New Universal Commercial? Kinda Rude...

[rie'smom]

Personally, I don't understand why people are so upset about the Universal commercials. It's a commercial people-what impact does it really have on your lives? WDW is a fun place but so is Universal. I have never "gotten" the whole Stepford Disney thing. It's a park with a mouse and a bunch of rides. Could it be WDW puts something in the Dole Whips?

 

[webray]

I don't find it rude at all, really I find it quite true. When my children got to a certain age they only wanted Universal vacations. They were definately disney'd out.

To this day..they still prefer a Universal vacation..lol.

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

I think Universal would be a nice place to go but I haven't been there yet because it just lacks that "something special" that I find in Disney. Hopefully my kids won't ever get sick of going there because then I will have to take my best friend who gets Disney and leave the kids at home.

It does have something special. It's just different than WDW. Try it, you might find that something special.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Personally, I don't understand why people are so upset about the Universal commercials. It's a commercial people-what impact does it really have on your lives? WDW is a fun place but so is Universal. I have never "gotten" the whole Stepford Disney thing. It's a park with a mouse and a bunch of rides. Could it be WDW puts something in the Dole Whips?

AGAIN, I am not offended. I am not defensive. I am not upset.

People can say they don't like something and not be upset by it. I don't like broccoli, but I am not upset by broccoli.

Additionally, the commercial had little if any "impact on my life" it was a comment...a point of conversation. I read and post about many things here that don't have an "impact on my life" but are fun to talk about.

I also don't eat Dole Whips, so I guess I can say I am not Disney brain washed. I would have thought the same things and made the same comments had the commercial been directed at Sea World.

 

[MIB Rocks]

It's just a commercial people. I can't see getting upset about it.

 

[phamton]

I thought that the latest WDW commercial WAS poking fun at UO. The commercial where the parents can be superheroes just by taking their kids to WDW. I think that's a slant at UO since they're a lot about the superheroes.

Make no mistake about it---it was a jab at Universal. The heroes looked just like the Marvel Superheroes from Universal. I still thought it was funny.

Someone mentioned there were no rides with the kids. Yes, there was. The girl who wanted to hurl was in front of the Hulk. In case, you haven't been to Universal, they sell a Hulk t-shirt that says "No Hurling." They've sold that shirt for years. It's a joke about the Hulk coaster.

The other ride (where the girl says she's 8 1/2 years old) is Jurassic Park River adventure. The other boy is standing by Dr. Doom.

 

[peter11435]

It's just a commercial people. I can't see getting upset about it.

Nobody is upset about. They (We) were only saying that it it is rude, and to some is bad marketing. Regardless of what others do (Pepsi) I beleive that marketing should be aimed at showing off your product, not knocking someone elses. This commercial does absolutly nothing to show off its parks. I have never seen Disney create a commercial that was intended to make Universal look bad.

 

[barryfromphilly]

its all about positioning.

If you were working at USO, wouldnt you get miffed if you heard people were going down to disneyworld, instead of a more generic orlando?

they have to position themselves that disney world is for babies and that kids grow up real quick, and that the $3grand youre putting on your visa card is for something that they are going to like, not baby stuff.

Its one thing to be a parent into the magic. its another to be a wiseacre kid that prefers jimmy neutron to winnie the pooh.

 

[peter11435]

Make no mistake about it---it was a jab at Universal. The heroes looked just like the Marvel Superheroes from Universal. I still thought it was funny.

I would bet it has nothing to do with Universal. Disney has four movies involving superheros. Regardless they are simply trying to say that your kids will think you are heros if you take them to WDW. Although I admit it is not the best message to send to kids (or parents). I don't see how anyone can see this as a jab at Universal, to suggest that is laughable.

 

[phamton]

Also, I can't remember a UO ad I've seen that actually touts their actual experience the way WDW does. I mean, remember those ads a couple of years ago with a) Frankenstein's monster painting some woman's toenails by the pool, or b) these women that turned into some sort of superhero on some made up picture of a ride? Those ads made no sense to me.

They make no sense to you because you haven't gone. Frankenstein is in the Beetlejuice show at Universal. Universal started with horror pictures just as Disney started with animated films. That's like saying, "Why does Mickey appear in Disney commercials?" The horror classics are part of the history of Universal just as Mickey is a part of the Disney history.

And the woman who was flying in the "made up ride." The ride isn't made up. It is "Men in Black" and is an amazingly fun ride.

The superheores in the Disney commercials are exactly like the superheroes in the parade at Universal, minus the icon names on the costumes. Sorry, Peterpan, you are just judging this on wrong info. If you had ever been to Universal in the Marvel superheor area, you would know that they are exactly the same. That is not a coicidence. I thought it was cute that Disney wanted to have a little fun with the commercial and I never took it as insulting. But a "jab" it was.

