How will Universal's Epic Universe effect Disney?

[UNCgolf]

Fair assessment. Those who are too old, too young, impaired or too scared (I don't mean this negatively, of course) to ride Universal's attractions will find more reason to go to Disney. In that respect, all else equal I think Disney is pulling from a larger population of potential guests.

It's not just those four groups, either. There are people (like me) who simply don't find those attractions interesting despite having nothing preventing them from riding. With simulator heavy attractions I generally feel like I can get 95% of the experience watching a video at home, so they're never especially great. Coasters are different in that the physical thrill isn't replicable and is fun to an extent, but I need something mentally engaging along with the physical thrill for it to feel worthwhile (which is why I like Revenge of the Mummy and would probably like Hagrid's, whereas stuff like Velocicoaster and Cosmic Rewind are essentially shrugworthy). I can certainly do all the rides at Universal without issue, but most of them just aren't engaging enough for me.

But yes, I agree that Disney casts a wider net for guests than Universal and have said that here before. I was wondering if Universal would try to change that with Epic Universe, but from what we know thus far it seems like they're sticking with similar attraction profiles. We obviously don't know everything yet, though.

 

[Jrb1979]

Fair assessment. Those who are too old, too young, impaired or too scared (I don't mean this negatively, of course) to ride Universal's attractions will find more reason to go to Disney. In that respect, all else equal I think Disney is pulling from a larger population of potential guests.

As far as whether Disney guests are thrill seekers or if they want to ride every ride, I think Disney guests are pretty diverse. Some of them like thrill rides, others do not. In terms of quality though, at similar thrill levels, Universal seems to boast the superior attractions right now. Per park at least. So for guests who can do all the rides at both, even if they only get around to a few then Universal is probably the better option.

While they are diverse, Disney thrill rides are pretty tame and they aren't compatible to the Hulk or Velocicoaster. Another example is most Disney guests can do Rock'n'rolller coaster but would never ride a coaster like Iron Gwazi.

It's not just those four groups, either. There are people (like me) who just don't find those attractions interesting; with simulator heavy attractions I generally feel like I can get 95% of the experience watching a video at home. Coasters are different in that the physical thrill isn't replicable and is fun to an extent, but I need something mentally engaging along with the physical thrill for it to be worthwhile (which is why I like Revenge of the Mummy and would probably like Hagrid's, whereas stuff like Velocicoaster and Cosmic Rewind are essentially shrugworthy). I can certainly do all the rides at Universal without issue, but most of them just aren't engaging enough for me.

But yes, I agree that Disney casts a wider net for guests than Universal and have said that here before. I was wondering if Universal would try to change that with Epic Universe, but from what we know thus far it seems like they're sticking with similar attraction profiles, although we obviously don't know everything yet.

Thats were I differ. While I like theming, I need that physical element to make it worthwhile. IMO Disneys best attractions are Tower of Terror and Everest. Both highly themed and very thrilling. I have felt they need more of those and less Navi River Journey

 

[JusticeDisney]

While they are diverse, Disney thrill rides are pretty tame and they aren't compatible to the Hulk or Velocicoaster. Another example is most Disney guests can do Rock'n'rolller coaster but would never ride a coaster like Iron Gwazi.


Thats were I differ. While I like theming, I need that physical element to make it worthwhile. IMO Disneys best attractions are Tower of Terror and Everest. Both highly themed and very thrilling. I have felt they need more of those and less Navi River Journey

While certainly not at the thrill level of some of Universal’s big coasters, WDW’s addition of GOTG and TRON have certainly added to their thrill level.

 

[TalkToEthan]

While I like theming, I need that physical element to make it worthwhile. IMO Disneys best attractions are Tower of Terror and Everest. Both highly themed and very thrilling. I have felt they need more of those and less Navi River Journey

Navi has innumerable physical set pieces, a lot screen, too. If you ask me too much screening but the corporal sets are all over that ride.

 

[lazyboy97o]

By popularity I mean the parks that people prefer to spend their time and money in. And by that standard, attendance is the critical metric.

Ten people go to Ice Cream Shop A ten times to buy an ice cream.

100 people go to Ice Cream Shop B one time to be buy an ice cream.

Which ice cream shop is more popular?

 

[TalkToEthan]

I should have said projections, map style but either way the 2 D stuff needs to go in the garbage can. I say anyway.

 

[JusticeDisney]

Ten people go to Ice Cream Shop A ten times to buy an ice cream.

100 people go to Ice Cream Shop B one time to be buy an ice cream.

