Universal Orlando doesn't give itself enough credit as a .....

[kwdw]

Two reasons I'll never view Disney and Universal as the same:

The main reason I DON'T view Universal in the same league as Disney is the concept of the Express Pass. At Disney - everyone staying at a Disney resort regardless of the price of that hotel is equal in the parks. Same number of FP's, same ability to make dining reservations in advance, etc. Everyone buying a ticket has access to FP. Buy in advance - make FP's. At Universal - if you don't have an Express Pass - you are made to feel like a second class citizen. It's degrading. Maybe as a family you can afford to go, but you get to feel awful if your family can't afford to add on the Express Pass. This class system - will never put Universal in the same league as Disney. Sure - Disney hotels are a wide range of prices - but IN the parks - all those folks are equal. Despite my LOVE of the Harry Potter areas at US/IOA - experiencing this class system in the parks always makes me bitter.

Second - Disney's Magical Express. I don't love this service - I think it's slow and for getting to the airport on time - sometimes questionable based on my personal experiences (yes - I almost missed a flight). That said - it's a large financial savings for many, many visitors. As I am debating about a bargain version quick trip down in September - ground transportation is part of the math I am doing. If I wanted a quick bargain trip version at Disney - it would not be a factor.

And despite not finding them terribly comfortable - Magicbands really are awesome. I do typically still take some cards with me even at Disney - but not having to pull them out all day long really is a nice thing.

 

[macraven]

We all see things differently


Do need to say there are ways to get more than 3 fp set up in advance

 

[schumigirl]

Two reasons I'll never view Disney and Universal as the same:

The main reason I DON'T view Universal in the same league as Disney is the concept of the Express Pass. At Disney - everyone staying at a Disney resort regardless of the price of that hotel is equal in the parks. Same number of FP's, same ability to make dining reservations in advance, etc. Everyone buying a ticket has access to FP. Buy in advance - make FP's. At Universal - if you don't have an Express Pass - you are made to feel like a second class citizen. It's degrading. Maybe as a family you can afford to go, but you get to feel awful if your family can't afford to add on the Express Pass. This class system - will never put Universal in the same league as Disney. Sure - Disney hotels are a wide range of prices - but IN the parks - all those folks are equal. Despite my LOVE of the Harry Potter areas at US/IOA - experiencing this class system in the parks always makes me bitter.

Second - Disney's Magical Express. I don't love this service - I think it's slow and for getting to the airport on time - sometimes questionable based on my personal experiences (yes - I almost missed a flight). That said - it's a large financial savings for many, many visitors. As I am debating about a bargain version quick trip down in September - ground transportation is part of the math I am doing. If I wanted a quick bargain trip version at Disney - it would not be a factor.

And despite not finding them terribly comfortable - Magicbands really are awesome. I do typically still take some cards with me even at Disney - but not having to pull them out all day long really is a nice thing.

It's a shame you feel like a second class citizen at Universal because you don't have EP. I would certainly never look at folks in the regular queue that way........but because you feel it's degrading and makes you a second class citizen doesn't make it so.

I know plenty of people who still enjoy Universal without it........some even make fun of me for "wasting my money" staying onsite and get EP. Doesn't bother me it's my money........

I suppose that's how folk might have felt when they stay offsite at Disney and didn't get good old EMH......a perk for staying onsite at Disney.......should that change so no one felt like a second class citizen that chose not to stay or couldn't afford to stay onsite?

Life is full of unfair things........just because someone can't afford something doesn't mean others shouldn't get it.......it's the way of the world. Nothing much makes me bitter......especially over a theme park??

I'm happy with onsite guests getting EP as a perk for staying in the 3 deluxe hotels. I never have to pull tickets out all day long as I have my room key, EP and park ticket in a lanyard.......they get scanned through the plastic. No need to search for them........very handy!

Have no interest in going to Disney.......making all those reservations and FP carry on months in advance.......nope, that's not for me......and that's why, for me.......Universal is head and shoulders above Disney.........a league above for me!

Glad you enjoyed Potter though.......it is spectacular..........

 

[damo]

Classes and theme parks don't really go together. If we are going to be concerned about theme parks treating certain people as second class, we really should be looking at their park prices which don't allow many people to attend in the first place. If the parks really were concerned about treating everyone equally, their prices would be a small fraction of what they are now.

Because there are so many hotels in the close vicinity of Universal, they need to have some strong perk to make people want to stay at the deluxe hotels. Without it, people wouldn't choose to stay there. They tried having free express passes to go along with the hotel ones years and years ago but they ran out so quickly each day, that the number of complaints about it were overwhelming. With the current system, they control the number of passes so that hotel patrons don't feel cheated and guests know what they are getting.

WDW doesn't really treat everyone equally with their fastpass system. The difference between reserving 30 compared to 60 days in advance can make a huge difference for those who don't stay onsite. Those who choose a last minute vacation are even worse off.

 

[kbelle8995]

Some of the rides at Universal have single rider. When I'm in the parks by myself I use these a lot. I felt I'm okay in the park without express pass.

Then again I travel when most people don't so that does help. My next trip in the middle of the week in September

 

[SA mom]

We spent 5 days in the parks last March and 4 nights at RPR. It was so wonderful and much less stressful than our last WDW vacation. I don't care about a meal plan Or mGic bands since we stay at the Swan. The one thing I would like Universal to do is tie the Express Pass the resort key card. We each had three different cards (key, ticket, express pass) and it would be nice to consolidate that as much as possible

 

[schumigirl]

We spent 5 days in the parks last March and 4 nights at RPR. It was so wonderful and much less stressful than our last WDW vacation. I don't care about a meal plan Or mGic bands since we stay at the Swan. The one thing I would like Universal to do is tie the Express Pass the resort key card. We each had three different cards (key, ticket, express pass) and it would be nice to consolidate that as much as possible

Loews and Universal are different entities.

