Universal Orlando Getting Bigger, Better, Wetter, Wilder

[danlb_2000]

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.

You keep trying to dismiss Uni as just a thrill park, that really weakens any argument you try to make. I am not familier with Canadian parks but I doubt they have anything like Harry Potter, Spiderman, ET, Mummy, Men in Black, etc.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

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.

There is nothing like Universal in Canada either.

 

[ford91exploder]

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.

Yes that's it UNI IS doing what Disney did 20 years ago and it SHOWS. Disney's problem is it has little mindshare in the 'tweens and none at all in the Teens, Disney is coasting on nostalgia from my generation, It's problem will be when todays tweens and teens have their OWN kids, Their nostalgia will be focused on UNI.

 

[BrerJon]

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.

I'm curious, did you visit WDW in the 1990s? Because you sound like someone who's only known Disney in the last decade, since they did indeed become focused on pixie dust and princesses.

In the 80s and 90s, when the big draws at Epcot were Horizons and World Of Motion, when Magic Kingdom was Alien Encounter and 20,000 Leagues, when MGM-Studios was a working live movie set tour, when there was at least one new outstanding parade every year... in those days, princesses were far from view, and Disney was known for producing the highest quality entertainment for all ages and demographics.

I'll give you that now Universal has probably always been more popular with thrill-seekers than Disney, but Disney certainly never used to restrict itself. I wouldn't rely on them having total control of that market forever either - Rumours say that Universal has big plans on the kid front.

 

[Rutt]

You keep trying to dismiss Uni as just a thrill park, that really weakens any argument you try to make. I am not familier with Canadian parks but I doubt they have anything like Harry Potter, Spiderman, ET, Mummy, Men in Black, etc.

No they don't, but until recently, Uni had nothing like Potter either. As for Spider-Man, yeah it's cool but it doesn't overwhelm me. Uni seems very much aimed at one demographic. Im just saying it's the wrong one.
All I'm saying is personally I mor my family would plan a Florida trip solely around Uni. Not many people I know would. While the boys like Uni, they're just as happy (almost as happy, being honest) going to Canada's Wonderland and riding the Guardian or playing at Planet Snoopy.

Again, there is NOTHING like Disney. It's my opinion, take it for what it's worth. I would venture that it's one shared by many of the unwashed from outside the boards too.

 

[FrankLapidus]

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

No it isn't. There's far more to Disney than you seem to think.

 

[Rutt]

Yes that's it UNI IS doing what Disney did 20 years ago and it SHOWS. Disney's problem is it has little mindshare in the 'tweens and none at all in the Teens, Disney is coasting on nostalgia from my generation, It's problem will be when todays tweens and teens have their OWN kids, Their nostalgia will be focused on UNI.

Will it? Or will there be another group of young boys and gals who are addicted the all the little stuff the mouse throws their way?

I agree it shows with Uni, but they're still ignoring a huge demo. One where most sucker daddies such as myself tend to spend most of our money.

 

[Rutt]

No it isn't. There's far more to Disney than you seem to think.

I'm sure there is, but those are the reasons my wallet is empty and very little goes to the other park.

 

[Rutt]

I'm curious, did you visit WDW in the 1990s? Because you sound like someone who's only known Disney in the last decade, since they did indeed become focused on pixie dust and princesses.

In the 80s and 90s, when the big draws at Epcot were Horizons and World Of Motion, when Magic Kingdom was Alien Encounter and 20,000 Leagues, when MGM-Studios was a working live movie set tour, when there was at least one new outstanding parade every year... in those days, princesses were far from view, and Disney was known for producing the highest quality entertainment for all ages and demographics.

I'll give you that now Universal has probably always been more popular with thrill-seekers than Disney, but Disney certainly never used to restrict itself. I wouldn't rely on them having total control of that market forever either - Rumours say that Universal has big plans on the kid front.

I hope so, I'd love to spread our wings more as a family and I would have no problem spending more time at Uni. Springfield ftw!!

