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

[tinknsnow]

It's amazes me when I read poster who say "they come to do Disney and nothing else". !

Why does that "amaze" you? It's my vacation.

 

[minnie61650]

I agree. WDW should institute some form of FOTL pass like universal strictly for deluxe and DVC guests. I like Universal but I can finish both parks in 2 days without FOTL. With FOTL, I'm ready to move on after one day. And please don't tell me that WDW giving FOTL pass to deluxe guests will be discriminating against the other resorts and offsite guests. FOTL guests at Universal pay deluxe rates. Life's not fair. We've all learned to live with it.

Sorry....

I think there are too many deluxe rooms to have FOTL for all the deluxe guests.

AKL.............. 1293 rooms (before renovtions for DVC)
BC...................580 rooms
BCV.................205 rooms
BWI...............191 rooms
BWV...............532 rooms
CR..................1,041 (before Noth wing was torn down, but when the new tower is finished there should be about the same # of rooms as before.)
GF...................900 rooms
Poly..................853 rooms
WL....................728 rooms
WLV...................136 rooms
YC......................634 rooms

Add to those OKW, AKV and SSR There will be too many guests to offer a FOTL option.

IF WDW does offer FOTL I think they would offered to the CL and Suite guests who are staying at a deluxe monorail or deluxe Epcot resort.

I think that would be since the CL and Suites at the monorail and Epcot resorts are paying much more than a deluxe guest staying in a standard room.

Life's not fair. We've all learned to live with it.

JMHO

 

[rie'smom]

Went to Universal several years ago. Line jumping was rampant; parks were filthy; posted times were about half the actual....Some of the attractions were good but it wasn't worth it. Haven't been back. You may want to take a look at the freebies Universal has to give away to get people in the parks. People wonder why Disney doesn't have those types of giveaways. It's easy, they don't have to. If and when Disney gets like that, you may have a point. Until then, there's no comparison.

Line jumping? Do you read the DIS- there are always posts or threads about this very topic at WDW. Filthy? I went to grab toilet paper in an MK bathroom and someone had smeared poop on the toilet tissue holder. There aren't any freebies at Universal-if you find some, let me know because I'd take advantage when we go in Nov. You might want to revisit before you base your opinions on a visit several years ago.

Op, I love the changes at Universal.
It's been several years since we began going to Universal and now WDW is the other park for us. We always start our trips at Disney and save Universal until the last few days because we can relax with the FOTL access.

Universal is just another theme park, like Six Flags or Sesame Place. Disney, however, is DISNEY.

They are all theme parks including Disney.

 

[Belle5]

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!

Could have written this post myself. ITA!

 

[jctwizzer]

Line jumping? Do you read the DIS- there are always posts or threads about this very topic at WDW. Filthy? I went to grab toilet paper in an MK bathroom and someone had smeared poop on the toilet tissue holder. There aren't any freebies at Universal-if you find some, let me know because I'd take advantage when we go in Nov. You might want to revisit before you base your opinions on a visit several years ago.


Yes, I read DIS...and I've been to WDW approx. 100 times in the last ten years...mostly in the off season. I can remember two incidents of line jumping during that time......I saw that many in two minutes at Universal....."no freebies at Universal" ...you're not looking very hard...look elsewhere on DIS ...seven days admission for $89.95---basically 5 free days....good luck in November it will probably be even more
beneficial...I don't need to go back; they lost me the last time....have fun.

 

[chipndales]

I hope they do something because we visited last trip and as it stands right now? I'll never, ever go back. It was awful, such a let down.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

No flames, but the last time I went to Universal, I got the feeling that it seriously in need of new rides.

I also kind of feel that way about WDW, too. I thikn for example that the Muppets show is seriously outdated. I think CBJ could use a little revision. Certainly the CoP is no longer an apt title at all...BUT WDW has more thigns, and they have added some new thing. They are quite a bit bigger, obviously.
I think since Universal is smaller, and themed around movies - revision is more important.

Take the two comparable rides: Star Tours and Back to the Future. Both were in serious need of revision...but at least folks still get intothe Star Wars thing. BttF has all but been forgotten..

