Wdw Or Universal

[pierce343]

I spent the last 10 days in orlando. 4 days at universal and 6 days at disney. Universal was unbelievable, the service was great it was very convenient and i had a great time. The fast pass at Universal is sooooooooo much better than disney because i got to walk right on rides with my hard rock hotel key. Disney is not as convenient to me. The rides are not as good and neither is the service. alot of the rides are shut down or not working properly and the fast pass completely sux. I still love disney but they need some new things and they need to start spending more money and working harder or Universal will be the number 1 attraction in orlando.

What does everyone think, do you like disney better or universal?

 

[pheneix]

That is kind of what I have been talking about all along here. In a NASCAR race, if someone slows down or has an engine failure, the competition is going slam down the accelerator and leave you choking in their dust. That is what is going on in Orlando right now.

 

[Disney4648]

I usually go to both. Universal Orlando and WDW are equal to me.:animwink:

 

[The_CEO]

Originally posted by pierce343
I spent the last 10 days in orlando. 4 days at universal and 6 days at disney. Universal was unbelievable, the service was great it was very convenient and i had a great time. The fast pass at Universal is sooooooooo much better than disney because i got to walk right on rides with my hard rock hotel key. Disney is not as convenient to me. The rides are not as good and neither is the service. alot of the rides are shut down or not working properly and the fast pass completely sux. I still love disney but they need some new things and they need to start spending more money and working harder or Universal will be the number 1 attraction in orlando.

What does everyone think, do you like disney better or universal?

Guys.. DO you know how many times this has been talked about? ABout 20 somthin times! DO a search before starting a thread like this ok.?

 

[Merlin]

Pierce, you hit the nail on the head! I love Disney, but I sometimes think they ride on their reputation a little too much. I used to be a trainer for Disney and we constantly reinforced with the Cast Members the importance of exceeding expectations and raising the bar. It is sad to see things slipping a little in terms of a quality guest experience. On a recent trip, my wife and I were yelled at (and that's no exaggeration) by a Cast Member on Space Mountain. Granted, that's an isolated incident, but I have generally noticed a decline in the quality of Cast Members at WDW. Putting it in perspective, WDW still blows away MOST other theme parks (including Disneyland).

However, I think the "employees" at the two Universal Parks are CONSIDERABLY superior to the ones at any WDW park. They are friendly, helpful, attentive to guests and seem completely sincere. I visited Universal shortly after they opened and have been back numerous times over the years (most recently last October) and I have never noticed the slightest decline in all this time. The employees have always been phenomenal! I also think the attention to detail in both parks is far superior to anything at Disney. I've always said that Universal Studios Orlando is what Disney-MGM would have been had Walt been alive to build it. The attractions themselves at Disney/MGM are better than Universal though (and that's a biggie).

Oh and by the way, the_ceo_at_wdw, take a valium and chill a little. If somebody wants to start a new string on a similar conversation, what's the big deal? You seem like you have some serious issues.

 

[The_CEO]

I wouldnt start anything I dont have issues. Im not going to say anything to hurt your little feelings cause i might get banned lol. Anywho.. I know for a fact if someone else said what i said they wouldnt of gotten their a$$ chewed out.. But oh well. Not a biggie. Its just boring seeing the same topics on the boards. Originallity please

~ Justin..

 

[Merlin]

Hey I was just bustin' your chops, buddy! And in all seriousness, you're probably right. I, too, have noticed the same conversations going simultaneously on several strings. But I just see it as my opportunity to share my incredibly profound opinions in more than one place. Take care!

 

[orlandoparks]

I couldn't say it any better.

 

[WDWspider]

In honor of this post I will go neutral for one week on the subject of Disney vs. Universal as you can see by my Greyscale Avatar. This battle will never be won, and is very touchy, I will keep my views to myself and just watch.:animwink:

 

[Erika]

Originally posted by pierce343
The fast pass at Universal is sooooooooo much better than disney because i got to walk right on rides with my hard rock hotel key. ...and the fast pass completely sux.

Do you think the Universal way is fair though? What about people who can't afford to stay at their hotels, or what about locals who aren't staying at hotels at all?

I've never actually been there...I can't bring myself to leave WDW, LOL!!! But I have heard good things about it.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I don't think USF can be compared to WDW - they are two seperate entities.

Compare USF against MGM (film themes) and as a park MGM wins.

You cannot compare IOA against WDW as Disney doesn't do a park full of coasters. Its like trying to compare Living Seas against SeaWorld.

There are similarities between the two such as the fast pass entry systems. But thats it.

In the end my vote goes with The Ceo At WDW - lets have something a little more original. Please.

 

[The Mom]

I suppose there are people who go to the NRA website and start touting the virtues of gun control, or people who go to the JAX Jaguars Fan Club website and start talking about how much better another NFL team is, or folks who go to any "fan" website and start talking about how another singer/actor/group/sport is so much better. They can do it, but shouldn't be surprised if some people don't appreciate their comments! This is a WDW FAN site, not a US/IOA site!!

Why has everyone who has started this thread been surprised that it irritates some people? The MAJORITY of the people here LOVE WDW...that's why they're here, and not at an "I LOVE US/IOA" site.

For the record, I myself have stayed at Portofino and used the front of the line privileges. I found most things very enjoyable at US/IOA, and even found a few superior features...but as a whole, for me, WDW is better. THAT'S WHY I'M A POSTER ON A WDW FAN WEBSITE!!

