UnivStu vs. Disney : I know I am going to get flamed for this but...

[agame2323]

I have to put this out there.

How do you feel about the advancement of Universal Studios? Personally, I give them credit. They seem to have some pretty exciting things going on and 2009 could possibly be a big year for them. With the addition of the new Roller Coaster, the Simpsons Ride and Harry Potter the development seems to on the right track. Disney...where are you? Thus far all we have received is Toy Story Mania, which I understand is a great ride, but US have just added a completely new section of there park with the addition of Harry Potter.

I love WDW. I still think when it comes to overall satisfaction they are the best in the business. However, theme park development seems slow at the moment. So far, with regards to new attractions, there's nothing scheduled for 2009. Pleasure Island is taking a hit and Hollywood studios is still under-developed.

I know WDW is much larger and has twice as much to focus on than US, so maybe there is some justification here. Perhaps one day US will encounter this problem too. However, at the present time, Disney is in the spotlight. There are a lot of guest that visit Disney yearly. I sometimes wonder how they feel. If I was spending that much money to visit Disney every year, I would like to see some changes in the parks. That's where the majority of the time and money is spent. I tend to do Disney every other year, and at times its feels like a haven't be gone very long because nothing has changed.

Just wondering if anyone feels the same. Universal is keeping things fresh and exciting. Is Disney doing the same??

 

[futreWDI]

No flaming here...

I just want to say, universal up-ing their game is only better for Disney. I do not believe Disney would be where it is today without the competition from universal. If there was no competition, there would be no reason for either park to add new things or update old ones.

Also, to defend Disney. They do have plans for new coasters and rides to open up in 2010-11 which is when HP world will open.

 

[BriBri1984]

Mentioning Universal is like the plague haha ..

It doesnt bug me.. I personally would like them to Combine Forces ( Jeez at least they would have a HUGE Profit margin.. But i know it is soooo much more complicated. The politics, rules ect...

Disney, in my opinion, Does things in a Much Larger Scale. Like the new DVC's Or yr of a million Dreams..

They do not just put out 1 new ride.. They make it 1 new ride plus all this other awesome stuff..

If Disney did not keep it exciting ppl would not love it or keep going..

Another example.. They are not closing one Club at PI.. But ALL and redoing it all..

Craziness to me

Bri

 

[terribm]

While I see what you are saying, don't you think that many of us "DisneyFreaks" love it because it (for a certain degree) stays the same. That is what many of us thinks makes it so special.

I am somewhat excited about things that US is doing especially the Harry Potter themed land but, in my eyes, it doesn't come close to Disney. In fact, they could put in as many big roller coasters and interactive rides and it wouldn't hold a candle to WDW.

That's just me.

 

[sbell111]

Honestly, I'm always just a little amazed that US is still open. It seams that they always have some sort of promotion for multi-day park tickets for just a tiny amount of money.

When I was living in Winter Park a dozen years ago, the deal was buy one day get one day free. The other day, we were in SamsCo and noticed US 90-day passes on sale for something like $85.

I think that next years promotion will be three days at US for three chicklets and a piece of pocket lint.

 

[nanceliz]

I agree with you that Disney doesn't appear to be expanding as fast.
There doesn't seem to be anything major on the horizon. Part of why we are waiting until late next year is for the opening of the new Harry Potter section at Universal.
It seems Disney resources have been diverted to the Disney cruises rather than the parks.
Hopefully, something new will be on the horizon soon.

 

[KatMark]

No flaming here. Universal will do what Universal has to do. Personally, as we have gotten older, we aren't into roller coasters as much as we used to be so we always do the "old" Universal; and cannot stand the Simpsons and never read the Harry Potter books (nor did my kids). Universal will be Universal; but DISNEY will ALWAYS BE DISNEY!

 

[eliza61]

I always think a little healthy competition is good. I love WDW but some times I think they are guilty of taking their customers for granted.

I'm not a big Harry Potter fan so Universal is always a "side" trip if we are in Florida for more than 7 days but it may get the "imagineers" over at WDW fired up. That can only be a good thing, I wouldn't mind some thing to replace that awful Drew Carey attraction at HS.

 

[qanita92]

I actually think what US is doing is great! More competition means WDW has some great ideas up their sleeves. When Disney plans something, they go all out, thats what makes them so great. I'm planning on going to WDW in the end of 2009 which is about the same time HP is opening. Maybe that results in less crowds.

 

[galnar]

Universal has two great parks, and I love Citywalk, but for us it's not a destination itself yet.... We'll keep spending a day or two there every trip but I don't see us staying onsite anytime in the forseeable future.

 

[nanceliz]

It is true that when Disney adds something new, it is on a much Grander scale. I do agree that Universal will NEVER be Disney!!

