From the far reaches of Universal and beyond

[albino_pygmy]

I'm sure most of you would probably hate me for posting this, but since this is a discussion board, and I would really like to discuss this topic of Disney fans and their opinion on the "competition" as most of you put it.

A couple questions I'd like hear from you guys before I start really getting into this subject:

Have you ever visited a non-Disney park before, such as Universal, Sea World, Busch Gardens, etc?
If yes, did you have fun?
If no, why didn't you have fun? (and I'm sorry, but "because it wasn't Disney" isn't an answer.)

What I'd really like to know is why is it that a big majority of Disney fans won't bother giving other parks a chance, and for the few that do, they go expecting Disney or keep thinking of Disney, and ultimately end up having a lousy time because they were wishing they were at Disney. I'm sorry, but there are more things to life than just Disney, and even though Disney is a fun place to visit, it doesn't mean it's the only place to have a great time.

Before you start bashing me or my crazy idea of "give the other guys a chance" hear me out. I do enjoy Disney as much as any of you, AND I also enjoy visiting Universal and the rest just as much too. I love having fun everywhere, and I think if you guys understand this concept of having fun anywhere you go, that you'll really enjoy all parks a lot better, including Disney. I'm just tired of hearing all the pointless ranting and complaining about this and that, and most of them are really about nothing in particular, just them missing Mickey, or wondering why Mickey allows long lines for the churro stand. Ok, I'm done ranting now.

Please secure all personal belongings, fasten your seatbelts, persons with head, neck, back problems, pregnant, suffer from motion sickness or sensativity to strobes and special effects are advised not to post. Hang on tight, because this is gonna be interesting!

Let this discussion begin!

 

[dandaman]

Usually the ones who visit this section of the board are the very ones who DON'T think Universal sucks. :lol: There's a lot of answers, but I'll let some others field them for now.

 

[CinderellyKelly]

I've been to Busch Gardens and Universal multiple times.

I enjoy the roller coasters, and have a good time with my family.

The reason that I don't like it as much as Disney is because of the ambiance.

Employees at Universal are nothing like Cast Members at Disney World. It seems that people are just nicer in Disney.

At Disney, they go out of their way to make sure you have the most amazing experience.(aka-birthday/just married/anniversary buttons, YOMD)

It also is the cleanest theme park I have ever been to. That may not be a big deal to some people, but I enjoy a clean theme park (as clean as one could be.)

Other theme parks are fun, and usually have more roller coasters, but if I'm going to spend over a thousand dollars on a vacation, I want to feel special and have the most fun possible.

It's Disney hands down for me

Hope this helps!

 

[shiekra38]

I've visited all of them...
Busch Gardens: World Class coasters, and a better expirience than Animal Kingdom. Not as good as Universal and Disney
Sea World: Great shows and three (coming on four) great attractions Almost as good as Universal and Disney
Universal: Great rides, theming, stories ambiance,and expirience
Disney: Great rides, theming, stories, ambiance and expirience

I notice two similar things do you?

 

[krankenstein]

Disney: The Holy Grail! :lol:

Universal Orlando: I love everything about Universal! I can't even begin to think of a compliant.

Bush Gardens Europe: Awesome themeing and great rides!

Sea World: Great parks, but I haven't been in years.

Wild Adventures: Decent park, a few good rides...but it is cheap!

Six Flags over Georgia: Great rides, but not up to Disney/Universal standards.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some other ones, but I can't think of one amusement or theme park I have been to that I haven't had a blast.

 

[crazydaveh]

If you want to knock the other guys in town, go to one of the main forums. The beer parks and Universal parks are great fun. I have AP's to all of them and honestly, I go to SeaWorld the most, just because it's not so crazy all the time. SeaWorld can have more than 30,000 in the park, but not really feel like it's packed as Disney does.

Universal is also fun, as they have more intense coasters than the mouse.

Don't get me wrong, I love a day at Disney, it just depends on the day for us as to which park we go to.

 

[pheneix]

Sea World is my favorite park in town to visit by far. The park's operations are head and shoulders above every one else in town. There is absolutely no comparison anymore since Disney and Universal screw things up every chance they get.

Beyond that I enjoy Busch Gardens and Epcot quite a bit. Epcot seems to have its act together compared to the other Disney parks and despite WDW management's best efforts they still haven't managed to destroy what makes that place special. Overall Busch Gardens park ops are superior but front line employees can be a bit hit or miss at times like at Disney.

DAK used to be towards the top of my list but since the Magic Kingdom rejects took over after Dr. Beth left its gone to hell in a flaming polyester handbasket. If Joe Rhode bails from WDI like the rumors say I fear for that park's future greatly.

Universal is in a bit of a bind but I don't think they'll stay that way for long. Eventually GE is going to wake up and fire UO's management team and bring in people who actually know how to run theme parks.

DHS and MK just flat out suck. Universal does the studio park thing a lot better and Magic Kingdom is the worst run theme park I've ever seen. For every one time I've been to Magic Kingdom I've been to Epcot and Sea World at least five more times.

 

[sknydave]

Herd Mentality: describes how people are influenced by their peers to adopt certain behaviors, follow trends, and/or purchase items.

