WDW and Universal. Who wins?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

UO is stress free because there’s such little that’s interesting to do.

There's a lot to do but if you don't find interest that's that.

But it is stress free because I don't have to worry about racing to get a time to come back to a ride.

I don't have to worry about even selecting a ride, what if it conflicts with the ADR I made months ago oh and even making a reservation just to eat.

I don't have to figure out which park I want to go to if off-site first (on-site most will choose the park that has the early entry if they are up that early).

I don't have to make a park reservation and worry about being locked out because I didn't put in a reservation months in advance (MK was all reserved up the week we were there last year months in advance, luckily we had done our park reservations and DHS was also books up around May 5th for obvious reasons).

Oh and I had to pay $2 for a locker for Hagrid’s. Talk about nickel and diming. Disney doesn’t charge for Tron lockers.

The only time you'd be paying $2 is if your bag was too large to fit in the standard lockers.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

At which hotel are you staying? None of the deluxe resorts resemble a random Hilton.

Yeah I thought Royal Pacific very very nicely themed, no where near just a random Hilton and besides if they think Universal is like that boy do they have a surprise in store for them with all the updates Disney is doing. To me Riviera is fairly bland on the outside, I like the resort, but it's bland, and it's done that way on purpose as the shift in consumer tastes have occurred. And Disney is applying this to all their new resorts, all the refurbs, they are all being toned down. All-Stars have a better layout now but their ultra-theming is done inside the rooms, only the exterior really has that in your face look.

 

[wdwrule]

There's a lot to do but if you don't find interest that's that.

But it is stress free because I don't have to worry about racing to get a time to come back to a ride.

I don't have to worry about even selecting a ride, what if it conflicts with the ADR I made months ago oh and even making a reservation just to eat.

I don't have to figure out which park I want to go to if off-site first (on-site most will choose the park that has the early entry if they are up that early).

I don't have to make a park reservation and worry about being locked out because I didn't put in a reservation months in advance (MK was all reserved up the week we were there last year months in advance, luckily we had done our park reservations and DHS was also books up around May 5th for obvious reasons).


The only time you'd be paying $2 is if your bag was too large to fit in the standard lockers.

Exactly! I don’t have to set my alarm at Universal and worry about getting boarding groups, lightning lanes etc. Genie+ is a huge extra cost for family of 5… and the rides are not unlimited express like UO offers. The unlimited express at UO included at deluxes are typically a great savings for families of 4+ in one room… no times to worry about or zigzagging in the park.

The hotel text feature at UO is awesome as well. So convenient to text and get an immediate response when needing towels, toiletries, questions etc. The ease of dining reservations without penalty for cancelling is stress free at UO as well. At WDW last week we ended up having our boarding group called for Tron near the time of our lunch dining reservation. I spent my time in the queue on the phone with customer service to try to get our dining cancelled without a fee because Tron is strict with their return times. I would’ve much rather spent my time in that queue taking it all in.

We’ve also had our share of not so magical CMs from WDW last week. One even shouting “Jesu* Chri**!”. So yeah, that can happen anywhere.

I really think it’s to each his own. For either park, one should research before going so there are no surprises. But once I arrive, I want to relax and tour at my own will without a lot of stress. UO does that for me and I can’t thank them enough.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I tend to think the cast members are not as friendly, that the guests are less happy, crowds are more chaotic, cleanliness isn't as good. Now, that's all anecdotal, but WHY do I feel that way about Uni and not Disney?

Agreed with a lot of your post, though anecdotally I find that Disney guests are way more rude and entitled than Universal guests. Universal has a TON of line cutting (I see it a minimum of 4 times each time I visit) but the guests themselves seem more...chill? I don't get the sense of having to go, go, go in terms of how guests behave like I do at Disney.

I think cleanliness is equal at both. They both have queues that look absolutely disgusting. At Disney Test Track and Buzz come to mind. At Universal Dudley looks like it hasn't been cleaned in 20 years.

