Will IOA ever surpass a Disney park attendance wise?

[danlb_2000]

Officially, I think Uni calls it a "park-to-park" ticket.

You are correct, although I have seen it referred to as a two park ticket.

 

[cheezbat]

I was just at Great America last weekend, never felt I was at a theme park, just felt like I was at a place with some cool coasters and attractions. I feel the same way walking around IOA...

Jimmy Thick- To each his own...But I'll continue to post here thank you very much.

As somebody who grew up going to Great Anerica(and just visited again a few weeks ago) and for the last twelve years have lived down the road from Disney and Uni(and visit both very often) I can say that aside from the coasters, IOA feels nothing like Great America.

The themeing is on a completely different level at IOA.

I do agree with you that Universal Studios is the better park. I just wish they'd remove the Rockit and add a water attraction.

 

[JordanNite]

It's a bizarre consumer who hates on Unviersal, when they are spending so much money on NEW ATTRACTIONS for the people out there. Comepletely bizarre !

Even the most ardent of Disney fans, can see Disney is doing nothing with their parks in Orlando in terms of new attractions, and entertainment.

While i don't think Universal are trying to catch Disney or overtake it, they are trying to compliment it ... they need Disney in Orlando, and that is the reason most people go. They are hoping to get a few of more of their visitors from there to take a day or two out. Where as Disney would hope they spend all the money in their own world.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Don't be fooled, Universal is on the move and only a fool wouldn't take them seriously. Don't think for a second that Universal buying 55 acres along I-Drive didn't tighten up a few (BEEP)holes down on Buena Vista Drive.

 

[Victor Kelly]

Uni needs way more than 55 acres for another park. But UNI is on the way up, it shows in how they are building out their parks. While Disney has stood stagnant for years UNI has improved their position. Now Disney is dropping billions, and trying to fix that which they have neglected. The arms race among Disney and UNI is in full swing.

 

[JT3000]

IOA is based on literature turned into tv shows and movies. Show me something in IOA that has no media beyond printed literature. Marvel, Jurassic park, HP, that mess between Seuss (which has many many iterations on film), and Seuss Island. All facts, just sayin.

Many of the intellectual properties used in IOA have been adapted into movies or television at some point. However, I'd love to know the relevance of this fact, as a minority of the park is actually based on said adaptations. Areas such as Seuss Landing, Toon Lagoon and Marvel Superhero Island are CLEARLY based on the content in its original form. Sooo.... yeah...

 ​

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Uni needs way more than 55 acres for another park. But UNI is on the way up, it shows in how they are building out their parks. While Disney has stood stagnant for years UNI has improved their position. Now Disney is dropping billions, and trying to fix that which they have neglected. The arms race among Disney and UNI is in full swing.

But will Disney Fanbois admit that Universal is a "thing" when they open 10,000 more hotel rooms, a 2nd CityWalk, a highly themed water park, and a 3rd gate?

 

[BryceM]

As somebody who grew up going to Great Anerica(and just visited again a few weeks ago) and for the last twelve years have lived down the road from Disney and Uni(and visit both very often) I can say that aside from the coasters, IOA feels nothing like Great America.

The themeing is on a completely different level at IOA.

Yeah, it doesn't make sense, but whatever. I've been to Six Flags over Georgia and while it was fun, it was nothing like Islands of Adventure.

The day that Six Flags builds a park as well themed as Islands of Adventure will be the day that I illegally skydive naked from the emergency exit of a Boeing 747.

 

[Wikkler]

I don't think they ever will. Disney's got a lock on the top spots. Even with HP they don't have the draw Disney gets. When I mention Florida as a vacation destination to anyone, the first thing the majority of people think of is the Disney parks. I know more people who go to IOA as a secondary trip. And quite a few who did go to FL just to see HP said their impressions of HP wasnt up to their expectations.

Because of the news of the "Disney Harry Potter Theme Park"

 

[Jimmy Thick]

But will Disney Fanbois admit that Universal is a "thing" when they open 10,000 more hotel rooms, a 2nd CityWalk, a highly themed water park, and a 3rd gate?

And when or if any of that stuff happens...

All Disney parks will still out draw IOA and MK will outdraw all Uni parks combined.


Jimmy Thick- Like all of that will happen, lolz.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

As somebody who grew up going to Great Anerica(and just visited again a few weeks ago) and for the last twelve years have lived down the road from Disney and Uni(and visit both very often) I can say that aside from the coasters, IOA feels nothing like Great America.

The themeing is on a completely different level at IOA.

I do agree with you that Universal Studios is the better park. I just wish they'd remove the Rockit and add a water attraction.

I think, I can only speak about Great America, that it has a lot in common to IOA. Its big, airy, the theming is below the standard Iam used to compared to any Disney park and most of all, it fails on the immersion factor of being away into another world. IOA has a lot going for it, I love the park, and I love several attractions they present there, but it put it in perspective, my perspective, IOA has a bit to go before it can compete with Disney.

Simply put, if I had to choose between Forbidden Journey or Raging Bull, I would pick Raging Bull without any hesitation, but I would pick The Mummy over both and Pirates trumps them all.

Jimmy Thick- People miss the obvious...

 

[Darth Tater]

Yeah, it doesn't make sense, but whatever. I've been to Six Flags over Georgia and while it was fun, it was nothing like Islands of Adventure.

What do you mean?? Six Flags Over Georgia has superior theming & ambience. Take the Batman ride for instance. It truly made me feel as if I was flying high over a parking lot. The look of the asphalt below, the sun reflecting off the faded parking lines, the roar of traffic from I-20 off in the distance. Truly remarkable, and realistic to parking lots found in the Batman films.

