Kevin Yee- Airing of Grievances

[WDW1974]

Glad to hear about La Bamba. Finnegan's will always be one of my favorites. And I can say that Simpsons is going to be very cool.

I just don't know how Finnegan's can stay in business. They serve the same pub grub at Rose and Crown at about 30-40% less price points, offer numerous discounts and you can just walk in and get served.

Disney RULRZ, UNI DROOLZ!!!! MOUSE4EVR!!!

 

[WDW1974]

Because the biggest weakness of the Universal Parks is a lack of family friendly attractions.

I would disagree to a point. I'd say UNI skews to rides/attractions that the 8 and over set will enjoy, while Disney skews to those that the 8 and under set (and their mommies and gammys will be able to enjoy).

That's the biggest issue with the direction Disney is going. You wonder if an attraction like ToT or RnRC would get approved today because they aren't for the Stroller Brigade. Mermaid is perfect if you are a 4-year-old girl (my 70-something father's reaction to it) or a 23-year-old fanboi or arrested development adult (my response to his!)

 

[WDW1974]

TSMM is the only fun and suitable ride in DHS for kids under 6. Sure they can ride the GMR, but how many 5 year olds want to ride it?

This is simply a HUGE mistake on TDO's part. You design a vacation resort aimed squarely at the toddler crowd where they know that the majority of the families are going to include toddlers. Then build an entire park with only one ride that caters to them. And then are surprised when that ONE ride gets Capacity Maxed. TDO really are idiots.

Um ... that's the problem: WDW was NEVER meant to be a resort for the toddler crowd. It was aimed at families with the knowledge that somethings (fine dining with jackets and dresses, spas, horseback riding, tennis etc) were NOT for all ages.

Now, WDW is aiming for toddllers and their mommies because Disney's Social Media consultants are telling Tommy, Crazy Gary and Blondie that Mommy Bloggers are the end all and be all of WDW's business. So the product gets further dumbed down to a level where most everything has to appeal to a special needs 6-year-old (whose mommy thinks those peanuts in the pavement of Storybook Circus are going to kill her peanut allergy plagued child!)

 

[nytimez]

I just don't know how Finnegan's can stay in business. They serve the same pub grub at Rose and Crown at about 30-40% less price points, offer numerous discounts and you can just walk in and get served.

Disney RULRZ, UNI DROOLZ!!!! MOUSE4EVR!!!

Plus, Finnegan's has a happy hour.

 

[whylightbulb]

I would disagree to a point. I'd say UNI skews to rides/attractions that the 8 and over set will enjoy, while Disney skews to those that the 8 and under set (and their mommies and gammys will be able to enjoy).

That's the biggest issue with the direction Disney is going. You wonder if an attraction like ToT or RnRC would get approved today because they aren't for the Stroller Brigade. Mermaid is perfect if you are a 4-year-old girl (my 70-something father's reaction to it) or a 23-year-old fanboi or arrested development adult (my response to his!)

I totally agree and certainly with the new stuff, some of which that has yet to be announced, that Universal is doing will add to the family list as opposed to the toddler. By the way I sent you a few nice little tidbits of information by email.

 

[WDW1974]

Plus, Finnegan's has a happy hour.

Yep, but many UNI locales offer deals or specials. (Get off the floor from laughing, but can you imagine Disney doing that?)

We went to the amazing Tchoup Chop for lunch last week at the Royal Pacific and they were offering every table a free appetizer or dessert if they had a UNI ticket for that day. They didn't even care that our tix were comps.

 

[WDW1974]

I totally agree and certainly with the new stuff, some of which that has yet to be announced, that Universal is doing will add to the family list as opposed to the toddler. By the way I sent you a few nice little tidbits of information by email.

Yep, GREAT to see all that is coming down the UNI pipeline while Disney fumbles, bumbles and stumbles along ... and thanks for the note. I will be responding. I had a sorta last-minute extended family trip to O-Town last week (you probably noticed my thread) and owe lots of people responses. Actually, I owe you two! Merry Christmas!

 

[flynnibus]

I would disagree to a point. I'd say UNI skews to rides/attractions that the 8 and over set will enjoy, while Disney skews to those that the 8 and under set (and their mommies and gammys will be able to enjoy).

It's a bit higher than that IMO.. and that's the issue. For the marque rides -

Mummy.. 48+ and scarey
MiB - 42+ - accessible..
Simpsons - 40+ - a good family one
ET - 34" - family
Woody Coaster - family

JPark - 42+ and scary
Dragon's Chall - 54+
Dudley - 44+
Popeye - 42+
Hulk - 54+
Spidey - 40+ - accessible
Dr Doom - 52+
Suess - 34+ - family
FJ - 48+
Hipogriff - 36+ - family friendly

Uni's topics and rides are skewed just a bit above that primo 6-10 age demo. The topics are aimed at older properties and hence skewed to older audiences.. and many of the 'thrill' things are too scary or out of the height range for those youngsters.

If you only had kids under 10... IoA is a hard sell. USF has more shows that are friendly (Dispicaable Me, Shrek) and the kid zone which makes it better.. but its also the park dominated by shows/theatres and less ride experiences. E.T. doesn't resonate with my kids because they've never really seen the movie. They liked Simpsons and MiB to a lesser extent.

My kids were old enough to do everything but I can understand hesitation or disappointment from people who had younger kids.

Attractions with newer topics like Shrek, HP, and Dispicable Me help.. but most of their IP is really skewed at the 30+ year olds simply due to it's age.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I have a great on ride photo of my 6 year old princess, hands in the air, on Millennium Force (310' tall, 96 MPH Hypercoaster) at Cedar Point. So I guess it depends on the family.