 

[KristineN]

We went to Universal for the first time this past June....

I am a total Disney girl...but I will say that we were very impressed by their VIP tour that we did....I hate to say it...but their VIP tour was run A LOT better than Disney's VIP tour....

 

[CanadianGuy]

A gentle reminder - sharing your thots and feelings on the topic at hand is great.

Attacking the thoughts and feelings of others - NOT COOL.

Keep it civil, respectful and courteous please.

Thanks,

Knox

 

[DonaldTDuck]

We're heading to CA in Oct and will get the city pass that includes 3 days at DL and 1 at US. I will ride the Simpsons there and the other rides. I have been to USO about 5 times and come away each time with the same impression. It's a half day park, even with IoA. Poseidon is possibly the only thing in Orlando worse than Sounds Stupid, err Dangerous. Last time we were there was March 2, 2002, the Suesscintenial, or 100th anniversary of Dr. Suess's birth. There were celebrations all over the country, but in the Suess area of IoA, no one was aware of it, and 2 of the 4 rides were closed. We rode everything in both parks that was open that we wanted to ride, saw the Blues Brothers 3 times and all the other shows, and were gone by 4:30. Don't think I'll ever be back.

 

[Charleyann]

I love both parks. Mind you I spend more time at Disney because of the size, I do the same at US/IOA if it were the same size!

It is affordable and my son loves this place too! One of my favorite rides/ attractions is Spiderman. Oh, do I love How the Grinch Stole Christmas production and how beautiful Suess Landing is at Christmas!



Charleyann

 

[Laurabearz]

We own lots of DVC points...

And we have been proud US/IOA AP holders for 5 years and WDW pass holders for only 1.

We get joy out of all the parks, but there is something about IOA... I LOVE IT. I get all warm and tingley walking into the Port Of Entry. Love it love it LOVE IT.

My family can't wait for all the new things to come there!! Cant wait!!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I have to give props to Universal for introducing several astounding new attractions recently. When paired with what they have actually announced for the near future, it is enough to warrant anyone's attention.

I am a total WDW fan, but I find it rather sad that WDW can't eke out much of anything at this time when UO is blossoming, perhaps 'coming into its own'. I'm sure TSMM is a wonderful attraction, and I can't wait to ride it, but all in all it looks like WDW is circling the wagons just a bit right now.

I suspect this is mostly a cyclical thing, and that WDW will come out with something amazing soon. FWIW, rumors like the widely circulated Blue Sky blog stuff can't be counted yet IMO. I doubt half of that comes to pass.

 

[Condorman]

Never compare WDW to IoA/USO. They are theme parks the way the apple and the orange are fruits, but similar in no other way. Disney may be doing things on the cheap, or at least cheaper than they used to, but nobody does it better than Disney when it comes to theming. Proof: When Disney decided not to do the Beastly Kingdomme at AK, they laid off many Imagineers who then went to USO and designed for them the Dueling Dragons coaster and the Unicorn thingy; take a look at the DD coaster. Yeah, it's fun, suspended, but completely indicative of what all non-Disney parks do with their rides. They paint it red and blue and ta-da, that's it. Disney builds a coaster and then constructs a mountain around it, literally. They theme it, they spend $300m on it, whether it's in space, a western mesa, the Himalayas, etc. US could have built their park anywhere - they chose Orlando because of WDW. As far as I'm concerned, they are an exponent, a sidekick, the run-off, like a 5th and 6th gate, but never 1, 2, 3 or 4. They're enjoyable for a few hours, a few thrills, and then it's on to the best, the real reason you came to Orlando, or the true reason why Orlando ever came to be.

 

[magicalfoursome]

I absolutely love WDW but also really had a great time in US in '06. We stayed at the Royal Pacific which is beautiful and enjoyed the preferred lines in the parks. Of course it is not Disney but it has lots of fun, well themed rides. In fact our family preferred Men in Black in comparison to Buzz Lightyear and Spiderman is great! Us, in my opinion lacks that warm, fuzzy, magical feeling that Disney does so well. I do agree that Disney does need to add/update rides esp. in DHS. Our family is waiting for Harry Potter to open to go back to US but we will still save a few days for Disney!

