Just so we are clear, we love the Disney parks, and we hope they succeed! It seems like the theme park competition may be starting again in Orlando 🔥 But that said, do you feel the tides are shifting, or do you still think Disney is still holding their spot?!
I agree, i went to Epcot yesterday and couldn't help but feel underwhelmed. Universal is constantly making improvements to their park while I feel Disney is content to stay in place
@rodriguez3298 there doesn't seem to be any urgency with Disney at WDW, but I hope this sparks their flame again to compete with Universal again. That was a heck of an era in Orlando!
Epic Universe looks amazing!! Epic Universe could be a one week just by itself. I totally agree with you that Universal seems to take care of their passholders better than Disney.
@kcholden5180 again, we love both parks, but it's definitely looking like we're entering Universal's era. I for sure agree, though, Epic Universe is looking sweet!!!
First time visitor from California. My family stayed in the universal bubble-- we loved Cabana Bay and Islands of adventure. We're definitely going back, we had a wonderful time. Can't wait for epic universe to open next year!
I'm very impressed by Seaworld improving their park so much the past few years. They really want to benefit from Universal pioneers, while Disney has gotten too arrogant to pay attention. Definitely feels like 2025 will be the beginning of the next theme park booming era (assuming the economy doesnt crash hard)
Right?? SeaWorld and Busch have been pumping out rides and experiences like crazy recently. Universal seems to have seen a great moment to take advantage of all of the demand in Orlando, and they took their shot. If the economy goes well, and we don't see anything crazy, I can see the rebirth of the Theme Park Wars here in Florida again. Gah... that'd be a fantastic time haha, just like the 90's and 2000's era. Let's hope! 🙏
I just subscribed. You did a Fantastic Job with breaking down the differences between Disney and Universal. Keep up the Good Work. You are Going Places Thank You
Thanks for subscribing, glad you enjoy the content! We love both parks, but it's hard not to see the trajectory at this point! Thank you again so much for watching 😊
I hope you and Nicole can make it to California one day! While Disneyland has cut some, you can definitely still feel the difference and love there compared to WDW.
It's something we plan on doing in the future! We really love WDW, but it's very apparent they have kind of gotten complacent recently. I think they knew they had so much of the market for awhile, and now I think it's Universal taking their shot. I'd love to ideally visit a lot of the international parks, too, but those flights... 💀
Still love me my Disney parks (and all of the parks to be fair), but Universal has been swaying people who float between them all to start taking more vacations to their parks, and with Epic opening... I mean how can you NOT plan a trip to Universal in the future?!
Im a universal girly through and through, but my best friend was a DVC member and another friend was a cast memeber. I got a chance to do disney for a day when i was at universal last time and the one day i had in Epcot was so hectic, crowded, and confusing compared to universal. And i never thought i would be able to afford an annual pass like universals but they make the flex program so easy and i've been able to afford my premeir pass 2 years in a row! its paid for itself after one trip and i go twice a year now and i cant imagine not renewing and i live in NJ! Disney is incredible unafordable for me
That's SUCH a big point I think many people don't realize. The payment plans for the passes at Universal are a game changer. Being able to budget it every month goes a long way. And having the ability to pick any pass you want is also a huge perk for out of state guests, too. But obviously premiere just offers such good benefits, even for the price, it always seems worth it. We still love the Disney parks, but we're really hoping for some big announcements coming up here soon (D23). The 90's and 2000's era of theme park wars in Orlando was soooo fun to watch, even as out of state people. It always felt like they wanted to one up each other, and over the past 7-10 years, it felt like we haven't seen that same craze. I'm hoping this is the start of it again 😆
We are Disney people, but our next trip will be universal-focused. And with our kids getting older.... I think we'll go from 1-2 universal days and several Disney days to 1-2 Disney and several universal. It feels like Universal is really working hard to up the game and they ARE.
