Universal Hollywood goes after Disneyland customers

[speck76]

Universal Studios Hollywood plans to announce today that it will begin a free shuttle service on July 1 that will pick up Disneyland guests in Anaheim, Calif. and transport them to Universal Hollywood about an hour away. The plan is one way Universal is attempting to unravel Disney's plans to keep vacationers and their wallets in Anaheim where Disney recently opened nighttime attractions.

The shuttle will depart twice daily from select Anaheim hotels and the drive to Hollywood will double as a movie-themed guided tour.

Universal executives are aiming for increased value and convenience with the new service -- not unlike what Disney execs here tout their own free airport shuttle known as Disney's Magical Express to be.

"... We believe a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood will become a must-do experience for all Southern California visitors," said Bryan O'Connell, Universal vice president of sales, in a prepared statement.

A Universal spokesman says there are no plans to offer up a similar shuttle here in Orlando, where Universal and Disney are situated much closer geographically than their west coast counterparts.

Word is Universal isn't planning an airport shuttle here either to go up against Magical Express, which at peak days transports 10,000 people between Orlando International and Disney hotels.

 

[ScrapIron]

Certainly a good idea. I'd do it even though we always drive to DL because traffic between the 2 has been horrific evry time I've made that drive. Really surprised they didn't do this long ago.

Cheers.

 

[Maryssa*]

Wow... a bus ride from universal to disneyland would be horrendous... depending on what time of day/year it is, the trip could be 45 min or 2+ hours!

 

[Dragonrider1227]

Wow... a bus ride from universal to disneyland would be horrendous... depending on what time of day/year it is, the trip could be 45 min or 2+ hours!

I've taken bus rides that go up to an hour or so. It'd be nothing new for me. XD
What does Disney think about this? They must be JUST off property for Disney to not be able to do anything about it. Or they just know we're too darn loyal

 

[unkadug]

Sounds like Universal Hollywood is taking a page out of Universal Orlando's advertising book ! :lol:

 

[ScrapIron]

The relationship between Disney and Universal is not as hostile in California as it is in Florida. Vacation packages at DL often include options for other SoCal attractions like USH, Legoland, KBF, etc. I recently received an email offer from Universal for a SoCal Citypass that includes DL, Universal or SW, and the SD Zoo or Wild Animal Park. And, of course, "just off property" in DL is about 100 yards from the main gate.

Cheers.

 

[Richie248]

Are they calling it "UnMagical Express"? :lol: