Yep. It's because they double dip. They charge regular guests for full day tickets and then close at 7PM and rent the whole park out to businesses for the last few hours of the night.
absolutely 1000% agree with number 1! I've consistently seen 6 pm closing times on my visits- the sun hasnt even started to go down! I want to be in diagon alley at night damnit!
When I was at the parks in early Feb one closed at 5 the other at 6(?). The next night they closed early again but a little later. Both nights on the way out of the park I saw tons of people going in for a private event. On one night the group was Chick Fil A. I guess they need the money for Epic 😂
I agree about the park hours, if you are paying $300+ for a two day ticket (and that's with a AAA discount), you don't want the park closing at 6 or 7pm. Plus it's cooler later in the day as well and it nice to see things lit up at night. My complaint PAPER STRAWS!
My biggest complaint for universal was the loss of live shows. They had the Beetleguese music spooktacular that I loved. And the Sinbad theater show. I saw them about 11 years ago with my daughter, and when we recently went back...they were gone. With no new live shows to replace them.
I agree with the nostalgic rides. My favorite ride was the old King Kong ride where you were in a cable car and it was where he picked you up and dropped you Really cool!!
Cool list, and personal way of revealing the list, Rick. My additions: 1) More seating in areas where the action is 2) More shade in areas where people want to go (Blues Brothers) and "have to" go (Hagrid wait line) -- put the part back in the park. Dollywood has really cool shade devices over walkways - that even change with the season 3) Not you, but vloggers and Universal overhyping early park admission as the FASTEST way to Hagrid. Doing the math: you have to show up 30-45 min early to avoid 4000 people line; then 30-45 min in queue itself (Hagrids is often 50-80 minutes throughout the day) 4) The popular rides "tilt" the crowds to one side of the park, And a lack of attractions, or reride-able attractions, on the emptier side. Build another Mummy or Hagrids type ride at Fear Factor and Toon lagoon stadium
Every time I’ve one to universal which is 8 times for 3-4 day trips in total, hagrids has never been under a 100 min wait. Even if I wait 30min for epa, and then 20-30min in the line…I feel it to be a major win. And the benefit is that you get more park time. Sure you’re still waiting somewhere for an hour, maybe more. But the perk is that over half of that isn’t being taken out of your park hours. Which if you get up early early l, and make it to the front…it’s very beneficial. Now if you roll up to epa right at opening and the crowds are already insane…not worth it to run to hagrids at all because you’re already in the back of the line. 🤷🏻♀️
@@jenson22bj You have good points. But some vlogs I've watched, and my EPA experience, has been that going only 30 min early can get you 15 min just to get in, 5 min run to back of park, and then 30-40 min wait. From your data, it looks like you might be okay at 30 min early. And, you are right that you have extended your day by a half hour. And, you still have EPA left over, where you get Hogsmeade pretty empty.
Tiny seats , you can’t fit in . No daily parade, replacing great attractions like Earthquake/Kongfrontation with a diaper stain ride like Jimmy Fallon!
I agree with the closing early. I vacation primarily in the late spring, I would like to experience the parks at night. With it getting darker later in the day in the late spring and summer, I don’t get to experience that. But I wouldn’t consider that a deterrent to visiting the parks. I love it there! I’ll be there the third week of May, can’t wait! Love all the videos, keep up the great work!
Absolutely the closing of the parks at 7:00 p.m. versus 9:00 p.m. is a huge complaint of mine. The other complaint is the exceedingly loud music especially in the Harry Potter areas there is no need with such a loud crowd or a huge crowd because it's usually very crowded both at universal and Islands of adventure to play the music deafening levels. Seriously I'm considering putting on earmuffs just to muffle out such loud music it's bad enough that it's so crowded do we need to make a person deaf
Agree completely with the park hours. My friends and I booked our annual trip. The park has always been open until 9. They switched it to 7 pm at the last minute. We complained and they did nothing to make it up to us. Makes us not want go back.
Honestly, comparing their prices to basic fast food joints and sit down chain restaurants, there isn't that much difference. If I went and got a chili dog, onion rings, and shake somewhere, I'd probably pay over $15 dollars
Definitely agree with the top complaint. The parks closing so early is a bummer imo. Theme parks are incredible at night and you miss out on that a lot of the time at Universal. I don't mind the lack of nostalgic attractions - most of the newer attractions are better than what was there before (though F&F & Kong are terrible imo).