Which ice cream shop is more popular?

Or 10 people go to ice cream shop A 10 times. And 1 person goes to ice cream shop B 100 times. Which shop is more popular?

 

[Jrb1979]

Navi has innumerable physical set pieces, a lot screen, too. If you ask me too much screening but the corporal sets are all over that ride.

Yes but it doesn't have the physical thrill element that Tower of Terror and Everest has. That's what I'm talking about in regards to physical element.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I still think it comes down to what the parks offer beyond rides, my favorite ride anywhere right now is Velocicoaster, Hagrids in contention for second favorite, and the 2 HP lands are in contention for my favorite “land” anywhere, with Pandora and Carsland… but we still struggle to spend a whole day at IOA. The new things are absolutely amazing but they don’t have the supporting cast to top Disney for us.

I think everyone would agree that IOA has a better ride lineup than Epcot but despite that we can spend a full day at Epcot and never run out of things to do, at IOA we do the big 3 coasters, HP, and Spidey and then find were “looking” for things to fill time. The same is true at USF (and also HS at WDW).

This is why Epic is so intriguing to me as a Disney fan who currently only does Uni as add on days if we have the time, it has the potential to be the first real “Disney equivalent” Universal park because the whole park is being built at the same theme level as Disney, rather than just the new stuff. As such it could be a must do day rather than an added day if we have the time.

 

[flynnibus]

In your OPINION Universal has the superior attractions. You keep stating that as if it is some sort of fact, and it is not.

Go ride the latest two attraction Hagrids and Velocicoaster - easily best attractions in Florida in decades.

Ok, let me ask you this. If not by looking at attendance, how else do we gauge the popularity of a particular theme park?

The thing you keep overlooking is 'attendance' is just a measure of visits, it doesn't measure how many --people-- the product reaches or moves.

Disney thrives on the repeat visitor... attendance keeps counting those same people every time they come. So if you want to measure visits, sure... good tool. If you are trying to measure how many people/opinions find the product popular - not as good a measure for WDW.

 

[JusticeDisney]

Go ride the latest two attraction Hagrids and Velocicoaster - easily best attractions in Florida in decades.

The thing you keep overlooking is 'attendance' is just a measure of visits, it doesn't measure how many --people-- the product reaches or moves.

Disney thrives on the repeat visitor... attendance keeps counting those same people every time they come. So if you want to measure visits, sure... good tool. If you are trying to measure how many people/opinions find the product popular - not as good a measure for WDW.

I’ve ridden them both. I agree with you that Hagrid’s is phenomenal. It’s one of my favorite rides I’ve ever been on. Damn near perfection as far as I’m concerned. Wouldn’t give you a dime for Velocicoaster, though. Just a big, fast, steel coaster, IMO. I’ve been on coasters like that all over the place. I’ll take Everest over that every day of the week. Also, for my money, Flight of Passage is easily one of the best attractions in Florida in forever. Then you have Rise of the Resistance, which of course Universal has nothing even remotely like it. Point is, everything is subjective. You like what you like, I like what I like, and someone else likes something else. None of us should be stating anything as fact, when it is merely our own subjective opinion.

As for your point regarding attendance, you make a very valid one. Of course, Universal isn’t immune from repeat visitors either. At the end of the day, we will never really know how many of the attendance figures are repeat or not, but what we do know is WDW doubles Universal in total attendance even in the closest year.

 

[Jrb1979]

Ed

I’ve ridden them both. I agree with you that Hagrid’s is phenomenal. It’s one of my favorite rides I’ve ever been on. Damn near perfection as far as I’m concerned. Wouldn’t give you a dime for Velocicoaster, though. Just a big, fast, steel coaster, IMO. I’ve been on coasters like that all over the place. I’ll take Everest over that every day of the week. Also, for my money, Flight of Passage is easily one of the best attractions in Florida in forever. Then you have Rise of the Resistance, which of course Universal has nothing even remotely like it. Point is, everything is subjective. You like what you like, I like what I like, and someone else likes something else. None of us should be stating anything as fact, when it is merely our own subjective opinion.

As for your point regarding attendance, you make a very valid one. Of course, Universal isn’t immune from repeat visitors either. At the end of the day, we will never really know how many of the attendance figures are repeat or not, but what we do know is WDW doubles Universal in total attendance even in the closest year.

I would take Velocicoaster over any coaster at either WDW or Universal. As a person who loves coasters, theming is on the bottom of the list for how good a coaster is. IMO the best coaster is I305 at Kings Dominion. Nothing beats greying out from the first drop.

