Awaiting PotterSwatter...

[Prock3]

Disney has no problem killing popular classic attractions for their latest cash cow IPs. (Mr. Toads at WDW and Country Bears in DLR were both replaced with Pooh, Snow White's Scary Adventure for Princess M&G). Or even killing a major E-Ticket with no replacement for over a decade as they did with 20K Leagues. Btw, 20K leagues suffered the same fate as Kongfrontation and Jaws in that it just became to expensive to continue operating. But when Universal killed Jaws they didn't let the Jaws lagoon collect popcorn boxes and paper cups for over a decade. Toad and 20K were my absolute favorite attractions from my early years going to WDW and would have loved sharing them with my kids.

My take is that Disney Execs would rather have ridiculous Exec compensation packages (Iger made over $40 Million last year) and give out huge bonuses than keep their parks fresh. With this MO of personal greed they have little choice but to market it as "nostalgia".

Winnie the pooh was created in 1924, its hardly a new franchise. And yes they took out snow whites scary adventure but they're building a new snow white ride 200ft away from it.

Universal went to work on jaws right away because they had a plan for it. Yes part of the reason for axing both those attractions were because of maintenance costs but do you think the fact that they both offered great space to build on a newer popular IP didn't make up a big percent of their decision not to do a major refurb to update the attractions?

 

[Prock3]

It's just silly to think you can't love both. I do, so I know it's possible.

Uni has taken the lead on how the parks look (sharp, clean, pretty), having better rides and better hotels. The employees are still slightly less good, on average, than Disney's...but Uni is working on that. Uni employees keep getting better and Disney's keep getting worse.

Disney has to be convinced that people will keep going there no matter how much they let things slide. They have great parks and a great history of keeping them clean and giving good service. But they are letting it all slip away.

Uni works tirelessly to improve.

It's only a matter of time now.

A matter of time until what?

The only reason Uni is catching Disney on the CM front is because 75% of Uni's employees are people that got terminated from Disney. Uni doesn't have near the standards for their CMs that disney does.

 

[BryceM]

A matter of time until what?

The only reason Uni is catching Disney on the CM front is because 75% of Uni's employees are people that got terminated from Disney. Uni doesn't have near the standards for their CMs that disney does.

Is this a proven fact?

 

[Prock3]

Is this a proven fact?

From experiences with friends yes, A lot of people work at both places at the same time as well. It may not be 75% but a large number of Uni employees either couldn't get hired by Disney or at one point were terminated by them.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I have a friend who is now a CM at DL, but she used to be a Team Member at USH. She told me as soon as she gets the chance, she's quitting Disney and she's going to ask for her job at Universal back. Just saying.

 

[nygirl1002]

Why does one have to be better than the other? If both are good it's a win/win for us consumers. I know when I go down to Orlando I may stay on WDW property but I make sure I spend at least one day at Uni. I feel blessed that I can enjoy both places.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Why does one have to be better than the other? If both are good it's a win/win for us consumers. I know when I go down to Orlando I may stay on WDW property but I make sure I spend at least one day at Uni. I feel blessed that I can enjoy both places.

Unlike people like you, myself, Bryce, etc., some people have this unnecessary loyalty with Disney and won't think twice about visiting Universal. There is no war with Disney and Universal, so this fanboi loyalty with Disney/hatred for Universal is ridiculous and somewhat irritating.

I go where the fun is, be it Disney, Universal, Six Flags, Sea World or wherever.

 

[BryceM]

Why does one have to be better than the other? If both are good it's a win/win for us consumers. I know when I go down to Orlando I may stay on WDW property but I make sure I spend at least one day at Uni. I feel blessed that I can enjoy both places.

I love both Disney and Universal, and that's that. So, I agree with you 100%. I also do feel very blessed that I live relatively close to Orlando, and can visit Universal, Disney and SeaWorld often.

It's just when people are so blind and refuse to like anything besides Disney, it does get annoying. I think we can all agree on this site (hopefully) that both Disney's parks and Universal's parks are the cream of the crop in the US when it comes to theming, attention to detail, etc. I also think both resorts are great as a whole. They have such nice hotels, landscaping, CityWalk/DTD and extra activities besides the parks. And honestly, you just can't deny that Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure are great parks.

 

[Californian Elitist]

They have such nice hotels, landscaping, CityWalk/DTD...

City Walk stomps on Downtown Disney here in California. Which do you like more in Florida?

 

[danlb_2000]

Why does one have to be better than the other? If both are good it's a win/win for us consumers. I know when I go down to Orlando I may stay on WDW property but I make sure I spend at least one day at Uni. I feel blessed that I can enjoy both places.

Why do fans think their sports team is better then the other? It's the nature of fandom. Personally I like both Uni and Disney.

 

[BryceM]

City Walk stomps on Downtown Disney here in California. Which do you like more in Florida?

That's a tough one. I like them both a lot, actually, but CityWalk at night has a much more fun and exciting atmosphere than DTD at night (and day, too), with Universal Studios to the right (with the spotlights, Rock-It flashing by) and then the Islands of Adventure lighthouse shining straight ahead. Plus, CityWalk just looks better at night (I think) than DTD.

DTD has a more relaxed feel, which is also nice. And I love, love, love the Ghiradelli shop and Earl of Sandwich.

 

[GoofGoof]

I love both Disney and Universal, and that's that. So, I agree with you 100%. I also do feel very blessed that I live relatively close to Orlando, and can visit Universal, Disney and SeaWorld often.

I'm in your camp of liking both and Sea World too. It's silly to feel you can only like one. I have no issue if someone has a legit preference for visiting 1 or the other, to each there own, but it doesn't mean you need to trash the other park. Sometimes I think it's mostly just to get a rise from people.

