Universal Orlando Getting Bigger, Better, Wetter, Wilder

[ford91exploder]

Are you really asking if Walt built the Matterhorn at Disneyland?

Remember some people have not had the joy of visiting DL, Once you go to DL you will never look at WDW in the same way again.

 

[TalkingHead]

But they're not 'resting on their laurels'.

NFL
mM+ (like it or not)
DVCs
Avatarland
Star Wars
DHA rebuild

Disney is constantly spending money. Not like they used to but that's because they DID spend it before.

Most of the big stuff Uni is being lauded for Disney has already done.

It's like saying 'I can't believe the Yankees aren't putting new seats in with TWO cup holders like Baltimore is', even though the Yankees have had them for years. (It's an analogy folks, please don't go all realistic on me).

Man, I can see how people get all Disney defending now. I love both companies but this is getting ridiculous lol.

There's so much wrong with this post. Half the things you credit WDW with haven't been announced.

And if I understand your logic, you're saying WDW has it's own Spidey, Forbidden Journey, etc.

See, that's the thing. Those are cutting edge rides which is what WDW doesn't have.

 

[Rutt]

NFL
Worlds Largest Stroller parking lot, Home to a couple of unfinished D tickets

Yet extremely popular whether we like it or not. They still spent the money.

mM+ (like it or not)
Buggier than a $2 hotel room

They still spent the money to do it.

DVCs
High Prices - and as a long time DVC owner property maintenance is slipping BADLY (damaged furniture and appliances which necessitate multiple trips to desk to get fixed) while MF's climb at an obscene rate.

Agree 100% but they still spent the money to build them, an people are still spending money to buy them.

Avatarland
Meh - we'll see what it looks like if it opens.

We could say that about anything anyone is building.

Star Wars
Press Releases ONLY

And when they do build it I'm sure you'll be the first to complement it and give it an unbiased review.

DHA rebuild
Once Again Press Releases and work has begun on TSMM third track.

So they've already started not resting on their laurels again....

So far color me underwhelmed with what Disney has done at WDW.

not being impressed or liking what they are doing does not mean it didn't happen. They were accused of 'resting on their laurels' which they clearly are not.

 

[Rutt]

There's so much wrong with this post. Half the things you credit WDW with haven't been announced.

And if I understand your logic, you're saying WDW has it's own Spidey, Forbidden Journey, etc.

See, that's the thing. Those are cutting edge rides which is what WDW doesn't have.

Has Kong been announced yet?
We're down to nitpicking now.

Anyway, have a good night all, sweet dreams of Universal takeovers and all that good stuff.

 

[Mike S]

Remember some people have not had the joy of visiting DL, Once you go to DL you will never look at WDW in the same way again.

I agree but in some ways it made me appreciate certain things in WDW even more than I originally did, such as our superior versions of Tower of Terror and Haunted Mansion. Plus no equivalents over there to rides like Spaceship Earth and Great Movie Ride.

 

[ford91exploder]

Yet extremely popular whether we like it or not. They still spent the money.


They still spent the money to do it.


Agree 100% but they still spent the money to build them, an people are still spending money to buy them.


We could say that about anything anyone is building.


And when they do build it I'm sure you'll be the first to complement it and give it an unbiased review.


So they've already started not resting on their laurels again....


not being impressed or liking what they are doing does not mean it didn't happen. They were accused of 'resting on their laurels' which they clearly are not.

If you had visited WDW in the 80's and 90's like I have, You would not be so quick to praise WDW's current efforts they are simply not up to the standards which Disney set for THEMSELVES.

 

[Rutt]

Remember some people have not had the joy of visiting DL, Once you go to DL you will never look at WDW in the same way again.

I can't wait to do DL

That was not EE in WDW, That was the Matterhorn in DL which WAS the first tubular track coaster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matterhorn_Bobsleds

blah, I knew that too. Colour me embarrassed. Still not my idea of 'thrill'

 

[TalkingHead]

Has Kong been announced yet?
We're down to nitpicking now.

Anyway, have a good night all, sweet dreams of Universal takeovers and all that good stuff.

Who said anything about Kong?

Universal's current attraction lineup is more impressive than WDW's.

Have a magical night dreaming about that great new WDW E-ticket.

 

[ford91exploder]

I agree but in some ways it made me appreciate certain things in WDW even more than I originally did, such as our superior versions of Tower of Terror and Haunted Mansion. Plus no equivalents over there to rides like Spaceship Earth and Great Movie Ride.

