Universal Orlando Resort (USF, IOA, Epic) Discussion Thread

[ryno1986]

False. The big box will only be holding the attraction. Everything else will be in Hogsmeade. You will see plenty of the castle as part of the ride though.

[Movieguy]

Ambitious project, to say the least.

 

With IOA, Universal Orlando has already shown how it can compete with Disney...and once this opens, if all goes according to plan, they're really gonna give the mouse a run for his money.

[Shellemonster]

Did anyone else notice on the second picture from the update that if you look closely it seems like there is track around that tunnel .on my computer i can almost make out three rails ! its probably nothing but just thought i would point that out . .

 

If your referring to what I think you are, that would be the cherry picker that was in the way. Diagonal across the middle of the picture? Good eye though, sharp minds are always welcome.

[celtic_darren]

im going to orlando on the 22nd june to the 6th july do u think i will be able to ride the hrrr

[Sticky Nicky]

The ride is currently scheduled to open on/by July 3rd.

[Vondroff]

The ride is currently scheduled to open on/by July 3rd.

-Is this an official date?

[alpengeist04]

It's the unofficial official date.

 

I'm sure they will have a soft opening, so you should be ok as long as there aren't anymore delays.

[JT3000]

The castle being built above the big box will not just be scenery. You will be able to go inside and there will be a restaurant in the Great Hall, an FX show, and the Magiquest system. Those are all things that have been mentioned before in some of the press releases and stuff.

 

The castle is nothing more than a facade. Everything will be inside the show building. And none of those things were ever mentioned in a press release. In fact, Universal has yet to confirm a single attraction as part of this project.

[celtic_darren]

thanks for the info i'm from scotland and we dont get much info over here

[piers]

thanks for the info i'm from scotland and we dont get much info over here

 

Is your internet filtered or something up there?

[cobra_roll06]

thanks for the info i'm from scotland and we dont get much info over here

 

Em yeah thats right, because we only got electricity in this country today...

[celtic_darren]

sorry a didnt meen it like that

[musicmand]

Ambitious project, to say the least.

 

With IOA, Universal Orlando has already shown how it can compete with Disney...and once this opens, if all goes according to plan, they're really gonna give the mouse a run for his money.

 

I don't know about that. Until this point, I've never seen IOA as anything more than a glorified Six Flags. When my wife and I went to Florida three Disneys ago (2007), we had the choice to hop between parks, but chose instead to do only the Theme Park (Universal Studios) rather than the Amusement Park (Islands). This new land might do more to make Universal a real contender.

 

I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high on this Harry Potter project, though. US has a way of getting its attractions 75% of the way to awesome... and never push through the last little bit. Universal owns a few really fantastic rides- Mummy (Orlando), Jurassic Park (Hollywood)- but the majority are just *almost* great. And even their GREAT attractions tend to get "let go" over the years (I saw T2:3D in Hollywood last summer, and they didn't even use a motorcycle).

 

I expect WWoHP to be a great deal smaller than most of us are imagining. After all, the Potter universe could easily sustain an ENTIRE park.

[BeemerBoy]

I don't know about that. Until this point, I've never seen IOA as anything more than a glorified Six Flags. When my wife and I went to Florida three Disneys ago (2007), we had the choice to hop between parks, but chose instead to do only the Theme Park (Universal Studios) rather than the Amusement Park (Islands). This new land might do more to make Universal a real contender.

[cfc]

^I see your and raise you a .

 

Well, everybody's entitled to an opinion.

[TPDave]

I don't know about that. Until this point, I've never seen IOA as anything more than a glorified Six Flags.

 

What about the park makes you think it's an amusement park? I can't think of one ride that isn't very well themed with a strong storyline, and the areas are some of the most defined I've seen...

[musicmand]

I don't know about that. Until this point, I've never seen IOA as anything more than a glorified Six Flags. When my wife and I went to Florida three Disneys ago (2007), we had the choice to hop between parks, but chose instead to do only the Theme Park (Universal Studios) rather than the Amusement Park (Islands). This new land might do more to make Universal a real contender.

 

My meaning is this: I see parks in two ways: Theme Parks are like Disney or US wherein the majority of their effort is spent disguising the rides under an elaborate theme. For example, if you didn't know what "Revenge of the Mummy" was, you'd not have any idea you were getting in line for a roller coaster.

