Universal In, Disney Out.

[Ofinn]

We have been to WDW 9 times. I love the deluxe resorts, the restaurants and the atmosphere. What I don't like is the old and tired looking rides. I don't think they are doing a good job of keeping up with technology. Universal has some great rides and they keep adding more.

I like the Universal resorts maybe not as much as the Disney resorts, but on average I pay about 100.00 less per night at Universal so I take that into consideration.

I agree with pp about WDW being too much planning, and now they charge you to cancel a ADR within 24 hours. I really love the express passes and the lack of planning involved in a Universal vacation. We used to have AP's to WDW and would take last minute spontaneous trips, but I don't even think that's an option anymore with the new system. I guess if your a person that takes one vacation a year and loves to plan, plan and plan WDW is great. We take several different vacations a year, and I'm not sure I want to put that much effort into one trip.

We will eventually get back to WDW probably during the food and wine, but I have no desire to buy annual passes again. I'm happy visiting Universal for a few days before our cruises. Every time we go there is a new attraction. I can't say the same for WDW nothing changed in 9 visits.

 

[Ofinn]

No worries about Harry's staying power. I was astounded by how many large groups of 20-to-50+ year-olds were throughout both USF Parks sporting full Hogwarts regalia: robes, scarves, wire-rimmed glasses, wands, the whole works. As others have said, it truly is a multi-generational and international phenomenon. My kid's grandkids will be reading those books and watching the movies. Both our boys have read all of the books (multiple times) and it is the only series of books all of their friends (boy and girl) have read at least some of.

I do think Disney is risking putting all of their eggs in one basket -- the "Princess basket", and it's easy to understand why. Merchandise.

Disney has ignored the young-to-teenaged boy for a long time. Our sons now have a much more nostalgic link to Universal due to how many of their themes resonate with their interests- books, TV shows, and movies. This has nothing to do with ride thrill factor, since my oldest is very much not a thrill seeker. Long term, that would concern me if I was a Disney Exec. Well, if they were thinking that long term. Disney wasn't that way when I was a boy.

DW very much feels the same way, and it was a huge surprise to her after our USF trip. So much more there was new, fresh and relevant. None of the recent Disney movies our family enjoyed are represented unless it ties back to a Princess. And nothing on the horizon.

I agree with you. I don't think my boys have ever watched a Classic Disney movie. I would have to pay them to watch Cinderella, Snow White, Bambi etc. I'm not sure how much "staying power" the Disney classics have anymore. They do love Marvel and it's great that Disney bought that franchise, but we won't see the characters in the Disney parks. My kids have seen all the movies featured at Universal. If the rides ever become outdated It seems like it would be pretty easy for Universal to replace them with the next big blockbuster film.

 

[asmit4]

Interestingly, this is exactly one of the reasons the OP cannot find a really active US/IOA message board...very little planning is required for a Universal Vacation. After your initial questions are answered, usually found in a "sticky" there isn't much to do besides book and go.

Disney to me is like a war...I have to have a war plan....ADRs, loads of schedules, transportation plans/times.. etc etc. I LOVE it- but it's not a vacation to me and never will be. We take our real vacations elsewhere. Honestly- all this planning is turning a lot of people off- and MBs aren't helping much IMO.

I am basically done booking ADRs for my October trip. DW is the only place in the world that I know where you have to book your dinner time 6 months in advance. Frankly- it's a PIA for A TON of people!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Interestingly, this is exactly one of the reasons the OP cannot find a really active US/IOA message board...very little planning is required for a Universal Vacation. After your initial questions are answered, usually found in a "sticky" there isn't much to do besides book and go.

Good point. There are a lot of boards that speculate about new projects etc but not so much about actual vacation planning.

 

[Arielle22]

We went to Universal a few years ago when our DDs were 15 and 17. DH and DD15 loved the thrill rides and we all enjoyed HP. DD17 and I don't go thrill rides so we rode a few other rides together.

If it wasn't for HP then we probably wouldn't have gone. I understand why people enjoy the park but for me and DH, Disney gives us more to experience together as a family.