 

[Dawn S]

I know that many Disney fanatics tend to feel that liking or praising Universal is some kind of a sin or something. Personally, I don't see why they can't all be enjoyed for what they are. They are very different parks & both sets of parks are very nice & enjoyable. In my opinion, here's the comparison:

1. WDW scores points by having the "characters". Every kid loves Mickey Mouse & WDW will always have that edge over everyone.
2. Universal has more crowd organization & they run more efficiently in that respect.
3. Universal has Halloween. WDW has Christmas.
4. Universal does have the edge on modern rides & excitement.
5. WDW does have its own very special magic that no one else can come close to.
6. Universal has better employees. I just got hired at WDW & I am already wondering if I picked the right park. From my experiences, Unviersal employees seem to be more at ease & genuinely happy to be there. They are more human & less robotic. WDW "cast members" have to adhere to a somewhat excessive code which creates a "stiff" air around them. It's really a turn off, IMHO.
7. WDW has Walt....& not even Universal would be what it is if Walt hadn't set the standard. This is why WDW will always have an edge.

I'm not going to say "_______" is #1...this is not a high school football game. It's really quite silly. These are theme parks, folks...not operating systems, cars, football teams or politicians.

 

[RogueHabit]

I agree with Dawn. Each park has it's own offering.

You might as well compare EPCOT to Animal Kingdom as compare USF to WDW.

When we go we enjoy BOTH offerings, and others as well.

 

[The Mom]

I didn't mean to imply that you can't COMPARE them, only that trying to say USF is BETTER than WDW on a WDW board is going to push some buttons!

Ratcat and Dawn are right (and I loved your analogy, Ratcat ) At different times, and for different people, one might be superior to another....but ALL of them combined make for an unbeatable vacation experience! Obviously, if I could ONLY choose one for a once in a lifetime trip, I would choose WDW. Thank goodness I never have to make that choice!

Because of the nature of this board, I feel the majority of posters would agree with me.

 

[Disney4648]

Well, this is the biggest theme park debate that I know of. As long as Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World stay open, then people such as yourselves will continue to debate this topic. You have to realize that more people on these forums would choose Disneyworld and not Universal. Look at the title of the forums, WDWmagic. And if you argue about Universal being better than WDW, then your dumb. Now, im not saying that I like wdw more than Universal, which I dont, I think that WDW and Universal are great and 100% equal. But im telling all of the Universal fans here that WDW is so much more popular.

 

[disneyman15]

WDW is definatly the best of the two I just like Universal that much at all.

 

[stingrock23]

I'm sure this topic has been talked about so many times, but here's my take. I'm sure i've actually said probably the same thing on another post somewhere. I enjoy both parks the same. Disney has sentimental value and the history of my many previous trips, while universal's newer rides are extremely exciting as is the newness of the parks. Each has it's perks. While fastpass doesn't suck, i think too many are given out which causes the standby lines to be incredibly long. Now saying that, i'm sure the universal express is nice, but i can't afford to stay at one of those hotels yet. I mean, i can pay less than half price at the All-Stars and get bus transportation to all of the Disney parks. I don't mind driving to Universal, plus i find it's a lot less croweded than disney, so i'd never need the express pass. My only gripe with the whole argument is some people are so dead set on their choice that they don't visit the other park. I feel like these people are missing out. Yes, the 2 companies run their parks a little differently, and each has it's own feel, but since you'r paying a good chunk of money to go to Orlando, why not see everything in terms of the parks. I mean, i don't understand people who go to orlando for a week or longer and don't even go to universal one day. I think they're really missing out on a great time. This coming from a complete Disney nut. I'm spending my hard earned money, and i'm gonna do both and enjoy both probably just as much. I"m going in 3 months and i'm just so excited that i'm bringing someone who has never been to orlando and we're gonna experience everything. Sorry for beating a dead horse, but this was just my opinion.

 

[Dawn S]

Well said, Stingrock. That was my primary point. There is no law saying people can't like/enjoy both. WDW doesn't NOT allow you entry if you have visited Universal. Going to Universal doesn't make you any less a Disney fan. I just don't understand what would make people think such things. Being totally close-minded like that proves no point at all, it just serves to limit those visitors in their experiences. Oh well, more DIVERSE fun for me, then!

 

[JoeZerboy]

About Universal Express

I'm not sure if the point is really clear on this one topic, but you do not have to stay onsite at US/IOA to use the Express Pass option. I've never stayed onsite, but I do have a 2-Park Annual Pass [which I need to renew] - I've never had a problem with getting an Express Pass. Even with a day-ticket this can be done. The only time it's a problem is when the kiosks are closed for the day.

Now, Front Of Line privilege is a completely different animal...and those may only be available to those staying at the onsite resorts...and who here would be against Disney starting a method like that? Let's be honest...you're staying onsite, paying the money to be in the middle of it all, it only makes sense that you'd like get that extra "gimmie" to make sure you keep coming back to stay onsite. [Ok...evil, greedy mode: off - haha]

Since the resorts at US/IOA are relatively new, when compared to WDW's, I can understand where they would offer "Front of Line" access to their guests to garner hotel reservations...to build business for them and the parks there.

As far as the initial reason for this thread...I agree with a couple of the others who have posted. Each park offers something different for everyone's particular tastes. WDW is "home" to me, it's what I was first introduced to and what my family made daytrips to during the summer from our home in Bradenton, Florida [southern Tampa Bay]. I know a lot about the WDW area because of my exposure to it. US/IOA is new...there's still that novelty of having a "new toy" about it. I'm still finding out things about it...and that discovery aspect is exciting to me.

Also, as a single man in his mid-30's, I'm more in a frame of mind to enjoy thrill rides instead of family themed attractions. As I get older and possibly find someone to start a "family" with, this may change. But to satisfy my exploratory nature, I've been going to IOA a bit more often than I go to WDW...it's new and I want to know all I can about what it has to offer.

WDW is still "home"...as it probably is for many others on here. But we all need to venture from home from time to time to see the world and all the different flavors and experiences it has to offer. Some you may like, some you may not...but you won't know until you try.

Sorry for the ramble...

Joe