WDW vs. Universal. My definitive comparison.

[goofy!]

c. Fastpass. Disney's is good, democratic, and works. Universal's had a lot of problems, didn't always work, and was undemocratic.

.
I haven't read the whole thread, so if this was addressed, I apologize.

But I would like to know how the Universal Fast Passes were messing up? You said they had lots of problems and didn't always work. How so? Were the machines not dispensing them correctly? Were the Team Members standing at the Fast Pass line not honoring them?

Thanks in advance!

Yes, I quoted myself.

Still waiting for the OP to explain (with facts) how the Fast Pass system at Universal had lots of problems and didn't always work.

What problems were encountered by the OP with his "Fast Pass?"

 

[patster734]

Yes, I quoted myself.

Still waiting for the OP to explain (with facts) how the Fast Pass system at Universal had lots of problems and didn't always work.

What problems were encountered by the OP with his "Fast Pass?"

I'm of the opinion that you'll never get an answer to this question.

 

[rie'smom]

Trolls post a debate and then sit back and watch the fireworks.

 

[WillCAD]

Ummmm....if you read my response, I was only meaning that his opening line was "thats a terrible review". Is that not degrading someone else's OPINION??????

My point is if he disagreed with the OP's statements, a simple "nice review, but I disagree' would have been a much nicer opening line----NOT 'that's a terrible review'. Then he goes on to basically cut down on the OPINIONS that the OP detailed.

My OPINION is WillCall or whatever his name is was a little harsh with his post......don't be so dramatic that I said no one can disagree with a thread.

And my OPINION is that your bashing of my opinion was more than a little harsh, especially the part where you said,

No one really cares if you rated it a 'terrible review', because no one asked you to.

And as I said in an earlier post, I don't see you taking anyone to task who began their post with "That's a great review!" and telling them that "nobody cares because nobody asked them."

Trolls post a debate and then sit back and watch the fireworks.

I don't think OP is a troll at all, just a person with a very stron opinion about Universal (an opinion that is diametrically opposed to mine).

 

[boxer]

And my OPINION is that your bashing of my opinion was more than a little harsh, especially the part where you said,


And as I said in an earlier post, I don't see you taking anyone to task who began their post with "That's a great review!" and telling them that "nobody cares because nobody asked them."


I don't think OP is a troll at all, just a person with a very stron opinion about Universal (an opinion that is diametrically opposed to mine).

Why are you still on this? I didn't post anything more to you directly, so give it up......I really don't care either way about the Disney vs Universal debate, as it is getting annoying now.

BTW, is that a fanny-pack you're wearing in your slide show of pictures? I'm just wondering....

 

[ChrisFL]

Since the OP is looking for other opinions.

Question: Does Universal and IOA have fully themed enviornments comparable to other Disney parks like DHS and Magic Kingdom?

Answer: Yes, But you have to actually VISIT to see for yourself, pictures do not do (IOA specifically) justice

Question: Does Universal offer restaurants with high caliber food?

Answer: Yes (Mythos, Lombard's Landing, Confisco's, Thunder Falls Terrace just to name a few, and those are only in the parks...the CityWalk restaurants also have very good options)

Question: Does Universal have rides on-par with Disney in quality?

Answer: Yes (see Spiderman, E.T., The Mummy, MIB, Poseidon's Fury)

Question: Does Disney offer rides that are not immersive or themed well at all?

Answer: Yes (See Dino-Rama)

Question: Does Disney have quick access between their parks, resorts and nightlife areas that take less than 10 mins to get to?

Answer: No

Question: Does Disney have easy access to restaurants that you haven't made a reservation for?

Answer: Not from what I've seen

Question: Are Universal's 3 resorts on par with Disney's Deluxe resorts?

Answer: Yes

Question: Can people really enjoy and love both resorts without bashing the other constantly?

Answer: YES, it's possible

Question: Is it reccomended for most people to visit Universal for themselves?