I completely agree that Universal Parks close too early. As a resort guest, it is wrong that you can't go to dinner and then go back into the Parks for evening entertainment.
If Universal follows Disney’s trajectory of price gouging coupled with cost-cutting, they’ll develop the same bad reputation. Epic Universe won’t fix that.
So with express lines they actually screw with everyone’s wait times like if you look up the defunctland video it goes way into depth on how that screws over most of the people at the park so I’m actually happy that people have to wait in line for Hagrids.
Of all the rides I experienced in the 90's that I wanted my daughter to experience....ET was not one of them. I miss Back to The Future, Jaws, King Kong, Earthquake, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
I fell like 2D Kong kinda stinks too was way better 3D. I also think food prices at universal are way cheaper than Disney. I also agree no matter what time of year 8pm should earliest to close. Great video!
I disagree regarding the food prices. When we went two years ago, we were pleasantly surprised by the prices. Not that they are cheap, but they really aren’t that much more than going to a restaurant, and they aren’t nearly as overpriced as movie theater food and drinks. With that being said, universal allows you to bring in your own food which is something movie theaters prohibit. So if you feel that the food prices are too expensive, bring a soft sided cooler filled with sandwiches and snacks. Universal even has the family lockers that can be rented for the day so you don’t have to lug your cooler all around the park. I can’t wait to go back this October!
It was great to bump into you yesterday (while filming this vid) and it was spot-on with its observations. Love the channel and thanks again for your hard work 👍
the shorter hours has always been my biggest and maybe my only complaint. I'm shocked that they don't at least have later closings on weekends, the way that SeaWorld does it.
My biggest complaint is the amount of alcohol that is served especially at HHN. I understand that it is a huge revenue source but I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen people falling down drunk and still being served alcohol. Then there’s the ones that vomit, or the aggressive frat boys honestly I’m shocked there aren’t more assaults. There should be designated alcohol areas at these events and a limit.
If they aren’t going to open express for hagrids then they need to stop the single rider line. The single rider line is not used as it should be for that ride.
The "running out of ice" segment of this video...this one happens at Hersheypark, my home park too!!! There are times when I am at Hersheypark and go to get ice for my fountain drink and there is no ice!
Imagine a new Back to the Future attraction that was part screen ride and part roller coaster where the ride used actual roller coaster launches plus a screen tunnel and wind effects to simulate reaching 88mph to travel back and forth in time with a mid-ride section utilizing different screen areas and practical effects between traveling at 88mph. This would be a no-brainer AAA attraction for studios.
I've been going to universal for over 7 years now and i totally forgot about the sinbad theater. The last time i was in it, it was when hagrids opened and it was being used as an extended queue😂
I was there with my daughter the first week of February. Our main complaints were very similar to your list. Our #1 complaint was RIDES THAT ARE CLOSED. VelociCoaster, Hagrids, Hogwarts Express, Rip Rocket, Hulk were all either closed the entire day OR shut down several times during the day. We were on The Forbidden Journey when it broke down. Not fun! We were able to ride them all on our second day, but still...not cool Universal ;)
Hagrid’s is a people eater, if we had express for Hagrid’s not only would the standby wait be affected, we would also have all of the people who have express being in other lines extending those queues as well. Personally I’m okay with it not having express.
I believe that also, if you have 3d ride, you shouldn't not take off the 3.D glasses that's a important part of a 3D ride. The ride was designed to be 3.D and then when you take off the glasses you just basically got rid of the ride
Not a complaint but it would help with capacity if they would open up stuff to see in the "dead areas".. Maybe some static things that don't tie up too much staff.... like the old movie prop "bone yard".
Reality is even in the summer time, Disney is open longer. Not odd for Magic Kingdom to be open until midnight or 1AM in the summer. EPCOT is often open until 10PM. Only Animal Kingdom is in line with IOA and USF hours. The hours are bad. The lack of attraction diversity is bad. Maintenance in many areas is lackluster. Lack of shows.
I agree with all of this, except the issue of Merch. It would be interesting if you can snag an interview with a Rep from Universal and hear their thoughts on these concerns and whether they have any plans in place to address any of these popular complaints.
The problem Universal faces that Disney does not is the lack of space to expand. In order to add new attractions they have to build over old ones. Hopefully with EPIC coming they can move some of the back stage areas over to that area and make more space available for expansion. I also find that removing 3D amusements is taking away from the experience. I agree running out of ice in the afternoon/ evening needs to be addressed. Lack of shows and empty theaters around the parks are a waste of space. Having someplace to sit down and take in a show would be a great way to spread the crowds out during the day. Lack of evening snow of some kind, fireworks, lasers, drones, water shows etc. Very few parades other the special times of the year. They should take some cues from Disney of what works.
