Some people on the Disney boards

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I hope it was a really bad day. I wouldn't have believed it before going. I've experienced the Universal Team Member training as part conference before and it is very similar to Disney's so I was very surprised by the response we would get when we'd as a question. The couple in front of us on the ride that broke asked about a pass to return and they just got a shrug and a "I can't do that" as she walked away. We started calling it the "universal shrug" because it was the response we seemed to get all day. And it wasn't like we were asking crazy things. Directions to something in the park or a place to pay for an item. We also felt out of place because we were NOT drinking. It seemed like it was the thing to be doing. Maybe it was a weekend thing? It was a Sunday before a HHN.

Sorry about your bad experience. I just wanted to give a counterpoint on the Universal shrug. We meet 3 extremely helpful, caring TMs when my 6 yo DD lost her wand in line for HE (before EP). She was bawling and we were trying to get through the line to see if we could find it. I approached one of the TMs along the line and he walked the whole line with us trying to find the wand. When we didn't find it, he called ahead and then handed my DD and I to another TM who could take us back to DA to replace it for us. Then she walked us back and handed us to a third TM who escorted us up to the platform to meet DH and the other kids who had waited in line. They went way over and above for us.

I hope if you go again you run into TMs who are more invested in their jobs because there are definitely some great ones there.

 

[Eponine178]

I had a response all typed out, but decided against posting it. Let's just say the amount of bad luck this person experienced borders on unbelievable.

Wow. I didn't think my experience would get called out like this. But thank you for reminding me why I tend to read and not post on these boards very much. Won't post in this area again. Thank you to those who did offer advice or give reason for going again to have a better experience.

 

[EveDallas]

Sorry about your bad experience. I just wanted to give a counterpoint on the Universal shrug. We meet 3 extremely helpful, caring TMs when my 6 yo DD lost her wand in line for HE (before EP). She was bawling and we were trying to get through the line to see if we could find it. I approached one of the TMs along the line and he walked the whole line with us trying to find the wand. When we didn't find it, he called ahead and then handed my DD and I to another TM who could take us back to DA to replace it for us. Then she walked us back and handed us to a third TM who escorted us up to the platform to meet DH and the other kids who had waited in line. They went way over and above for us.

I hope if you go again you run into TMs who are more invested in their jobs because there are definitely some great ones there.

These kind of TMs are much more in line with the ones I've always encountered. I've never met one who didn't have a smile or a "hello" for me. Definitely never met you who just didn't care.

 

[macraven]

Wow. I didn't think my experience would get called out like this. But thank you for reminding me why I tend to read and not post on these boards very much. Won't post in this area again. Thank you to those who did offer advice or give reason for going again to have a better experience.

The universal boards are extremely tame compared to some of the forums/threads on the Disney side

I rarely have to close a thread in the 4 forums here

 

[luvsJack]

These kind of TMs are much more in line with the ones I've always encountered. I've never met one who didn't have a smile or a "hello" for me. Definitely never met you who just didn't care.

That has been our experience too!

On our first trip to Universal we were honestly bowled over by how nice and how helpful every employee we met was. Every single one at Cabana Bay, the bus driver and in the parks. Not one person ever shrugged off a question and went above and beyond to be helpful. That made the biggest impression on us because we had started seeing a bit of down slide of that at Disney.

It made such an impresssion that after our trip, i emailed them to really give the compliments to so many. I couldn’t name them all but gave locations and approximate times of where we encountered them.

 

[bumbershoot]

Took 20 minutes and I ended up figuring out the issue-not them.

What was the issue?

Walking in the middle of Hogsmeade, a man was yelling out swear words and racial put downs that were so awful I couldn't believe security wasn't involved.

I would have gotten someone. Go into a shop and talk to a TM and they'll get someone.

As much as I enjoyed some of the rides there, you add up all the experiences we had and I am not excited to go back anytime soon.

If I have an experience that is SO out of the norm that it is shocking, I try to not make my one experience seem like the universal truth. (except for via napoli in Epcot and, to some extent, hard rock hotel, LOL) (and I still try to be fair about HR. but not napoli. ptooie on napoli)

We started calling it the "universal shrug" because it was the response we seemed to get all day.

Hmm. What did guest services have to say about that?

how do you get drunk in the parks when the beers are $9 a pop??...

