Universal copy-cats...

[PuertoRekinSam]

MIB opened in spring 2000, Buzz opened the year before.

 

[Connor002]

I saw the show too, and I would have to point out the uncanny similarities, but then again, who dosen't take inspiration from somthing else once and a while. After all, basicly every park built after Disneyland copied their wagon wheel layout of the park, but thats the kind of thing that keeps quality, if disney didn't have any competors there would be no reason to preserve "the disney difference." Competiton keeps companies on their toes, and helps the consumer. i.e.- lower prices, higher quality

 

[Lynx04]

Universal has also copyed Ride Types. As with MIB and Buzz Lightyear.

If MIB opened a year later than Buzz, would it be consider copying? I am sure that MIB took two years to plan at least. If that is the case than MIB was being plan before Buzz even opened. So both were being developed at the same time. Just like EE and Mummy were both developed at the same time, only Mummy opened up two years before EE.

I think at the very least Disney said, "we are going to build an interactive ride....." and Universal said, "what ever you do, we can do better." (figuretively speaking and it works both ways). MIB turned out to be the better attraction of the two, but that is competition. We the guest benefit from that.

 

[wdwishes2005]

First off i haven't been to universal in a long time and i don't plan to in the future. However if we are talking about copying then Disney totally ripped off Cedar Point, i mean gasp, every rollercoaster Disney makes is "copying" Cedar Point snce it has had coasters way longer than disney has. but I on't blame disney for that because they are making their own version of a coaster and that is what Universal is doing, making their own version of Downtown Disney.So really it is just taking an idea and making your own version of it.

Sorry for ranting, but its what i do.

 

[Michael72688]

City Walk has the best food around, Margaritaville, Latin Quarter, Hard Rock, Cinnabon, lol. Anyways it really bothers me when people refuse to even give Universal a chance, I must say though, 99% of the people here are not like that. But for those who are, it is like as soon as they hear Universal they believe it is crap. Now I work at UO, so I probably have a biased opinion, but I'm sorry IoA gives any Disney park a run for its money when comes down to theming and overall atmosphere. I would love to see what Disney would look like today if Universal was never built, I bet it would be a very different place. Now obviously Disney does many things better, but not all, its just a shame not all see it that way. I believe that this year, although not as good as the had hoped so far, I bet Universal beats atleast Animal Kingdom this year in attendance, and of course that will change after E:E opens, which hopefully will be when UO decides to build a new ride at IoA.

 

[dave2822]

Main point: Disney can survive without Universal. Universal can not survive without Disney.

Anyone who wants to argue it is purely speculating because it has never been. We know for a fact Disney can survive without Universal, Disneyland and WDW opening way before their competition and were successful obviously. We also know Disney can thrive overseas. What we don't know, and will never know is how much overflow Universal picks up, as well as Busch, Sea World, the rest of the Orlando area, but you have to figure it's a good amount. What we will probably never know is how Universal does on their own, because they will never build in isolation, and that's smart, believe me they know where the money is.

I've got no problem with Universal, I just wish they stay consistent. They have rides like Spiderman, great ride, great theming, then they stick a roller coaster out there, paint it green, and call it the Hulk. No offense, it's a good ride, but come on, theme wise that's Six Flags worthy.

The first American Theme Park was opened almost a decade ealier. Santa Clause Indiana was the home of Holiday World since 1946. This may have been a kiddie park, but the whole park carried a central theme around Santa Clause.

Lake Compounce up in Bristol Connecticut prides themselves on not only being on of the first parks ever (circa before 1900) but also the first theme park with a "victorian" theme. If you've ever been, you can tell it's really not a theme park, but hey, thought I'd share it.

 

[Michael72688]

What about Port Aventura? Dont see any Disney parks in Spain, and while it was under the Universal name it did quite well.

 

[MKCustodial]

City Walk has the best food around, Margaritaville, Latin Quarter, Hard Rock, Cinnabon, lol. Anyways it really bothers me when people refuse to even give Universal a chance, I must say though, 99% of the people here are not like that. But for those who are, it is like as soon as they hear Universal they believe it is crap. Now I work at UO, so I probably have a biased opinion, but I'm sorry IoA gives any Disney park a run for its money when comes down to theming and overall atmosphere. I would love to see what Disney would look like today if Universal was never built, I bet it would be a very different place. Now obviously Disney does many things better, but not all, its just a shame not all see it that way. I believe that this year, although not as good as the had hoped so far, I bet Universal beats atleast Animal Kingdom this year in attendance, and of course that will change after E:E opens, which hopefully will be when UO decides to build a new ride at IoA.

Michael, besides the CityWalk bit, I was with you up until the whole IoA thing. I've been to the park, and I love it to death, but come one. It's got great atmosphere, but it does not give Disney a run for its money. I mean, maybe in a teenager point of view, but still. Some lands are incredibly themed, some aren't. Some attractions are wondefully detailed, some aren't. As you said, maybe you're biased. I pride myself on not being biased since my visits to Orlando have been few and far apart, but I always visit both resorts and even go to Busch Gardens. In fact, my favorite park was Universal Studios, up until my International Program in 99. Then the Magic Kingdom took the top, but for sentimental reasons.

