Universal rides vs Disney rides

[parkbr]

Hope you have a great time. I'm very much like you, hate the drop rides. I do not ride Tower of Terror any more. Just cannot. I used to enjoy Dr Doom, but I don't do that one either. Took me 2 trips to get up the courage for Velocicoaster, but I'm so glad I rode it. I love it! I don't even notice the drop, you're moving way too fast for that, haha. Took about 20 years to get me on the Hulk tho, but I'm glad I tried it, but VC is way better. I'll stick with it. I also don't do the spinning rides like teacups, unless I am in control, and we don't add to the spinning. Only ride I"ve not done at Disney is Mission Space orange and don't plan to. There's a bit of 'lean' in Gringotts, but it's so fun.
Hope y'all have a fabulous trip!

Thank you!
I am really leaning into trying Velocicoaster now. Hope our daughter can do that too - waiting to see if she will grow half an inch + shoes makes her 51.
I've done Mission Space Orange 11 years ago, and I was so sick after. It was later at night - because we went to see the firework right after - and I think I may have threw up too. It was so intense I told my husband that's the end of that ride for me. I'll NEVER do it again.
I am super excited now!

 

[MousetersInc]

Thank you!
We couldn't find the good quality one (maybe because we're in Canada?) - as they said it was all single layered and inner pockets are not very deep, etc etc, so we didn't purchase one. And they dont have the adult sized ones, so we will purchase one from the shop.

We'll be focusing on the rides on our first day and then will be doing more wand thing the 2nd day and on.
Can you tell me a bit more about the wand-master picking children? I think that will be a definitely a cool experience!

So it comes with the warning that of course you don't have any guarantee that you'll be the one picked (though I guess you could come back and try again?). Even if you're not picked, you get to watch the experience.

A certain number of people are let into the shop at a time (in Diagon Alley, there's more room so this can be a larger group). The wandmaster picks someone from the small crowd, usually a kid. They ask whether you already have a wand; when we were there, the first boy asked said yes he did, so then she moved on and asked my daughter.

The wand master gives you a wand and asks you to try casting a spell to water a vase of flowers; the spell backfires and the flowers wilt. The wandmaster sets the flowers right and has you try a second wand, which also has the wrong effect. Then they present you with a third wand and a spotlight shines on you, epic music plays, etc—clearly that's the one. They explain the qualities of the wand that has "chosen" you, and then the whole crowd moves through into the larger wand shop, where you can pay for your wand—or choose not to buy it, or buy a different one if you want.

Besides these "interactive wands" that you can use to "cast spells" around the parks, there are a few non-interactive ones; there are cheaper ones for small kids (as if they're toys for wizard children too young for real wands), and some special-edition very expensive wands, like Hagrid's pink umbrella. There are dozens and dozens of wand designs, including some replicating the wands seen used by characters in the movies, and some "original" designs.

 

[maverik85]

Yeah, we have 4 day park tickets + Volcano bay, so hopefully we will be quite thorough with all of them.
We all LOVE dinosaours and Dr.Seuss area seems to be quite exciting too.
So we're looking forward to it!

The Seuss Landing area is a lot of fun and one of my favorite kids areas of a park. For fans of Dr. Seuss it is great, lots of references throughout. The Cat in the Hat ride is fun but definitely feels cheaper compared to the classic Disney dark rides. I think an often overlooked/under appreciated ride at the park is the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride. It is a fun relaxing ride around that land that gives some great views of the park with being on the elevated track. It is even better at night to see stuff lit up (personally a must do night ride if ever there around Christmastime).

 

[parkbr]

I want to like to give you an update!

So I did Velocicoaster 3 times and must say the drop wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
I am glad I did it, but I think I did them because it was do-able and there are really no other rides. Lol.
As many of you mentioned, a lot of the rides are very nausea inducing, for sure.
I thought I could handle them, but I wasn't! Haha!! Even my husband asked for Gravol after doing 4-5 3D/4Drides in a row.

We did all the rides in 2 days except for 3 ride - 2 of them, my daughter couldn't do because of the height restrictions, and my husband did them alone.
And we spent so much time doing wanted the spell.
The next 2 days, we did more rides and hopped to Volcano Cay and came back to the room, and then went back to the park.

Our daughter did get picked by the wand master (we went back for the 2nd time, to see if she can get picked and she did!) and saved us a lot of time picking the wand. (She got the one that "chose" her.)

We didn't have express pass, but I can see how it can be very well loved.

Thank you all for all of your tips and thank you very much!

 

[Titanium]

Mickey or Mario? Is this even a question that should be asked? I mean for real.

Agreed. There is no comparison between the Disney and Universal Intellectual Property holdings.

What everyone omits from comments about Disney's ascuisition of the Fox entertainment assets is that Comcast WANTED the Fox assets almost as much as Disney did, but they were unwilling to counter Disney's counter to their offer. Bob Iger and the head of Comcast at the time are big rivals.

It's all about repurposing IP, buying the Fox assets at that moment was a far wiser decision for Disney than financing another gate such as Epic Universe. Disney is playing the long game.