We put EP, room key and park ticket in our lanyard.

Park ticket is used once maybe twice a day if we park hop, gets scanned through the the plastic.......same with EP........don't need to remove them at all........we find it so easy and don't really find it inconvenient at all. Room key sits in the middle.

The EP used to just be your room key, but had to be changed with folks selling or giving away room keys.......that's why the seperate picture EP was brought in.

 

[damo]

Loews and Universal are different entities.

We put EP, room key and park ticket in our lanyard.

Park ticket is used once maybe twice a day if we park hop, gets scanned through the the plastic.......same with EP........don't need to remove them at all........we find it so easy and don't really find it inconvenient at all. Room key sits in the middle.

The EP used to just be your room key, but had to be changed with folks selling or giving away room keys.......that's why the seperate picture EP was brought in.

Yup. Not sure how likely it is for Loews to invest money in an all inclusive RFID type of ticket that would include everything. I don't think there is much return for them in that investment.

 

[SA mom]

We used lanyards, too, it was still inconvenient. The photos on the EP are so bad that I really can't see it preventing abuse.

 

[macraven]

When scanned the bar code is what will confirm your hotel as a guest

If the pic is of a man and you are a female. It will catch the TM attention

 

[macraven]

People that are new to UO don't know about the scams that happened for years at UO parks

Certain people would notice a family leaving the parks or over hear some talk about their last day there

Hustlers took advantage of this and it was wide spread

They would offer to buy hotel room keys and then sell them to who they could

The expiration of the hotel dates on the room key weren't on the last day they first stayed, but days after they left

Those that bought them from the "sellers" we're able to use the perks and have free unlimited rides in the parks

The photo ID came to be with actual dates of stay

This cut out the illegal process that was ongoing for years

 

[schumigirl]

We used lanyards, too, it was still inconvenient. The photos on the EP are so bad that I really can't see it preventing abuse.

I truly don't see what the inconvenience is of flashing a lanyard that is hanging round your neck to a TM to be scanned........it's right in front of you?

And apparently it has impacted the abuse that was happening as mentioned above by macraven.

 

[SA mom]

I love Universal as a full vacation destination and I think the original poster is correct in that many people, sadly, still see UO as a side trip from Disney and don't give UO enough credit. My point is that to capture those Disney folks, UO needs to re-think the whole ticket media/express pass/hotel room thing, especially if they get serious about the dining deal (another card). Magic Bands have spoiled people.

 

[schumigirl]

I love Universal as a full vacation destination and I think the original poster is correct in that many people, sadly, still see UO as a side trip from Disney and don't give UO enough credit. My point is that to capture those Disney folks, UO needs to re-think the whole ticket media/express pass/hotel room thing, especially if they get serious about the dining deal (another card). Magic Bands have spoiled people.

Think we'll agree to disagree........

Universal are doing just fine getting their share of the market now......Universal is busier now than ever before and will continue to get busier with all the enhancements coming up........

When we first went in 2007 many Disney folk wouldn't even set foot in Universal.......it really was the dark side.......slowly but surely over the last few years we have seen more and more folks trickle over......

Magic bands isn't the answer to anything.........UO are doing just fine without it.

As said by damo.......Loews won't invest in anything like that.......no reason for them to.

 

[damo]

Lots of people are turning to Universal. Attendance at WDW was way down this summer (20% is the number being thrown around) with lots of availability every night where Universal's held steady with fully booked hotels. Universal is definitely doing something right where WDW is faltering.

 

[Disney Ron]

We are Disneyholics who are so tired of the planning months in advance when to use a restroom, that we are now going to UO this year for our entire 7 day stay and will not be stepping foot on Disney property. And let me tell you, we are 4 super excited people. Our 7 and 9 year olds are as psyched as we are.

 

[macraven]

We are Disneyholics who are so tired of the planning months in advance when to use a restroom, that we are now going to UO this year for our entire 7 day stay and will not be stepping foot on Disney property. And let me tell you, we are 4 super excited people. Our 7 and 9 year olds are as psyched as we are.

Welcome to the darkside!

If you have any questions, make a new thread and many here will offer advice to help you

 

[Disney Ron]

Welcome to the darkside!

If you have any questions, make a new thread and many here will offer advice to help you

mac, I definitely will be doing that. We do have some questions to ask you experts. Thank you.

 

[macraven]

I'll be checking the forum for any thread you make Disney Ron

Many of us are very happy to help others and answer questions about the darkside

 

[schumigirl]

We are Disneyholics who are so tired of the planning months in advance when to use a restroom, that we are now going to UO this year for our entire 7 day stay and will not be stepping foot on Disney property. And let me tell you, we are 4 super excited people. Our 7 and 9 year olds are as psyched as we are.

How lovely!!!

I`m sure you`ll all have a wonderful trip to UO........very different type of trip.......your kids are a fabulous age to experience Universal. There`s a whole host of info on these boards, as mac says there`s plenty of folks here happy to help with any questions

We haven`t gone to Disney since 08 and certainly don`t have any plans to go back anytime soon.......no appeal to us who don`t like to plan the things mentioned before.

Happy planning