Universal pokes a little fun at WDW

[Uncleromulus]

Universal will never be able to compete with Disney as far as the "pixie dust", characters, etc are concerned. They must therefore appeal to the teen "thrill" crowd--and maybe those young adults who have no "historical" connection to Disney as many of us do.
Still and all,Disney has the theme park-Universal is simply an amusement park.
I seriously doubt that ad will have the effect they intend.

 

[Schmeck]

Glad to hear that Universal has cleaned up their bathrooms. Our neighbors went to Florida a few years back, splitting their vacation between Universal and WDW. They told us that they were disappointed by the foul things written inside the bathrooms at Universal.

 

[DisneyMim]

I haven't seen the commercial yet but it seems funny to me. I think they are trying to target "their" group of people, whatever that is. I'm sure Universal is a great park, but our experience was funny to me. We've been going to WDW forever and never went to Universal. Well, last visit we took a ride over to see it. I should add we have 2 teens. Well, my daughter was complaining in the parking garage!! We walked around City Walk, never made it into either park. Both my kids said it reminded them of any ole amusement park and they just wanted to go back "home" to Disney. Fine with us, no money was spent except to park. I'm sure Universal is a wonderful place, but for this family we'll take fairy tales and pixie dust any day!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Fargoman2
I've seen quite a few ads for Universal Orlando lately. I chuckle at the end when they say "Have you outgrown fairy tales and pixie dust?"

Actually, it's probably the exact marketing that will resonate with their target audiences. However, I find it painful to admit that our family will ever outgrow fairy tales and pixie dust.

I was just telling DH about that commercials as he hasn't seen them yet. His response was, "NEVER!" I knew I married him for a reason!

 

[mainewmn]

Originally posted by Schmeck
Glad to hear that Universal has cleaned up their bathrooms. Our neighbors went to Florida a few years back, splitting their vacation between Universal and WDW. They told us that they were disappointed by the foul things written inside the bathrooms at Universal.

I’m sorry to hear your neighbors had poor experience at US however US was my first park and I think it falls under its own category. In all my trips I taken to Orlando area since my first encounter I have never came across dirty bathroom or foul language on the walls. I agree that these parks are not for everyone but to my family they rank pretty high up.

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by mainewmn
In all my trips I taken to Orlando area since my first encounter I have never came across dirty bathroom or foul language on the walls.

Me neither. The bathrooms are as cleaner or cleaner than WDW.

We walked around City Walk, never made it into either park. Both my kids said it reminded them of any ole amusement park and they just wanted to go back "home" to Disney.

As far as the comment about seeing City Walk and deciding to not visit the parks: City Walk is like Disney's Pleasure Island. If all you saw of Disney was Pleasure Island, you might have a different impression of WDW. I can assure you that Universal/IoA is far from an ole amusement park. It is a theme park and each land has a different theme. My favorite theme is the Lost Continent...think dragons and Camelot. Most of their ride queues are better themed that Disney. There are several rides that waiting in line is an interesting adventure from just amazing themeing, two which are Dueling Dragons and ET. I enjoy waiting in line for those two rides almost as much as the ride itself.

Some have said that universal is only geared to teen but there are many activities for younger kids also. Some things that come to mind are Suess Landing, Fieval's Playland, Jurassic Park Discovery Center, Toon Lagoon (Cartoon area), Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone, Curious George Goes to Town is a wet and dry play area, Barney, and Camp Jurassic which is another play area. For some realtime videos of some of these kids' areas see: http://www.usoinfo.com/Parkinfo/kids.html

 

[dgaston]

I am another who enjoys both theme parks. Even on my extravagant birthday trip (3 days), we took the time to go to IOA and Universal. It was superbowl Sunday, and the parks were deserted, so we were able to do all our favorite thrill rides (minus the water rides--chose not to get wet). I have to say that I appreciate the theming of Universal. In their California area, it feels like CA, NY feels to me like NY, etc, far more than the Disney Studios. And I think I've learned much more about movie making in various shows at Universal.

And while not for everyone, DH and I enjoy happy hours at the parks. It does promote a more adult atmosphere than WDW.

That said, I still love seeing the castle after I pass through the train station at MK. I'm glad to have all of these choices!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Originally posted by monarchsfan16
We hated Universal! I've been to some lousy theme parks, but that's the worst.

