Something I just don't understand

[phamton]

It seems lately I have seen a lot of Universal bashing not just here but other sites. Why the sudden increase in negativity? Is Disney starting to worry about the rise in popularity for Universal? Is Universal getting better while Disney's standards are dropping? Is Disney recently losing a lot of business to Universal?

I was reading rec.arts.disney.parks newsgroup and read this Mummy review by a WDW castmember:

Just went today and rode the new coaster, if thats what you call it, at
Universal. All of the special effects are not in yet, so I will go back and
try it again in a few months but they better be tons of them if they think its
going to spice up this lame ride. What they did have working was neat, but the
ride is short, not exciting and missing something. You sit in rows of 4, 4
rows to a car, so Ii knew right away that it would not be that fast.

It makes me wonder if this guy even rode the Mummy. It was incredibly fast with some serious "air time" (butt-off-the-seat). He said it was short. Hello! WDW has Space Mountain, Rock 'n roller Coaster, and Mission:Space, none are considered long rides.

I rode ROTM 8 times and then hung around in the gift shop listening to those who exited the ride. During two days time, I never heard one negative comment. Everyone was coming off the ride with statements like "Wow!" Many were saying it was the best ride they had ever been on. Out of the hundreds of comments I overheard no one said the ride was lame.

All 8 times I rode it, every person in the car was clapping with appreciation at the end. I never saw even one person who looked bored with the ride. A "lame ride"? I think not. I think Disney may be running a little scared lately.

I know this board never talks negative about Disney and don't really want a flame war but I am truly confused how anyone could call the ride "lame" unless they were outright lying or running scared. I could see someone saying they hated it if they just hate rollercoasters, etc. but no way could it be called "lame."

 

[Tigger&Belle]

There will be people who make negative comments about everything. Some are giving their honest opinion and others are just wanting to start trouble. Some just have a general sourpuss attitude on life in general and look for the worst in whatever they do. I think it's much better to look for the good in things--it's a much healthier way to live. Which isn't to say that I don't complain about things when it's appropriate, but it's not my goal to find something wrong.

That's great that you've heard so many positve comments from people getting off the ride. That says a lot!

T&B

 

[Prince Eric1]

I think it just goes back to what everyone says, that many people who like Disney think they can ONLY like Disney and no where else. I know many of us love both and some only like Universal, but those who only like Universal rarely if ever bash Disney, they may just say they don't like it. I think with tourism down, its getting ugly and can only get uglier until things return to the way they were a few years ago.
On a side note if you go over to the Disney boards they bash each other just as much, so it probably shouldn't be taken personally here. They argue over if you have the right to take children to Disney, strollers, litter, and what kind of cup you use to get a drink refill. Unfortunately when a post is started about Universal on a non universal board and it gets moved here, the posters from there who hate universal come to and feel it necessary to rip not only Universal, but those who dare to like it.

 

[highlander447]

I think most of the people who bash the parks either Disney or Universal just wont see the bad side in the park they like and refuse to admit other parks are just as good

 

[TinkKel]

I think we should all start bashing US, then we can have the park all to ourselves!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by TinkKel
I think we should all start bashing US, then we can have the park all to ourselves!!

Good idea!!!

T&B

 

[phamton]

The sad thing about this is I am sure that if this exact same Mummy ride was placed in the Disney parks that this person would be posting about how awesome it is instead of calling it lame.

I try to be fair in my evaulations. I was impressed with Mission:Space and I am sure I will think Everest is great. I won't be saying that Everest is lame just because it's not at Universal.

 

[damo]

As soon as Everest is up we will make a trip to ride. It 's looking very promising. We've been watching pictures of the constructions. The track is going up quite quickly. I'm sure we'll love it.

We are also going to Disneyland this summer (as well as Knotts, Universal Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Paramount Great America and Six Flags Marine World). I doubt very much that I'll come home and start bashing.

Plan on riding about 60 coasters this summer. We've also got a roller hockey tournament in Cincinnati so will be going to Paramount King's Island. Look out Barry, I'm gonna crash your coaster count!

Maybe Universal lovers are just ride lovers.

 

[ZKZ]

I would think the Disney fans would be happy. That by having competition it has made those in charge over there, finally take a look and give those fans what they want and deserve, and not just the off shelf rides they've been getting for a while now.

I go through the same thing by using a Mac, I hear the bashing from PC users all the time. But history has shown time and time again thanks to Apple and vice versa, the major PC companies, we all get some benefit out the competitiveness in the long run.

Same thing can be said for Disney, Universal, and pretty much any other parks(whether they be amusement or theme) through the 1 upsmanship of attractions we the consumer are always the winner.

