Here is why Universal is a better value than Disney (get those flames ready!)

[Planogirl]

I think that the Disney fastpass system is fine if used correctly. I'm not sure that it has much of an effect on standby lines but I wouldn't doubt it.

I think that Universal is a better value too but I won't get into the one is better than the other argument either. They are both good in different ways.

 

[keishashadow]

Everytime we've visiting U i've seen long lines (as in boy am i glad i don't have to wait in them, however long they might be linesbecause we have FOTL perc).

one comment re FP system @ WDW. DL has long had system where you could collect FP, ignore the return window & come back as you choose. It appears as though the practice is becoming common place @ WDW and it's wrecking havoc with the wait times later in the day as the lines get so backed up on the more popular rides. We were turned away years ago from Soarin' due to a late 'seat' @ the Coral Reef when we missed our return window by just 15 minutes apparently the return window is now merely a suggestion.

 

[nytimez]

Fastpass is awesome. Love it, use it every trip and while it can be tricky getting one for TSM, you can't win 'em all.

Lots of things Disney needs to work on. But they don't need to touch Fastpass.

 

[macraven]

lovebug33, 85 cent refills of *what*? I don't think you're supposed to get soda in the bb cup, and I haven't read before that refills of butterbeer are that cheap with the mug.

if you buy any universal mug, you can have soda refills at a discount price. (exception with the one day beverage cup)
i still use my dueling dragon/ice mug of y.e.a.r.s. back for the discounted refills.....
that policy has been in effect forever........or seems like forever.
i always pack my refillable mug each year for my darkside trips.

"Free" with stay. Don't forget you're paying for that hotel. But I'm just being difficult. I completely agree with you. I dislike how universal takes advantage of it and nickles and dimes us for everything else.

first time i heard you say that about being nickled and dimed.

Soda. We went to buy one of the other drink cups and the woman told us why when we can use the butterbeer mug. That was SOOOO awesome of her so that she didn't make us buy another drink container!

TM's are kewl.
they will let you know of park offers that you don't read about in guide books.

i read somewhere in this thread that the refill was .85.
wow, it was .69 last year.
didn't know it increased.

 

[HayGan]

if you buy any universal mug, you can have soda refills at a discount price. (exception with the one day beverage cup)
i still use my dueling dragon/ice mug of y.e.a.r.s. back for the discounted refills.....
that policy has been in effect forever........or seems like forever.
i always pack my refillable mug each year for my darkside trips.



first time i heard you say that about being nickled and dimed.



TM's are kewl.
they will let you know of park offers that you don't read about in guide books.

i read somewhere in this thread that the refill was .85.
wow, it was .69 last year.
didn't know it increased.

That is so good to know! Guess we will be packing our BB mug from last year to take along

As for which is better - that's all in the eyes of the beholder. For us we look at each experience as having its own unique qualities. We really enjoy both WDW and US/IOA so we don't think of one being better than the other - just two seperate but fantastic portions of our vacation

 

[macraven]

That is so good to know! Guess we will be packing our BB mug from last year to take along

As for which is better - that's all in the eyes of the beholder. For us we look at each experience as having its own unique qualities. We really enjoy both WDW and US/IOA so we don't think of one being better than the other - just two seperate but fantastic portions of our vacation

totally agree.

i spend 16 or so days in orlando each fall.
i split the vacation into 2 vacations.

first i stay at the motherland, then move to the darkside.

best of both worlds.

 

[RMulieri]

I think the Disney FP system worked when it enforced the return times, it fairly evenly dispersed the FP return lines out.Now you have collecting passes all day and then people returning in the afternoon/evening-when lines are already at their peak wait times- to use them and slamming the FP line all at once.It just seemed to me to run better.

 

[disneychic2]

I love the fast pass at Disney as well. I do agree that return times should be enforced when crowds are high. We usually go in September and stand-by lines are 10 minutes if that on most rides (except Soarin and TSM) so it wouldn't really matter when you returned for your fast pass ride. Usually don't even need them for most rides.

I'm not sure a Disney forum is the best place for a good many of you to be hanging out. You may be happier on a forum specifically for Universal. Getting some hate vibes. Glad you have found a place you love. Doesn't mean you need to trash a place most of us on the Dis love.

 

[RMulieri]

With all due respect this is the Universal boards..I don't see alot of bashing other than the OP...It is No different than going over to the Disney theme park forum (I hang there too) and bashing Universal...which loads of people seem to like to do there,funnily enough by people that went once, went for a half day in the middle of a 14 day disney vacation or have never been there at all.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I agree with the sentiments of the original post EXCEPT for the complaints about Disney's FP. Everyone is an expert about the system but the complaints cannot be quantified. If you are old enough to remember WDW before FP you know, without a doubt, that FP HAS NOT affected stand by times to any significant degree. I simply can't comprehend anyone using this itsy bitsy issue as a determining factor on whether to go there or not.

Universal used to have a FP system but did not eliminate it because they "were smart", they eliminated it to charge for the service instead of giving it away.