100000% I think they're realizing they can be a full vacation park, and they're making moves to do so. I think with Epic opening, it feels like that park alone can take 2-3 days to fully experience haha. Still waiting to see what they say at D23, and if they talk about breaking ground anywhere to build here. Hoping for a big answer from Disney, soon 🙃
As you know, been to Disney/Universal since they opened, and have witnessed first hand the many changes these parks have undergone - both good and not so good. With that being said, I have always been Team Disney over all the parks, without exception. I visit them all, love them all, but Disney has always been #1. Since mid-2000 (once IOA opened), Universal has become a favorite, but didn't really knock Disney out of 1st place - I guess you could say I appreciate both parks for what they offer as they are somewhat different parks - not that I find fault with Sea World, Gardens, etc. - all different, all have their perks. I think Disney started slipping (for me) when Harry Potter came into the mix even though Disney built Pandora, which I enjoy, Potter was simply - MORE. Personally, Disney started to slip when they re-opened after the shutdown. They cut too much, changed too much, and made a mockery of what they once stood for. I don't like the word "woke" - but their pushing of an "agenda" has really turned a lot of people off, and done damage to the brand. I have no problem with inclusivity, equal rights for all, etc., but when you push a man with a beard wearing a dress into the shop where little girls go to dress like a princess, I (and may others) have a problem. Regardless of someone's rights or feelings - that is not appropriate for children that do not live within that situation, and the parent has the absolute right to not engage. Slightly off topic, but I'm sure you see where I am going with this. Disney - to me - seems to be resting on its good faith from the past and resting on its past laurels. Even with their updates to the parks - and lets not discuss TBA - but they literally DESTROYED EPCOT - and gave the park goers nothing (except Guardians). Moana should have been water ride - not a walk through wet zone. They destroyed a beautiful fountain, and we got a corporate park that looks like it belongs in CA, with in-ground lights that sometimes work. Unless they announce something at D23 in a few days, Disney has no answer to Universal - and their remaking of Dinoland is NOT an answer, especially using IP's that are already old, and really have no place in AK. Universal is definitely - by far - my favorite park, and if you would have told me this would ever happen, I would say you were nuts. But there you have it. I do NOT want Disney to fail - I grew up on Disney, along with the kids, and now grandkids. Even the small ones want Dreamworks over MK!!! WHAT?!?!? As you mentioned, Universal shows their appreciation for their AP holders - MUCH more than Disney. As for their cast members, I have only EVER had positive interactions with both. The recent changes to Disney's DAS system though, has not made things easier. In fact, a friend that no longer was eligible for DAS, was told to get a come back time from a cast member, and the cast members were nasty about doing so. Ok - I flooded your comment section - apologies. Rant over, lol. I think I am going crazy being with my students in the Badlands of Dakota. Next stop - Grand Canyon, then home to HHN!! YAY!!! Oh wow - one more thing - friend just sent a video of a "dragon" over EPIC???? Did you see this - can that be real? Disney is turning in his grave. Be well.
You always have a great insight as you have such much knowledge of the past and present. You can be the most critical with a lot to back it up. And I agree, we LOVE Disney, and we always will. The parks are magical in their own way. I would have to agree that Disney seemed to have a weird drop after Covid. I never liked getting into politics, as I just never watch TV or the news really, and I think I like to exist in my own little world haha. But I know there were heated debates amongst both parties and even Florida at some point (never really knew what exactly was going on during all of that, and still don't). I do think EPCOT feels a lot less "innovative" now. I remember as a kid I never cared to go to EPCOT because I thought of it as this "business" park where it was just all business and education stuff, and I just wanted the rides LOL. I grew up, and it really shifted, I loved it and it grew on me. Then they started to make some changes, and it's like, this is why I feel like if I were a kid, I may say "no EPCOT on this trip", because it's just giving that very "business" vibe again. Guardians has been a tremendous addition, but they kind of just plopped it in the space area, where it feels kind of detached. Disney was always SOOOO good at making things flow from one thing to the next. So, though I absolutely LOVEEEE Guardians, it doesn't tie a lot to how that part of the park functions. I really have to agree, D23 this year needs to be a banger for Disney. And it needs to be something like "we are breaking ground" not "what if we did this..." because the what if's aren't coming to life still... I really just want Disney to invest back in the parks heavily. I don't know if their portfolio just got spread too thin that they stopped putting a lot of money into the parks or what? But I'm hoping, if anything, Epic and all of the changes at Universal are sparking a fire under Disney to have them say "we absolutely need to make moves now". It's crazy, because I feel like I see SOOO many kids just obsessed with the Dreamworks characters anymore. I still don't think it's quite in the same ballpark as the Disney IP's, but with a lot of the stuff they've created, and the return of things like Mario... I think it's REALLY drawing in the younger crowd. Trolls, Minions and Mario alone I think have been REALLY performing for them. Obviously Harry Potter has been killing it since they've opened that, too. It's wild to me, because I think the AP changes Disney could implement and get a HUGE positive reaction are so simple, but they won't do it lol. There has to be a reason they don't. But I feel like it's SO easy to please passholders, and extra benefits go SUCH a long way. When it comes to CM/TM of the park, I really have VERY good experiences at both parks. But I have just seen a lot more (recently) bad interactions with the CM's. And my guess is, it's not on them like I said, but it's a trickle down effect of something like DAS being done the way it is, and then they get the brunt end of that even though they had 0 decision in the rule changes. It's the whole "I just work here" sentiment lol. I have read a LOT of horror stories over the recent DAS changes. It really sucks, because I'm sure there were so many people abusing the system, but at the same time, now you have legit users getting declined. Genuinely Disney is stuck between a rock and a hard place with that one. I always love having conversations, I encourage people to chat, because I don't make these videos to sit and listen to myself (LOL). I speak my mind and I like to have these conversations. I want to see people's opinions, even if they COMPLETELY disagree with me. It shows there's passion, and we need that. Enjoy trekking the USA! Haha. I posted the video on my Instagram yesterday, and I got more confirmation on it today!! Absolutely NUTS! There's SOOO much more happening at EPIC than I think any of us even remotely know. So cool.
