Why You Should Love Universal Studio's Orlando (The Love Thy Enemy Edition)

[agame2323]

I believe as with any business or any business individual that provides a service, if you are the best at what you do, you can demand whatever cost you desire. As a Sports Agent I see this all the time. Disney's position in the market place is as a leader. Leaders can make unreasonable demands and 9 times out 10, those demands are going to be met.

This is why I encourage the surrounding parks, mainly Universal Studios to continue their advancement. All you people who dislike US but hate the fact Disney increased tickets better learn to love US. LOL...did you get that? Our only savoir in the this entire situation is Universal Studios.

Anytime I heard about US doing something new I smile. Honestly, I would love for them to have a better year than Disney in 2009. Give Disney a scare and see what happens. Don't deliver a knock out blow to the world, but perhaps a nice upper cut that rings Disney's financial bell. I think anyone who comes to vacation in WDW should check out US.

If you want to level the playing field spend some time and money over at US. I love Disney, but sometimes we give them too much credit. Do I like the increase in ticket prices? No. Do I agree with the decision to increase them? Yes? Disney is the best in the business and therefore they should be paid like it. However, the other players can have a big impact on how the game moves forward, IF we allow them the opportunity.

 

[bytheblood]

Universal's pricing is right in line with Disney's each year. The biggest difference is the onsite resorts.

 

[agame2323]

Their prices should be in alignment with Disney's. That's their competitor. McDonalds fries cost the same as Wendy's, correct? Its deeper than tickets. My statement is about the overall experience with Disney. How to better it.

 

[boxer]

before I answer your post I need to know 'who' you're a sports agent for, and if you had anthing to do with Alan Faneca leaving the Steelers, I won't answer your thread.

 

[mstew99]

US is a nice alternative while down in Orlando. Both US parks are more adult oriented than WDW parks, and make a good place to spend a few days.. especially if you're traveling without children. I don't think they live up to the magical experience that WDW gives, but they have my favorite thrill rides. The Mummy roller coaster, the 3D spiderman ride, the dragons coaster, the hulk coaster.. all very intense coasters, and they market exactly to my taste in rides. I can't imagine taking a trip down and not spending time at WDW, but I enjoy spending a day or two riding my favorites at US and IOA! I hope one year soon I can get down to check out their halloween event, it looks like it would be pretty creepy!

But I agree with the OP, the competition is a great thing. One park puts up new attractions to pull in new customers and ensure the return of previous guests, and the other park has to follow suit! We may not have as many new rides at WDW if it wasn't for US competition.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Universal's pricing is right in line with Disney's each year. The biggest difference is the onsite resorts.

Uni raises ticket prices, but they're nowhere near as expensive as Disney. You can go to both parks for a week for about $90.

And their hotels are every bit as good - and better - than Disney's. The service in the hotels, IME, has always been better than Disney's. But they're just as expensive, if not more.

Transportation from the hotels to the parks is not only faster than Disney's (or driving), it is also much, MUCH prettier.

And if you stay in Uni's hotels, you get the FOTL thing. That's the best. That's why I switch hotels or just stay at Uni the whole time.

I already love both Disney and Uni.

 

[agame2323]

before I answer your post I need to know 'who' you're a sports agent for, and if you had anthing to do with Alan Faneca leaving the Steelers, I won't answer your thread.

LOL...I know Alan but he is not one of my clients. I do represent a couple rookies on the Steelers. Roy Lewis and Patrick Bailey. Two guys looking to make the team.

 

[Mickey28]

Our only savoir in the this entire situation is Universal Studios.

Save you from what? Higher prices? US tix are not that much cheaper for a one day pass. $71 for a one day ticket at US. Stop going to WDW if you don't like it. That's the only thing that will bring prices back down.

Anytime I heard about US doing something new I smile. Honestly, I would love for them to have a better year than Disney in 2009. Give Disney a scare and see what happens. Don't deliver a knock out blow to the world, but perhaps a nice upper cut that rings Disney's financial bell. I think anyone who comes to vacation in WDW should check out US.

That will never happen! US barely cracks the top ten for park attendance in the U.S.

 

[Cool-Beans]

US is a nice alternative while down in Orlando. Both US parks are more adult oriented than WDW parks, and make a good place to spend a few days.. especially if you're traveling without children. I don't think they live up to the magical experience that WDW gives, but they have my favorite thrill rides. The Mummy roller coaster, the 3D spiderman ride, the dragons coaster, the hulk coaster.. all very intense coasters, and they market exactly to my taste in rides.

SpiderMan is not a coaster. And the Mummy is no more intense than Dinosaur, though it is much smoother! More fun, too.

But Dueling Dragons and The Hulk are real rollercoasters. They have two really decent thrill rides. Disney has RnRc and EE, and you could argue that they are thrill rides, but they aren't really thrilling. They're pretty tame when compared to Dueling Dragons and The Hulk.

But, like Disney, there are many rides that aren't thrill ride kind of rides.

Lots for kids and even little kids.

Some pretty amazing stuff, too.

But some folks just won't go there because it isn't owned by Disney and they only want to go to parks that are owned by Disney. I respect their decision even if I don't understand it. To me, it sounds like saying, "No! I won't eat Frosted Flakes! I only like General Mills cereals!" But if someone wants to avoid Frosted Flakes, then they do.