 

[JusticeDisney]

Ed

I would take Velocicoaster over any coaster at either WDW or Universal. As a person who loves coasters, theming is on the bottom of the list for how good a coaster is. IMO the best coaster is I305 at Kings Dominion. Nothing beats greying out from the first drop.

I haven’t been on that one but it sounds pretty awesome!

Anyway, that’s exactly my point. This is all subjective. What’s annoying to me is when people come on here and insist that their way of seeing something is the only way to see it and is some sort of fact.

 

[Jrb1979]

I haven’t been on that one but it sounds pretty awesome!

Anyway, that’s exactly my point. This is all subjective. What’s annoying to me is when people come on here and insist that their way of seeing something is the only way to see it and is some sort of fact.

I agree. I will say as someone who loves coasters and all parks it does get tiresome hearing how many here look down on things like exposed coaster track and other parks in general.

 

[UNCgolf]

Go ride the latest two attraction Hagrids and Velocicoaster - easily best attractions in Florida in decades.

That's wildly subjective, though. While Hagrid's looks very good, I could probably name 25 rides at WDW/Universal combined that I think are more fun than Velocicoaster -- because pure coasters are boring (or maybe uninteresting is a better word) for me. I wouldn't wait 20 minutes to ride Velocicoaster.

That doesn't mean it's bad; just that claims about something like "best" are going to vary tremendously from person to person.

 

[Jrb1979]

That's wildly subjective, though. While Hagrid's looks very good, I could probably name 25 rides at WDW/Universal combined that I think are more fun than Velocicoaster -- because pure coasters are boring (or maybe uninteresting is a better word) for me. I wouldn't wait 20 minutes to ride Velocicoaster.

That doesn't mean it's bad; just that claims about something like "best" are going to vary tremendously from person to person.

I agree somewhat. On a list of best coasters Velocicoaster is near the top. I love pure coasters especially intense ones. The sensations that your body feels is like nothing else. For example I305 at Kings Dominion. Having a grey out from the intensity is an experience that no Disney or Universal attraction can meet.

 

[flynnibus]

That's wildly subjective, though. While Hagrid's looks very good, I could probably name 25 rides at WDW/Universal combined that I think are more fun than Velocicoaster -- because pure coasters are boring (or maybe uninteresting is a better word) for me. I wouldn't wait 20 minutes to ride Velocicoaster.

That doesn't mean it's bad; just that claims about something like "best" are going to vary tremendously from person to person.

All 'best' are subjective because what people ultimately value is debatable. But it is also possible to assess using criteria that is objective and outside one's personal preferences. And by nearly every sample... Velocicoaster is way up there. Sorry you don't like it - doesn't negate it's reception nor critical praise.

 

[flynnibus]

I’ve ridden them both. I agree with you that Hagrid’s is phenomenal. It’s one of my favorite rides I’ve ever been on. Damn near perfection as far as I’m concerned. Wouldn’t give you a dime for Velocicoaster, though. Just a big, fast, steel coaster, IMO. I’ve been on coasters like that all over the place. I’ll take Everest over that every day of the week. Also, for my money, Flight of Passage is easily one of the best attractions in Florida in forever. Then you have Rise of the Resistance, which of course Universal has nothing even remotely like it. Point is, everything is subjective. You like what you like, I like what I like, and someone else likes something else. None of us should be stating anything as fact, when it is merely our own subjective opinion.

But again, you were shunning UNIs attractions... while put on the spot you agree they have 'phenomenal' ones too. Instead of accepting the other guy had subjective views too, you prefer to shut them down as not possible. The knife cuts both ways sir...

As for your point regarding attendance, you make a very valid one. Of course, Universal isn’t immune from repeat visitors either. At the end of the day, we will never really know how many of the attendance figures are repeat or not, but what we do know is WDW doubles Universal in total attendance even in the closest year.

So you acknowledge the measurement is not as claimed... but go right back to it as the measure to bet on. *rolleyes*

 

[MisterPenguin]

 

[JusticeDisney]

But again, you were shunning UNIs attractions... while put on the spot you agree they have 'phenomenal' ones too. Instead of accepting the other guy had subjective views too, you prefer to shut them down as not possible. The knife cuts both ways sir...



So you acknowledge the measurement is not as claimed... but go right back to it as the measure to bet on. *rolleyes*

Unfortunately, you seem to be really struggling with reading comprehension. That, or you just outright make stuff up. Either way, do better, ma’am.