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

[Mr. Starr]

Did anyone else hear the rumor of there being the player's tent somewhere in the queue like in the video above? I remember someone mentioning that over at Orlando United, and they also mention that dragons were to be projected on the tent to make it seem as their shadows were flying above you.

[kidcoaster 2]

Did anyone else hear the rumor of there being the player's tent somewhere in the queue like in the video above? I remember someone mentioning that over at Orlando United, and they also mention that dragons were to be projected on the tent to make it seem as their shadows were flying above you.

 

I heard about the tent, but I don't think they released much else about it though.

[nay]

The changes to Dueling Dragons' queue is a bummer. Even though I never waited on a significant line for the ride, the details in there were so cool to look at as you walked by. At least it's still a kick ass coaster.

[manakin]

I try to be positive...well, we must remember that we are talking about Universal, not about a small park.....I think that this means quality (well, I hope...)

howewer, the original entrance with the two dragons was amazing...it is a big lack in the new ride concept in my opinion....

[gatorchomp83]

As someone who has visited IOA thousands of times since before it even opened to the public, seeing the new pictures compared to the old ones really is saddening. That queue, theme and entire attraction (as well as Lost Continent...which was, IMO, the best - AND ONLY original - island in the entire park) had no compare.

 

It's nice that Universal is trying to evolve the park, but I still feel it's in the entirely wrong direction. I don't expect anyone who either hasn't visited the park, or hasn't spent a good deal of time in the LC to truly understand how sucky it is to see it go away; and the outpouring of people in this thread who have shown their support for the old iteration of the island goes to show just how loved it really was.

 

I expect the Forbidden Journey to be a great ride technically (I've never seen any HP movies and don't really care to) and surely fun, but I feel it's not worth the loss of such a great area. It really is sad.

[PCW_Nut]

I gotta wonder if it's just the attachment to Harry Potter people are having the issue with or the whole wizard theme...

 

Dont' get me wrong, I am sad to see the original themeing go as well, even though I've never been there to experience it (always wanted to), however I am also very excited for where they are going to take it.

 

I am sure a lot of the queue is empty and "bare" right now until they do the 100% full switch over to Dragon Challenge...they can't put out all the themeing yet as the whole section of the park is not opening yet right?

 

EIther way, I remain very optimistic that when all is said and done, this area will shine to the majority of park guests...Cannot wait.

[themeparkman25]

Deleted by author

Edited January 20, 2011 by themeparkman25

[Vigil]

^Thank God...

 

I am not a crazy fan of HP, but I did notice one thing. In the teaser video posted the president of UO said that the ride was based off of Dumbledore letting muggles into the castle for the first time, and rumors say that dementors will be involved in the ride. One problem...in the books, muggles can't see dementors. I wonder what J.K. Rowling will say...

[Reality15]

At least they aren't themeing it to the Twilight series.

This.

 

Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of the Harry Potter franchise, granted I'm engaged to a giant Potter-nerd, and I can't honestly say I'm very excited about this, more so because I see this as an operations nightmare. Think about it, you have Dueling Dragons, which is a nice high-capacity coaster, and possibly the Forbidden Journey might be higher capacity, but then you have things like the Hippogriff coaster, and we all know the through-put on roller skaters isn't that great. Combine that with things like the personalized wand service thing, which can accommodate one person at a time. I just think that while Universal wanted to remain "true to the books and movies", they're creating a headache for themselves when the Potter-nerds arrive in hordes.

[themeparkman25]

Deleted by author

Edited January 20, 2011 by themeparkman25

[SharkTums]

Guys, Twilight is way too new for them to model something after. Universal seems to like to wait till something is losing popularity before putting it in!!!

 

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[Spideyfreak]

^I think they just want to wait and see how successful/iconic it will be before they invest in it.

 

Now I know that doesn't explain Fear Factor (I have no idea what they were thinking!). While the Simpsons may not be so popular in recent years, they are iconic, and pretty much everybody knows who they are.

 

Even though Shrek is starting to get old, I think it's pretty cool.

[Director_Guy]

^Thank God...

 

I am not a crazy fan of HP, but I did notice one thing. In the teaser video posted the president of UO said that the ride was based off of Dumbledore letting muggles into the castle for the first time, and rumors say that dementors will be involved in the ride. One problem...in the books, muggles can't see dementors. I wonder what J.K. Rowling will say...

 

That's a good catch! But I don't think it'll matter. The Dementors part is probably going to be the coolest thing ever. It is, at least in my mind, really effing cool.

[knottslover77]

The Forbidden Journeys only gonna get up to about 1850 Guests per hour. The park has a capacity of 35,000. So a little more then half the guests will get to ride. Which isn't bad, but I feel a ride like this should be pumping out a higher amount of people.

 

--Jay

[Jew]

Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of the Harry Potter franchise, granted I'm engaged to a giant Potter-nerd, and I can't honestly say I'm very excited about this, more so because I see this as an operations nightmare. Think about it, you have Dueling Dragons, which is a nice high-capacity coaster, and possibly the Forbidden Journey might be higher capacity, but then you have things like the Hippogriff coaster, and we all know the through-put on roller skaters isn't that great. Combine that with things like the personalized wand service thing, which can accommodate one person at a time. I just think that while Universal wanted to remain "true to the books and movies", they're creating a headache for themselves when the Potter-nerds arrive in hordes.

