Can Universal Orlando take over Disneyworld as best place to vacation in Orlando?

[yoyoflamingo]

Originally Posted by k_peek_2000

Aha! But the real question is... What has Disney made to top Men In Black? Buzz Lightyear?

Buzz Lightyear came first.

[k_peek_2000]

Originally Posted by yoyoflamingo

Buzz Lightyear came first.

On snap your right. Well in the end MIB still is appears to be the better attraction. So I guess Universal topped Disney in this case.

[yoyoflamingo]

Originally Posted by k_peek_2000

On snap your right. Well in the end MIB still is appears to be the better attraction. So I guess Universal topped Disney in this case.

Would Toy Story Mania top Men in Black? I've never been on Men in Black, but from what I have seen Toy Story still doesn't compare.

Anyone else's thoughts who have been on both? I think Disney needs to realize that putting on glasses or superimposing your face onto a video screen does not equal an immersive environment. We need the AAs and real 3D figures. Toy Story Mania is a great attraction, no question, but how much better would it have been with a few more AAs inside the attraction?

[sir clinksalot]

I'll admit, I LOVE Universal Orlando. Like seriously ... LOVE IT. It's amazing, it's awesome and it's totally worth going to.

Would I make a trip to Orlando and ONLY go to Universal??? No.

Would I make a trip to Orlando and ONLY go to WDW??? Yes. I've done it.

Can I imagine spending a week or more at Universal Orlando??? No

Can I imagine spending a week or more at WDW??? Yes. I've done it.

THAT is the difference.

Not a knock on Universal Orlando by any stretch of the imagination. It's great for 1 or 2 days and then it's back to Disney for me.

[k_peek_2000]

Originally Posted by yoyoflamingo

Would Toy Story Mania top Men in Black? I've never been on Men in Black, but from what I have seen Toy Story still doesn't compare.

Anyone else's thoughts who have been on both? I think Disney needs to realize that putting on glasses or superimposing your face onto a video screen does not equal an immersive environment. We need the AAs and real 3D figures. Toy Story Mania is a great attraction, no question, but how much better would it have been with a few more AAs inside the attraction?

I totally completely 100% agree.

Toy Story Mania.... Awesome attraction!!! Really super fun!!! One of my favorite video games!!!

MIB.... Awesome attraction!!! Really super fun!!! One of my favorite rides!!!!

Hmmm, wait a second!!!!!!

[AstroBlaster]

Originally Posted by k_peek_2000

I totally completely 100% agree.

Toy Story Mania.... Awesome attraction!!! Really super fun!!! One of my favorite video games!!!

MIB.... Awesome attraction!!! Really super fun!!! One of my favorite rides!!!!

Hmmm, wait a second!!!!!!

I haven't been on Toy Story but from what I have heard it's like a interactive Spider-Man attraction. Would you compare those two? Are they similar since it appears you have been on both.

[albino_pygmy]

When I first heard people comparing TSM to spidey, I couldn't wait to see what Disney had up their sleeve. Then came the sneak previews, great reviews, everything looking great for this attraction. Ok, so it looked like it passed, even though I did have my doubts that it's just another buzz lightyear wannabe attraction. Oh wait, it IS a buzz wannabe. The guns on this thing are more of a downgrade in comparasion, they're still mounted on the cars, and instead of a button or trigger, you pull a string? And then there's comment about how TSM was compared to spidey, um, how did that one go again? TSM is ONLY comparable by the 3D screens, and that's it. There aren't any special effects, great sets, motion out of the cars (unless you call spinning between scenes 'spiderman' like)

You know what else came out this year? The Simpsons Ride. Yup, another 'great' idea, but this time it's from Universal. Not many were looking forward to this attraction since it took over Back to the Future, BUT became quickly popular and won best themed attraction for '08. That one really shocked me, since Simpsons is just an overlay on BTTF, but has more theme than TSM, which is just a bunch of toys scattered around and all these screens in your face?

