Universal pokes a little fun at WDW

[NotUrsula]

Well, ya'll know ... those posters in the Shrek queue area are not poking fun at Cypress Gardens, now are they?

I mean, really, The Tick Room?

They are rivals. Each company takes a swipe at the other every chance they get, and USIOA revels in it just a bit more, which is understandable, since they are the underdog. Ever overhear the response if someone asks a USIOA employee about where to get a "FastPass"? The answer usually is, "Go out the gate, get back in your car, and drive west on I-4 for a few miles. If you want an Express Pass, you can use that machine over there."

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

LOL!!!! That's a great one (The FastPass thing)!! I love that! Out of all the times I've been, I've never heard that...of course, maybe it's because I don't need to ask, and I get people asking ME sometimes.

The posters in the Shrek queue are absolutely hysterical! I haven't been to Cypress Gardens in.....like 9 years, so I wouldn't have picked up any playful jokes on the park!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Our last trip to Disney, we stayed at the Yacht Club and loved it. I can't think of a better place to have celebrated my 30th birthday (Now I guess you know someone over the age of 21 who secretly listens to rap music in the privacy of her home and car -- shhh!). But we're also really looking forward to staying at the Portofino, enjoying the thrill rides w/FOTL, and eating at some really cool restaurants in City Walk.

I would never think to compare the two parks. Both are different in their own merits, and I think that those of us on these boards are fortunate to have the choices we have and to be able to afford such great vacations as either UO or WDW can offer.

 

[Robinrs]

Yikes!!

I never thought such animosity could come out of such magical pixie dusted people!

I hate to compare the parks, it's soooo unnecessary. To each his own. Both have their own merits. I would no sooner compare my cats the way people come down on Orlando's theme parks. It's like comparing touring the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty.

I prefer USO, no SHOCK there, because I did not grow up with Mickey and the gang. My first trip to Orlando was when I was the ripe old age of 44. By then I was an avid thrill ride person who was Brooklyn immune to anything cute and adorable. Outgrown it? I never grew up with it! My son, on the other hand, sees the Disney parks as too "youngish" (he's 11)and that's why we do the Universal run when we go down there. Yep, some people DO outgrow PD.

As for the hotels, FOTL beats any perk ANYONE offers. To bypass a 45 min line in 5 mins makes a day in the park a total winner. I've stayed on Disney onsite 3 times and all I got was the so very important DIS "bragging rights" which had me standing on line anyway. I am STILL waiting for the magic....

But I digress....

I think we all have preferences, that doesn't make either one good or bad. I go to USO 5 to 6 times a year for 4 to 9 days at a time and I have NEVER seen a nasty bathroom or a rude employee. Then again I don't doubt it has happened because people are people and they will do things like that. I'm just glad I've never been a victim of it.

I hope everyone calms down and accepts that they are different and both great places.

But as you all can see, I'm not without prejudice...

 

[gbluvr2886]

The Nelly music is played in front of MIB and they also play a mix of songs in the Amity area (yes it does include the Thong Song...LOL). You can usually find me over there dancing to one of songs when I'm on my 5 minute ride break from the shows

I've never stopped by the fountain. I'm usually running around the park trying to finish up everything before the first GB show

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

whereas I skip IOA altogether. Last time I was at IOA was....on my birthday - Nov. 11! I spend all my ride time at US in the morning BEFORE GB Shows start!

Oh yeah, the lady at Graveyard Revue might join me and my parents for dinner on Sunday.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Seriously spend some time by the fountain. It's VERY funny; esp when people aren't expecting it to start talking, and it suddenly says something and they walk up and it squirts them

 

[ksdave]

OK, not to beat a dead horse, but I will
I've been on (18) separate trips to WDW from 1972-2001. Enjoyed almost every one of them. Marched in the parade several times, so I got to see the backstage areas, etc. Even have some family members who still work there. I probably know more trivia about the parks than half of their employees (just ask the folks on the Parks Game thread!).
I have now been to UO six times. First time was a couple of years after Studios first opened. Next trip wasn't until 2000. Since DW, DD(14), DS(12), and I discovered PBH, we have been going back at least twice a year (this year, 3 times!!). Over the years, I have stayed at Poly, Contemporary, GF, CBR, POR, All-Star Sports, etc. Nothing can compare to staying at PBH. Not only do I find PBH is more luxurious, better staffed, has better restaurants, and amazing pools, but the rates I pay for this amazing hotel are less than the moderate level at WDW. Our next trip in May will be six days, five nights of total relaxation at PBH.
Yes, WDW still has the view of the castle going down Main Street, and a few of the attractions are still pretty cool for my kids (ToT, RnR, the mountains), but for our very hard earned $$, UO is a much better deal. I just renewed our Preferred Annual Passes for $99 each. These give us unlimited access to the parks, 20% discounts on merchandise and 10-15% on food. At WDW, annual passes for us out-of-state folks are $369 each, and even a five-day park hopper is $217 each, with no discounts.
But, I really think all of the people who have stated their dislike for UO on this thread should avoid it all costs. Tell your friends and neighbors to avoid it too. That way, even though my FOTL access makes crowds no problem, the parks will still feel like our own private playground .