 

[rwdavis2]

I like Disney and Universal both. IMHO, Universal has the best ride in Orlando, Spiderman. Given that once I get done with the rides at Universal then I don't feel much need to hang around the park. WDW parks have enough detail and theming for me to hang around a while and soak it all in. That's what I think many Disney people miss when they go somewhere else.
Bob

 

[albino_pygmy]

Herd Mentality: describes how people are influenced by their peers to adopt certain behaviors, follow trends, and/or purchase items.

Ahh yes, the sheeple syndrome

 

[agent86]

I'm sure most of you would probably hate me for posting this, but since this is a discussion board, and I would really like to discuss this topic of Disney fans and their opinion on the "competition" as most of you put it.

A couple questions I'd like hear from you guys before I start really getting into this subject:

Have you ever visited a non-Disney park before, such as Universal, Sea World, Busch Gardens, etc?
If yes, did you have fun?
If no, why didn't you have fun? (and I'm sorry, but "because it wasn't Disney" isn't an answer.)

What I'd really like to know is why is it that a big majority of Disney fans won't bother giving other parks a chance, and for the few that do, they go expecting Disney or keep thinking of Disney, and ultimately end up having a lousy time because they were wishing they were at Disney. I'm sorry, but there are more things to life than just Disney, and even though Disney is a fun place to visit, it doesn't mean it's the only place to have a great time.

Before you start bashing me or my crazy idea of "give the other guys a chance" hear me out. I do enjoy Disney as much as any of you, AND I also enjoy visiting Universal and the rest just as much too. I love having fun everywhere, and I think if you guys understand this concept of having fun anywhere you go, that you'll really enjoy all parks a lot better, including Disney. I'm just tired of hearing all the pointless ranting and complaining about this and that, and most of them are really about nothing in particular, just them missing Mickey, or wondering why Mickey allows long lines for the churro stand. Ok, I'm done ranting now.

Please secure all personal belongings, fasten your seatbelts, persons with head, neck, back problems, pregnant, suffer from motion sickness or sensativity to strobes and special effects are advised not to post. Hang on tight, because this is gonna be interesting!

Let this discussion begin!

Off topic for just a moment, but I'm curious why you paid a visit to my profile page before you even made your first post. Nothing wrong with that, but I guess I gotta wonder if you really are a "new" member, or if you're an existing member who has just created an additional member name for yourself. If I'm out of line by asking, I apologize. It just seemed a little odd.

 

[NemoRocks78]

Have you ever visited a non-Disney park before, such as Universal, Sea World, Busch Gardens, etc? Yes
If yes, did you have fun? Yes
If no, why didn't you have fun? (and I'm sorry, but "because it wasn't Disney" isn't an answer.)

:xmas:

 

[kcnole]

I held an AP to Universal for two years and not one to Disney so that should tell you something. (I currently don't hold one at all due to several reasons not related to either of the parks). I love the Universal resorts (let me be clear, I also love the Disney ones). However the Universal AP is a much greater value (especially at the price I paid for it) and they treat their AP holders much better. Free parking, discounts at all restaurants and most stores, etc...

So yes, I enjoy Universal a great deal. I haven't had a chance for Sea World yet, (well, in about 20 years at least I did visit a lot when I was a child) but when my son is about a year older I think we'll take him there since I think he'll love the animals.

 

[shiekra38]

I held an AP to Universal for two years and not one to Disney so that should tell you something. (I currently don't hold one at all due to several reasons not related to either of the parks). I love the Universal resorts (let me be clear, I also love the Disney ones). However the Universal AP is a much greater value (especially at the price I paid for it) and they treat their AP holders much better. Free parking, discounts at all restaurants and most stores, etc...

So yes, I enjoy Universal a great deal. I haven't had a chance for Sea World yet, (well, in about 20 years at least I did visit a lot when I was a child) but when my son is about a year older I think we'll take him there since I think he'll love the animals.

You'll be blown away at how much Sea World has changed. They really have made it a beautiful park.

 

[Legacy]

I've been to every Florida park, Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags America (MD), Liseburg (Goteburg, Sweden), and Lotte World (Daegu, South Korea).

And I have a blast in every one I visit.

 

[tirian]

I consider Universal a well-themed Six Flags, a pleasant diversion for when you get overstuffed on Pixie Dust, but nothing as immersive as Disney.

IMHO, you need to visit other places to take a break from the meticulous world of Disney. It's good to see real cities, countries, and even other theme parks. Universal does a fine job at providing cutting-edge rides that sometimes match Disney's finest (Spiderman).

—But—

Universal will never hold the nostalgic value of Disney. The Marvel characters and Woody Woodpecker just don't measure up to Mickey Mouse, Snow White, or Donald Duck. Plus, the Uni parks aren't nearly as well kept or as clean as Disney's, and I'm not impressed with the obnoxious, in-your-face teenage vibe to most of the attractions. Don't expect the fun of the MK or the gee-whiz-wow factor of Epcot. Finally, as themed as IOA happens to be, it still suffers from Uni's cheap-o practice of creating elaborately themed facades without hiding the show buildings. The facades in the MK are charming; at IOA they look fake.

I enjoy Uni for its coasters and break from Disney's pixie dust, yet visiting the Uni parks always makes me appreciate WDW even more.

Edit: The Incredible Hulk and Dueling Dragons are amazing. Disney needs a real, honest-to-goodness flying coaster.