Some Disappointment in US/IoA

[Uncleromulus]

About "complaints"--Disney has so many more things to complain about--more parks, far more restaurants, many more hotels, the transportation system etc.
TDC Nala: If by "adult" you mean bars, dancing and nightclubs--I'm sure Disney will be more than happy to let Universal have all that and all the problems that come with it.

 

[TDC Nala]

No I don't mean bars, dancing and nightclubs. Disney has bars, I don't do dancing and the only nightclub that interested me was the Adventurers Club and that is gone and not returning. Universal doesn't have anything even close to the Adventurers Club so they're not getting what business I would have given to Disney in that area. By that I mean I see Disney concentrating on the children instead of on everyone. Meaning, they are putting in a lot of new park attractions and marketing that are specifically targeted to families with young children, like the character meet and greets being morphed into "play and meet" where an activity with the character is included - and it's usually the kind of activity that only small children would be doing. Maybe that'll get the adults who want to meet characters out of the lines.

 

[Planogirl]

Remember that really great attraction (not exactly a ride) in Futureland, where the alien escaped into the audience in total darkness and stomped around and drooled and growled and basically scared the snot out of everyone? On my last trip to Disney I was very disappointed to find it changed into a Lilo and Stitch-themed children's attraction.

I was disappointed by that change too but I'm not a Stitch fan. It's just overall a bad attraction IMO.

 

[Metro West]

Remember that really great attraction (not exactly a ride) in Futureland, where the alien escaped into the audience in total darkness and stomped around and drooled and growled and basically scared the snot out of everyone? On my last trip to Disney I was very disappointed to find it changed into a Lilo and Stitch-themed children's attraction.

Alien Encounter was great! I really miss the attraction.

 

[keishashadow]

About "complaints"--Disney has so many more things to complain about--more parks, far more restaurants, many more hotels, the transportation system etc.
TDC Nala: If by "adult" you mean bars, dancing and nightclubs--I'm sure Disney will be more than happy to let Universal have all that and all the problems that come with it.

after experiencing another very crowded F&W @ epcot this year, I have a feeling they probably get far more than their share of 'problems' during the event. Maybe even moreso as those who don't have much of a tolerance could easily get goofy

 

[poeticdiabetic]

I tried to find their criteria but I couldn't even find a list showing any Disney or Universal hotels. They have several categories so maybe I overlooked it.

Simple-

Google 10Best and look for their Theme Park category. Or, just google 10Best Theme Parks.

You can also go to Theme Park Insider and look for their Best Theme Park category.

And as far as Disney buying US/IOA- it is a long shot because US/IOA isn't hurting them as much as to go through those measures. But it isn't beyond the pale because Disney uses US/IOA's innovation to their advantage by continuing to invest in their hotels business. They are leveraging WWHOP's success by targeting visitors to stay at their hotels because US/IOA only have three hotels- and they're all from one category.

But there are signs that WWHOP are cutting into one category that WDW covets: those who visit WDW and never leaves the property. And that may be troubling to them.

But if you start to see US/IOA investments into mid-range and value hotels that would coincide with WWHOP and other thematic expansions- Disney will have true competition. And business logic tells me that Disney will try to buy US/IOA.

And the way they will spin it will simply be that US/IOA (under a new name) will continue to be different from WDW. It will be the "adult-park."

But you won't see strong investments into hotels from US/IOA. And you won't see huge investments from NBC-Universal, period- with the exception of possibly a WWHOP expansion. The reason why is because NBC-Universal was bought out by Comcast and that merger is fairly recent. WWHOP is a money-maker, though.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

Oh, and final thing-

watch the Comcast-NBC merger very closely. The profitability of that deal will translate into US/IOA expansion. But if there are hiccups, it will trickle down to US/IOA.

 

[Planogirl]

If WWoHP is profitable, I don't see why Comcast/NBC would be inclined to sell. But who knows? Time will tell.

 

[Metro West]

If WWoHP is profitable, I don't see why Comcast/NBC would be inclined to sell. But who knows? Time will tell.

I would think...if it got to that point...Blackstone would make an offer for the remaining 50% of Universal instead of selling the parks off to a "total stranger"...if you know what I mean.

 

[ImJustHere4TheMouse]

... next time I'm leaving the rest of the family home and it will be just DH and I.

Best advice from all the boards I've seen lately! We have the best time when it's just the 4 of us, and not the "extended family"....Gotta love 'em, but let's leave 'em at home....lol




Off topic? Sure. But, good advice nonetheless...

 

[torinsmom]

I wouldn't be so quick to "dis" the people who try to get you to watch a pilot or review a product. We watched a pilot last summer and got paid $25. Then I was signed up for something called Viewpoint Forum, where they send you online surveys every week or so. You can earn points and then cash out for actual money. I think I earned around $50 last year and I was also chosen to participate in a few product trials, one for trash bags and one for a cleaning spray. So I got the products free AND got paid points for reviewing them.

I already have $31 in my account since June, so this year I am hoping to earn at least $75 before my summer trip.

Marsha