My best friend and her (Disney-hating) dh said the same thing -- they called Universal "Bizarro-Disney".

 

[luvaladdin]

I went to Universal in May, as my teenage daughter wanted to go there instead of Disney World. We took a friend along, as I don't ride coasters. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel, very nice, large room, very comfortable and big beds, beautiful zero-entry pool, memorabilia spread thruout the hotel, very easy and pretty walk to both parks. I loved having front of the line access on all the rides by staying at this hotel - it was well worth the fan club rate that I paid ($159 I think).

I never saw dirt or filth anywhere in the parks, and thought employees were very friendly. Does it have the "magic" of Disney? No, but you shouldn't look for it here either. I loved Men in Black, similar to Buzz Lightyear, but so much better imagineered - I think Disney could have done a lot more with Buzz in comparison. Spiderman is the best ride I have ever experienced at any time, anywhere, in my life, and that alone is worth the price of admission IMHO. We loved the water rides, Terminator, Jimmy Neutron, to name a few. I felt that 4 days was too much, 2 or 3 would have been fine, but it's nice to just relax at the pool for one day and then go to City Walk at night. I would love to return and take my younger boys, after seeing the parks I found that there's enough for them to enjoy also. I don't compare it to Disney, but Universal is better than any other theme park (other than WDW).

One funny thing. A verhicle was coming down the street in the park, with characters riding in the back. The driver said thru the bullhorn, "Get out of the way. This ain't Disney, we'll run you over here!" I thought it was very funny.

Of course, this is all just my thoughts and I do consider myself a Disney fanatic.

 

[sc9500]

I feel that US /IOA have their place as great amusement parks. Such as Hershey - Kings Dominion - Six Flags and Cedar Point but make no mistake -entering WDW is a state of heart and mind. If you dont get that you never will. I never said to myself I cant wait to take my DD to US or IOA , yet I find myself thinking that about WDW every year, and I thank my parents for thinking the same for me.

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by sc9500
I feel that US /IOA have their place as great amusement parks. Such as Hershey - Kings Dominion - Six Flags and Cedar Point but make no mistake -entering WDW is a state of heart and mind. If you dont get that you never will. I never said to myself I cant wait to take my DD to US or IOA , yet I find myself thinking that about WDW every year, and I thank my parents for thinking the same for me.

Actually, I do get it. I went to Disneyland for the first time in 1957 and almost yearly for 20 years. We moved to Orlando to be near WDW. I love WDW and have a PAP. But loving Disney does not make me hate Universal. They are different but neither is bad. Some prefer universal and some prefer Disney. I like them both and for different reasons. I jumped in this discussion because of the statement about filthy bathrooms. I'm not saying it has never happened but I am saying I have never seen dirty bathrooms there. Universal and IoA have always been as clean as Disney parks when I have gone.

I like pixie dust and thrill rides.

 

[jimmiej]

When you have to attack (loosely used) your competitor, you're in second place! Just MO.

 

[sc9500]

All Im saying is that theyre like Godiva and M&M's both chocolate, both great, but make no mistake, Im buying Godiva everytime I want something special. And I book WDW for the same reason- I visit US or SeaWorld but I know what's truly special.

 

[twardw]

Both parks are great in their own ways.


But....

Staying on the Disney property is such a unique experience that Universal can never compete with!

Long live the Swan!!

 

[Meesh277]

I haven't been to UO or IOA, but I've been to Universal California a couple of times, and I found it didn't compare to either WDW or Disneyland. After the 1st time at US, I felt like I had seen everything and I wouldn't need to go back. I went back with my family so my brother could go, and I was bored!! I can go to DL and WDW over and over again and never get tired of it!!! That said, I'm still planning to try UO and IOA, but WDW is my first choice.

As far as annual passes go, I've been looking into getting passes for everything here in central FL, and the UO/IOA AP is about $170 +tax for 2 parks, while I can get a WDW AP for $318 including tax for 4 parks!!. They both have the same benefits (free parking, merch & food discounts, etc) but with UO/IOA you can spread out your payments, where you have to pay for WDW all at once. I think a WDW AP is actually a BETTER deal (more parks!!), even though it costs more.

