Universal is taking advantage of Disney's weak spot

[Mad Hattered]

Finally, I don't remember giving anyone advice about Universal. Ever. Saying it would cost more to leave WDW mid trip to head to UO isn't really advice. Just common sense.

I apologize. I should have said for people not to take anything you say about Universal seriously. My bad.

 

[Jennasis]

We just bought DVC. In fact, the contract is in closing right now. We will continue to do BOTH Disney and USO for the life of our contract. Some trips, we won't even go to the Disney parks...just Universal.

There is no need to choose. They're both great. They both offer something, for us anyway.

And DVC is FAR from "free". It IS a way for us to be able to afford the nicer resorts for many years.

 

[ChristusG]

We went to Universal late last year and were definitely not impressed. We're too spoiled on Disney, I guess. The parade was a JOKE. It was literally like 2 or 3 floats and lasted a few minutes. I laughed when it was over with.....it didn't even seem like a parade! The cast members were just not as helpful as Disney's....they definitely weren't out to make anything magical for anyone. And the food was very blah. The only reason we went was so that my 2 year old could meet Barney, who she loves. And she met him so our main goal was reached. The "fast passes" cost extra money, so that sucked (no, we didn't pay it) and the park closed at 5 PM.....we had to rush around from 9AM-5PM just trying to see a few things, while trying to squeeze in lunch and wait for the "parade." It was very disappointing to rush around like that for 8 hours and have to skip so many things due to time constraints.

Yeah, we'll keep our Disney seasonal passes and wait a few years to visit Universal again. We'll go after we read the whole series of Harry Potter to them. That's the only neat thing that Universal has over Disney.

And Sea World....one of the other Central Florida parks....my 6 year old asked to leave midway through the day. Said she was bored. Spoiled Disney kid LOL.

One thing Universal has better than Disney....the parking garages.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

The cast members were just not as helpful as Disney's....they definitely weren't out to make anything magical for anyone. .

There are many Universal employees that also work at Disney, or have worked there in the past.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

We just bought DVC. In fact, the contract is in closing right now. We will continue to do BOTH Disney and USO for the life of our contract. Some trips, we won't even go to the Disney parks...just Universal.

There is no need to choose. They're both great. They both offer something, for us anyway.

And DVC is FAR from "free". It IS a way for us to be able to afford the nicer resorts for many years.

Jennasis...that's awesome!

Congratulations.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Gotcha. But it is cost prohibitive to split.

I don't get your point. Of course the tickets cost money. Everything costs money. Even DVC.

 

[jade1]

Kinda missed out on this one.

Are there any guests of either US/IOA and WDW or both-that don't benefit in some way shape or form from US expansions?

Seems like if you visit US/IOA you gain attractions.

If you visit both you gain those attractions.

If you only visit WDW-you benefit from more competition and increased pressure to counter those expansions.

If WDW's past performance has caused Comcast or any other billion dollar enterprises to spend their precious cash to make attractions for me and my family to enjoy-then I say thanks WDW and keep spending-both of you.

The trips just keep getting better.

 

[Planogirl]

Kinda missed out on this one.

Are there any guests of either US/IOA and WDW or both-that don't benefit in some way shape or form from US expansions?

Seems like if you visit US/IOA you gain attractions.

If you visit both you gain those attractions.

If you only visit WDW-you benefit from more competition and increased pressure to counter those expansions.

If WDW's past performance has caused Comcast or any other billion dollar enterprises to spend their precious cash to make attractions for me and my family to enjoy-then I say thanks WDW and keep spending-both of you.

The trips just keep getting better.

I agree. Our trips get better and better while we spend less and less time at WDW. We'll continue to go to WDW of course but our rose colored glasses got lost somewhere along the way. I fully expect that Disney will set the bar higher eventually and I'm looking forward to whatever they come up with. It's a win-win.

 

[jade1]

I agree. Our trips get better and better while we spend less and less time at WDW. We'll continue to go to WDW of course but our rose colored glasses got lost somewhere along the way. I fully expect that Disney will set the bar higher eventually and I'm looking forward to whatever they come up with. It's a win-win.

Were still spending more and more time at WDW-just can't get enough and it keeps improving. But we still do a day trip to IOA, that might become 2 day trips though with US improving.

FP+ will always bring us back to WDW now since we can have the evening reserved for that as well-plus we like the WDW resorts much better.

I think what is being expanded at WDW (and hopefully more to come) could be a result of US/IOA expansion-so agreed, WIN WIN.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

We just bought DVC. In fact, the contract is in closing right now. We will continue to do BOTH Disney and USO for the life of our contract. Some trips, we won't even go to the Disney parks...just Universal.

There is no need to choose. They're both great. They both offer something, for us anyway.

And DVC is FAR from "free". It IS a way for us to be able to afford the nicer resorts for many years.

Wow!!!!!!! And congratulations!!!!! I suppose this makes you an official member of Disney's coveted 20%. It is also a testament to your faith in Disney. In order for one to make such a financial commitment in these "uncertain" times...... you must be fairly confident that Disney will either overcome these growing pains or that you can enjoy Disney World in spite of them or perhaps both. I do think it's good to buy now before Poly DVC hits the market.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Personally I can't imagine flying in to the same city every year for forty years and never exploring other entertainment options available. Disney is huge and wonderful but there's more to Orlando than the bubble. But that's just me.

Amen!