Not sure, but there's a huge discussion happening on the Disney side about Drinking Around the World right now. I've never seen overdrinking at Epcot, either, but some people say they have, so it happens in both parks.

Just not when I'm there.

I'm trying to figure out how a person on the Spiderman ride could reach that far in front to touch someone in the row in front of him.

SAME.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I like both resorts for different reasons. They’re different experiences for sure. Citywalk is a kind of in your face entertainment complex, where Disney Springs is basically an outdoor shopping mall. The parks are comparable IMO with the main difference being the theming. Again, I find Universl to be “louder” if that makes sense. Both places attract the same people.

Six Flags parks are fun for what they are, but they do draw different crowds. At our local Six Flags for instance there are a lot of kids and teens who just get dropped off for the day, and as kids do, they tend to act differently than they would if their parents were supervising them.

 

[Forum Jumper]

My DH had a health related event at USO years ago. At the time we thought he was having a heart attack. We saw a whole other side to USO! We were treated with the utmost care, helpfulness, and respect. That has made USO much more to me....not just an amusement park. DH found he had a condition that hadn't been caught at home. (So the nearby hospital was very good, too) As others have posted, as we and our children have gotten older, USO has been much more enjoyable to us. We have met very nice people from around the world there....an unexpected benefit.

 

[macraven]

My DH had a health related event at USO years ago. At the time we thought he was having a heart attack. We saw a whole other side to USO! We were treated with the utmost care, helpfulness, and respect. That has made USO much more to me....not just an amusement park. DH found he had a condition that hadn't been caught at home. (So the nearby hospital was very good, too) As others have posted, as we and our children have gotten older, USO has been much more enjoyable to us. We have met very nice people from around the world there....an unexpected benefit.

Thanks for sharing that with us
Staff at UO are trained caring employees that are able and willing to help all in emergencies

It’s a scary thing to become ill and need emergency care when aware from home

I’m glad you had people around you to handle the situation

 

[Kit Jackson]

IMO Universal and Six Flags don’t have all that much in common.

Comparing Universal to Six flags seems really Unfair. I have always had good experiences with the team members at Universal. At Six Flags not so much. Plus I am not a coaster person and I find lots to do at Universal.

I agree with both of these comments. To be fair, it's been decades since I went to Six Flags so it could have changed dramatically. My memory of Six Flags is that it was really dirty and there wasn't much to do aside from roller coasters and carnival games. There were also no fun themed restaurants. I wasn't into roller coasters so there wasn't much to do. Universal Studios (at least Universal Studios now) has fun themed areas to walk through and themed restaurants, plus rides that aren't roller coasters. Also, Universal Studios now has hotels on-site and bills itself as a multi-day vacation place. There is so much to see and do it takes multiple days to see everything. Six Flags always struck me as more of a day trip.

 

[keishashadow]

Not sure, but there's a huge discussion happening on the Disney side about Drinking Around the World right now. I've never seen overdrinking at Epcot, either, but some people say they have, so it happens in both parks.

Just not when I'm there.

.

I enjoy an adult beverage or two when on vacation. It’s nice when staying onsite at both WDW & U where driving is safely off the table. you don’t have to flip for it/designate a driver!

Trust me, over-indulging happens at both parks when you are there. Since, it’s not your job to police the situation, you wouldn’t notice unless you literally ran into sloppy drunks.

It’s a more of a problem for the parks not to over-serve as the guests are mobile usually moving around the parks. Sitting in a lounge or at dinner for a few hours, the servers can more easily monitor them. Going to assume FL law has state LCB laws re over-serving. If not, they should. There is great liability involved.

Even during split trips, including multiple HHN visits, I’ve observed more visible drinking at Epcot than universal. Could be U’s guests can hold their liquor better.

JMHO re Epcot:

Drinking Around the World in one day is juvenile, encourages bing drinking among those who may not have a tolerance/ensuing possible medical issues ala amatuer hour attempts, and is surely a hurt piece on the old wallet.

It often smells of stale beer on a late Saturday afternoon during F&W - yuck

Those monster strollers can turn into weapons when steered by drunk parents. Makes me wonder who is going to be the responsible adult on watch out for kiddies when said occupants return to their room.