Can They Expand??

[BigTxEars]

Nothing says immersion like giant disney buses vs boat pulling up to Italian harbor.

The buses are all part of the Disney bubble.

 

[BigTxEars]

I can't think of anything that is not over the top immersion at the Portofino. From the perfect deception of the Italian City followed up with a bay that matches its real sister city. It has not one but 3 themed pools that also are themed to the resort. Hard Rock is just what you would expect for a budget minded resort, it is themed, it has a better resort pool than most of the Disney Resorts at the same price points. That is why I had/have a problem with comparing it to a DVC, apples and oranges. POR has to be my favorite resort overall and when it was Dixie it did indeed depict that time and place and overall era. I love that resort but it did loose the overall theme when Disney corrected its unfortunate misstep in theming and naming of the resort. When you make a politically incorrect blunder there is only so much one can do to rewrite the story and pretend Dixie didn't happen at WDW or in history.

Again all personal preference. I would guess the HR would be heaven for a music super fan. I have also stayed at the Royal Pacific during a business conference, that has even less Uni immersion IMO. But it is closer to Margaritaville so points for that

 

[Gabe1]

Nothing says immersion like giant disney buses vs boat pulling up to Italian harbor.

It is beyond charming. We've sat out by the bay with a glass of wine when done with the parks. So relaxing and peaceful. A romantic place to stroll around the bay too.

Yep, those lovely Italian boats in a harbor that matches the resort. But it is a personal choice, some people love those bendy buses. Boy nothing like a bendy bus squished with standing room only guests on a hot afternoon. Perfume to Pepe le pew.

Give me the ferry to DTD from POR over a Disney Bus anytime. Sadly that is the only place the ferry goes. Monorail has 2 choices, the boats on the lake only go to one park. So you are right, stuff'n 'em on a Bus is the Disney Magic.

 

[BigTxEars]

It is beyond charming. We've sat out by the bay with a glass of wine when done with the parks. So relaxing and peaceful. A romantic place to stroll around the bay too.

Yep, those lovely Italian boats in a harbor that matches the resort. But it is a personal choice, some people love those bendy buses. Boy nothing like a bendy bus squished with standing room only guests on a hot afternoon. Perfume to Pepe le pew.

Give me the ferry to DTD from POR over a Disney Bus anytime. Sadly that is the only place the ferry goes. Monorail has 2 choices, the boats on the lake only go to one park. So you are right, stuff'n 'em on a Bus is the Disney Magic.

They have to have buses at WDW and not at Uni, cause there is a whole lot more WDW. I would guess Uni would have the same issues WDW does if they had more gates. Nature of the beast and all. But the free transport around WDW is pretty cool to me, allows more adult beverage time

Plus you have the boast from the BW area to Epcot and DHS as well That is a apt comparison to the Uni parks and resorts IMO.

 

[maxairmike]

One thing I think Uni needs to improve upon is the fireworks / closing show each night. It's rather lame at Uni IMO and the kids, well it does not appeal to them at all as they do not know 75% of the movies used during it. The fireworks at say MK really cap off the day for us. I think Uni could pull off a heck of a fireworks show but not even sure it's on their list. But imagine what they could do over Hogwarts

You won't ever see a large scale fireworks show outside of perhaps special occasions/holidays at Universal for much the same reasons that Disneyland doesn't have their fireworks show nightly during the school calendar. They're simply not allowed to do it. So no, it isn't on their list, but not because they don't want to (well, at this point they may not want to just because they won't ever be able to, but the point remains). Personally I'll take CineSpec over WDW's Fant! any day, and twice on Sundays.

Otherwise, oy vey to the rest of the current discussion. Back on topic: I really need to go see if that new apartment complex on Universal Blvd. has even broken ground or still has signage, because it was supposed to open by fall of this year. I have a feeling records are likely to be updated or some statuses changing over the next few months for a parcel or two...just a gut feeling, though, haven't looked at any records lately.

 

[BigTxEars]

You won't ever see a large scale fireworks show outside of perhaps special occasions/holidays at Universal for much the same reasons that Disneyland doesn't have their fireworks show nightly during the school calendar. They're simply not allowed to do it. So no, it isn't on their list, but not because they don't want to (well, at this point they may not want to just because they won't ever be able to, but the point remains). Personally I'll take CineSpec over WDW's Fant! any day, and twice on Sundays.

