Universal Studios Florida: What Do We Think About It?

[belloq87]

I knew it was too good to be true!

 

[Tyc00n96]

From our favorite source (sarcasm)

 

[Tobias]

From our favorite source (sarcasm)

And considering Alicia posted this regarding the stuff UC posted today....



...I don't think we need to post anything from Universal Core on here.

 

[Alicia]

...I don't think we need to post anything from Universal Core on here.

Might not be an issue.

 

[Cygnus]

Might not be an issue.

View attachment 20417

 

[Tobias]

Might not be an issue.

View attachment 20417

Well then, I'm fine with this turn of events!

Now then, moving on!

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Frankly, as negative as I might seem to be sometimes, I think there is still a significant bias among many theme park fans against Uni and in favor of Disney, and it manifests most frequently in terms of comments about food and service (Disneys “superior” service is a persistent myth that hasn’t been true for more then a decade).

Thank you for this. The "amazing Disney service" that people have told me about for years simply did not exist when I was there. Guess I'm just unlucky lol

 

[Grabnar]

Thank you for this. The "amazing Disney service" that people have told me about for years simply did not exist when I was there. Guess I'm just unlucky lol

I think the bigger issue is that it's really concentrated in specific areas. Resort wide their service is pretty comparable, but the areas that have legitimately great service (namely a few of the hotels and some of the restaurants) are substantially better service than anything Universal offers outside of their VIP tour guides.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I think the bigger issue is that it's really concentrated in specific areas. Resort wide their service is pretty comparable, but the areas that have legitimately great service (namely a few of the hotels and some of the restaurants) are substantially better service than anything Universal offers outside of their VIP tour guides.

The interesting thing is how much experiences differ for people. I have never encountered a rude TM at Universal and have had way more "great" experiences with Uni TMs than I have with Disney CMs. I can't think of a single CM that didn't come off as robotic and business-like.

For some, the "Disney Difference" is part of why they keep going back - and for others, the "Disney Difference" is a complete myth and sham lol

 

[IzzyB]

The interesting thing is how much experiences differ for people. I have never encountered a rude TM at Universal and have had way more "great" experiences with Uni TMs than I have with Disney CMs. I can't think of a single CM that didn't come off as robotic and business-like.

For some, the "Disney Difference" is part of why they keep going back - and for others, the "Disney Difference" is a complete myth and sham lol

It might have to do with how often and with whom you are traveling with. I went to the parks a ton when my son was alive. It was really good for him to be around a ton of lights, sounds, and smells. It helped his physical therapy out a ton and when we discovered that we went a lot. So going a lot to all 3 parks I am sure gave me more experiences in all of them. The other is traveling with a family. We never got Disney "magic dust" or whatever they call it when my husband and I went. But got it a ton with kids. Random escorts into fast pass line of popular rides, free treats, etc. On the other hand before (and I haven't seen this since being back) several Universal employees seemed to not like young kids and especially handicapped ones. There was also staffing issues that caused some of our issues. Lack of staff in areas that Disney did have staff caused clientele to make experiences interesting.

I will say some of Universals procedures and not employees have absolutely frustrated me now. I try to not take it out on employees, I know they are doing their job. But some of what Universal does is just plain stupid.

 

[AustinT]

So if, and that's a big IF, FFL gets replaced, are we thinking it'll be a show or a ride? For anything outside of Potter if that's to be believed, then it would have to be a super compact or just relatively lightly themed exterior/surrounding area I'd imagine.

 

[Tyc00n96]

So if, and that's a big IF, FFL gets replaced, are we thinking it'll be a show or a ride? For anything outside of Potter if that's to be believed, then it would have to be a super compact or just relatively lightly themed exterior/surrounding area I'd imagine.

The choices for super compact attractions that exist elsewhere are slim. I also don't think that with the apartments behind FFL, a WaterWorld show would even be feasible. It would have to be something very different imo. But big if like you said.

 

[Jake S]

The interesting thing is how much experiences differ for people. I have never encountered a rude TM at Universal and have had way more "great" experiences with Uni TMs than I have with Disney CMs. I can't think of a single CM that didn't come off as robotic and business-like.

For some, the "Disney Difference" is part of why they keep going back - and for others, the "Disney Difference" is a complete myth and sham lol

I think a lot of us are talking about different things, which makes sense because "service" is an amorphous phrase. My experience hasn't been that employees at either resort are rude, far from it. But the operations that rely on employees, whether they be in restaurants, at attractions or in stores, run much better (in my opinion) at Walt Disney World than at Universal Orlando.

I certainly don't blame employees for their poor training nor culture. But employees not communicating with guests when things go wrong or not knowing when a show is happening or where a bathroom is located has been a consistent part of my trips to Universal Orlando over the past 10 years. I still think it's mostly fine, but the resort charges Disney dollars and in many other ways provides a comparable, if not better, experience. The resort as a whole has work to do in this regard, in my opinion.

 

[belloq87]

So if, and that's a big IF, FFL gets replaced, are we thinking it'll be a show or a ride? For anything outside of Potter if that's to be believed, then it would have to be a super compact or just relatively lightly themed exterior/surrounding area I'd imagine.

With the caveat that it sounds like nothing is happening on that spot, my obvious preference would be for a dark ride. I'd be intrigued to see Hollywood's SLOP showbuilding overlaid onto that plot, but I suspect Universal would be able to make something like that fit if they wanted (which they apparently don't).

Second to a dark ride, I'd happily take WaterWorld if it was feasible to put it there. I think a high-octane show like that would do almost as much good for the park as a dark ride, and it would be different enough from Bourne (which is indoors and higher-tech) for them both to co-exist. It would also add a bit more adult appeal in the midst of a lot of kid/family stuff the park has gotten and is getting.

