While these parks might be acceptable for some, they're really very pale shadows of what Disney offers, for certain specific segments of guests, specifically, many adults over the age of 40.
We did Islands of Adventure on Friday, and Universal Studios on Saturday. We arrived at 9am both days.
We entered Islands of Adventure at 9am and were very impressed with the richness of the theming, especially of the Entry area. They've clearly spent a lot of time and effort on building beautiful sets. <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAInsideShop1.jpg TARGET=_blank>Click here for photo.</A> <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoABottlingWorks.jpg TARGET=_blank>Click here for photo.</A>
We got to core of the park and turned right. We proceeded around the park counter-clockwise, and didn't find a single attraction open that we were able to ride (given my back problems); not a single attraction. Most of the sit-down shows have their first show at 11am -- a full two hours before *anything* actually opened that I would be
allowed to see. Even the Discovery Center was closed. It's like what Disney does for Carousel of Progress -- but for EVERY SINGLE non-thrill ride: because they don't expect a big crowd, they just close *every* attraction except the roller coasters. I have lots of photos of various types of closed and "doesn't open until XXX" signs. <grin>
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAClosed1.jpg TARGET=_blank>Island Skipper Tour Closed</A>
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAClosed2.jpg TARGET=_blank>Jurassic Park Discovery Center Closed</A>
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAClosed3.jpg TARGET=_blank>Jurassic Trieratops Encounter Closed</A>
So, we sat around for about an hour and a half, and then took in <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAPoseidonsFury.jpg TARGET=_blank>Poseidon's Fury</A>. Afterwards, we had missed the beginning of the Sinbad stunt show, so we gave up. We didn't feel that Poseidon's Fury was worth the ~$45 (each) we paid for the day.
Robbie was especially disappointed about the Sneetches ride. She loved the idea of it. I read in the Orlando Sentinel that despite two years of trying, they haven't managed to figure out how to get the ride to work, so they're now taking down the "Opening Soon" signs and, for all practical purposes, giving up. Those rails will evidently remain up there as reminders of a ride that never was.
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAClosed4.jpg TARGET=_blank>Sneeches Ride Closed</A>
I was also surprised to see how careless some of the maintenance was. We were there first thing in the morning -- there was no excuse for seeing this outside the entry to Mythos: <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoATrash1jpg.jpg TARGET=_blank>Trash</A>
So, regarding IoA, it is a very beautiful park, but I wouldn't bother visiting it unless you are completely healthy.
Miscellaneous photos:
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoASeussLanding2.jpg TARGET=_blank>Seuss Landing</A>
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoALostContinent.jpg TARGET=_blank>Lost Continent</A>
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoADeulingDragons.jpg TARGET=_blank>Deuling Dragons</A>
Universal Studios was a bit better. While I wasn't able to ride Back to the Future, Twister or MIB, I was able to see Terminator 2-3D and many of the shows. However, Robbie noted a distinct lack of service quality. At T2-3D, we used Front-of-Line access, but the operator forgot to check for us. We stood waiting there for 10 minutes and then he popped out after starting up the show. Surprised, he told us it would be 20 minutes before the next show!!!!
see about a refund. (This was first thing Saturday morning, so we were still sore from the shafting we got the day prior at IoA and were ready to head back to the hotel and give up on USF completely.) He blanched, and then walked us into the show which hadn't really started yet (though it was already dark and we couldn't see). Just bad all around -- he screwed up three times there. We saw similar problems all over both parks, where employees were just not paying attention.
We saw maintenance problems at Universal Studios as well:
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/USFBadShow2.jpg TARGET=_blank>Broken concrete</A>
However, what I got out of the weekend most was the impression that there were some pretty good people there trying to do a good job, but put in impossible situations in which no one could really succeed. Over-and-over again we'd talk with an operator or store clerk and they'd switch into this "I'd really like to help you but there's
nothing I can do" mode -- something we never get at Disney (either because the CMs aren't put into those kinds of positions, or they're empowered to do something about them.)
In the end, though, they're trying to compete with WDW, and they're really failing badly. They're charging the same amount, on the surface: $1000 for three nights and two days of admission. That's comparable to a stay at the Grand Floridian. Yet, we had to self-park to avoid a punitive $10 per night charge for valet parking. There isn't a single aspect of the trip that was less expensive than the closest analog at WDW, and many aspects that were more expensive.
We stayed at the Portofino Bay Resort, which was rather nice. The place is set up like a <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/PortofinoViewOfTownFromBoat.jpg TARGET=_blank>quaint seaside town in Italy.</A> Although it is a small piece of property so you can see the <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/PortofinoViewOfHardRockHotel.jpg TARGET=_blank>Hard Rock Hotel</A> from that little seaside town.
We had an <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/PortofinoBoatToParks.jpg TARGET=_blank>efficient water launch to CityWalk</A>. There was a nice cafeteria with a great <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/PortofinoBreakfastBuffet.jpg TARGET=_blank>breakfast buffet</A> and separate breakfast menu (though they do seem to have <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/PortofinoBreakfastLoxOnBurntBagel.jpg TARGET=_blank>trouble toasting bagels without burning them</A>).
The top-shelf restaurant, Delfino Riviera. charges a bit less than Victoria & Alberts, but provides (from what I've heard), less personal service than V&A. Rather we were served by an ever-changing cavalcade of servers, who were all attentive, but I doubt I saw the same one twice. We did enjoy a great couples massage at the spa; but at $200 + tip, I feel that was also overpriced as compared to WDW.
I'm sure there'll be more, but I'm so overwhelmed with work and preparation for my surgery that I won't have time to put in more than a few words here and there for now, beyond this message. I figured I should get some of this down before my memory starts to fade.
