Will IOA ever surpass a Disney park attendance wise?

[jensenrick]

What numbers and figures i would love to see is what % of the attendees at Universal are staying on WDW property! I never have nor ever will base my Florida trip around Universal.

Wow, never's a long time. That's your opinion, that you are entitled to, but there are lots of people who feel differently. I was noticing just today, how many posts there were on the Universal Resort FB page. People like C.Q. who said, "This is where we stay every year!"
or J.J "Stayed before and will be back in January",
or A.B. "Planning our next trip already! We were just there about a month ago!!!"
or A.S. "Stayed at the royal Pacific twice. Wouldn't want to stay anywhere else for our honeymoon."
or J.V. "Spent a week at Hard Rock earlier in the month. We always stay in one of the on-site hotels - absolutely worth the money and the hotels (facilities AND service) totally rock (especially our favorite, the Hard Rock)!"
or J.A. "2 more months and im there!!!! weeks vacation!!!! bring on the cold brewskis by the pool!"

Just sayin'

 

[Runmyhorse]

That's hilarious!

That's rude.

So it calling someone rude

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Wow, never's a long time. That's your opinion, that you are entitled to, but there are lots of people who feel differently. I was noticing just today, how many posts there were on the Universal Resort FB page. People like C.Q. who said, "This is where we stay every year!"
or J.J "Stayed before and will be back in January",
or A.B. "Planning our next trip already! We were just there about a month ago!!!"
or A.S. "Stayed at the royal Pacific twice. Wouldn't want to stay anywhere else for our honeymoon."
or J.V. "Spent a week at Hard Rock earlier in the month. We always stay in one of the on-site hotels - absolutely worth the money and the hotels (facilities AND service) totally rock (especially our favorite, the Hard Rock)!"
or J.A. "2 more months and im there!!!! weeks vacation!!!! bring on the cold brewskis by the pool!"

Just sayin'

The Universal Facebook page with the 800k likes?

Ever read the Disney World resort page with the 12 million likes?


Jimmy Thick- 12 to .8?

 

[Tom Morrow]

"highest quality" and "most popular" are not synonymous.

 

[danlb_2000]

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...

The coaster may be light on immersion but show me anything at Six Flags that comes close to this:

 

[jensenrick]

The Universal Facebook page with the 800k likes?

Yes, that is the page that I am quoting, thus disputing the idea that no one ever goes to Orlando without visiting Disney. Some people go just for Universal Resort is my point.

Ever read the Disney World resort page with the 12 million likes?

Hardly ever, because they never seem to have anything new to say.

P.S. Kim Kardashian has 13.7 million likes. Is your implication that more "likes" equals greater quality, or simply greater popularity?

 

[Bairstow]

What exactly is wrong with the themeing of Dragon Challenge?
I mean, it's not Forbidden Journey, but what is?

 

[BryceM]

I do agree that the grounds below Dragon Challenge are bad. I'm hoping for a change soon with the construction of Hogwarts Express so close to the tracks. Maybe they'll tend the grounds better and add some pine trees and such.

Hulk is a lot better themed throughout the ride. The Gamma Ray Accelerator with the audio and lightning effects and the way it swoops in and around the lake and Marvel Super Hero Island is superb. Definitely one of the most iconic roller coasters ever created.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

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

Some think UNI better. Some WDW.

Surely neither deserves to be called a liar?

 

[Tom Morrow]

What exactly is wrong with the themeing of Dragon Challenge?
I mean, it's not Forbidden Journey, but what is?

Ignoring the fact that it does not duel anymore, its that there is basically no scenery on the ride, just a mass of supports, a pond, and views of backstage areas.

What they should have done is something like Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa, which maneuvers into tunnels and trenches of ancient Egyptian ruins:



Its not even the entire track, but its enough to make it feel themed and like more than just a standard roller coaster. They could have done this through sections of the castle. Instead at one point you come close to a castle wall, but that's it. Still, the lack of theming on Dragons is no reason to compare IOA to any Six Flags.

(see? I say negative things about Universal too, when warranted)

 

[jensenrick]

What exactly is wrong with the themeing of Dragon Challenge?
I mean, it's not Forbidden Journey, but what is?

Oh, Thank you SO MUCH for posting these pictures! The Goblet of Fire scene and the floating candles are some of my favorite theming of the Wizarding World, and I can never seem to get a good picture myself- especially of the Goblet. Not sure what it is about the lighting in that room, but I never seem to get a good picture.

 

[BryceM]

The old Dueling Dragons was still better (one of the best themed queues and ride entrances ever, IMO), but I do still like the queue.

And yes, something like Montu would've been great. Like I said, I hope Universal adds more thematic elements to Dragon Challenge with the new expansion.

