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

[Figment22]

Yeah, as I stated (my posts are easily glossed over I guess), there was a time when both the Free Express and the Extra Charge Express Pass Plus coexisted peacefully.

Hey, I quoted you in my post, you're not glossed over and I know who my friends are

This is what we were able to do several years ago. We did it on the Bilge Rat ride as well as Cat in the Hat, Jurassic Park, and ET, I'm sure there were a few others, but my kids were really young then so these are all that I remember doing over and over and over--I also remember the people who kept pointing and complaining. At first I felt a bit bad, then I remembered it was a perk I paid for by staying on site and they all had that opportunity as well.

Absolutely. You pay the extra price for the Universal hotels for that very privelege. No need to feel bad whatsoever. I love that Universal treats its hotel guests so well. And, they do a lot for their AP holders too; something Disney seems to have forgotten

 

[sha_lyn]

You know what I don't get. Many of the same people who complain about FOTL for universal onsite guest are the ones who in their trip reports talkabout taking advantage of WDW's EMH. I bet they would trip overthemselves taking up for WDW if someone complained that EMH was unfair and that everyone with a ticket should be admitted to the park reguardless of where they were staying at.

 

[DOOM1001]

Including Halloween Horror Nights which is very geared towards alcohol and rowdy behavior, the most drunk totally buzzed people I've seen at any Florida theme park was a group of 2 guys and 1 girl in their 30's,getting on a bus at EPCOT during the Food and Wine festival going to their hotel.All three were drunk but one guy literally had to be dragged off the bus.

 

[La2kw]

By the way, I have stayed at every deluxe WDW hotel except the Boardwalk and can honestly say that Universal's hotels are a much better deal. With pre-booking the price is about half of what WDW deluxe hotels are and Loews HOtel offers a nice product that exceeds most of WDW

I agree 100%. Universal resorts offer much better service than the Disney resorts. I'm a DVC member, but Disney's service is often a joke, they cut so many corners.

 

[MScott1851]

That is the express lane door. If those kids were staying on site they were allowed to do that. That is one of the perks with staying onsite -- unlimited express (if they had purchased an express pass they would only have been entitled to one ride, the same as if they had gotten the free express pass from the machine). However, if you kept seeing them, the express line must have been basically non-existant because that is where the express line starts. In order for them to ride that many times during the time you were in line, they must have been pretty much the only ones in the expess line.

OMG! A little OT, but we rode SIX times in a row this way last year on BBRB! It was the most fun I've EVER had in a theme park. It was an overcast day, with scattered showers, the park was empty, so DH and I put on our surfer type board shorts, quick dry tee shirts, flip-flops, and rode water rides to our hearts content.

Back on topic... I don't understand why it has to be a debate...WDW or US... Take them both as they are, enjoy the best of both, and why compare? There are different experiences to be had, and hopefully people will see this.

Until then, I will continue splitting my stays in Orlando and having the time of my life!!!

 

[Patch'sD]

I have only read about half the posts on this thread. But I have to laugh at another Die Hard Disney Lover, Dropping by Universal and trying to find "as much as possible" wrong with Universal. Why, Becuase she just must have likely spent $ 5,000 for her disney vacation. Two Days at Universal was only adding $ 200.00 to her bill, Hey at that rate in can't be good. By The Way since Disney is outsourcing most of it's imangineering, her kid most likely will be desinging rides for Universal.

As soon as this woman degraded an entire community I knew we were for a problem. I have been to Unversal at least 20 times over the course of five years and never have expierenced what she saw in the course of three hours. To never see the wait time boards is just ludicrous. How can one gleefully spend an hour wait on Tower of Terror, and then whine about spending an hour for Spiderman. How did DS 4 get on Tower of Terror, and not be able to ride any of the IOA rides. I am sorry but this lady is full of it.

I don't post much, but I always get involved on " HOW CAN UNIVERSAL TRASH DISNEY COMMERCIAL" Threads. I love to read the stupid comments comparing Universal to Six Flags and Carnivals. I was quite amazed yesterday when I looked there was the Universal Commercial Thread right underneath a Thread of multiple pages of posts on How Someone dare sue Disney over the death of their son on Mission Space. All by people who get annoyed if you don't put your shopping cart back in the corral. It was even pointed out to me that I was on a Disney Site for Seven Years. Hello, Where did you think I got all the Universal Information.

These people are brainwashed to defending a Company that will Charge Them Big Bucks For Cubby Hole Hotel Rooms, Restricted Park Hours, Card Board Cut out rides, Closed Rides, 30 Year old rides, Bus Transportation, and Such. The reason I don't go to Disney is that in my Opnion is it has gone down hill for years and Universal Offers the On-Site Hotel Guest so much more. Maybe with my Grand Kids I would return to Disney, But for the short term, my next visit to Orlando will be Universal Only.

