NYT: "Universal....Takes Aim at Disney"

[WDW1974]

Oh my gosh, isn't that the truth?!?

I did the exact same thing you did, after being a typical American fan of Disney parks that only visited either WDW or Disneyland (depending on which coast I was living on at the time earlier in my career), and I figured there was nothing more to do than obsess over that missing drop on WDW's Pirates of the Caribbean and watch standards and practices slowly devolve and get sloppy with the devolving American service culture. (One coast is devolving more quickly than the other, but that's another topic).

True, but a very important topic IMHO.

Great guest service isn't simplye giving your brat a Mickey sticker (that inevitably will get placed on some surface it doesn't belong) or telling you to 'have a MAGICal day' 87 times a day or welcoming you 'home' to DAK Lodge when you are staying off-site and just having dinner at Boma!

[
And then about eight years ago I went to Tokyo Disney Resort for the first time and WOW! I can never look at the American theme parks the same ever again. I've visited both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea repeatedly since then, and it just gets better.

If you are purely provincial and only go to WDW or only go to Disneyland and just assume that's as good as you will ever get, then that's all you will get as their standards slowly trend downwards with each passing year. But if you actually visit someplace extraordinary like Tokyo Disneyland, then your eyes will be opened wide.

Be warned however, after a visit to Tokyo you will NEVER be able to look at the American parks the same ever again. And as an otherwise patriotic American, that has been a tough thing for me to deal with.

Well, as a patriotic loving American Spirit, I find that just going abroad and seeing things done better in so many areas (from health care to high speed rail to not getting molested at airports to board planes to food that is actually ... well, food and tasty at McD's) that once you leave the USA, you never quite view it the same again. You do appreciate what is better here, but you lose the 'tude that all is better here and always will be cause it ain't close to being true. (anyone got a flag-holding smiley?)

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

I especially like the magazines they have over there Spirit.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I'm definitely glad for the competition. As a local, it is very nice to have variety here. I grew up at Disney and Sea World, so I'm very attached to both for a laundry list of reasons. Universal has always been about thrill attractions, and my mother has motion sickness, so I only went a couple of times as a child with friends. Universal has always been fun, but not necessarily rooted into childhood nostalgia.

I got AP's for Universal when Potter opened--as I'm a huge fan--and enjoyed 2 years with it. It's a much cheaper option against Disney (though granted, it's half the parks). But I got bored. I'm hoping that with the extra cash flow, Uni will start giving the rest of the parks some TLC.

I'm really hoping that Universal continues to expand and explore cutting-edge technology. Nostalgia and preschool franchises can take Disney only so far. They need to go back to their roots and invest in ALL the parks if they want to stay ahead.

Comcast said they will be pouring $150 million a year over the next 5 years into Universal... That is major... I'm sure that includes the new Potter expansion, but I can also see it including a 4th hotel, on site water park, updating maintenance, and more attractions... Universal's AP will be worth it, much more than WDW's AP is...

 

[Rescue Ranger]

Competition will always be a great thing, because that way both will...or should be at the top of their game, maintaining their parks. It should be like that all of the time granted, but sadly that isn't always the case. It USED to always be the case with Disney, no matter what.

BUT, I do notice WDW does seem to be getting a lot better again.......hopefully it stays that way.

 

[PirateFrank]

I went to universal recently and I was extremely impressed with the theming of potter land but there was little to no theming in the rest of the park. and a huge overlooked flaw that I am surprised no one has noticed is to the right of the huge potter castle there is a white show building peeking up from behind the wall. I saw that and saw why there theming detail was less impressive. However I have to say I like thrill rides and they do a much better job there than in Disney. Disney really needs to step up their thrill rides and not by putting in new videos in Star Tours

^this!

While I love the theming at IOA....especially in WWOHP. The big, open, ugly views of the show buildings is just poor planning of landscaping....

 

[c-one]

^this!

While I love the theming at IOA....especially in WWOHP. The big, open, ugly views of the show buildings is just poor planning of landscaping....

If you want to pick nits, there are plenty to pick at Universal. The glaringly obvious Potter building is one. And Uni has had its share of maintenance problems -- remember how nasty Hulk looked until about a year ago? And let's not even get into Rip Ride Rockit...

All that said, you've got to look at the trajectories here -- and even if Universal isn't perfect, look at their recent history and future plans and the story tells itself.

