Universal Orlando Resort (USO, IOA) Discussion Thread

[Shellemonster]

Something interesting I noticed the other day... Universal doesn't want the ad reposted so of course I will honor their wishes.

 

In said ad, part of it mentioned that you will soar over Hogwarts. This was said along with things like shoot aliens in MIB, swing on rooftops with Spidey, etc. In other words, the key focus of each major rides.

 

I can't wait to soar over Hogwarts, and I don't care if it's in a car or on a broom.

[HatetoFLY]

New pics courtesy of Disneyhead at OU

 

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php?p=69754#post69754

[King_K.]

Hm..The Orlando Sentinel says that Universal has a big announcement about TWWOHP via webcast on the 15th.

[HatetoFLY]

I saw that, I like how its directly after Disney's press conference. Lets hope the Orlando Sentinel has its info straight. I can't wait for this!!!

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/orl-bk-universal-harry-potter-090309,0,286483.story

[JT3000]

Construction update: http://www.horrornights.be/construction/90309.php

[Duke]

Something interesting I noticed the other day... Universal doesn't want the ad reposted so of course I will honor their wishes.

 

In said ad, part of it mentioned that you will soar over Hogwarts. This was said along with things like shoot aliens in MIB, swing on rooftops with Spidey, etc. In other words, the key focus of each major rides.

 

I can't wait to soar over Hogwarts, and I don't care if it's in a car or on a broom.

 

Hey. First time post on this thread. Im about 2 hours from orlando, and a big potter fan as well.

 

In your response to the "soar over Hogwarts" statement you made: I luckily enough ran into the VP of Universal Engineering (long story how that happened, lol, it was like a million to one chance) about 6 months ago. He said regarding the dark ride in the castle that it would combine the floor movements of the spider-man ride and the flying feeling you get from the "Soarin' " ride at Disney. And he also said that spider-man would have nothing on this ride. He said the ride would be like taking a trip though the entire world of harry potter. So, i don't think there will be an actual outside ride at TWWOHP, but i think it will be moreso the sensation/visual aspect you will get when riding the HP ride.

 

Anyways, thought i'd share that.

[JT3000]

He said the ride would be like taking a trip though the entire world of harry potter. So, i don't think there will be an actual outside ride at TWWOHP, but i think it will be moreso the sensation/visual aspect you will get when riding the HP ride.

 

Anyways, thought i'd share that.

 

The dark ride is indoors, but there will be outdoor rides in TWWOHP, such as the rethemed Dueling Dragons and Flying Unicorn.

[X2coasterfreak]

^ It seems a little better than the first one, but I think there is still way too much animation in it.

[Shellemonster]

Something interesting I noticed the other day... Universal doesn't want the ad reposted so of course I will honor their wishes.

 

In said ad, part of it mentioned that you will soar over Hogwarts. This was said along with things like shoot aliens in MIB, swing on rooftops with Spidey, etc. In other words, the key focus of each major rides.

 

I can't wait to soar over Hogwarts, and I don't care if it's in a car or on a broom.

 

Hey. First time post on this thread. Im about 2 hours from orlando, and a big potter fan as well.

 

In your response to the "soar over Hogwarts" statement you made: I luckily enough ran into the VP of Universal Engineering (long story how that happened, lol, it was like a million to one chance) about 6 months ago. He said regarding the dark ride in the castle that it would combine the floor movements of the spider-man ride and the flying feeling you get from the "Soarin' " ride at Disney. And he also said that spider-man would have nothing on this ride. He said the ride would be like taking a trip though the entire world of harry potter. So, i don't think there will be an actual outside ride at TWWOHP, but i think it will be moreso the sensation/visual aspect you will get when riding the HP ride.

 

Anyways, thought i'd share that.

 

I suppose I wasn't clear enough, but I thought that the ride in the box will involve some sort of an approximation of flying over Hogwarts in video or model form. What you said makes perfect sense though, I'm sure the flying sections will be on Soarin' style curved screens, in fact, we already have pictures of them...

 

 

 

I bet the transitions between screens will happen like Spiderman where your vehicle gets whipped around from screen to screen, maybe even flipped between screens. Awesome.

It's great that you got to meet the VP of engineering, that must have been an awesome experience. Thanks for sharing.

[ryno1986]

The flying portion you see here is from the Quidditch finale of the ride. Every other part will be actual sets, ranging from the moving staircases, to the forbidden forest, to the chamber of secrets. Exciting stuff.

[ahecht]

This video was posted on Screamscape which clearly shows that some of the trains are definitely running better than others. Just turn up your speakers and listen to the difference between the first and second trains:

 

[Homeboy23]

That is a strange sound and doesn't seem like a sound a train would make going around the coaster.