 

[johde]

Honestly Harry Potter has us coming to Universal more but I still think the quality is at WDW. We tend to skip most things at Universal OTHER than Harry Potter and only a lot one day for it. Their customer service is crappy. We get tired of being forced to shove things into lockers. Theming is lacking outside of HP areas too. Their hotels are not good. Including the high end ones.

They get us for the potter and then we are OUT.

In my opinion both Disney and Universal have great theming in certain areas of the parks and other areas where the theming is lacking or outlived it's usefulness.

Most of the theming in DAK is Top Notch some of the best in the business. But then you have Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama. Where in most people's opinion Disney decided to spend more money on developing the back story than they did on the theming itself.

At IOA I would say the theming from Seuss Landing all the way around to Jurassic Park is top notch. Lost Continent had some of the best theming I'd seen before HP moved in and large sections of it still remain. Toon Lagoon and Marvel Superhero Island I'll admit come off "cheap" is a couple of areas in external theming.

Looking at DHS, and USF the 2 parks that are the most similar theming wise, I'd give the edge to USF. DHS has the good areas like Star Wars, ToT, But the other side of the park, the Old production side, is pretty lacking. While the Streets of America are Nice I guess, especially when the lights are up. You end up with an area where everything on the backside of it You're looking at bare steelwork. When Disney MGM Studio's was a working Studios and that area was strictly part of the backlot tour the theming sort of work. Now, not so much. From Muppet Plaza look right bare steel. Studio Catering Company, just a pole building, with the bare backsides of Streets of America Showing. When they replace the theater that Hunchback used to use, they basically built a box and painted a faux street scene on one side.

USF, in general is very good but low key. In general they don't have the bright colors. They are more muted and in some area protray a more "gritter side" of the city they are portraying. It suffers from similar problem, but to me they don't feel quite so great. You have the area around HRRR where you basically could be waiting for any roller coaster in any amusement park, Kids Zone could use some work. Waiting in line for Twister and Disaster you get that "backstage" feel you get in certain areas of DHS but to me at least, it still seems more planned and not leftover remnant.

MK and EPCOT have their good and bad areas as well in terms of theming.

 

[MightyGitis]

Johde what a great in depth look at theming! And some excellent points to now in questioning my thoughts on theming. Lol. But I still enjoy the "feel" of WDW over universal.

 

[KeroKero]

Been reading through this thread for a couple days now and have finally decided to chime in

I LOVE both parks, but not equally exactly. I LOVE each for specific reasons. The attractions at US/IOA are amazing; the technology can't be beat. Transformers, Spider-Man, The Mummy - AMAZING! The WWoHP plus the new Diagon Alley expansion are so well done. I'm a huge Potter fan, so this is a big draw, but besides HP, the parks have a lot of diversity to offer when it comes to attractions. The negative: besides HP, Springfield and Seuss, the areas could be themed a bit better, the dining options aren't that great and pretty costly and the park hours aren't that great.

I love the magic that is Disney. While the attractions aren't as technology driven as most are at US/IOA, they have a classic appeal that I'll always go back to. There is such an imaginative innocence to Disney attractions, that just can't be found elsewhere. Disney dining options can't be beat, the theme areas are amazing and the grounds are so well maintained everywhere. The Negative Disney is too slow with its expansions and attractions. In the time they've been completing the new Fantasyland, US/IOA did Despicable Me, Transformers and pretty much completed Diagon Alley. As much as I think Magic Bands are really neat, I think its made an average trip to to the Parks way more complex than necessary (I feel really bad for ppl that aren't very tech savvy).

Overall, I find that Disney is way better bang for your buck.

 

[TuneTownMagic]

To be fair, my five-year-old liked the queue enhancements and even the older kids were entertained enough. Although I would have preferred not to wait twenty minutes for Pooh, the time at least went fast. I'm mean and don't let my family members bury their heads in their phones on vacation (part of the reason I don't like FP+). But the queue entertainment could not compare to Hogwarts Castle, where we were reluctant to move ahead in line because we'd miss something.

I know what you mean! I was amazed at the holographic images of Harry and Hermione and Ron speaking and moving around, and the detail that went into Dumbledore's "room", in addition to other things around Hogsmeade, like a cauldron stirring itself and actual "mandrakes" squealing! It was the first time in a while something new at the Orlando parks exceeded my expectations.

I kept hearing that tons of detail was going into the Fantasyland expansion, and when I first saw the Storybook Circus area, I thought it was really whimsical and very attractive looking, but as far as impressive detail...okay, there were peanut shapes carved into the ground...but I wasn't blown away.

Also, I may be alone in this, but for some reason I didn't quite feel that new section flowed well with the preexisting Fantasyland...there was something strange about those white turret things (the ones with the squirrel statues on them) flowing into the Rapunzel bathroom area that seemed off to me. Maybe with the construction walls still up it was hard to get a sense of the entire thing.

I loved a lot of things about my last trip to WDW, but I did feel that the merchandise and counter service food options were lacking. I remember T-shirts having better fabric; in fact I have that black fitted one with the mk and Disney logo in silver and it is nearly 6 or 7 years old and as good as new. They are not making stuff like that these days. They somehow manage to make the selection and quality go down and the prices go up.

Now that people mention it, I do get nostalgia from U.S. too. I like the Jurassic Park area of IOA.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I know what you mean! I was amazed at the holographic images of Harry and Hermione and Ron speaking and moving around, and the detail that went into Dumbledore's "room", in addition to other things around Hogsmeade, like a cauldron stirring itself and actual "mandrakes" squealing! It was the first time in a while something new at the Orlando parks exceeded my expectations.

I kept hearing that tons of detail was going into the Fantasyland expansion, and when I first saw the Storybook Circus area, I thought it was really whimsical and very attractive looking, but as far as impressive detail...okay, there were peanut shapes carved into the ground...but I wasn't blown away.

Also, I may be alone in this, but for some reason I didn't quite feel that new section flowed well with the preexisting Fantasyland...there was something strange about those white turret things (the ones with the squirrel statues on them) flowing into the Rapunzel bathroom area that seemed off to me. Maybe with the construction walls still up it was hard to get a sense of the entire thing.

I loved a lot of things about my last trip to WDW, but I did feel that the merchandise and counter service food options were lacking. I remember T-shirts having better fabric; in fact I have that black fitted one with the mk and Disney logo in silver and it is nearly 6 or 7 years old and as good as new. They are not making stuff like that these days. They somehow manage to make the selection and quality go down and the prices go up.

Now that people mention it, I do get nostalgia from U.S. too. I like the Jurassic Park area of IOA.

First off, I just want to say I'm amazed at how civil the discussion has been in this particular thread.

And very nice post, Tune. I completely agree in regards to the t-shirts. They are so thin now that the only next plausible move would be to make them out of colored Saran Wrap.

I think the NFL looks wonderful. I think they did a great job on the overall themeing of it. They've got the rock work down to a science. The transition from old to new doesn't bother me that much because it's the classic look I remember from my childhood. I would agree that is does look somewhat out of place being stuck between the well-themed restrooms and Mine Train.

Universal is just about to wrap up Diagon Alley construction and they are already clearing the land for the new King Kong attraction (Skull Island) to be located between Dudley and JP.

Photos courtesy of ReelJustice of Orlando United via @DerekBurgan ...

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php/8241-King-Kong-Speculation-Thread/page82

So if we are speaking about "nostalgia" then Kongfrontation at Universal in 1990 brings back some fond memories of my younger days...

Kong comes back in 2015. I'm just gonna assume the technology will be better than 1990. Kong actually had "banana breath" back in the day. Who would think scents would be so popular when Soarin' opened up 11 years later in DL and 15 years later at ECPOT?

 

[Planogirl]

I'll just add that while I love certain Disney resorts, I think that the resorts at Universal are much nicer overall and normally a better deal too. I think that a lot of the food at Universal is excellent too but just like WDW you have to know where to eat.

As for theming, some places were mentioned as having great and not so great theming at Universal and I agree with much of that except we also like the New York area in the Studios and LOVE Jurassic Park. It needs a bit more screening around WWoHP (that area will fill in) and another attraction (soon I hope!) and Jurassic Park will be plain amazing.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I'll just add that while I love certain Disney resorts, I think that the resorts at Universal are much nicer overall and normally a better deal too. I think that a lot of the food at Universal is excellent too but just like WDW you have to know where to eat.

