Walt Disney World and Disneyland(s) Discussion

[2ndname]

Yay!!!! I'm happy for you. Takes lots of pics!!!

 

[Coheteboy]

I'd be more excited about Harry Potter world. By far, mostimpressive than anything Disney World has done in decades.

 

[2ndname]

I'd be more excited about Harry Potter world. By far, mostimpressive than anything Disney World has done in decades.

I will have to agree. I don't really follow Harry Potter but my fiance does. When I first stepped into the new zone I was truly amazed. It was as if I was walking on a movie set. Their main ride that's located all the way in the back was superb. Even the line leading to the ride was entertaining!

 

[YoNoSe]

Well, we have finally started packing officially for our WDW trip. There will be no sleep tonight, we have to arrive at the airport at nearly 4:00 which is less than 14 hours away. I can always sleep on the plane, right?

Besides, I'm too excited to sleep... I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!

... and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Can't wait for a full report!

I'd be more excited about Harry Potter world. By far, mostimpressive than anything Disney World has done in decades.

It's not their fault they did it all decades ago.

 

[Coheteboy]

It's not their fault they did it all decades ago.

Epcot opened in the 1982 and WDW's strongest park. MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom have great moments but in their entirety, certainly a bit on the disappointing side. Disney is supposed to be the absolute best. For Universal to produce something that is better than what Disney currently offers is disappointing.

 

[YoNoSe]

Epcot opened in the 1982 and WDW's strongest park. MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom have great moments but in their entirety, certainly a bit on the disappointing side. Disney is supposed to be the absolute best. For Universal to produce something that is better than what Disney currently offers is disappointing.

You've made your bias against WDW clear already in this thread so I'm not going to bother arguing with you about it. I believe WDW is the absolute best. Can't wait to go back.

I've not heard a single person who's been to both refer to WWOHP as "better than what Disney currently offers" but I'm still very excited to go check it out.

 

[Coheteboy]

You've made your bias against WDW clear already in this thread so I'm not going to bother arguing with you about it. I believe WDW is the absolute best. Can't wait to go back.

I've not heard a single person who's been to both refer to WWOHP as "better than what Disney currently offers" but I'm still very excited to go check it out.

LOL, take it easy. You don't need to argue, but you are welcome to discuss. You can believe whatever you want. But I'm not biased against WDW. It just wasn't very magical all the times I've been and can site specific reasons. But I'll save my breath.

As for Harry Potter, I know over 40 people personally that have been and all say the same thing: that it's currently the best thing in Orlando. And the second best thing in Orlando is the Amazing Spider-Man attraction. Universal Orlando certainly lacks overall in theme execution with the exception of Harry Potter.

 

[YoNoSe]

Well I don't claim to know 40+ people with identical opinions.
Just a few casual conversations. General consensus is that it's silly to even compare the two as HP is such a limited experience.

 

[Coheteboy]

Well I don't claim to know 40+ people with identical opinions.
Just a few casual conversations. General consensus is that it's silly to even compare the two as HP is such a limited experience.

I'm curious. Why is it silly to compare what Universal has done with what Disney has done? Are they not competing theme parks?

The phrase "Disney done it first" happens a lot but if we look at what's going on recently, you'll notice the decline. I don't recall the last time they did something in Walt Disney World that made me go "OMG, I MUST DO THAT RIGHT NOW!!!!" There are attractions like Mission:Space and Expedition Everest that made me go "awesome, looking forward to it!". But there's genuine excitement about what Universal has done.

With MGM-Studios, we can't say that Disney did it first because they copied the original Universal Studios. Animal Kingdom is a hybrid park but certainly not the first of its kind. And ten years after opening, the promised expansions has not taken place.


Walt Disney World is still fun but all I'm saying is... they haven't been putting their best foot forward as often as I remember them doing.

 

[Agent0028]

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Spider-Man are definitely cutting edge attractions that in many ways are better than what Disney has. But overall there is no comparison. The only reason I go to Universal is for Hogsmeade and I've never been able to do a full day at Universal with the exception of last weekend because my cousin's friend was there and so we did pretty much everything.

Also, let's take into consideration what WWOHP is. They've taken a story with a huge following. A rabid following, even. Pissed off Potterheads are scary. Rowling has created a world that every fan wants to be a part of. And now Universal has given fans the opportunity to pretend they are. I've seen people cry when they pass under the Hogsmeade entrance and that's not because Universal has done a better job than Disney.

Kudos to Universal for doing an amazing job with it. They could have screwed it up royally and made it as boring as Jurassic Park and Marvel Superhero island (both places that for me should be as amazing as Hogsmeade), but they brought their A game and made a completely immersive amazing area. I will also say that I think alot of that was Rowling's guidance. She poured years of her life into this world, she wasn't going to accept subpar or second-rate work.

I disagree about Epcot being the strongest park too. I've yet to meet a Disney fan who thinks that (well present company excepted obviously). Most consider it a very very close second, and some will call Epcot and MK a tie.

 

[YoNoSe]

I disagree about Epcot being the strongest park too. I've yet to meet a Disney fan who thinks that (well present company excepted obviously). Most consider it a very very close second, and some will call Epcot and MK a tie.

I would say MK is the strongest park, but World Showcase is my favorite place. As a whole MK just has the most to offer for the widest variety of people as well as so many classic attractions.
My next trip is so far off!

 

[Agent0028]

World Showcase is wonderful, nothing beats a leisurely stroll around the world showcase in the evening.

 

[Coheteboy]

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Spider-Man are definitely cutting edge attractions that in many ways are better than what Disney has. But overall there is no comparison. The only reason I go to Universal is for Hogsmeade and I've never been able to do a full day at Universal with the exception of last weekend because my cousin's friend was there and so we did pretty much everything.