 

Amusement Parks, on the other hand, are like giant fairs with the rides right out there in the open. Sure, there might be a theme, but there's no mistaking that you're getting ready to go on a roller coaster (even if it does carry a dragon theme).

 

Six Flags, Seaworld, et al, all seem to bend toward the extreme ride end that precludes a necessary theme. That's what a good chunk of Disney's California Adventure is, too. I just always saw IoA as that same type of thing.

[jmicha]

But when you look at IoA, the percentage of rides completely out in the open isn't really any different than, say, The Magic Kingdom. Really when you think about it, a greater portion of the rides at The Magic Kingdom are exposed to the public eye in some way. IoA is the same way. Most are visible, but not all are. Spiderman, The Cat in the Hat, Poseidon's Fury, and The 8th Voyage of Sinbad are completely out of view. And Ripsaw Falls and Jurassic Park River Adventure are only visible for a small portion of their circuits. This is quite similar to The Magic Kingdom. Basically all of the rides in Fantasyland and Mickey's Toon Town Fair are fully exposed, and BTMR, Splash Mountain, and The Jungle Cruise are all somewhat exposed in similar ways to the major rides at IoA. There are quite a few other fully exposed rides throughout the other areas (People Mover (or whatever it's called), Astro Orbitor, Autopia, and several other smaller kids' rides. There are a few more rides at Magic Kingdom that aren't at all visible than at IoA, but I would hardly say that it is a park with all of its rides exposed like a fair. And sometimes, exposing rides makes more sense with the theme. For example, Pteranodon Flyers is meant to make it seem like pteranodons are flying overhead.

 

I respect your opinion since everyone is entitled to their own, but I'm just trying to understand why you feel that IoA is just an glorified Six Flags.[/i]

[BeemerBoy]

^^ I sort of understand what your thought process is there, but on the other hand, there comes a time when you can't enclose every coaster you build and "theme" every inch of it. If Hulk and Dragons (and now HRRRRRRRR for that matter) weren't visual focal points from outside the park, the excitement factor would be lost, and marketing would struggle.

 

While the coaster track is obviously exposed, IOA continues to be the most immersive environment, regardless. Comparing it to your random Six Flags is quite a stretch. Although, as Chuck said, everyone has an opinion, and it doesn't mean yours is wrong.....although it is rather unique.

 

The day I see a water vortex tunnel at my local Six Flags, or a Panda Express at IOA, then maybe I'll consider buying in to what you're selling.

[shepp]

^ Yeah, I get your point, but you're off a little base.

 

What I love about IOA is that it incorporates both ends of your dichotomy. Sure, IOA's two (or three, depending) three coasters are "out in the open" (like, um, the Matterhorn or BTMRR), but they're also, most folks would agree, better than anything at Disney. Jurassic Park is like a bastard child of the Jungle Cruse and Splash Mountain. Both Grizzly Peak and Kali River are "out in the open" raft rides that aren't, IMO, nearly as cool as IOA's. The Cat in the Hat is Fantasyland-quality. And, lest we forget, Islands boasts what is arguably the very greatest dark ride in the universe. IOA's immersive theming soundly beats anything SF, or Universal Studios, for that matter, has to offer. Sure, for theater-type shows, USF beats IOA, which basically has a stunt show and a walk-through damn near as elaborate as anything Disney has to offer. To me, hopping between IOA and USO is pretty much theme-park nirvana.

[jmicha]

^I agree. I've been to all the major Orlando parks, and IoA and US are tied for my favorites. Depending on the day, either one can be my favorite. The Disney parks are all at the bottom of my list (not that this means much since all of the major Orlando parks are amazing lol). I love going during the off season and being able to do absolutely everything between the parks multiple times then finishing off the day with dinner at CityWalk. Now I miss it I really need to get back sometime soon.

[alpengeist04]

My meaning is this: I see parks in two ways: Theme Parks are like Disney or US wherein the majority of their effort is spent disguising the rides under an elaborate theme. For example, if you didn't know what "Revenge of the Mummy" was, you'd not have any idea you were getting in line for a roller coaster.

