Universal vs. Disney

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agent86

New Member
dxer07002 said:
Ok, here is the full story about what happened to me.. Let me start by saying I had purchased the Universal AP after visiting the park in 2007... I figured I was an owner in the DVC, and since I would be going down every year, I'll spend a day or two away from Disney over in Universal...
So, I get back from 2007's trip and purchase the pass...

When HHN tickets went on sale, my friend in Orlando purchased them for us.. This was to be my first time at HHN... And yes, I can say I was very excited.. After asking people who have done HHN, we decided to purchase Universal's fast pass for the haunted houses...

So, the day started off fine... We drive out to Universal and get there around 12:30... Our first stop was Margaritaville... My friend and I walk in to put our name down on the list for dinner.. The woman working the front desk asked if we had reservations.. I told her no, that the person I spoke to on the phone told us we didn't need them, that they don't do reservations, and to just walk in and put my name on the list... The front desk girl shot back with a bit of a nasty attitude, WELL YOU NEED THEM.. I tried to explain to her that their people gave false information and asked if she could do anything for us since, well, it was their fault... She huffed and puffed and turned her head on me... I asked to see her manager and she down right refused to get her... Well, someone else working by her heard the conversation and she pulled us aside.. The girl who pulled us aside and told us they had this problem often.. She told us to wait there as she went to get the manager... The manager came out and, after repeating what happened to her, she shook her head and took my name down.. She didn't promise a particular sit down time, but she told us to come back at 4:30 like we planned and she would make sure we got seated, just didn't give us a time...

Ok, so that situation was handled, in my opinion, properly by the manager.. However, the other girl gave an attitude that I find commonplace... Well, on to the next....

After having that situation resolved, I entered the park... We started heading down to the Simpsons ride.. On the way down, we saw Scooby Doo, gy, and Woody Woodpecker out... We decided to go get pictures with the characters since there were no lines what so ever.. We approached Scooby's area when the character escort turned to us and said SORRY SCOOBY AND GY ARE GOING IN NOW... So, we turned and went over to Woody Woodpecker.. Only to be told the same thing... Knowing the characters do stay out only a certain time, we figured their time was up, so we left... As we walked away, another group of adults approached the characters, and wouldn't you know they were able to get their pictures taken with them??? So, I started wondering why we were not allowed.. I looked at our shirts.. ALL OF US HAD DISNEY SHIRTS ON!!! Opps, a no no in Universal... Could it be they purposely lied to us cause we were wearing Disney shirts??? Hmmm guess we will never know... I want to give them a bit more credit than that...

So, anyway, we get to the Simpsons ride.. We spent a good 20-30 minutes checking out the area, taking pictures like crazy.... We get online.. I spent the time online watching the movie playing in the queue... My friend and I were loving the movie... Now my interest was speaking even more... I couldn't wait to get on the ride... We finally reach the front of the queue.. The girl working there asked us how many, then told us it would be a minute.. She put a chain up then walked away.. She came back about 10-15 minutes later.. I was wondering why she was gone so long...

Anyway, we finally get to our ride bay... We were in the room watching the safety speil, histerical laughing... The doors open and we approach the ride vehicle... The anticipation was killing me... I couldn't wait to check this ride out...

Well, we took our seats in the front row, while a family of 4 took the back row... We pulled the lap bar down, but it wouldn't lock.. The female working the ride asked us to try again.. And again it didn't lock... She approached the ride vehilce and did something, not sure what she pressed... The lap bar again wouldn't lock into place... You could tell the girl was getting frustrated, as were we... She asked us to stand up and to sit down while pulling the lap bar down at the same time.. Nope, didn't lock in... Her voice started getting very condensending, telling us to stand up yet again, and to slowly sit down... 5 times we did this.. and 5 times she spoke to us like we were dumb... Lap bar wouldn't lock in...

She then decides that the smallest person in our group had to move to the back because, since there was a very tall guy in the back, that's why the bar wouldn't lock.. So, my smallest friend and the tall guy switched seats... And the lap bar didn't work again... I asked the girl if the vehicle could be broke or malfunctioning.. Her response? NO THE VEHICLE JUST WORKED.. YOU GUYS AREN'T DOING THE LAP BAR RIGHT... I asked her how many different ways is there to pull down the lap bar??? She said WELL IT ISN'T HARD TO PULL THE LAP BAR DOWN YA KNOW...

Someone else came over and told her to put the vehicle down while they checked it out... They moved us to another room.. We had to watch the speil again.. Finally, we get to another ride vehicle.. however, before taking our seats, the person working this ride bay said LET'S SEE IF YOU GUYS CAN GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME, AS YOU SIT, PULL DOWN ON THE LAP BAR... She said it very sarcastically, again, like we were idiots...

That was the final straw... I walked out of the ride... I never walk out, but, the attitudes we encounted from the minute we walked in finally got to me.. I went to Guest Services to complain...