Answer: Yes, depending on your family, if there are kids about 6-up it's definitely reccomended

 

[WillCAD]

Why are you still on this? I didn't post anything more to you directly, so give it up......I really don't care either way about the Disney vs Universal debate, as it is getting annoying now.

BTW, is that a fanny-pack you're wearing in your slide show of pictures? I'm just wondering....

I find it a little annoying that you accused me of being "a little harsh," yet when I defended myself you came back with the above response. Give up talking about me, and I'll give up responding to you.

What I'm wearing in my signature pic is a weird old mini messenger bag that I used to have. It was a messenger-style bag, but was worn around the waist like a fanny pack instead of shoulder slung. I got rid of it some time ago in favor of a bagless setup that allows me to skip the bag check lines (which can be as long as 20 minutes during the early morning periods):

This is off the topic of this thread, but since you asked directly, the following is excerpted from recent post I made in a different thread:

I have no manequin, and I find it difficult to take pictures of myself (I can't afford to keep replacing the broken lenses), so I just put all my crap, er, equipment on my computer chair for these photos.
Front View:
1. Mickey Photographer pin
2. Spare CF card
3. Spare camera battery
4. Remote shutter release
5. Mickey lens cloth
6. Sunglasses on neck cord
7. Mini LED flashlight (one each side)
8. ID/KTTW/FP lanyard
9. Spare CF card
10. Patriot Mickey Head pin
11. Business cards
12. Canon Digital Rebel 300D
13. Sigma 18-125 w/ petal hood
14. 2" web belt
15. SPF 50 (in summer months)
16. Cell phone

Back View:
17. LGMH
18. Brita Fill and Go filtered sports bottle
19. Rolled WalMart poncho (Mickey finally retired after 3 years)
20. Tabletop tripod

No spare lenses, no camera bags (no bags of any kind), no full-size tripod. I travel light in the parks - well, as light as a 275lb guy can travel - and don't even stop for those bag check lines at the entrances.

 

[tlinus]

Disney is Disney.

Universal is Universal.

And you all need to see that the OP specifically asked if his opinion was one that we agree with. Some do. Some do not. When posting reasons why some do not agree, those posters are being attacked viciously by those who do agree.

A big waste of time if you ask me. Defending someone who, kind of, asked for it in the first place.

Whatever.

The reason I am posting on this thread is to defend the "thug" and Jerry Springer comments thrown out there. But I guess we all forget the "thugs" at Disney, huh? Two of the biggest "thug" stories in recent history happened at Disney:

- woman gets beat in front of her family in line at the Tea Cups?
- underage and supposed drunken teens/early twenties that had to be tasered?

Me and my posse will continue to visit Universal and not feel threatened because there aren't gangs, thugs, all black wearing emos or goths, chain wielding, long jean short wearing punks taking the place over - how ridiculous

 

[goofy!]

And I don't think that the thug comment is ridiculous, because the amount of people wearing all black, extraordinarily long jean shorts, chains, and bandannas at Uni compared to WDW is phenomenal.

To further address the Thugs and Jerry Springer comments and to correct some of the untruths in the OP's and other's definitive comparison,

here are some random crowd shots from Universal taken in late November, 2007. I fail to see the overabundance of chains, bandannas and thugs. I do see some black t-shirts, but those are mainly on dads paired with their yuppie dockers. I took these pictures specifically for the Christmas decorations, so if the amount of people wearing all black, extraordinarily long jean shorts, chains and bandanas at Uni is phenominal, wouldn't, just by sheer percentages, some of them show up in random crowd shots?

All I see are nicely dressed families, the same as I see at Disney.

I guess Moises Arias (Rico on Hanna Montana), Beethoven and Jonathan Silverman could be considered thugs. I mean, they are stealing Beethoven for the movie they are filming

More Universal thugs:

 

[muffyn]

Question: Does Disney offer rides that are not immersive or themed well at all?

