Top five ways Universal can compete with Disney

[keishashadow]

I don't think there are enough people to warrant it or make it run economically.

imo it's odd they haven't branded with one of the many providers to offer airport shuttle service at even a slight discount (just for convenience sake vs making one's own arrangements) or price it into their packages to compete with those who are used to the disney ME service.

 

[damo]

imo it's odd they haven't branded with one of the many providers to offer airport shuttle service at even a slight discount (just for convenience sake vs making one's own arrangements) or price it into their packages to compete with those who are used to the disney ME service.

They used to have it as an option when you purchased a package. Haven't seen it in a while, though.

 

[keishashadow]

They used to have it as an option when you purchased a package. Haven't seen it in a while, though.

yes, i recently priced out a package hoping that airfare would be more reasonable for short getaway (it wasn't lol) and didn't see the option listed, thought i had missed it somewhere on the site.

 

[DCTooTall]

Eh... honestly, I don't think the parks need to change much at all. Universal is Universal. Disney is Disney. They are 2 different animals that really excel in their own unique ways.


That being said, the only things that I could see MAYBE warranting some changes would be some more calm/dark type rides for younger people, those not really into the thrill rides (AKA... your party's bag holder)... and those wanting to take a break from spinning/thrilly rides and relax a bit.

Oh... And maybe more classic movie-making/Classic Universal stuff in the Studios park. I sort of miss the Boneyard and Hitchcock/Murder-she-wrote attractions for the simple reason that they were fun things you could do that really helped with that "You are in the movies" sort of vibe. Something along such lines in the Universal Studios park would also probably help bring back it's actual Studio feel even though it's not really used for filming much anymore. (Considering 4 of it's (current) 7 sections were/are designed as movie backlot/set areas, It could help with regaining that Theming element without completely redoing the park)

Honestly, if you wanted to compare, the New York, San Francisco, and Hollywood areas are all much better detailed and cohesively themed than MGM's backlot street if you ask me.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Eh... honestly, I don't think the parks need to change much at all. Universal is Universal. Disney is Disney. They are 2 different animals that really excel in their own unique ways.


That being said, the only things that I could see MAYBE warranting some changes would be some more calm/dark type rides for younger people, those not really into the thrill rides (AKA... your party's bag holder)... and those wanting to take a break from spinning/thrilly rides and relax a bit.

Oh... And maybe more classic movie-making/Classic Universal stuff in the Studios park. I sort of miss the Boneyard and Hitchcock/Murder-she-wrote attractions for the simple reason that they were fun things you could do that really helped with that "You are in the movies" sort of vibe. Something along such lines in the Universal Studios park would also probably help bring back it's actual Studio feel even though it's not really used for filming much anymore. (Considering 4 of it's (current) 7 sections were/are designed as movie backlot/set areas, It could help with regaining that Theming element without completely redoing the park)

Honestly, if you wanted to compare, the New York, San Francisco, and Hollywood areas are all much better detailed and cohesively themed than MGM's backlot street if you ask me.

I totally agree with all that you said. I really hope that whatever the new Harry Potter expansion entails, it includes some kind of slow-moving dark ride that everyone can enjoy. As much as I love Forbidden Journey, sometimes I wish it was simply an omni-mover type system similar to the Haunted Mansion, where the track went through the classrooms (as opposed to only the queue). An omni-mover in the Ministry of Magic would be INCREDIBLE... but this is just wishful thinking.

One major thing that sets Disney apart from Universal (mainly the Studios side) is the feeling that things are just going on all the time. There's always some show or character meet-and-greet going on, you never know what you're going to walk by and see. This happens to some degree at Universal (Blues Brothers, Scooby Doo and Simpsons characters), just not as much. The new parade is cute but I wish it was longer and included more properties of relevance (Why choose HOP over Madagascar or Shrek?). The nighttime show is the best thing that park has seen in a while.

Glad I'm not the only one who finds Universal Studios' street lots to be superior to its counterparts in Hollywood Studios. The New York in Universal looks gritty and real, that section of DHS looks, well.. Disney-fied and cleaner.
A couple weeks ago, while waiting to meet a few friends at The Mummy, I spent a good 30 minutes or so looking in all of the windows in that New York section. The details of the stores are so awesome, and probably often overlooked.

 

[macraven]

They used to have it as an option when you purchased a package. Haven't seen it in a while, though.

yes, i recently priced out a package hoping that airfare would be more reasonable for short getaway (it wasn't lol) and didn't see the option listed, thought i had missed it somewhere on the site.

it has to be at least over 6 - 7 years back that they had the shuttle/car service as an option to the hotels when you booked a package.

they linked with quick silver transportation and that option would cost you about $18 rt.
i did check it out back in 2001 as i was curious. never used it.

it vanished from the options site sometime back.

you can use the Mears shuttle from airport to uo hotels and back.
$30 round trip per person.