Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
Attraction upkeep, and not sacrificing show quality for efficiency.
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What is it the Universal does BETTER than Disney?
- Thread starter TubaGeek
- Start date
Totally. Too often a thread is started with the best of intentions that quickly zooms of track and becomes a monster (I speak from experience).
Yeah, but if you've ever been to Uni in CA, that's not the case. The whole thing is split in half by a huge hill, so it takes a while to traverse back and forth. Sorry, a bit of topic.This is what I enjoy about Universal more:
1.) Layout of the complex, everything is within walking distance, parks, hotels, and citywalk...all right there, kinda like Disneyland actually (but with TWO good parks)
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
I love the express system at Universal, but there is no way Disney could do this. You're talking 3 hotels versus 22. You're also talking 12 million park guests a year versus 60 million.
City Walk clearly has Pleasure Island beat now in terms of clubs. Food and shopping I'd still give to DTD.
Here's the thing that I don't think a lot of people get - Disney's decisions to not move in the same direction as Universal is a concious one - They're not screwing up. They are 2 completely different beasts. When Disney creates an attraction, there is much more need for responsibility involved. They're catering to every age group there is. Universal, for the most part, caters to a more specific audience. Whereas Universal can create an attraction like Spider-Man, Disney creates one like Soarin'. While Universal creates The Hulk, Disney creates Expedition Everest. Sure, The Hulk may be more thrilling, but can anyone say the details on ANY Universal attraction equal that of some of Disney's?
SirGoofy
Member
Um. Yes. Easily.
MIB>TSMM when it comes to detail. In fact, it blows it out of the water.
JP>Dinosaur. Half of Dinosaur is turns in the dark. No scenes, no AAs.
Mummy>Everest. Multiple show scenes in Mummy compared to what? 3 in Everest?
Spiderman>Anything Disney has. I don't even think I have to explain this one.
j_dp456
Member
I can understand the others but I think TSMM is a lot better. Maybe MIB looks better because there is absolutely nothing to do at Universal Studios (the park) besides the Mummy. All the fun is at IOA.
SirGoofy
Member
Why do you think TSMM is better?
MIB is longer, has actual physical set pieces, AAs, and a gun that doesn't give you tendinitis, not to mention a superior queue.
j_dp456
Member
Maybe it's my lack of hand eye coordination but when I'm riding the attraction I don't feel like I am actually causing any of the mayhem. When you ride TSMM and you see your ring or ball etc. actually flying and causing things to happen it makes you feel like your doing something and not just riding.
I actually just watched a MIB video on youtube and its better than I remembered, but I think I might prefer TSMM
CaptainMichael
Well-Known Member
Which is saying something considering how awesome TSMM's queue is. MIB's queue really makes you feel like you're entering a real life training facility.
It really is a shame that Universal is so lightly attended. I think people would be surprised by how good it really is, and the crowds would surely liven up the atmosphere (I would miss the small lines though). The Studios park puts DHS to shame. It is RICH with detail...things that most guests (myself included) wouldn't notice or appreciate.
muse1983
Well-Known Member
Universal Studios/ Islands of Adventures has a lot going for it. The Cat in the Hat dark ride trumps any dark ride that Disney has to offer, The Mummy is perhaps one of the best Coaster/Dark rides on the planet today, Men in Black barely edges out Buzz light year as a extremely gratifying dark ride game attraction, Superhero Island is a comic book geeks dream come true in not only the setting but also the amazing rides, Jurassic Park Island is straight out of the movie........ BUT
There is absolutely nothing and I mean NOTHING that Universal can ever create that will match or ever outdo the absolute MAGIC, extreme talent and absolute joy that every single DisneyWorld attraction and parks bring to the table. From the cast members, firework shows, parades, atmosphere, characters, architecture and themes. Disney World is untouchable in the fact that it makes grown men shed tears (including myself) when they are absolutely engulfed in the Magic and Joy that a man by the name of Walt Disney was able to give to all of us every single time we arrive on his property. DisneyWorld and Universal simply arent even comparable in the fact that one is literally a world that you get engulfed in and forget about the outside world. Universal is a must do every time we visit Disney World but it simply will never come close to tapping into the magic that Disney has to offer.
Universal is an absolutely gratifying and delicious appetizer to the 5 star meal which is DisneyWorld.
PS: I HIGHLY disagree with the post stating that The Studios puts DHS to shame, its apples and oranges it cant compare. Simply walk into Universal and get hounded by people trying to take your picture to make a quick buck for the company and see employees trying to force merchandise on people and you will immediately realize " We are no longer in Disney".