Answer: Yes (See Dino-Rama)

are you talking about dinoland USA area?

welllllll it "is" themed.. it is supposed to be a parking lot!

really.....
I read that is is supposed to be , well , like IF the dinosaurs set up a traveling carnival & this is what they would do. it is supposed to be tacky.

( I was like "gahhhh" at first , but now I think of the theme, & it helps )

 

[secretpantssam]

Tentaguasu, you are completely right. It's the attention to detail. At Universal, it's a theme park, at WDW, it's a complete experience. Disney puts you in a completely different world, and they focus on making that world as real as possible. The one time I went to Universal, I saw a guy from The Mummy ride walking in the Hollywood area. It seems that is the only way for them to get "backstage" but Walt Disney World was build specifically so that things like this won't happen. Something so simple as seeing a character in the wrong section can ruin the whole fantasy. And I think Disney works extremely hard everyday to make a trip to WDW a complete experience and not just a day in a theme park.

 

[rie'smom]

Tentaguasu, you are completely right. It's the attention to detail. At Universal, it's a theme park, at WDW, it's a complete experience. Disney puts you in a completely different world, and they focus on making that world as real as possible. The one time I went to Universal, I saw a guy from The Mummy ride walking in the Hollywood area. It seems that is the only way for them to get "backstage" but Walt Disney World was build specifically so that things like this won't happen. Something so simple as seeing a character in the wrong section can ruin the whole fantasy. And I think Disney works extremely hard everyday to make a trip to WDW a complete experience and not just a day in a theme park.

Sometimes at they shoot commercials and parts of movies at Universal. They do have "backstage" areas.

I see characters from all the different sections of Disney during the parade in the afternoon. Does this bother you? After all the characters are not in their proper places. Maybe WDW should rethink their parades.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Tentaguasu, you are completely right. It's the attention to detail. At Universal, it's a theme park, at WDW, it's a complete experience. Disney puts you in a completely different world, and they focus on making that world as real as possible. The one time I went to Universal, I saw a guy from The Mummy ride walking in the Hollywood area. It seems that is the only way for them to get "backstage" but Walt Disney World was build specifically so that things like this won't happen. Something so simple as seeing a character in the wrong section can ruin the whole fantasy. And I think Disney works extremely hard everyday to make a trip to WDW a complete experience and not just a day in a theme park.

Strange. I clearly remember seeing CMs from Canada walking to their area from Future World. And last I checked, Epcot was a part of Walt Disney World.

That's right, the "tunnel" only exists at Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom =/= Disney World.

 

[Disneyhappy]

Is my experience the same as the OP's? Not really. I enjoy both parks for different reasons. We always stay on site so the whole experience is how I judge- parks, dining and resorts. Universal is a much better overall value for the money if you are used to staying moderate or deluxe. Fast pass is no competition for universal's express pass. In my opinion, dining has gone down the tubes at WDW and even when we are staying on site at WDW, we will drive to offsite restaurants, often to Universal, to eat. Universal's Mythos retaurant has been named the best theme park restaurant for at least the past 3 years. No WDW dining has that distinction. (Although some of WDW signature restuarants are wonderful but not are over twice the price.) As far as the Jerry Springer comment, we visit both resorts a couple times per year and I can honestly say that I have seen both parks attract the same type of crowds. I have seen obnoxious drunks at Universal only at HHN but I see an obnoxious drunk at practically every evening visit in EPCOT's WS. Does it deter me from enjoying EPCOT or make me hold my nose up in the air? Nope! I just head in the other direction.

I still love WDW and we continue to vists, just not quick as frequently as we used to. There is no competing with WDW theming, no matter how hard Universal tries. Disney still has the magical feeling. I am anxious to see the Harry Potter island for theming.

