Universal In, Disney Out.

[NickyKnack]

After having experienced Universal I can't imagine going back to Disney World. Though we might give Disney Land a chance after the move. Can anyone point me towards a good forum for Universal lovers - preferably one that also covers Universal Hollywood?

I would love to remain part of a larger community, but I've completely converted to the Dark side so I'm not sure Disboards is the right place for me anymore.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

The Dis has a special forum for Universal fans too:

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30

 

[MIGrandma]

I think there is a Universal board here. I rarely go there, as we have been to Universal just once, several years ago, but didn't think it compared at all to Disneyworld.

Would you mind letting us know why you prefer Universal over Disneyworld?

 

[NickyKnack]

The Dis has a special forum for Universal fans too:

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30

It does, but it's all but dead, I was hoping to find someplace as alive as this section is.

 

[DisneyFoodieFan]

I would just use google to find one.

 

[NickyKnack]

I think there is a Universal board here. I rarely go there, as we have been to Universal just once, several years ago, but didn't think it compared at all to Disneyworld.

Would you mind letting us know why you prefer Universal over Disneyworld?

I kind of feel like all Disney cares about these days is the bottom dollar, and innovation is something that just costs more then they want to dole out. Universal on the other hand (While having money as a top priority) is willing to dole out cash to make it, and because of that it has captured the innovative spirit that Disney used to have.

After going to Universal I find that Disney rides make me feel as though I'm riding through a doll house, while Universal makes me feel like I'm actually IN the movie. Disney has nothing that can compete with that feeling, at least not for me.

I also found myself enjoying Express pass far more then I did Fast Pass and I personally found the employees at Universal to be far frienldler then the ones we encountered at Disney World over all.

 

[asmit4]

I kind of feel like all Disney cares about these days is the bottom dollar, and innovation is something that just costs more then they want to dole out. Universal on the other hand (While having money as a top priority) is willing to dole out cash to make it, and because of that it has captured the innovative spirit that Disney used to have.

After going to Universal I find that Disney rides make me feel as though I'm riding through a doll house, while Universal makes me feel like I'm actually IN the movie. Disney has nothing that can compete with that feeling, at least not for me.

I also found myself enjoying Express pass far more then I did Fast Pass and I personally found the employees at Universal to be far frienldler then the ones we encountered at Disney World over all.

I tend to agree with you and once our son is old enough/tall enough to ride all the rides there and see the movies they focus on- we will probably become US fans also.

 

[freediverdude]

If I am allowed to post the name of another board here (we'll see if this gets taken down, if so that's ok, I don't know what the rule is), the "go to" board for Universal people seems to be Orlando United.

 

[LSUfan4444]

This might work as well:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=good+forum+for+Universal+Studios+and+Universal+Hollywood

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Nicky, there is another great resource out there for Universal fans, but the name of the site is banned here on the Dis. Perhaps if you google Universal Fan Site you will find it listed among the responses.

 

[flortlebap]

I kind of feel like all Disney cares about these days is the bottom dollar, and innovation is something that just costs more then they want to dole out. Universal on the other hand (While having money as a top priority) is willing to dole out cash to make it, and because of that it has captured the innovative spirit that Disney used to have.

After going to Universal I find that Disney rides make me feel as though I'm riding through a doll house, while Universal makes me feel like I'm actually IN the movie. Disney has nothing that can compete with that feeling, at least not for me.

I also found myself enjoying Express pass far more then I did Fast Pass and I personally found the employees at Universal to be far frienldler then the ones we encountered at Disney World over all.

Unfortunately they are both businesses and thus out to make money at the end of the day. I think Universal have to work a little harder than WDW though as there's naturally a much bigger disney fan base.

Personally I love both, for different reasons. Having to pay for express passes still irks me though - I agree with unlimited passes for on site guests, but they should still have a free system similar to WDW IMO.

If Disney ever charge for FP, I think I'll stop going!

 

[csmith041177]

I count myself as a fan of both parks, and love to enjoy both. The Universal forum on this site is very good.

 

[sethschroeder]

I feel that the more people who decide UNI is a better vacation FOR THEM helps the cause of getting park attendance to level off and force Disney to start to increase the pace of ride release possibly to draw in extra people. If nothing else its one less person to fight for space in the parks.