It's just when people are so blind and refuse to like anything besides Disney, it does get annoying.

You mean like calling Universal "six flags like" or just a coaster park? Yep, annoying. On the flip side the Disney bashers who feel the need to trash everything Disney are equally annoying. I'm right there bashing Disney for things like the disco Yeti and Splash Mountain's former state, but I will give them credit when they do something right too (like fixing Splash finally).

 

[BryceM]

I'm in your camp of liking both and Sea World too. It's silly to feel you can only like one. I have no issue if someone has a legit preference for visiting 1 or the other, to each there own, but it doesn't mean you need to trash the other park. Sometimes I think it's mostly just to get a rise from people.


You mean like calling Universal "six flags like" or just a coaster park? Yep, annoying. On the flip side the Disney bashers who feel the need to trash everything Disney are equally annoying. I'm right there bashing Disney for things like the disco Yeti and Splash Mountain's former state, but I will give them credit when they do something right too (like fixing Splash finally).

Calling Universal "six flags" or a coaster park is my biggest pet peeve. Universal has 3 larger roller coasters (4 if you count both sides of Dragon Challenge) between BOTH, yes, BOTH Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Six Flags Magic Mountain has 17 roller coasters in ONE park. Calling Universal (as a whole) "coaster parks" will always be the most inane and stupid statement you can make about Universal.

And I do agree with you about the bashing of Disney. It does get a bit excessive at times... Like the Tangled restrooms. We will never hear the end of that, even though I saw it as a very nice addition to Fantasyland. It's not like Disney announced to the heavens that the Tangled restrooms were being built and that they were a huge deal. But yes, Disco Yeti definitely deserves to get bashed, among quite a few other things... (I'm looking at you DinoRama)

 

[JT3000]

Targeted Audience, DIsney capitalizes on days gone by while Universal is focusing on the latest and greatest.

That's a generalization though. It's proven wrong by a number of attractions in both resorts. Simpsons, Avatar, etc.

A matter of time until what?

The only reason Uni is catching Disney on the CM front is because 75% of Uni's employees are people that got terminated from Disney. Uni doesn't have near the standards for their CMs that disney does.

This is wildly untrue. I don't even know how you could believe it yourself. Besides that, it wouldn't mean anything even if it were true. If I get fired from Walmart and go to work at Bloomingdale's, which is better? Which has higher standards?

 

[Tom Morrow]

^ Yep, they are catching up to(and in some ways, surpassing) Disney's service level because they are making a huge effort to improve, while Disney is letting their standards slip.

From experiences with friends yes, A lot of people work at both places at the same time as well. It may not be 75% but a large number of Uni employees either couldn't get hired by Disney or at one point were terminated by them.

First off, literally almost anyone can get hired at either place. There are no skills required for most of the on-stage roles. I hate this notion that people try to throw around that Disney is rejecting drug addicts and ex convicts who turn around and are hired by Universal. Its the same people. If there's one difference, it's that more of Universal's employees were raised locally, since due to things like the college program and Disney's legacy, more people actually move to Orlando with the intention to work for Disney.

Second, its just as easy to get terminated at Universal. Many Disney CM's are ex Universal TM's and vice versa. Many work at both places.

Saying anything otherwise is literally just something Disney CM's tell themselves to make themselves feel better about their job.

 

[GoofGoof]

First off, literally almost anyone can get hired at either place. There are no skills required. I hate this notion that people try to throw around that Disney is rejecting drug addicts and ex convicts who turn around and are hired by Universal. Its the same people. If there's one difference, it's that more of Universal's employees were raised locally, since due to things like the college program and Disney's legacy, more people actually move to Orlando with the intention to work for Disney.

Second, its just as easy to get terminated at Universal. Many Disney CM's are ex Universal TM's and vice versa. Many work at both places.

This is probably accurate. Locals are locals, they will work wherever there is a job. Like the rest of us most are probably loyal to their paycheck first. The one difference is probably that Disney attracts more out of state workers with a dream to "live the magic". I know a few of them. I personally never met someone who said "I'm moving to Orlando so I can work at Universal, it's been my dream to do it". Maybe with Potter now in full swing some die hard fans will make a move just to work there.

 

[JT3000]

I personally never met someone who said "I'm moving to Orlando so I can work at Universal, it's been my dream to do it"

Yes, he became an actual Jaws skipper.

 

[Turtle]

Assuming this is another Disney vs Uni thread. For my tastes, Disney currently has the lead over Universal.

Universal is likely to change that opinion by 2016 with all their new additions unless WDW adds at least one attraction to both Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom as well as refurbishing a lot of the rides in bad condition.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Unlike people like you, myself, Bryce, etc., some people have this unnecessary loyalty with Disney and won't think twice about visiting Universal. There is no war with Disney and Universal, so this fanboi loyalty with Disney/hatred for Universal is ridiculous and somewhat irritating.

I go where the fun is, be it Disney, Universal, Six Flags, Sea World or wherever.

It is called mental illness...

 

[Captain Chaos]

This is probably accurate. Locals are locals, they will work wherever there is a job. Like the rest of us most are probably loyal to their paycheck first. The one difference is probably that Disney attracts more out of state workers with a dream to "live the magic". I know a few of them. I personally never met someone who said "I'm moving to Orlando so I can work at Universal, it's been my dream to do it". Maybe with Potter now in full swing some die hard fans will make a move just to work there.

Correction: Disney hires a ton of college kids who think working at Disney will look good on their resume, and do the bare minimum just to collect their little paycheck... In other words, the magic in the Disney CM is disappearing because they just don't care... The only ones who truly put on terrific performances are the CMs in entertainment, since they are probably looking to get into some sort of acting career, and that would go farther on their resume than a CPer who is a cashier in Mouse Gears trying to get into investment banking...