 

[IzzyB]

I think a lot of us are talking about different things, which makes sense because "service" is an amorphous phrase. My experience hasn't been that employees at either resort are rude, far from it. But the operations that rely on employees, whether they be in restaurants, at attractions or in stores, run much better (in my opinion) at Walt Disney World than at Universal Orlando.

I certainly don't blame employees for their poor training nor culture. But employees not communicating with guests when things go wrong or not knowing when a show is happening or where a bathroom is located has been a consistent part of my trips to Universal Orlando over the past 10 years. I still think it's mostly fine, but the resort charges Disney dollars and in many other ways provides a comparable, if not better, experience. The resort as a whole has work to do in this regard, in my opinion.

I agree. It is a lot of how stuff is set up. Having to sit down and know my table number, then go up and order, but pick up part of my order, then sit down and wait for food is dumb. Not having kids meals on app is another example of poor operations.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Outside of Minion Cafe and the Potter QSRs, they don't have the staff to properly support the table service idea they're trying to push out.

 

[Tbad556]

I agree. It is a lot of how stuff is set up. Having to sit down and know my table number, then go up and order, but pick up part of my order, then sit down and wait for food is dumb. Not having kids meals on app is another example of poor operations.

Genuinely asking/hoping maybe this helps, but from what I’ve ever seen, the kids meals are on the app under mobile ordering? Not sure if I'm possibly misunderstanding.

 

[IzzyB]

Outside of Minion Cafe and the Potter QSRs, they don't have the staff to properly support the table service idea they're trying to push out.

I even question Potter QSRs since I waited 20 minutes at one and 25 in another to get my food. Also, Thunder was empty and there was 6 employees doing very little to nothing. Three the entire time I was there was just standing outside the restaurant. I feel they are not using their staff efficiently.

Genuinely asking/hoping maybe this helps, but from what I’ve ever seen, the kids meals are on the app under mobile ordering? Not sure if I'm possibly misunderstanding.

Both Potter QSRs had kids meals and we ordered them in the app. Thunder Falls and Dino Digs did not. They don't even have them listed on the menu. At Thunder Falls I asked the 3 people out front doing nothing and they said they did have a single kids meal which is a chicken leg, but I had to ask for it at register and if I wanted more kid friendly food I had to go to Dino Digs (Their exact words). Which my husband later went to and kids stuff was NOT listed. He was going to get an adult burger and split it and then when he finally got to order he asked and they did have kids items just not listed anywhere or in the app. So he got two kids burgers. What is funny is we didn't even want kid friendly, we more want smaller portions. A rib kids meal would be nice in Thunder Falls. We ended up getting and splitting up the adult meal at Thunder Falls.

I complained about SW only having 2 kids options and normally none of them had anything to do with the restaurant we were in. I commended the Potter QSRs for having a large kids menu with smaller portions of the adult food. Then we get out of Potter and wow, the kids menus are non-existent unless you ask and then it is small menu. Simpsons had no kids options as far as I could see. I asked at the burger if they had a kids burger they said no. They could not put certain toppings on, but adult was only option. I assume the other places also would say the same thing.

 

[Tbad556]

I even question Potter QSRs since I waited 20 minutes at one and 25 in another to get my food. Also, Thunder was empty and there was 6 employees doing very little to nothing. Three the entire time I was there was just standing outside the restaurant. I feel they are not using their staff efficiently.

Both Potter QSRs had kids meals and we ordered them in the app. Thunder Falls and Dino Digs did not. They don't even have them listed on the menu. At Thunder Falls I asked the 3 people out front doing nothing and they said they did have a single kids meal which is a chicken leg, but I had to ask for it at register and if I wanted more kid friendly food I had to go to Dino Digs (Their exact words). Which my husband later went to and kids stuff was NOT listed. He was going to get an adult burger and split it and then when he finally got to order he asked and they did have kids items just not listed anywhere or in the app. So he got two kids burgers. What is funny is we didn't even want kid friendly, we more want smaller portions. A rib kids meal would be nice in Thunder Falls. We ended up getting and splitting up the adult meal at Thunder Falls.

I complained about SW only having 2 kids options and normally none of them had anything to do with the restaurant we were in. I commended the Potter QSRs for having a large kids menu with smaller portions of the adult food. Then we get out of Potter and wow, the kids menus are non-existent unless you ask and then it is small menu. Simpsons had no kids options as far as I could see. I asked at the burger if they had a kids burger they said no. They could not put certain toppings on, but adult was only option. I assume the other places also would say the same thing.

Ah okay. So more of a "it's stupid kids meals aren't on the guest-facing menus in some restaurants" rather than the app itself failing. That makes more sense and is indeed messy af on Universal's end. Agreed.

 

[IzzyB]

Ah okay. So more of a "it's stupid kids meals aren't on the guest-facing menus in some restaurants" rather than the app itself failing. That makes more sense and is indeed messy af on Universal's end. Agreed.

No, if they are not on the guest facing menu they are also not in the app. It is both. Leaky and 3Broomsticks so far are the only two that I have seen kids menus on the app. Now clearly I have not gone to all places, but all the places we went over our two days at Uni this weekend either had no kids meals at all or no kids meals on the app or menu. You had to order at the register and only knew what they had by asking. At Dino Digs my husband said the line was long and that it was all families and no one was going to the mobile ordering area. Since it was all families all trying to get kids meals. My kids got into the line for JP Flyers at the same time he went to Dino Digs and he got back about 5 minutes before they got off the ride and the posted wait was 40 minutes, if that gives you any idea of the insanity.

In my opinion the app should have all options that are at the register. It is the only way you can truly push App usage for ordering and reduce lines.