Our First, Last and only visit to Universal...yuck!

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phamton said:
Because this is a small board with few regular posters. The people who post here daily, respond to most of the posts. There are some regular posters on the DVC, Restaurant boards, Cruise boards, and Disney resort boards that respond to most posts also. Others just stop in from time to time on those boards and don't post on many threads. It is the same on this board.


Personally, my family moved to Orlando when I retired to be near Disney. We promptly purchased APs for Disney but didn't purchase APs to Universal for several months. When the 2 year Burger King special came out we decided to purchase APs. We seldom used them and instead went to Disney every weekend. We decided to get some of our moneys worth on our Universal APs and decided to go after having the APs for over a month. Once there we fell in love with the parks. We had visited US/IoA before while on vacation and weren't that impressed so purchasing APs wasn't something on our list. After going with our new APs I began to compare the parks with Disney. But this time I saw that Universal parks were getting cleaner while Disney was starting to not sparkle as before. The team members at Universal started recognizing us after only a few weekends of going and welcoming us back. While that never happened in our months of going to Disney. Everything was clean and the TMs were friendly. Our AP discount gave us more discounts than the WDW AP. We soon became Universal converts. We still visit WDW several times a month but go to Universal/IoA more often.

This was more a comment on the type of post that is knocking around at the moment. I know that both youself, Damo, Flatline to name some are well up on your US/IOA, and because of that I get some useful info I need for my annual trip, and the reason I look in on here quite regularly. It would be nice if we could be nice about our postings, as i have said.............quite a lot, to the annoyance of some.

I have no grudge with anyone on here, if I could make that clear. Just want the boards to serve the purpose they were designed for.
 
thelionqueen said:
First of all the cost of parking is a joke! Maybe it's because I have never had to pay for parking @ Disney that this threw me off, but anyway, to pay $14 for "preferred" parking that still took over 10 mins. to reach the park is ridiculous. I still kept an open mind and made the trek. Got to the shops (I know it has a name, but don't know what it is) another 10 minutes walk to the parks. What I did notice with all this walking is the difference of patrons. Now, without trying to offend anyone, I am going to try to describe the guests as diplomatically as I can. Let's just say that I felt like I had walked into east LA. Many of the people were teenagers and 20-25. Many had foul mouths and were acting like gangsters. Using "street lingo" very loudly and offensively. I truly felt intimidated just with the type of visitors I was seeing.

The closets I've been to Universal/IOA is this paragraph. I parked in the parking garage and walked what seemed like forever through "gangs" of kids. I felt very overwhelmed. I have to agree with this poster with her discription of the clientele. I was taking my 14yr old to the Gavin DeGraw concert at Hard Rock. I always felt like I had no interest in Universal and walking in the parking lot and restauarant/shop area, I was convinced it just wasn't for me.
 
This was more a comment on the type of post that is knocking around at the moment. I know that both youself, Damo, Flatline to name some are well up on your US/IOA, and because of that I get some useful info I need for my annual trip, and the reason I look in on here quite regularly. It would be nice if we could be nice about our postings, as i have said.............quite a lot, to the annoyance of some.I have no grudge with anyone on here, if I could make that clear. Just want the boards to serve the purpose they were designed for.

The regulars on this board have been here for a long time, like years and have always been helpful (as you noted) and kind. You wont find any of them posting on the Disney boards bashing anyone for liking Disney. They are in a class all their own and are quite a respectful group.

That said, if you were here you would know that for years these threads popped up (the yuck Universal thread) and died pretty quickly. It didnt deter any of us and they were taken in stride. Many regulars have posted over and over on these threads the attributes and positively tried to influence others of the virtues of Universal.

The same people that have time and time again answered questions and given advice over the years have also been around to read Universal being knocked. Its my belief that the "yuck" post was the straw that broke the camels back. It was a time for venting and release.

Although it may look to you like drivel being rehashed its actually just a culmination to the years of having something you love dragged through the muck.

I'm sure this board will continue to serve the purpose they were designed for because its all "these people" that will continue to do it for you. :)
 
Fan2CSkr said:
The regulars on this board have been here for a long time, like years and have always been helpful (as you noted) and kind. You wont find any of them posting on the Disney boards bashing anyone for liking Disney. They are in a class all their own and are quite a respectful group.