 

[RescueRanger]

Originally posted by phamton
Actually, I do get it. I went to Disneyland for the first time in 1957 and almost yearly for 20 years. We moved to Orlando to be near WDW. I love WDW and have a PAP. But loving Disney does not make me hate Universal. They are different but neither is bad. Some prefer universal and some prefer Disney. I like them both and for different reasons. I jumped in this discussion because of the statement about filthy bathrooms. I'm not saying it has never happened but I am saying I have never seen dirty bathrooms there. Universal and IoA have always been as clean as Disney parks when I have gone.

I like pixie dust and thrill rides.

I agree. I have been going to WDW since the early 70's. I love it as much as anyone else, but just because I like WDW doesn't mean I can't go any where else. I think some of the negative comments about Universal have been pretty extreme. I have been to US/IOA and my family loved the parks. Sorry to disagree with alot of you, but it is a theme park. Universal has great customer service and a trip to Universal is alot cheaper than WDW. I just can't understand the need of some people to belittle Universal just because they are Disney fans. Competition makes the world go round. Oh, and for the family who walked into Citywalk and decided not to try the parks...too bad, in my opinion you missed out on a really great experience.

 

[disney4us2002]

RescueRanger stated what I picked up in this thread as well but couldn't quite put my finger on at first. It seems as though many die-hard Disney fans feel to like or even try Univ is somehow being disloyal to Disney. We can't wait to try Univ this year and I have no doubt we won't walk away choosing one over the other but trying to figure out how to add more time to continue to do both!

 

[gbluvr2886]

Well if Disney hired hot guys to sing and dance then I would go, but obviously they haven't so that's why I'm done with my "pixie dust" and "fairy-tales".

I think the ads are directed more towards teens as well because to some teens thrill rides are more appealing then the little kids stuff. Also I'm not a big fan of Disney anymore just because I can't deal with the 24/7 crowds. It's still fun (especially around Christmas time), but I prefer the waterparks if anything at Disney.

And with the bathrooom thing, Disney's bathrooms have gone COMPLETELY downhill just within the past year. Now it could just be the ones I was going to, but they were beyond foul. I've never had a problem with Universal's bathrooms and I've been going there once a week

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I go to Universal every weekend, despite the 4-hour round-trip drive. That means I'm constantly seeing the condition of the parks...from bathrooms, to the streets in general. I have to say, after 2 years of visiting Universal on a regular basis, I only see a clean park.

Sorry you all happened to see something different...but maybe you were hallucinating from your pixie dust detox. (now don't flame me, I'm only kidding around!)

Anyway, yes, I am not a fan of Disney, but I'm not going to go around bashing it...I have better things to do. If you don't like Universal, fine, but don't go whining that somebody called your beloved themepark a bad name or something.

As far as the onsite resorts....I find them EXCELLENT! I admit the only onsite Disney resort I stayed at was the All-Star Music...well, I'll just say I didn't enjoy my stay at all. The Universal resorts don't shove "Universal themeparks" down your throat like Disneys' shove their parks (Mickey decorated boxed soap, donald duck, goofy statues in pool area, etc). Universal resorts are a real "escape" from everything. And the perks are great. Oh, and one receptionist gave me the room with the best view, plus a ton of free gifts because it was my Sweet 16!

And who said the characters will never compare? Hello.....??? Check out my tags and my signature banner! Wowzah!! Hot guys beat a mouse anyday!!!!!

I haven't been to UO or IOA, but I've been to Universal California a couple of times, and I found it didn't compare to either WDW or Disneyland

My aunt went to Universal in Hollywood, and Universal Studios Florida is really different...at least that's what she told me! Universal California doesn't have the IOA branch, which is great! Excellent rides and spectacular theming.


Anyway, I'm afraid of being shot by Disney fanatics, so I'll go now!

Oh yeah, after reading Keriann's post (girl above me) that reminded me...I do like one Disney park: Blizzard Beach! That's the BEST waterpark ever!!!!!

 

[winifredweasley]

Originally posted by Lynnyl
I think this is one of the times the ads are aimed at kids, in this case probably the early teens

You're probably right. It's always been my dream to go WDW but i'm all the time asking my parents,"Am I too old for WDW?" in the same way that I ask, "Am I too old for cartoons?"I don't want to be all babyish. I've gotta grow up some time.If it was up to me though, I'll be watching cartoons and making up imaginary friends for the rest of my life.