 

[bhg469]

No it isn't. There's far more to Disney than you seem to think.

I wouldn't say far more. Disney already had that market yet invested in that further when they didn't need to. Princesses are cheap, wizards are not.

 

[erwinalber4]

I may regret posting in this debate as these tend to get a bit nasty at times but I was thinking about where Universal is in comparison to WDW. I'll start off by saying Universal has beyond the shadow of a doubt created some impressive expansions this past decade. As much as I hate to say it the quality of Universal's new stuff and the pace of all of it definitely beats WDW. Now with that said, WDW also has been around a lot longer and as someone else pointed out has done most of what UNI is trying to do at this point in time. I mean by building new hotels, rumored water park, and of course the plussing of their current offerings. Sounds like UNI is hitting their version of "The Disney Decade"! It's a coming of age as for the first time ever UNI is truly a multi-day resort now and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. No Disney hasn't added the technology that UNI has but in the Disney Decade they added The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Sunset Blvd, Star Tours at MGM, Test Track, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Splash Mountain, numerous new resorts, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster, Disney's Blizzard Beach, two minigolf courses, DVC was born, DCL (I know this is a stretch but think Land and Sea package), Downtown Disney upgrades including new nightlife Cirque and DisneyQuest, and numerous shows and smaller attractions as well. This is where UNI is at today. I agree I'd love to see WDW pick up the pace and expand a lot more than NFL or MM+ but the two resorts are in two completely different stages of development at the moment. I know it hasn't been announced but we all know DHS is going to see some major attention in regards to Pixar and Star Wars, Avatar will finally open and despite the IP choice will most likely impress based on videos and concept art recently. This will undoubtedly help get these two parks to be full day especially with DAK's upcoming night entertainment offerings.

Long story short
WDW= working to spread crowds more evenly across parks and infastructure/ operations upgrades.

UNI = working on their Universal Decade.

I like both but can see that they're in entirely different stages of development and WDW will be fine for now. We all know Star Wars will most definitely be a reason for some to come down way more than Avatar and possibly even Potter. That's a huge fan base spread over many generations. This is where WDW will once again increase that attendance and growth gap in my opinion.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

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.

The last E Ticket opened anywhere on property was 9 freakin' years ago. The last E Ticket the MK got opened 4 years before my oldest daughter was born. She's in college.

If that isn't resting on your laurals, I don't know what is.

 

[Mike S]

I'm curious, did you visit WDW in the 1990s? Because you sound like someone who's only known Disney in the last decade, since they did indeed become focused on pixie dust and princesses.

In the 80s and 90s, when the big draws at Epcot were Horizons and World Of Motion, when Magic Kingdom was Alien Encounter and 20,000 Leagues, when MGM-Studios was a working live movie set tour, when there was at least one new outstanding parade every year... in those days, princesses were far from view, and Disney was known for producing the highest quality entertainment for all ages and demographics.

I'll give you that now Universal has probably always been more popular with thrill-seekers than Disney, but Disney certainly never used to restrict itself. I wouldn't rely on them having total control of that market forever either - Rumours say that Universal has big plans on the kid front.

The latest from Orlando United on Kid Zone is one word: Coaster. The size of the coaster I have no idea. However there is a rumor of a B/C Ticket going in Jurassic Park which I can only guess means it will be kid friendly.

 

[BrerJon]

I can't wait to do DL

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

I'm curious what you mean by thrill? Do you mean thrilling as more exciting, as in Spider-Man, Transformers, MIB etc. are more thrilling than anything Disney does... if that's the case I don't think that's a great claim on Disney's behalf really.

Or are you talking about thrills meaning rollercoasters? Because in terms of non-kid coasters, Disney has four (Space, Thunder, Everest and Rock) and Universal has four (Hulk, Mummy, Dragon, Rip-Ride), so on a per park average Universal has a little more but it's not a big differentiator.

 

[ford91exploder]

Will it? Or will there be another group of young boys and gals who are addicted the all the little stuff the mouse throws their way?