Yes, Universal is a much more convenient park to visit. Universal and IOA are right by each other and easy to get to. But isnt that what a 2 day max visit park is suppose to do??
There is absolutely nothing and I mean NOTHING that Universal can ever create that will match or ever outdo the absolute MAGIC, extreme talent and absolute joy that every single DisneyWorld attraction and parks bring to the table. From the cast members, firework shows, parades, atmosphere, characters, architecture and themes. Disney World is untouchable in the fact that it makes grown men shed tears (including myself) when they are absolutely engulfed in the Magic and Joy that a man by the name of Walt Disney was able to give to all of us every single time we arrive on his property. DisneyWorld and Universal simply arent even comparable in the fact that one is literally a world that you get engulfed in and forget about the outside world. Universal is a must do every time we visit Disney World but it simply will never come close to tapping into the magic that Disney has to offer.
Universal is an absolutely gratifying and delicious appetizer to the 5 star meal which is DisneyWorld.
PS: I HIGHLY disagree with the post stating that The Studios puts DHS to shame, its apples and oranges it cant compare. Simply walk into Universal and get hounded by people trying to take your picture to make a quick buck for the company and see employees trying to force merchandise on people and you will immediately realize " We are no longer in Disney".
Yes, Universal is a much more convenient park to visit. Universal and IOA are right by each other and easy to get to. But isnt that what a 2 day max visit park is suppose to do??
Tubes
New Member
USO's got Disney beat in the thrills department by a wide margin. Having not been to SeaWorld and ridden their 2 massive coasters, I can't say that Uni is the thrill junkies paradise in Orlando. All I do know is I took a friend and his uncle to IOA and they said it blew Busch Gardens Tampa out of the water. Take from that what you will.
USO and WDW are effectively tied in the themeing department right now. What Universal has done with their relatively small plot of land is pretty astounding. It's like a compact little paradise at the start of I drive.
Disney has gotten a lot right in the past and certainly has Universal beat in nostalgia. If you ask me, however, Universal has been a vastly better resort in the last decade than WDW. They've scaled up drastically, while WDW has remained mostly stagnat. Even now, with 2 new E-Tickets and a new land opening at USO, what does Disney have? A new stage show and a refurbished Space Mountain. Disney isn't exactly keeping up with the competition here.
What TDO needs is a swift kick in the pants like what TDA got earlier this decade. Stop expanding outward and start expanding inward. Perfect what you already have before making all these new things.
USO and WDW are effectively tied in the themeing department right now. What Universal has done with their relatively small plot of land is pretty astounding. It's like a compact little paradise at the start of I drive.
Disney has gotten a lot right in the past and certainly has Universal beat in nostalgia. If you ask me, however, Universal has been a vastly better resort in the last decade than WDW. They've scaled up drastically, while WDW has remained mostly stagnat. Even now, with 2 new E-Tickets and a new land opening at USO, what does Disney have? A new stage show and a refurbished Space Mountain. Disney isn't exactly keeping up with the competition here.
What TDO needs is a swift kick in the pants like what TDA got earlier this decade. Stop expanding outward and start expanding inward. Perfect what you already have before making all these new things.
Huh??? What Universal parks have YOU been to? I have no idea what you're talking about. If that's the best you can come up with for why Disney is superior to Universal, then I think you're supporting the opposite point. Disney may have a lot of things over Universal, but for the most part, it's their reputation based on past successes. But if you're trying to imply that Disney is more convenient than Universal, then I don't think you've actually been there. Convenience is DEFINITELY something Universal does way better than Disney, and many supporting points for that have already been made in this thread.
dixiegirl
Well-Known Member
Gee so far (and yes its still rather early) this thread is still going nice!
Funny someone asked me a similar question "Why do I like Disney so much rather than Universal"?.....Its like many stated, its comparing Apples to oranges..
Yes I agree Univerasl is nice the rides are outragously fun the theming is great as well. But To me its all Disney all the time...I feel like I'm cheating just watching something about Universal!
I like the feeling of being sumerged (Sp?) In that World ...for however long...from the moment i get off the plane to get on my Magical Express ....to going through the "Walt Disney World Sign" and yes so on and so on.........I know one day we'll probably do Universal , but truly I have no desire ...Please we're still trying to figure out if we really want to go to Sea World when we go in September!
Yeah I like being in my Happy Place All the time...And in 61 more days I will be!
Funny someone asked me a similar question "Why do I like Disney so much rather than Universal"?.....Its like many stated, its comparing Apples to oranges..
