Christmas Cheer for SeaWorld; Bah Humbug for WDW

[_Scar]

Many fans believe ANYthing with the Disney seal of approval on it is somehow more magical than ANYthing that does not.

That is all I was saying. It is fact.

It is not fact.

Wanna know why? I guarentee you if you took a poll you'd find a lot of people love IoA and USF. Great parks, great theme, great attractions. Something Sea World lacks. Even Disney's water parks dominate the themeless (but fun) Aquatica.

SW is expanding its offerings. They are adding value. They are adding seasonal entertainment from overlays to shows to decorations to dining. Disney is going the other way.

Again, that was my point.

IMO- Sea World can offer value and holiday services all year round for all holidays, give out free food, free tickets, and they still won't come close to Disney quality or even Universal quality or even Busch Gardens quality. :lol:

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

So you dont think Seamae St characters are popular?

I never said they weren't popular. But let a little girl choose between meeting Minnie Mouse/the princesses or characters from Dr. Seuss or Sesame Street. It's pretty obvious who she would pick.

Same with boys/adults. I don't know anyone who would spend a whole vacation at Universal/Sea World (including plenty of teen girls and boys), but I know tons of families who go to WDW each year.

Honestly, I don't disagree with the people who find WDW more magical. We've been to Universal and Sea World once before (I was seven at the time). I was constantly asking when we were going back to Disney (and believe me, I was excited about Universal because I liked Nickelodeon). One of my friends went to Universal for a weekeend after his high school graduation. He ended up spending most of his time at Disney, even though he was staying at the Hard Rock. Disney does a lot right when it comes to marketing and overall guest satisfaction. Despite recent quality cuts, people do feel something special about Disney, and it explains why 8 of Disney's parks (all besides DCA, WDSP, and HKDL) are the most visited in the world.

 

[ChrisFL]

Same with boys/adults. I don't know anyone who would spend a whole vacation at Universal/Sea World (including plenty of teen girls and boys), but I know tons of families who go to WDW each year.

I know several families who have done just that, going to Universal/Sea World and skip Disney...it doesn't mean they never go to Disney, but they would go there on a different trip possibly

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I know several families who have done just that, going to Universal/Sea World and skip Disney...it doesn't mean they never go to Disney, but they would go there on a different trip possibly

But if you look at attendance numbers, those people are clearly not the minority.

In 2008, for example, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom had over 9 million visitors each. Universal Studios Florida barely saw 6 million, while Islands of Adventure had around 5 million. Year after year, Disney tops Universal, and I don't think that will change, even if WDW's quality decreases (which it has).

 

[ChrisFL]

But if you look at attendance numbers, those people are clearly not the minority.

In 2008, for example, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom had over 9 million visitors each. Universal Studios Florida barely saw 6 million, while Islands of Adventure had around 5 million. Year after year, Disney tops Universal, and I don't think that will change, even if WDW's quality decreases (which it has).

And the Roman Empire was going to last forever also.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

And the Roman Empire was going to last forever also.

Disney has a long way to go before it's as weak as the Roman Empire was when it fell. But as of now, Disney's lesser effort is still greater than Universal/Sea World's extended effort.

And no, I don't approve of what's happened at Disney. I've been going to WDW every year for about 15 years, and I've seen many changes that upset me. But I'd still take WDW over Universal because I enjoy it more, and millions of people around the world feel the same way.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I never said they weren't popular. But let a little girl choose between meeting Minnie Mouse/the princesses or characters from Dr. Seuss or Sesame Street. It's pretty obvious who she would pick.

Same with boys/adults. I don't know anyone who would spend a whole vacation at Universal/Sea World (including plenty of teen girls and boys), but I know tons of families who go to WDW each year.

Honestly, I don't disagree with the people who find WDW more magical. We've been to Universal and Sea World once before (I was seven at the time). I was constantly asking when we were going back to Disney (and believe me, I was excited about Universal because I liked Nickelodeon). One of my friends went to Universal for a weekeend after his high school graduation. He ended up spending most of his time at Disney, even though he was staying at the Hard Rock. Disney does a lot right when it comes to marketing and overall guest satisfaction. Despite recent quality cuts, people do feel something special about Disney, and it explains why 8 of Disney's parks (all besides DCA, WDSP, and HKDL) are the most visited in the world.

