Universal Guide Book - Written by disgruntled Disney employee?

[willis37862]

I remember hearing when Disney wouldn't allow any facial hair which I thought was funny since Walt Disney himself had a mustache in just about every picture I've seen.

Yeah I always thought that was weird too.

 

[MassMom94]

That is my biggest pet peeve. They'll walk into Islands look around at the amazing theming in Port of Entry, and think "wow, this place is really well themed." Then, they'll notice one cup on a trashcan. It'll immediately make them think this place is horrible and not run up to the perfection that is Disney.

However, little did they notice that there was NO trash around anywhere, EXCEPT for that one cup on the trashcan. It's like if Disney ever were to have trash on Main Street, they'd shake it off and pretend it didn't happen.

On our first trip (2003) to Disney, we arrived Saturday night and immediately went to the MK. I could not believe how trashy the place was...seriously...cups of half-drunk soda all over the place near Buzz Lightyear, and Cosmic Ray's was a complete mess. We had a less-than-magical check-in experience at the WL, too. At the time I wondered what we'd gotten ourselves into!

Obviously, things improved from that point - or we wouldn't have returned two more times, with more trips in our future.

 

[MassMom94]

I think the surprise to me was just that I'm so used to Disney, and they don't even mention Universal in the parks, resorts, website or guide books. Not in a good or bad way. They just don't acknowledge them. Yet since I've been planning this Universal trip, it seems as though a point has been made NOT to compare the two. I guess that's a good thing, but I'm a bit surprised at the emphasis being made to do so.

I guess you've never been to Whispering Canyon Cafe for dinner, or if so, there was no one there wearing a Universal t-shirt. The servers have a whole schtick they do about Universal in that case.

In general, the top brand for any product line (e.g., Microsoft, Coke, etc.) doesn't often acknowledge competitors in their marketing, while the others (e.g., Apple, Pepsi) do.

In terms of comparing Universal and Disney, my family enjoys both - though DS10 said after our most recent Universal trip, "I think I'm over Buzz Lightyear. It's so lame compared to Men in Black." I don't agree that Buzz is lame, but I do think MIB is way fun and with FOTL, you can reride it with ease!

And if you won't appreciate a joke involving Tinkerbell, don't go see Shrek 4-D.

 

[Metro West]

Yeah I always thought that was weird too.

Management decisions at their best.

 

[MassMom94]

I also must admit - Being a bit of a coaster wimp, I'm a bit worried about skipping Hulk and Dueling Dragons. They get so raved about, I'll feel like I'm missing out on something pretty special.

I like coasters, and those are good ones, but IMO they're not all that different from what you can find at Six Flags, Busch, or Cedar Fair parks. Now if you don't experience Mummy or Spiderman, you WILL be missing out on something pretty special. There is nothing like them anywhere else.

 

[phamton]

I was at Epcot on Wednesday and when I was leaving I hoped on the tram. The announcer said "This tram goes to the parking lot only. The only stops it will make is in the Epcot parking lot. It does NOT go to Universal Studios or Seaworld." and then he and the rest of us laughed.

 

[mslclark]

I guess you've never been to Whispering Canyon Cafe for dinner, or if so, there was no one there wearing a Universal t-shirt. The servers have a whole schtick they do about Universal in that case.

DS10 said after our most recent Universal trip, "I think I'm over Buzz Lightyear. It's so lame compared to Men in Black."

They used to make kids raise their right hand and pledge to never ever go to Universal.

I think I have to agree with your DS. Once I rode MIB, Buzz seemed like a snoozer. He sounds like my kind of kid!

 

[nikinicole13]

I just want to reinterate what someone else said... if youre touchy about ppl picking on Disney, dont go to the Horror Makeup Show. I however, found it funny & Im sure most anyone that worked/works at WDW would. Bc you HAVE to be nice & its SUCH a struggle some days, esp with some guests.

And I also agree with the person that said the bit about King Kong... I loved that ride & now its gone. I was SO sad when I found out it was gone.

But yeah, you really cant compare the two parks, although people try to. They are both aimed at different things, different crowds and def diff ages. It all just depends on what you like. Just dont go into one of the parks wearing anything from the other park & you should have a pleasant experience without anything being said to you about the other park.

 

[kellymonaghan]

I like coasters, and those are good ones, but IMO they're not all that different from what you can find at Six Flags, Busch, or Cedar Fair parks. Now if you don't experience Mummy or Spiderman, you WILL be missing out on something pretty special. There is nothing like them anywhere else.

And for the "coaster wimps" out there, let us not forget to mention that Mummy and Spider-Man are tame compared to Hulk and DD. My DW, who wouldn't go near the big coasters, is a huge fan of the other two rides.

 

[Darcy03231]

And for the "coaster wimps" out there, let us not forget to mention that Mummy and Spider-Man are tame compared to Hulk and DD. My DW, who wouldn't go near the big coasters, is a huge fan of the other two rides.

I have to agree. I'm one of the biggest ride chickens there is and I loveboth of those rides!

 

[Atotty]

Hey Kelly,

I just started reading your book. Is Spiderman a coaster? I thought it was an interactive ride.

 

[loribell]

Hey Kelly,

I just started reading your book. Is Spiderman a coaster? I thought it was an interactive ride.

Spiderman is an amazing simulator ride.

 

[damo]

Hey Kelly,

I just started reading your book. Is Spiderman a coaster? I thought it was an interactive ride.

Men in Black is the interactive ride. Spiderman cars run along a track but it is not a coaster.

 

[kellymonaghan]

Spidey is NOT a coaster, of course. I mentioned it in this context, because some people who shy away from coasters think it will be too intense for them.

 

[Atotty]

That's what I thought. Thanks!

 

[Krustycarnie]

Me personally; i am a diehard Disney and (yes and) Universal Fan. I love them both. They both are great places in their own resepcts. Univ is great for thrills. Disney is great for themeing.

 

[kristennn]

I've only been to disney once and universal once - and then only to islands of adventure not universal studios - so I am no expert - BUT my family really liked both and I didn't find them to be so different. The characters etc. are different but park employee attitudes didn't seem to be different - people were nice to us at both. We saw thrill rides at both and i thought both did theming extremely well and both were extremely well kept up. We spent a lot of time in both the dr suess area and the marvel comics area and I thought they themeing in both were on par with disney.

I think the resaon universal may seem more competative with Disney than vice versa is because Disney is bigger and is the main draw ... universal - while awesome is secondary for many/most people. We thought it was cool enough that we're spending about $300 to go there for the day when disney tickets and transport would have been closer to $30 (because we have MYW tickets and are staying on site)