Yes I agree Univerasl is nice the rides are outragously fun the theming is great as well. But To me its all Disney all the time...I feel like I'm cheating just watching something about Universal!
I like the feeling of being sumerged (Sp?) In that World ...for however long...from the moment i get off the plane to get on my Magical Express ....to going through the "Walt Disney World Sign" and yes so on and so on.........I know one day we'll probably do Universal , but truly I have no desire ...Please we're still trying to figure out if we really want to go to Sea World when we go in September!
Yeah I like being in my Happy Place All the time...And in 61 more days I will be!
Mr Wizard
Active Member
The two things I see as being done better at USF are Disaster ( formerly Earthquake ) and Men In Black. Catastrophy Canyon is a snore and a waste of space. Not only is the Disaster ride a better use of special effects, the pre ride show is really neat with it's use of projected images on the stage. While Disney continues to think that projecting an image on a water spray is the best thing ever. And I can't believe people stand in long lines for, and also actually refer to Toy Story Midway as an E Ticket ride. The only thing entertaining about that ride is the que. Men In Black is head and shoulders above it in every aspect. And I especially love the disgruntled "worm behind the glass" as you are exiting the ride. He allways cracks me up. And I don't see any direct parallels at Disney for Spiderman or Revenge of the Mummy but they are both excellent rides.
Disneykidder
Well-Known Member
I think there are the good and bad in every park. The one thing that I would say is that Disney is an empire, a classic, timeless. Universal is good and a nice place to visit. It has more for the older crowd and not good for the young ones where as Disney is good for young ones and older ones. There is no comparison to any other park for me. Disney is like my home, the other amusement parks that I do visit are just visits.
The only one real advantage of Universal over Disney is price of admission. You can get a 7 day consecutive pass for $70. But on the flip, if Disney were to lower their prices than it would no longer be the diamond in the rough.
The only one real advantage of Universal over Disney is price of admission. You can get a 7 day consecutive pass for $70. But on the flip, if Disney were to lower their prices than it would no longer be the diamond in the rough.
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
You're not understanding me. Spider-Man is a great attraction. That doesn't mean the details in it are anything to write home about. The que line consists of some clippings in frames. The ride itself is shown on screens. When I talk about details, I'm talking about walking through Asia or Africa at Animal Kingdom. There is NOTHING at Universal that is as detailed as that. Technology does not equal detailed storytelling.
What do you mean no AA's in Dinosaur? The ride is full of them.
As for Everest, again, I think you're missing the point. It's not just the ride itself. It's the village leading up to Everest. It's the que area.
As for MIB versus TSM, they're themed much differently, and in fact, really aren't even comparable. Completely different rides.
SirGoofy
Member
And yet is incredibly detailed the entire way. There are still 3-D set pieces throughout the entire attraction, incredibly detailed ones at that. And "the queue consists of some clippings in frames"? Did you walk the queue with your eyes closed? It's a recreation of the Daily Bugle, and a heck of a good one at that.
You've obviously never walked through Jurassic Park. Or Lost Continent. Or Dueling Dragon's queue. Or experienced MIB, JPRA, Mummy, Spider-man, Jaws, Terminator, or Pop-eye, all of which contain Disney level of theming and details, and some even blow Disney attractions out of the water in that respect.
Oh, sure there are AAs, but it doesn't negate the fact that a good chunk of the ride is blind turns in the dark with nothing to see, where as JP is great set piece after great set piece.
Well let's see. Mummy's queue is maybe a notch below Everest's, but the fact that Everest has about 3 show scenes completely negates the greatness of its queue, where as Mummy's ride takes the queue to the next level. I don't care how much stuff is in the queue if said ride lacks substance. I like EE a lot. If the yeti was working it's great, but I'd still take Mummy, with it's actual SHOW scenes, over it any day.
How are they not comparable!? They're both interactive arcade-like rides. And TSMM opened a good while after MIB, and yet MIB is still the superior attraction.
Andy Walker
Member
Sorry, but the answer is nothing in my opinion.I'd rather ride a dull ride at Disney than a great ride at Universal, just because you are at Disney which has it's own special atmosphere.
Tubes
New Member
So, to you:
Magic Carpets@MK>Spiderman@IOA? And if they switched, Spiderman would automatically become better due to it's new surroundings?
I think some people are bringing nostalgia in. Nothing inherently wrong with that, but I don't think anyone could put forth an argument that would convince me that Universal hasn't been better in recent years than Disney.
