Ayla
Well-Known Member
I have never stayed at UO, so I am unfamiliar with their resorts and how they are set up. Are they similar to the Epcot resorts around Crescent Lake and in close proximity to UO?
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Is attendance really down at WDW this or…
- Thread starter coachb
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JustLikeMe
Active Member
It’s a full land with shops, dining, a family coaster and a huge E ticket dark ride using the same ride system as Forbidden Journey, but without the projection domes that make some feel nauseous. Coaster is rumoured to be themed to Wolfman and dark ride to Frankenstein.
When Epic Universe opens you’ll also have three more hotels added to the current selection.
oh my god, that sounds amazing.
JustLikeMe
Active Member
The three premier resorts (Portofino, Hard Rock, Royal Pacific) and Sapphire Falls are connected to the parks and CityWalk by water taxis and waterside walking trails. Hard Rock is closest to USF, approx a five min walk. Royal Pacific closest to IoA, approx an eight minute walk. Nice thing about the water taxis and walking trails is you go through security either before boarding the boat or before entering CityWalk, so you avoid the main security checkpoint coming in from the parking garage.
Aventura is pretty much next door to Sapphire so you can walk over to use the water taxi or reach the walking trails. Cabana Bay is over the street from Sapphire and Aventura, and has a walking trail that links up to the one to the parks, but lots of people seem to just run across the street to Sapphire. Both resorts also offer a bus service to the parking garage drop off point.
Surfside and Dockside aren’t connected to the main resort, they’re a bus ride away.
if you want to visit Volcano Bay there is a walking path from Aventura and an entrance from Cabana Bay. You have to get a shuttle bus from the other resorts.
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
This analysis presupposes that the Disney parks and the Universal parks are substitute goods.
They're not.
If Animal Kingdom was $150 and Islands of Adventure was FREE, I'd still go to Animal Kingdom.
Ayla
Well-Known Member
Thank you!
The feel I get (from videos remember, so I could be wrong) is it looks more like a bunch of hotels that you can easily access one or the other, but also feels like just hotels in a city area? It doesn't have like a contained-bubble feel like the Epcot or Monorail resorts - if you get what I'm saying? When you stay in those areas, you don't see "normal" life.
Not that it's bad, but just a different feel.
There is definitely a bubble to the water taxi resorts, you feel like you’re in another world. It’s not as big as WDW so some sounds can creep in outside and if you are in a standard room you might face out into the normal world but otherwise it’s nice. If you’ve ever stayed at GCH in CA it’s as bubble feeling as that.
the_rich
Well-Known Member
I booked a month ago. I have so far only paid the $200 deposit. This is my remaining balance. It was $2600 but I paid another $140 because they gave me an offer to upgrade to the grand floridian.
Eta: this includes 4 days of tickets.
Attachments
Are people really saying Disneys footfall is down because of a handful of Taylor Swift concerts? 
Imagine believing that a music tour is making a massive dent in Disneys footfall, rather than the obvious reasons which are:
1) Recession.
2) Post covid rush has run its course.
And...(Most importantly) ....
3)Disney raising prices while giving worse value for money just about p1ssing off all its park users.
At BEST the TS tour has taken half a one percent of sales away from Disney tickets...and that's at a huge over exagerration, its probably way way less than that.
Who on earth has cone up with the nation that Disneys reduced numbers is down to Taylor Swift? That just what a typical delusional Disney Board member would say, to take away the heat from the real reason....which, let's be honest, is blindingly obvious.
Cause she's the reason attendance is down at Disney.
Imagine believing that a music tour is making a massive dent in Disneys footfall, rather than the obvious reasons which are:1) Recession.
2) Post covid rush has run its course.
And...(Most importantly) ....
3)Disney raising prices while giving worse value for money just about p1ssing off all its park users.
At BEST the TS tour has taken half a one percent of sales away from Disney tickets...and that's at a huge over exagerration, its probably way way less than that.
Who on earth has cone up with the nation that Disneys reduced numbers is down to Taylor Swift?
That just what a typical delusional Disney Board member would say, to take away the heat from the real reason....which, let's be honest, is blindingly obvious.
Joel
Well-Known Member
JustLikeMe
Active Member
Agreed, there is definitely a contained bubble feel to the water taxi resorts. We love the walking paths and boats to and from CityWalk.
Ehh I don’t really agree with this take.
Animal kingdom would be my choice but it’s not like it towers above IoA.
It will be fun to rank the parks after Universals new gate is open.
TheMaxRebo
Well-Known Member
I am also really interested to see what happens to the Universal hotels after EU opens. Right now they are generally very well priced when compared to Disney ... Will that stay true or will there be increased demand even at high prices? Also, what happens as far as the included unlimited Express pass at the premiere hotels? Will that continue and be good at EU as well? Will only the high end resort at EU come with express pass for EU?
And don't really have speculation, honestly very interested
My oplnion - Portofino is outdated (especially the rooms) and needs a refurbishment. We were thinking of staying there and watched plenty of videos and no thanks. Out of the Universal Resorts we either would stay at Royal Pacific for a deluxe stay or Sapphire Bay and/or Cabana Bay for a cheaper stay. Those look nice/fun and I think we'd like them.
Honestly I think the Boardwalk is looking great. We visited a lot in April. Love the grounds, love the lobby, love the coffee they serve in the coffee shop, love the gift shops, love the location, love the pool area, love the hotel bar, best breakfast on property at Trattoria Al Forno (got reservations day of) and the new design in the rooms looks great. Whenever go back to Disney, I think we will stay there.
Bring on the discounts.
When we got married in Universal last May we stayed at Universals Surfside for 2 weeks but stayed at Portofino for the night before and night of the wedding......we paid £1000 for 2 nights at Portofino (approximately 4 x the Surfside price) and I have to say, we were desperately disappointed with the room at Portofino. We would go as far as saying the 2 bedroom suite room we had at Surfside was a better room!!....Obviously the Fast Passes thrown in for 3 days were the big bonus...but the hotel itself, as nice as it is, is never in a million years worth the price they charge.
the_rich
Well-Known Member
Everyone's different. The only thing at Universal that interests me is Harry potter. Not even the rides as they would get me sick. Just to see the world they created because it looks great. But I haven't been to Universal since 2003 and I don't see myself going again.
The express pass really adds a lot of value to the deluxe resorts.
Without that included I would rather just stay at Disney.
I’m interested in the resort that will be inside EU.
As long as the comes with express pass for all parks count me in.
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
Not sure if this is a sign of the slow bookings, but i went to reserve my dining choices yesterday and had a pleasant surprise -
Just about every difficult-to-reserve restaurant option was available, with multiple times available.
Examples -
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Space 220
Cinderella's Royal Table
Be Our Guest
California Grill
Boma
Given i am a Resort Guest coming in September, but this was general browsing of dining and not booking at 6:01am EST with Bots' or Apps.
Needless to say i was able to book whatever i wished on the days and times i was looking for.
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Just about every difficult-to-reserve restaurant option was available, with multiple times available.
Examples -
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Space 220
Cinderella's Royal Table
Be Our Guest
California Grill
Boma
Given i am a Resort Guest coming in September, but this was general browsing of dining and not booking at 6:01am EST with Bots' or Apps.
Needless to say i was able to book whatever i wished on the days and times i was looking for.
-
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
yeah…there’s a store off kirkman that’s COMPLETELY out of tin foil…Are people really saying Disneys footfall is down because of a handful of Taylor Swift concerts?
But I appreciate leaving no stone unturned.