Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[crispy]

This is our MO as well.

What is with WDW?? A war on Park Hopping now?

I just don't freakin' get it.
It's mind boggling. Make Park Hopping difficult or no existent?
I can guarantee you as far as I am concerned I'll never see the inside of DAK again.
DHS has a chance because it houses ToT, but that will be questionable as well.

I'm going to be staying onsite at Uni for the first time this year 3 days at HR the last part of our vacation.


If WDW keeps going the way they're going I can see this playing out this way:

Stay on site at Uni for all 7 nights (Deluxe level accommodations at a way better price than WDW, PLUS express pass!??yeah!) .
While staying at Universal, Take a day or two out to visit MK, A day out to Visit Epcot, maybe DHS and the rest will go to Uni.

Universal is doing everything possible to show they want my business,
while WDW is showing me they're doing everything possible to get my money.

I actually just booked 5 nights at Portofino Bay for October. We have never done Universal before, but they sent me a sweet code for 40% off their hotels so I am now staying there for less than a Disney moderate (WITH a room only discount). I had been considering doing this for a while, but the reviews from this post and another I started on the Universal forum pushed me to go for it.

 

[Goofyernmost]

If you stay on property you get to park for free at the parks, which can make a difference. Does Uni charge for parking like some of the other off property resorts?

The pain of WDW transportation is probably my least favorite thing about going to WDW these days....hence the rental car. My one experience with Magical Express was decidedly un-Magical....still better than Mears though.

I think that Magical Express IS Mears. Check on the side of the bus, it will tell you who the bus belongs too and who is operating it.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think that Magical Express IS Mears. Check on the side of the bus, it will tell you who the bus belongs too and who is operating it.

Correct. Magical Express and the Disney Cruise Line bus services are operated by Mears.

 

[ShookieJones]

I actually just booked 5 nights at Portofino Bay for October. We have never done Universal before, but they sent me a sweet code for 40% off their hotels so I am now staying there for less than a Disney moderate (WITH a room only discount). I had been considering doing this for a while, but the reviews from this post and another I started on the Universal forum pushed me to go for it.

Good for you, because the truth is the way things are going, with limited EMH, staying onsite at WDW is becoming nothing more than an overpriced bus\transportation ticket to one park a day. We rent a car so it's already at the breaking point for us.

Man I am going to be spending a boatload of money at WDW in a little over 8 weeks and I have such a bad taste in my mouth right now.

 

[rodmansju]

I'm a huge monorail fan, so I actually enjoy park hopping to and from MK and EPCOT. I would rather be punched in the head by Mike Tyson in his prime than try to go from AK to DHS and back to a hotel later, or something of the like (edit - by using Disney transport). Car is definitely where it's at.

Although, during my last trip I learned that the walk between DHS and EPCOT can actually be very pleasant if it's mid afternoon and you feel like spreading out the day.

this....totally agree with this.

i love the idea of going to the parks and parking the car and not seeing it again for days. but when we go to DHS and AKL....we drive. but we go multiple days to epcot and MK, because its on the monorail and we can also walk (to MK, from BLT).

Taking my four kids, plus my nephew, and the stroller for the baby....its just a better experience when taking the monorail..plus the kids love it. its like a ride unto itself.

i can't say absolutely that, if the other two parks were connected via monorail or similar non-bus mode of transit, we'd go more...but I'd bet we would. in 10 days @ the parks in late august, we have only planned a day at each park i believe...if we have an extra day, it would be at DHS, and likely only for a character breakfast.

 

[Clever Name]

The new costumes at the American Adventure are working out great. I'm glad they made the change.

 

[flynnibus]

Of course not, but speculation is always interesting - as long as it stays in the realm of actual speculation and people don't get the torches and pitchforks because we are SO angry that park hopping is going away. (Not that anything like that has ever happened before!)

Well, part of the problem is people are assuming they know the motivation. Do we really? Will this really hinder park hopping at all? Personally I think it's impact is way overblown.

When it's 4pm and you're in DAK - it's not the lure of a FP for Peter Pan that makes you park hop to the MK.. it's the fact it's 4pm and you're still hungry to do more things. Hence, the availability, or lack of, for FP I do not think will cause a dramatic impact. I think FP availability drives what parks people do first in a day.. but I don't think they encourage park hopping much. In fact, there are arguments that show how this will actually HELP you get FPs while park hopping due to advanced reservations.

People keep acting like they know Disney's goal is to kill park hopping - and then try to understand why. Maybe their first assumption is what's actually wrong

My post was just to try to get people to step back and rethink the question... rather than repeatedly hit their head against the wall trying to understand why. Often repeated failures means you're not looking at all the possible inputs or making wrong assumptions.

Does this really hurt Park Hopping? Is that really their motivation.. or maybe there is another motivation we aren't considering.

 

[flynnibus]

I wish I could play stupid and just "enjoy" theme parks, movies, etc. without considering what advertisements or agendas that are behind it. However my brain stops this from happening.