 

[asmit4]

On the contrary- I'd go MORE if Disney would offer a 'pay for quicker service' plan. I HATE lines. I wish onsite guests got more perks like this- maybe instead of 3 pre planned FPs- they'd get 4 or 5

 

[redc]

I wouldn't rule OUT Disney, but for my family, UO is at least an equal. I truly LOVE the FOTL passes for on-site guests, you almost feel guilty walking past all thosw people. You can do UO in 2 days. Disney has moer and better restaurants and much better theming. But for teens or older, the rides are way better and more dramatic. Spiderman, Potter, Hulk, Simpsons, Dispicable Me, Transformers etc...omg!

 

[Brad Bishop]

I hit USF/IOA a few times a few years ago and my impressions were:

- They're nice theme parks
- The older attractions are heavy on the cheese / not quite up to what Disney puts out.
- With Harry Potter they seem to be turning the corner and really trying to step up the game.

Some of the stuff left me wanting: The Mummy, Twister, & Poseidon come to mind.

Other stuff seemed like good theme-park type attractions: Earthquake (or whatever it's called), Bluto's Raft Ride (by far, the best raft ride I've been on - I love it that you get really wet), Men in Black, E.T. (not great, but standard theme park stuff), The Hulk, etc.

Harry Potter and that whole land over there I thought either matched or beat Disney.

Some of the simulators were really good with The Simpsons Ride, Spiderman, etc.

Dudley Do-Right's Rip-Saw Falls (I think that's the right name) was good but with one of the oddest ways I've ever seen to put humans on a ride. Keep your body stiff and kind of slide in. So weird, awkward and uncomfortable. The ride itself is good, though.

The other oddity which I was kind of excited about riding was Dueling Dragons. When I got on it it felt really light on the theming. The loading area is OK but the ride itself felt like it was just out on some ill-kept empty lot which may be a water retention pond for heavy rain. They also stopped running them in synch which took some of it away.

Probably the biggest difference for me is that at WDW I feel like away from it all and immersed in Disney stuff. IOA/USF felt like I was at a theme park (hopefully that make sense). Not bad, just kind of left me wanting it to be "more".

So, to me, it's kind of a mixed bag at IOA/USF, but if they continue doing things on the scale and with the quality of Harry Potter, I'll be going back. Even now I'm intending to go back for the Harry Potter section opening in USF.

 

[NYDisGuy]

Probably the biggest difference for me is that at WDW I feel like away from it all and immersed in Disney stuff. IOA/USF felt like I was at a theme park (hopefully that make sense). Not bad, just kind of left me wanting it to be "more".

So, to me, it's kind of a mixed bag at IOA/USF, but if they continue doing things on the scale and with the quality of Harry Potter, I'll be going back. Even now I'm intending to go back for the Harry Potter section opening in USF.

I agree with this as well. I stay on Disney property but will get a 1 day multipass to hit both parks, specifically for Harry Potter this year.

 

[luisov]

For me the only section of US that truly compares to Disney is the WWoHP. The rest of the parks have some really cool rides, but nothing as immersive as Disney. Perhaps it's just that I'm not a big fan of simulator rides.

 

[CFioren317]

I found that the best deal around is staying onsite for one night. If you buy the two day one park pass, you basically get front of the line passes for BOTH days...check in and check out. And you can get an overnight stay on premises with passes for 2 adults and 1 6 YO for around $800.

If you do not stay onsite, it costs you around $300 a ticket(depending on when you go) to get unlimited front of the line passes, which would be around $850 for the same 2 days. So basically you get to stay onsite for free.

If Disney had front of the line unlimited passes included with onsite stay, I think they would guarantee themselves 100% capacity at all their onsite hotels no doubt.

Actually, it looks like they took away the FOL passes for their onsite packages...they were there last month, but gone now. I guess they realized it was too good a deal LOL.

Actually this is only for the cheap hotel that they just opened. The other 3 deluxe which were always there gets the FOL passes. $800 for an overnight stay and you get FOL passes for two days. Best deal in Orlando in my opinion.

 

[asmit4]

I found that the best deal around is staying onsite for one night. If you buy the two day one park pass, you basically get front of the line passes for BOTH days...check in and check out. And you can get an overnight stay on premises with passes for 2 adults and 1 6 YO for around $800.

If you do not stay onsite, it costs you around $300 a ticket(depending on when you go) to get unlimited front of the line passes, which would be around $850 for the same 2 days. So basically you get to stay onsite for free.

If Disney had front of the line unlimited passes included with onsite stay, I think they would guarantee themselves 100% capacity at all their onsite hotels no doubt.

problem is I think DW has rooms for about 75,000 people. That's WAY too many FOTL passes to give out. I'd settle for 2 extra pre booked FPs per day!