News Round Up 2016

[skier_pete]

A little perspective is in order I guess. With all the angst and anger thrown at Disney, my Twitter feed pops up with a Universal Orlando post - park hours are 8-6 today... Wait what?

Go and check and yes - 8-6 for both parks. IoA is only open at the latest 7pm all week. That is insane. Pay Disney ticket prices. Pay to stay in an onsite hotel. And on a Saturday you are told to leave the parks before its dark.

Maybe some of the frustration needs to be directed to Disney competitors who are showing you can charge $100+/day and close 3-4 hours earlier!!!

I think Universal gets too much of a pass for criticism, partially because they HAVE put in a lot of new stuff (ignoring that most of it was put over old stuff). However, Disney gets slammed for every little thing it does. Let's give Universal a quick smack for raising AP prices last week, after just raising them in August 2015. That's twice in less than 8 months. Disney has never had two AP increases in that short a window. (Though admitted they've done twice in nine months just last year and have done 9-10 months before.)

 

[Budshark]

As a Disney focused community, I think it's fair to criticize Disney for following Universal's schemes, though. They survived for the longest time doing what they do best. Why change it now?

It's fair certainly. But when we say things like Disney is going to lose customers, they are pushing the limits, etc it's interesting to compare against competitors. Because that would say Disney is still offering a LOT more. I'd like for things to be the same and the old magic to be there - but if a competitor shows you can offer less and charge the same and grow as fast or more? That competitor is going to drive change (good and bad). Universal drove expansion. They are also showing the way for higher prices and less hours.

 

[pepperandchips]

Maybe they think they're Animal Kingdom lol. That's interesting I've never looked at that. I wonder why both parks would close so early on a Saturday.

Universal hosts semi-private "Grad Events" throughout the spring for youth (middle and high school students) and the parks close early. The hours are posted well in advance online. I don't find Universal to be overpriced, especially when I compare the cost of my UO annual pass (around $230) to my Disney AP (around $800).

Edited: $276.89 versus $797.69 for current rates.

 

[ColoradoDreamin]

I went to universal last week for a quick trip. I was surprised how much more it cost me to go to universal than Disney. And I thought I had found some pretty good deals, just still not comparable to Disney. Still enjoyed it, just not to the level of Disney. They aren't there, not even close.

 

[cmash95]

universal istwo parks and disney is four so you should pay more just for that reasonalso as stated above it'sgrad bash season so parks close extra early because of it.

 

[rteetz]

universal istwo parks and disney is four so you should pay more just for that reasonalso as stated above it'sgrad bash season so parks close extra early because of it.

Why does it make sense to pay more when it's only two parks? You didn't pay more when WDW was just one park, or just two parks, or just three parks. That doesn't make sense to pay more for less parks. It would make sense to pay for more not less.

 

[rteetz]

News

High praise for Zootopia

http://movies.yahoo.co.jp/news//20160415-00000004-flix/

 

[Reddog1134]

I think Universal gets too much of a pass for criticism, partially because they HAVE put in a lot of new stuff (ignoring that most of it was put over old stuff). However, Disney gets slammed for every little thing it does. Let's give Universal a quick smack for raising AP prices last week, after just raising them in August 2015. That's twice in less than 8 months. Disney has never had two AP increases in that short a window. (Though admitted they've done twice in nine months just last year and have done 9-10 months before.)

Yeah, the first time I went to Universal I got a 7-day ticket for $99 (just before Potter opened). Now it's $105 for one day.

 

[skier_pete]

Yeah, the first time I went to Universal I got a 7-day ticket for $99 (just before Potter opened). Now it's $105 for one day.

Yeah - Harry Potter's popularity hasn't affected Disney that much, but it sure raised the cost of going to Universal!

 

[pepperandchips]

I went to universal last week for a quick trip. I was surprised how much more it cost me to go to universal than Disney. And I thought I had found some pretty good deals, just still not comparable to Disney. Still enjoyed it, just not to the level of Disney. They aren't there, not even close.

I'm curious about what cost more? I pay far less for food, deluxe accommodations, and tickets (if compared on an equal basis) at Universal than I do Disney.

Yeah, the first time I went to Universal I got a 7-day ticket for $99 (just before Potter opened). Now it's $105 for one day.

Yeah - Harry Potter's popularity hasn't affected Disney that much, but it sure raised the cost of going to Universal!

Universal is still cashing in on those who come for one or two days out of a longer Orlando (Disney, probably) vacation. The gate price for a 2 day park to park ticket is $239, and a non-resident power pass is just $20 more at $259. I think it's fine to critique the performance, policies, offerings, and prices at Universal and Disney both - and I'm not saying either is perfect - but they're apples and oranges.

The Wizarding World was a game changer for Universal and I hope we're seeing closures of attractions there that will pave the way for other intensely themed and immersive areas like the two Potter areas. Maybe some would trade the HP additions in order to go back to the $99/week pricing, but I paid $200+ just to see the Wizarding World stuff... And I'm not alone.

 

[cmash95]

i meant that the cost of a disney AP is for four parks vs universal's two parks and that is one of the reasons disney is more, not the other wayaround

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Yeah - Harry Potter's popularity hasn't affected Disney that much, but it sure raised the cost of going to Universal!

Look, JK Rowling needs to put food on her table, ok? Very expensive food onto very expensive tables, but still!

 

[afan]

Universal is fun and we'll spend 2 days there on our next trip, but there's no fireworks or shows to keep people there late. I also don't think there's as much to do there. We'll hop between the 2 parks both days and most likely eat dinner at city walk on our way out. Where at Disney we'll be hopping but to maximize our time and see all the night time shows.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

Maybe they think they're Animal Kingdom lol. That's interesting I've never looked at that. I wonder why both parks would close so early on a Saturday.

I've attended professional conferences in Orlando and we consistently receive admission to Universal parks for one evening/night, as part of our conference registration, usually on the Saturday of the conference. Our block of time historically has been 6-10pm. Generally, I've had the impression that Universal is more willing to schedule private parties like that vs Disney, but only during slower seasons. Maybe that's why they are closing early.

 

[rteetz]

News

TradNation in Canada in Epcot has stopped and nothing new is planned to take their place.

 

[rteetz]

Rumor

Skipper Canteen's menu is going to be changing soon for the less adventurous...

 

[minnie mum]

News

TradNation in Canada in Epcot has stopped and nothing new is planned to take their place.

Wow. That was short. Didn't they just start a few months ago?

 

[minnie mum]

Rumor

Skipper Canteen's menu is going to be changing soon for the less adventurous...

Ah, nuts. I was looking forward to trying a few of those "more adventurous" items. Looks like the chicken nugget brigade wins another one.

 

[skier_pete]

Rumor

Skipper Canteen's menu is going to be changing soon for the less adventurous...

This is not surprising. It's funny how people on the boards complain about the quality and variety of the food, but the truth is the average American WANTS bland boring garbage. (It's like when McDonalds recently got rid of the Angus burgers, because people weren't buying them because they weren't willing to pay the extra $1 for a quality hamburger. I actually had started going to McDonalds until then.)

 

[rteetz]

Wow. That was short. Didn't they just start a few months ago?

Yep.