Well hopefully your brain also keeps you from rushing ahead without knowing what you are rushing into as well.. and that's kind of the point. We rush to judge, without even knowing what the true objective is.

 

[flynnibus]

If you stay on property you get to park for free at the parks, which can make a difference. Does Uni charge for parking like some of the other off property resorts?

Yes you pay to park at UNI - both day guests and hotel guests (at the hotels)

 

[ShookieJones]

That is the secret. But once I take that step, I really have no reason to stay on property anymore. And before you know it, I'll find myself staying at Universal.

Why is it everything in this thread keeps leading me back to the same conclusion?

It is indeed a common conclusion to those in this thread with logic and reasoning.

 

[Bolna]

I personally never thought that FP+ kills park hopping. At least not for me.

But I can see that with the FP+ availability limited to one park per day will make many people THINK they are limited to that one park. I can see it more creating a psychological barrier. People often don't really grasp complex concepts in a theme park. Most WDW visitors today have no clue on how to use FP efficiently.

 

[thehowiet]

Universal is doing everything possible to show they want my business,
while WDW is showing me they're doing everything possible to get my money.

I feel the exact same way, especially after our most recent trip this past June. It was a real eye opener, to say the least.

I doubt my next trip to Orlando will see me step foot on WDW property, even with three days left on a 10 day no expire ticket and two free nights at any Deluxe resort on property. Something is seriously wrong when I'd prefer to spend more money to go to Universal for three nights than only pay for one night's lodging for a three night trip to WDW.

 

[crispy]

If you stay on property you get to park for free at the parks, which can make a difference. Does Uni charge for parking like some of the other off property resorts?

The pain of WDW transportation is probably my least favorite thing about going to WDW these days....hence the rental car. My one experience with Magical Express was decidedly un-Magical....still better than Mears though.

I just booked Portofino Bay, and there is $18 a day parking fee. With the rate I am getting, it is almost exactly the same price there as a "water view" room at POR even with a room only discount. Mind? Blown!

 

[crispy]

I feel the exact same way, especially after our most recent trip this past June. It was a real eye opener, to say the least.

I doubt my next trip to Orlando will see me step foot on WDW property, even with three days left on a 10 day no expire ticket and two free nights at any Deluxe resort on property. Something is seriously wrong when I'd prefer to spend more money to go to Universal for three nights than only pay for one night's lodging for a three night trip to WDW.

Sounds like a story behind the bolded. What happened?

 

[mickey2008.1]

Well this thread did not turn out to be what I ecpected. First time I tried to keep up with a WDW74 thread and it was a bust. A bunch of political crap on free speech and how this site is run by the UK. All I wanted was some news of what to expect for WDW in the future. Blah blah blah is all I got. Oh well. As far as park hopping, the reason we would use it is to one, leave the park and go to another because it is too crowded, two, use EMH and see fireworks, and three, for dinner reservations, such as EPCOT. PH gives us the flexibility to move around if needed. But we have not got PH two trips now, just because the added expense no longer makes it worth while, we just plan better. As for food, we do a lot more resort hopping, great restaurants, and it is free.

 

[ShookieJones]

I feel the exact same way, especially after our most recent trip this past June. It was a real eye opener, to say the least.

I doubt my next trip to Orlando will see me step foot on WDW property, even with three days left on a 10 day no expire ticket and two free nights at any Deluxe resort on property. Something is seriously wrong when I'd prefer to spend more money to go to Universal for three nights than only pay for one night's lodging for a three night trip to WDW.

Yes sir, and I think we all know what that something is.

 

[RyenDeckard]

As a park patron with food allergies, Disney's options are far greater than Universal. Disney is still the best resort that I've seen for guests with food intolerances.

Universal does have options for those with food allergies, and you can always ask guest services for a food allergy menu that helps you better plan your meals.

That's all I can add on that though, so I'll take your word that it's better at Disney since you actually deal with it.

Good for you, because the truth is the way things are going, with limited EMH, staying onsite at WDW is becoming nothing more than an overpriced bus\transportation ticket to one park a day. We rent a car so it's already at the breaking point for us.

Man I am going to be spending a boatload of money at WDW in a little over 8 weeks and I have such a bad taste in my mouth right now.

So then don't, go somewhere else instead?

 

[marni1971]

To anyone who knows some of Universal's upcoming plans (perhaps @WDW1974 or @Lee @marni1971 or anyone else)-

Is there any intention at Universal's creative department to build rides that aren't just geared towards any sort of thrill, instead targeting more people who like slower paced dark rides with elaborate sets and animatronics?

Yes indeed. And then some.

 

[HMF]

I wish I could play stupid and just "enjoy" theme parks, movies, etc. without considering what advertisements or agendas that are behind it. However my brain stops this from happening.

:\

Welcome to the club.

 

[steve2wdw]

Oh my.....16 pages more. Worth it?