Why Universal is not actual competition to WDW, a theory...

[GLaDOS]

27. Men in black is more high tech and cool, but Buzz is the better shoot the alien ride.

Whoa. Dude. No way. lol. MIB is a top 5 ride in Orlando.

Also, I prefer Cinematic Spectacular to all the Disney night shows save for Fantasmic.

 

[Tim Lohr]

Those were written by Spielberg and people that love and care about quality, right?

No?

Okay.

Did you ever see the Godfather part3? ...I can do this all day, but I'm going to stop now, you probably should too

 

[GLaDOS]

If I am not mistaken around 10 books were released after his death (I think the latest was in 2009) and there was a total of 15 books about Middle Earth outside of the LOTR and Hobbit. I also believe that he had nearly as many books published that had nothing to do with Middle Earth.

And how many people know those books exist? I'd say about 1-5% of the LOTR reading public.

 

[GLaDOS]

Did you ever see the Godfather part3? ...I can do this all day, but I'm going to stop now, you probably should too

Did you ever see Godfather Part II?! Man, what a stinker.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Just wondering... did you guys ever see the sequels to JAWS? they were supposedly "set in the same universe" as the original movie too

I saw the one where Michael Caine went into water and got wet and in the next scene was perfectly dry.

Don't remember which one that was though.


Jimmy Thick- Is Frank Sinatra Jr a sequel to old blue eyes?

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Just wondering... did you guys ever see the sequels to JAWS? they were supposedly "set in the same universe" as the original movie too

Were they written by Peter Benchley?

 

[Gabe1]

Just spent a few days at Uni last week. It's hard to go through this thread and follow the arguments being posted, but I think I get the gist. I'll offer the following observation:

On Monday and Tuesday of last week, my family was at Uni and my parents were at WDW (they hit MK, Epcot, and DHS). They reported significant, although certainly not unbearable, crowds from park opening to park closing at whatever park they were at. Lines at both Uni parks were minimal, to the point that Tuesday evening, we entered Wizarding World at 7:00, at at Three Broomsticks with no wait, walked onto Dragon Challenge, Forbidden Journey, and Flight of the Hippogriff, and could have walked into Ollivander's with no wait. This was a holiday week and we were in the most popular section of the park. Earlier that evening, we had walked onto Hulk, Spiderman, Dr. Doom. and Cat in the Hat. Crowds during the day were more than walk-on, but waits were minimal except for Minions and Forbidden Journey (Even Transformers had a short line most of the time).

So, based on my anecdotal evidence, it appears to me that Disney is likely winning the battle for quantity of guests. And this, after years and years of Uni outpacing WDW in attraction development.

Not buying into this. I have been reading http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...-live-trip-report.877390/page-10#post-5824518 and there are countless posts from members in awe of how much this family was able to do in a few hours at the WDW parks. It was a live trip report so it is not anecdotal evidence, more a time line of the same type of experience you were having at Uni. Not so darn crowded, more typical summer not major holiday crowds at Disney either.

They spoke of FPs and FP+ that were not even necessary at times.

 

[BryceM]

My opinion is that I don't think Universal Orlando is trying to overtake Walt Disney World as a international destination. I don't think it's possible, as WDW just offers so much more and it has been around longer. There are four parks and so many more hotels, there is no way that Universal Orlando could ever "surpass" them when it comes to attendance. And I think Universal knows this.

However, I do think Universal Orlando and a Universal Creative have been on the same page as WDW for some time now (since the opening of IOA, or even just USF) when it comes to themed design and a quality park experience. The hotels are also nicer, and the parks are absolutely top notch. I don't see where Jimmy Thick is pulling the ideas out that they are basically second rate amusement parks. IOA is already the 6th most attended park in the country, and that's something to be darn proud of, especially when you have the behemoth that is known as WDW just down the street

 

[MichWolv]

Whoa. Dude. No way. lol. MIB is a top 5 ride in Orlando.

Also, I prefer Cinematic Spectacular to all the Disney night shows save for Fantasmic.

MIB is a good ride, and I enjoyed it very much. But Buzz just does it simpler and better.

As for Cinematic Spectacular, I prefer it to Animal Kingdom's nighttime show, but that's all.

 

[Master Yoda]

And how many people know those books exist? I'd say about 1-5% of the LOTR reading public.

The point still remains that it was not a one and done franchise. There has been a near constant influx of new material even after Tolkien's death.

 

[MichWolv]

Not buying into this. I have been reading http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...-live-trip-report.877390/page-10#post-5824518 and there are countless posts from members in awe of how much this family was able to do in a few hours at the WDW parks. It was a live trip report so it is not anecdotal evidence, more a time line of the same type of experience you were having at Uni. Not so darn crowded, more typical summer not major holiday crowds at Disney either.

They spoke of FPs and FP+ that were not even necessary at times.

What aren't you buying? That my parents experienced crowds at WDW last Monday and Tuesday? Or the definition of anecdotal, which covers both my post and yours?