 

[rie'smom]

We own lots of DVC points...

And we have been proud US/IOA AP holders for 5 years and WDW pass holders for only 1.

We get joy out of all the parks, but there is something about IOA... I LOVE IT. I get all warm and tingley walking into the Port Of Entry. Love it love it LOVE IT.

My family can't wait for all the new things to come there!! Cant wait!!

We have 300 BWV points and I always say that I wish Universal had something similar.
I agree when walking near the giant Globe at US or the Port of Entry at IOA, I feel the magic.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Wow, that Kool Aid must be tasty...

I love both. Yes, it's possible. WDW isn't the only fun place in FL. It's not a betrayal to Walt to go some place else. (That's why they created ME so you don't rent a car and see for yourself.)

Our family loves US/IOA. We didn't our first visit though. We constantly compared it to Disney and looked for the "magic." We scrutinized every little thing and looked for the negatives. (You could walk thru WDW and point out negatives too if you were trying to.) Then we realized, it's not trying to be Disney. When we want magic, we go to WDW. When we crave something different, we go to US/IOA. (Like the old 7up commercial that said "It's the Un-cola.")
We've stayed at all 3 hotels and loved them all for different reasons. Our fav is the Hard Rock Hotel. I love the lobby and pool area and that it's only a 5 min walk to the parks. I love the water taxis. No cramped, sweaty sardines in a bus. I've always had excellent service and polite employees. When I call ahead to get my car from the valet, I get, "We'll have it right out for you. Is there anything else I can do for you Mrs. Bxxxx." I've always felt pampered.
The guy at the luggage storage room remembered my ds11 from a previous trip (2 mos prior) when they chatted about video games and he "asked" my ds for advice on which game platform he should buy. lol! My ds remembered him too and felt so special that this cool, hip guy remembered him.

Their APs are affordable and give us great discounts on the hotels. Just today booked a Labor Day weekend getaway at the Royal Pacific. Yes, 2 park days leisurely cover everything but then we have time to relax. When we go to WDW, we have to go back to work to relax. Dh always says, "this is more work than work."
We still love Disney too and will be returning end of Sept. for another getaway. It's not the center of the universe though.
We also loved KSC and Sea World too, not enough to visit every trip but once in a while is fine.

Let's face it, WDW food isn't great either and it's expensive too so you can't knock only US on that point. In all fairness, the food basically sucks at all theme parks. The whole ADR scene at WDW is ridiculous too. It's crazy to plot each and every meal location 6 mos in advance. That's just too much stress to call it a vacation.

ETA: We went to Busch Gardens, Williamsburg last summer and loved that too.

 

[TDC Nala]

but wait a minute, everytime disney does change something they suffer a huge backlash from online communities like this. look at pleasure island. im excited for the change, but the general consensus, leave it alone. how about when a ride leaves? what happens? people freak out. there are still people talking about mr toads wild ride.
so we want change, but we arent willing to give anything up? sorry, cant have it both ways.

There are always those that have favorites. I don't care what they do with most of the rides, or about a lot of the new things coming out, but closing the Adventurers Club will detract seriously from my Disney trips and I doubt they'll be able to come up with something that will replace it - closing that for me is a bit like closing the Magic Kingdom would be for most Disney fanatics. Others are saying "good, tear that Adventurers place down and build something NEW." So there will always be those who want certain changes and those who resist them.

Universal's never been more than a day trip as far as I was concerned and probably never will be.

 

[Aisling]

My family really, really likes Universal. The attractions are awesome, and their onsite hotels put Disney to shame, especially price-wise. I think Unversal is doing a great job competing with WDW. That said, Universal just doesn't have the "feel" of Disney. There's no warm fuzzy emotion involved when we go to Universal. I know that sounds silly, but it's true for us. Even just walking around WDW without going to any attractions makes us feel good.

I'm so glad there's Unversal, and that it's getting better and better, and we
ll continue to go there when we don't go to WDW. But we never yearn to go back the way we do about WDW.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

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.


What new RollerCoaster??