Average Guests Reaction?

[menamechris]

The Mona Lisa is a very well-done painting, but in the end it's just some dead lady smiling. While the Leaning Tower of Pisa is interesting, it is still leaning and it's a more passive experience to have while on a vacation. I can't help but think the average family will be expecting a little more from the Empire State Building if they ever go to New York. It's tall and all, but it could be taller.

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You are comparing history, art, architecture, and world travel to a Disney theme park. Really?! Think through these things.

 

[Patricia Melton]

You are comparing history, art, architecture, and world travel to a Disney theme park. Really?! Think through these things.

I enjoy history, art, architecture, world travel, and DIsney theme parks. All of them have good things I like that are unique to them. And I just can't wait to go see the new Fantasyland in person. We normally go in June every year but I might have to sneak down for a little mini-trip sooner just to check it out.

Since you don't like it all that much, I know it must be FABULOUS!

I'm more excited than ever to go now!

 

[menamechris]

I enjoy history, art, architecture, world travel, and DIsney theme parks. All of them have good things I like that are unique to them. And I just can't wait to go see the new Fantasyland in person. We normally go in June every year but I might have to sneak down for a little mini-trip sooner just to check it out.

Since you don't like it all that much, I know it must be FABULOUS!

I'm more excited than ever to go now!

You should be excited. I don't understand where your abrasiveness manifests....

 

[BryceM]

I think Universal is junky. My new friend from church thinks it is junky too.

I never feel like I am in a different or magical world at Universal. I feel like I am in a cheap amusement park with bad paint jobs and a staff pulled from the people who applied to Disney but were rejected for some reason.

It just reminds me of Miracle on 34th Street and Disney is Macy's...but Universal is Gimball's. You can shop at Gimball's but I prefer to shop where the magic is, where Santa lives...and in the theme park world, that's the House that Walt built.

To each their own.

Please visit a Six Flags park if you think Universal is that junky.

I'd love to see your reaction.

 

[GoofGoof]

After touring the area twice now - I think the average guest will be very impressed with the theming of New Fantasyland. But I think they will be searching for a little more substance. It really is just one pretty ordinary ride (with a fantastic queue) - a recycled Belle show in a more elaborate setting, fantastic looking restaurant, and gift shop. Storybook Circus looks great, but doesn't add much more than eye candy to already existing attractions.

Again, there is no denying that some amazing talent and creative minds were put to work on this (as well as money...and we know how hard it is for Disney to part with that these days), but average guests pay attention to details and theme less than fans. It's more of a passive experience for them, and I can't help but think the average family will be expecting a little bit more from an attractions/experiences point of view.

I havent been there since it all officially opened (minus mine train) and I agree with you from the average fan on this site's perspective that it may come up short on new attractions. However, to the average guest it will most likely appear to have more stuff. Everyone mostly knew about dumbo but the ride is doubled and the queue is brand new. Goofini is just a repurposed ride, but how many casual guests will know that. Most will assume its new. Same with Belle and the circus tents/meet and greets. The casual fan probably has no idea LM exists in DCA (many probably don't even know DCA exists). Mine train will probably be a big hit too so you have to really wait until 2014 to fully judge it. On the flip side, I don't think you will find too many of the average guests saying they think the new FL area is better than or even on par with Potter, but I also don't think it was intended to be the "Potter Swatter" we all talk about.

 

[luv]

I think Universal is junky. My new friend from church thinks it is junky too.

I never feel like I am in a different or magical world at Universal. I feel like I am in a cheap amusement park with bad paint jobs and a staff pulled from the people who applied to Disney but were rejected for some reason.

It just reminds me of Miracle on 34th Street and Disney is Macy's...but Universal is Gimball's. You can shop at Gimball's but I prefer to shop where the magic is, where Santa lives...and in the theme park world, that's the House that Walt built.

To each their own.

That's because the staff at Uni are all Nazis, the park has no theming and it is filthy. No rides, either...except thrill rides.

They also kill babies.

I think it's kind of sad that the Harry Potter stuff wasn't more immersive somehow. I don't feel like I'm really stepping into that world...but I feel like I am just in the Harry Potter Department at a very expensive FAO Schwartz or something. I also wish the roller coaster was concealed better and themed instead of just having the theme around it. Wish they had built something from scratch and not just repainted an old ride and slapped Harry Potter on it for the dragons.

Also wish that sight lines were respected more by Universal and that when you were in one land the other ones didn't bleed in as much. I hope they get rid of the whole Lost Continent area in time. Make that all Harry Potter...add the Shrieking Shack and have it be a haunted house or something.

Again, there are no themes at Uni, only thrill rides, filthy dirty, staff of nazis...and baby murdering. I have heard all of this. I love it there, anyway.

For someone who hates Uni so much, you certainly visit often...or you did.

Do you still go to Uni on your trips or no?

 

[EvilQueen-T]

I haven't been to dl so when we rode the little mermaid on 10/28 I hadn't known what to expect but i had mixed feelings about the ride. I guess I'd expected the actual characters to be a little different...maybe more animated. They don't seem much different than those in iasw or poc. I did like how you felt immersed into the story and it did give the feeling of going under the water. I also like that it didn't feel rushed or super short so that's great when you have little kids who wait in some of the longest lines but traditionally have had the shortest ride times. Maybe part of the problem was when we rode it was pretty bright inside so you could see the floor all through the ride and things like that (yes, i know it's just a dress rehearsal so things will be tweaked). We're going for one of the passholder previews this weekend so i'm excited to give it another try. I have to wonder how long having gaston just wander and talk will last...great idea but the execution may prove to problematic. it's very much like when i was a kid and people would have to bum rush the characters (pushing and shoving of course) to get near characters before they invented character meeting spots with organized lines. there weren't many people around when we were there and it still happened...that's one childhood memory i'd rather have skipped...he was fun though. I will say I did like the enchanted tales with belle and I thought the inside of bog was stunning. We were at mk for mnsshp and it was less than an hour before closing before we realized the section was quietly open that night...on the plus side we just walked onto both the mermaid ride and into enchanted tales with belle as most everyone else had either already been there or were like us and to busy with the party to realize they were letting people in. The area is certainly gorgeous and my now 23 y/o beauty and the beast fanatic daughter couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear...something her cynical old self doesn't do that often so it was extra fun for me seeing that.

 

[bubbles1812]

Her family also went to Islands of Adventure to see Harry Potter and she said that while the Potter stuff was great she though the rest of Universal was junky. I've always thought this too. She also said that the rides for Potter look like they were there before and then people just built Harry Potter stuff around them which is really funny because that is really what happened.

She said that Harry Potter is a once in a lifetime trip for her but that next time they go to Orlando in a few years they are just going to do Disney and they want to ride the Snow White ride when it is built. I didn't tell her that there would be a Potter expansion because I didn't want to give Universal any business!

That's just about the most ridiculous thing I've read from you. Some friend you are, not telling her about something she would actually enjoy... and you admit to knowing she would enjoy. That's super cool of you. I hope I get friends like you soon.

Ah, another post by a disney nut, who has a non-disney-nut friend, who thinks the same way about Disney as they do. This proves everyone else who likes other things, wrong.

This! ... It's amazing how that works ain't it? And we should all now follow the lead of the "friend" and hate on everything Universal. No agendas here, nope, not at all.