 

[OGMickey]

Wow, never's a long time. That's your opinion, that you are entitled to, but there are lots of people who feel differently. I was noticing just today, how many posts there were on the Universal Resort FB page. People like C.Q. who said, "This is where we stay every year!"
or J.J "Stayed before and will be back in January",
or A.B. "Planning our next trip already! We were just there about a month ago!!!"
or A.S. "Stayed at the royal Pacific twice. Wouldn't want to stay anywhere else for our honeymoon."
or J.V. "Spent a week at Hard Rock earlier in the month. We always stay in one of the on-site hotels - absolutely worth the money and the hotels (facilities AND service) totally rock (especially our favorite, the Hard Rock)!"
or J.A. "2 more months and im there!!!! weeks vacation!!!! bring on the cold brewskis by the pool!"

Just sayin'

First i never said that people dont stay at uni because obviously they have hotels that im sure get booked solid. What i was saying is that what are the number of guests that go there that base there trips around disney first and uni secound. Im sure there is no hard data on that but it would be intersting to know. As a side note i would love to stay at the portafino if it was located in disney. i think there hotel is BEAUTIFULLY themed.

 

[OGMickey]

I think i know were jimmy thick is coming from with the six flags reference. I also feel when im walking thru IOA that im not getting the total "Theme park" feel. Dont get me wrong SOME of the islands are beautifully themed but the large openness and spread out feel looses some of the magic for me. Plus who the bed with suess landing!!! Horrible .... plus whoever said that the park always looked fresh must have closed there eyes thru suess landing. When i was there last everything looked faded. Hogsmead was disappointing in my humble opinion and its hard to feel immersed in the story when its 101 degress in the shade and there is snow on the roof tops. Last thing I have to say while im on my soap box, I would like to ride the forbidding journey ONCE without it breaking down mid ride. I as well as the next guy likes to see how the ride works but not every time I ride it. I have been on the ride 6 times and i have yet to see whats it like to ride it from begin to end. Maybe the 7th time is the charm.

Now let the stones be thrown....

 

[Bairstow]

I've always thought it was clever that the tops of the roofs in Hogsmeade have no snow on them, suggesting that it's above freezing outside (which it will be) and the snow has started to melt.

 

[Darth Tater]

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...

True, Dragon Challenge & Hulk aren't exactly IOA's best work as far as ON-ride theming goes. But at least they both have an immersive queue experience that tell a story & put guests in an environment.

Certainly more elaborate than a hot warehouse with Gotham City signs on the walls, & "Axis Chemicals" painted on metal cans.

 

[TubaGeek]

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.

If numbers directly translate into quality, then McDonald's must be making some amazing hamburgers.
Jimmy Thick-I deleted your tagline from the quote because it's freaking obnoxious.

 

[Wikkler]

Plus who the bed with suess landing!!! Horrible .... plus whoever said that the park always looked fresh must have closed there eyes thru suess landing. When i was there last everything looked faded.

Am I the only one who thinks this "fading" is intentional? I mean Dr. Seuss painted everything in pastel colors as you can see here:

 

[Bairstow]

Am I the only one who thinks this "fading" is intentional? I mean Dr. Seuss painted everything in pastel colors as you can see here:

Good point.
Disney is known for always painting exteriors a few shades brighter than the target hue with the knowledge that the sun will fade the color in a year or so.

 

[Tom Morrow]

The faded look is absolutely intentional, in fact they have recently, and are constantly repainting things in Seuss Landing so it looks correct. Can't stand that so many people are too dense to realize this... have you never opened a Dr. Seuss book?

I think i know were jimmy thick is coming from with the six flags reference. I also feel when im walking thru IOA that im not getting the total "Theme park" feel. Dont get me wrong SOME of the islands are beautifully themed but the large openness and spread out feel looses some of the magic for me. Plus who the bed with suess landing!!! Horrible .... plus whoever said that the park always looked fresh must have closed there eyes thru suess landing. When i was there last everything looked faded. Hogsmead was disappointing in my humble opinion and its hard to feel immersed in the story when its 101 degress in the shade and there is snow on the roof tops. Last thing I have to say while im on my soap box, I would like to ride the forbidding journey ONCE without it breaking down mid ride. I as well as the next guy likes to see how the ride works but not every time I ride it. I have been on the ride 6 times and i have yet to see whats it like to ride it from begin to end. Maybe the 7th time is the charm.

Now let the stones be thrown....

- The large openness and spread out feel loses some of the magic? How do you feel about World Showcase? And all things considered, IOA is a fairly small park.
- Snow?? In Florida?? It's almost as if you are supposed to suspend your disbelief! Because, you know, Hogsmeade isn't in Florida, and Universal can't control the weather! While we're on this train of thought, now that you mention it, what is a medieval castle doing next to a turn-of-the-century small town american street... in Florida? What is a snow-capped Himalayan mountain doing... in Florida?

If you're going to pick on the park, at least choose something that Disney does not also do. For example, yes, there are some ways in which Islands of Adventure falls short in total immersion. Many of the shops and restaurants are not really in theme with the land. Like the gift shop at the exit of Spider-Man - It should be related to the Daily Bugle offices. Instead its just a "Spider-Man related gift shop." (I can't remember the official name).