Park hours are too short! Theme parks are better at night, period. Cooler temperatures and the lighting makes everything more alive. I believe Universal keeps the hours short for these reasons. One - costs. Secondly, to get an extra day out of guests. Couldn’t squeeze in everything, so need that extra day to see get the full experience. Universal and Disney both cut hours in “off season”. But they also run few ride vehicles and choke the capacity of rides to keep lines longer so people have to buy Express and Lightning Lane. So they cut hours and lower ride capacity so it a double hit to getting to experience all you want. It’s very dubious that the people who control the hours and ride capacity also have a financial interest in long lines to create demand for Express and Lightning. There is little incentive for them to reduce wait times and extend hours. With Disney is a spiral, it’s Universal’s opportunity to capture the disgruntled Disney guests by extending hours and having lower wait times.
Have you seen Universal operations, usually for most of the rides they are really quick at getting people on. Are there some days they might have to run less trains for some reason, yeah. I also want to add that Hagrid's I believe was theoretically able to handle 12 trains, but that ended up being too much for the system so the most they (can) run is I believe 10. I don't know because I can't say much, but it is also very hard to get proof that the parks are reducing capacity on purpose.
On the subject of lack of communication, does anyone know why our annual pass is saying in the app that it expires 3/25/2025? It didn’t use to show an expiration.
I agree with every complaint you mentioned. Here's 1 more. I think Guests who stay at the Universal Resort Hotels all should have a Automatic Express Pass, not just the premier Hotels. They could at least give them the After 4PM Express, or something like that. At least a Discounted price on Express passes if they stay at a Universal Hotel. Also what would be cool, is if they had a Monorail type of transportation to go from the Hotels to the Parks. Also a Faster way to get from the parking lots into the parks. That's a lot of Walking !
Always have a soft spot for universal after visiting as a kid, took my partner to Orlando last year which was her first time and she rated Universal as one of the worst parks 😢 she said if it wasn’t for Diagon Alley and the Mummy she wouldn’t visit again. Hoping to visit this September for HHN which may change her mind 🤷🏻♂️😂
All app maps are terrible at every theme/amusement park. Paper maps are so much easier to follow, only because they're done so much better with better detail. Instead of an app map, pull up a digital version of the paper map.
My complaint is, universal sell ride shirts in my size 2xl and 3xl, yet I can’t ride the rides because I don’t fit. I fit all the rides at Disney but none of the top attractions at universal. I know people will say it’s my fault for being big, but my point is why sell the ride shirts if you can’t ride the rides
Sometimes it isn't Universal's fault and it certainly isn't your fault. I believe I heard somewhere that ride manufacturers set the height requirements for rides.
Number 11 the cost of Express today is ridiculous luckily being by myself I use the single Rider line before 4:00 p.m. on the annual pass. Number 12 for those who have a disability having accommodations an outside company evaluates your disability status and then a discombobulated way of getting accommodations once you're in the park. I used to live in Florida I now live in Atlanta I got a universal annual pass last year in february decide not to renew because I thought Disney World was worth more with the parks being open longer and disability access pass being much more user-friendly than Universal Studios.
my complaint prices on everything to high,no special packages enveloping both parks in one for visitors to pay one price for a vacation package for someone on a very tight budget,quiet areas for someone that suffers social anxiety to compose themselves in a comfortable spot all over park and more.
Not enough sit-down restaurants in the parks. Every Disney park has at least 4, Universal only has 2 in each. I know City Walk is there but we like to eat without leaving the park.
10. Universal's screen addiction. 9. No frozen water. 8. Eradicating nostalgic (aka superior) rides. 7. No new trinkets. 6. Marketing being cagey. 5. Dead & buried areas. 4. No bourgeois entry for Hagrid's. 3. Tourist trap food prices. 2. No nighttime diversions. 1. GTFO heathens! And they say Universal is the better park.
Too many paid night time events to change hours. Orlando Informer (which keeps getting new weekends), April-May is grad bash (which has contined to grow, including middle school now), then of course HHN. All of these cause early hours on weekends. Then, during the week, just not enough demand (hence the after 4 express pass of top passholder). The only true late nights are the busiest days of Spring Break, summer and Christmas.
acturlly the movie theater does it cuz that the only way the theater can make a profit as they have to give 90 percent of ticket sales to the studios for the first 3 months or so of movie release
Universal cannot change the hours tomorrow. There are private events nearly every day after park close at USF and IOA. They have a niche, and they like it.