Otherwise, oy vey to the rest of the current discussion. Back on topic: I really need to go see if that new apartment complex on Universal Blvd. has even broken ground or still has signage, because it was supposed to open by fall of this year. I have a feeling records are likely to be updated or some statuses changing over the next few months for a parcel or two...just a gut feeling, though, haven't looked at any records lately.

Poo on that I want my fireworks and that is that!

 

[Gabe1]

They have to have buses at WDW and not at Uni, cause there is a whole lot more WDW. I would guess Uni would have the same issues WDW does if they had more gates. Nature of the beast and all. But the free transport around WDW is pretty cool to me, allows more adult beverage time

Plus you have the boast from the BW area to Epcot and DHS as well That is a apt comparison to the Uni parks and resorts IMO.

Meh. Uber Fans just make excuses for WDW and opt not to give kudos to Uni for what Uni has imagineered better than Disney.

Disney Designed the vast majority of their resorts to have buses not ferries or connecting waterways. They like Uni could have designed the channels to connect the resorts or parks, they chose not to. Disney also chose to connect DHS to Epcot and those resorts by boats so they could have imagineered better if they wanted too. They could have chose to use boats. Same with the MK, Disney CHOSE to build a monorail and CHOSE to put a ferries in the water. They could have ran buses if they chose to do that but back in the day Disney believed in total immersion so they built ferries and monorails. When PO was being built they could have chose to dig a canal to Epcot just like they did to DTD. Opted not to. It is the beauty of man made channels and lakes, Disney could have imagineered whatever they pleased. Uni just imagineered a better overall World for efficiency for their guests. Disney in their own materials say to allow an hour to an hour'n half to reach your destination. Uni because of the better imagineering does not tell their guests that.

I've been going to WDW since it opened. It was like this even when it was only one park and then two parks with resorts spread all over the place. Uni was smart in their imagineering and built a hub for their City and two parks, much like the better overall design of Disneyland. From the get go with one park WDW put the MarketPlace so freak'n far away from the existing resorts that they forced their own hand with reliance of buses than. In my opinion buses are less than magical transportation and if we are going to talk immersion those buses are like everyday life in Urban America, packed and smelly, so not themed to their surroundings.

Five minutes or so and your back to your resort. The boats clip along and the surroundings are beautifully themed, immersion unlike the bus routes of mini highways Disney takes with their buses which are not the immersion we all look for.

 

[seascape]

Transportation around the parks is an issue. Florida has changed the laws concerning the canal so WDW could not use boats every where. What do you think Universal will use when they expand across I4? They will not only have to cross a major interstate highway but past property owned by others and on Public Streets.

 

[BigTxEars]

Meh. Uber Fans just make excuses for WDW and opt not to give kudos to Uni for what Uni has imagineered better than Disney.

Disney Designed the vast majority of their resorts to have buses not ferries or connecting waterways. They like Uni could have designed the channels to connect the resorts or parks, they chose not to. Disney also chose to connect DHS to Epcot and those resorts by boats so they could have imagineered better if they wanted too. They could have chose to use boats. Same with the MK, Disney CHOSE to build a monorail and CHOSE to put a ferries in the water. They could have ran buses if they chose to do that but back in the day Disney believed in total immersion so they built ferries and monorails. When PO was being built they could have chose to dig a canal to Epcot just like they did to DTD. Opted not to. It is the beauty of man made channels and lakes, Disney could have imagineered whatever they pleased. Uni just imagineered a better overall World for efficiency for their guests. Disney in their own materials say to allow an hour to an hour'n half to reach your destination. Uni because of the better imagineering does not tell their guests that.

I've been going to WDW since it opened. It was like this even when it was only one park and then two parks with resorts spread all over the place. Uni was smart in their imagineering and built a hub for their City and two parks, much like the better overall design of Disneyland. From the get go with one park WDW put the MarketPlace so freak'n far away from the existing resorts that they forced their own hand with reliance of buses than. In my opinion buses are less than magical transportation and if we are going to talk immersion those buses are like everyday life in Urban America, packed and smelly, so not themed to their surroundings.