 

[BrianL]

Agreed with a lot of your post, though anecdotally I find that Disney guests are way more rude and entitled than Universal guests. Universal has a TON of line cutting (I see it a minimum of 4 times each time I visit) but the guests themselves seem more...chill? I don't get the sense of having to go, go, go in terms of how guests behave like I do at Disney.

I think cleanliness is equal at both. They both have queues that look absolutely disgusting. At Disney Test Track and Buzz come to mind. At Universal Dudley looks like it hasn't been cleaned in 20 years.

See, and I perceive the Uni guests as more rude, though maybe "entitled" isn't the word. It's more brash and a little more surly I guess. Like the line for Rip Ride Rock-It is interminable and seems to put everybody in a bad mood. I never chat with people like I do at Disney. That's not to say there aren't rude guests at Disney too - there certainly are. It's that perception thing again.

 

[Smugpugmug]

See, and I perceive the Uni guests as more rude, though maybe "entitled" isn't the word. It's more brash and a little more surly I guess. Like the line for Rip Ride Rock-It is interminable and seems to put everybody in a bad mood. I never chat with people like I do at Disney. That's not to say there aren't rude guests at Disney too - there certainly are. It's that perception thing again.

Yeah in that sense I agree. When I mean entitled, I mean like guests screaming at CMs and demanding pixie dust. I don't see any of that at Universal. Due to Universal appealing to an older crowd I do notice a lot more people loudly swearing and stuff but that doesn't ruin my experience.

I've had some great chats with people in the Hagrid's queue but that's because we're all struggling through that long queue together

 

[BrianL]

Oh yeah, Disney guests do expect more from Disney/CMs. Universal ain't giving out that pixie dust! I think Uni guests are ruder to each other, and yeah, the language is less family friendly. Then again, I've heard some epic adult meltdowns at Disney, but they are isolated incidents and there is far less overall casual swearing.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yeah in that sense I agree. When I mean entitled, I mean like guests screaming at CMs and demanding pixie dust. I don't see any of that at Universal. Due to Universal appealing to an older crowd I do notice a lot more people loudly swearing and stuff but that doesn't ruin my experience.

I've had some great chats with people in the Hagrid queue but that's because we're all struggling through that long queue together

lol Hagrid's is where we had the lovely conversation with the dad and daughter. The only time this last trip I had any nice enough people around us at WDW was ironically two times in FOP

 

[Smugpugmug]

lol Hagrid's is where we had the lovely conversation with the dad and daughter. The only time this last trip I had any nice enough people around us at WDW was ironically two times in FOP

One time on Hagrid's I chatted with a couple from the UK and they ranted to me about how crappy their local park, Alton Towers, was and how Universal was way better lol

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Oh yeah, Disney guests do expect more from Disney/CMs. Universal ain't giving out that pixie dust! I think Uni guests are ruder to each other, and yeah, the language is less family friendly. Then again, I've heard some epic adult meltdowns at Disney, but they are isolated incidents and there is far less overall casual swearing.

I never found anyone rude to each other at Universal??

In fact people were rude to each other at WDW mostly because of line cutting issues, the sheer amount of stroller ramming and pushing and shoving to make sure you got the best spot for the parade or show.

Meanwhile our nighttime show over at Universal was very orderly TBH was surprised that for the amount of people in this one spot there wasn't a huge amount of obnoxious people and leaving was not bad either, so different than our experience watching Enchantment where it was survival of the fittest.

If your issue is language I'd find that an interesting line in the sand (and I heard more language at Disney than I ever have at Universal truth be told). I've seen a parent slap their child at a Disney hotel or the dad complain endlessly to their adult son about the lines and then him leave..until you see that face of the son riding alone on Alien Swirling Saucers you haven't seen the rock bottom that will forever stick with me (so has the slap even though it occurred nearly 6 years ago), or you've seen the obvious line cutting, the "I paid this much" attitude and that spills over to guest to guest interactions especially when you're up against a long line. IDK people aren't really nice to each other at WDW, I'm not necessarily blaming them, but the environment over at Disney has created a place where people are just more crabby overall.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

One time on Hagrid's I chatted with a couple from the UK and they ranted to me about how crappy their local park, Alton Towers, was and how Universal was way better lol

lol that is funny especially because I see reels all the time of European parks and I think "that would be so cool to go to" Guess the grass isn't always greener on the other side...of the pond

 

[BrianL]

I never found anyone rude to each other at Universal??