That said, if you were here you would know that for years these threads popped up (the yuck Universal thread) and died pretty quickly. It didnt deter any of us and they were taken in stride. Many regulars have posted over and over on these threads the attributes and positively tried to influence others of the virtues of Universal.

The same people that have time and time again answered questions and given advice over the years have also been around to read Universal being knocked. Its my belief that the "yuck" post was the straw that broke the camels back. It was a time for venting and release.

Although it may look to you like drivel being rehashed its actually just a culmination to the years of having something you love dragged through the muck.

I'm sure this board will continue to serve the purpose they were designed for because its all "these people" that will continue to do it for you. :)

Well explained. I've said that the OP was well off the mark in her comments, but everything went belly up pretty quickly. Maybe it's time for a standardised reply which could be inserted, along the lines of what you have just said, perhaps?
 

zurgswife said:
The closets I've been to Universal/IOA is this paragraph. I parked in the parking garage and walked what seemed like forever through "gangs" of kids. I felt very overwhelmed. I have to agree with this poster with her discription of the clientele. I was taking my 14yr old to the Gavin DeGraw concert at Hard Rock. I always felt like I had no interest in Universal and walking in the parking lot and restauarant/shop area, I was convinced it just wasn't for me.

Gosh, those darn gangs. Well I hope you wore your bulletproof vest.
 
zurgswife said:
I have to agree with this poster with her discription of the clientele. I was taking my 14yr old to the Gavin DeGraw concert at Hard Rock.

personally, I'd be more wary of the clientele attending a Gavin DeGraw concert.
 
Fan2CSkr said:
The regulars on this board have been here for a long time, like years and have always been helpful (as you noted) and kind. You wont find any of them posting on the Disney boards bashing anyone for liking Disney. They are in a class all their own and are quite a respectful group.

That said, if you were here you would know that for years these threads popped up (the yuck Universal thread) and died pretty quickly. It didnt deter any of us and they were taken in stride. Many regulars have posted over and over on these threads the attributes and positively tried to influence others of the virtues of Universal.

The same people that have time and time again answered questions and given advice over the years have also been around to read Universal being knocked. Its my belief that the "yuck" post was the straw that broke the camels back. It was a time for venting and release.

Although it may look to you like drivel being rehashed its actually just a culmination to the years of having something you love dragged through the muck.

I'm sure this board will continue to serve the purpose they were designed for because its all "these people" that will continue to do it for you. :)

Agreed, actually I think only one person ever came on here that didn't like Disney parks at all and he wasn't even a regular.
 
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zurgswife said:
The closets I've been to Universal/IOA is this paragraph. I parked in the parking garage and walked what seemed like forever through "gangs" of kids. I felt very overwhelmed. I have to agree with this poster with her discription of the clientele. I was taking my 14yr old to the Gavin DeGraw concert at Hard Rock. I always felt like I had no interest in Universal and walking in the parking lot and restauarant/shop area, I was convinced it just wasn't for me.

This kind of sounds like my parody post, which is a scary thing.

You didn't get out of the parking lot because you felt uncomfortable by the people you saw entering the parks, especially on the night of a concert?

I'm sorry, but did you actually think the were going to do something to you?

I just can't believe the narrowmindedness of some people......

Ok, I may get flamed for this, but geez! its like some people refuse to leave their little happy bubble.
 
So someone who's never been in US or IOA "knows" what the clientèle is LOL. Did you ever consider the "gangs" you were around were there for the concert?
 
Is anyone else getting tired of reading about these descriptions of Universal's guests? Thugs...gangstas...maffia hit-men...maybe even a terrorist or two - and all because of the manner in which someone chose to dress or the language that they used. :rolleyes:

To paraphrase the person who started all of this: If it thinks like a bigot and it posts like a bigot then it probably is a bigot.

The world's a diverse place folks - that's something to celebrate and embrace.
 