 

[rejobako]

Universal and Disney are supposed to be different. Disney is typically soft, cuddly, character-oriented and white-bread. Universal's primary marketing is to older kids and younger single adults. At Disney you have sit-down rides that glide; at Universal you're more likely to encounter coasters that are supposed to scare the snot out of you. It's supposed to be louder, rowdier, looser, and hipper, and it is.

I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old, so right now we prefer Disney over Universal (actually, truth be told we prefer SeaWorld and Busch Gardens to both, but that's another discussion.) I'm guessing in about 10 years they're going to be more into the entertainment that Universal provides.

I've been on these forums a long time, and I'm well aware that there are Disneyphiles who think that any criticism of Walt's World is blasphemy and sacrilege, just as I know there are some others who go out of their way to criticize it. The OP here, however, has the distinction of the most off-base, biased, and factually inaccurate post I've ever seen in here. I especially liked the part about throwing a snit because they sell alcohol at a children's park. LOL! The only dry area in all of WDW is in the few acres that comprise MK.

 

[mslclark]

My only problem with Universal is that well, Universal is VERY expensive when you have kids that are considered adult age.

That's interesting that Universal is more expensive to you, we have the opposite opinion. We have 3 teens, and a Universal trip is much cheaper for us than a trip to WDW. But, I do a lot of research and we only book a trip when a great deal on hotel rates pops up. We never pay the regular rack rate because there are other discounts available if you look. We also got our 2-park power passes for $99 each. We went to the parks 6 days, so our tickets probably cost a third of what they would have cost to go to WDW parks for 6 days.

I just have to add one little comment about the "clientele" that frequent the Univesal parks. Look around at what a lot of folks are wearing at the Universal parks. I'd say 40% of them are wearing Disney t-shirts, ponchos, Goofy ears, etc. So it's probably safe to say many Universal patrons are the same ones that go to Disney.

 

[Notatourist]

kids ages at disney are the same as Universal..3-9.

 

[utahkennedys]

I have not read through the 10 pages of posts, but I have to say that I agree that IOA is not my idea of a first rate park. We were there shortly after it opened without kids ( I think we were about 25) and DH loved it since he loves thrill rides, but I was SO unimpressed with the park. It was like it had been slapped together without any planning. The paint was already peeling everywhere and I could tell the construction was shoddy. Maybe this has been upgraded...we'll find out in Sept. when we go back. DH wants to do US/IOA on this trip instead of 100% Disney. I guess that is why Orlando is so great -- something for everyone.

 

[ChrisFL]

I have not read through the 10 pages of posts, but I have to say that I agree that IOA is not my idea of a first rate park. We were there shortly after it opened without kids ( I think we were about 25) and DH loved it since he loves thrill rides, but I was SO unimpressed with the park. It was like it had been slapped together without any planning. The paint was already peeling everywhere and I could tell the construction was shoddy. Maybe this has been upgraded...we'll find out in Sept. when we go back. DH wants to do US/IOA on this trip instead of 100% Disney. I guess that is why Orlando is so great -- something for everyone.

I seriously doubt you know anything about good design if you think IOA is "slapped together without any planning". It has been hailed my many in the industry as the new standard in theming overall. Every single item is themed to the area, down to the trash cans...which is more than you find at Disney from what I've seen. Also "construction shoddy"? What exactly do you mean by that?

FYI, They repaint every single night.

So, assuming you actually did go there, what exactly are you referring to?

 

[outstandinfarmer]

I agree with the poster and more. I went to Universal for the first time last year. The people that I went with loved Universal and they were absolutely positive that I would like it more than Disney. I HATED IT!!! I felt like the rides didn't come anywhere near the rides at Disney. It didn't have that magical feeling like Disney. I was SOOOOO disappointed. All I wanted to do was go back to the hotel. We were supposed to go to Universal for 3 more days and I just said that I was sick and stayed back at the hotel cuz I knew I was dragging down the rest of the group. Yep! Definitely not for me!

 

[utahkennedys]

There was paint peeling on almost every ride I looked - no way that happened "overnight". I don't remember specifically, b/c thankfully I haven't gone back in all these years. I'll be more careful to look on this trip, maybe take some pictures. It is funny to me how serious people take comments on US/IOA and Disney -- like it's directed at you personally somehow. Anyone can have any opinion they want, and mine is that the park was not a first rate park. To me it was even a lot different from US. I have traveled all over the world, and I am entitled to my opinion on any place I go.