[King_K.]

They've been testing the rest of the trains. So it should be up to full train capacity soon.

[Erik Johnson]

I understand that the trains have had some work done on them so they should be running a bit better now.

[Daytona'95]

I think, but not a 100% sure that track number 117 is Eruption by Van Halen.

Its been a week or two, but some parts seem to stand out and, to me, match with parts of the solo.

Hopefully someone else can either confim or deny it.

[Capitalize]

That is a strange sound and doesn't seem like a sound a train would make going around the coaster.

Sounded like a lose or damaged wheel or something.

[christianscoasters]

Ya, coasters aren't supposed to fart.

They need to look into that.

[alpengeist04]

^Unless it's an Intamin Pre-fab woodie.

[MNO1981]

I am coming in from out of town for a weekend to go to HHN. I was wondering about how many people they let in on Saturdays. It will probably be the only day that I can attend. I am wondering if it is worth it to go or if I will be stuck in super long lines and only be able to hit a few attractions. I looked into the Express Pass but it is a bit out of my price range. Any ideas?

[dragsterfan420]

From Screamscape:

 

#101 – Temples of Syrinx – Rush

#102 - Smithereens - Blues Before&After

#103 – Break On Through – The Doors

#104 – Crocodile Rock – Elton John

#105 - Do It Again - Steely Dan

#108 – 8 Miles High – The Byrds

#109 - Fantasy - Aldo Nova

#111 - Unknown Guitar Solo

#112 – Freebird – Skynyrd

#113 - Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin

#114 - Just Because - Jane's Addiction

#115 - Live - Lenny Kravitz

#116 - Mexicola - Queens / Stone Age

#121 - Tom Petty-Runnin Down a Dream

#122 - Rolling Stones - Start Me Up

#123 – Stockholm Syndrom – Muse

#124 - Diary of Jane - Breaking Benjamin

#127 – Urgent - Foreigner

#128 - Vertigo - U2

#129 - Wheel in the Sky - Journey

#130 - Won't Get Fooled Again-The Who

#131 – Klein Mandelbrot (edit) - aka: Blue Man Group: The Ride

#132 – Drumbone – Blue Man Group

#221 - BLANK

#301 – Float On – Modest Mouse

#302 - I Want You Back - Jackson Five

#303 - In My Pocket - Cat Empire

#304 - Still Rock ‘n Roll To Me - Billy Joel

#306 – Lose Yourself – Eminem

#307 - Ride Like The Wind - Christopher Cross

#308 - Run to You - Bryan Adams

#309 - Save Room - John Legend

#311 - Unknown R&D Track

#312 – My Everything – Barry White

#333 - BLANK

#508 – Pivot – Dry (local band)

#701 – Cyanide – Metallica

#702 - Unknown Metal Song

#703 - For Whom The Bell Tolls - Metallica

#704 - Forever Down-Black Label Society

#707 - Know your Enemy - Rage Against the Machine

#709 - Mouth For War - Pantera

#710 – Painkiller - Judas Priest

#711 - Paranoid - Black Sabbath

#713 - Wicker Man - Iron Maiden

#715 - Wake Up Dead - Megadeth

#718 - You've Got Another Thing Comin - Judas Priest

#724 - BLANK

#901 - Movin Right Along - Muppets

#902 - Rainbow Connection-Muppets

#904 - Night on Bald Mountain - Modest Mussorgsky

#911 - BLACK

#945 - BLANK

#999 - BLANK

??? - Unknown - AC/DC Track

??? – Channel Z – B-52’s

[piers]

There is a new video on the Facebook page of Bill and Ted doing a walk through of one of the houses, amazing!

Looks detailed as ever.

[RedSpecial]

Looking at a newer video of the ride DVD, there seems to be more on-ride footage of the passengers as well as off-ride angles of the crowd surfer and the bottom of the non-inverting loop.

 

 

If I'd paid for an onride DVD and they presented me with this I'd want my money back - it should be an onride video not some long animation routine - most of which we could have acquired probably before the ride was even built. Thanks for posting will definitely want to ride on my next visit to Universal but I'll be giving the ride DVD a big miss.

[coolcalicoaster]

^I agree 100%. The video just makes you dizzy more than anything. The animation is awful.

[CD]

^^ I agree with the fact that there should be more on ride footage, but you have to remember that this isn't supposed to be an on-ride video it's supposed to be a music video. The whole point of the attraction is that you, the rider, are starring in a new music video to the song of your choice. So, I think it accomplishes that fairly well but there definitely needs to be a lot more on-ride footage.

[DiSab]

When I get down there and ride this thing, I already know what I'm choosing - #101. Rush makes anything 10,000% better.