I committed treason against WDW, but or good reason!

[Uddy]

Well after years of visiting WDW, I thought I'd try out there competitor, Universal Studios.

Now I'm have always been the first to call Disney out on paint chips, blemishes, or just stuff not working, things needing to be updated or things just needed to be left alone. However, my visit to Universal opened my eyes. Universal is NOOOOOOOO Disney!

Both Universal parks were just...... Dirty! Paint chips everywhere, dirty bathrooms, grime everywhere. Every minute I was there made me want to run 15 miles south. The employees where not very friendly, the animatronics awful, as a matter of fact Hogsmeade/Harry Potter was the only thing that was Disneyesque!

I understand Univesal is doing their own thing, it's just not for me. I never once felt fully enveloped in whatever land I was in. I realized Disney does such a wonderful job whisking you away to a different world in each area you visit. From the sounds and smells to the realistic environment, Disney blows the competition out of the water!

Well, I guess my treasonist act of visiting Universal was a necessary evil. It made me truly appreciate WDW!

 

[marni1971]

Each to their own I guess.

 

[real mad hatter]

When at Universal I took a deep breath and sniffed the air.Not one smell of any magic.WDW for us.

 

[Piebald]

I was just at both parks this weekend and they were clean. One thing I noticed is UO seemed like 85% foreigners. I'm not even exaggerating, the rest just looked like passholders. I'm not sure how it is on a typical day, but that seems like its bad news....for Disney.

 

[DisneyOtaku91]

The only thing I like at Universal now a days is Spider-Man.

 

[GLaDOS]

Wow, as a Universal AP holder, I must miss the days when all this grime magically appears, the parks fall into disrepair, and the employees are terrible.

What a typical trolling thread.

Moving on.

 

[wiigirl]

The only thing I like at Universal now a days is Spider-Man.

Spider man and Harry Potter....everything else...meh!

 

[Captain Chaos]

So Disney's anti-Universal team is starting to come back out in full force... Must be a major announcement coming from Disney... What will it be this time, they are holding a press event to announce PAINTING A BATHROOM WALL????

Typical troll tread.... I'm with Gla on this one.. Next....

 

[tahqa]

Wow, as a Universal AP holder, I must miss the days when all this grime magically appears, the parks fall into disrepair, and the employees are terrible.

What a typical trolling thread.

Moving on.

I'm a Universal Premiere AP holder and WDW Premium AP holder so I go to both parks frequently. Sometimes I'm in the mood for Uni and sometimes I'm in the mood for WDW.

Anyways, I've seen things at Uni that I've never seen at WDW -- 2 examples:
1) Someone vomited on the bridge under the Hulk coaster and it was still there an hour later
2) Rats walking across the pathways in broad daylight

And in general the cast members at Disney are better -- again 2 examples:
1) If I use my Disney Visa at Uni I'm about 75% likely to be told that can't take it because it says Disney. I know that they are trying to be funny, but it's still annoying. I just tell them that Visa might have something to say about that and it usually solves that issue.
2) For HHN I get the Frequent Fear pass with Express Access and last year at one of the houses the handheld computer was down and they wanted to mark my pass to say I'd been in the house. I told them that that was not acceptable. So they call the 'Express Pass' manager over and tells me the same thing. I explain to him that I don't want to be denied access the next time I come just because my pass is marked saying I've already been in that house. He blinks and stammers and then says "Well, just go to Guest Services afterwards and they'll give you a new pass". Excuse me? Not an acceptable answer.

And don't get me started on Hogsmeade. They don't serve coke products there because it's not appropriate for the story being told. I get that, but they serve major brand beers! (Bud light, coors light, I don't remember). Bud Light is story appropriate?!?

Anyways, I'm tired of ranting. I like Uni and I love HHN (much better than MNSSHP) and Uni does some great things. But they still are a bit aways from Disney in terms of customer service and general cleanliness. JMO.

 

[Uddy]

Not a TROLL thread. Just my opinion. You can have yours. What I saw is not what some believe and what some do. So be it!

 

[Uddy]

I'm a Universal Premiere AP holder and WDW Premium AP holder so I go to both parks frequently. Sometimes I'm in the mood for Uni and sometimes I'm in the mood for WDW.

Anyways, I've seen things at Uni that I've never seen at WDW -- 2 examples:
1) Someone vomited on the bridge under the Hulk coaster and it was still there an hour later
2) Rats walking across the pathways in broad daylight

And in general the cast members at Disney are better -- again 2 examples:
1) If I use my Disney Visa at Uni I'm about 75% likely to be told that can't take it because it says Disney. I know that they are trying to be funny, but it's still annoying. I just tell them that Visa might have something to say about that and it usually solves that issue.
2) For HHN I get the Frequent Fear pass with Express Access and last year at one of the houses the handheld computer was down and they wanted to mark my pass to say I'd been in the house. I told them that that was not acceptable. So they call the 'Express Pass' manager over and tells me the same thing. I explain to him that I don't want to be denied access the next time I come just because my pass is marked saying I've already been in that house. He blinks and stammers and then says "Well, just go to Guest Services afterwards and they'll give you a new pass". Excuse me? Not an acceptable answer.

And don't get me started on Hogsmeade. They don't serve coke products there because it's not appropriate for the story being told. I get that, but they serve major brand beers! (Bud light, coors light, I don't remember). Bud Light is story appropriate?!?

Anyways, I'm tired of ranting. I like Uni and I love HHN (much better than MNSSHP) and Uni does some great things. But they still are a bit aways from Disney in terms of customer service and general cleanliness. JMO.