[P.S. Hi, my name is Dave, I'm 45, and I like UO. (Feel like I'm at an AA meeting).]

 

[RescueRanger]

Originally posted by ksdave
[P.S. Hi, my name is Dave, I'm 45, and I like UO. (Feel like I'm at an AA meeting).]

ROTFLMAO....toooo funny!!!

 

[SpideyHulk24]

I love Disney! I love Universal! Oh no, I'm torn! LOL.....

isn't it great that there are two wonderful vacation destinations for all of us to quench our thirst?

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by NotUrsula
Ever overhear the response if someone asks a USIOA employee about where to get a "FastPass"? The answer usually is, "Go out the gate, get back in your car, and drive west on I-4 for a few miles. If you want an Express Pass, you can use that machine over there."

LOL! I've never heard that one, nor used it. I just ignore the "wrong term" and just assist normally.

 

[dixielander]

How can anyone say Universal Parks are "terrible" and that they had a horrible time there??

We stayed at the beautiful HRH, which was just a five minute walk down a lush, beautifully landscaped path to Universal. The parks were fun, the attractions were just as good as Disney, and we got front of the line access as a perk for staying onsite!! Come on now, Disney doesn't compare with that perk!

But Disney is great too! Why do people have to put down one park, just because they have a "favorite" park?? Honestly, now that I have a pre-teen, and a teenager, I'm getting the pressure to go with Universal!

Sounds like some people are pretty "closed minded". I just didn't like that people put the park down in ways that were not true.

Sorry Folks, thats the way I see it.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I'm not trying to put down Universal. Maybe I came off as harder on it than I meant to. I just really did not enjoy my visit there. Maybe I went on a bad weekend. :shrug: I really don't know.

I never said anything bad about the hotels. I have only visited PBH once, and walked around the grounds and it looked very pretty. I actually enjoyed that more than the parks.

The parks just are not for everyone. I don't like six flags much either. But I love Wildwood , NJ and Las Vegas (two places I hear get put down a lot).

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
I Universal is primarily targeted at your age group, not mine and certainly not families.

We're a family (kids 4, 10, 13, and 16) and we all like Universal a lot! As a matter of fact, we went to both WDW and Universal about 2 1/2 years ago and after that the whole family has only been back to Universal. We loved the onsite hotels and the front of the line spoiled us. The parks are nicely themed (read--theme parks...) and everything has been clean and well maintained.

I did bring my 4yo to WDW (and Universal) last month and we had a great time. He's at a perfect age for WDW and we enjoyed ourselves a lot. His favorite ride (Popeye) was at Islands of Adventure, however.

I think that Universal and WDW are both wonderful places. I think that Epcot needs an overhaul and some of the attractions at WDW need to go (Muppet show, race cars at MK, Sounds Dangerous are the ones that come to mind).

There's no need to choose one or the other, especially before giving each a fair try (no, City Walk isn't a fair try lol).

T&B

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by ksdave
Hi, my name is Dave, I'm 45, and I like UO. (Feel like I'm at an AA meeting).]

My name is Linda, I'm 43, and I love UO.

 

[julieannbabe]

Over here in England, we have nothing like Universal or Walt Disney World.

So most British tourists think that both theme parks are fantastic.

To those of you that live in the States and don't like Universal - you guys don't know how lucky you are: you don't have to spend nine hours on a plane to get there!

 

[edie w]

I second what Julieannbabe said!

You should try Alton Towers if you want to see dirty bathrooms and surly employees.

 

[julieannbabe]

Originally posted by edie w
I second what Julieannbabe said!

You should try Alton Towers if you want to see dirty bathrooms and surly employees.

someone know what i am talking about!

These people don't realise how lucky they are.

We should take them to thorpe park, chessington and alton towers, shouldn't we? They would never moan about Universal again.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Well, I haven't been to WDW or Universal Orlando yet, however, I have been to Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knotts Berry Farm and Universal Studios California all numerous times. Disneyland is a beautiful park, spotless, and when you enter those gates, you really feel you're in a different world even though only a few yards away outside those gates is the boulevard. Amazing how they do that. Universal Studios is a great park as well with lots of thrill rides, but I'd say the theming isn't on par with Disney quite yet. I will say that I like both parks equally, but for different reasons and I suspect it may be the same when we go to Orlando. The one thing I'm really excited about, however, is the front of the line access for staying at HRH. We decided to do Universal after WDW because I think we'll get spoiled.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I don't think US or WDW can be compared. I only went to US once (when I was 17) and I liked it. I'm not into thrill-rides at all, so I think I only went on one ride the entire time I was there, but I still found the whole experience enjoyable. I'm going to WDW in Nov. and I'm planning on taking a one-day trip over to US. Both WDW and US are great.....in their own ways. But it's like comparing apples and oranges. The only similarity in my opinion is the outrageous ticket prices.