Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
I got it. I don't agree. But I am a substance over style kind of guy.
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Why Disney is better than Universal and other amusement parks...
- Thread starter Jimmy Thick
- Start date
acishere
Well-Known Member
I do also like the concept of Animal Kingdom's entrance. Travelling down one of the Oasis jungle's paths, then suddenly discovering the Village and Tree of Life is a beautiful visual.
WED99
Well-Known Member
I agree. AK to me is the best entrance in the US, maybe even the world. It tells a real story and sets a great mood.
Port of Entry is average in my opinion. It looks cool and has some neat details but I don't think it can really prepare you for the Journey since you turn straight into Seuss or Marvel straight after it.
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Captain Chaos
Well-Known Member
I prefer the entrance to DAK more than DHS or Epcot, and put it right up there with walking into MK...
acishere
Well-Known Member
Epcot would be higher if you didn't have to walk through what looks like a memorial for those we lost before crossing under SSE.
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
you can just drag or select certain part of the text with your mouse and then click on the '" icon on top, next to the floppy and the <> file, it should bring a QUOTE promp automatically..
so you get text like this:
Interesting points of view. I agree with some...not others.
The themeing at IOA and the Simpson's area at US is great -- as good or better than anything Disney has. The themeing in the rest of US is blah or nonexistant.
Food options -- I was very disappointed in Uni's food a couple weeks ago. Three Broomsticks was great, but everything else was just...fine. Mythos, which I had heard great things about, was just OK. CityWalk is full of upscale family restaurants -- good, but not special. And the counter-service places we ate at in UO and IOA were just run of the mill theme park food. I give Disney the huge edge here.
Forbidden Journey is a great ride, as are Spider-Man, Transformers, Minion Mayhem, and Rip Ride Rocket, IMO. As good as anything Disney has to offer, but not necessarily better. I put Uni's attractions, as a group, on par with Disney's.
Resorts -- I don't have a full view, as I stayed at Royal Pacific and it was my first time on site. I found the service very good and resort very comfortable, but not user-friendly. No fridge, no grab n go food option, no convenient parking (and you pay for parking). The benefits of staying on site and the location certainly made it worth it, particularly since the cost was not much more than I'd pay for a nice place off-site, but if cost isn't part of the picture, I'd prefer any of the Deluxe Resorts, Wilderness Lodge, Port Orleans, and Coronado to Royal Pacific.
As for getting away from the real world, both parks do it well, but so do Disney's. Disney keeps that feeling outside the parks, while Uni does not.
Uni wins in 1. Loses on 3. Wins on 4 almost by default (everything is close enough to walk -- can't beat that). I'll withhold a view on 2, as I've only experienced Royal Pacific, but from what I've seen so far, I'll take Disney's.
Fairybuzz
Well-Known Member
I'd usually say disney wins on state of the art attractions but that would be if it wasn't cranking out gems like Seas with Nemo. 2. Disney 3.Disney 4. really isnt fair Universal is all clumped together so they really don't have a fair chance to show it. Disney is pretty unique in that its a spread out resort with pristine land separating everything. Even other Disney resorts have the parks either front to front or back to back or something.
englanddg
One Little Spark...
It used to, and still does elsewhere. But in Orlando.... the last innovative and truely state of the art surely has to be ToT or Test Track. Dinosaur was cloned but even so they're all a decade or two old now. Its nice to see modern innovation retro fitted to legacy attractions, but it doesn't always sit well with older themes and effects. It works well in Mansion, not so well in PotC (IMHO)
Before people mention it, Everest is a good third party coaster where in-ride track switches are nothing special now and is an attraction totally lacking in on-ride theming and story (IMHO)
Two things would make EE a lot better. First, during the slow bit at the beginning we need a goat herder or someone warning us. Just a local saying, "Go Back" or "There be stormy seas ahead" or something. Second, a big yeti taking a swipe at you near the end. I wonder if they ever thought of that.
@MichWolv - RP is the only Uni resort I've stayed at as well. I felt like the had more of the standard perks that I would expect in an expensive hotel room (K-Cup coffee maker, nice hair dryer, iElectronics docking station - this was right before this started to pop up in the DVC units we stay in, etc.), however, it wasn't themed like the Disney moderates or deluxes so I've always been kind of 50/50 on the whole high end resort thing. My kids kind of sum it up. My son thought RP was nicer and more modern than Disney and my daughter said, "its not magical". There ya go.
Disney wins on quality of counter service restaurants. Disney does have nice table service restaurants. However, a big part of the reason Mythos is so univerally loved is that it is reasonably priced. There are still places around WDW that aren't insane, but they are becoming fewer.
Everyone talks about who has the "better" attractions. I get a really different feel from Uni and Disney attractions so I have a hard time comparing them. However, when I was younger Disney was famed for attraction density. My family would always tell people, "You can't do MK or EPCOT in a day". Both parks have had a lot of stuff shut down, removed, or replaced with shorter experiences over the years so that doesn't ring near as true any more. I'm talking about MK too. DHS and DAK are waaaaay low on rides, shows and other experiences. There is a lack of kinetic energy around the parks. DHS and DAK are both really lacking. However, I always give DAK a pass since it is so gosh darned pretty. Universal has a very different philosophy. They want to wow you with big attraction after big attraction. I think Disney's best strategy is too build big attractions from time to time (of course), but to really return to the completely multi-layered theme park experience. It actually looks like they are doing this to a degree at DAK as a precursor to the big (and needed) Avland expansion.
Texas84
Well-Known Member
Everyone has different tastes. But I can be with my family and someone will say, "Remember that restaurant at WDW 5 years ago?" Granted my memory isn't that great but I can't think of one memorable meal at Universal. OK, one. Bubba Gump's. Does that count? And the food at DLR blows them both out of the water. IMHO.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
Have you tried Tchoup Chop, The Palm, or BiCE? Even Emeril's Orlando is quite nice.
One way that in which WDW used to really differentiate itself from all other theme park complexes (and still does, though not to the same degree) is the long, languid, 10 minute or longer dark ride. People who are big WDW fans and have been for a period of time (say more than 8.7 years love these things). Many have been shuttered (WoM, Horizons), neglected (Great Movie Ride, UoE), reduced (SSE, UoE again, JIYI, etc.), or changed in ways that get mixed reviews (PoTC). They did throw fans of this type of ride a bone with the new Ariel ride, but little show details in the ride just seem off. It makes you wonder if they've forgotten how to light and deftly hide things in rides like this. DAK has never had this type of ride, even though KS is a very nice analogue. I actually think the boat ride addition of Avland could do more for the park than many think if it is well done.
I agree. One of the things I enjoy about HM and SSE is the length of the attraction. It gives you time to get your mind off the crowds or heat and let's you immerse yourself more.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
I agree that the boat ride in Avatarland is going to have a more "Classic Disney Attraction" feel than many have considered. I am more interested in seeing what they bring to the table with this expansion than I have been in a long time at WDW.
I am just very concerned as to how they are going to theme the Soarin' Over Pandora ride system so that it actually appears that you are Soarin' Over Pandora and not watching a movie and being shaken around a bit.
I am just very concerned as to how they are going to theme the Soarin' Over Pandora ride system so that it actually appears that you are Soarin' Over Pandora and not watching a movie and being shaken around a bit.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Pineapple Dole Whip is one of the flavors that can be available at Menchies, so it may be coming to Universal Orlando Resort. Six Flags Magic Mountain also sells a few flavors of Dole Whip. It is becoming much less of a Disney exclusive.
Will there be a place at CityWalk I can buy a strawberry swirl or Figaro Fries?