I agree it shows with Uni, but they're still ignoring a huge demo. One where most sucker daddies such as myself tend to spend most of our money.

Here's the thing, DW and I both remember the fun we both had as teens at WDW no not together as we met after college, Those experiences made us lifelong Disney fans. Now Teens and pre-teens would not be caught DEAD at WDW,

Ewww Disney World is for LITTLE kids can we go to UNI instead is the question asked in our house. And hence my analysis of DIsney's problem.

 

[FrankLapidus]

I wouldn't say far more. Disney already had that market yet invested in that further when they didn't need to. Princesses are cheap, wizards are not.

I would. There are three parks and two water parks where the princesses don't have much of a presence at all so, for me at least, Disney is not simply "all about pixie dust and princesses" .

 

[ford91exploder]

I may regret posting in this debate as these tend to get a bit nasty at times but I was thinking about where Universal is in comparison to WDW. I'll start off by saying Universal has beyond the shadow of a doubt created some impressive expansions this past decade. As much as I hate to say it the quality of Universal's new stuff and the pace of all of it definitely beats WDW. Now with that said, WDW also has been around a lot longer and as someone else pointed out has done most of what UNI is trying to do at this point in time. I mean by building new hotels, rumored water park, and of course the plussing of their current offerings. Sounds like UNI is hitting their version of "The Disney Decade"! It's a coming of age as for the first time ever UNI is truly a multi-day resort now and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. No Disney hasn't added the technology that UNI has but in the Disney Decade they added The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Sunset Blvd, Star Tours at MGM, Test Track, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Splash Mountain, numerous new resorts, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster, Disney's Blizzard Beach, two minigolf courses, DVC was born, DCL (I know this is a stretch but think Land and Sea package), Downtown Disney upgrades including new nightlife Cirque and DisneyQuest, and numerous shows and smaller attractions as well. This is where UNI is at today. I agree I'd love to see WDW pick up the pace and expand a lot more than NFL or MM+ but the two resorts are in two completely different stages of development at the moment. I know it hasn't been announced but we all know DHS is going to see some major attention in regards to Pixar and Star Wars, Avatar will finally open and despite the IP choice will most likely impress based on videos and concept art recently. This will undoubtedly help get these two parks to be full day especially with DAK's upcoming night entertainment offerings.

Long story short
WDW= working to spread crowds more evenly across parks and infastructure/ operations upgrades.

UNI = working on their Universal Decade.

I like both but can see that they're in entirely different stages of development and WDW will be fine for now. We all know Star Wars will most definitely be a reason for some to come down way more than Avatar and possibly even Potter. That's a huge fan base spread over many generations. This is where WDW will once again increase that attendance and growth gap in my opinion.

The problem with Star Wars is it's not even slated to open before 2022 - Thats 7 YEARS from now and 5 years after the first movie hits the screen.

 

[Mike S]

The problem with Star Wars is it's not even slated to open before 2022 - Thats 7 YEARS from now and 5 years after the first movie hits the screen.

I thought the year that was being thrown around was 2019?

 

[Mike S]

I would. There are three parks and two water parks where the princesses don't have much of a presence at all so, for me at least, Disney is not simply "all about pixie dust and princesses."

Epcot has princess M&G's all around WS and will soon have a ride about princesses in Norway. DHS has three princess themed shows. Only Animal Kingdom and the two water parks don't have a big princess presence.

 

[hth1917]

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

Sorry, but this is exactly what the WDW I fell in love with in the 1970s and 80s was NOT. That WDW was a place filled with one-of-a-kind experiences that had all-ages and unisex appeal. As a ten-year-old boy, I would have fled from "pixie dust and princesses" as from the plague, but I spent hours and hours poring over the guidemap from the last WDW visit while unable to sleep from the excitement of the upcoming visit. And my parents, older cousins, and grandparents loved it as well.

If Universal appeals more to boys, teens, and adults, that says more about the failures of present-day WDW than it says about Universal.