Five minutes or so and your back to your resort. The boats clip along and the surroundings are beautifully themed, immersion unlike the bus routes of mini highways Disney takes with their buses which are not the immersion we all look for.

You have no ideal Uni would transport guest in an area as large as WDW. It is simply not there so none of us do. Disney moves more guest than any resort in the work by a large measure. I think second guessing them on the Internet is pointless as you or I do not have the full picture that they do.

Not sure who you are pointing too with the statement about not giving Uni their pats on the back, I certainly do all the time. But what they face in moving guest and what WDW faces is night and day so trying to compare them warrants keeping that in mind. The buses are there at WDW, free to use if you want. If you don't then don't. But here is a shot at Uni since you bring it up. At Uni you pay $15 bucks a night to park at their report when staying there, at WDW you pay zip. You also don't pay to park at the parks when staying at Disney. So Disney is much more car friendly than Uni for park guest IMO thus there is a great alternative to the buses. Plus Magical Express is a prett cool and free option as well at WDW. A family on a can get from the airport to the parks and then around the parks for free, that is part of the immersion and part of the Disney bubble.

 

[BigTxEars]

Transportation around the parks is an issue. Florida has changed the laws concerning the canal so WDW could not use boats every where. What do you think Universal will use when they expand across I4? They will not only have to cross a major interstate highway but past property owned by others and on Public Streets.

Tunnels! Just like at golf courses going under roads I would guess.

 

[Gabe1]

You have no ideal Uni would transport guest in an area as large as WDW. It is simply not there so none of us do. Disney moves more guest than any resort in the work by a large measure. I think second guessing them on the Internet is pointless as you or I do not have the full picture that they do.

Not sure who you are pointing too with the statement about not giving Uni their pats on the back, I certainly do all the time. But what they face in moving guest and what WDW faces is night and day so trying to compare them warrants keeping that in mind. The buses are there at WDW, free to use if you want. If you don't then don't. But here is a **** at Uni since you bring it up. At Uni you pay $15 bucks a night to park at their report when staying there, at WDW you pay zip. You also don't pay to park at the parks when staying there. So Disney is much more car friendly than Uni for park guest IMO. So anybody can rent a car if they do not like the Disney buses. Plus Magical Exoress is a prett cool and free option as well.

Exactly what I am talking about in not giving Kudos to Uni. Moving the boat vs bus discussion to a different topic of Uni Parking charges. Apples and Oranges.

But since you did, If you take the time to look at the rack rate of AoA suites vs the rack rate for Uni Cabana Suites
Or Portofino vs Any of Disney Deluxe Resorts Disney more than makes up for free parking or DME. But the UberFan just looks singly at Oh Disney has Free parking, Rah Rah, where a diligent consumer adds the Uni Resort cost and Parking cost together and immediately see Uni resorts are a bargain over Disney rack rates. Disney resorts when compared to Universal resorts in like categories are dramatically more expensive so the petty $15 (what my family pays for a round of soda at Disney) Me, I take a towncar to Uni and transfer to Disney via Towncar. I drive all the time at home, I go to Disney and Uni to get away from the everyday tasks. In under three hours I was in Florida via plane, wouldn't have it any other way. Parking charges mute at Disney or Uni. I wouldn't rent a car at either place, transportation is built into the resort price, I tend to be an educated consumer and not pay for a car to leave in any lot the vast majority of a vacation, I can find better things to spend money on than a rental car. But I also found that with Swan/Dolphin. Even with their amenity charge it is dramatically cheaper than Disney Deluxe Resorts. You just have to do some math to quickly grasp.

As for what I do or do not know is another type of UberFan response. I do know I've stayed at Hard Rock and Portofino and the boat is more charming than the long bus ride from POR or Animal Kingdom. Uni imagineered that transportation better than Disney did theirs. I can accept that some might disagree and enjoy being packed like cattle into a Disney bus at the end of day, me not so much. I give Uni Kudos for a more relaxing transportation mode in the resorts I've stayed at. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[seascape]

Tunnels! Just like at golf courses going under roads I would guess.

please show me where on the map they could build a tunnel and not go under someone else's property? I do love your idea and if it were any other state it might be possible but the water table it too high in Florida and that is why the Magic Kingdom is on the second floor.

