i do both parks on each yearly visit.
i start with the motherland and then switch to the darkside.
stay on site at both places.
i enjoy both of them for different reasons or i wouldn't be doing my vacations this way since 1992.
i did get bored at disney on my recent trip. this year i skipped many of the rides as the thrill was gone for them.
maybe someday the script for the jungle cruise will change. transportation by their bus system is not the best way to get around at that park, very time consuming.
Planning is necessary in advance for dining options, shows, etc.
there are certain shows and park rides that i do enjoy at disney and i hit them all. when they have a good ride, i do repeats on them. there are rides and shows that keep my interest and i look forward to each year.
the food and wine event lures me to epcot each time when i go in the fall.
at universal, my thoughts are the same as yours.
the parks there are set up where you don't have to waste time walking to get to one great ride to another. both parks are close enough together to avoid the need of busses to get to them. city walk is a plus as it is so close to the theme parks.
i find more variety of meals at universal than disney.
my last trip there, i never had a hamburger in the parks.
the themes for each section in the islands at ioa are unique. all originals and no way could be compared to other parks. you can go from one section, have a change of colors, scenery and music and go to the next area for a complete change. most of the time, guests don't notice that. music is different in each section.
the hard ticket events are the greatest imo at universal. HHN draws me there each fall. it changes theme each year. it entertains me to the fullest each year.
mnsshp at disney is always the same. no changes, even their parades are predictable from the years past.
i find more changing around at universal. of course my heart broke when ghostbusters and king kong left, but their replacements i have grown to adore. universal does update and add on/or replace some of the movie themed rides they have.
i'm not a parry hotter fan at all..........can't stand the books or movies of it but, am looking forward to new rides/attractions that will come to universal for that new island area. whatever universal does, they do it up right. they have a marvelous creative team that brings mummy dust to the guests.
just think of all the disney fans that will be coming to see parry hotter when it opens.......i'm sure they will write about how impressed they were with it but you know the "but.............." will be included in their trippies.
i don't compare the parks to where i won't do just one of them.
i prefer universal hands down but i stay open to spend time at disney. i've had ap's for both parks at different times.
i doubt that very many disney fans know that many TM's also work as a CM.
when the talk starts up about employees at different parks, i try to post to let them know they are off base on that.
my experience is the TM's and UO's guest services do more for guests than the other park. they are more flexible in working with you in order to have a trip that will be remembered and keep coming back in the future.
disney will lure you in with the advertising and the speil on the phone with you but it sometimes falls short once you are there.
i feel if you are at a park and there is an issue, talk to the people in charge there. don't come to a message board and complain and rant. do something about it when it happens.
when we read negative comments about a trip to universal, it could have been corrected during that stay.
some people have a blind loyalty to specific parks and just want to influence others to have the same opinion.
you know that old saying "there is strength in numbers" ?
the only thing it does is scare future guests away from a new park to try.
except when harry potter comes to town.