I called this years ago, when Universal announced Epic while simultaneously moving forward on updates to their parks, while Disney sat back and did nothing. Nostalgia is powerful, but it won't cover over disappointment forever, and most of what Disney has done has been almost uniformly short of what they promised. Meanwhile they keep increasing prices... yes, everyone is, but everyone else is at least trying to offer more for that price tag. I've seen better architecture and theming than that shameful Communicore redo at my local outlet mall. People will accept a mid experience OR a high price, but not both.
BTW, I don't hate the Disney parks either, I'm just saddened by the state it's in, thanks to the shameless greed of its upper management and shareholders. Imo they should fire the lot of them, and distribute the shares to the employees, giving them a stake in the park. Oh, and put Imagineering in charge of decisions, with the bean crushers subordinate to them.
@vectorwolf ya, I mean universal has been trending upward for awhile. I think people were nervous with epic coming that things would slow at the parks. However, we are still getting changes and they announced the uk park and Texas kids park as well. So they really are investing in the parks. Unfortunately almost all of Disney's big investments seem to be happening internationally. DCL is still doing great and their other parks seem to be doing really well. And obviously wdw is doing well with attendance and such. But I do think people are much more hesitant to immediately go all in on disney like they once were. I assume universal, if at the least, has put pressure on the consumer to genuinely make a decision. Do I go for universal or disney, and if I split my trip, how much am I investing at both parks. I know a lot of die hard disney fans that have now at least recognized the strength of universal. That actually speaks volumes in the community. I love both park, but until wdw puts something into motion, I'm not sure they'll be the top dog in Orlando for a bit. They'll obviously still do extremely well, but if there's no big additions, I assume universal will run away with the visitor totals here for a few years at a minimum. It'll be cool to see the 2 parks really compete again if disney finally jumps back in to supporting wdw like they once did. We can hope!
Disney needs to add more of everything. People will pay for new experiences and rides. Splash Mountain never needed to be replaced. It apparently cost 200 million to redo into that trash adventure. They redo things without adding more of a footprint. Disney could be so much better
I use to do 1 year disney 1 year universal but I didn't renew disney and am much happier at universal. I'm a grown adult and my kids are grown so I'm happier with adult themes and universal is more adult to me. Parents expect disney to babysit and lack parenting, so yep universal all the way for me plus HHN rules!
I definitely have felt like Magic Kingdom lends itself to be a bit more "kid focused" and overall the intensity at Disney is much less. I still love their parks, but Universal seems to be answering the call for what fans want. They've noticed Orlando has so much more room to keep going, and they're doing it. Universal still feels much better when you compare value of dollar spent to what you get!
I have noticed something really interesting as of late. Recently, the die hard Disney World defenders best argument as to why Disney is better than Universal, is something along the lines of "Well Disney World is bigger and has more parks, therefore it's better." When your best argument is quantity over quality, I think that's a dead giveaway you're loosing the fight. People are starting to prefer Universal across the board, and the more success Universal has over Disney, the more tallent will leave Disney for Universal.
I think that's definitely been the argument for a long time. But I do think Epic will be providing a LOT of NEW options, which in recent years weighs a lot more than just raw numbers. People like the newest and best thing, so to build an entire theme park with all of that, it's going to be VERY hard to compete with. Unless of course Disney opens a 5th gate. Then there's a lot of conversation to be had again!
With the upgrades that Universal is making to older parks, all the new smaller parks being built and Epic Universe Orlando as well as Epic Universe UK, Disney should be quaking in their mousekateer hats....... But they dont seem to be. Thats crazy! I'm team Universal all the way, the mouse tried to bite me and im not sticking my fingers in their cookie jar anymore.
I like this conversational format once in a while. I think your statements reflect what most people are feeling. Disney is falling behind, and I don't see them responding to the shift in any impactful way. I just hope Universal doesn't start to take away the extra perks when they become the big man on campus.
Definitely agree, I think Disney internationally has still been investing pretty heavily and obviously their cruise lines. But I think here at WDW and even Disneyland, I feel like they're not really investing much of their budget into those parks. I'd love to see some BIG news for WDW come out at D23 this year, and with Epic opening, I would bet strongly on the fact that they make some VERY serious announcements this year.
Grew up on the West Coast moved to Florida 11 yrs ago. First trip to WDW and was like.... this is it? Its bigger sure. Few unique attractions. Animal Kingdom aside. DLR is soooo much better. I feel because the size constraints they are forced to be more creative maybe? The shows are way better and if there's a Disneyland version and a WDW version the DLR version 99% of the time is superior. Also the Cast members in CA just value the magic more whereas in Florida most CMs don't seem engaged and treat it as just a job.
That's kind of exactly it, the CM's feel like they're working a job to the normal consumer, whereas it used to feel like they were completely different before. I feel like that was one area Disney always had a big strength over Universal, their customer service. But I think that has drastically changed. I continue to hear GREAT things about Disneyland, and I think it would be a nice experience to see that "old Disney magic" still existing. From what I hear, pretty much EVERYWHERE other than WDW is still holding strong with the original "vibe" of the parks. Feels like WDW was one of those "too big too fail" situations? I also hear the food at other parks blow WDW out of the water. Definitely just need to make our way out to other parks for sure. Still absolutely love WDW, but it really feels like Universal is kind of shifting the tide into what we've always seen from Disney's reign here in Orlando.