 

[Jennasis]

Wow!!!!!!! And congratulations!!!!! I suppose this makes you an official member of Disney's coveted 20%. It is also a testament to your faith in Disney. In order for one to make such a financial commitment in these "uncertain" times...... you must be fairly confident that Disney will either overcome these growing pains or that you can enjoy Disney World in spite of them or perhaps both. I do think it's good to buy now before Poly DVC hits the market.

Yes. I love Disney more than I dislike the current state of things (like FP+). We are very excited. Plus we are looking forward to doing Hilton Head, Vero beach, Aulani and Disneyland.

 

[alicia080979]

If there's one thing I'm grateful for abut the MDE mess it's the timing. We were considering DVC when we went on our October trip, and I changed resorts so we could test the new system, giving careful consideration to what it would be like for it to be the only source of FP available. We were done with any notions about putting all of our vacation eggs in the Disney basket by the end of the first day.

You sound exactly like us. Last year we decided this would be the year to buy. We saved to pay cash on a resale and were going to buy this fall. Last fall we did the FP+ test (I switched resorts so we could be part of it because I was excited to try something new) and we didn't like it at all. I still maintained that it was only a test and they would work out the kinks so I would give it another try this September and we rented DVC points but I have not liked anything I have read so far about how it is panning out. I have for the first time disliked planning our trips...so much so that the June trip we added is not planned at all thus far. I know I need to but I just don't want to do it bc of the FP+ mess. I said earlier...I LOVE Disney. I love it. For many reasons. There are just things starting to fill up my "Con" side of our list that make us want to venture out and experience some other things now. Universal being one. Not to "stick to it to Disney" but rather find out if there is in fact, life after Disney, lol.

 

[heartse]

Again disney won't make an attraction on a short term reaction. Avatar is starting its trilogy run as only 1 movie has come out and the 2nd will be around the launch of the area so it will be 20 years before it's old news.

Again think anything you want about Harry Potter but unless they relaunch the series or add more content in 10 years it WILL start to become old news. I know this as many of the die hard potter fans I know have now moved on to other series like Hunger Games or diving back into Lord of the Rings with the recent movie releases. Pop Culture will fade unless you keep it fresh and releasing new content. I love harry potter from a series perspective but the next big thing is around the corner and will take the limelight of Harry and point it in another direction, but that next big thing could be Hogwartz 500 years in the future or past....

JKRowling has already mentioned that she is going to start working on a new set of stories set prior to HP. Perhaps looking at the beginning of Hogwarts, if I remember correctly. I think UNI is safe thinking that these will stick in Pop Culture. Besides, Disney built many rides on the Pop Culture of the day, or even less - Mr. Toad's Wild Ride anyone? But, those were things near and dear to that generations heart... and they passed them on to their kids. HP is near and dear to many in the teens-20somethings. Perfectly set to be there for a long time!

Now if they add a LoTR area, I will be over the top excited!

 

[Jennasis]

Harry Potter has as much chance of becoming "old news" as Star Wars does.

Which is to say, no chance.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Harry Potter has as much chance of becoming "old news" as Star Wars does.

Which is to say, no chance.

Exactly. Especially compared to avatar! I would argue avatar is already more old.news than HP. I see HP stuff on my FB feed, on my pinterest feed, etc daily. The only place I ever even hear about avatar is here in reference to avatarland.

I realize avatar still has two more sequels to come out, but we really have no idea how they will do. I think how well the second movie does will be very telling...how much of the success of avatar was because of the story/characters, vs how much of it was because it was the first huge movie to come out with the "new 3d" tech that is now fairly common in big blockbusters? If it turns out to be more the latter, then I think Disney could have a problem theming an entire land after 1 movie.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Gotcha. But it is cost prohibitive to split

Too true. That's where Disney has lost their edge. There is now enough to do OUTSIDE of Disney that the notion of tacking a couple Disney days onto a Universal trip is silly. Our next Orlando trip (primarily for Universal) would have enough time to tack on 2-3 Disney days. But, because of the cost of a 3-day ticket, there will be NO Disney on this trip.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I have to say that if there is any thought that I think that you can't love both WDW *and* Universal that is absolutely not true.

I am a fan of WDW and I'm very pleased that Universal(Comcast) are flooding their property with new stuff.

I agree with all of those that have stated that it is a "win-win" for guests.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I have to say that if there is any thought that I think that you can't love both WDW *and* Universal that is absolutely not true.

I am a fan of WDW and I'm very pleased that Universal(Comcast) are flooding their property with new stuff.

I agree with all of those that have stated that it is a "win-win" for guests.

I personally don't think YOU feel that way, at all. Of course competition is a good thing. Or at least one would hope. Some just can't grasp the concept that some (actually a lot) of us enjoy both parks.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I personally don't think YOU feel that way, at all. Of course competition is a good thing. Or at least one would hope. Some just can't grasp the concept that some (actually a lot) of us enjoy both parks.

Thank you Mad Hattered.

I posited a theory that "many" are going to Universal exclusively as a rebuttal to the way Disney is handling WDW.

I feel bad that it created a lot of acrimonious posts. I thought I was being *cute* with my analogy of "scorned lovers". I understand how it could be taken the wrong way.

Let me just state that I know that there are MANY WDW fans that can EQUALLY love US/IOA along with WDW. Also...there are many WDW fans that can actually *prefer* Universal.

My intention was to never create the impression that Uni fans don't love Uni for what it is.