One other thermometer on the two parks. We used to combine our trips to both US and WDW. DS for years thought it was all one big park. When asked his favorite attractions at WDW by his cousin, his reply was Spiderman, Men In Black, Mummy, TOT, Hulk and RNR. This is just a simple child's perspective.

 

[khertz]

I've never had a bad experience at US/IoA, but there's no denying the Disney magic. That's why we always do US for the first couple days, and save Disney/the best for last. My last trip was my honeymoon where we dd the opposite and did US last, and maybe because we got extra attention around Disney for our Just Married pins was why we really felt the difference between the two. Not that the Universal employees were rude, but I found they seemed to just be there to do their job, didn't go out of their way to greet visitors, etc. However, I don't spend much time comparing the two. We love the magic of Disney, and couldn't visit Orlando without also hitting the great thrill rides of Universal.

 

[secretpantssam]

Geez guys, relax. You really don't have to act like people are personally attacking you if they prefer one park to another.

 

[minniejack]

It is as valid an assessment of his review as all the posters that said it was a great review.

The OP asked if people agreed. WiiCad did not and thought it a terrible review. Just as some agreed and thought it was a great review.

I think it funny that so many people will post how wonderful and perfect Disney is when trashing another theme park.

However, you can then come to the Disney side of the boards and find umpteen threads about:

• All sorts of other disgusting things (there was a great thread about a year ago about the most disgusting things at Disney and last I remember it was over 20 pages long). My favorites were the dirty diapers found in the bushes - happened more than one cared for and the numerous comments about guests letting their kids urinate in line
• The Brazil groups putting their feet in fountains, the football players, the cheerleaders and every other rude youth group
• The rude guests that A) cut in lines B) hit you with their strollers C) dress like tramps d) abuse of ECVs e) cooking in hotel rooms f) abuse of mugs, pools, etc, etc, etc
• The rude CM's

Folks, you can find lots of bad stuff in both parks if you are looking for it.

And FWIW - I also found the "definitive" comparison terrible. I cannot say it was "a good review but I disagree" because I don't think it was a good review at all.

He was not backing any of his statements with facts, only his opinions and calling it the Definitive review. I do appreciate hearing the good and bad of any place I travel, but this review was completely without substance. And filled with so many flat out untruths, even with opinion factored in, that I am not convinced the OP even visited Universal.

And by stating it is the definitive comparison, this is no longer an opinion just by definition of the word "definitive."

Every time I think of Disney I think about the people who tried to run us over with their strollers going into Bug's Life. Happened more than once.

Also not leaving their strollers where they are clearly told to, then just ditching them or trying to push them back through the line.

Nope, no rude people at Disney.

 

[KStarfish82]

I saw an attendant from the Tower of Terror at McDonald's once in full uniform......isn't that a bit out of place...?

 

[BarbieGal457]

On my upcoming trip my friends are all dying to visit both parks on an open day that we have. I, however, am not. Neither is my boyfriend/ex-bf..long story! I visited a few times when I was younger, and was absolutely terrified of the entire park. Too many thrills and spills and jerks and dips! ET scared the living daylights out of me! This year my friends want to visit on the one "open" day we have. I think me and the friend will sit this day out and venture off on our own around the World.

 

[goofy!]

c. Fastpass. Disney's is good, democratic, and works. Universal's had a lot of problems, didn't always work, and was undemocratic.

.
I haven't read the whole thread, so if this was addressed, I apologize.

But I would like to know how the Universal Fast Passes were messing up? You said they had lots of problems and didn't always work. How so? Were the machines not dispensing them correctly? Were the Team Members standing at the Fast Pass line not honoring them?

Thanks in advance!

Yes, I quoted myself.

Still waiting for the OP to explain (with facts) how the Fast Pass system at Universal had lots of problems and didn't always work.

What problems were encountered by the OP with his "Fast Pass?"

Still waiting ............

Op, would you please post specific examples of what problems you experienced with the Fast Pass system and how it did not work for you?

Thanks!