I got to GS, and spoke with a Jenny, I think... She apologized, and took out a complain form... Her manager came out to speak with one of the other girls working the front desk about a computer issue... As Jenny asked me for information to fill out the complaint form, the manager over heard... She came over and asked Jenny what happened.. As jenny explained to her the sitation, the manager roller her eyes and passed a comment: FIGURES, LOOK AT THE SHIRT HE IS WEARING... I asked her what does the shirt have to do with anything.. She said OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE A DISNEY FAN... I told her yea and that I am an AP holder for Universal as well.... She roller her eyes and said YOU WOULDN'T COMPLAIN IF A DISNEY CM SPOKE TO YOU LIKE THIS, WOULD YOU.. I told her I most certainly would have, that I am their customer and I expect to be treated with a certain degree of respect... She then said YOU ARE WEARING THE WRONG SHIRT HERE THEN, IF YOU WANT RESPECT.... I asked why they have the need to mock those wearing Disney shirts in their parks, that I wore a Universal shirt in Disney, a Disney shirt in SeaWorld, and never once was I mocked.. but wear a Disney item in Universal and they mock you... SHE TOLD ME IF I DIDN'T LIKE IT, THEN LEAVE AND GO TO DISNEY...

Not the proper business attitude... So, I told her, ok, now cancel my AP and I will go enjoy the better park, DISNEY.... She said no problem... And cancelled the AP... No apology for her pathetic attitude toward me.. My friend then said he wanted his money back on the HHN stuff, and she gave it right back to him.. No questions asked...

True, money played a part as well, but only after the manager's rudeness toward me.. Her rudeness convinced me to not go back to Universal for a while.. So, I refused to pay for the AP while not using it... Makes sense, no?

So, there ya go.. That's my little story.... Now, this doesn't mean I won't go to Universal ever again... I just won't go while I have the bad taste still in my mouth from this experience...

And if there is anyone here who says SeaWorld, Six Flags, or Disney would even do such a thing to their guests is a bold faced liar... I can't see any other theme park treating their guests like that...
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Okay, I'm dying laughing here! This post is classic! I love how you go on and on with a progressively more absurd, ridiculous and UNBELIEVABLE story, and then finish off by saying that anyone who has a similar story about the parks is a "bold faced liar". :ROFLOL:
 
Pumbas Nakasak

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
flashinghelmet said:
I suggest you become British and talk to real British people, rather than a fan site.
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No thanks Im happy to call myself Scottish. And Id guess I have a larger social circle than you so if you wish to dismiss impartial views as exhibited on such websites and go on anecdotal evidence, then fine because I'm happy to disagree and say that in my circles, most people choose to use the Orlando Flex ticket. And while most holiday makers may be family groups, they are not all full of toddlers.
 
flashinghelmet

flashinghelmet

Member
Pumbas Nakasak said:
No thanks Im happy to call myself Scottish. And Id guess I have a larger social circle than you so if you wish to dismiss impartial views as exhibited on such websites and go on anecdotal evidence, then fine because I'm happy to disagree and say that in my circles, most people choose to use the Orlando Flex ticket. And while most holiday makers may be family groups, they are not all full of toddlers.
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You're the one that said the UK, therefore British would be the correct usage. I very much doubt you do have a larger social circle than I do, but if you say so.

And from my experience, I have never met a single person who has gone to Orlando and hasn't visited Disney, only Universal. I am 22, and therefore quite happily fit into the ''non-kiddie'' market.

People on a fansite are in no way shape or form, and example of the population who visit Orlando. And they are certainly not impartial.
 
Pumbas Nakasak

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
flashinghelmet said:
You're the one that said the UK, therefore British would be the correct usage. I very much doubt you do have a larger social circle than I do, but if you say so.

And from my experience, I have never met a single person who has gone to Orlando and hasn't visited Disney, only Universal. I am 22, and therefore quite happily fit into the ''non-kiddie'' market.

People on a fansite are in no way shape or form, and example of the population who visit Orlando. And they are certainly not impartial.
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How I wish to describe by nationality is surely a matter for me. But then I guess you made the assumption that I was American and are now trying to save face. Your 22 you must have so much life experience to share.

Are you implying that people would visit a fan and networking sites to get information and then lie about not going to Disney? Is your large social circle part of the criminal fraternity that habitual lying is a daily event?

I have personally never met a rapist, but I'm pretty sure they exist.
 
Captain Chaos

Captain Chaos

Well-Known Member
agent86 said:
Okay, I'm dying laughing here! This post is classic! I love how you go on and on with a progressively more absurd, ridiculous and UNBELIEVABLE story, and then finish off by saying that anyone who has a similar story about the parks is a "bold faced liar". :ROFLOL:
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You don't want to believe it, then fine.. That's on you, not me...
 