 

[PirateFrank]

If you want to pick nits, there are plenty to pick at Universal. The glaringly obvious Potter building is one. And Uni has had its share of maintenance problems -- remember how nasty Hulk looked until about a year ago? And let's not even get into Rip Ride Rockit...

All that said, you've got to look at the trajectories here -- and even if Universal isn't perfect, look at their recent history and future plans and the story tells itself.

Um...I'm not nit picking....I'm merely stating that the building for FJ is a damn eye sore and they could have done it better.....

Uni is firing *most* of the right canons right now....but I firmly believe that without strong competition in Disney they will continue to make unnecessary mistakes like the one above.

 

[HenryMystic]

If you want to pick nits, there are plenty to pick at Universal. The glaringly obvious Potter building is one. And Uni has had its share of maintenance problems -- remember how nasty Hulk looked until about a year ago? And let's not even get into Rip Ride Rockit...

All that said, you've got to look at the trajectories here -- and even if Universal isn't perfect, look at their recent history and future plans and the story tells itself.

The important thing to remember about Universal is that up until this past year, ownership was always in flux. G.E. and/or Blackstone was always looking to sell the parks and therefore spending the bare minimum to keep the place open. Now, with the success of Potter and Comcast buying the parks and actually wanting them, things are improving and the future is bright.

Meanwhile, TDO is managing WDW like G.E./Blackstone managed UOR but lack of money isn't the issue.

ETA: it's nice to have Spirit back

 

[Mouse Detective]

I haven't been to UNI since October ... but if you feel it has maintenance issues, what would you say Disney has? MAGICal boo-boos?

Uni needs to invest in some new uniforms/clothing for their Team Members. Some of those people's clothes are just horribly washed-out/faded. I feel sorry for what some of them have to wear! But other than that, I think Uni's maintenance is on par with Disney.

 

[ChrisFL]

Well, as a patriotic loving American Spirit, I find that just going abroad and seeing things done better in so many areas (from health care to high speed rail to not getting molested at airports to board planes to food that is actually ... well, food and tasty at McD's) that once you leave the USA, you never quite view it the same again. You do appreciate what is better here, but you lose the 'tude that all is better here and always will be cause it ain't close to being true. (anyone got a flag-holding smiley?)

Absolutely. I wish more Americans would go out and visit the rest of the world IN GENERAL.

I saw a statistic that only 20-something percent of Americans even had a passport, and I bet a lot of that is just to visit Canada and Mexico. Its easy to claim you have the best stuff when you never see what anyone else has!

 

[Tom Morrow]

Ugh I hate the ridiculous claims some of you make in any thread that talks positively about Universal.

Oh, sorry, now Universal is the run down one? Oh, I guess you forgot about how nearly every single ride (even the E tickets which is inexcusable) at WDW has terrible show quality (compared to what it could be).

But Oh NO there was a chip in my seat on Jurassic Park!

 

[c-one]

Absolutely. I wish more Americans would go out and visit the rest of the world IN GENERAL.

I saw a statistic that only 20-something percent of Americans even had a passport, and I bet a lot of that is just to visit Canada and Mexico. Its easy to claim you have the best stuff when you never see what anyone else has!

Please back me up next time someone on this board says they'd rather go to World Showcase than visit the actual countries in question.

 

[WDW1974]

When we were there, the degradation we saw was more in the general appearance of the park (roads, facades, benches, railings, etc). Only one ride had an issue while we were there. We were 2 away from unloading at Spiderman and it stopped for about 10 minutes, but no evac required.

So, in essence, either the rides are all in fine shape....or I was seeing Uni/IoA rides and attractions through the same glasses that 90% of WDW's day guests see the WDW parks through. Those glasses being the ones that haven't seen something a million times, thus allowing the wearer to notice the micro-deficiencies.

Well, I'd say SQS are more important than cosmetic infrustructure issues ... although if you let them go, pretty soon you have a resort like DLP that is just beautiful, but crumbling in many places (and, yes, literally in many places).

I do know that since the Comcast deal and the opening of Potter that UNI has been paying more attention to any/every thing than they ever did before.

WDW just seems to be falling into a very bad place ... look at DAK. First, you had CTX issues that have never been fixed which led to Disco Yeti being acceptable for years and now we have the ToL shedding branches and ghetto netting that won't prevent anyone from being crushed if a significant piece of the tree decides to fall during a slight breeze.

 

[WDW1974]

I especially like the magazines they have over there Spirit.

The Spirit always takes care of his favorite fanbois ... always.:wave:

 

[WDW1974]

Um...I'm not nit picking....I'm merely stating that the building for FJ is a damn eye sore and they could have done it better.....

