I committed treason against WDW, but or good reason!

[SleepingMonk]

I think a pic of your ticket stub should be added for threads like this.

I really question if some people have actually ever been to a Universal park, or if they just repeat things they read online.

 

[MKCP 1985]

First off, it is not treason for a person who loves Walt Disney World or Disney parks in general to visit other theme parks. Mickey won't cry the next time he sees you and Walt Disney World will welcome you back with open arms, so set aside that guilt.

Second, most people who enjoy the Disney parks can enjoy Universal's parks, too. No, Universal isn't Disney and, as far as I can tell, doesn't want to be, even though they certainly covet Disney's treasury and attendance numbers. There are things good and not so good that make Disney stand apart just as Coke is not Pepsi even though both are cola.

Last, it sounds like you really didn't want to like Universal. Otherwise, you could easily have had a different experience that makes you look forward to a return. I have had bad experiences at Universal, too, but not enough to write them off. Even with their differences and shortcomings, I'd rather spend a day at Universal than at one particular Disney World park that currently has challenges with operational hours and ride offerings. Disney is working on that, but until they make a change I will happily do 3 Disney parks and spend the fourth day doing the Universal 2 parks or at Sea World.

 

[MKCP 1985]

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.

And truth be told, there are a good number of CMs/employees who work at both Disney and Universal. Doubt they change their personality when they report to the different employers.

 

[Uddy]

I think a pic of your ticket stub should be added for threads like this.

I really question if some people have actually ever been to a Universal park, or if they just repeat things they read online.

.

Glady post a pic. Anyone know how to from an iPhone?

 

[joanna71985]

I don't think it's treason to go to both (I have a Universal AP myself).

 

[cheezbat]

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

Good. Saves more room for those of us who actually care to go to a place that cares about adding new attractions...not just DVCs and next gen data mining crap.

 

[chocotaco]

However, my visit to Universal opened my eyes. Universal is NOOOOOOOO Disney!

I'd agree with that, albeit for different reasons. You're right, Universal is no Disney... Universal is actually putting money into their parks and updating things, where as Disney is just sitting on their hands while their parks are becoming stale. An uninspired expansion isn't going to make much of a difference in my opinion (Fantasyland).

Thankfully we're hearing word that Disney is looking to give DHS the attention and work it needs, though I think all their parks need some attention. Unlike some others, I do hope Avatarland gets done as well, as long as they do it right and are willing to put the money into it. I think regardless of how some feel on Avatar and how much they dislike the movie, I think with the talent Disney has they can make it out to be something very special. As with everything Disney does though, nothing is for certain until it's built.

I think perception makes a big deal. Is Disney better than Universal? Well it depends on how you value things but most would say, overall, yes it is. Lately though? It's been Universal that has been capturing the excitement. Universal is the one seen as pushing things forward and bringing in brand new experiences.It's the reason why I mostly read the Universal boards on the internet as of late (I don't post much). Always seem to be some news on Universal, whether its about the current construction going on, or on a new project that they're going to work on in the near future. In a few years Universal Studios is going to look like a whole different park from what the insiders are saying. So while Universal may not be as good as Disney overall (have to keep in mind Universal just got new owners recently, as the former ones didn't like spending the $$), they're the ones that are drawing the attention and the excitement. It's pretty simple for Disney to bring the excitement back, they have to actually spend money and focus on quality.

I really hope we can get a theme park war going on between Universal and Disney, now that would be something to see, and maybe we will see it (again DHS news/rumor is a good sign). As of right now though, it seems to me that only Universal is firing the shots, with no seize fire in sight.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Why is it considered blasphemy or treason if people love going to both Disney and Universal? They're both great theme parks. Honestly, like someone else said, I'm waiting for an all out theme park war between these two. Bring on more new experiences for us, please. Duke it out!

 

[steviej]

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

I'm disney for life, but god, spiderman is an amazing ride

 

[NutsForFlorida]

Ever since I started going to the Orlando area for vacations, I always went to both Disney and Universal. Both areas offer something different. Both are great areas. Disney is larger in terms of square miles and parks. But so what. Universal is adding some new rides...Awesome! I'm still going to go to all the parks because I want to go on all those rides that you can't at each park. If you really look into it, I'm sure you can find that both parks need something new or updating. So in my opinion, you can't even compare the two. Both great, different themes.

 

[Uddy]

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.