Brian Charles Kohn
"in my own words"
Some Imagination, huh? - Mickey Mouse
We did Islands of Adventure on Friday, and Universal Studios on Saturday. We arrived at 9am both days.
We entered Islands of Adventure at 9am and were very impressed with the richness of the theming, especially of the Entry area. They've clearly spent a lot of time and effort on building beautiful sets. <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAInsideShop1.jpg TARGET=_blank>Click here for photo.</A> <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoABottlingWorks.jpg TARGET=_blank>Click here for photo.</A>
We got to core of the park and turned right. We proceeded around the park counter-clockwise, and didn't find a single attraction open that we were able to ride (given my back problems); not a single attraction. Most of the sit-down shows have their first show at 11am -- a full two hours before *anything* actually opened that I would be
allowed to see. Even the Discovery Center was closed. It's like what Disney does for Carousel of Progress -- but for EVERY SINGLE non-thrill ride: because they don't expect a big crowd, they just close *every* attraction except the roller coasters. I have lots of photos of various types of closed and "doesn't open until XXX" signs. <grin>
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAClosed1.jpg TARGET=_blank>Island Skipper Tour Closed</A>
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAClosed2.jpg TARGET=_blank>Jurassic Park Discovery Center Closed</A>
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAClosed3.jpg TARGET=_blank>Jurassic Trieratops Encounter Closed</A>
So, we sat around for about an hour and a half, and then took in <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAPoseidonsFury.jpg TARGET=_blank>Poseidon's Fury</A>. Afterwards, we had missed the beginning of the Sinbad stunt show, so we gave up. We didn't feel that Poseidon's Fury was worth the ~$45 (each) we paid for the day.
Robbie was especially disappointed about the Sneetches ride. She loved the idea of it. I read in the Orlando Sentinel that despite two years of trying, they haven't managed to figure out how to get the ride to work, so they're now taking down the "Opening Soon" signs and, for all practical purposes, giving up. Those rails will evidently remain up there as reminders of a ride that never was.
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoAClosed4.jpg TARGET=_blank>Sneeches Ride Closed</A>
I was also surprised to see how careless some of the maintenance was. We were there first thing in the morning -- there was no excuse for seeing this outside the entry to Mythos: <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoATrash1jpg.jpg TARGET=_blank>Trash</A>
So, regarding IoA, it is a very beautiful park, but I wouldn't bother visiting it unless you are completely healthy.
Miscellaneous photos:
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoASeussLanding2.jpg TARGET=_blank>Seuss Landing</A>
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoALostContinent.jpg TARGET=_blank>Lost Continent</A>
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/IoADeulingDragons.jpg TARGET=_blank>Deuling Dragons</A>
Universal Studios was a bit better. While I wasn't able to ride Back to the Future, Twister or MIB, I was able to see Terminator 2-3D and many of the shows. However, Robbie noted a distinct lack of service quality. At T2-3D, we used Front-of-Line access, but the operator forgot to check for us. We stood waiting there for 10 minutes and then he popped out after starting up the show. Surprised, he told us it would be 20 minutes before the next show!!!!
see about a refund. (This was first thing Saturday morning, so we were still sore from the shafting we got the day prior at IoA and were ready to head back to the hotel and give up on USF completely.) He blanched, and then walked us into the show which hadn't really started yet (though it was already dark and we couldn't see). Just bad all around -- he screwed up three times there. We saw similar problems all over both parks, where employees were just not paying attention.
We saw maintenance problems at Universal Studios as well:
<A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/USFBadShow2.jpg TARGET=_blank>Broken concrete</A>
However, what I got out of the weekend most was the impression that there were some pretty good people there trying to do a good job, but put in impossible situations in which no one could really succeed. Over-and-over again we'd talk with an operator or store clerk and they'd switch into this "I'd really like to help you but there's
nothing I can do" mode -- something we never get at Disney (either because the CMs aren't put into those kinds of positions, or they're empowered to do something about them.)
In the end, though, they're trying to compete with WDW, and they're really failing badly. They're charging the same amount, on the surface: $1000 for three nights and two days of admission. That's comparable to a stay at the Grand Floridian. Yet, we had to self-park to avoid a punitive $10 per night charge for valet parking. There isn't a single aspect of the trip that was less expensive than the closest analog at WDW, and many aspects that were more expensive.
We stayed at the Portofino Bay Resort, which was rather nice. The place is set up like a <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/PortofinoViewOfTownFromBoat.jpg TARGET=_blank>quaint seaside town in Italy.</A> Although it is a small piece of property so you can see the <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/PortofinoViewOfHardRockHotel.jpg TARGET=_blank>Hard Rock Hotel</A> from that little seaside town.
We had an <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/PortofinoBoatToParks.jpg TARGET=_blank>efficient water launch to CityWalk</A>. There was a nice cafeteria with a great <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/PortofinoBreakfastBuffet.jpg TARGET=_blank>breakfast buffet</A> and separate breakfast menu (though they do seem to have <A HREF=http://www.geocities.com/bicker_at_lotusphere/Universal/PortofinoBreakfastLoxOnBurntBagel.jpg TARGET=_blank>trouble toasting bagels without burning them</A>).
The top-shelf restaurant, Delfino Riviera. charges a bit less than Victoria & Alberts, but provides (from what I've heard), less personal service than V&A. Rather we were served by an ever-changing cavalcade of servers, who were all attentive, but I doubt I saw the same one twice. We did enjoy a great couples massage at the spa; but at $200 + tip, I feel that was also overpriced as compared to WDW.
I'm sure there'll be more, but I'm so overwhelmed with work and preparation for my surgery that I won't have time to put in more than a few words here and there for now, beyond this message. I figured I should get some of this down before my memory starts to fade.
Brian Charles Kohn
"in my own words"
Some Imagination, huh? - Mickey Mouse