 

[lilkitty819]

I've done them both. I like Disney for the feel of being in your own little world and it has something for all ages. Universal on the other hand is geared toward older kid's. And I enjoy having front of the line privelages with staying at Universal, I love the fact that you can walk from any onsite hotel to the parks or Citywalk. So if you have not tried both don't knock one without trying the other then judge. :wave:

 

[Captain Chaos]

I am going to throw my 2 cents in. I have been to Disney World and Universal Studios and Sea World. You cannot compare the three. Sea World to me is boring, just not into it. Universal is alright, nothing to brag about. Honestly, when I was there in 2004, I skipped most of the rides. I only went on Mummy (which disappointed me), ET(the bike style seats hurt), and watch Shrek 4D.. Twister is dull, Jaws is boring.. T2 puts me to sleep... MIB had too long of a wait so i didn't go on it, but I have been on it, and it is better than Buzz... Back To The Future is a good ride as well...

IOA, in my opinion, is not themed well.. Reminds me of a Six Flags... Hulk is a great coaster.. Dr. Doom Freefall is a typical free fall ride, nothing inovative there... All the other rides there are rides that other parks have, just different themes... Spider-Man rocks and is my favorite ride outside Disney...

I don't care if it is copying or not.... SeaWorld, Universal and Disney all give their guests a different experience.. I just don't care for Universal at all... Honestly, if my friend didn't get us in for free, I wouldn't even go... To me, Universal is not worth the price of admission.

 

[djlb16]

amm

What about Port Aventura? Dont see any Disney parks in Spain, and while it was under the Universal name it did quite well.

Well,,, Port aventura is in competion with Disneyland Paris... I think that dont matter who copy because they are like pens no matter the if it is montblack or papermate they all have the same use: write... the papermate is cheaper and the montblack is more expensive so... disney and universal are both theme parks and they have both a same use: FUN... USF,IOA and citywalk for an teen and adult public and disney for a family public. that what i think...

 

[Figment1986]

Sure.. Universal saw what worked for Disney and decided to do it.. but remember this.. Universal doesn't own it's hotels.. but have a 3rd party own them while they work with universal....

maybe universal never thought of hotels until loews??

Though building a entertainment district to get money and people to buy things on the way to their hotels or cars was smart...

 

[joel_maxwell]

i agree with figment 1986, why not copy...... if they have no shame in being the redheaded step child. in which they probably dont.

oh, one more note, Samantha Brown is hot.

 

[Figment1986]

i agree with figment 1986, why not copy...... if they have no shame in being the redheaded step child. in which they probably dont.

oh, one more note, Samantha Brown is hot.

Thi reminds me of a Disney Ad which welcomed Universal in 92?

What ever is good for Florida is good for us... welcoming Universal.... :lol: :lol:

 

[joel_maxwell]

Thi reminds me of a Disney Ad which welcomed Universal in 92?

What ever is good for Florida is good for us... welcoming Universal.... :lol: :lol:

yeh, you know the florida state economical board isnt complaining ......... "aahhhh, USO just built a multi million dollar attraction that is going to bring millions of visitor from around the world to come into our state and spend a bunch of money....... the only bad thing is that they copied the ride system and concept from disney; what losers"

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Main point: Disney can survive without Universal. Universal can not survive without Disney.

Anyone who wants to argue it is purely speculating .

So what then enables you to pontficate on that very issue?

As far as Im aware, and Im no industry expert, no one ever road a coaster cause the Q line was attractive.

However I am still amazed that this Universal V Disney is seen as a major conflict. Its like Coke and Pepsi, at the end of the day theyre carbonated soft drinks that rot your teeth, and inferior to Irn Bru anyway. But on a hot day you can still drink them.

 

[pluto3198]

We have been to both DTD & Citywalk. I my opinion, Citywalk is geared towards an older crown while DTD is MUCH more family friendly. Citywalk seems to be more of a party area. While DTD has Pleasure Island, it is in a seperate area which makes easier to take young children without the chance of running into drunken partiers going from club to club. In Citywalk, everything is in common area. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy going to Margaritaville and Pat O'Brien's but it was a much more enjoyable experience taking children to DTD than Citywalk.

 

[stitchlvr]

I'm curious which opened first...Downtown Disney or City Walk in LA? Anyone know? I couldn't find anything about the history of City Walk/LA.

We actually never went to Downtown Disney on either of our trips. I guess we didn't want to take away from our park visits to get there.

Universal has the advantage in that area because you're forced through City Walk once you leave (or go to) either Universal parks. So I can say I've been to City Walk. But even without having been to DTD, I can agree that City Walk is definately geared towards adults.

When we went to Universal last year, the parks closed very early (7 or 8pm) and City Walk was a nice way to finish the evening, as we were used to being out later than that on our days at the Disney parks.

 

[dave2822]

So what then enables you to pontficate on that very issue?

I'm not pontificating, it was fact. Disney has been around long before Universal has, we know this is not a symbiosis relationship.

As far as Im aware, and Im no industry expert, no one ever road a coaster cause the Q line was attractive.

All I was saying was that the theme of Universal can be inconsistent, the Hulk lacks theme, whereas a ride like Spiderman is very very well done. They should stay consistent with top notch theming. And, I never rode a ride because of a pretty Q, but I do enjoy well themed rides better than just amusement park carnival style ones.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I'm not pontificating, it was fact. Disney has been around long before Universal has, we know this is not a symbiosis relationship.

So how does that preclude Universal from surviving on its own? Im not neccesarily disagreeing with you, but what you are saying is opinion not Fact. The only proven facts is that Disney opened first in Orlando and that both parks benefit from each others visitors.

Universals parent company is the issue not the Universal brand / theme park quality. IMHO of course