Things will be changing. My honest belief is that future generations, born ≈2010 will later look at Disney as the cheap quality boring old parks. Even if they do an expanssion. For me, in my firsts visits, what made me love Disney was the incredible animatronics and entertaining rides. GMR, Star Tours, Splash Mountain even the carrousel of progress. But they all now are gone, extremely bad maintained or made mediocre transitions to Tianas or MRA. The first impression, getting a sincere "wow" from riding dark rides was what made Disney, Disney. New generations will not get that. As the best we have is a couple of animatronics which are horribly programmed and land perfectly in the "uncanny vally". As of today, I believe Epic will be the next leader and insipiration for many many years.
That is ignoring Disney political position, which reduced many US citizens support and even more in latin america. Those ideologies around here are even more bizarre and not accepted.
That's kind of what I was trying to say with the way tech is advancing the park moving forward. Epic will be a park with all new ride technology, interactive experiences, and just operations on a technical level that we've never seen. It's going to take some SERIOUS work from the competition to keep up. I'm curious to know if Disney and other parks knew about Epic in the planning period, or did it catch them by surprise and now they have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. Obviously Disney is investing in a lot of other places like cruises, international parks, etc. But, I think there is something to be said about the "wow" factor not hitting the same. We're in such an advanced period of time, it takes a LOT to make people genuinely interested or shocked. Think about phones. It's now "normal" to have a phone that has CRAZY good cameras, internet technology, multi-tasking functions etc. How much more can you do that would "wow" someone? It's like theme parks. You have to go SO far beyond what you were expecting it seems in order to REALLY catch someone's eye now.
@@Dillon.Thomas You are right! Let see how Epic, with new tech and no Disney budget cuts gets that "wow" factor going. Keep it up with the amazing videos.
@ytr5153 thank you so much 🙏 I really appreciate it. I'm glad you're enjoying the content we put out! Time will definitely tell for the parks, we will know sooner than we think haha 😄
We love both theme parks and brands but we definitely are looking to diversify our vlog content with the quality and new possibilities at Universal! Loved the video btw!!
All of the parks are great! SeaWorld, Busch, Universal and Disney! Competition is so good for the theme park industry. Thanks for watching and checking out the video 🙂
We plan on talking about what we kind of wish Disney would do here in the coming years to keep the competition growing between the two parks. I'm guessing D23 this year is going to be quite the explosive one with announcements if I were a betting man lol.
Universal has always been number one to us. We are NOT Disney people. We of course did the Disney thing a few times when our kids were little. But never were impressed. Universal’s vibe is SO MUCH better.🫶 Our favorite family days are our Universal days.
We genuinely love every theme park, there's something fun about all of the unique experiences. But it really feels like Disney (specifically here at WDW) has just gotten a little complacent. They knew they kind of had a machine that just kept working right the way it was, but now that Universal is introducing 3 new parks opening soon.... I can't imagine Disney is saying "that's fine". I'm assuming we get big announcements (how true, we don't know) very soon. But you aren't wrong, Universal's vibe is hard to beat, especially on those evenings as the last few hours tick away in the park 😍
@RionGreenhouseKit I definitely have a spurt there, don't I? Whoops! I guess I'm trying to emphasize that this is my feelings about it, and it's nothing "factual" per se. So I kept reiterating that I feel a certain way or I observed a certain thing. I don't want people to think it's anything but my own opinion. But it is what it is now! 😂
@@Dillon.Thomas Again, sincerely not trying to be a jerk or malicious, because I really like your content. I just noticed it on another video of yours as well and thought maybe others might too. But hey, I don't have a channel at all and am not putting myself out there like that, so take it with a grain of salt from the peanut gallery here. :)
@RionGreenhouseKit I always like feedback. I don't look at it ad being a jerk at all. Especially in videos like this where I'm just speaking, I don't really identify stuff like that haha 😂 I'm just kind of speaking my mind, and it sometimes get repetitive up there. Something to be aware of, so thanks for it haha
Just so we are clear, we love the Disney parks, and we hope they succeed! It seems like the theme park competition may be starting again in Orlando 🔥
But that said, do you feel the tides are shifting, or do you still think Disney is still holding their spot?!
disney is done for
Yes universal will sink Disney
A Universal cruise line??? Now that would be epic!
Right?? We can dream!
A Universal Monsters cruise.
pcdev commenting? this is wild
@@megmcguigan3857 was "Ghost Ship" a Universal project? That could be a thing. 👀😶🌫️🤔😱
👍
I agree, i went to Epcot yesterday and couldn't help but feel underwhelmed. Universal is constantly making improvements to their park while I feel Disney is content to stay in place
@rodriguez3298 there doesn't seem to be any urgency with Disney at WDW, but I hope this sparks their flame again to compete with Universal again. That was a heck of an era in Orlando!
Epic Universe looks amazing!! Epic Universe could be a one week just by itself. I totally agree with you that Universal seems to take care of their passholders better than Disney.