 

[BigTxEars]

Exactly what I am talking about in not giving Kudos to Uni. Moving the boat vs bus discussion to a different topic of Uni Parking charges. Apples and Oranges.

But since you did, If you take the time to look at the rack rate of AoA suites vs the rack rate for Uni Cabana Suites
Or Portofino vs Any of Disney Deluxe Resorts Disney more than makes up for free parking or DME. But the UberFan just looks singly at Oh Disney has Free parking, Rah Rah, where a diligent consumer adds the Uni Resort cost and Parking cost together and immediately see Uni resorts are a bargain over Disney rack rates. Disney resorts when compared to Universal resorts in like categories are dramatically more expensive so the petty $15 (what my family pays for a round of soda at Disney) Me, I take a towncar to Uni and transfer to Disney via Towncar. I drive all the time at home, I go to Disney and Uni to get away from the everyday tasks. In under three hours I was in Florida via plane, wouldn't have it any other way. Parking charges mute at Disney or Uni. I wouldn't rent a car at either place, transportation is built into the resort price, I tend to be an educated consumer and not pay for a car to leave in any lot the vast majority of a vacation, I can find better things to spend money on than a rental car. But I also found that with Swan/Dolphin. Even with their amenity charge it is dramatically cheaper than Disney Deluxe Resorts. You just have to do some math to quickly grasp.

As for what I do or do not know is another type of UberFan response. I do know I've stayed at Hard Rock and Portofino and the boat is more charming than the long bus ride from POR or Animal Kingdom. Uni imagineered that transportation better than Disney did theirs. I can accept that some might disagree and enjoy being packed like cattle into a Disney bus at the end of day, me not so much. I give Uni Kudos for a more relaxing transportation mode in the resorts I've stayed at. Different strokes for different folks.

Comparing the boat ride from any of the Uni resorts to the parks is most comparable to the boat ride from the BW area resorts to Epcot or DHS. About the same distance and walkable if the guest wants. Anything else is not equal when comparing getting from say POR to the MK or Epcot, what does Uni have that would compare to that distance? How would Uni do it any differently than WDW does? You don't know nor do I is my point.

Of course getting around Uni is more relaxing that WDW it is a 10th the size of WDW with many less destinations and a whole loss less people. Getting around my hometown of 4300 people is a more relaxing than getting around Houston and it's 5 million people.

Uni does a great job moving people at the resorts, but the fact it that that is much easier to do than at Disney is my point.

Of course the Disney buses are crowded, but they are also fully optional for the guest. If someone does not want to get on a bus then they do not have to. But it is a free option that is there if they want too. I am not sure why you think that if Uni ran buses on a resort the size of WDW they would somehow be any less crowded. I been to Potter land a coupe of times and the crowds there are a wee bit on the excessive size and not relaxing at all. If Uni has magic crowd level powers they need to use them there

And charging me for parking at a resort I am already paying for is silly IMO. If you are OK with then that if fine. I knew that going in and paid it but it is still silly to me. As far as rates I am paying the same for my room at the BW in 20 days as I did for my room at the HR last summer. In fact I just checked, a room at the HR for the week I am there next month is $217 per night, the room at the BW is $220. So with free parking at WDW I am still ahead $12 per night

 

[BigTxEars]

please show me where on the map they could build a tunnel and not go under someone else's property? I do love your idea and if it were any other state it might be possible but the water table it too high in Florida and that is why the Magic Kingdom is on the second floor.

Oh I have no ideal I just think it would be cool

 

[BigTxEars]

Comparing the boat ride from any of the Uni resorts to the parks is most comparable to the boat ride from the BW area resorts to Epcot or DHS. About the same distance and walkable if the guest wants. Anything else is not equal when comparing getting from say POR to the MK or Epcot, what does Uni have that would compare to that distance? How would Uni do it any differently than WDW does? You don't know nor do I is my point.