 

[RescueRanger]

Being a fan of both Disney and Universal, I read threads on both boards. Whenever I see bashing of Universal on the WDW boards, I try to respond with my opinion of Universal to contradict some of those negative posters. I've got to tell you though that lately I have seen alot of positive reports on Universal on the WDW boards. There is a thread that has been running the last few days asking whether people would go to Universal or MGM. When I first saw the subject, I thought: Oh no, here we go again, but when I opened the thread, I was shocked to see most of the posts stating that they would pick Universal. These types of threads have got to be giving the "Disney or Die" crowd heartburn. They hate to admit it, but as Disney's popularity is faultering, Universal's is growing. ZKZ, I totally agree with you. I am glad that Universal pushes Disney because competition makes all the parks better for us, the fans.

 

[ChrisFL]

Originally posted by RescueRanger
Being a fan of both Disney and Universal, I read threads on both boards. Whenever I see bashing of Universal on the WDW boards, I try to respond with my opinion of Universal to contradict some of those negative posters. I've got to tell you though that lately I have seen alot of positive reports on Universal on the WDW boards. There is a thread that has been running the last few days asking whether people would go to Universal or MGM. When I first saw the subject, I thought: Oh no, here we go again, but when I opened the thread, I was shocked to see most of the posts stating that they would pick Universal. These types of threads have got to be giving the "Disney or Die" crowd heartburn. They hate to admit it, but as Disney's popularity is faultering, Universal's is growing. ZKZ, I totally agree with you. I am glad that Universal pushes Disney because competition makes all the parks better for us, the fans.

Right. Would we have gotten RnRc, Mission: Space or Everest without Universal and IOA gaining popularity? Possibly, but doubtful of even 2 of those would have been built this early.

Competition is always good. Look at Ohio's coaster wars. Their competition is incredibly fierce.

The only problem is that Disney now thinks they can make a cheap ride just as fun as a true Disney experience, but that doesn't fool a lot of people.

 

[rangebob]

Sadly I re-newed my Disney annual pass about 2 months ago. I've been there once since I've done that. Disney has lost the magic that use to be there and Universal found it. The cast at Disney has gone down and I believe that Universal has hired the best cast and crew in there parks. The quality of the staff is top notch which is what Disney use to look for but recently they aren't doing that anymore. Even the local newspapers are going through the parks and tearing Disney apart.

Don't take this the wrong way as I'm a Disney basher and only love Universal. I still love Disney and will continue to go there but I need to wait until the magic returns to me but currently the magic is between Universal and Seaworld and Disney is somewhere in the background. I know that the magic will return when my nephew comes down for his first visit to the mouse house. It is always amazing to watch little ones seeing the park for the first time.

 

[BarryHom]

Surprisingly, I read a TR once where someone wasn't impressed with Spiderman. That was really the only TR where I've seen such a comment, though.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

It's amazing isn't it? I don't like Disney, yet I can't say I didn't think Space Mountain was a great ride, or anything.

ROTM is far from lame. At the beginning I was thinking "okay....where's the excitement?" It didn't take more than 30 seconds at the most before I found myself screaming and enjoying the ride. I'm a coaster freak as well. I love rollercoasters! ROTM did not disappoint me in the least.

Barry, that's insane!!

 

[Robinrs]

Someone mentioned in one of the recent threads that some people have a loyalty to Disney that makes them feel almost guilty to like anything else! I find it so unbelievable....

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

It's too bad, Robin. Imagine all they miss out on. Things they could have enjoyed. It has almost become a Disney lovers cult of some sort. I'm a huge Universal fan, and I don't see that changing anytime soon, but I can still enjoy other parks...like Busch Gardens in Tampa.

 

[BarryHom]

I remember riding Mission: Space at Epcot. It was a good ride, but I couldn't help thinking, "Universal would have done it better." I can talk volumes about bad Disney rides, but that is a subject for another time.

 

[phamton]

I understand, Barry. I like Mission:Space but I think it could have been so much better. But still, I wouldn't call the ride "lame." I just don't see how even an ardent supporter of Disney could call the Mummy "lame." The only ride I would label as "lame" might be the teacups at Disney.

There is no way that ROTM could ever be called lame. The guy either didn't ride it or is just lying.

 

[BarryHom]

If it's open, I'm going to ride ROTM on Saturday!

Now let's talk about Journey Into Your Imagination...well, maybe not.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by WebmasterBarry
If it's open, I'm going to ride ROTM on Saturday!

Now let's talk about Journey Into Your Imagination...well, maybe not.

Only if you're going to talk about the original. Versions 2 and 3 get massive .
*leaves it at that*