@kcholden5180 again, we love both parks, but it's definitely looking like we're entering Universal's era. I for sure agree, though, Epic Universe is looking sweet!!!
First time visitor from California. My family stayed in the universal bubble-- we loved Cabana Bay and Islands of adventure. We're definitely going back, we had a wonderful time. Can't wait for epic universe to open next year!
I'm really excited to see how the property expands with the addition of Epic Universe and their hotels! I'm glad you all had fun!
I'm very impressed by Seaworld improving their park so much the past few years.
They really want to benefit from Universal pioneers, while Disney has gotten too arrogant to pay attention.
Definitely feels like 2025 will be the beginning of the next theme park booming era (assuming the economy doesnt crash hard)
Right?? SeaWorld and Busch have been pumping out rides and experiences like crazy recently. Universal seems to have seen a great moment to take advantage of all of the demand in Orlando, and they took their shot. If the economy goes well, and we don't see anything crazy, I can see the rebirth of the Theme Park Wars here in Florida again. Gah... that'd be a fantastic time haha, just like the 90's and 2000's era. Let's hope! 🙏
I just subscribed. You did a Fantastic Job with breaking down the differences between Disney and Universal. Keep up the Good Work. You are Going Places
Thank You
Thanks for subscribing, glad you enjoy the content! We love both parks, but it's hard not to see the trajectory at this point! Thank you again so much for watching 😊
I hope you and Nicole can make it to California one day! While Disneyland has cut some, you can definitely still feel the difference and love there compared to WDW.
It's something we plan on doing in the future! We really love WDW, but it's very apparent they have kind of gotten complacent recently. I think they knew they had so much of the market for awhile, and now I think it's Universal taking their shot. I'd love to ideally visit a lot of the international parks, too, but those flights... 💀
DLR is the superior Disney US park IMO. Plus Knotts just down the road. (not an epic park but so much nostalgia for me)
Universal > Disney We visit 3 times a year from Iowa and only stay at Universal resorts. 36 days until we return woohooo
Still love me my Disney parks (and all of the parks to be fair), but Universal has been swaying people who float between them all to start taking more vacations to their parks, and with Epic opening... I mean how can you NOT plan a trip to Universal in the future?!
Im a universal girly through and through, but my best friend was a DVC member and another friend was a cast memeber. I got a chance to do disney for a day when i was at universal last time and the one day i had in Epcot was so hectic, crowded, and confusing compared to universal. And i never thought i would be able to afford an annual pass like universals but they make the flex program so easy and i've been able to afford my premeir pass 2 years in a row! its paid for itself after one trip and i go twice a year now and i cant imagine not renewing and i live in NJ! Disney is incredible unafordable for me
That's SUCH a big point I think many people don't realize. The payment plans for the passes at Universal are a game changer. Being able to budget it every month goes a long way. And having the ability to pick any pass you want is also a huge perk for out of state guests, too. But obviously premiere just offers such good benefits, even for the price, it always seems worth it. We still love the Disney parks, but we're really hoping for some big announcements coming up here soon (D23). The 90's and 2000's era of theme park wars in Orlando was soooo fun to watch, even as out of state people. It always felt like they wanted to one up each other, and over the past 7-10 years, it felt like we haven't seen that same craze. I'm hoping this is the start of it again 😆
We are Disney people, but our next trip will be universal-focused. And with our kids getting older.... I think we'll go from 1-2 universal days and several Disney days to 1-2 Disney and several universal. It feels like Universal is really working hard to up the game and they ARE.
100000% I think they're realizing they can be a full vacation park, and they're making moves to do so. I think with Epic opening, it feels like that park alone can take 2-3 days to fully experience haha. Still waiting to see what they say at D23, and if they talk about breaking ground anywhere to build here. Hoping for a big answer from Disney, soon 🙃
As you know, been to Disney/Universal since they opened, and have witnessed first hand the many changes these parks have undergone - both good and not so good. With that being said, I have always been Team Disney over all the parks, without exception. I visit them all, love them all, but Disney has always been #1. Since mid-2000 (once IOA opened), Universal has become a favorite, but didn't really knock Disney out of 1st place - I guess you could say I appreciate both parks for what they offer as they are somewhat different parks - not that I find fault with Sea World, Gardens, etc. - all different, all have their perks. I think Disney started slipping (for me) when Harry Potter came into the mix even though Disney built Pandora, which I enjoy, Potter was simply - MORE.
Personally, Disney started to slip when they re-opened after the shutdown. They cut too much, changed too much, and made a mockery of what they once stood for. I don't like the word "woke" - but their pushing of an "agenda" has really turned a lot of people off, and done damage to the brand. I have no problem with inclusivity, equal rights for all, etc., but when you push a man with a beard wearing a dress into the shop where little girls go to dress like a princess, I (and may others) have a problem. Regardless of someone's rights or feelings - that is not appropriate for children that do not live within that situation, and the parent has the absolute right to not engage. Slightly off topic, but I'm sure you see where I am going with this.