In fact people were rude to each other at WDW mostly because of line cutting issues, the sheer amount of stroller ramming and pushing and shoving to make sure you got the best spot for the parade or show.

Meanwhile our nighttime show over at Universal was very orderly TBH was surprised that for the amount of people in this one spot there wasn't a huge amount of obnoxious people and leaving was not bad either, so different than our experience watching Enchantment where it was survival of the fittest.

If your issue is language I'd find that an interesting line in the sand (and I heard more language at Disney than I ever have at Universal truth be told). I've seen a parent slap their child at a Disney hotel or the dad complain endlessly to their adult son about the lines and then him leave..until you see that face of the son riding alone on Alien Swirling Saucers you haven't seen the rock bottom that will forever stick with me (so has the slap even though it occurred nearly 6 years ago), or you've seen the obvious line cutting, the "I paid this much" attitude and that spills over to guest to guest interactions especially when you're up against a long line. IDK people aren't really nice to each other at WDW, I'm not necessarily blaming them, but the environment over at Disney has created a place where people are just more crabby overall.

And I could write the exact opposite of what you just wrote. It's all anecdotal and a matter of perception. Both parks have a majority of great and polite guests. Both parks have some rude guests who take things too far. We see what we see due to that pre-conceived affinity for one over the other. Both stances are neither true nor false - it's just the way that we experience it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And I could write the exact opposite of what you just wrote. It's all anecdotal and a matter of perception. Both parks have a majority of great and polite guests. Both parks have some rude guests who take things too far. We see what we see due to that pre-conceived affinity for one over the other. Both stances are neither true nor false - it's just the way that we experience it.

no no I agree we could each write the same thing but I was honing in on the language part.

To me there are so many other behaviors that signal issues with guests than language of which I rarely if ever hear over at Universal despite it's stereotype. I mean have you been to Disney Springs at night especially on a weekend lol.

I'm just surprised you'd put the shoving, pushing, intentional blocking of views, the stroller ramming and usage of it as a means to block access to people which I saw multiple times on the ferry as well as on walkways (and sometimes ECV), the huge amount of line cutting (which has been complained about for ages), drunken behaviors and more that is very obviously seen at Disney below something like language. It's just interesting the list of priorities.

It's interesting you'd assume that I have an affinity for Universal over Disney as I've been vocal about loving Disney a wee bit more than Universal ever since I joined the Boards. I grew up going to both parks (even when I was a toddler) and in general there's a different viewpoint when that happens. I was an 11 year old at Disney and an 11 year old at Universal. When one only transitioned to Universal when they were older (as in not in your teens) or goes for the first time with their kids that viewpoint tends to be different due to a sheer amount of internal comparisons to Disney. I'm not sure your past experience so I won't assume on that but it's been just my casual observation that the later in life or stage in life one started going to Universal when they went enough times to Disney first impacts feelings.

 

[BrianL]

no no I agree we could each write the same thing but I was honing in on the language part.

To me there are so many other behaviors that signal issues with guests than language of which I rarely if ever hear over at Universal despite it's stereotype. I mean have you been to Disney Springs at night especially on a weekend lol.

I'm just surprised you'd put the shoving, pushing, intentional blocking of views, the stroller ramming and usage of it as a means to block access to people which I saw multiple times on the ferry as well as on walkways (and sometimes ECV), the huge amount of line cutting (which has been complained about for ages), drunken behaviors and more that is very obviously seen at Disney below something like language. It's just interesting the list of priorities.