Bottom line is TSM wasn't supposted to be an E ticket, even if they are claiming it as an E ticket. It shouldn't be compared to the awesomeness that is Spiderman, but more along the lines of a tamer and friendlier MIB, but with screens as a shootin' gallery instead of the great set pieces and aliens. Disney has been suffering IMO because they think more is better, quantity over quality, and it shows. We'll come up with some parade using the same floats, but with different colored lights on them, or alter one scene in our fireworks show, slap on a new title, and up the ticket price and promote the heck out of these "new additions" as a "year to celebrate stuff because we're desperate and want your money" while Universal just keeps on doing what they do and offering better deals for their parks, even as they increase their prices after Disney does. Which could lead into another hot topic, why the hell do these parks think they feel they could get away with raising ticket prices and not have anything new or exciting offered? Have they ever felt they'd get more business if they just once, LOWERED their ticket prices?

[WDW Monorail]

Originally Posted by yoyoflamingo

We need the AAs and real 3D figures. Toy Story Mania is a great attraction, no question, but how much better would it have been with a few more AAs inside the attraction?

I'm going to have to disagree with that, yoyo. AAs are not necessarily needed to make a great and immersing attraction. In fact, the send half of the greatest attraction of all time has always been entirely screen based (SSE). Of course there was the glitter city and ceiling fiber optics but no AAs were used in the descent since 1993. Soarin' is another example.

[yoyoflamingo]

Originally Posted by WDW Monorail

I'm going to have to disagree with that, yoyo. AAs are not necessarily needed to make a great and immersing attraction. In fact, the send half of the greatest attraction of all time has always been entirely screen based (SSE). Of course there was the glitter city and ceiling fiber optics but no AAs were used in the descent since 1993. Soarin' is another example.

But SSE had a SET instead of just a screen, and what if the first half was the same as the second? I doubt it would be as mesmerizing. And calling it the greatest attraction of all time is a stretch too, IMO.

And I don't consider Soarin' immersive. It feels forced and fake to me, not that I don't love it, but it doesn't feel as real as Pirates or Mansion.

[DarkwingDuck79]

Originally Posted by AstroBlaster

I haven't been on Toy Story but from what I have heard it's like a interactive Spider-Man attraction. Would you compare those two? Are they similar since it appears you have been on both.

Toy Story Mania is like playing a Wii in a moving vehicle. It's fun but there's really not much to it.

[tink04]

As a Universal Orlando team member... it is impossible for universal to top disney. For one its in the details (disney still has universal beat on this) I have worked for universal for nearly 4 years and still to this day I have never seen the hat on the cat in the hat red... its always been pink. Two, there is no strive for quality. You know how universal is dealing with the money crunch from both the economy and the growing cost of hp?? Lets see the vortex in Posideon's Fury is gone, you will find characters few and far between if a performer calls in unless its printed the hole is not filled. The number of shows per day is cut... they are taking away benefits. My boyfriend and I went to the disney parks and no matter the lack of newness it still beat our park hands down. Even by safety standards a normal guest would never notice. Disney will always be better because their employees will always be happier!

[jackskeleton1015]

Are you crazy

Everytime someone gets one step closser to Disney, Disney always takes another step and gets further away

Disney is always ahead of everyone

[k_peek_2000]

Originally Posted by jackskeleton1015

Are you crazy

Everytime someone gets one step closser to Disney, Disney always takes another step and gets further away

Disney is always ahead of everyone

... In japan. Definitely not here. Of coarse the future looks bright for us.

(Us meaning Disneylanders)

[ecdlanddude]

COULD it happen? Yes. Especially if Disney continues to let their standards slide while prices increase.

WILL it happen? Doubtful. Universal makes lots of stupid mistakes too (when is the last time Marvel Island had some refurbs?).

It would take even more money and a huge increase in standards for Universal... but it is conceivable.

[micca]

I'm seeing quite a bit of comparison of WDW vs Universal relative to the strengths/weaknesses of rides & attractions. I'd like to throw another variable into the the mix.

I have never been to Universal, but from everything I hear it's an extremely well done theme park. For people who are theme park enthusiasts--and there are millions of 'em--I could see how it would be competitive with WDW.

Then there are folks like me: Not "theme park" enthusiasts so much as we are "Disney enthusiasts". Universal can build fantastic attractions all they want, but they aren't Disney rides and I won't be going there. Not because it's not great entertainment, but because it isn't Disney.

I couldn't tell you if there are a lot of people like me, but I can tell you that our loyalty is a key factor in the success that Disney has in theme parks and beyond.

I dunno that there's a right or wrong side in the argument here, just thought I'd present a different angle to the debate.