 

[Sped2424]

He can't be serious about any of this right?

Eduardo Garcia- I am afraid so.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

My opinion is that I don't think Universal Orlando is trying to overtake Walt Disney World as a international destination. I don't think it's possible, as WDW just offers so much more and it has been around longer. There are four parks and so many more hotels, there is no way that Universal Orlando could ever "surpass" them when it comes to attendance. And I think Universal knows this.

However, I do think Universal Orlando and a Universal Creative have been on the same page as WDW for some time now (since the opening of IOA, or even just USF) when it comes to themed design and a quality park experience. The hotels are also nicer, and the parks are absolutely top notch. I don't see where Jimmy Thick is pulling the ideas out that they are basically second rate amusement parks. IOA is already the 6th most attended park in the country, and that's something to be darn proud of, especially when you have the behemoth that is known as WDW just down the street

I do believe that UOR is taking on the challenge. 55 acres on I Drive and 100+ acres of Lockheed Martin land will provide 12,000+ hotel rooms, 2 golf courses, 2 new shopping/dining districts, and a 3rd gate. Tie it all together with a Doppelmayer elevated train system and throw in a highly themed water park along Major Blvd. And Game On!

 

[MichWolv]

My opinion is that I don't think Universal Orlando is trying to overtake Walt Disney World as a international destination. I don't think it's possible, as WDW just offers so much more and it has been around longer. There are four parks and so many more hotels, there is no way that Universal Orlando could ever "surpass" them when it comes to attendance. And I think Universal knows this.

However, I do think Universal Orlando and a Universal Creative have been on the same page as WDW for some time now (since the opening of IOA, or even just USF) when it comes to themed design and a quality park experience. The hotels are also nicer, and the parks are absolutely top notch. I don't see where Jimmy Thick is pulling the ideas out that they are basically second rate amusement parks. IOA is already the 6th most attended park in the country, and that's something to be darn proud of, especially when you have the behemoth that is known as WDW just down the street

As far as attractions and theming, I agree. On the hotels, I don't know. I have only experienced Royal Pacific, and found it to be, as I said, a nice hotel. But I would stay there again only because of the on-site benefits, and even then I'm not sure, because the hotel itself just isn't "user-friendly". It's location within UOR is certainly user-friendly, but not the hotel itself.

 

[Matt_Black]

To expand on Jimmy's wrestling analogy, WDW is WWE, and Uni is TNA/ Impact. Even if creatively, they might not be near where they were, WDW still has that lock on the popular consciousness. When people think wrestling, they think "WWE"; when they think "theme parks" they think Walt Disney World.

 

[MichWolv]

I do believe that UOR is taking on the challenge. 55 acres on I Drive and 100+ acres of Lockheed Martin land will provide 12,000+ hotel rooms, 2 golf courses, 2 new shopping/dining districts, and a 3rd gate. Tie it all together with a Doppelmayer elevated train system and throw in a highly themed water park along Major Blvd. And Game On!

Not for overall number of guests, but perhaps for guests per acre, or profitability.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

To expand on Jimmy's wrestling analogy, WDW is WWE, and Uni is TNA/ Impact. Even if creatively, they might not be near where they were, WDW still has that lock on the popular consciousness. When Americans think wrestling, they think "WWE"; when they think "theme parks" they think Walt Disney World.

Fixed that for you.

 

[marni1971]

Its time to say it again. The IP is irrelevant if the product stands as high or higher than said IP.

Splash Mountain for instance. Again.

And again, who says Universal has to be a competitor? They're doing just fine. Comcast are very happy. Very.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Its time to say it again. The IP is irrelevant if the product stands as high or higher than said IP.

Splash Mountain for instance. Again.

And again, who says Universal has to be a competitor? They're doing just fine. Comcast are very happy. Very.

I think its the fact that some users of this site are happy with Universals offerings that cause discomfort and loyalty issues to others. Though this isnt the underpinning reason for this and other threads, is it.

Its the desperation that amuses me.

 

[Gabe1]

Only if there are new Potter stories, if not, ten years max before a complete repackaging.


Jimmy Thick- LoTR?

Disney is the master at repackaging

Alien to Stitch

Countdown to Dinosaur

Toon to Storybook

Market Place, Downtown Disney/PI/Springs

SuperStar Television to Idol

Monster Sound to Sounds Dangerous to Comedy Club

Walking Backlot Tour, Who Wants to be a Millionaire to Toy

Residential Street to Light Motor

Wonders of Life to Special Events

Odyssey to Special Events

Horizon to Test Track

Motion to Mission Space

Timekeeper to Laugh?* *hard to keep track of all the Tomorrowland repackagings

Toad to Pooh

Snow White to Meet and Greet

Skyway to Tangled toilets

20K to Pooh Play to expansion acres

PhilharMagic has been how many different things

Disney is the leader of repackaging so it is disingenuous to nail Uni for maybe, some decade having to repackage Harry Potter attractions, maybe. My thought is Disney's repackaging list is much longer than what is quickly coming to mind.