New Universal Commercial? Kinda Rude...

[snyderla]

We've been to both. Only went to Universal once, though, because we were SO disappointed in it. Part of the problem was we went in October, but not for the Halloween stuff they do there, and some of the rides we wanted to do were closed. Our favorite 3D attraction (4D really) is there though, Terminator. But we won't ever go back. For us, it's a waste of potential Disney Days. Although, I'm sure that there are plenty of people who prefer Universal, such as my SIL. I prefer the "magic"...and the total escape from the real world I experience at WDW. We don't hate Universal, but since we always have Annual Passes, and are DVC members, we just stay at WDW as long as we can before we need to split our Florida time with visits to family in southern Florida.

Oh...I HATE that commercial. But I bet it will appeal to some people. Like my SIL. But I really liked their old commercials, they were cool.

Lori

 

[peter11435]

OK, again, this is akin to saying that if you don't like like thrill rides, the only place in the Magic Kingdom you can visit is Mickey's ToonTown (or whatever they call it now.)

Thats crazy. someone who doesn't like thrill rides can ride Pirates, the Haunted Mansion, Buzz, all of Fantasyland, the TTA, the caousel of progress, country bears, tiki room, jungle cruise, the railroad, steam boat, rafts, and a few other things as well. They are hardly limited to toontown.

There are many things for little kids, many things for everyone, and a couple of thrill rides. If you can ride the rides at WDW, you can ride the rides at Universal, with the exception of The Hulk, which is a much more intense rollercoaster than any of Disney's (or the rest of Universal's).

It just is NOT true that Universal is all thrill rides. Who put that idea out?

Wrong. Below is a list of all the rides at IOA. Some people don't ride thrill rides at all. To some simulators and log flumes qualify as thrill rides. The only rides some people I know will ride are in blue.


Jurassic Park River Adventure
Pteranodon Flyers
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Incredible Hulk Coaster
Doctor Doom's Fearfall
The Cat in the Hat
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Caro-Seuss-el
Dueling Dragons - Ice
Dueling Dragons - Fire
Flying Unicorn
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls

Just because you don't view the rest as thrill rides does not mean they are not in the minds of many. The fact is that IOA just does not have enough to offer those who will not ride anything to thrilling. Rides like the Haunted Mansion, all of Fantasyland, and many other things at WDW are what make it have something for everyone. My elderly Grandparents love every WDW park but avoid the thrill rides, there is still plenty for them to do. At IOA they could do nothing but a couple rides in Suess Landing.

 

[JRawkSteady]

So I saw this commercial last night and it must have been cut down because all I heard was the princess remark... It did make me a little angry to know they were badmouthing my company...but that's okay, because they have fun rides...but no one goes to Florida to just see Universal. You can't spend a week in Universal Studios. So let them badmouth who they want, they'll never compare to Disney.

 

[ChrisFL]

...but no one goes to Florida to just see Universal. You can't spend a week in Universal Studios.

So I guess all those people on the Universal boards are lying?

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

Universal is almost always our main attraction. Disney comes in later. I do love WDW, but I just enjoy US/IOA much better.

To each her own.

 

[ozarkmom]

So I saw this commercial last night and it must have been cut down because all I heard was the princess remark... It did make me a little angry to know they were badmouthing my company...but that's okay, because they have fun rides...but no one goes to Florida to just see Universal. You can't spend a week in Universal Studios. So let them badmouth who they want, they'll never compare to Disney.

Yes some do we did last summer. Well we went to Sea World too. My kids insisted that they did not want to go to Disney. They had been wanting to go to Universal as long as they could remember.

 

[bubba73]

I know I am like most of the ones that are on the boards in the fact that I have been to both parks, WDW and USO. I also have to say that other than just a handful of rides, there is nothing at USO for me. I just can't see paying that much money to ride just a couple of rides when I can go to Disney and enjoy just about everything. There is about as many rides at WDW that I don't like as there is at USO that I like. So with that, let them do whatever they want as advertising. It doesn't matter to me. I am still going to see Mickey.

 

[Mudd77]

Yes some do we did last summer. Well we went to Sea World too. My kids insisted that they did not want to go to Disney. They had been wanting to go to Universal as long as they could remember.

