What is Universal Orlando's biggest flaw?

[Dznefreek]

"Alcohol served while you are in line - I know when it's hot and the line is long that many people would love a "cold one" but Hello, there are kids around. I'm not anti-alcohol (I just finished a glass of wine) but I find there is too much alcohol served here, especially USF."

So. . . . . you never go out to dinner with your kids because there might be alcohol around? You never take your kids to a sporting event because there might be alcohol around? You never go to any parties because. . . . That is a strange statement to make.

<a href="http://members.tripod.com/~dznefreek/IOAGuide1.html"><font color=royalblue>Visit the Unoficial Guide to Islands of Adventure!</a>

 

[Nan]

I'm sure you didn't mean to sound as rude as you did replying regarding alcohol at USF. I have to agree with the person who commented about the amount of alcohol.

Of course, we take our children to restaurants and sporting events - although, several times these experiences have been nearly ruined by unruly, drunk, people yelling, cursing, fighting spilling drinks on us, etc. But, I think of theme parks as being wholesome, family experiences which for us, doesn't include alcohol. Responsible people who can handle drinking and know when to stop are not a problem, but it is always the others that we remember. We didn't have any problem with this at USF/IOA on our trip, but since we were discussing our opinions on what flaws might be, I have to agree with the person who mentioned alcohol. The parks are great, it is hard to find a flaw, but this is the one that comes to mind for me, too.

 

[Loric]

Just a reminder.. these are mainly ADULT parks. Not all attractions (most for that matter) are geared towards children. Take a look at the movie offered and then consider their ratings. PG-13 and R ring a bell? It offers children's areas, but i have yet to see beer sold within them. So this is an invalid complaint. Jeeze.. if this and parking is the worst complaint of the day then you all should be praising the park makers.

-Rob (Who's in a bad mood because he keeps hearing dumb complaints..)

 

[JessicaR]

I stayed away from this for a while and now feel compelled to post! I just wanted to say that regardless of the topic if there is a venue to complain people will! Personally I had not one complaint with either park. I loved all that comprised the entire experience. You get out of what you put into...I went with great excitement to enjoy my trip and see and do all that I could and felt that walking from park to park through citywalk was all part of the experience. I would not have changed a thing. Yes, this is just my opinion and we all have one.

 

[gina2000]

Personally I think Universal's biggest flaw is that it's located so close to Disney. It's truly a magnificent park that's totally underappreciated in its current location. And that's sad...it deserves alot more positive recognition than it gets. It's not Disney, but hey, it ain't spam either.

 

[Bob O]

I just returned recently and had a great time at both parks. I thought the x-mas decorations/christmas feel at the parks was awful compared to wdw, and like larkeup posted the only way to get a decent picture with the grinch was to pay, which i felt was even worse than wdw because at least it easy to get a picture with mickey. I found the food more expensive than wdw and generally not as good. I think IOA needs more attractions/shows and both parks were deserted at night because their is no reason to stay, no parades/fireworks or special activities. Again i loved both parks but feels these areas need to be improved upon if they have any chance to compete with wdw. They have great rides/shows like spiderman/t23d but need to do the little things alot better.

 

[Mr. Toad]

For me and my faimly it has to be the long walk to the enterance. The reason why IMO this is it biggest flaw is that we own a high top van with the TV on the top. We are lucky to fit it under most fast food places . Since the only place we can park is way in the back near the RVs. So the walk from our car to just the entrance is a very long walk and then we have to walk around the park all day but my kids dont seem to mind that.. . Other than the walk for us thats the only flaw I have about Universal.

If we can dream it, we can really do it!

 

[iamleia2]

Lets see... first of all, I really enjoyed the rides and stuff, especially at IOA so in that respect I have no complaints. But yes, it is a very looonnnggg walk. And our car wasn't in the shade because we had to park on the roof so it was still hot anyway. Not worth the walk. Secondly, see my post entitled "Warning" for my opinion on US unwholesome shows. Thirdly, we had a character lunch at IOA and the servers were completely impatient and crabby and I didn't appreciate it at all. And US is definitely showing some wear and tear there. We also had to wait in line for forever to get on the Spiderman ride. It would break down. Then they'd fix it. Then it'd break down again. Then they'd fix it. What would have been maybe a 45 min. wait turned into an hour and half. Not fun. But other than that... hey, they were great. I really liked the coasters. Specially the Hulk. And Dueling Dragons. I think you need to combine Disney magic and service with IOA rides and you'd have something incredible!