One more comment - why would such a great park need to give huge discounts on its tickets, free rental cars, free kids tickets, kids food free, big hotel discounts...??? I don't see Sea World Orlando doing that.

 

[4greatboys]

Its one thing to not like Universal. I happen to love both but not everyone does.
I just dont get the comments of rude Universal employees, dirty parks, peeling paint, shoddy construction.We got atleast a couple of times a year and have for several years and I have not seen any of this stuff.

Slapped together with no planning?? Have you seen the Dr Suess section of IOA? Every bit of it looks just like the stuff in the Dr Suess books, its awesome.

Our last trip my 4 yr old wandered away from me at AK getting fast passes for EE. I asked the CM there for some help. He wasnt helpful, didnt offer any advice or really even seem to care. I did snag another cm who helped me look for him. He had just got a little past the fast pass area. However I didnt start bashing Disney or CM's because of one less than helpful CM. Will we still go back? Heck yes. Will I have my 4 yr old superglued to me?? Heck yes

 

[phamton]

One more comment - why would such a great park need to give huge discounts on its tickets, free rental cars, free kids tickets, kids food free, big hotel discounts...???

Disney: Magical express free transportation, free dining, lots of hotel discounts with codes several times a year.

I don't see Sea World Orlando doing that.

http://4adventure.com/seaworld/fla/default.aspx

Just some Seaworld offers:

Adult tickets for the price of a kids ticket. Two days for the price of one day.

Kids stay free:

"Book your SeaWorld Orlando vacation at one of our official Marriott brand Hotels and Resorts and the kids stay free and play free! The young ones even get a bonus Adventure Pak when they check in. "


For the price of a one day admission you can get a full year: "Unlimited access to SeaWorld Orlando through Dec. 31, 2006. Options available that include Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island.
$66.95 adult $54.95 child "

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

I don't even know why we bother with some of these comments. Yes, we're supposed to respect people's opinions... but when the basis of most of them is "where's the magic?!?? there was no magic!!!" and there's really no measure of magic and it is in fact in the eye of the beholder, or their bias is so extremely prevalent, such as in the Disney trip report vs Universal trip report where, as goofy hilariously pointed out, when the same exact inconveniences happened at Disney and Universal it was simply shrugged off at Disney and at Universal it was a major offense.

These people are not experts. To say IOA is not a first-class park is an opinion. I think IOA is a world-class park.

 

[ChrisFL]

There was paint peeling on almost every ride I looked - no way that happened "overnight". I don't remember specifically, b/c thankfully I haven't gone back in all these years. I'll be more careful to look on this trip, maybe take some pictures. It is funny to me how serious people take comments on US/IOA and Disney -- like it's directed at you personally somehow. Anyone can have any opinion they want, and mine is that the park was not a first rate park. To me it was even a lot different from US. I have traveled all over the world, and I am entitled to my opinion on any place I go.

Basically because there have been many people who come here specifically to bash US and IOA so much, and get so many things wrong it's pretty evident they never even stepped foot near there and are just basing their opinion on what they heard/think they heard from others.

There was a few articles about the intricate details put into every section of IOA and I wish I could find it....they put tons and tons of work and over a billion dollars into IOA, more than most any park ever created. I truly cannot see how someone can just say that it was badly put together or designed without thought put into it. If they really didn't want to put any thought into it, why didn't they just build it like a Six Flags and save a few hundred million dollars?

 

[DC37863]

5. I walked in with a VERY open mind and was looking forward to a new experience. I was not biased in any way.

Sounds like you starting complaining from the time you arrived at parking lot. That doesn't seem very open-minded.

 

[Patch'sD]

I was there shortly there after it opened also, spent three days there and didn't notice anything like that. Spiderman wasn't working that morning, I believe that was the only problem our entire visit. On our second visit. The Bilge rat barges was drained for two days. After that Everything was operational for visits 3, 4, 5, and 6. Also did notice soom beer consumption, no rowdy crowds, Very friendly people enjoying the parks. The only people with scowls on their faces was people wearing mouse ears, their daughters dressed up like cinderalla, had 3 inch binders with trip planning documentation, they also talked in a strange language, kept on saying ressies, must fastpass, WDWMMNSHP, Magic Momement, No towel figures, PSs, Sort of like that Shawn of the Dead Movie. Mouse of the Dead maybe.

 

[utahkennedys]

For PHAMTOM:
Yes, there are some discounts, but am I the only one who notices US/IOA is giving them ALL? Not just free dining and free transportation, not just ticket discounts, but almost everything they can give away without letting everyone in for free, eat for free and stay for free. And, that is at the supposed "highest" season of the summer -- Disney's Free Dining is only in the Fall, the slowest time of the year. No comparison to me.