We also spent the entire week at Universal this past Sept. We originally planned a day for MK, but my 5 yr. daughter insisted we go back to Universal. Her words "Disney's boring." And considering we got an annual pass for what we normally pay for 1 two-day Disney ticket we will be returning in May. Though we will have to venture over to AK to try Everest.

 

[k5thbeatle]

Just a couple of points and then I'm done. First they removed the mouse ears on the Jaws ride several years ago. It was a cheap shot and just wasn't funny.

Second: Several have mentioned how lousy Universal is doing because it went down in attendance last year. It's funny that the same people didn't mention that Universal went way up in attendance the year before. It's hard to rise that quickly and keep it up for the next year. Disney magical express did more than anything to keep people from Universal last year as many people chose not to rent a car. Here are the stats from 2004:


1 Magic Kingdom
- Orlando, Florida 15.2m
(+8%)
2 Disneyland
- Anaheim, California 13.4m
(+5%)
3 Epcot
- Orlando, Florida 9.4m
(+9%)
4 Disney-MGM Studios
- Orlando, Florida 8.3m
(+5%)
5 Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Orlando, Florida 7.8m
(+7%)
6 Universal Studios Florida
- Orlando, Florida 6.7m
(+14%)
7 Islands of Adventure
- Orlando, Florida 6.3m
(+13%)
8 Disney's California Adventure
- Anaheim, California 5.6m
(+6%)
9 SeaWorld Orlando
- Orlando, Florida 5.6m
(+4%)
10 Universal Studios Hollywood
- Universal City, California 5.0m
(+8%)

Source: Amusement Business

As you can see, that even with a decline of 8% this year (2005), they still have a 6% increase over the 2003 attendance.

My assumption was that this was probably the case, that their(UO) attendance had peaked so much a natural drop was imminent. Still I think the point is did they air this commercial back then? And you can bet that the bean counters at UO are still somewhat concerned especially since all other theme parks continued to rise in attendance.

Personally, as I have stated I have not seen this commercial and could really care less as I believe that the intent was probably more for humour than anything. Just realize that you are posting on a Disney site and will probably get more responses that are in defense of Disney, and a few will somehow take it personally?

My wife and I happen to prefer WDW but hey if you like UO, then go there. I would hardly let any one single commercial sway my preferences.

 

[spatenfloot]

The only point the commercial is making is that you don't have to choose Disney simply because you have kids. Many people, especially on his board, think you can't go to Universal if you have young children. In reality there is a lot for small children to do in both Universal parks. Many parents think that their kids must like Disney because they did when they were little.

 

[meloneyb21]

I thought it was kinda rude too, but in the end people are gonna go where they wanna go.
No matter how high of attendence UO has, they still have to succomb to cheap shots of DW in order to get their point across. That just shows signs of being tacky and desperate and that they are just intimidated by DW . DW is too classy of a place to even dignify this latest marketing ploy, and unlike UO, DW will go down in history .....Now, without any rude marketing, I have always yearned to go to Disney , no matter what, and I have never wanted to go to UO like I do DW, UO just doesn't have that special IT thing. It's like an exaggerated Six Flags.....Their latest commercial makes me want to go less.

BRING YOURSELF UP W/O TRYING TO BRING SOMEONE ELSE DOWN

 

[k5thbeatle]

Not at all insulting, but it is interesting that when you go to UO web page they have a "comparison" to Disney chart.

Just an interesting observation.

 

[goofyernmost]

I am going to jump in here one more time and just say that there are parts of Universal Studios that are as, if not more, imaginative than Disney. Universal Studios has The Terminator, Twister, Earthquake, Men in Black, Jaws, Shrek and, of course, ET. None of these are thrill rides but for the most part are comparable to Disney Dark Rides. Heavy in special effects and AA's and very well done. IOA has only one thing that I am interested in and that is Spiderman. Everything else has absolutely no ability to draw my interest. I spend only one day at Universal on any trip but I do enjoy it. Giving credit where credit is due, they do a great job entertaining. I have even been to Back to the Future many times. That is rough on the old back but very intense.