 

Operations nightmare? How so? It would be an "operations nightmare" if Wizarding World of Harry Potter was all there is to do at IoA. Good thing there is a bunch of other major attractions to help spread people out. And it's an even better thing that the two major attractions in the area are a dueling B&M Invert with 6 trains available and the new ride which sounds like it will have a decent capacity (if that 1850 number is correct, that will be better than rides like Splash Mountain and Space Mountain at Disneyland...)

 

The roller skater is the two train model. Even the models at both Tokyo Disney Resort parks topped out at a 45 minute wait. And those are the busiest theme parks in the world.

 

Personalized items have been around theme parks for a long time. Is there ever a 2 hour wait for a mickey hat? Ride photo? Crushed penny machine? Are you expecting hand carved wands or something?

[the ghost]

And after reading through this thread I now officially announce Indy to have the coolest que in the world. Honesly this does kind of suck though. I went to IOA for the first time over the past summer with express passes, so we never got to see the full DD que, but what we saw was awesome. The lost continent as a whole is an extremely original area and was the only area of the park besides Port of Entry not themed to any movies or characters. BTW what does Mythos look like now? Also, what happens to Poseidon's Fury?

[jray21]

I'm still in complete shock over the Mythos menu! How sad ! I've only been to IOA twice, and both times I did the VIP tour so I never waited in line. For Dueling Dragons they just walked us on through the exit so I didn't even get to "pick!" I sure missed a great queue! I'm sure the theming will be nice, but the old dragons out front will be really hard to beat.

[dragsterfan420]

This really sucks. DD's original quene was definitely the best quene I ever had the pleasure of waiting in. I don't see why they couldn't of just left the themeing and added a few figureines of Potter or whatever else and changed the "Chose thy fate..." to "Choose your oponent" or something. At least we have pictures to reminiss.

[testtrack321]

 

Personalized items have been around theme parks for a long time. Is there ever a 2 hour wait for a mickey hat? Ride photo? Crushed penny machine? Are you expecting hand carved wands or something?

 

I think he's referring to the Kim Possible-like experience using wants and interactive elements around the land, not a personalized wand purchasing service.

[Jew]

^Regardless, technology has made it possible for things like that to be much more than "one at a time."

[Wes]

BTW what does Mythos look like now? Also, what happens to Poseidon's Fury?

 

The same and nothing. That area, along with the Sinbad stunt show, remains Lost Continent.

[knottslover77]

Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of the Harry Potter franchise, granted I'm engaged to a giant Potter-nerd, and I can't honestly say I'm very excited about this, more so because I see this as an operations nightmare. Think about it, you have Dueling Dragons, which is a nice high-capacity coaster, and possibly the Forbidden Journey might be higher capacity, but then you have things like the Hippogriff coaster, and we all know the through-put on roller skaters isn't that great. Combine that with things like the personalized wand service thing, which can accommodate one person at a time. I just think that while Universal wanted to remain "true to the books and movies", they're creating a headache for themselves when the Potter-nerds arrive in hordes.

 

Operations nightmare? How so? It would be an "operations nightmare" if Wizarding World of Harry Potter was all there is to do at IoA. Good thing there is a bunch of other major attractions to help spread people out. And it's an even better thing that the two major attractions in the area are a dueling B&M Invert with 6 trains available and the new ride which sounds like it will have a decent capacity (if that 1850 number is correct, that will be better than rides like Splash Mountain and Space Mountain at Disneyland...)

 

The roller skater is the two train model. Even the models at both Tokyo Disney Resort parks topped out at a 45 minute wait. And those are the busiest theme parks in the world.

 

Personalized items have been around theme parks for a long time. Is there ever a 2 hour wait for a mickey hat? Ride photo? Crushed penny machine? Are you expecting hand carved wands or something?

 

Really! I thought Splash and Space Mountain got closer to 2500 guests per hour. And I ment around 1880. 47 Arms x 4 people 188 people. The rides supposed to be about 5 and a half minutes their saying, plus loading 6min cycles. 188 x 10 for 60min = 1880 guests per hour.

 

--Jay

Edited April 13, 2010 by knottslover77

[Jew]

^The Florida versions might, but the Disneyland versions are definitely lower capacity. Splash Mountain is in the 1300-1400 range (at best) thanks to the seat dividers, and Space Mountain can do 1800 at best IIRC.

[knottslover77]

^The Florida versions might, but the Disneyland versions are definitely lower capacity. Splash Mountain is in the 1300-1400 range (at best) thanks to the seat dividers, and Space Mountain can do 1800 at best IIRC.

 

Yeah I looked it up. They were kinda in between, you were closer though. Space Mountain gets about 2,100. While Splash Gets about 1656.

 

--Jay

[Jew]

^Trust me, those listed capacities are not accurate. Theoretically, Space can probably do that many...but the reality is 1800 is around the best they do. Splash Mountains capacity was greatly reduced when they put in individual seat dividers. The 1656 number is based on the old configuration of 7 people max per log.

 

But anyways...the point of all this is simple: the area shouldn't be an "operational nightmare." Two major attractions with decent capacity and a ton of queue, a 2-train roller skater, plus all the other stuff in the area and park....will be more than enough for the park to handle.