I have spent some time trying to figure out the best way to word my observations of the past weekend. I don’t want to sound like a Disney basher because I still feel that the company that I have been following since I was laying on the floor on my belly watching the “original” Mickey Mouse Club and eating a Fluffernutter sandwich has more potential then any others, if they try. Sorry if this seems disjointed. I have not fully recovered from my trip, one of the many downsides of aging, is the inability to bounce back quickly.
Nothing in my long lifetime has ever affected me like Disney. I’m talking emotionally here and I’m talking Theme Parks here. For the most part I couldn’t tell you what movies were made by Disney other than Mary Poppins, Herbie the Love Bug, Flubber and a few others. I was a fan of Mickey Mouse cartoons but liked Warner Bros. more. My emotional experience didn’t happen until I was 35 years old and took my wife and two girls to WDW for the first time.
I am not going to get into an argument about maintenance and “upkeep” because I think, from my observations, that they still do that well. I think that the age of the parks coupled with the vastness of the WDW property, is a hindrance in accomplishing what they used to when it was a smaller entity. I took a sharp look around while I was there and found nothing wrong. Granted I didn’t spend a lot of time there, just a total of about 8 hours, but I was looking for lights out (found none), paint chipped (found nothing), dirty bathrooms (found none), unscheduled “down” attractions (found none). I was there during a light week (they did have the marathon happening) so I didn’t need any Fastpasses, so I cannot comment on anything about that.
This is what I saw when I went to Universal…all of the above plus so much more. They have spent money to entertain you, they have trained employees to be proactive in dealing with their guests, they have spared no expense to theme, staff and organize all of their attractions. Never have I had a Disney Cast Member approach me in all the years I have been going there when they even slightly suspected that I might be a little confused about the direction I should head or where something was located. At Universal/IOA (assume that is what I mean when I say Uni) they were everywhere. Even a custodial person, saw me looking at the park map and asked if he could help. He did and also spent a very pleasant 10 minutes or so chatting with me about general life stuff. Wonderful! Every square inch has something in it and it is themed to the hilt. Nothing like trash cans with a Tree of Life decaled on it, but things that fit the lands. Seuss Landing had trash cans that had the same distorted, no straight line, design that we so quickly associate with Dr. Seuss. I even noticed a smoking area in WWOHP that had ashtrays designed to fit the theme.
Yes, my friends, Universal doesn’t have to keep up anymore, it is miles ahead and will eventually take over as the most popular unless Disney wakes the hell up and understands that if you can take over a loyal to Disney for 50+ years person, and convince him that maybe Uni will be my main park and visit Disney on off days, then I don’t see why they can’t do that with anyone.
Disney, once the leader in creativity and entertainment has fallen way behind. Why? I’m not sure, but I suspect that they have given all control to accounting and legal associates. Disney, to me, has the feel of a store that is in the process of going out of business. Attraction buildings left empty or partially closed, restaurants closed, etc. give it that bankruptcy feel. Where once there were shows and attractions manned by many CM’s there are now a bunch of hardworking, but mainly lethargic people that just stand there, frowning and asking people how many there are in your party. That’s it. By comparison, in Uni almost all their attractions require trained Casts that are heavy with the presence of actors playing a role and a huge part of the entertainment venue. In Uni, shows like Disaster is almost jaw dropping. It is primarily the same show that has been there forever, once titled Earthquake, it is now a very entertaining show starring Christopher Walken, portrayed by himself via hologram. A very impressive hologram that works with a live, on stage actor, and is choreographed to an inch of death to make it one of the most believable technological/human interaction I have ever seen. Poseidon’s Fury is a very well done display of special effects that is driven by a human actor that made the show. These are just a few small examples of what I saw there, the detail the Disney used to have, is now in Universal. The creativity that Disney once had, is now in Universal. The constant and amazing entertainment shows that Disney once had is now in Universal. The ability to expand and add to, seemingly unencumbered by some CPA saying we can’t spend that much money, we won’t have anything left for executive bonuses if we do that, is now Disney and it is falling fast.
You will notice that I haven’t mentioned coasters and thrill rides. Universal has the luck to be able to put them in without disturbing expectations, but I felt this way about Uni in spite of the presence of heart stopping coasters.
On the down side, Universal charges $15.00 for parking whereas Disney is $14.00. Of course, their parking is on multi-level parking garages and for $5.00 more you can get “Preferred Parking” which will be in a part of the parking structure that is closer to the entry to the parks. You don’t get free Express Passes…One day is $55.00 for one time ride on specified attractions, but admission is cheaper and if it is during a really busy time, I can see where it would be a real time saver and worth the money.