Now for the commercial...the concept was indeed to show the contrast and point out that you can get Princess-ed to death at Disney. So what! It is all in fun and in an effort to tell you that Orlando has more than one place to go. They have many and they all have their unique brand of entertainment.
BTW, the final part of the commercial where the kid says, "who goes to bed at 7:00 PM" is a thinly veiled reference to how early AK closes, IMHO, especially with the new Everest ride in place.

Disney has it's audience and Universal has another. Occasionally, people like myself can and do enjoy both.

 

[Quiksilver45]

yeah thats right argue over how universal is rude, "o that girl is a brat" or "there making fun of disney", you think n e one cares!?,if u dont want to go then dont, disney doesnt care, no one cares, so u can just stop arguing over how universal studios is makin fun of disney.

universal pimps disney

 

[willis37862]

Interesting how some posters go on about Universal being rude and taking shots at Disney, and then in the same post go on to bad mouth Universal. First I don't get where the commercial hurt disney at all. Second some say you should be able to make your point without knocking people but by talking up your good points. Well then shouldn't everyone be talking up Disney instead of knocking Universal on this thread.

 

[peter11435]

Well then shouldn't everyone be talking up Disney instead of knocking Universal on this thread.

Um.. the difference is we are debating the topic where Universal was (or should have been) showing off their product.

 

[willis37862]

I stand by the point that people are outraged that universal may have made a commercial that pokes fun at disney, but they have no problem slamming universal. Even after so many admit to not having been there.

 

[macraven]

yeah thats right argue over how universal is rude, "o that girl is a brat" or "there making fun of disney", you think n e one cares!?,if u dont want to go then dont, disney doesnt care, no one cares, so u can just stop arguing over how universal studios is makin fun of disney.

universal pimps disney

gee, i can't figure out which side you are on..........

first i thought you were leaning towards universal but with the ending you have, it's the other way around......?

 

[jim and meesie]

So I saw this commercial last night and it must have been cut down because all I heard was the princess remark... It did make me a little angry to know they were badmouthing my company...but that's okay, because they have fun rides...but no one goes to Florida to just see Universal. You can't spend a week in Universal Studios. So let them badmouth who they want, they'll never compare to Disney.

Oh wrong you are! My family (mom, dad, DS 18, DD 14, DD 11) has gone to Universal 5 times in the past 2 years to spend the week (s) at Universal. Only once in that time we made one day trip to Disney (because we have so many leftover Passes from years gone by).

We have enjoyed the Universal hotels (espec Portofino) MORE than we enjoyed Beach Club (our previous favorite) and the pools were far more relaxing. The food at Universal resorts is excellent (The Palm is a favorite, also Mythos in IOA) and even better we don't need to make reservations months in advance. Two years ago we spent New Years Eve at Hard Rock Hotel and all the hotel guests were treated to a great midnite concert (I think it was "Cheap Trick", they were staying at the hotel) in the lobby (no charge) complete with champagne in real glasses. Believe it or not, there was no pushing and shoving to get food, drinks or a better spot to see the concert. How often does Disney have nice surprises that they haven't advertised and free at that. When I check in to the Loews Hotels they always send real, fresh baked cookies and milk up to the room (free) and I have always been upgraded to suites at no charge. The whole complex is much smaller so we don't need to deal with the endless buses to get from place to place, in fact if we want to we can walk to the parks from each of the resorts. The best part of all is that we never have to wait in long lines to go on the rides (using Universal Express for hotel guests) making for a far more relaxing trip. We're going again for almost a week President's Week (this month) Park tickets are also significantly less expensive if you buy tickets on the promos or have an AP. (although I still have a bunch of old Park Hopper passes so going to Disney parks would be essentially free now until I use them all up)

All that said, I still like Disney so we will be going back to the Beach Club in March (to hopefully put a dent in my pile of unused Park Hopper passes). I'm hoping everything I enjoy at Universal hasn't spoiled me for Disney.

Some people do go to Orlando for a vacation to go to Universal without setting foot on Disney property.

 

[peter11435]

I stand by the point that people are outraged that universal may have made a commercial that pokes fun at disney, but they have no problem slamming universal. Even after so many admit to not having been there.

Fine but its not a very good point. The fact is no one on these boards (a disney discussion board) was slamming Universal until Universal started slamming Disney.