Disney - to me - seems to be resting on its good faith from the past and resting on its past laurels. Even with their updates to the parks - and lets not discuss TBA - but they literally DESTROYED EPCOT - and gave the park goers nothing (except Guardians). Moana should have been water ride - not a walk through wet zone. They destroyed a beautiful fountain, and we got a corporate park that looks like it belongs in CA, with in-ground lights that sometimes work.
Unless they announce something at D23 in a few days, Disney has no answer to Universal - and their remaking of Dinoland is NOT an answer, especially using IP's that are already old, and really have no place in AK. Universal is definitely - by far - my favorite park, and if you would have told me this would ever happen, I would say you were nuts. But there you have it. I do NOT want Disney to fail - I grew up on Disney, along with the kids, and now grandkids. Even the small ones want Dreamworks over MK!!! WHAT?!?!?
As you mentioned, Universal shows their appreciation for their AP holders - MUCH more than Disney. As for their cast members, I have only EVER had positive interactions with both. The recent changes to Disney's DAS system though, has not made things easier. In fact, a friend that no longer was eligible for DAS, was told to get a come back time from a cast member, and the cast members were nasty about doing so.
Ok - I flooded your comment section - apologies. Rant over, lol. I think I am going crazy being with my students in the Badlands of Dakota. Next stop - Grand Canyon, then home to HHN!! YAY!!!
Oh wow - one more thing - friend just sent a video of a "dragon" over EPIC???? Did you see this - can that be real? Disney is turning in his grave. Be well.
You always have a great insight as you have such much knowledge of the past and present. You can be the most critical with a lot to back it up. And I agree, we LOVE Disney, and we always will. The parks are magical in their own way. I would have to agree that Disney seemed to have a weird drop after Covid. I never liked getting into politics, as I just never watch TV or the news really, and I think I like to exist in my own little world haha. But I know there were heated debates amongst both parties and even Florida at some point (never really knew what exactly was going on during all of that, and still don't).
I do think EPCOT feels a lot less "innovative" now. I remember as a kid I never cared to go to EPCOT because I thought of it as this "business" park where it was just all business and education stuff, and I just wanted the rides LOL. I grew up, and it really shifted, I loved it and it grew on me. Then they started to make some changes, and it's like, this is why I feel like if I were a kid, I may say "no EPCOT on this trip", because it's just giving that very "business" vibe again. Guardians has been a tremendous addition, but they kind of just plopped it in the space area, where it feels kind of detached. Disney was always SOOOO good at making things flow from one thing to the next. So, though I absolutely LOVEEEE Guardians, it doesn't tie a lot to how that part of the park functions.
I really have to agree, D23 this year needs to be a banger for Disney. And it needs to be something like "we are breaking ground" not "what if we did this..." because the what if's aren't coming to life still... I really just want Disney to invest back in the parks heavily. I don't know if their portfolio just got spread too thin that they stopped putting a lot of money into the parks or what? But I'm hoping, if anything, Epic and all of the changes at Universal are sparking a fire under Disney to have them say "we absolutely need to make moves now". It's crazy, because I feel like I see SOOO many kids just obsessed with the Dreamworks characters anymore. I still don't think it's quite in the same ballpark as the Disney IP's, but with a lot of the stuff they've created, and the return of things like Mario... I think it's REALLY drawing in the younger crowd. Trolls, Minions and Mario alone I think have been REALLY performing for them. Obviously Harry Potter has been killing it since they've opened that, too.
It's wild to me, because I think the AP changes Disney could implement and get a HUGE positive reaction are so simple, but they won't do it lol. There has to be a reason they don't. But I feel like it's SO easy to please passholders, and extra benefits go SUCH a long way. When it comes to CM/TM of the park, I really have VERY good experiences at both parks. But I have just seen a lot more (recently) bad interactions with the CM's. And my guess is, it's not on them like I said, but it's a trickle down effect of something like DAS being done the way it is, and then they get the brunt end of that even though they had 0 decision in the rule changes. It's the whole "I just work here" sentiment lol. I have read a LOT of horror stories over the recent DAS changes. It really sucks, because I'm sure there were so many people abusing the system, but at the same time, now you have legit users getting declined. Genuinely Disney is stuck between a rock and a hard place with that one.
I always love having conversations, I encourage people to chat, because I don't make these videos to sit and listen to myself (LOL). I speak my mind and I like to have these conversations. I want to see people's opinions, even if they COMPLETELY disagree with me. It shows there's passion, and we need that. Enjoy trekking the USA! Haha.
I posted the video on my Instagram yesterday, and I got more confirmation on it today!! Absolutely NUTS! There's SOOO much more happening at EPIC than I think any of us even remotely know. So cool.
Lifelong Disney Park Fan…. Universal will be my go 2 when I want go to a theme park again while visiting Florida or California
Great parks! Great options!
I called this years ago, when Universal announced Epic while simultaneously moving forward on updates to their parks, while Disney sat back and did nothing. Nostalgia is powerful, but it won't cover over disappointment forever, and most of what Disney has done has been almost uniformly short of what they promised. Meanwhile they keep increasing prices... yes, everyone is, but everyone else is at least trying to offer more for that price tag. I've seen better architecture and theming than that shameful Communicore redo at my local outlet mall. People will accept a mid experience OR a high price, but not both.