 

[disneychic2]

With all due respect this is the Universal boards..I don't see alot of bashing other than the OP...It is No different than going over to the Disney theme park forum (I hang there too) and bashing Universal...which loads of people seem to like to do there,funnily enough by people that went once, went for a half day in the middle of a 14 day disney vacation or have never been there at all.

Oops! My bad! I didn't notice the board I was on.

 

[WheelCEO]

"Free" with stay. Don't forget you're paying for that hotel.

Agreed, however this past weekend Hard Rock was $189/night and every comparable Disney Deluxe was $280+.. still comes out cheaper.

 

[Fantasmic23]

.85 refills? I had no idea! Awesome!!!!!!

I had no idea, either. My kids will FREAK when I tell them!

 

[fairyprincess88]

I had no idea, either. My kids will FREAK when I tell them!

Keep in mind that the $.85 refills are not on butterbeer. Butterbeer refills are in the $3.00 plus range if I remember correctly. The $.85 refills in the Butterbeer mugs are only on sodas in the parks and things such as iced tea, pear cider ect at the Three Broomsticks.

 

[Fantasmic23]

The $.85 refills in the Butterbeer mugs are only on sodas in the parks and things such as iced tea, pear cider ect at the Three Broomsticks.

Thanks!

 

[Don Disney]

Now that I've read all of these posts-Is ANYONE going to help me out with some tips/ideas on how to do US/IOA?

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

1 Ride on Toy Story Mania
1 Ride on Star Tours
it was already 10 AM. I had a fast pass for Star Tours at 11:35
4 More rides on Star Tours
1 Muppets

I'm glad you experienced low wait times at Universal, as I plan on doing IoA and Disney on our next trip. But don't you think it's possible your wait times at Hollywood Studios had SOMETHING to do with the fact that you rode Star Tours 5 times? And it only just reopened after a major refurb less than a week ago? I'd kind of expect long lines on a basicaly brand new attraction. Speaking of Universal, HOW long was that line for Forbidden Journey during its first week?

 

[cm8]

I love the fast pass at Disney as well. I do agree that return times should be enforced when crowds are high. We usually go in September and stand-by lines are 10 minutes if that on most rides (except Soarin and TSM) so it wouldn't really matter when you returned for your fast pass ride. Usually don't even need them for most rides.

I'm not sure a Disney forum is the best place for a good many of you to be hanging out. You may be happier on a forum specifically for Universal. Getting some hate vibes. Glad you have found a place you love. Doesn't mean you need to trash a place most of us on the Dis love.

, I believe that you are the one posting to the wrong forum as this is the US/IOA board? I'm sure that the OP was not trashing WDW just stating his opinion about how felt about both WDW and US

With all due respect this is the Universal boards..I don't see alot of bashing other than the OP...It is No different than going over to the Disney theme park forum (I hang there too) and bashing Universal...which loads of people seem to like to do there,funnily enough by people that went once, went for a half day in the middle of a 14 day disney vacation or have never been there at all.

, I agree, to each there own, it's not like you have to agree with everything someone post about

 

[Lou Holtz]

The logic that Disney enforcing fastpass return times would make the standby line shorter and the logic that they should enforce it during busy times are both highly flawed. The rides have the same hourly capacity whether the park is busy or not. If they allocate 50% of the capacity for fastpasses, it is no different than any other day. At Soarin', the same amount of fastpasses are distributed on a Tuesday in September as on Easter or July 4th. There is no reason to differentiate busy from slow in that regard.

Late fastpasses do not make the line longer. If someone's window opens at 10AM and they don't come back, someone from the standby line is temporarily taking their spot on the ride, which lowers the standby line. When they come back at 6, they are taking a spot out of the standby line, BUT if they had come back at ten, it would have pushed the line out then. It makes no difference and is a net equal for the standby line because it's one for one (or two for two and so on). The only time the fastpass line holds up the standby line is when the ride has been down for a significant period of time, so hours of fastpasses are all entering the line at once, which brings standby to a halt because that late person's place in line was not taken, nobody rode during that time at all. Late fastpasses do not otherwise impact the standby line.

What is happening is you are standing in the line and are watching people get on faster than you and forming conclusions about that system that are rooted in frustration, not logic. If you just plan better and get your own fastpass, there is nothing to be frustrated about. It could not be easier or more convenient to use fastpass. Don't get in the standby line of a headline attraction more than two hours after the park opens or an hour before it closes. The frustration is self inflicted on the people complaining and can easily be avoided.

 

[Metro West]

Now that I've read all of these posts-Is ANYONE going to help me out with some tips/ideas on how to do US/IOA?

Since you're going to be visiting during the start of the busy summer season, I would suggest getting to the parks early if you want to do WWoHP and then see whatever you'd like. The parks will be busy and the weather will be hot so make sure you drink plenty of water and try to rest when you can. There are plenty of shady spots to get out of the heat for a while. Wait times will be the highest for WWoHP and the water rides. You might want to take advantage of the single rider lines so you can do more attractions.