As for theming, some places were mentioned as having great and not so great theming at Universal and I agree with much of that except we also like the New York area in the Studios and LOVE Jurassic Park. It needs a bit more screening around WWoHP (that area will fill in) and another attraction (soon I hope!) and Jurassic Park will be plain amazing.

I LOVE Jurassic Park as well. It can best be described by my 4 hour trek through the jungle in Kauai to get to the original gate location.

"Nostalgia"

 

[asmit4]

I haven't been to universal in 20 years but as my son gets older- this place is on my radar. I just don't see him 'loving' DW at 12yo. For those who have boys- do your boys love disney as preteens? I can't see him getting excited about IASW at 11yo. There really aren't a ton of 'boy' things to do at DW right now. It seems universal might cater to the older boy crowd better.

For me- even as a young girl- 11 or 12- I had NO interest in meeting princesses. Give me COASTERS baby!

 

[Planogirl]

I LOVE Jurassic Park as well. It can best be described by my 4 hour trek through the jungle in Kauai to get to the original gate location.

"Nostalgia"

Wow! That would be amazing.

You sound like me and my cousin. Today we were both two middle aged nerds freaking out over the new Godzilla movie. There's just something about big lizards.

 

[Planogirl]

I haven't been to universal in 20 years but as my son gets older- this place is on my radar. I just don't see him 'loving' DW at 12yo. For those who have boys- do your boys love disney as preteens? I can't see him getting excited about IASW at 11yo. There really aren't a ton of 'boy' things to do at DW right now. It seems universal might cater to the older boy crowd better.

For me- even as a young girl- 11 or 12- I had NO interest in meeting princesses. Give me COASTERS baby!

Mine continued to enjoy WDW but is responsible for getting us to try Universal. He cajoled and asked and made suggestions until I finally gave in. I teased him later by asking him why it took him so long to talk me into going.

He decided that he liked Universal better for a while at around the age of 14 and now he likes both (at 21). He has some old time favorites at WDW and enjoys staying onsite and dining at certain places.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Wow! That would be amazing.

You sound like me and my cousin. Today we were both two middle aged nerds freaking out over the new Godzilla movie. There's just something about big lizards.

Not to go all "off topic" about "nostalgia" or anything but I am totally looking forward to the new Godzilla movie! I like big lizards but have a soft spot for Raptors.

Life found a way....."nostalgia"

ETA - since my buddy clsteve sent me a funny PM, let me just clarify - I am recreating the scene where Alan Grant finds the Raptor eggs in the movie - not what C thought I was doing!!!

 

[Ofinn]

I haven't been to universal in 20 years but as my son gets older- this place is on my radar. I just don't see him 'loving' DW at 12yo. For those who have boys- do your boys love disney as preteens? I can't see him getting excited about IASW at 11yo. There really aren't a ton of 'boy' things to do at DW right now. It seems universal might cater to the older boy crowd better.

For me- even as a young girl- 11 or 12- I had NO interest in meeting princesses. Give me COASTERS baby!

My boys are 10 and 11. Like I said in pp we have been to WDW many times and they loved it. At present time they prefer Universal hands down. You are right Disney doesn't offer a lot for thrill seeking boys. My boys love all the movies that are featured at Universal Spidey, Transformers, Jurassic park, Mummy, HP, etc. I don't think I'm going to get them to sit through Frozen anytime soon. I agree with you I think Disney has really missed the mark when it comes to boys over age 10.

 

[La2kw]

I just found everything about US crowded beyond description. I got there an hour before opening and the ticket line was huge. We hurried over to HP and not only were the lines long -- not only did they cram as many people into Olivanders so we could barely move -- the streets were crowded. You couldn't move very much. We waited 45 minutes for the Hippogriff ride, drank some butterbeer, bought our wands and were done. Everything about the place just felt small and tight. WDW feels like you've got room to breathe.