 

Amusement Parks, on the other hand, are like giant fairs with the rides right out there in the open. Sure, there might be a theme, but there's no mistaking that you're getting ready to go on a roller coaster (even if it does carry a dragon theme).

 

Six Flags, Seaworld, et al, all seem to bend toward the extreme ride end that precludes a necessary theme. That's what a good chunk of Disney's California Adventure is, too. I just always saw IoA as that same type of thing.

 

So what happens when HRRR opens, will that make USF an amusement park too?

[Lenaapple1974]

I think that there are huge differences between an Amusement park, and a Theme park. The biggest difference would be that an Amusement parks rides are clearly low budget ones, that can be taken apart easily, slightly better than or not even better than a typical "county" fair. Theme parks are all built very well, stationary rides, with theming, whether in the open or not. IOA is just amazing, as each area is themed very well, down to the music as you pass through the individual gates. I can only imagine WWoHP doing nothing but bringing the same magic to this already pimped out Theme park.

[netdvn]

^ So both SF and BGW would be a cross between an amusement park and a theme park? And because Disney also has some carny style rides (Space Mountain/Dumbo) they would be a cross b/w an amusement park and a theme park as well...

 

IMO an amusement park focuses more on rides... I classify CF and SF on top of parks like Hershey and IB as amusement parks because they tend to focus more on their ride selection than a story to suit the ride. Some of their rides may have a theme, but normally people will go to those parks to focus on the ride aspect over the story aspect.

 

A theme park tries to tie some sort of story aspect with their rides or build the ride to blend in with a specific area within the park. Herschend, Busch, Disney, and Universal lie in this category. People go to these parks primarily for the rides, but they also go to be immersed in the atmosphere as well. I doubt a random GP member will go to Disney hoping to look for specific details, but those details are placed there to add to the atmosphere of the park.

 

Here's an example...

If a regular amusement park decided to build a Giant Frisbee, they would just install the frisbee, maybe plant some shrubs around it to make it look nicer, and add a roof over the line.

 

A theme park would take the frisbee one step further, maybe by painting the structure a certain way to make it look like an ancient torture device or a creature of some sort. The park then builds the ride in a certain part of the park to allow the ride to "fit in" with the surrounding area. Maybe place it in a certain area to hide it away from the public's eye. Add some special theming elements like fire and rock formations to increase the atmosphere and heighten the thrill. And then the park adds a back story to the ride or the area around the ride.

 

I haven't been to IOA before, but I DO know that Universal themes its rides exceptionally well. On top of that, SF is more of an amusement park, but their recent attempts at theming are almost Busch quality, if its not really there yet.

[musicmand]

Wow! Guess I struck a nerve!

 

First, my opinion is only worth so much, since I've not been in the park. Just the outsider looking in, really. Here's what I see- at Disney, every roller coaster is built into a building or a mountain (except for California Screamin'). For the majority of the rides, the queue is themed from the second you walk in the door (strange exception is DL's Matterhorn). The area around the ride is themed to make the ride blend in.

 

Granted, there are some awkward and out of place rides at Disney (Dumbo, Aladdin's Flying Carpets, etc), but the "headliners" are themed heavily.

 

On top of that, there's an overarching theme to the entire park. The different "lands" make sense (I don't count any of the kid's areas as REALLY part of any park).

 

By contrast, look at IoA (again, from a prospective visitor's PoV): Two huge coasters are out in the open. Nothing to blend the tracks into the background- just "coaster" all the way. Nothing wrong with that, but that's what it is. On top of that, to the outsider, the theming is sort of corny- Marvel comics-themed island? Six Flags did it with Batman. Sunday Comics-themed Land? Hasn't Cedar Fair been doing Peanuts for years?

 

Looking at the rest of the themed areas- Jurassic Park, Seuss, Mythical Creatures... It seems completely random- no overarching theme. Nothing to tie it together, which makes it less of a Theme Park and more of an Amusement Park to me.

 

I'm not saying it's a bad park. Heck, Cedar Point doesn't have an overarching theme or heavy ride theming, and nobody would say that's a bad park. On the other hand, there are plenty of parks themed to the teeth that are only average (Silver Dollar City in Branson springs to mind). Of course, I was disappointed to not visit IoA, but we will certainly get there as soon as WWoHP opens.