For the merchandise that can be hard during to the amount they need shipped in and the shipping industry itself is a mess! I’ve worked in retail for many years and i know this issue first hand! We’ve had stuff that’s taken over 6 months to get shipped in at my work.
Does anyone know what is going on at Universal March 12th?, Am supposed to go up there for 3 days and can not get a hotel room for that day, wondering if I am walking into a nightmare, thought it would be quiet.
A lot of schools/universities are out for spring break, so it’s possible that’s why. Early to mid March is very popular for trips. Especially to Florida.
Oh man hagrid’s going express? Did anyone notice how velocicoaster has consistently doubled its wait times since getting express? No thanks. I’m a plebeian, I can’t afford expresses or premiers 😂
11:50 Correct me if I'm wrong, Rick but I'm sure you don't complain about food prices is because you do food reviews on your videos that you make for a living so food costs are probably a business deduction.
RICK! I’ve watched you for years but apparently I must take my loyalty elsewhere. BULLDOZE MIB EXPERIENCE? Sir I am a 90’s kid. You are treading on MY childhood. 😂 Ps I remember Jaws too though and I miss it. Why don’t they put him in the lagoon??? We can all win. The restrooms can anchor the land. Throw a shed out there and close it during night time drone shows 😂😂😂 If they go pokemon on MIB, I will start a petition. And picket. And riot.
People who complained about the park hours need to also realize universal is situated in a neighborhood which there is a noise ordinance universal as to follow or they will be fine! Now if those who complain want to buy out the neighborhood and bulldozer houses go for it and sell the property back to universal 😂
For me, if the ride is open, then the single-rider line is open. The rides should have a single-rider wait time posted just like MIB. When busy, the locker areas are chaos especially Escape from Gingotts. Folks should be encouraged not to stand in the middle of walkways. Move to the side and keep people traffic moving.
I'm guessing that single rider line posted wait time is harder to calculate. I also want to add that sometimes the single rider line can be open but if they see or think it is too full they will close it off for a bit and reopen it when it empties a bit.
mostly because of their popularity and how well done they are. Hagrid's is one the best family coasters in the world, and Velocicoaster is one of the best thrill coasters in the world, both themed to extremely popular intellectual properties. They both have very high capacity, and the crew works hard to fill every seat and get trains out quick, but their popularity will always make them have long lines.
I agree with the #1 complaint. Universal closes too early.
Yep. It's because they double dip. They charge regular guests for full day tickets and then close at 7PM and rent the whole park out to businesses for the last few hours of the night.
absolutely 1000% agree with number 1! I've consistently seen 6 pm closing times on my visits- the sun hasnt even started to go down! I want to be in diagon alley at night damnit!
That's the first time I saw it and it was incredible. Completely different in the day time.
When I was at the parks in early Feb one closed at 5 the other at 6(?). The next night they closed early again but a little later. Both nights on the way out of the park I saw tons of people going in for a private event. On one night the group was Chick Fil A. I guess they need the money for Epic 😂
They close early on weekdays but stay open later on the weekends
I agree about the park hours, if you are paying $300+ for a two day ticket (and that's with a AAA discount), you don't want the park closing at 6 or 7pm. Plus it's cooler later in the day as well and it nice to see things lit up at night. My complaint PAPER STRAWS!
My biggest complaint for universal was the loss of live shows.
They had the Beetleguese music spooktacular that I loved. And the Sinbad theater show. I saw them about 11 years ago with my daughter, and when we recently went back...they were gone. With no new live shows to replace them.
Great point, that's definitely #11 on the list. It's not the same with the street performers although they are great.
The prices going up and the service going down was what did it for us. Long time annual pass holders no more.
I agree with the nostalgic rides. My favorite ride was the old King Kong ride where you were in a cable car and it was where he picked you up and dropped you
Really cool!!
Cool list, and personal way of revealing the list, Rick.