I haven't actually been inside IOA ever, and haven't been to US in over a decade. BUT...I have to go to Citywalk on a regular basis to photograph concerts at Hard Rock Live, and I will say that the parking deck can be a LONG LONG walk to the theme parks (I go past the US entrance to get to HRL), and about 50% of the time, at least one of the escalators and moving walkways are broken in one of the directions.

Additionally, I know where the OP is coming from as far as the crowd that goes to Citywalk. (I can't comment on the parks as I said, I've not been there in years) They tend to be more "urban" than you'll find at WDW. When I say "urban, I am not refering to a skin color, but rather a type of dress and behaviour. The appearance is of gangbanger, whether they are or not, something that doesn't lend itself well to many people, particularly families with children. And these are NOT people headed to the concerts I'm headed to--wrong manner of dress. ("My people" are in black or jeans and concert t-s with a variety of funky hair cuts or beanies.)

I have seen some ridiculously obnoxious behaviours in the parking deck and entrance to the complex, including "tailgating" and back in Novemeber I saw a brawl with at least ten guys involved as I was leaving HRL. They also weren't concert goers--we left "alone" as the headliner went onstage. And again, wrong manner of dress.

There doesn't seem to be as much security as there should be in the parking garage, to the point that I'm as leery of leaving my car there as I am at Florida Mall.

The security guys who do the bag search are miserable, and one came close to dropping a $1800 camera lens which he insisted upon taking out of my bag rather than allowing me to.

IMHO, Universal needs to put some effort into security in their parking decks, and a more friendly and welcoming entry area.

One good thing about Universal is that if you purchase a small coffee or tea at Starbucks, you'll have just enough time to finish it before you get to Hard Rock Live. :teeth:

Anne
 
Sorry, but again I don't agree. I saw plenty of families in both the parks and at CityWalk, and we saw no fights - and this was in the middle of the summer. And "urban" dress... what exactly is that?! Wifebeaters and shorts? So? I saw plenty of people wearing the same thing at Disney. Maybe it's just that I'm from NYC, but that's standard dress. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, especially in a theme park. Where do you live that dressing a certain way makes you a thug?! You obviously need to experience more of the world.

Have you ever parked at the end of the lot at a Disney park... say, the TTC? A lot of times there were no trams running, or as we were walking up to one it would leave even thought it was only half full, so we couldn't get on :rolleyes2 THAT'S a long walk to the TTC, and then another journey onto the monorail to the front of the park. Yea, the CityWalk parking garage is huge and it's a trek, but it's not the only park that's that way.

And we've gone to several Hard Rock Live concerts, and there was no standard look. I'm a HUGE rock fan, and go to a ton of shows both around here in the city and in whichever city we'e traveling to, but I don't wear nothing but black, and I don't have a funky hair cut or color.

Sorry. I just think people on here are being very hypocritical and judgemental. If you don't like Universal, fine. But to not like it because of how some people look or dress? Are you kidding me?! That's just sad. I thought Disney World is all about "diversity" and "culture". Obviously not, if Disney fans go to Universal and are scared away in the parking lot by people who don't look like them (whether it's skin color, hair color, style of dress, whatever). Some of these comments are making a lot of you look pretty bad, I'm sorry to say. Like I said, if Universal just isn't for you since you don't like thrill rides, or you're not interested in the movies featured or the entertainment provided, that's fine! But to be intimidated and scared away by the people in the parking lot, regular kids in shorts and t-shirts ready for a day of fun... well, then, that says a whole lot about you.
 
If the OP doesn't like Universal, thats fine with me. one less person I have to stand behind in line. :cool1: :cat:
 
ducklite said:
Additionally, I know where the OP is coming from as far as the crowd that goes to Citywalk. (I can't comment on the parks as I said, I've not been there in years) They tend to be more "urban" than you'll find at WDW.

obviously you haven't been to PI since they've opened the gates and dropped the 21 and over rule to compete with Citywalk.
 
babieemelly said:
Sorry, but again I don't agree. I saw plenty of families in both the parks and at CityWalk, and we saw no fights - and this was in the middle of the summer.

