-equivalent rattled off the story line 100-mph to set the stage in a big hurry, followed by explosions, water, sharks, King Kong, etc.
- About 1.5 minutes later (on average), you were out in the alley (that cement again, and the blinding sun) wondering what happened.
Further compounding this sense of random (uneven?) no-stimulus-over-stimulus cycle was the fact that almost none of the rides were appropriate for young children, so we spent most of the day doing baby swaps, seldom experiencing rides together (which was the whole point of a family vacation).
Specifically, we took DS5 and DS3 on ET that was OK, and the best all around ride at the time for the family. We followed that with Back to the Future - and our kids were all done for the day. Even I, who doesnt scare at all and is seldom bothered by the physical aspects of a ride (like motion) was holding my neck after. We stayed from opening to closing, saw some shows (Blues Brothers, stunt / fireworks show), enjoyed the food and never seriously thought about returning. Not that we didnt like it, we just didnt like it ENOUGH to spend our vacation dollars there as long as Disney was an option.
What prompted me to reconsider?
- Childrens Age / Inclinations
DS14, being a wind in the face kind of kid, I thought Id look into the DISBOARDS trip reports on US/IOA to see if there were enough thrill rides and park strategies (price) to consider a short visit.
What prompted me to keep looking?
1.. Disboard Report / Discussions
In the process of reviewing various discussion threads on this site, I determined that:
- there were enough decent rides for the 3 teens in my party
- there was strategic (in the eye of this beholder) park admission pricing available
- there was considerable benefit to staying at the resort in the form of FOTL unlimited Front Of The Line access with resort ID, including day of check-in/out.
This preliminary investigation warranted further research and even tentative reservations for 2 weekend nights (where normally, I would have stayed at a WDW moderate hotel, between DVC Sun-Fri stays).
2. Unofficial Guide
I have always found the assessments in this book, particularly of the attractions, to be very close to my own (exceptions will be noted, where applicable). Once I was pretty certain I was going to give US another go, I acquired the 2004 guide and read up, noting several attractions were not to be missed, Best in US. Worth the price of admission, etc. Worth a try, anyway.
I keep going, developing this plan:
The 2004 Plan:
Park Admission Ordered 5 5-consecutive-day passes for $402, including tax even though I was only planning to use 3 days (Effective price per ticket = $80, including tax) (Gave away the last 2 days, even though, technically, you are not supposed to.)
Resort Royal Pacific Resort, standard room $164/night (not including tax or parking) FAN rate for Fri/Sat - Jun 25-26
Food Rooms snacks and use of buy-one-get-one-free gift certificates from Orlando radio stations at Nascar Café and The Kitchen for a couple of filling meals, with multiple food groups.
Plan:
Friday: Check-in, IOA, lunch at NASCAR Café, IOA
Saturday: US, lunch Kitchen, Split up into interests
Sunday: Check-out, long story.
Coming up next: US/IOA Assessment
A bit of background on what we knew about Universal before this trip
------------------------------------------------------
What we knew from experience - 1993 Vacation:
When: In November, 1993, we went to Universal Studios for one day
Who: Cast at the time - ME39, DH37, DS5, DS3, BIL34, SIL29, DHN1
When we returned from this trip, a relative of DH47 inquired how we liked US compared to Disney. I commented that we like it all, but noted that we hadnt felt compelled to return to US the way we did to WDW. At the time, I didnt realize that there was a whole vocabulary identifying the missing ingredient; I.e. pixie dust, magic, total immersion, etc. but we just never felt compelled to return until DS3 became DS13 and started pitching for more thrill rides.
As far at the rides themselves, well, in 1993 I described them as the wham-bam, thank you maam school of attraction design. What did that mean?
- You waited in a somewhat uncomfortable queue (cement, occasional video, hot; nothing to get you into the story of the ride you were about to experience; I.e., the mood)
- Next, you were shepherded (well, it FELT like a cattle chute) into a ride, where the CM-equivalent rattled off the story line 100-mph to set the stage in a big hurry, followed by explosions, water, sharks, King Kong, etc.
- About 1.5 minutes later (on average), you were out in the alley (that cement again, and the blinding sun) wondering what happened.
Further compounding this sense of random (uneven?) no-stimulus-over-stimulus cycle was the fact that almost none of the rides were appropriate for young children, so we spent most of the day doing baby swaps, seldom experiencing rides together (which was the whole point of a family vacation).
Specifically, we took DS5 and DS3 on ET that was OK, and the best all around ride at the time for the family. We followed that with Back to the Future - and our kids were all done for the day. Even I, who doesnt scare at all and is seldom bothered by the physical aspects of a ride (like motion) was holding my neck after. We stayed from opening to closing, saw some shows (Blues Brothers, stunt / fireworks show), enjoyed the food and never seriously thought about returning. Not that we didnt like it, we just didnt like it ENOUGH to spend our vacation dollars there as long as Disney was an option.
What prompted me to reconsider?
- Childrens Age / Inclinations
DS14, being a wind in the face kind of kid, I thought Id look into the DISBOARDS trip reports on US/IOA to see if there were enough thrill rides and park strategies (price) to consider a short visit.
What prompted me to keep looking?
1.. Disboard Report / Discussions
In the process of reviewing various discussion threads on this site, I determined that:
- there were enough decent rides for the 3 teens in my party
- there was strategic (in the eye of this beholder) park admission pricing available
- there was considerable benefit to staying at the resort in the form of FOTL unlimited Front Of The Line access with resort ID, including day of check-in/out.
This preliminary investigation warranted further research and even tentative reservations for 2 weekend nights (where normally, I would have stayed at a WDW moderate hotel, between DVC Sun-Fri stays).
2. Unofficial Guide
I have always found the assessments in this book, particularly of the attractions, to be very close to my own (exceptions will be noted, where applicable). Once I was pretty certain I was going to give US another go, I acquired the 2004 guide and read up, noting several attractions were not to be missed, Best in US. Worth the price of admission, etc. Worth a try, anyway.
I keep going, developing this plan:
The 2004 Plan:
Park Admission Ordered 5 5-consecutive-day passes for $402, including tax even though I was only planning to use 3 days (Effective price per ticket = $80, including tax) (Gave away the last 2 days, even though, technically, you are not supposed to.)
Resort Royal Pacific Resort, standard room $164/night (not including tax or parking) FAN rate for Fri/Sat - Jun 25-26
Food Rooms snacks and use of buy-one-get-one-free gift certificates from Orlando radio stations at Nascar Café and The Kitchen for a couple of filling meals, with multiple food groups.
Plan:
Friday: Check-in, IOA, lunch at NASCAR Café, IOA
Saturday: US, lunch Kitchen, Split up into interests
Sunday: Check-out, long story.
Coming up next: US/IOA Assessment