A

agent86

New Member
dxer07002 said:
You don't want to believe it, then fine.. That's on you, not me...
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Fair enough, but my point is that it seems a little hypocritical. I'm sure you probably wouldn't like to be called a liar yourself based on that story, but you have to admit, it asks for quite a leap of faith to not question the credibility of your claim....and yet you automatically are stating that anyone claiming to have had that experience at Disney, or any other park, is a "bold faced liar". :hammer:
 
Captain Chaos

Captain Chaos

Well-Known Member
agent86 said:
Fair enough, but my point is that it seems a little hypocritical. I'm sure you probably wouldn't like to be called a liar yourself based on that story, but you have to admit, it asks for quite a leap of faith to not question the credibility of your claim....and yet you automatically are stating that anyone claiming to have had that experience at Disney, or any other park, is a "bold faced liar". :hammer:
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Ok, maybe the bold faced liar was a bit of an exaggeration, but, still, I did not make up my experience.

I did notice you skipped how I said I would go back to Universal once the bad taste of this experience was gone... Point is, my post was not to make Universal sound bad... I just posted how I had a really bad experience... I still feel like I will visit Universal after Harry Potter opens...
 
Captain Chaos

Captain Chaos

Well-Known Member
Pumbas Nakasak said:
You and quite a few others, no pressure on Universal to get this attraction right. And heres hoping they wont wait years to add something else.
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Well, I guess it depends on what you consider getting it right... Some people will say, no matter how good the attraction may be, will still say they didn't get it right... As I do with Disney's new attractions, I will hold judgement until I see it...
 
MousDad

MousDad

New Member
dxer07002 said:
Well, I guess it depends on what you consider getting it right... Some people will say, no matter how good the attraction may be, will still say they didn't get it right... As I do with Disney's new attractions, I will hold judgement until I see it...
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Boy that's a good point. Universal is about to get a good dose of what Disney deals with all the time: FAN EXPECTATIONS.
 
albino_pygmy

albino_pygmy

Member
Pumbas Nakasak said:
You and quite a few others, no pressure on Universal to get this attraction right. And heres hoping they wont wait years to add something else.
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If Universal does "get it right" then I don't think they'll wait that long to add something new, or bring back several closed shops or resteraunts from extinct or seasonal status. Even if they don't "get it right," as long as they have convinced enough people that this is worth coming back for year after year, then Universal won't have as many problems as they do. I do agree that Disney does this better by making guests believe there is a need to keep coming back for more of the same old worn out stuff, and a few cheaply thrown together shows. Lets hope that Universal will get the attendence it needs so that it would be able to continue to come out with new exciting attractions.
 
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cally1973

New Member
If I remember correctly Disney has been shuting down places to eat shops, rides whole areas of a place for quite a while. I can remember wh$en this never happened. Didn't have to worry if world showcase was open yet, this place has closed early. This ride closed since we are not busy enough. Sorry but still pay the same price to get in. As for Universal
I really love the parks. Been going to Disney since the middle 70's before I can remember, but I really enjoy Universal. This past week been over 5 times. Just got a AP. I love Disney. I have Disney stuff from way back when. I am amazed at how well Universal themes there parks. The only real difference is Disney would theme around there coasters in the past. Dinoland and Paradise Pier are different in this reguard, and a disappointment. This can be because there fairs, caravals, whatever, they suck. A Disney park was never to be that way. They were cheap and did cheap things. For the money no ride touches Spiderman. I have talked to many people and they say the same thing. Disney has been sliping, and I hope Universal picks up. Competition is the best thing for us. More there is the better rides we get.
 
burninup4nick

burninup4nick

New Member
if u ask me Disney definitely beats Universal. At least for now. Disney has four theme parks, Universal has 2. Disney has 2 water parks, Universal has none. Disney has Downtown Disney which is way bigger that Universal's City Walk. Disney has like 30 something resorts???? Universal has like 3? Disney has way more extra stuff to do as well. I mean they have mini golf, and horse back riding, and anything else u could want. Until Universal has all of that I dont see how u can really even compare the two.


Just my opinion.....
 
albino_pygmy

albino_pygmy

Member
burninup4nick said:
if u ask me Disney definitely beats Universal. At least for now. Disney has four theme parks, Universal has 2. Disney has 2 water parks, Universal has none. Disney has Downtown Disney which is way bigger that Universal's City Walk. Disney has like 30 something resorts???? Universal has like 3? Disney has way more extra stuff to do as well. I mean they have mini golf, and horse back riding, and anything else u could want. Until Universal has all of that I dont see how u can really even compare the two.


Just my opinion.....
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FYI, Universal has 1 waterpark, and that's Wet 'n Wild down the street. Which park has more doesn't mean squat to me. If you're comparing by who has the most, it's obvious that Disney wins. However, when it comes to quality, I think they fall short of Universal. I prefer quality over quantity, and until Disney steps it up in their quality with their newer attractions, I'll side with Universal.
 

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