 

[athenna]

Make no mistake about it---it was a jab at Universal. The heroes looked just like the Marvel Superheroes from Universal. I still thought it was funny.

Someone mentioned there were no rides with the kids. Yes, there was. The girl who wanted to hurl was in front of the Hulk. In case, you haven't been to Universal, they sell a Hulk t-shirt that says "No Hurling." They've sold that shirt for years. It's a joke about the Hulk coaster.

The other ride (where the girl says she's 8 1/2 years old) is Jurassic Park River adventure. The other boy is standing by Dr. Doom.

iI don't think that WDW commercial was a jab at UO, I thought they were supposed to be the Incredibles Family

 

[All Aboard]

I'm a big fan of the Universal parks, and I am constantly disappointed that the company takes this route in their marketing. It should be beneath them, but aparently it isn't. On the Universal website there is a side by side comparison of Disney and Universal that paints WDW as "old and busted" and Universal as "new hotness." Pointing to "yesterday's fairytales" (under which they include Monster's, inc for some reason), for example.

The whole, "we're good and you suck" strategy is generally reserved for those who are desperate to get out of second place with no idea of how to do it.

The declining attendance paired with the fact that NBC/Universal doesn't seem interested in investing in the parks right now spell trouble, I'm afraid.

 

[athenna]

Everyone give the OP a break. It was just an observation. OP has stated as such. Not offended, just a topic of discussion.
I haven't seen the commercial, but if I had, I would've just chuckled and shook my head.

 

[willis37862]

That's a shame, to "hate" something without trying it. Open-mindedness, pretty-pretty please...Universal is NOT a dirty word.

I totally agree!! So many are down on US/Ioa and they have never even been there. Commericials are to sell a product anyway they can, everyone does it. I am not going to take offense just because they made a jab at Disney. I am sure it didn't do Disney any harm.

 

[oybolshoi]

jus throwing in my two cents - I thought the commercial was a hoot! Universal has come out with some very clever marketing campaigns in the past couple of years - my favorite is the series where they were spoofing pharmeceutical CEOs and funeral directors over the amount of vacation time that the average American doesn't take compared with the rest of the industrialized world. Still cracks me up when I think about it!

Disney doesn't really need to advertise the way that Universal does. And each resort offers a distinctly different vacation experience. DH and I actually love both - we're doing Universal in May and WDW in October. The bulk of our Florida trips do center around WDW (I grew up going to WDW - it's in my blood!), but we're always open to new things. And you can't beat US / IoA for the thrill rides.

Brenda

 

[Matt]

so right on many levels. I'm at work right now, and I love this thread because I knew this commercial would upset people for whatever reason. my team is working on a new summer advertising campaign for a large home improvement chain. the first rule is 'sell your product every second, because someone is out there unselling it every second". UO is simply 'unselling' WDW. one of the greatest commercials is from pepsi. 2 delivery drivers sitting next to each other at the holidays. coke drivers offers a drink to the pepsi driver. pepsi driver offers a drink to the coke driver. coke driver refuses to give the pepsi back, and a fight ensues. it all falls back to 'try it, you might like it'.

That's a perfect example of an entertaining commercial. However, it's also a perfect example of not effecting the bottom line. Pepsi isn't cutting into Coke's market share at all. Sometimes Ad people forget the central goal of advertising.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I used to not understand Universal... until I went there for the first time a couple of weeks ago. When you get right down to it, UO is nothing more than a well-done version of the amusement park in your home town (Carowinds, Kings Dominion, Six Flags, etc). They have to stay "cutting edge" with their advertising in order to give people a reason to come to FL and spend money there.

I figured out what Universal should have done. They should have built in Myrtle Beach instead of Orlando. Universal would RULE Myrtle Beach, whereas they will always be an afterthought (for most of us) in Orlando. The current line of advertising is a form of desperation.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

I saw this a few hours ago..and thought HOW RUDE!
But dd, said right after the commercial ..."OH look mommy, come on, lets go back to Disney!" lol

 

[phamton]

If you were working at USO, wouldnt you get miffed if you heard people were going down to disneyworld, instead of a more generic orlando?

No. Most of us who work at Universal also have annual passes for Disney. Also many castmembers work at both Universal and Disney. I like 'em both.

I have a friend who works at Tower of Terror 3 days a week and Guest Services at Universal 3 days a week. Another friend who works at the Mummy at Universal and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The castmembers at Universal and Disney don't hate the other parks and feel no conflict of interest. It's only the fans that feel the need to hate the other park.

 

[MetalPrincess]

I saw the commercial last night and I didn't like it at all! My kids are 11 and 7 and they love Disney.