New Universal Commercial? Kinda Rude...

[phamton]

Ok the thing that gets me is when does Disney ever make fun of anyone else? really come on, can you think of one time? I can't.

Yes, their superhero commercial.

Who do they think they are?

Not Disney.

I can't really say much about the actual US/IOA because I've never been (and don't plan to)

Way to be opened minded.

I know people have said "oh well there's suess land...", well I get that but what four year old is going to choose to go on a merry-go-ground over it's a small world?

Now this is really funny. You think Suesslanding is just one giant merry-go-round? That's like saying Fantasyland is just a caroussel.

How many 4 year olds would choose Mickey over SpongeBob, Barney, the Grinch, Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat, or the Nick characters? There is room for both but unfortunately you will never know if your 4 year old might just like Universal. My kids did both Universal and Disney and they loved them both.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My kids, young and old, all love both Universal and WDW. Hard to compare apples and oranges. And there's really no need to--there's plenty of room for both.

BTW, my elderly mother had her first trip to Orlando about a year ago. She did almost all the rides (no upside down coaters or Dr Doom's Fearfall, but I think she did everything else). Her favorite ride at all the 6 parks was the Bilge Barge raft ride at IoA. We did it countless times in a row (after my sis and I promised her she wouldn't get wet if she wore the rain poncho-hehehe) and she had a ball! Priceless memories during the whole trip, but especially on that ride. And you should have seen an 81yo woman riding Mummy.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I think that Universal is themed as well if not better than WDW. Don't get me wrong--I like WDW a lot, but Universal is great, too.

My kids would choose Suess Landing in a heartbeat over It's s Small World. They wouldn't even have to think about it! And it's a lot more than a merry-go-round.

Why did I read this thread? Now I want to go back to Universal!

 

[Beth76]

How many 4 year olds would choose Mickey over SpongeBob, Barney, the Grinch, Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat, or the Nick characters? There is room for both but unfortunately you will never know if your 4 year old might just like Universal. My kids did both Universal and Disney and they loved them both.

OMG! Spongebob is at Universal?!?!?! Cool! Count my 4-year-old as one who would choose Spongebob over Mickey.

 

[ChrisFL]

Ok the thing that gets me is when does Disney ever make fun of anyone else? really come on, can you think of one time? I can't.
I think the reason this commercial is such a big deal is because sure US has made comments before but this is over the top. It really isn't funny. Who do they think they are?
I also think the reason US is always making jokins and poking funa t Disney is because they can't reach as high a level Disney is at. They're a jealous commpetitor. I agree with all the people that were saying that the whole commercial was about dissing Disney, there was no promoting their "parks".
I can't really say much about the actual US/IOA because I've never been (and don't plan to) but it seems focused more towards teens and young adults. I know people have said "oh well there's suess land...", well I get that but what four year old is going to choose to go on a merry-go-ground over it's a small world? no kid i know.
So really Universal back off Disney!!!!!!

I feel like singing a song "see your true colors shining through, don't be afraid to let them show, even though you've never been there, you show your true colors"

this thread just gets more and more incredible

 

[Sylvester McBean]

long live this thread.

I saw it 5 or 6 times again today prior to the superbowl. "it's time for a better vacation" is even better than the tagline "a vacation from the ordinary". I love the kid in the end jumping into the pool. "now that's what I'm talking about!"

every time I see the spot, I think of how inane this thread can be. but it's like a train wreck, I can't look away.

 

[sha_lyn]

I've seen the commercial, and I don't see it as a jab at Walt Disney World at all.

On the surface, possibly - but dig a little deeper.

People on these boards truly represent a minority of Orlando area visitors. And the first time visitors? They don't KNOW the difference between Disney and Universal. Don't believe me? Talk to ANY Cast Member and ask them how many times people ask where the E.T. ride is, or Jurassic Park, or the Hulk.

So, from what I can gather from this ad, Universal is simply trying to say: You may think we're the same as the mouse - but we've got substantially different offerings. Don't NOT come here because you think you'll be getting exactly the same thing!

