This is in response to people saying "Why compare?" Looking at the "competition" from a marketing standpoint, it's apparent that Universal Studios' aggressive tactic was geared towards people who are more into the thrill-ride aspect of the parks as opposed to the "magic" of the surrounding areas. By focusing on the type of parkgoer who wants thrills and action first and foremost-you know, those hip trendy Gen X/Yers that the world revolves around?-Universal is using comparision as a way to claim that they're edgier than WDW. Plus, while you can't exactly call Universal a "little guy," there is a type of personality that responds to taking a shot at the biggest fish in the pond. It makes certain people want to check it out and see if their boasting is justified. Maybe it's NOT justified, but it's all about getting crowds there. Universal's got to crow to be heard above the din of rental cars heading down the road to WDW. The "sticking it to the man" style of ad often plays well to teens and early-20s, and Universal (rightly) is trying to change their mindset NOW before they get older. If they can convince that generation that Universal is cooler than WDW, that will help keep them ahead of the rest of the non-Disney pack for quote a while.
And that's the other thing-if Universal tried to compare themselves to all the other non-Disney attractions and parks, lots of people are just going to tune out, because all they care about is going to Disney. After all, Disney is so expensive for the average family (albiet with perks and lots of add-ons), there's often no time or money to go anywhere else. If Universal tried to compare their parks to Busch Garden or Sea World, who cares? By swiping at the big guy, they get people's attention (as the number of responses to this thread can attest).
Do I think the comparision chart is misleading? Sure. Most comparision charts are. Do I think a lot of people will be fooled by it? I'm sure a few will. Not everybody wants to do homework when it comes to a vacation, and some people will stumble upon the website and be convinced. They're the same type of people who will be convinced by a travel agent hyping the virtues of USF over WDW without asking "Hey, wait a minute...is your commission bigger on a USF vacation?"
But what it all bois down to is this: USF will probably ALWAYS be number two to WDW, but they can't ever be complacent about it either. Even when they're not pumping much into new rides or attractions, they have to pump money into the illusion that theyre gunning for Disney. Disneyphiles, don't take it personally. It's actually a compliment. You can't make the claim that youre "better then the best"...unless you AREN'T the best.
