The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Universal

[HM2012Butler]

lol I've encountered wonderful workers in both parks, I'd venture it can be a thankless job at times

You hit the nail on the head. The job gets frustrating (as does any job). Some people handle it better that others. I'm not saying CMs want to be thanked for everything, that's not in the job description. It makes it tough when guests take the nice acts for granted or assume they're entitled to things they truly are not. In my experience (and this is not to say this doesn't happen at Disney) I have never been told to smile more (or less for that matter). I have never heard a CM refer to anyone as the smile police or call it a "Disney Smile". I'm a grumpy guy from New York. I think there is something that just makes people happy about working in Disney. Yes, some are unhappy and yes, stuff happens and people are rude to guests but more often than not, guests are rude to CMs first. For OP to consider all Disney CM smile to be fake is wrong. I know a lot of people who work at both parks so there is a chance your genuinely happy TM could also be a CM!

 

[macraven]

Very true
Many TM's /CM's work part time at both parks

 

[wendyquat]

It seems that most of you guys posting have annual passes. I am sending my granddaughter to Universal as a graduation gift. She is 23 yo but has never traveled alone so I am trying to pay for everything and get it lined up so she will have no worries. My question is if it is better to buy the 3 day Park to Park from Undercoer Tourist or is it better to buy a plastic ticket from Publix? Do all tickets give access to City Walk? She and her friend will be staying at Cabana Bay. She will not have my credit card to use in a kiosk. Thanks

 

[macraven]

there are some tickets that allow the free city walk pass.
two years ago, preferred ap holders lost that perk.

 

[damo]

It seems that most of you guys posting have annual passes. I am sending my granddaughter to Universal as a graduation gift. She is 23 yo but has never traveled alone so I am trying to pay for everything and get it lined up so she will have no worries. My question is if it is better to buy the 3 day Park to Park from Undercoer Tourist or is it better to buy a plastic ticket from Publix? Do all tickets give access to City Walk? She and her friend will be staying at Cabana Bay. She will not have my credit card to use in a kiosk. Thanks

Everyone has free access to Citywalk. Multiday tickets have the cover charge included for the Citywalk nightclubs.

 

[Forum Jumper]

After the talk of the lanyards, can I assume USO sells park-themed lanyards onsite? I was going to purchase some to take with us but I would rather purchase something park themed for "the kids", if they sell them.....especially if they have HP themed lanyards. (As a side, I will go out of my way to thank an employee who is cleaning up after a sick visitor. )

 

[chmurf]

I assume USO sells park-themed lanyards onsite?

you assume well

I have Simpsons, Minions, you name it ... (not my pic)

Harry Potter is also popular
here's a pic (not mine)

 

[Forum Jumper]

Excellent!! Thank you very much!!

 

[angierae]

I will say I was disappointed with how early the parks closed. I know we went in January, but it was too cold to swim in the evenings, and the parks closed by 7-8, and we found ourselves kind of floundering without much to do. One night we went down to Jake's and had drinks and dessert, but it gets expensive when you just want something to _do_, not necessarily spend more money.

We had a good time but if we went again I think I'd rent a car so we could go elsewhere in the evenings, but again, money.

 

[macraven]

the parks have shorter hours when they don't stay full.

you can cover all of the parks easier when attendance is down.

going off site later in the evening should work for you.

 

[phillymummer]

I will say I was disappointed with how early the parks closed. I know we went in January, but it was too cold to swim in the evenings, and the parks closed by 7-8, and we found ourselves kind of floundering without much to do. One night we went down to Jake's and had drinks and dessert, but it gets expensive when you just want something to _do_, not necessarily spend more money.

We had a good time but if we went again I think I'd rent a car so we could go elsewhere in the evenings, but again, money.

We were there during Jersey week and the parks closed by 7 or 8 then too. I understand what macracven is saying, but is the close proximity of the neighborhoods a factor as well?

 

[macraven]

Some guests über, cab it, or walk to international dr for evening entertainment

Some go to dinner shows to the nearby sites

 

[pcstang]

We were there during Jersey week and the parks closed by 7 or 8 then too. I understand what macracven is saying, but is the close proximity of the neighborhoods a factor as well?

Yes