My additions:
1) More seating in areas where the action is
2) More shade in areas where people want to go (Blues Brothers) and "have to" go (Hagrid wait line) -- put the part back in the park. Dollywood has really cool shade devices over walkways - that even change with the season
3) Not you, but vloggers and Universal overhyping early park admission as the FASTEST way to Hagrid. Doing the math: you have to show up 30-45 min early to avoid 4000 people line; then 30-45 min in queue itself (Hagrids is often 50-80 minutes throughout the day)
4) The popular rides "tilt" the crowds to one side of the park, And a lack of attractions, or reride-able attractions, on the emptier side. Build another Mummy or Hagrids type ride at Fear Factor and Toon lagoon stadium
Every time I’ve one to universal which is 8 times for 3-4 day trips in total, hagrids has never been under a 100 min wait. Even if I wait 30min for epa, and then 20-30min in the line…I feel it to be a major win. And the benefit is that you get more park time. Sure you’re still waiting somewhere for an hour, maybe more. But the perk is that over half of that isn’t being taken out of your park hours. Which if you get up early early l, and make it to the front…it’s very beneficial. Now if you roll up to epa right at opening and the crowds are already insane…not worth it to run to hagrids at all because you’re already in the back of the line. 🤷🏻♀️
@@jenson22bj You have good points. But some vlogs I've watched, and my EPA experience, has been that going only 30 min early can get you 15 min just to get in, 5 min run to back of park, and then 30-40 min wait. From your data, it looks like you might be okay at 30 min early. And, you are right that you have extended your day by a half hour. And, you still have EPA left over, where you get Hogsmeade pretty empty.
I really agree with the lack of an evening show and not open long enough which i think go hand in hand.
Tiny seats , you can’t fit in . No daily parade, replacing great attractions like Earthquake/Kongfrontation with a diaper stain ride like Jimmy Fallon!
I agree with the closing early. I vacation primarily in the late spring, I would like to experience the parks at night. With it getting darker later in the day in the late spring and summer, I don’t get to experience that. But I wouldn’t consider that a deterrent to visiting the parks. I love it there! I’ll be there the third week of May, can’t wait! Love all the videos, keep up the great work!
Absolutely the closing of the parks at 7:00 p.m. versus 9:00 p.m. is a huge complaint of mine. The other complaint is the exceedingly loud music especially in the Harry Potter areas there is no need with such a loud crowd or a huge crowd because it's usually very crowded both at universal and Islands of adventure to play the music deafening levels. Seriously I'm considering putting on earmuffs just to muffle out such loud music it's bad enough that it's so crowded do we need to make a person deaf
Agree completely with the park hours. My friends and I booked our annual trip. The park has always been open until 9. They switched it to 7 pm at the last minute. We complained and they did nothing to make it up to us. Makes us not want go back.
Honestly, comparing their prices to basic fast food joints and sit down chain restaurants, there isn't that much difference. If I went and got a chili dog, onion rings, and shake somewhere, I'd probably pay over $15 dollars
Take the technology of 3D and rollercoaster like Escape from Gringotts and make it a Back to The Future ride. Instant hit. 🔥🔥🔥
Definitely agree with the top complaint. The parks closing so early is a bummer imo. Theme parks are incredible at night and you miss out on that a lot of the time at Universal. I don't mind the lack of nostalgic attractions - most of the newer attractions are better than what was there before (though F&F & Kong are terrible imo).
I completely agree that Universal Parks close too early. As a resort guest, it is wrong that you can't go to dinner and then go back into the Parks for evening entertainment.
If Universal follows Disney’s trajectory of price gouging coupled with cost-cutting, they’ll develop the same bad reputation. Epic Universe won’t fix that.
So with express lines they actually screw with everyone’s wait times like if you look up the defunctland video it goes way into depth on how that screws over most of the people at the park so I’m actually happy that people have to wait in line for Hagrids.
There might be a riot if they ever try to get rid of ET😂
Of all the rides I experienced in the 90's that I wanted my daughter to experience....ET was not one of them. I miss Back to The Future, Jaws, King Kong, Earthquake, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
I fell like 2D Kong kinda stinks too was way better 3D. I also think food prices at universal are way cheaper than Disney. I also agree no matter what time of year 8pm should earliest to close. Great video!
I disagree regarding the food prices. When we went two years ago, we were pleasantly surprised by the prices. Not that they are cheap, but they really aren’t that much more than going to a restaurant, and they aren’t nearly as overpriced as movie theater food and drinks. With that being said, universal allows you to bring in your own food which is something movie theaters prohibit. So if you feel that the food prices are too expensive, bring a soft sided cooler filled with sandwiches and snacks. Universal even has the family lockers that can be rented for the day so you don’t have to lug your cooler all around the park. I can’t wait to go back this October!