The other thing is -- and this is subjective, I know, but it feels a lot more transient, a lot more "right now" to me. The reason the Little Mermaid took 30 years to get built -- at least in my opinion -- is that Disney wanted to see if it had legs enough to be considered a classic years later. (Iknow they've been wrong a few times, too. Like the treehouse or the now departed 20,000 Leagues). And Disney doesn't put all it's eggs into a single basket -- there's no World of Toy Story over there. Harry Potter were pretty good movies and pretty good books, but will they resonate in 10 years like they do now? Maybe. I don't think it's a given. Same thing with things like Jurassic Park or the Simpsons or Transformers. They were hit movies or franchises, but those things all fade. I mean, would a Rambo ride catch any attention these days? Disney will spend the marketing money to keep their characters relevant -- I don't know whether US will do the same. About 10 yeas ago, the Six Flags franchise did a few things like that -- Looney Tunes themes everywhere. Those things don't register with kids anymore, but parents will always show their kids Snow White or Cinderella.

As for the princess-ification of WDW, I think that's true, but the reason is that it's something they can offer kids can't get anywhere else. I don't like it very much, but it makes sense. You can always find a thrill ride -- heck, add 3D to most video games now and you've practically got a thrill ride. But you can't hug Rapunzel anywhere else. That's what WDW offers -- something that feels like a lasting connection.

I'd love for WDW to shut down for a year and remake itself -- there are lots of things that could go away. But there's a permanence to WDW that Universal lacks.

Plus, like I said at the start. Very tight spaces and lots of people in them.

Harry Potter is way bigger than you give credit for. It's huge to a whole generation of people just entering their twenties. Watch and see what happens when Diagonal Alley opens.

 

[Mad Hattered]

And here lies the dilemma with WDW...Star Wars vs. Avatar.

Star Wars would be a HUGE HUGE draw for WDW, myself included. But does anyone actually think James Cameron would sign off on Pandora (in 2011 actually), not to be opened before sometime in 2017/2018, and have Star Wars Land compete with it from an IP standpoint?

The Disney Star Wars comes out at the end of 2015, correct? Avatar 2 comes out a year later at then end of 2016. Will Disney appease Cameron, or will they cave to public demand and build SWL on one of the coasts? It''s obvious that DL is short on space but Avatar is a done deal at WDW so now what? Is Disney capable of building multiple lands at the same time, all the while being on the stockholder's watch? Or is the IP the fans are really screaming for a distant dream?

I love me some Harrsion Ford as much as the next guy...but the dude can hardly speak anymore without sounding stoned or old. Not that there is anything wrong with any of those two scenarios. I blame Ally McBeal, but I digress. Should we just get him on film now for future use or are we gonna bank on kids being captivated by whatever CGI role Andy Serkis plays?

(not to get off topic but I am really excited to see Andy Serkis reprise his "role" of Caesar in the new Dawn of the Planet of the Apes movie coming out this year )

Are we really facing 3 or 4 more years before a new attraction opens? Or should we expect more opportunities to pay at least an extra $120 for tickets for the likes of Harambe Nights? Something seems "off".

 

[Seeker615]

First off, I just want to say I'm amazed at how civil the discussion has been in this particular thread.

And very nice post, Tune. I completely agree in regards to the t-shirts. They are so thin now that the only next plausible move would be to make them out of colored Saran Wrap.

I think the NFL looks wonderful. I think they did a great job on the overall themeing of it. They've got the rock work down to a science. The transition from old to new doesn't bother me that much because it's the classic look I remember from my childhood. I would agree that is does look somewhat out of place being stuck between the well-themed restrooms and Mine Train.

Universal is just about to wrap up Diagon Alley construction and they are already clearing the land for the new King Kong attraction (Skull Island) to be located between Dudley and JP.

Photos courtesy of ReelJustice of Orlando United via @DerekBurgan ...

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php/8241-King-Kong-Speculation-Thread/page82

So if we are speaking about "nostalgia" then Kongfrontation at Universal in 1990 brings back some fond memories of my younger days...

Kong comes back in 2015. I'm just gonna assume the technology will be better than 1990. Kong actually had "banana breath" back in the day. Who would think scents would be so popular when Soarin' opened up 11 years later in DL and 15 years later at ECPOT?

Thank you for the Kong photo! I still miss him! It will be great to have him back in the new attraction!