Absolutely - It's just that DL still maintains the quality which WDW once had and I'd like to see it back again, There are SOME glimmers of hope at WDW though. As an example the new Harambe expansion was done with the attention to detail which used to be the hallmark of Disney everywhere. They even used authentic 'edison' style bulbs on pendants this is the kind of stuff we have not seen at WDW for a long time.

 

[Rutt]

If you had visited WDW in the 80's and 90's like I have, You would not be so quick to praise WDW's current efforts they are simply not up to the standards which Disney set for THEMSELVES.

I fully agree. 100% but nothing is anymore. Nothing.

It doesn't change the fact that Disney is still doing fine. Much better than Uni and will continue to do so as long as Pixie power reigns supreme over my wallet.

 

[Rutt]

Who said anything about Kong?

Universal's current attraction lineup is more impressive than WDW's.

To whom? They're one for four in my house.

Have a magical night dreaming about that great new WDW E-ticket.

I'd hate to tell your what I dream about, but it ain't Disney or Uni related

 

[Mike S]

Has Kong been announced yet?
We're down to nitpicking now.

Anyway, have a good night all, sweet dreams of Universal takeovers and all that good stuff.

While there was no big announcement with concept art galore it was basically confirmed in a recent earnings call where they mentioned it by name and that it's being built in Orlando.

I can't wait to do DL

blah, I knew that too. Colour me embarrassed. Still not my idea of 'thrill'

A lot of people today would probably agree with you but you have to think of when Walt built it in 1959. It was considered a big thrill ride back then more likely than not.

 

[Rutt]

While there was no big announcement with concept art galore it was basically confirmed in a recent earnings call where they mentioned it by name and that it's being built in Orlando.

A lot of people today would probably agree with you but you have to think of when Walt built it in 1959. It was considered a big thrill ride back then more likely than not.

Fair enough. Hardly think many would qualify it as such today. However it's still a very family friendly ride (or so YouTube tells me) much like nearly everything at Wdw. Can you say the same for Uni?

Anyway, blah, I hate these debates. I love both. I'm in the minority in my household and among many many children.

The truth is if I want thrills I have a park an hour from me, ten bucks in gas. There is nothing like Disney here in Canada, nothing.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

It's not wrong though, Disney is not struggling.

It's funny because my wife gets it right off the bat. It's not a competition between Dis and Uni. They're two totally different markets.

Uni is all about thrills and macho and testosterone.

Disney is all about Pixie dust and princesses and larger than life kiddie rides and characters.

 

[BrerJon]

This is the EXACT problem with Disney right now. They don't have to. They think since they're on top, they can continue to rest on their laurels. They need to stop looking at the actual attendance numbers, and look at the percentages by which each park is rising.

it's just the Tortoise and the Hare. Disney is so much more successful, so much bigger, so much more money, more guests... it has no need to do more than the bare minimum, no need to innovate. In fact it can take a well-earned rest, why not take seven years to build Pandora, four to build New Fantasyland, why not close half the attractions down to save cash... meanwhile Uni is slowly but surely creeping up behind...

 

[Rutt]

What exactly do you disagree with?

 

[Mike S]

it's just the Tortoise and the Hare. Disney is so much more successful, so much bigger, so much more money, more guests... it has no need to do more than the bare minimum, no need to innovate. In fact it can take a well-earned rest, why not take seven years to build Pandora, four to build New Fantasyland, why not close half the attractions down to save cash... meanwhile Uni is slowly but surely creeping up behind...

Great analogy, wish I thought of it

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Says who?

My wife is impressed, my kids are impressed, Disney wallets are impressed. You're not happy with what they're doing, I think they could do so much more than they do.

Guess what? We might just be wrong here.

Sounds like a positive to me. Disney spent tons of money building the massive advantage they currently have. How did Universal allow themselves to fall so far behind? Why weren't they building long before now?

Disney had a 34 year head start in the theme park business and already had 3 theme parks in Florida before Universal opened the doors of their very first theme park anywhere.

 

[Rutt]

Disney had a 34 year head start in the theme park business and already had 3 theme parks in Florida before Universal opened the doors of their very first theme park anywhere.

So Uni is basically doing what Disney did twenty years ago.

And again, Disney focused and continues to focus on the cash cows. Princesses, little girls and the toddler group. If Uni expects to ever really compete they better get some pixie going on.

 

[ford91exploder]

Minions RULE!