It was great to bump into you yesterday (while filming this vid) and it was spot-on with its observations. Love the channel and thanks again for your hard work 👍
the parks are better at night, especially the roller coasters. if i go i’m spending all day/night there and don’t wanna leave before 9-10.
the shorter hours has always been my biggest and maybe my only complaint. I'm shocked that they don't at least have later closings on weekends, the way that SeaWorld does it.
My biggest complaint is the amount of alcohol that is served especially at HHN. I understand that it is a huge revenue source but I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen people falling down drunk and still being served alcohol. Then there’s the ones that vomit, or the aggressive frat boys honestly I’m shocked there aren’t more assaults. There should be designated alcohol areas at these events and a limit.
If they aren’t going to open express for hagrids then they need to stop the single rider line. The single rider line is not used as it should be for that ride.
Bring back Jaws and Kongfrontation!
I agree with the #1 complaint!
The "running out of ice" segment of this video...this one happens at Hersheypark, my home park too!!! There are times when I am at Hersheypark and go to get ice for my fountain drink and there is no ice!
Imagine a new Back to the Future attraction that was part screen ride and part roller coaster where the ride used actual roller coaster launches plus a screen tunnel and wind effects to simulate reaching 88mph to travel back and forth in time with a mid-ride section utilizing different screen areas and practical effects between traveling at 88mph. This would be a no-brainer AAA attraction for studios.
I've been going to universal for over 7 years now and i totally forgot about the sinbad theater. The last time i was in it, it was when hagrids opened and it was being used as an extended queue😂
I could not find Apu in the Kwik E Mart. It's like he was written out completely.
I've got to say the area of fear factor was a quiet haven for me to wait for family as I couldn't go on many rides this visit due to health issues.😊
I agree with number 1 they even close too early in summer especially compared to Disney. I also wish they had room to have kept mor classic rides.
Nice list
Appreciate your perspective on the parks. Well done. Subbed.
I was there with my daughter the first week of February. Our main complaints were very similar to your list. Our #1 complaint was RIDES THAT ARE CLOSED. VelociCoaster, Hagrids, Hogwarts Express, Rip Rocket, Hulk were all either closed the entire day OR shut down several times during the day. We were on The Forbidden Journey when it broke down. Not fun! We were able to ride them all on our second day, but still...not cool Universal ;)
Hagrid’s is a people eater, if we had express for Hagrid’s not only would the standby wait be affected, we would also have all of the people who have express being in other lines extending those queues as well. Personally I’m okay with it not having express.
I feel like fairly recently the parks were often open until 11pm or at least 10pm? Am I misremembering?
I believe that also, if you have 3d ride, you shouldn't not take off the 3.D glasses that's a important part of a 3D ride.
The ride was designed to be 3.D and then when you take off the glasses you just basically got rid of the ride
My biggest complaint is 2000 dollars for my husband and I to do a VIP tour that was more like a day of torture!!!!
It’s also a shame they’re making cost cuts to staff / services. Especially in the middle of building another big theme park.
I agree with them all! Especially the lack of ice in the machines. 🙃
Universal having all those lights and technology for night time makes no sense when they close early. At least till 10 pm.
Should do a top 100 Disney complaints.. however that wouldn’t even scratch the surface for the mouse house..
Not a complaint but it would help with capacity if they would open up stuff to see in the "dead areas".. Maybe some static things that don't tie up too much staff.... like the old movie prop "bone yard".
Reality is even in the summer time, Disney is open longer. Not odd for Magic Kingdom to be open until midnight or 1AM in the summer. EPCOT is often open until 10PM. Only Animal Kingdom is in line with IOA and USF hours. The hours are bad. The lack of attraction diversity is bad. Maintenance in many areas is lackluster. Lack of shows.
I agree with all of this, except the issue of Merch. It would be interesting if you can snag an interview with a Rep from Universal and hear their thoughts on these concerns and whether they have any plans in place to address any of these popular complaints.
Jurassic Park River Adventure's, in serious need of updating. So many parts of it just look so dated now, especially the animatronic dinosaurs.
Parks need to stay open later
The problem Universal faces that Disney does not is the lack of space to expand. In order to add new attractions they have to build over old ones. Hopefully with EPIC coming they can move some of the back stage areas over to that area and make more space available for expansion. I also find that removing 3D amusements is taking away from the experience. I agree running out of ice in the afternoon/ evening needs to be addressed. Lack of shows and empty theaters around the parks are a waste of space. Having someplace to sit down and take in a show would be a great way to spread the crowds out during the day. Lack of evening snow of some kind, fireworks, lasers, drones, water shows etc. Very few parades other the special times of the year. They should take some cues from Disney of what works.