First look at cara-suess-el, chipped all over. But, glad they are fixing it. Jurassic park was ok, I liked it. Poor transitioning from the boat "tour" to "escaped rapto area". The lost continent theming was good but the Sinbad show and the Poisidens Fury were horrible! Thumbs up for theming, thumbs down for shows and ride/tour. I wanted to try eating at Mythos but ran out on time. I heard it was good though. I couldn't agree more about needed attention or dismantle at DHS. Demolish, DinoUSA and add parts of Universals Jurassic rides, shows and playgrounds, to DHS dinosour ride and now you've got a land worth talking about.

 

[Uddy]

I think a pic of your ticket stub should be added for threads like this.

I really question if some people have actually ever been to a Universal park, or if they just repeat things they read online.

Still Looking for help on the picture. I figured if anyone would help, you would.

 

[SleepingMonk]

Sorry, all Android here.

 

[kittybubbles]

My daughter just reached 48 inches in height and it was the milestone we were waiting for to visit UNI. Using a critical eye, I could say that the queue for the trolley in the sky is in real bad shape. I would also say that it appeared (to me) that the water stains in the wand shop were part of themeing and not a case of something being in bad shape.

Personally, I found myself more offended by things at Disney than at UNI.(mainly because Disney should do better, but my issues are really issues with employees and I found UNI's to be great). We stayed at Sports for 4 nights and I can understand that maybe no one stayed in this particular 1st floor room during our stay, but for no hotel workers to notice the dead roach sitting in the window sil next to the towel animal would mean there were no guest on that whole wing...anyway, my whole family noticed it on the walk to the elevator on our first day and we were shocked that it was still there when we left on the. Last day (only days we walked to/from the elevator in route to the car). So I blame employees for not caring as someone should have noticed and done something about it.

My biggest shock was when we were waiting on a bus at DHS. We had only been there around 10 mins when a bus pulled up, but he was only there to drop folks off, this did not. Bother me one bit, but then the driver told me that if we wanted a bus back to our hotel, we would need to walk over to the white van that dispatched buses and tell them we were waiting....as a stock holder in Disney, I took offence that their employees do not seem to get it...


Anyway, my family loved the. The we spent at UNI...it was impressive to see construction being done on Sunday but it is odd to see a dump truck full of gravel traveling inside an open park...anyway, we recently visited both UNI and Disney and we enjoyed both and (possibly due to expectations/reputation) I found UNI more impressive than Disney when it came to caring employees.

 

[Uddy]

I think a pic of your ticket stub should be added for threads like this.

I really question if some people have actually ever been to a Universal park, or if they just repeat things they read online.

Here it is

 

[Californian Elitist]

I don't know about Orlando but Universal Hollywood is definitely more generous when it comes to their guests/APers. You won't ever see Disney give each of their Annual Passholders a complimentary ticket for their birthdays so they can bring a friend, or free hot chocolate on cold days, or FREE ADMISSION FOR ANOTHER DAY if it rains. With an USH AP, you get a discount on regular admission tickets and a nice savings for Horror Nights (up to $25 off). All this, on top of the special events, discounts on food and merchandise and free parking. Now THAT is what I call great service. Besides special events, discounts on food and merchandise and free parking, you won't be seeing any of the rest of the things I mentioned from Disney. Oh and Universal has affordable APs. Disney is superior in quality and content, but Universal has them beat by one hundred miles when it comes to guest service IMO.

 

[BryceM]

Aw, I got excited that maybe a Disney-obsesso would comment on how they loved Universal equally! But, I read on...

I must also miss those days when the parks are so disgusting and awful that you can't have fun. Hmmm.

 

[culturenthrills]

I have never understood how people can come down here and only go to Disney. There are so many amazing things to do. Besides Universal, there is SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and now Legoland. Countless waterparks and that is just man made stuff. Besides the beaches there are so many amazing nature things to do, from swimming with Manatees in Crystal River, tubing down Rainbow River and many more amazing things. Those who come down here and never leave Disney are missing out on sooo much. As much as it may suck weather wise during the summer one of the things I like about living down here is you can never run out of things to do.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

I love Disney but also love universal studios its nOt the magic feeling but i do get a great feeling being there

 

[TalkingHead]

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

Totally anecdotal, but years ago I saw a rat eating nacho cheese in the queue for Splash Mountain in the mid-afternoon.

Mickey's relative, I assumed.