So you are able to judge Sea world on one visit when you were 7? Perhaps you could have it on your wish list for your next birthday?

I would continue explaining the points raised that you appear to have missed, but like the usual inane comments from the resident fan bhoys it would be a waste of time, its all about the magic, and the inability to see that there are other attractions of similar and better merit in central Florida. I will be visiting next year, family wedding, but after that Ill be giving it a miss for some time, maybe if I miss a couple of years the management may actually get something open that is aimed at someone not interested in fairies.

I could point out that McDonalds is the most successful restaurant world wide, the sale prove it, or that Nissan must make the best cars, the sales prove it, but then we weren’t talking about sales but rather reduction in quality of services at one place while a competitor improves their offerings.

But Ill say this since you raised the issue of proof via own knowledge a quick read of the UK based Orlando area site ( largest overseas tourist group)would show that possibly the majority of users are skipping Disney because its marketing shows its for kids and that there’s so few new things.

 

[wm49rs]

So you are able to judge Sea world on one visit when you were 7? Perhaps you could have it on your wish list for your next birthday?

I would continue explaining the points raised that you appear to have missed, but like the usual inane comments from the resident fan bhoys it would be a waste of time, its all about the magic, and the inability to see that there are other attractions of similar and better merit in central Florida. I will be visiting next year, family wedding, but after that Ill be giving it a miss for some time, maybe if I miss a couple of years the management may actually get something open that is aimed at someone not interested in fairies.

I could point out that McDonalds is the most successful restaurant world wide, the sale prove it, or that Nissan must make the best cars, the sales prove it, but then we weren’t talking about sales but rather reduction in quality of services at one place while a competitor improves their offerings.

But Ill say this since you raised the issue of proof via own knowledge a quick read of the UK based Orlando area site ( largest overseas tourist group)would show that possibly the majority of users are skipping Disney because its marketing shows its for kids and that there’s so few new things.

I understand where you're coming from Pumbas, and I have been to SW, Universal, Busch Gardens (Williamsburg) and Six Flags in GA. And out of all of those parks, outside of WDW, Busch Gardens is my favorite because they most closely resemble the theming and atmosphere that EP provides.

That being said, I do think (or perhaps I continue to hope) that WDW does attempt to provide the atmosphere, the attractions, the "magic," if you will, to a higher degree than the other theme parks. But I am not flying with blinders on either. I see the reduction in amenities offered (especially for the holidays) and the decay in some of the rides that are screaming out for a refurb. And the idea of a FL expansion based on princessess and faires does little for me or the rest of my family, save for the fact that Disney is finally putting some money into the Magic Kingdom and hopefully that will translate into fixing up the other rides in disrepair...

Oh, and I'm not a fan of the characters either, be they Pooh or the Cat in the Hat. My family has stopped wasting our time with them, save for the occassional group photo with Mickey (which we used to get at Toontown). I can understand the desire for those with young children, but beyond the age of 7 I don't see the attraction....

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

So you are able to judge Sea world on one visit when you were 7? Perhaps you could have it on your wish list for your next birthday?

I would continue explaining the points raised that you appear to have missed, but like the usual inane comments from the resident fan bhoys it would be a waste of time, its all about the magic, and the inability to see that there are other attractions of similar and better merit in central Florida. I will be visiting next year, family wedding, but after that Ill be giving it a miss for some time, maybe if I miss a couple of years the management may actually get something open that is aimed at someone not interested in fairies.

I could point out that McDonalds is the most successful restaurant world wide, the sale prove it, or that Nissan must make the best cars, the sales prove it, but then we weren’t talking about sales but rather reduction in quality of services at one place while a competitor improves their offerings.