They try and do it in a humorous way. Maybe they failed - I don't know, but I think the summation of the commercial is "We're different! Come see us!"

IMHO this is the best post in the thread.
TO me the comercial is just saying that US/IOA is not WDW . For those of us who "know" that it seems simple enough, but there are a lot of people out there that think US/IOA is a part of WDW and/or they think that not all of the WDW parks are part of WDW.

 

[Planogirl]

The thing is, IT IS funny, to the people the commercial will appeal to. If you are a die-hard WDW fan who has never been to Universal and will never give it a chance, you aren't expected to get it. I am 38, no where near a teen, and I love Universal. We haven't been there in a couple of years, but have been to Disney, and my 4 year old asked me the other day when we can go to Universal again. There is a lot more than a merry-go-round for kids. And for us adults that don't do thrill rides.

We love WDW too, but Universal/IOA is a whole different place, and we love it too. The advertising is saying "We are not Disney". And they are not. Believe it or not, there are people out there that don't think Disney is the be-all and end-all of places to go, and that is who that commercial is aimed at. There is no commercial that Universal could make that would encourage a Disney fan who disses Universal without ever having been there to try it out.

Great post!!!

This thread is rather strange. I have a feeling that Disney themself is not the slightest bit insulted and will poke back when the time is right. Meanwhile, I'll continue to love both places.

 

[Feralpeg]

Okay, last night, I was putting out my trash. My neighbor just happened to be putting his out as well. We started talking about the superbowl and the commercials. So, I asked him if he had seen the new Universal commercial. He had. I asked him what he thought of it. He said he thought it was really funny. In fact, he said they had been talking about it at work, and most people found it to be very funny.

My neighbor is an imagineer for Disney. He is in the entertainment division and does a lot of the planning and casting of shows at WDW and the other parks around the world.

The way I see it, if Disney imagineers can see the humor in it, it can't be that bad. Here is a shocker! He and his family actually go to Universal/IOA a few times each year.

 

[ChrisFL]

why wouldn't he? It was designed by (ex-) Disney Imagineers!

 

[cardaway]

I'd like to see this, sounds good.

Uni's take on it only means somethg if you recognize Disney's side of it.

Disney bringsthis on themselves with their attitude. That commercial is simply the opposite of the cocky,holier than thou stance Disney takes.

 

[jim and meesie]

I think every 4 year old I know would choose Dr. Seuss (if they read books) or Curious George (he's at Universal too) over "It's a Small World" and if not any sane adult would! It was creative and "state of the art" in 1964, 42 years ago!!! Nothing against small world but now after just once it's kindof annoying and somewhat creepy.

 

[jim and meesie]

After reading the more recent posts I can assume that people with nice unbratty children will never go to Universal and only go to WDW. So I can assume that I will never see a bratty child at WDW?????

 

[Sylvester McBean]

the only kids acting like brats at WDW are the ones who have horrible parents that took them to Universal first.

 

[Planogirl]

the only kids acting like brats at WDW are the ones who have horrible parents that took them to Universal first.

And it just gets stranger and stranger....

 

[Sylvester McBean]

that was supposed to be sarcastic.

 

[sha_lyn]

Well I tried to find the post I read last night but can't. someone mentioned that no one goes to US/IOA for a week. well if I were them I wouldn't bet $$ on that. My family spend the first week of Dec at US/IOA and never left the property to go anywhere else.

 

[goofy!]

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[Brian Noble]

For what it's worth, I thought the commercial was funny enough to dump to my tivo to show to my wife later.

I haven't shown it to my DD7 yet, though---I'm not ready for her to give up princesses just yet! However, it is already starting to happen. I asked her whether she was more excited about eating with their highnesses or celebrating her classroom's multicultural-fair focus on Mexico with a meal at San Angel. Her response? "Well, I've already eaten with the Princesses, so Mexico might be better."

It's amazing: at 5 at DL, she was speechless meeting her heroines. Last year at WDW, she was still twitterpated, but not so much that she couldn't speak. This year, she may be more interested in meeting Kim Possible!

 

[goofy!]

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