Of course getting around Uni is more relaxing that WDW it is a 10th the size of WDW with many less destinations and a whole loss less people. Getting around my hometown of 4300 people is a more relaxing than getting around Houston and it's 5 million people.

Uni does a great job moving people at the resorts, but the fact it that that is much easier to do than at Disney is my point.

Of course the Disney buses are crowded, but they are also fully optional for the guest. If someone does not want to get on a bus then they do not have to. But it is a free option that is there if they want too. I am not sure why you think that if Uni ran buses on a resort the size of WDW they would somehow be any less crowded. I been to Potter land a coupe of times and the crowds there are a wee bit on the excessive size and not relaxing at all. If Uni has magic crowd level powers they need to use them there

And charging me for parking at a resort I am already paying for is silly IMO. If you are OK with then that if fine. I knew that going in and paid it but it is still silly to me. As far as rates I am paying the same for my room at the BW in 20 days as I did for my room at the HR last summer. In fact I just checked, a room at the HR for the week I am there next month is $217 per night, the room at the BW is $220. So with free parking at WDW I am still ahead $12 per night

And if you want go back and look at any of my post, I am very pro Uni In all I have knocked the lack of fireworks at Uni, the parking fee at the resort and that really old ET ride, and the fact that Seuess Land needs a new coat of paint. Hardly Uni bashing.

I have said countless time that Ripsaw Falls is my favorite ride in all of Orlando

 

[seascape]

Oh I have no ideal I just think it would be cool

I know connecting parks and resorts by tunnel would be different but maybe in California but can't be done in Florida. Nice try though. As for the boats I do love using them from Epcot to Boardwalk or Beach Club when I don't want to walk and DHS. I Also use them when staying at the GF or Wilderness Lodge. The boats are nice but them so is the monorail and I don't mind the busses. What I really love about the Disney Transport System is the size of it and how many public transportation system send people to WDW to learn from it. Walt would be proud of it.

 

[BigTxEars]

I know connecting parks and resorts by tunnel would be different but maybe in California but can't be done in Florida. Nice try though. As for the boats I do love using them from Epson to boardwalk or Beach Club when I don't want to walk and DHS. I Also use them when staying at the GF or Wilderness Lodge. The boats are nice but them so is the monorail and I don't mind the busses. What I really love about the Disney Transport System is the size of it and how many public transportation system send people to WDW to learn from it. Walt would be proud of it.

Hey they built the Chunnel they can build something simple like that at Uni Overpasses would work as well but be far less cool.

The entire way WDW moves people is pretty amazing IMO. I have a little bit of professional crowd control training for large event and they are the masters of it IMO. I remember seeing the bath towel trams at the POR one day, that alone is an amazing thing to think of, how many towels they wash and dry and move daily....

 

[seascape]

Hey they built the Chunnel they can build something simple like that at Uni Overpasses would work as well but be far less cool.

The entire way WDW moves people is pretty amazing IMO. I have a little bit of professional crowd control training for large event and they are the masters of it IMO. I remember seeing the bath towel trams at the POR one day, that alone is an amazing thing to think of, how many towels they wash and dry and move daily....

you are so right. To think of 30,000 hotel rooms and probably 60,000 people a night on average it's amazing. On top of all the laundry for which they just broke found on a new facility that will allow for lots of growth, they have an amazing road system and infrastructure for employees and food delivery. think of how many restaurants and food stores they have and think of everything that goes into it and you understand why governments from around the country send people their to learn.

 

[maxairmike]

And charging me for parking at a resort I am already paying for is silly IMO. If you are OK with then that if fine. I knew that going in and paid it but it is still silly to me. As far as rates I am paying the same for my room at the BW in 20 days as I did for my room at the HR last summer. In fact I just checked, a room at the HR for the week I am there next month is $217 per night, the room at the BW is $220. So with free parking at WDW I am still ahead $12 per night

They do charge you for parking (and other things), though. As I've said before, I bet there are a lot of folks here who would be quite surprised if Disney broke down their resort fees that are built into their high nightly price. You never get anything for free, they're just not telling you what you're paying per night. I don't know why Loewe's doesn't go to an all-inclusive price, but I'm sure there are business reasons.

 

[draybook]

What do you think Universal will use when they expand across I4?