 

[marni1971]

WDW was most certainly not aimed at the toddler brigade. Not until the last decade or so. Now it's swung far too much in the other direction. Princesses. Pixie dust. Family reunion. Too stale, too safe, almost bland. Lack of innovation. Moments of genius in a sea of mediocrity.

Uni / Comcast realise they alienate a certain demo and will actively seek to change that. DM was a start. IOA will follow, but by design the second park will always be "edgier" and good on them.

I'd chat more, but have some Grinch movie to carry on watching.

 

[WDW1974]

I see plenty of young kids (i.e. not tweens) riding everything from Spiderman to the Hulk.
I don't know what is that perfect age where UNI/IOA are really suitable to make the investment and take the kids. All kids are different.

I know that there's more at MK for kids. Very little (the three mountains, perhaps?) are things that you need to wait for little Jon or Emily to be old enough or developed enough to ride. But there's plenty that would bore a 4-year-old to tears. Is the HoP really a better option than Sinbad' show at IOA? Are kids going to get more out of the CoP than Disaster?

Disney IP absolutely trounces UNI IP with the toddler and young child demo, but once that child starts growing ... well, I don't know what age Potter or JP or Spidey or MiB or the Simpsons become part of a kid's world.

I would say the youngest can get as much out of a Seuss Landing as they can a Fantasyland, but I don't have young kids and I don't EVER travel with friends and family that do. (what the hell kind of vacation would that be?)

 

[ScoutN]

Do you have any more information on this?

Another beyond high quality offering. It WILL be another offering that moves them up a couple more rungs while knocking Disney down a few more. I'll check and see how much I can say when I get a chance.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Just like evolution.

Again, another topic that will never be factually proven.


Jimmy Thick- Up there with how Potter is supposed to be this mammoth francise it just is not.

 

[asianway]

Disney can do decent burgers. I find the Angus burgers at Pecos Bill's to be quite tasty. But fries have always been an issue. They're like Burger King, they just can't ever get them right. ... I was talking to a friend yesterday and we actually talked fries and Disney (I know, what an exciting Christmas Eve I had!) and I recall when DAK Lodge opened and The Mara had these great crinkle cut fries that weren't the usual WDW fries. I think they lasted for about 4-5 years before they switched to the typical across property crap.

I still try and avoid burgers at Disney. I'd rather have Fuddrucker's before heading to a park if I want a decent burger at that price point.

Even the "pomme frites" at Be Our Guest are the typical fries

 

[djlaosc]

Another beyond high quality offering. It WILL be another offering that moves them up a couple more rungs while knocking Disney down a few more. I'll check and see how much I can say when I get a chance.

Thank you for letting us know what you can!

 

[drew81]

Do you have any more information on this?

Not specifically. Though, I would think we'll see something that does include animals/fish etc.

I would like to see a new tank that would include mantas(a tank near the size of Georgia Aquarium's tank). That's on my wishlist.

 

[djlaosc]

Not specifically. Though, I would think we'll see something that does include animals/fish etc.

I would like to see a new tank that would include mantas(a tank near the size of Georgia Aquarium's tank). That's on my wishlist.

Well, thanks for all the information that you can give! I just want something great/an improvement on what is currently there. Manta is great, I haven't been since TurtleTrek opened, but I would imagine that it is better than it was previously, it would guess that Antarctica will be better than Penguin Encounter. It's good that they're adding attractions/rides while still keeping to the animal theme (Manta has tanks in the queue, TurtleTrek I think has turtle/manatee tanks and Antarctica will still have penguins).

After having a quick look on Google (never been to GA. or heard of the aquarium), that would be really cool. Unfortunately, the Hospitality House is nowhere near Manta, and I think that Kraken (and the Nautilus Theater) would get in the way of a Shark Encounter attraction/expansion that could have the Manta Rays in (like in GA.) But it would make sense for SeaWorld to have Manta Rays in their parks, and as they are endangered, anything that they can do to help would be great!

 

[BigThunderMatt]

I still try and avoid burgers at Disney. I'd rather have Fuddrucker's before heading to a park if I want a decent burger at that price point.

Spoiler alert: with very few exceptions, the burger patties served in QSR restaurants are standard across property, just with different toppings. Same with the fries.

Wasn't that Lee Cockerell's claim to fame? That he standardized such things across property? Because the key to your success as a resort is homogenizing as much of the experience as possible, apparently.

 

[Lee]

Wasn't that Lee Cockerell's claim to fame? That he standardized such things across property? Because the key to your success as a resort is homogenizing as much of the experience as possible, apparently.

I believe he took credit for reducing the number of different types of french fries on property from something like 12 to 3....or some such. Huge achievement right there....ugh.

 

[WDW1974]

Spoiler alert: with very few exceptions, the burger patties served in QSR restaurants are standard across property, just with different toppings. Same with the fries.

Wasn't that Lee Cockerell's claim to fame? That he standardized such things across property? Because the key to your success as a resort is homogenizing as much of the experience as possible, apparently.

Lee ... I always associate him with being an Amway salesman. I love the way he always acted like he entered a disaster at WDW and fixed it when the opposite was true.

If I want a truly quality burger on Disney property, then I head to Fulton's for what I believe is the best on property. Although what was $9.99 just 2-3 years ago is like $15 now, which I firmly believe is Levy's following Disney's lead on pricing. ... But, hey, they'll still serve you fresh bread with lunch for free and not act like you have three heads when you ask, which you don't have to do as they just bring it ... like Disney did 7-8 years ago.