 

[kakiegirl]

I like Universal okay and enjoy going sometimes. However, I don't think the things Universal are adding will hurt Disney. I know many others feel different but the Simpsons (yuck we have never liked that show). I was sad they took away Back to the Future it was the first ride of its kind I ever rode and I thought it was really neat. Harry Potter I know has legions of fans but no one in my family including DD 9 has ever had any interest in it. So neither of the new things universal is doing are a big draw to us. As others have said maybe it will make Disney step up to the plate and counter with something new for their parks. Hopefully something a little more exciting than American Idol.

 

[USCGamecocks]

Universal will always be the "other park" that you go to when you go to Disney. I agree that US has added more rides etc, but Disney just seems to do more magnificent things when they choose to add to its property.

 

[Feralpeg]

No flames from me. People are allowed to love other things in addition to Disney. US has a couple of great parks. I'm very happy they are expanding. Unfortunately, they are pretty land-locked, so I don't think they will ever rival Disney. That's okay. They are still a fun place for a little non-Disney entertainment and very reasonably priced.

 

[minnie61650]

I guess you haven't seen the Blue Sky rumors for new rides at WDW Fantasyland......

The Little Mermaid ride rumors for WDW are once again surfacing along with a couple of other ride rumors for WDW Fantsyland.

From the Blue Sky Buzz......

http://blueskydisney.blogspot.com/2008/07/blue-sky-buzz-orlando-its-just-fantasy.html

Here is an excerpt......
Blue Sky Buzz (Orlando): It's Just A Fantasy...


...............
Imagine that Little Mermaid attraction we talked about before... it's basically going to be the ride we have here, although it might be a bit smaller and the exterior should be envisioned differently, but all around Fantasyland you'll notice a great deal of detail and a great deal of difference in a bout four or five years if it all comes to pass.

How would you like to get through with your adventures with Ariel and Sebastian and walk out looking around the Florida sunshine basking in that new roller coaster that's been put in for Disney Fans/Geeks to ride. A roller coaster? What are you talking about? The one themed to the Seven Dwarfs, that one. Lavishly made up with details that are closer to something you'd see in Tokyo that stateside, but it's there...........

----------------------------------------------------

Or the rumor of the new coaster for DHS:

Recently, the Imagineers are working on a Monsters, Inc. roller coaster set to open in Fall of 2011.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From what I read about it the coaster is going to be a family-friendly attraction & will be housed inside of Soundstage One.


I think a coaster like the one below but in a darkened room with a forced perspective and sceans in blacklight (Think Peter Pan ) might be a trill ride for little ones and a fun adventure for adults alike.

This is a coaster from Carowinds and I think the Monsters Inc, coaster may be a lot like this one (without the water of course!) & about the same size.

Looks like fun!

 

[MickeyNicki]

No flames from me either but I love WDW and just feel so-so about Universal. We went last summer for 3 days (DH had a business trip) and loved the Royal Pacific resort and some of the attractions were great but I really missed WDW.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

There is expansion going on. Toy Story Mania just opened and it is a great ride! We rode it at DLR, but it is the same at WDW.

US is a great complex, nice parks (especially IOA), CityWalk is fun, and the hotels are awesome (more deluxe than WDW deluxe). It's nice that the Orlando area has things for everyone, because there are lots of people who are not Disney people.

I just had some friends come back from an Orlando vacation. I asked them if they had a good time and they said they loved SeaWorld! Not WDW was great, but SeaWorld. So to each his own Less people at WDW mean a shorter line at Splash Mtn. for us!!

 

[everylastbreath]

I'm going to take you out of the hot seat to get "Flamed" and probably put myself there by saying this, but it has to be said- Universal is not Disney, but they do have it head and shoulder over Disney with their FOTL passes. Disney should have that perk for onsite guests.

There- I said it....

 

[Nie0214]

WDW takes days to experience, while you can do Universal in 2 days tops. I do enjoy Universal/IoA, though I don't think I could take a vacation just to there because it doesn't seem like you need a whole week in the place (especially if you stay onsite and get FotL).

 

[Disney1976]

I'm going to take you out of the hot seat to get "Flamed" and probably put myself there by saying this, but it has to be said- Universal is not Disney, but they do have it head and shoulder over Disney with their FOTL passes. Disney should have that perk for onsite guests.

There- I said it....

Well, logistically, I don't think it'd work. Universal has 3 hotels. Disney has what, 20? With over 20,000 rooms on property? I don't know how full Universal's hotels usually are, but Disney doesn't have a problem most of the time filling their rooms with bodies. Also, my recent experience at Universal has shown me FOTL acccess doesn't work well for guests that don't have it. Maybe Universal is just really bad at line management, but on certain attractions especially (*Cough* Hulk *Cough*) were at least an hour almost right from park opening. It was NEVER that bad before FOTL access. Most of that was from FOTL guests filling up entire ride vehicles. It wasn't just on Hulk, either.

Sorry, but I don't think it would be fair for locals or offsite guests to have to deal with hundreds of people getting in front of them in line. Nor do I think it's fair to ask people to spend another $30-$50 on top of their ticket to have the "privilege" of FOTL access if they aren't an onsite guest.