"The magic is as wide
as a smile and as
narrow as a wink, loud
as laughter and quiet
as a tear, tall as a tale
and deep as emotion.
So strong, it can lift the
spirit. So gentle, it can
touch the heart. It is the
magic that begins the
happily ever after."
THAT is Disney! ;-)

 

[TammyB]

I really hated the long walk from the parking to the parks. But I have to also say that I found the rides at IOA limited. I rode Hulk, Spiderman, and Dueling Dragons but I still found IOA lacking in rides. I really found USF more enjoyable. I haven't had time to organize my thoughts (just return last night after a long ride home, the last 5 in snow and ice) and plan to give my opinions later, but the only ride I really didn't like was Twister. Sorry (to those Twister fans), I have had better winds in my backyard (May'99 and March'00) and my doghouse flew better than the cow. Maybe it was just because of where I live (Oklahoma, 12-0 Big 12 Champs and Orange Bowl Bound). I really enjoyed USF.
TammyB

 

[Jennifer Wooster]

I have to say that I wished they were open longer. I went over Thanksgiving and Magic Kingdom was open until 11pm or so during the peak times, but Universal closed at 7pm. It would have been nice to stay later. Gotta say that I like how they stagger closing times so the parking isn't too crazy. US was closed at one time and IOA was an hour different. I agree that if these parks weren't close to Dinsey they would get more recognition, but I have to admit I liek them close by. It makes both companies compete and improve. Another plus is that I can go for a whole week of parks and not feel even slightly bored, too many options!

Jenn

 

[taff]

Biggest flaw? Don't know.
Long walk? Nope, our family was so thrilled to leave WDW after four days one summer we skipped through the parking lot at USF.

Alcohol a problem? Please, those that have a problem with "knowing when to stop" will have that same "knowing when to stop" problem at all PRO ball parks, ski slopes, beaches and vacation resorts and I take my "wholesome family" to all.

Closing early? that might be an issue, we will be staying at HRH in March, and I didn't realize the parks would close before 9.(went previously, in Aug.)
As of yet no flaw that would make our family go back to WDW, other that to use up some days on our pass.
USF here we come!

 

[Shelly S]

I feel the biggest flaw is at IOA. Why do they feel that is necessary to completely soak everyone on the water rides. I don't mind getting a little wet, but who wants to walk around afterwords being totally soaked. I also don't believe that you should have to wear a poncho on a water ride. A ride like Splash Mtn to me is the perfect amount of wetness. After all, IOA is a theme park, not a water park. Other than that, I love both parks and hope they expand more.

[This message was edited by Shelly S on 12-31-00 at 04:02 PM.]

 

[JoannaOhio]

I visited IOA for the first time on Dec. 22nd (I think - the days kind of melted together). Anyway, I was disappointed by all the rides and attractions that involved getting wet - especially on that nippy day. I would have loved riding Red Fish, Blue Fish with my granddaughter, but couldn't deal with wet clothes in those temperatures.

Having spent four days at WDW before going to IOA, I could easily make some comparisons about lack of clear signage for entrances -- shortage of pre-show entertainment while waiting in long lines (Disney barely gives you a chance to get bored, even if you wait for quite awhile).

However, my biggest complaint was the rental wheelchairs. I do not need a wheelchair at home, but cannot handle all the walking in the parks. I first got a chair at the station in the US parking garage. The seat and back were some sort of vinyl mesh - and very saggy. The depth of the seat was much shorter than the ones I had rented at WDW. By the time we made it from the parking garage to the park, I knew I couldn't handle sitting in that chair all day.

We stopped at guest services and managed to exchange it for one with a solid vinyl (leather-look) seat and back - which was only minimally better. The seat was still too shallow, and all their chairs are obviously pretty old, with no tread on the tires.

One thing I hadn't considered until we visited SeaWorld on Christmas Day -- (where the rental wheelchairs are the *greatest*!, including large mesh "pockets" on the back) -- was the hardship my daughter had endured while pushing me around IOA. The minute she started pushing me at SeaWorld, she remarked about how much more comfortable their chairs were to push. She said the ones at IOA had shorter and lower handles, and had put a strain on her back to adjust to them.

My other gripe is about Universal's wheelchair rental policy. First of all they charge an extra dollar ($7 instead of $6 at WDW & SeaWorld) - AND - they required a credit or debit card, which they ran through their imprinter, with a charge of $50! deposit - in case the chair wasn't returned to that exact rental desk before leaving the park. Fortunately, I had a debit card with me, but couldn't help but worry that the $50 charge might "accidentally" go through, which would have overdrawn my checking account.