 

[Tbella]

I'm bringing my kids 5 and 7 to US for the first time this year. We are going to Disney for 6 days and US for 2. They may be a bit young for some of the thrill rides but there still seems like we will have plenty to do. I haven't been back for 15 years and have never been to IOA. Looking forward to it. I agree about the competition. It is necessary or Disney will keep raising those prices substantially every year.

 

[mstew99]

SpiderMan is not a coaster. And the Mummy is no more intense than Dinosaur, though it is much smoother! More fun, too.

But Dueling Dragons and The Hulk are real rollercoasters. They have two really decent thrill rides. Disney has RnRc and EE, and you could argue that they are thrill rides, but they aren't really thrilling. They're pretty tame when compared to Dueling Dragons and The Hulk.

My mistake, I didn't mean to group that in as a coaster. I'm looking forward to the new Toy Story attraction, because i've heard it utilizes the 3-D visuals much like Spiderman. I live somewhat near Cedar Point in Ohio, and visit there every year too. Now that is a park to fulfill ANY thrill ride junkies wildest dreams!

But some folks just won't go there because it isn't owned by Disney and they only want to go to parks that are owned by Disney.

It's strange, but to each their own. I personally love theme parks in general, and get enjoyment out of visiting as many as I can. Each one is unique in it's own way, and very rarely do I ever leave one being completely dissapointed (Six Flags Magic Mountain in CA did that because we went in a dead season, so there was little staff on hand, and they only had one set of cars running on each coaster. A short line was easily an hour wait when you had to wait each time for the cars to circuit the whole track! Not to mention FIVE of their coasters were broken down while we were there. When a third of your main rides are down, that is quite a let down for the guest.)

 

[Miniefan]

Universal's pricing is right in line with Disney's each year. The biggest difference is the onsite resorts.

Although their one day ticket prices are about the same I have never seen Disney advertise or sell seven days for the price of one! Universal's 7 day consecutive pass for $89 is what got us to try US for the first time this year. In my opionion a great marketing idea for them because we will definitely be back.

Kim

 

[ransom]

Sure, I'm thankful for US. And Sea World. And Busch Gardens. And "Wet 'n' Wild." They're all direct competitors, and have "inspired" Disney to make WDW what it is today.

And I expect to make it to all of them some day, but only after I feel like spending my two weeks per year at WDW is too much time there.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to our Theme Parks Community board.

 

[mickeymousemom]

I'm extremely thankful for those other parks...it assures there are less guests at WDW while I am there!

In all seriousness, we have done US twice. By the second visit, we were BORED. Been there done that. Some of the rides are great and the visuals at IoA are amazing in many areas. My oldest DD loved it because of the coasters...BUT. The funny thing was that the day we went to Epcot during our last trip to US, oldest DD looks at me(after bashing WDW earlier for not having "thrill rides") and says..."Wow. It IS different here. You can actually feel the magic." And this, people, is why I LOVE WDW so much.
Sure, that one week price for TWO parks is great. Two parks, not FOUR. I have no doubt that one day we'll return to US. But. I will never LOVE it there. I'll have fun, I have no doubt. But right now I am ADDICTED to the magic, as are my Dh and two youngest DD's. US(as well as any other theme park) can't offer the magic that Disney can. That magic, I fully believe, was born with Walt and it will never die. It just IS.

So, love US if you must. Its ok. As for me, I'll stick with what is HOME....WDW.

 

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

Diversity is always magical!

 

[ransom]

In all seriousness, we have done US twice. By the second visit, we were BORED. Been there done that. Some of the rides are great and the visuals at IoA are amazing in many areas. My oldest DD loved it because of the coasters...BUT. The funny thing was that the day we went to Epcot during our last trip to US, oldest DD looks at me(after bashing WDW earlier for not having "thrill rides") and says..."Wow. It IS different here. You can actually feel the magic." And this, people, is why I LOVE WDW so much.

Great post!

Truly, there are other parks, and then there's Disney. Sorry, I can't quantify it. I can't point to what makes Disney different. But I know this: thrill rides are a dime a dozen. Just about everyone has a local park that has lots of thrill rides. My local Six Flags has some really great ones, including ones that were groundbreaking when they were first installed. And we go there every weekend for the six months per year they're open, and we ride those thrill rides and just love it!

So I have nothing against thrill rides. But I wouldn't pay the thousands of dollars it costs us to go from our home to Florida and stay for a week just to ride thrill rides. No matter how thrilling they are, if it's *just* the fact that they're thrill rides, it's not worth it for me.

Now, I do expect to enjoy the innovative rides like Spiderman at US and IOA some day, but I honestly have no particular desire to go on the Hulk, Fire & Ice (or even the Kraken at Sea World or any number of reportedly great thrill rides at Busch Gardens). Again, I can do that at home. They're just variations on a very narrowly defined and ultimately unsatisfying theme.

What I am willing to pay thousands for is the Disney magic. That feeling of being in the World. The carefully thought out package, from scenery to background music to CMs to ... well, everything!

So some day, when we're at WDW and we're feeling like we need to do something new, we'll head over to US and/or IOA for a day or two. But they'll never be a destination for us, and Disney will always have that undefinable quality that we call "Disney Magic."