It's interesting you'd assume that I have an affinity for Universal over Disney as I've been vocal about loving Disney a wee bit more than Universal ever since I joined the Boards. I grew up going to both parks (even when I was a toddler) and in general there's a different viewpoint when that happens. I was an 11 year old at Disney and an 11 year old at Universal. When one only transitioned to Universal when they were older (as in not in your teens) or goes for the first time with their kids that viewpoint tends to be different due to a sheer amount of internal comparisons to Disney. I'm not sure your past experience so I won't assume on that but it's been just my casual observation that the later in life or stage in life one started going to Universal when they went enough times to Disney first impacts feelings.

Language was just one general example - it was not intended to be more important than anything else. SmugPug brought it up and I do agree. Again, this is ALL very general. And I've seen plenty of shoving, pusing, etc. at Uni too. The most drunken behaviors I ever saw in a theme park was at Halloween Horror Nights - it's basically one huge bar-scene!

It's not really about what you love in that sense - it's affinity toward specifics. For example, BATMAN has been and always will be my favorite superhero. I LOVE Batman! But, I can't stand any recent movies made with him. I dislike them for being too dark and gritty. And yet, I can like a dark and gritty movie - just not one made by DC at this time. Some people have an affinity for a dark and gritty Batman. I don't - but I still love Batman just as much as you love Disney. I don't know if I can really say why it is, but it's definitely something that affects the mega-fans. It's an interesting psychological phenomona.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Language was just one general example - it was not intended to be more important than anything else. SmugPug brought it up and I do agree. Again, this is ALL very general. And I've seen plenty of shoving, pusing, etc. at Uni too. The most drunken behaviors I ever saw in a theme park was at Halloween Horror Nights - it's basically one huge bar-scene!

It's not really about what you love in that sense - it's affinity toward specifics. For example, BATMAN has been and always will be my favorite superhero. I LOVE Batman! But, I can't stand any recent movies made with him. I dislike them for being too dark and gritty. And yet, I can like a dark and gritty movie - just not one made by DC at this time. Some people have an affinity for a dark and gritty Batman. I don't - but I still love Batman just as much as you love Disney. I don't know if I can really say why it is, but it's definitely something that affects the mega-fans. It's an interesting psychological phenomona.

I don't really get your super hero comparison here at all. We're talking about pros/cons, observations for a theme park not about one's preference for how a particular franchise was made in the past (no offense I just don't see the connection). There's a lot I love about Disney but it doesn't make me blind to what I see and hear around me. I'm not a mega fan either.

As far as the language reference well in terms of discussing guest to guest behavior it was odd that you didn't bring up all the stuff one regularly encounters and has been observations on the DIS for a long time as something you'd see at Disney but rather you think Universal guests are ruder to each other.

Do you regularly see pushing and shoving, stroller ramming and blocking along with ECVs at Universal? I'm sure we can make a case about sometimes seeing pushing. What's been your recent experience watching the nighttime shows at Disney? Everyone pleasant? No groaning and moaning about not being able to see? No parent coming up last minute to push their kids in front of you or worse on top of their shoulders? (both at nighttime shows and at parades). No comment of someone being an adult and thus they shouldn't take a spot that a kid could use? Hearing about how one person just stood in line while the rest rode some other ride and then they joined the line completely cutting people is a frequent enough complaint I hear for Disney. Just thinking about stuff I've seen and what people have complained in the past about. Not an exhaustive list.

I'm not even sure what you'd consider guests being ruder to each other if it isn't about language because most people see, observe, and complain consistently about rude guests at Disney in many threads and over time (not just a pandemic response). It's not that you don't see people rude at Universal it was "ruder" at Universal that I was responding to. What makes someone ruder at Universal

 

[BrianL]

I don't really get your super hero comparison here at all. We're talking about pros/cons, observations for a theme park not about one's preference for how a particular franchise was made in the past (no offense I just don't see the connection). There's a lot I love about Disney but it doesn't make me blind to what I see and hear around me. I'm not a mega fan either.

As far as the language reference well in terms of discussing guest to guest behavior it was odd that you didn't bring up all the stuff one regularly encounters and has been observations on the DIS for a long time as something you'd see at Disney but rather you think Universal guests are ruder to each other.

