Pixie Dust turned to Cement

[fishhead]

My family is looking forward to US/IOA for sure

 

[micksterlee]

I noticed yesterday we even had a thread on the Disney board comparing WDW to Six Flags parks.Of course the Six Flags parks were being shredded, but come on give me a break comparing Six Flags to Disney is like comparing salt to sugar.

 

[Holly Goheavy]

US/IOA looks to be (I haven't been yet so I can't say I know this for a fact) an amusement park that's not afraid to let people know, "Hey, we're an amusement park." More concrete, bigger badder rides, and no mouse ears. As far as I'm concerned I'm glad US/IOA decided NOT to become a Disney wannabe.

I don't see it that way at all. I get just as much of an "exotic" ambiance from the different Islands as I do at Disney and since I'm from Florida, the street scenes and wharf area at USF are really different for me as well. When I walk through the Port of Entry and hear the music, I still get chills and I've been going since the soft opening of IoA back in 1999.

For years we had APs to Universal because my kids were bigger-we stayed at PBH while they were still building HRH and the rides were more our style. After having a late in life baby, we did Disney for the last 4 years, this year he's tall enough to ride everything except the Mummy and Hulk. We'll still do Disney from time to time, but we're probably back to USF for a good while.

I love knowing all 3 hotels like the back of my hand, being able to walk anywhere I want and not have to wait on the bus, fold the stroller, hold the baby, etc etc etc. I think the theming and especially the queues are more creative and entertaining than Disney. Don't get me wrong, I love Disney but for my family, USF is more affordable and more cutting edge. I go to Disney for a nostalgia kick.

 

[mumzie2three]

US compares favorably to MGM and IOA in many ways compares well to MK in theming

I have to say that US is waaaaay more user friendly than MGM. MGM makes it almost impossible to see multiple shows and still enjoy the rides. We did a lot of cutting back and forth across the park and still failed to see all we wanted to see (and we spent 2 half days there).

IOA and MK are apples and oranges. MK is my favorite park, ever. I liked IOA but it was different. Good, but different. Not as much for very young children.

But I also want to add that in comparing Disney and US/IOA, my children were able to more easily access characters in the parks at US/IOA. Just one of several positive differences.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I have to say that US is waaaaay more user friendly than MGM. MGM makes it almost impossible to see multiple shows and still enjoy the rides. We did a lot of cutting back and forth across the park and still failed to see all we wanted to see (and we spent 2 half days there).

IOA and MK are apples and oranges. MK is my favorite park, ever. I liked IOA but it was different. Good, but different. Not as much for very young children.

But I also want to add that in comparing Disney and US/IOA, my children were able to more easily access characters in the parks at US/IOA. Just one of several positive differences.

Chris was just referring to the 'theming' of the parks not a comparison of the rides and attractions. I have the same opinion you do of MGM, it just wasnt user friendly for us either! I prefer USO to MGM by a landslide.