BTW, I don't hate the Disney parks either, I'm just saddened by the state it's in, thanks to the shameless greed of its upper management and shareholders. Imo they should fire the lot of them, and distribute the shares to the employees, giving them a stake in the park. Oh, and put Imagineering in charge of decisions, with the bean crushers subordinate to them.
@vectorwolf ya, I mean universal has been trending upward for awhile. I think people were nervous with epic coming that things would slow at the parks. However, we are still getting changes and they announced the uk park and Texas kids park as well. So they really are investing in the parks. Unfortunately almost all of Disney's big investments seem to be happening internationally. DCL is still doing great and their other parks seem to be doing really well. And obviously wdw is doing well with attendance and such. But I do think people are much more hesitant to immediately go all in on disney like they once were. I assume universal, if at the least, has put pressure on the consumer to genuinely make a decision. Do I go for universal or disney, and if I split my trip, how much am I investing at both parks. I know a lot of die hard disney fans that have now at least recognized the strength of universal. That actually speaks volumes in the community. I love both park, but until wdw puts something into motion, I'm not sure they'll be the top dog in Orlando for a bit. They'll obviously still do extremely well, but if there's no big additions, I assume universal will run away with the visitor totals here for a few years at a minimum. It'll be cool to see the 2 parks really compete again if disney finally jumps back in to supporting wdw like they once did. We can hope!
Disney needs to add more of everything. People will pay for new experiences and rides. Splash Mountain never needed to be replaced. It apparently cost 200 million to redo into that trash adventure. They redo things without adding more of a footprint. Disney could be so much better
I use to do 1 year disney 1 year universal but I didn't renew disney and am much happier at universal. I'm a grown adult and my kids are grown so I'm happier with adult themes and universal is more adult to me. Parents expect disney to babysit and lack parenting, so yep universal all the way for me plus HHN rules!
I definitely have felt like Magic Kingdom lends itself to be a bit more "kid focused" and overall the intensity at Disney is much less. I still love their parks, but Universal seems to be answering the call for what fans want. They've noticed Orlando has so much more room to keep going, and they're doing it. Universal still feels much better when you compare value of dollar spent to what you get!
I have noticed something really interesting as of late. Recently, the die hard Disney World defenders best argument as to why Disney is better than Universal, is something along the lines of "Well Disney World is bigger and has more parks, therefore it's better." When your best argument is quantity over quality, I think that's a dead giveaway you're loosing the fight.
People are starting to prefer Universal across the board, and the more success Universal has over Disney, the more tallent will leave Disney for Universal.
I think that's definitely been the argument for a long time. But I do think Epic will be providing a LOT of NEW options, which in recent years weighs a lot more than just raw numbers. People like the newest and best thing, so to build an entire theme park with all of that, it's going to be VERY hard to compete with. Unless of course Disney opens a 5th gate. Then there's a lot of conversation to be had again!
With the upgrades that Universal is making to older parks, all the new smaller parks being built and Epic Universe Orlando as well as Epic Universe UK, Disney should be quaking in their mousekateer hats....... But they dont seem to be. Thats crazy!
I'm team Universal all the way, the mouse tried to bite me and im not sticking my fingers in their cookie jar anymore.
I couldn't agree more my man!
Just got back from Disney I was a disgrace it cost 21 thousand for 4 of us for a week vacation it’s a waste of money and a rip-off
I like this conversational format once in a while. I think your statements reflect what most people are feeling. Disney is falling behind, and I don't see them responding to the shift in any impactful way. I just hope Universal doesn't start to take away the extra perks when they become the big man on campus.
Definitely agree, I think Disney internationally has still been investing pretty heavily and obviously their cruise lines. But I think here at WDW and even Disneyland, I feel like they're not really investing much of their budget into those parks. I'd love to see some BIG news for WDW come out at D23 this year, and with Epic opening, I would bet strongly on the fact that they make some VERY serious announcements this year.
We were shocked how dirty and run down everything is a Disney now . Eating areas filthy garbage everywhere
Grew up on the West Coast moved to Florida 11 yrs ago. First trip to WDW and was like.... this is it? Its bigger sure. Few unique attractions. Animal Kingdom aside. DLR is soooo much better. I feel because the size constraints they are forced to be more creative maybe? The shows are way better and if there's a Disneyland version and a WDW version the DLR version 99% of the time is superior. Also the Cast members in CA just value the magic more whereas in Florida most CMs don't seem engaged and treat it as just a job.
That's kind of exactly it, the CM's feel like they're working a job to the normal consumer, whereas it used to feel like they were completely different before. I feel like that was one area Disney always had a big strength over Universal, their customer service. But I think that has drastically changed. I continue to hear GREAT things about Disneyland, and I think it would be a nice experience to see that "old Disney magic" still existing. From what I hear, pretty much EVERYWHERE other than WDW is still holding strong with the original "vibe" of the parks. Feels like WDW was one of those "too big too fail" situations? I also hear the food at other parks blow WDW out of the water. Definitely just need to make our way out to other parks for sure. Still absolutely love WDW, but it really feels like Universal is kind of shifting the tide into what we've always seen from Disney's reign here in Orlando.