But Ill say this since you raised the issue of proof via own knowledge a quick read of the UK based Orlando area site ( largest overseas tourist group)would show that possibly the majority of users are skipping Disney because its marketing shows its for kids and that there’s so few new things.

It seems like you've also missed the point of this thread. The OP originally posted a video of Sea World's fireworks show, and asserted that it was probably the best holiday show in the Central Florida parks. I disagreed, pointing out that although Holiday Wishes and Illuminations have received some cuts, they're still longer, have better (bigger and more diverse) effects, and they have better music. So despite Disney's decreased quality compared to previous years, it's still better than what other parks offer now.

Furthermore, I don't see any evidence that possibly the majority of users are skipping Disney. Perhaps the most vocal users, but even twenty people skipping Disney for a year or two won't change anything.

My family (aka it wasn't just me when I was 7) gave Universal and Sea World a try, and none of us felt the desire to return. Since then, we've tried Discovery Cove, which was a rip-off because you only spend five seconds touching a dolphin. It's not just us who like Disney better, because millions of people seem to agree (the only reason I mentioned attendance figures was to demonstrate that there's something people prefer about Disney in comparison to Universal). If that makes me a fanboi, fine. But in all fairness, Disney does have plenty of things that are better quality than Universal/Sea World.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

You mean Disney could do Christmas almost as well as Branson MO.?

http://www.branson-missouri.com/ozark-mountain-christmas.asp

http://www.explorebranson.com/calendar/index.php

 

[PaisleyMF]

Most of the SW entertainment has been like that for the past couple of years.

The fireworks show is an okay show, and there are no projections, is just lights and colored gobos. SW used to have a watershow (before Fantasmic!) that used to have some projections on the water but no more.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

It seems like you've also missed the point of this thread. The OP originally posted a video of Sea World's fireworks show, and asserted that it was probably the best holiday show in the Central Florida parks. I disagreed, pointing out that although Holiday Wishes and Illuminations have received some cuts, they're still longer, have better (bigger and more diverse) effects, and they have better music. So despite Disney's decreased quality compared to previous years, it's still better than what other parks offer now.

Furthermore, I don't see any evidence that possibly the majority of users are skipping Disney. Perhaps the most vocal users, but even twenty people skipping Disney for a year or two won't change anything.

My family (aka it wasn't just me when I was 7) gave Universal and Sea World a try, and none of us felt the desire to return. Since then, we've tried Discovery Cove, which was a rip-off because you only spend five seconds touching a dolphin. It's not just us who like Disney better, because millions of people seem to agree (the only reason I mentioned attendance figures was to demonstrate that there's something people prefer about Disney in comparison to Universal). If that makes me a fanboi, fine. But in all fairness, Disney does have plenty of things that are better quality than Universal/Sea World.

As I previously posted, I really do have to question the value of your opinion to this thread based on one visit when you were 7. I have to assume that you are now older than 8. And that if you are older than 17 wouldn’t that indicate you hadn’t been to IOA?
To be fair I thought the general thrust of the post was to highlight the fact that the other resorts are continuing to build their offerings while Disney at best marks time or reduces offerings in some areas, and the OP used the Xmas fireworks as an example. And given the number of posts on the subject of the current state of WDW I don’t think Im alone in having concerns.

You are obviously happy to accept a continuation of the status quo, I’m not, and like the OP feel praise and criticism of Disneys competitors when merited is to be applauded, unlike youself, as a customer of all of the central Florida attractions for the last 20 years feel I’m better placed to comment on changes and offer valid comparison between the operations.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I'm not going to bother anymore, but reread what the OP initially said. That's what I was replying to. I don't have to like Universal or Sea World, and based on the video posted, I still prefer what WDW offers.

 

[71jason]

And the Roman Empire was going to last forever also.

As a more recent and relevant example (cribbed from poster on another board a year or two ago), "The Lion King" was the highest grossing animated movie of all time upon release. Ten years later, Disney Animation had effectively been shuttered. The entertainment business is fickle, you're always one "Toy Story" (or Wizarding World?) away from suddenly being irrelevant.