Abso-freakin-loutly
Perfectly said

 

[Lucky]

I've spent a lot more money and time at WDW than at Uni, so I don't think I can be accused of a bias toward Uni. But the CMs I met at Uni were just as nice and helpful as WDW's, if not more so. It seemed just as clean. There are at least 2 lands with terrific theming at IoA, not just Potter but also Seuss (yes, it's for kids so that doesn't count for many people). There are a lot of great rides in the not-so-well-themed "lands". And the theming at WDW, while better overall, isn't always so great. It has a lot of "lands" that aren't as well themed as Potter and Seuss.

I don't think it's "treasonous" to make WDW work for your money instead of just counting on its past reputation to keep the $$$ rolling in.

 

[maxairmike]

I think I see more chipped paint at Disney than anywhere else in Orlando. Sounds like you had a pretty unlucky day. Like GLaDOS, I have APs both places and have never experienced the kind of extremes people here always mention at Universal. Do I encounter the occasional bad TM? Yeah, happens at Disney too. Of course, if you went yesterday it could have been because everyone was tired/hungover from the HHN preview on Wednesday (which was pretty fun, btw).

 

[Uddy]

I think I see more chipped paint at Disney than anywhere else in Orlando. Sounds like you had a pretty unlucky day. Like GLaDOS, I have APs both places and have never experienced the kind of extremes people here always mention at Universal. Do I encounter the occasional bad TM? Yeah, happens at Disney too. Of course, if you went yesterday it could have been because everyone was tired/hungover from the HHN preview on Wednesday (which was pretty fun, btw).

You know that is a very good point! Maybe?!?

 

[Uddy]

I've spent a lot more money and time at WDW than at Uni, so I don't think I can be accused of a bias toward Uni. But the CMs I met at Uni were just as nice and helpful as WDW's, if not more so. It seemed just as clean. There are at least 2 lands with terrific theming at IoA, not just Potter but also Seuss (yes, it's for kids so that doesn't count for many people). There are a lot of great rides in the not-so-well-themed "lands". And the theming at WDW, while better overall, isn't always so great. It has a lot of "lands" that aren't as well themed as Potter and Seuss.

I don't think it's "treasonous" to make WDW work for your money instead of just counting on its past reputation to keep the $$$ rolling in.

Have have to say, Seuss is themed very nicely towards kids. You are correct. But, Suess especially was the dirtyest, muckiest, and more chipped paint than anywhere in the park! I would have loved to see it when it was brand new.

 

[Uddy]

I also noticed the used gum all over the park. I've seen it at Disney but not so much.

 

[GLaDOS]

Have have to say, Seuss is themed very nicely towards kids. You are correct. But, Suess especially was the dirtyest, muckiest, and more chipped paint than anywhere in the park! I would have loved to see it when it was brand new.

Seuss is literally going through a massive re-painting project, most of which is coming to a completion. I have to say I find this very suspect.

 

[GLaDOS]

I've spent a lot more money and time at WDW than at Uni, so I don't think I can be accused of a bias toward Uni. But the CMs I met at Uni were just as nice and helpful as WDW's, if not more so. It seemed just as clean. There are at least 2 lands with terrific theming at IoA, not just Potter but also Seuss (yes, it's for kids so that doesn't count for many people). There are a lot of great rides in the not-so-well-themed "lands". And the theming at WDW, while better overall, isn't always so great. It has a lot of "lands" that aren't as well themed as Potter and Seuss.

I don't think it's "treasonous" to make WDW work for your money instead of just counting on its past reputation to keep the $$$ rolling in.

I'd say Jurassic Park, Lost Continent, and Port of Entry are all Disney level theming as well.

Marvel is terrific, but I can see how it goes over some people's heads. And Toon Lagoon needs help, but it's not worse than most of DHS and Dino Rama.

 

[tahqa]

I'd say Jurassic Park, Lost Continent, and Port of Entry are all Disney level theming as well.

Marvel is terrific, but I can see how it goes over some people's heads. And Toon Lagoon needs help, but it's not worse than most of DHS and Dino Rama.

LOL - There's a reason DHS is my least favorite park in Orlando! And, while I love the Animal Kingdom, Dino-Rama is just pitiful. Two perfect examples of the Eisner era.

Jurassic Park is okay, I love the foliage, but the AA's in the river ride tend to need more upkeep than they're getting. Of course, they are in the worst possible environment for AA's so I can understand that. Lost Continent needs more than what they have. The theming is awesome, the rest of it... well... not so much. Fire Eaters is a poor quick service location and the Poseidon's Fury is only worth while with no line. Never seen the stunt show so I won't comment there. Port of Entry has some great theming, but still seems to be lacking something. *Shrug*

I'm not a Uni basher by any means, like I said which parks I go to depend on what I'm feeling like that particular day. I just get more "head-scratching " moments at Uni than I do at WDW.

I'll give Uni credit, though, they are bringing their A game and things are getting better. And that can only be good for the Orlando theme park environment in general.

 

[GLaDOS]

I'm not a Uni basher by any means, like I said which parks I go to depend on what I'm feeling like that particular day. I just get more "head-scratching " moments at Uni than I do at WDW.

I'll give Uni credit, though, they are bringing their A game and things are getting better. And that can only be good for the Orlando theme park environment in general.

You have to remember, Universal is still recovering from a time where the parks were literally on life support. Before Comcast bought them, management just wanted to sap as much money out of them as they could without putting any in. And it definitely showed. But Comcast is seriously making some sweeping changes. Every week the parks improve in all aspects.

Yes, there is obviously room for improvement, but the general dirty/crappy/terrible TM fallacies are just no longer true for the resort.

The place isn't perfect, but no parks are. And as of now, I'd take IoA over any of the Disney parks in Orlando. And MK is the only one that comes close to it. EPCOT is basically there just for shopping and dining anymore, DHS has 3 good rides, and DAK...well...honestly I couldn't tell you what DAK has going for it.