Uni is firing *most* of the right canons right now....but I firmly believe that without strong competition in Disney they will continue to make unnecessary mistakes like the one above.

I don't particularly like the way FJ's show building appears, BUT ... let's not judge UNI by a standard we won't hold Disney to.

If the Swan and Dolphin weren't bad enough (and I sorta let them off the hook on that out of the kindness of my heart and my enjoyment of said resorts), let's look at the eyesore that is Soarin's showbuilding sticking out and destroying the scale of Canada and the UK pavilions ... or how Disney is allowing all sorts of showbuilding issues at MK ... from Mansion's being 'exposed' by the Fantasyland project to the ugly Dumbo building just sitting like a green tumor off the Raceway.

 

[John]

This is such an interesting topic, IMHO the relationship between Uni and Disney although a fierce competition it is also a very symbiotic one. They both need eachother. If we all just think back to one monumental decision that was made in this competition it would have to be Disney's decision to not swing a deal for Potter. If Disney made the deal and still aquired Marvel, there is no telling what Uni would be today. Not to mention where would WDW be?


Potter has rejuvinated Uni. They are atleast back in the game..... in a big way at that. Uni is fighting for a market share and Disney is in reactive mode trying to protect its market share. A 1/2 percent is huge when we are talking about these kinds of dollars. So guest cutting a day or two from WDW is huge. Believe me Disney notices. Disney probably isnt thrilled about not having the park rights for Marvel but they are not exactly crying either. Uni can not be happy seeing money going toward anything that helps Disney fight to keep that market share. Also not sure if it has been discussed but Disney has started to offer Marvel figurines (Hulk to name one) on the Disney store website which I found interesting.

In the end the real winner will be the guest. Disney although wouldnt puplicly admit it but they have to be kicking themselves for not making the deal for Potter. The numbers dont lie. It would have been exactly what Disney is lacking (attracting the young teen). Is it all water under the bridge? maybe... maybe not. I think that in the history of the Disney parks it will be significant. A turning point, and not for the bad. Infact IMO it has waken up Disney. I think they realize they no longer can be complacent. Cutting is no longer an option on maximizing the bottom line.

The thing that has bothered all of us is that it has never been the lack of funds or technology for Disney. It simply has been the unwillingness to plus the guest experience. Potter/Uni has changed the game. As much as I am a Disney fanatic, I say congrats to Uni! Good job!

 

[Tom]

I don't particularly like the way FJ's show building appears, BUT ... let's not judge UNI by a standard we won't hold Disney to.

If the Swan and Dolphin weren't bad enough (and I sorta let them off the hook on that out of the kindness of my heart and my enjoyment of said resorts), let's look at the eyesore that is Soarin's showbuilding sticking out and destroying the scale of Canada and the UK pavilions ... or how Disney is allowing all sorts of showbuilding issues at MK ... from Mansion's being 'exposed' by the Fantasyland project to the ugly Dumbo building just sitting like a green tumor off the Raceway.

Now now, Spirit....we've discussed ad nausea that neither of the aforementioned projects are complete. I truly believe the HM show building to be adequately hidden upon completion of the new Potty Project.

And, well, I'm simply giving them the benefit of the doubt that they'll plant some thick foliage between guests and the back of Dumbo when it's all said and done. I really, really hope they do. I'll sacrifice the brief glimpse from the top of Barnstormer, but they've GOT to cover the building from the Speedway side.

 

[WDW1974]

Absolutely. I wish more Americans would go out and visit the rest of the world IN GENERAL.

I saw a statistic that only 20-something percent of Americans even had a passport, and I bet a lot of that is just to visit Canada and Mexico. Its easy to claim you have the best stuff when you never see what anyone else has!

I so agree.

If more Americans actually saw more of the world (and not da World), I am convinced we would be a much greater nation for it.

It's easier to live in nationalistic ignorance rather than see what the rest of the world really is like.

I do feel sad because I know many Americans can't afford to live here, let alone travel abroad ... but others choose not to and that's just dumb. I just spent five weeks in Spain, Portugal, France and Germany and experienced so much history, culture and new perspectives on things. Oh, and great food and drinks too!

It's just not the same as World Showcase.

 

[Tom]

It's just not the same as World Showcase.

Wait, what!?!

 

[WDW1974]

Wait, what!?!

Did I confuse ya, Tom?

I only slept 13 hours today to catch up from the travel deficit and could be unclear.:snore: