OK, so I returned here and there's a dozen pages already. While I appreciate the support and interest, it sorta makes things tougher in getting stuff out in a reasoned order.
The first thing I want to get out, and I have to head out for the afternoon shortly, is what my personal transformation was. Quite simply, this is the visit where I realized, where I admitted to myself that while Disney may well still be the world-wide leader in immersive family entertainment parks, that in Orlando they are now a distant No. 2 to UNI in things that matter to me and should to you too.
Universal's parks are fresher, more dynamic, better maintained and have huge new attractions on the way. They are staffed by happier employees who feel the vibe of working for a company that is expanding its footprint in a huge way and creating new job opportunities. The guests, who always were dissed by Disney pixie dust addicts as slightly above Six Flags level, are -- to my quite expert eye -- largely smarter, classier and more discerning than Disney's base of addicts, rubes, newbies and one and dones.
In the past, I always enjoyed UNI, but I was like a lot of the pixie dusters. When UNI closed, I was wondering if I could still get three hours in at the MK that night. While I was taking in the amazing IOA, in the back of my mind I couldn't,t help but wonder what I was missing at EPCOT (even if I knew rationally there was nothing new, interesting or compelling). And I spent no time in City Walk because if I was done in the parks than I had to be done at UNI and happily back on my way down I-4. Why stay and look around?
That really was my attitude. The last vestige of a WDW addiction that began in 1974 when UNI wasn't even a thought really. Sure, I loved and enjoyed UNI. But I couldn't get past the idea that it wasn't warm and fuzzy, just fun and high caliber. Disney's BRAND had done a job on my brain to the point I simply overlooked reality as a matter of course. Disney was always the best and when it wasn't I had excuses at the ready.
No longer.
While WDW has Wal-Marted its product, UNI is now the Nordstrom of the business. I don't care how many resort rooms that WDW has or how many gates or social media whores. It isn't the best in anything but separating people from money at an alarming pace and living off the greats who created it. I can't in good conscious tell folks to take trips to WDW, to give their money to the Mouse, to help George and Andy build that dream mansion in Isleworth , to help Wall Street pimp Disney shares.
UNI and Disney have both transformed and so have I. The addiction is gone. The temptation is too.
And when I start talking about UNI's plans (how about a monorail?) versus what Disney will be adding, maybe you'll also look in the mirror and ask why am I defending a product, a company that deserves my scorn and pity, but not my hard earned vacation dollars.
Two different companies. Two different expansion plans. Two different business models.
But only one doing it the right way.
You fanbois recall the Disney Decade? All those grandiose theme park plans that wound up in books on your coffee tables?
Well, one day you're gonna look back at the 2010-2020 period as the UNI Decade. But there's going to be a fundamental difference. You'll be able to live it, no coffee table book required.
I was being facetious. As a former castmember I know all too well about Disney management. I was working the night they decided to get rid of the turnstiles at PI and "open up" the island to regular guests to drive more bodies onto the island so people would spend more $$. I called PI's demise right then and there.