Things will be changing. My honest belief is that future generations, born ≈2010 will later look at Disney as the cheap quality boring old parks. Even if they do an expanssion.
For me, in my firsts visits, what made me love Disney was the incredible animatronics and entertaining rides. GMR, Star Tours, Splash Mountain even the carrousel of progress. But they all now are gone, extremely bad maintained or made mediocre transitions to Tianas or MRA.
The first impression, getting a sincere "wow" from riding dark rides was what made Disney, Disney. New generations will not get that. As the best we have is a couple of animatronics which are horribly programmed and land perfectly in the "uncanny vally".
As of today, I believe Epic will be the next leader and insipiration for many many years.
That is ignoring Disney political position, which reduced many US citizens support and even more in latin america. Those ideologies around here are even more bizarre and not accepted.
That's kind of what I was trying to say with the way tech is advancing the park moving forward. Epic will be a park with all new ride technology, interactive experiences, and just operations on a technical level that we've never seen. It's going to take some SERIOUS work from the competition to keep up. I'm curious to know if Disney and other parks knew about Epic in the planning period, or did it catch them by surprise and now they have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. Obviously Disney is investing in a lot of other places like cruises, international parks, etc.
But, I think there is something to be said about the "wow" factor not hitting the same. We're in such an advanced period of time, it takes a LOT to make people genuinely interested or shocked. Think about phones. It's now "normal" to have a phone that has CRAZY good cameras, internet technology, multi-tasking functions etc. How much more can you do that would "wow" someone? It's like theme parks. You have to go SO far beyond what you were expecting it seems in order to REALLY catch someone's eye now.
@@Dillon.Thomas You are right! Let see how Epic, with new tech and no Disney budget cuts gets that "wow" factor going. Keep it up with the amazing videos.
@ytr5153 thank you so much 🙏 I really appreciate it. I'm glad you're enjoying the content we put out! Time will definitely tell for the parks, we will know sooner than we think haha 😄
Going woke has been the death of Disney and I'm loving every minute of it.
We love both theme parks and brands but we definitely are looking to diversify our vlog content with the quality and new possibilities at Universal!
Loved the video btw!!
All of the parks are great! SeaWorld, Busch, Universal and Disney! Competition is so good for the theme park industry. Thanks for watching and checking out the video 🙂
@@Dillon.Thomas100% we love all of them!
Hopefully we will see you around for Epic Universe!
@DiazFamilyAdventures hopefully so! Still waiting to hear their ticketing announcements haha 😄
@@Dillon.Thomas same here brother! As soon as those ticket announcements are up we are going to secure day 1 tickets!
We are so excited for Epic!!! We’re wondering how Disney is going to answer also. It needs to be something great. We have lots of ideas 😂
We plan on talking about what we kind of wish Disney would do here in the coming years to keep the competition growing between the two parks. I'm guessing D23 this year is going to be quite the explosive one with announcements if I were a betting man lol.
Universal isn't trying to trans the kids.
16:40 Never thought of that. I believe that is true. Disney experience is also very dependent on mobile devices
Always just something I have been noticing more and more! Could be just a total coincidence, though.
Disney been dead for a while now. Epic opening is just making it official
Universal has always been number one to us. We are NOT Disney people. We of course did the Disney thing a few times when our kids were little. But never were impressed. Universal’s vibe is SO MUCH better.🫶 Our favorite family days are our Universal days.
We genuinely love every theme park, there's something fun about all of the unique experiences. But it really feels like Disney (specifically here at WDW) has just gotten a little complacent. They knew they kind of had a machine that just kept working right the way it was, but now that Universal is introducing 3 new parks opening soon.... I can't imagine Disney is saying "that's fine". I'm assuming we get big announcements (how true, we don't know) very soon. But you aren't wrong, Universal's vibe is hard to beat, especially on those evenings as the last few hours tick away in the park 😍
So sad Disney sucks so bad now they are just living off fumes
Not to be critical, but you say “feel like” way too often.
@RionGreenhouseKit I definitely have a spurt there, don't I? Whoops! I guess I'm trying to emphasize that this is my feelings about it, and it's nothing "factual" per se. So I kept reiterating that I feel a certain way or I observed a certain thing. I don't want people to think it's anything but my own opinion. But it is what it is now! 😂
@@Dillon.Thomas Again, sincerely not trying to be a jerk or malicious, because I really like your content. I just noticed it on another video of yours as well and thought maybe others might too. But hey, I don't have a channel at all and am not putting myself out there like that, so take it with a grain of salt from the peanut gallery here. :)
@RionGreenhouseKit I always like feedback. I don't look at it ad being a jerk at all. Especially in videos like this where I'm just speaking, I don't really identify stuff like that haha 😂 I'm just kind of speaking my mind, and it sometimes get repetitive up there. Something to be aware of, so thanks for it haha