Also, let's take into consideration what WWOHP is. They've taken a story with a huge following. A rabid following, even. Pissed off Potterheads are scary. Rowling has created a world that every fan wants to be a part of. And now Universal has given fans the opportunity to pretend they are. I've seen people cry when they pass under the Hogsmeade entrance and that's not because Universal has done a better job than Disney.

Kudos to Universal for doing an amazing job with it. They could have screwed it up royally and made it as boring as Jurassic Park and Marvel Superhero island (both places that for me should be as amazing as Hogsmeade), but they brought their A game and made a completely immersive amazing area. I will also say that I think alot of that was Rowling's guidance. She poured years of her life into this world, she wasn't going to accept subpar or second-rate work.

I disagree about Epcot being the strongest park too. I've yet to meet a Disney fan who thinks that (well present company excepted obviously). Most consider it a very very close second, and some will call Epcot and MK a tie.

I think I agree with everything you said regarding Universal. Fair criticisms on Jurassic Park and Marvel Super Hero Island. What's rather disappointing about Islands of Adventure is that they took the area that was the MOST IMPRESSIVE and replaced it again with something that is now MORE IMPRESSIVE. Which leaves the rest of the park a visual mess.... albeit a fun one.

But, I will say that all the times I was at Universal, I was treated with so much more respect than at WDW. And I don't throw that around lightly. I used to be a Cast Member and went through training and orientation... I was so shocked and disappointed with what I experienced. For every one amazing Cast Member at WDW, there are 10 that were terrible. Not average... terrible. But, that was just MY experience. Not saying that's the way it always is. It's just my bad luck. Although many of my friends who go to WDW several times a year are starting to tell me the very same.



As for why I picked Epcot as the top WDW park... well, I think I'm doing it based on everything the entire Disney company has to offer. Magic Kingdom type parks have been done at every resort but EPCOT is so unique and different. If WDW's Magic Kingdom was the best version of that park, I would pick it as the top instead.

For the billions who have only been to WDW, MK will be their favorite because it does have the most attractions and variety of them too. But Epcot is amazing for being Epcot. Nobody else has it. Movie Studio theme parks are everywhere. Zoos are everywhere. Epcot is the only one.

 

[Coheteboy]

Getting back to the real discussion here, Disney parks! I spent a few hours at Disneyland yesterday with some friends and as always, took some pics. Here's a random assortment of shots that stood out.

In the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln lobby is the model of The Capitol.

There's also a model of Splash Mountain..

And a replica of the original painting.

The tree is up at Town Square

Limited to 1,000 is a TRON: Legacy mouse ears. It comes in a special hat box and is $79.95. Yah.. i know. I almost wanted it but for that price, crazy.

Star Tours gets a temporary marquee during construction

Monorail Orange

more later!

 

[Coheteboy]

Haunted Mansion Holiday serves Halloween and Christmas

Christmas already?

Main Street U.S.A. gets pretty packed come fireworks and snow time...

Sleeping Beauty Castle decked out for the holidays

And lastly, Tomorrowland late at night. This is looking towards the entrance. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is to the right, Star Tours to the left. People Mover tracks go through the center... future ride to come.

 

[Agent0028]

Well, I can certainly agree that Epcot is the most unique, I don't know if I agree it makes it best, but that's a minor point. As for rude cast members, I've run into a few. I've also run into some really great ones that made my experience better. I haven't had enough interactions with Universal employees to judge them.

 

[cokebabies]

To me, Universal is the halfway point between Six Flags and Disney. It has great theming at points, but also large chunks of sheer laziness.

On my honeymoon, we did a week in Disney then a weekend in Universal. Being in WDW just envelops you in that amazing atmosphere, you get to be cocooned. The change going from Disney to Universal was jarring.

Of course, most Cast Members aren't truly as cheerful as they act. Who could be that happy picking up trash or ringing up churros all day? But whatever whip cracking goes on behind the scenes works, because they truly act like they're happy to be interacting with you (and to be fair, I'm sure a lot actually are). Universal's staff, for the most part, seems like they can't wait to punch out.

That said, I still love both Universal parks in Florida. They might not put you in the same altered state of mind and emotion that WDW does, but they are still fantastic experiences. And for sheer enjoyment, Spider Man and The Mummy beat anything WDW has to offer on an individual attraction basis.

I haven't been to WWOHP yet, but I'm in no hurry. I hate Harry Potter.

 

[cokebabies]

Also, Cohete, or anyone else who can answer:

Does the NBC overhaul make THM's lines ridiculous? Or are THM's lines long in general? By long, I mean 40+ on a regular basis. I just notice that it has a FP, something they got rid of in WDW because the line worked much better without it. I'm wondering if that will be an attraction we will be having to get a FP for.

 

[Coheteboy]

Also, Cohete, or anyone else who can answer:

Does the NBC overhaul make THM's lines ridiculous? Or are THM's lines long in general? By long, I mean 40+ on a regular basis. I just notice that it has a FP, something they got rid of in WDW because the line worked much better without it. I'm wondering if that will be an attraction we will be having to get a FP for.

(note: I call it NBX as to not confuse it with the network in case you get confused in my post)

NBX overlay does extend the lines because it's a seasonal thing. The holiday decorations brings more people out to the parks just to see what's exclusive. This includes:

-It's a Small World Holiday
-Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks Spectacular (with a finale of snow)
-Big Thunder Ranch, meet Santa and Reindeer, etc


On average, I'd say that the lines for Haunted Mansion during the holidays are 45 minutes. But you can do fast pass that will cut that in half (there's still a bit of indoor queue after you go through the elevator).

 

[Agent0028]

I never found the mummy to be all that great of a ride. I liked it the first couple of times, but that last few times I felt it was average. I like the storyline to it, and the fake out is great.