Do you regularly see pushing and shoving, stroller ramming and blocking along with ECVs at Universal? I'm sure we can make a case about sometimes seeing pushing. What's been your recent experience watching the nighttime shows at Disney? Everyone pleasant? No groaning and moaning about not being able to see? No parent coming up last minute to push their kids in front of you or worse on top of their shoulders? (both at nighttime shows and at parades). No comment of someone being an adult and thus they shouldn't take a spot that a kid could use? Hearing about how one person just stood in line while the rest rode some other ride and then they joined the line completely cutting people is a frequent enough complaint I hear for Disney. Just thinking about stuff I've seen and what people have complained in the past about. Not an exhaustive list.

I'm not even sure what you'd consider guests being ruder to each other if it isn't about language because most people see, observe, and complain consistently about rude guests at Disney in many threads and over time (not just a pandemic response). It's not that you don't see people rude at Universal it was "ruder" at Universal that I was responding to. What makes someone ruder at Universal

Do I regularly see pushing and shoving, stroller ramming and blocking along with ECV's at Universal?

No. No I don't. But I don't regularly see it at Disney either. I'm sure it happens - at both parks.

And that's my point. It's all perception and this feeling that it leaves us with. It's not about what we want to like, it's about the actual feeling we are getting. I want to like Batman movies, but I just dont. You want to like Disney, but clearly you are having better experiences at Uni - but it's not because the bad stuff only happens at one of them. If you go to Universal with the idea that the guests are less stressed and therefore friendlier, that's what you will see. That hasn't been my experience, but it may be because I expect them not to be.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Do I regularly see pushing and shoving, stroller ramming and blocking along with ECV's at Universal?

No. No I don't. But I don't regularly see it at Disney either. I'm sure it happens - at both parks.

And that's my point. It's all perception and this feeling that it leaves us with. It's not about what we want to like, it's about the actual feeling we are getting. I want to like Batman movies, but I just dont. You want to like Disney, but clearly you are having better experiences at Uni - but it's not because the bad stuff only happens at one of them. If you go to Universal with the idea that the guests are less stressed and therefore friendlier, that's what you will see. That hasn't been my experience, but it may be because I expect them not to be.

Want to like Disney? You're not talking to someone who is a loyalist to either park, but clearly I'm talking to some who are. I don't have better experiences at Universal I have a more stress free and pleasant experience. That doesn't take away from the feelings I get when I'm on PeopleMover or Carousel of Progress or FOP or the great fun we had with our friends last year. It's really hard with these conversations when people start off with a very pro-Disney viewpoint because the comments skew differently when Universal gets into the picture.

It's not at all about perceiving people to be less stressed at Universal and are therefore friendlier. I wouldn't say that guests are friendlier (as that wasn't even the adjective being spoke about) at Universal but rather just normal people going about their day at a theme park. That's a very good example of the problem here though. You think it's about preconceived perceptions and while I agree that has a time and a place such as someone unwilling to try out Universal because of what they think it's all about, that's not what we're talking about. Like I said I grew up going to both, there's no preconceived notions when you've spent years going to both parks and at different stages of your life.

Time and time again my DISer friends and I have talked about this, it was the same vibe we saw at Silver Dollar City when we went during kid's festival (so tons of kids around). One of the main observations was being used to waiting in line (these are their words not mine) as for why there was a different vibe. And if you think about it many of the complaints stem from line waiting either from the length or the system in place with Legacy FP, FP+, MP and now Genie+/ILL.

Ever since I joined in 2015 it's been the same complaints about Disney with the pandemic making it worse and Disney's pandemic related changes to their product making it worse. You've been on here longer than me, did you just avoid all the threads giving recent experiences over the years? Or did your love for Disney mean you side stepped those complaints as in one ear and out the other?

But again what makes someone ruder at Universal?

ETA: I'd like to add too that HHN is not recommended for children and many would recommend waiting til 15+ (rather than the under 13 age provided). Meanwhile at Disney you've got Food & Wine which is a great event but one that has no limitations on age nor time of day and people for ages have been talking about how bad some get there.

 

[katyjeka]

Rude/pushy people are a part of life and theme parks are not exempt from them. For some the cost of the trip can trigger a button that "entitles" them to everything. I guess they forget that everyone has spent a small fortune to be there. We've seen both parks with rude people but will say I see more parents "screaming" at their children at WDW. I think they are surprised to see that their littles don't love the characters as much as they hoped. Our last ride on IASW was a nightmare because a parent decided to scream back at their screaming child who happened to be terrified of the dolls!!! A kind older lady tried to intervene and talk to the child and the parent turned her frustration to her. She screamed at her that they spent thousands to be there and they were going to ride everything whether the child liked it or not.(her language was horrible) It was quite a scene that interrupted the ride for everyone because they stopped everything to deal with them. I'm hoping she was different at home as I felt for the little boy. When we witness rude behavior we just ignore it and keep going. We never let ignorant people ruin our time together. I always joke with our kids that the only rude person allowed at Universal is the Grinch!!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Our last ride on IASW was a nightmare because a parent decided to scream back at their screaming child who happened to be terrified of the dolls!!!

it's a small world is like that one ride I have to ride once even though you know you'll get the song stuck in your head for days lol. But the animatronics are of an older style that I could absolutely see a young child be frightened of them. The way they move too is just different. Poor kid hope he was okay once they got off the ride.

 

[BrianL]

Want to like Disney? You're not talking to someone who is a loyalist to either park, but clearly I'm talking to some who are. I don't have better experiences at Universal I have a more stress free and pleasant experience. That doesn't take away from the feelings I get when I'm on PeopleMover or Carousel of Progress or FOP or the great fun we had with our friends last year. It's really hard with these conversations when people start off with a very pro-Disney viewpoint because the comments skew differently when Universal gets into the picture.

It's not at all about perceiving people to be less stressed at Universal and are therefore friendlier. I wouldn't say that guests are friendlier (as that wasn't even the adjective being spoke about) at Universal but rather just normal people going about their day at a theme park. That's a very good example of the problem here though. You think it's about preconceived perceptions and while I agree that has a time and a place such as someone unwilling to try out Universal because of what they think it's all about, that's not what we're talking about. Like I said I grew up going to both, there's no preconceived notions when you've spent years going to both parks and at different stages of your life.

Time and time again my DISer friends and I have talked about this, it was the same vibe we saw at Silver Dollar City when we went during kid's festival (so tons of kids around). One of the main observations was being used to waiting in line (these are their words not mine) as for why there was a different vibe. And if you think about it many of the complaints stem from line waiting either from the length or the system in place with Legacy FP, FP+, MP and now Genie+/ILL.

Ever since I joined in 2015 it's been the same complaints about Disney with the pandemic making it worse and Disney's pandemic related changes to their product making it worse. You've been on here longer than me, did you just avoid all the threads giving recent experiences over the years? Or did your love for Disney mean you side stepped those complaints as in one ear and out the other?

But again what makes someone ruder at Universal?

ETA: I'd like to add too that HHN is not recommended for children and many would recommend waiting til 15+ (rather than the under 13 age provided). Meanwhile at Disney you've got Food & Wine which is a great event but one that has no limitations on age nor time of day and people for ages have been talking about how bad some get there.

My stance is actually not that Disney is somehow better, but that it is in fact THE SAME. None of this is universal truth. You talk like there are zero strollers at Universal and nobody would dare ram one into you there. I Guarantee you that it happens. Rude guests are at Universal. They are also at Disney. The VAST MAJORITY at BOTH are perfectly nice and polite. It is simply what one sees. Anecdotal stories are not proof of anything other than something that happened one time.

What makes someone ruder at Universal? Nothing! But, in my experience I have see more swearing, line jumping, rowdy kids/teens, drunkenness, loud complaining, etc. But my point is that it isn't really a truism that guests are ruder at one or the other - it's just one's perception of it.