My biggest complaint is that they got rid if I will survive on rip ride rock it
The price of the food isn't that bad... it's the AWFUL quality in conjunction with the price.
Great video, lots of great points. Studios will still have the screens but Epic won't so it will great to have variety among the 3 parks.
Park hours are too short! Theme parks are better at night, period. Cooler temperatures and the lighting makes everything more alive. I believe Universal keeps the hours short for these reasons. One - costs. Secondly, to get an extra day out of guests. Couldn’t squeeze in everything, so need that extra day to see get the full experience. Universal and Disney both cut hours in “off season”. But they also run few ride vehicles and choke the capacity of rides to keep lines longer so people have to buy Express and Lightning Lane. So they cut hours and lower ride capacity so it a double hit to getting to experience all you want. It’s very dubious that the people who control the hours and ride capacity also have a financial interest in long lines to create demand for Express and Lightning. There is little incentive for them to reduce wait times and extend hours. With Disney is a spiral, it’s Universal’s opportunity to capture the disgruntled Disney guests by extending hours and having lower wait times.
Have you seen Universal operations, usually for most of the rides they are really quick at getting people on. Are there some days they might have to run less trains for some reason, yeah. I also want to add that Hagrid's I believe was theoretically able to handle 12 trains, but that ended up being too much for the system so the most they (can) run is I believe 10. I don't know because I can't say much, but it is also very hard to get proof that the parks are reducing capacity on purpose.
The cost of tickets, too!
YES
There’s no complaints when Rick drops a video
I agree food is way too expensive and so is the merchandise
On the subject of lack of communication, does anyone know why our annual pass is saying in the app that it expires 3/25/2025? It didn’t use to show an expiration.
I agree with every complaint you mentioned. Here's 1 more. I think Guests who stay at the Universal Resort Hotels all should have a Automatic Express Pass, not just the premier Hotels. They could at least give them the After 4PM Express, or something like that. At least a Discounted price on Express passes if they stay at a Universal Hotel. Also what would be cool, is if they had a Monorail type of transportation to go from the Hotels to the Parks. Also a Faster way to get from the parking lots into the parks. That's a lot of Walking !
Always have a soft spot for universal after visiting as a kid, took my partner to Orlando last year which was her first time and she rated Universal as one of the worst parks 😢 she said if it wasn’t for Diagon Alley and the Mummy she wouldn’t visit again. Hoping to visit this September for HHN which may change her mind 🤷🏻♂️😂
Thanks for doing this
I wish the map was better in there app
All app maps are terrible at every theme/amusement park. Paper maps are so much easier to follow, only because they're done so much better with better detail. Instead of an app map, pull up a digital version of the paper map.
My complaint is, universal sell ride shirts in my size 2xl and 3xl, yet I can’t ride the rides because I don’t fit. I fit all the rides at Disney but none of the top attractions at universal. I know people will say it’s my fault for being big, but my point is why sell the ride shirts if you can’t ride the rides
Sometimes it isn't Universal's fault and it certainly isn't your fault. I believe I heard somewhere that ride manufacturers set the height requirements for rides.
Hey! I'm in this video! :)
The night light shows at the castle… what’s going on with that.
Number 11 the cost of Express today is ridiculous luckily being by myself I use the single Rider line before 4:00 p.m. on the annual pass. Number 12 for those who have a disability having accommodations an outside company evaluates your disability status and then a discombobulated way of getting accommodations once you're in the park. I used to live in Florida I now live in Atlanta I got a universal annual pass last year in february decide not to renew because I thought Disney World was worth more with the parks being open longer and disability access pass being much more user-friendly than Universal Studios.
my complaint prices on everything to high,no special packages enveloping both parks in one for visitors to pay one price for a vacation package for someone on a very tight budget,quiet areas for someone that suffers social anxiety to compose themselves in a comfortable spot all over park and more.
i get the screen ride thing it a lot easier to put a screen ride in for land wise
My biggest complaint is velocicoaster and hagrids not running enough trains imo shut them both down and refurbish all the trains
Not enough sit-down restaurants in the parks. Every Disney park has at least 4, Universal only has 2 in each. I know City Walk is there but we like to eat without leaving the park.