You have no idea how much it hurts me to make this observation which is not very attractive towards what was once my favorite place on earth, but I saw it, I am saddened as well as alarmed that so many high paid flunkies have allowed such a wonderful place as Disney to become second best.
Nothing in my long lifetime has ever affected me like Disney. I’m talking emotionally here and I’m talking Theme Parks here. For the most part I couldn’t tell you what movies were made by Disney other than Mary Poppins, Herbie the Love Bug, Flubber and a few others. I was a fan of Mickey Mouse cartoons but liked Warner Bros. more. My emotional experience didn’t happen until I was 35 years old and took my wife and two girls to WDW for the first time.
I am not going to get into an argument about maintenance and “upkeep” because I think, from my observations, that they still do that well. I think that the age of the parks coupled with the vastness of the WDW property, is a hindrance in accomplishing what they used to when it was a smaller entity. I took a sharp look around while I was there and found nothing wrong. Granted I didn’t spend a lot of time there, just a total of about 8 hours, but I was looking for lights out (found none), paint chipped (found nothing), dirty bathrooms (found none), unscheduled “down” attractions (found none). I was there during a light week (they did have the marathon happening) so I didn’t need any Fastpasses, so I cannot comment on anything about that.
This is what I saw when I went to Universal…all of the above plus so much more. They have spent money to entertain you, they have trained employees to be proactive in dealing with their guests, they have spared no expense to theme, staff and organize all of their attractions. Never have I had a Disney Cast Member approach me in all the years I have been going there when they even slightly suspected that I might be a little confused about the direction I should head or where something was located. At Universal/IOA (assume that is what I mean when I say Uni) they were everywhere. Even a custodial person, saw me looking at the park map and asked if he could help. He did and also spent a very pleasant 10 minutes or so chatting with me about general life stuff. Wonderful! Every square inch has something in it and it is themed to the hilt. Nothing like trash cans with a Tree of Life decaled on it, but things that fit the lands. Seuss Landing had trash cans that had the same distorted, no straight line, design that we so quickly associate with Dr. Seuss. I even noticed a smoking area in WWOHP that had ashtrays designed to fit the theme.
Yes, my friends, Universal doesn’t have to keep up anymore, it is miles ahead and will eventually take over as the most popular unless Disney wakes the hell up and understands that if you can take over a loyal to Disney for 50+ years person, and convince him that maybe Uni will be my main park and visit Disney on off days, then I don’t see why they can’t do that with anyone.
Disney, once the leader in creativity and entertainment has fallen way behind. Why? I’m not sure, but I suspect that they have given all control to accounting and legal associates. Disney, to me, has the feel of a store that is in the process of going out of business. Attraction buildings left empty or partially closed, restaurants closed, etc. give it that bankruptcy feel. Where once there were shows and attractions manned by many CM’s there are now a bunch of hardworking, but mainly lethargic people that just stand there, frowning and asking people how many there are in your party. That’s it. By comparison, in Uni almost all their attractions require trained Casts that are heavy with the presence of actors playing a role and a huge part of the entertainment venue. In Uni, shows like Disaster is almost jaw dropping. It is primarily the same show that has been there forever, once titled Earthquake, it is now a very entertaining show starring Christopher Walken, portrayed by himself via hologram. A very impressive hologram that works with a live, on stage actor, and is choreographed to an inch of death to make it one of the most believable technological/human interaction I have ever seen. Poseidon’s Fury is a very well done display of special effects that is driven by a human actor that made the show. These are just a few small examples of what I saw there, the detail the Disney used to have, is now in Universal. The creativity that Disney once had, is now in Universal. The constant and amazing entertainment shows that Disney once had is now in Universal. The ability to expand and add to, seemingly unencumbered by some CPA saying we can’t spend that much money, we won’t have anything left for executive bonuses if we do that, is now Disney and it is falling fast.
You will notice that I haven’t mentioned coasters and thrill rides. Universal has the luck to be able to put them in without disturbing expectations, but I felt this way about Uni in spite of the presence of heart stopping coasters.
On the down side, Universal charges $15.00 for parking whereas Disney is $14.00. Of course, their parking is on multi-level parking garages and for $5.00 more you can get “Preferred Parking” which will be in a part of the parking structure that is closer to the entry to the parks. You don’t get free Express Passes…One day is $55.00 for one time ride on specified attractions, but admission is cheaper and if it is during a really busy time, I can see where it would be a real time saver and worth the money.
You have no idea how much it hurts me to make this observation which is not very attractive towards what was once my favorite place on earth, but I saw it, I am saddened as well as alarmed that so many high paid flunkies have allowed such a wonderful place as Disney to become second best.