I was relieved when they gave me the imprinted slip when I returned the chair, but it felt like a big insult all the way around. WDW charges $7 when you rent the chair, and hands out a Disney Dollar when you return it. SeaWorld doesn't require any deposit at all, and their chairs were the roomiest, most comfortable of all three parks -- and the mesh pocket on the back was really handy.

Sorry this is so long....

 

[Beejayjay]

I think USF will always be in WDW's shadow and undeservedly. In my opinion it is the better park, but Disney has all the history and publicity behind it !

As for the complaints about the walk from the car parks to the actual parks, come on guys ! They can't really be expected to do much better than they have - dont forget when Disney build a new park, they do it on almost totally undeveloped ground - USF is in the middle of a city !

JoannaOhio, I think you are right about the wheelchair issue, the big parks should have this sorted by now. As for the waterbased rides you couldn't do because it was too cold - are we gonna blame the parks for the weather now ?

Even the almighty Disney cannot change the weather - yet ! Florida is usually lovely and hot, so I think you have to just accept that you were a little unlucky on that one !

If USF has one fault, I'd say that, along with the rest of Orlando, it is too far from London, so I cant go as often as I'd like !

And yes, that was a joke !

BJJ.

WDW/USF Veteran and Florida Lover - Gonna Live There one Day !
Coming for my Annual Dose of Magic on Jan 5th !!

<IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif" alt="razz">

[This message was edited by Beejayjay on 12-31-00 at 10:13 PM.]

 

[Molokai Gram]

Aloha,

I kept from posting because I know I am in the minority here, but the most valid complaint is that they made IOA in Orlando and that is toooooo far away from me. (Come on Rob, this is my opinion and you have to admit, from my point of view it is valid! )

With jet lag, long flights (not to mention air fare), it has to be really worth it for me to return and I AM!

BJJ, I am sorry, it should be moved farther west for me. Not that I am selfish. Just think if they had developed it here in Hawaii, it would be warm all year long.

Universal Hollywood is okay but Universal Studios in Orlando is so much better and IOA!!!

Only other changes I would make would be to have it open later and to again have a nighttime show on the lagoon in US. But I am actually pretty happy with it right now.

Aloha.

 

[Beejayjay]

No fair dude !! Hawaii is even farther from the UK man !! Self self self !!

I think we should apply pressure on Universal so that the next park is built somewhere it is a little closer for both of us.... how about New York ?? That seems fair to me !

Or better yet how about in our Millennium Dome ?? If ever there was a place that needed a touch of the Universal/Disney magic, that is it ! A $ 1.5 Billion tent ! What a waste !

That way I can drive to my dose of Magic ! Shame about our weather - I think you'd pass away Molokai !

BJJ.

Only 3 Days to Orlando..... Like a 10 year old now !! <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif" alt="red face">

<IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif" alt="razz">

 

[DEE DEE]

I surely wish that Universal was in my backyard for living on the Gulf Coast it is still a full days drive away.All we get where I live are
Casinos which I cannot stand looking at much less
having them around me all the time.Why could not a wonderful theme park like Universal and IOA be near me instead of in Florida?

 

[jtopicz1]

Universal's distance from me is great. I've got a two hour drive from Clearwater which means it's far enough from home to feel like a getaway, but not far enough to keep me from taking a quick 1 afternoon trip. Perfect distance for a long weekend vacation!

Jim

 

[Ecto]

I love the walk to USF! It really sets the mood for entering the parks, with the music and the view. Biggest problems are lack of new rides/age/related wear at USF (not to mention them getting rid of Ghostbusters for that insufferably lame Twister attraction). Also they downsized most of their street performers earlier last year to save a buck, definately downgrades the "experience" aspect of the park. IOA needs more immersion/thmed rides instead of coasters. I live in Maryland and I'm within driving distance of 6 Flags, Busch Gardens and Paramount's Kings Dominion which all feature mostly coasters.
BRING BACK GHOSTBUSTERS!

 

[Chloesmom]

Worst thing about Universal is that you can tell it is not Disney..and in a bad way. Last time we went we were yelled at by a woman while we were parking. She was screaming something about handicapped parking...but we had upgraded parking and our section was right next to it ( there were signs). She yelled at us and several other cars. We complained and they said the woman was new. Great way to start a day.
Also, I found IOA....dirty. Best was to describe it. I have never seen Disney just plain dirty looking. One bathroom we used was littered with what had to have been 100 paper towels from the overflowing cans. There was no TP in 4 of the stalls ( the ones that were open )
The food service was not that great either but I must admit I do not generally care for the counter service places in WDW either
Don't get me wrong. I loved IOA but wished it had friendlier employees and a bigger janitor crew. We are going back this year ( can't get enough of Spiderman!) and hope it is cleaner.