Then you have the Cotton States section of the park with one of it's famous coasters: Ninja. And how appropriate that theme is, because after all, who isn't reminded of ninja's & martial arts when thinking of cotton states?

Let's move over to the French section of the park, and eat lunch at the Mexican eatery known as: Macho Nacho's Burritos. (Sadly, I am not making any of this up).

And talk about STORY. I love how the immersive queue lines at SFOG trump the queues at IOA. Take the Georgia Scorcher roller coaster for instance. You see all those giant Pantech Mobile (AT&T) advertisement banners draped all across the queue building ceiling? That's all part of the experience, as it tells the story of how an amusement park sells out to a phone company for $$$. Beat that, Hogwarts!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to go ride the Dahlonega Mine Train. It really has nothing to do with mines, or the Dahlonega gold rush. But the track is painted brown & HBO clips are played on the TV's while standing in line.
#Theming

 

[draybook]

People, when will you learn to ignore Jimmy Thick? He's only here to troll and stir the pot, that's it.


And having to have a park-to-park ticket won't bother us because we get those anyways. Park hopping is obviously much easier at Universal than at WDW.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

What do you mean?? Six Flags Over Georgia has superior theming & ambience. Take the Batman ride for instance. It truly made me feel as if I was flying high over a parking lot. The look of the asphalt below, the sun reflecting off the faded parking lines, the roar of traffic from I-20 off in the distance. Truly remarkable, and realistic to parking lots found in the Batman films.

That's hilarious!

People, when will you learn to ignore Jimmy Thick? He's only here to troll and stir the pot, that's it.

That's rude.

 

[draybook]

That's rude.

Rude would be making a personal remark about him. Pointing out that 99.9% of his posts are disparaging or simply made to cause a debate is simply observational. Sorry you feel that way.

 

[Victor Kelly]

But will Disney Fanbois admit that Universal is a "thing" when they open 10,000 more hotel rooms, a 2nd CityWalk, a highly themed water park, and a 3rd gate?

I like to think that I am to a degree a fanboi. But I have accepted UNI many years ago as a contender to Disney. And that was before the hotels, Citywalk or IOA. Now when IOA, Citywalk and the hotels were built UNI became a more formidable competitor in the resort arena. Only people in denial believe Disney is still untouchable.

 

[luv]

Attendance figures say different.


Jimmy Thick- By a huge margin.

That just means more people visit Disney parks.

It doesn't mean Disney parks are better.

Tomorrowland looks old and run-down. Until recently, Maelstrom had tons of mold. We recently has a thread where people were cheering Disney on for removing the mold, lol. The monorails frequently smell.

Uni would NOT allow a bunch of mold to cover their ride areas. The lands are updated, look fresh, are well kept and have pretty landscaping.

Disney continues to slide and Uni continues to get better. Disney sells land off and Uni buys land. Disney cuts back EVERYWHERE and Uni keeps adding more.

I don't know if you are silly or lying, but the idea that Uni isn't as good is totally wrong.

 

[BryceM]

What do you mean?? Six Flags Over Georgia has superior theming & ambience. Take the Batman ride for instance. It truly made me feel as if I was flying high over a parking lot. The look of the asphalt below, the sun reflecting off the faded parking lines, the roar of traffic from I-20 off in the distance. Truly remarkable, and realistic to parking lots found in the Batman films.

Then you have the Cotton States section of the park with one of it's famous coasters: Ninja. And how appropriate that theme is, because after all, who isn't reminded of ninja's & martial arts when thinking of cotton states?

Let's move over to the French section of the park, and eat lunch at the Mexican eatery known as: Macho Nacho's Burritos. (Sadly, I am not making any of this up).

And talk about STORY. I love how the immersive queue lines at SFOG trump the queues at IOA. Take the Georgia Scorcher roller coaster for instance. You see all those giant Pantech Mobile (AT&T) advertisement banners draped all across the queue building ceiling? That's all part of the experience, as it tells the story of how an amusement park sells out to a phone company for $$$. Beat that, Hogwarts!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to go ride the Dahlonega Mine Train. It really has nothing to do with mines, or the Dahlonega gold rush. But the track is painted brown & HBO clips are played on the TV's while standing in line.
#Theming

This was great!

 

[Jimmy Thick]

What do you mean?? Six Flags Over Georgia has superior theming & ambience. Take the Batman ride for instance. It truly made me feel as if I was flying high over a parking lot. The look of the asphalt below, the sun reflecting off the faded parking lines, the roar of traffic from I-20 off in the distance. Truly remarkable, and realistic to parking lots found in the Batman films.

I know how you feel, its the same riding the Potter/Dragon coaster at IOA, terrible with that lack of immersion isn't it?



Jimmy Thick- Same way with Hulk but...

 

[Jimmy Thick]

That just means more people visit Disney parks.

It doesn't mean Disney parks are better.

Tomorrowland looks old and run-down. Until recently, Maelstrom had tons of mold. We recently has a thread where people were cheering Disney on for removing the mold, lol. The monorails frequently smell.

Uni would NOT allow a bunch of mold to cover their ride areas. The lands are updated, look fresh, are well kept and have pretty landscaping.

Disney continues to slide and Uni continues to get better. Disney sells land off and Uni buys land. Disney cuts back EVERYWHERE and Uni keeps adding more.

I don't know if you are silly or lying, but the idea that Uni isn't as good is totally wrong.

If Disney was such an inferior product, surely the general public would say so vocally but more importantly with their wallets?

Attendance numbers say solidly that's just not the case.

Not at all.

Jimmy Thick-Universal is number 2, not a number 2, but number 2.