10. Universal's screen addiction.
9. No frozen water.
8. Eradicating nostalgic (aka superior) rides.
7. No new trinkets.
6. Marketing being cagey.
5. Dead & buried areas.
4. No bourgeois entry for Hagrid's.
3. Tourist trap food prices.
2. No nighttime diversions.
1. GTFO heathens!
And they say Universal is the better park.
What even IS that amphitheater by Toon Lagoon? I've never seen anything happening there.
I think those are all fair complaints.
Too many paid night time events to change hours. Orlando Informer (which keeps getting new weekends), April-May is grad bash (which has contined to grow, including middle school now), then of course HHN. All of these cause early hours on weekends. Then, during the week, just not enough demand (hence the after 4 express pass of top passholder). The only true late nights are the busiest days of Spring Break, summer and Christmas.
acturlly the movie theater does it cuz that the only way the theater can make a profit as they have to give 90 percent of ticket sales to the studios for the first 3 months or so of movie release
Universal cannot change the hours tomorrow. There are private events nearly every day after park close at USF and IOA. They have a niche, and they like it.
For the merchandise that can be hard during to the amount they need shipped in and the shipping industry itself is a mess! I’ve worked in retail for many years and i know this issue first hand! We’ve had stuff that’s taken over 6 months to get shipped in at my work.
Surf shop closing in April
Does anyone know what is going on at Universal March 12th?, Am supposed to go up there for 3 days and can not get a hotel room for that day, wondering if I am walking into a nightmare, thought it would be quiet.
A lot of schools/universities are out for spring break, so it’s possible that’s why. Early to mid March is very popular for trips. Especially to Florida.
Lack of shows in IOA…
Does anyone ever go near MIB?
Oh man hagrid’s going express? Did anyone notice how velocicoaster has consistently doubled its wait times since getting express? No thanks. I’m a plebeian, I can’t afford expresses or premiers 😂
11:50 Correct me if I'm wrong, Rick but I'm sure you don't complain about food prices is because you do food reviews on your videos that you make for a living so food costs are probably a business deduction.
On occasion, I still get sticker shock but mostly I’m just used to the the prices
@@RixFlixAnd don't misunderstand me, I'm envious of anyone who makes a career out of going to Universal in Orlando. You definitely cracked the code.
RICK! I’ve watched you for years but apparently I must take my loyalty elsewhere. BULLDOZE MIB EXPERIENCE? Sir I am a 90’s kid. You are treading on MY childhood.
😂
Ps I remember Jaws too though and I miss it. Why don’t they put him in the lagoon??? We can all win. The restrooms can anchor the land. Throw a shed out there and close it during night time drone shows 😂😂😂
If they go pokemon on MIB, I will start a petition. And picket. And riot.
Spider-Man was my favourite screen ride.
..But I thought we WERE two friends walking through the theme park together...
People who complained about the park hours need to also realize universal is situated in a neighborhood which there is a noise ordinance universal as to follow or they will be fine! Now if those who complain want to buy out the neighborhood and bulldozer houses go for it and sell the property back to universal 😂
Idk if I’m the only one but I miss twister and earthquake 😢
Its odd that some want the same nostalgic rides, but don't want the same nostalgic merchandise
Universal needs to bring back meal plans.
They should bring back Jaws and Back to the Future rides.
For me, if the ride is open, then the single-rider line is open. The rides should have a single-rider wait time posted just like MIB.
When busy, the locker areas are chaos especially Escape from Gingotts. Folks should be encouraged not to stand in the middle of walkways. Move to the side and keep people traffic moving.
I'm guessing that single rider line posted wait time is harder to calculate. I also want to add that sometimes the single rider line can be open but if they see or think it is too full they will close it off for a bit and reopen it when it empties a bit.
I don’t understand why velocicoaster and hagrid’s doesn’t get you through in a timely manner.
mostly because of their popularity and how well done they are. Hagrid's is one the best family coasters in the world, and Velocicoaster is one of the best thrill coasters in the world, both themed to extremely popular intellectual properties. They both have very high capacity, and the crew works hard to fill every seat and get trains out quick, but their popularity will always make them have long lines.
Universal should have found a way to keep Jaws.
Forget legend of Zelda.Let's do freakin in order to ring
#1 closes too early. #2 price of food and lack of quality. #3 No express with Hagrid’s
Halloween horror
Mib is much faster loading than jaws
Not enough screen rides