First of all, as I said in my previous post, I'm not addressing the parks at all. I wasn't saying fights happen every night. But they do happen, and that's problemic. I see a lot more young adults at City Walk than any other demographic group when I'm there. You'll see families for the first hour or so after the parks let out, and then they become a significant minority. I'm there on average a couple times a month year round, so I'm getting an picture not skewed by peak tourism seasons. I tend to think that I'm seeing more locals than the average tourist who travels during peak times.

And "urban" dress... what exactly is that?! Wifebeaters and shorts? So? I saw plenty of people wearing the same thing at Disney.

The rapper, hip hop artist style fo dress. A lot of FUBU and similar brands. I am at DTD West Side just as often, and do not see nearly the same percentage of people dressed this way. I'm not saying that this is a bad way to dress. But you must agree that it has negative connotations that go with it in the average persons mind, a "birds of a feather" type of thing. If there was a greater security presence, I think people would have different perceptions.

Have you ever parked at the end of the lot at a Disney park... say, the TTC? A lot of times there were no trams running, or as we were walking up to one it would leave even thought it was only half full, so we couldn't get on :rolleyes2: THAT'S a long walk to the TTC, and then another journey onto the monorail to the front of the park. Yea, the CityWalk parking garage is huge and it's a trek, but it's not the only park that's that way.

In all honesty I've never had to park way out anyplace at WDW where there wasn't a tram. Additionally, just on the basis of going to Hard Rock Live versus House of Blues, it's a mile walk versus a few hundred yards at most.

And we've gone to several Hard Rock Live concerts, and there was no standard look. I'm a HUGE rock fan, and go to a ton of shows both around here in the city and in whichever city we'e traveling to, but I don't wear nothing but black, and I don't have a funky hair cut or color. Sorry. I just think people on here are being very hypocritical and judgemental. If you don't like Universal, fine. But to not like it because of how some people look or dress? Are you kidding me?! That's jus sad.

That's certainly not what I said, if nothing else I didn't say people only wear black. I said they also wear jeans and concert t's. That's a large eprcentage of the crowd. Of course there are exceptions. I've been to more than several concerts there, and if you take out Bo Bice and Scott Stapp, and use KoRn and Drowning Pool, the audiences tend to dress in a similar manner--of course they are often the same people.

My comments were more geared towards the perceptions thet you get when entering Universal. The long walk. The parking deck with security issues. The brawls, tailgating, and racous behaviour of many of the people I've seen at City Walk.

I'm not being hypocritical or judgemental at all. I'm suggesting that Universal has some issues that they should address so they don't alienate more people.

--Better security in their parking decks
--Better trained security guards with better people skills
--Work to ensure walkways and escalators are in better repair
--Cleaner bathrooms (this is something WDW's having issues with lately as well)
--A generally higher security/management presence. I go to DTD and see at least three security people and one management level person between my car and the front door of HoB, not including the HoB security folks. I've yet to see a Universal manager, and there are generally three security people between my car and the entrance to CityWalk. That's jsut not good enought to give a sense of safety.

My comments are contructive critism, not bashing.

Anne
 
flatline said:
obviously you haven't been to PI since they've opened the gates and dropped the 21 and over rule to compete with Citywalk.

I've walked through it a few times and haven't seen the same numbers of "issues." I am at the West side at least a few times a month, and am not seeing the issues that I do at CW.

And PI was NEVER 21 and over, it was 18 and over unless with a legal guardian.

Anne
 
So Universal should start banning people for wearing a certain type of clothing?
 
I've seen things around PI and in the Marketplace parking lots after midnight I can't post here. I've seen some interesting things inside Citywalk as well, but I don't blame a certain type of person, I blame the alcohol.

the thought Disney brings in a better type of clintele is laughable. I've seen plenty of upper class white America wasted off of their butts in EPCOT.

and I've never seen anyone tailgate in a WDW parking lot. :rolleyes:
 
ChrisFL said:
So Universal should start banning people for wearing a certain type of clothing?

Where did I ever say that?

Anne
 
flatline said:
and I've never seen anyone tailgate in a WDW parking lot. :rolleyes:

I'm not sure what you are saying here. I have never seen "tailgating" at WDW before a concert. I've seen it multiple times at Universal.

Anne
 
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