Dark Universe - General Discussion Thread

[DrStarlander]

"Thematically," as in how it is visually themed and presented. I'm not talking about the story of the attraction or how that relates to the narrative subtext of the land.

You want to have a coaster there? Fine! Put it in a showbuilding. That way, you preserve the atmosphere of the land, you allow for the story of the attraction to be in perpetual nighttime (when the titular nocturnal monster is on the prowl), and you add a different type of coaster (indoor) to the park’s coaster lineup, which already has 3-4 outdoor coasters.

I think this is super insightful. The reviews of the coaster are suggesting it's somewhat disappointing. Would it be much better in the dark? I suspect it would be. I think the disorienting feeling of rotating and -- rather than seeing the sunshine, the nets, the nearby buildings -- you are in a forest feeling the panting, breathing of werewolves...and they are seen along the tracks as jump-scares in flashes of lightning? Talk about an upgrade.

I think its more that there is no room for a showbuilding backstage that wouldnt intrude on the land.

I think if the track at the center of Dark Universe was stacked on top of the load area and all enclosed, like Space Mountain, etc., it could be concealed behind rockwork cliffs...(like Frozen attractions at multiple Disney Parks) which would also hide whatever Nintendo project goes next door anyway. (I added the likely Nintendo show building in pink in the before image to illustrate that future issue.)

 

[jarmor]

I think if the track at the center of Dark Universe was stacked on top of the load area and all enclosed, like Space Mountain, etc., it could be concealed behind rockwork cliffs...(like Frozen attractions at multiple Disney Parks)

Why is everyone so obsessed with rock work cliffs enclosing and blocking stuff!?!

I think the coaster was a better choice based on time. Not sure what the park hours will be but I can tell you that 10-5 was not enough time to do much. To experience the potter show, it took upwards to an hour from entering the queue to exiting the theater. If there were 3 shows and they all had the same time then 3-4 hours out of 7 are used for shows. AAAANNNDDDD the coaster actually looks good from the ground level. The netting isn't as noticeable or destracts.

Did anyone know that you can enter the house the coaster flies through and see the train as it traverses the track?

 

[DarkMetroid567]

Why is everyone so obsessed with rock work cliffs enclosing and blocking stuff!?!

Because it rocks. Can’t think of any instance where it’s added and doesn’t plus up the ride

 

[Disneyhead]

Hey, I just scrolled through a whole bunch of should've, could've, would've, TL: DR. Doesn't matter now, but can we go straight to talking about the "show scene" at the end?

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Hey, I just scrolled through a whole bunch of should of, could of, would have, TL: DR. But can we go straight to talking about the "show scene" at the end?

Gotta say, everyone has different opinions, almost all of them have noted that the final show scene of Werewolf is terrible.

What exactly is so bad about it?

 

[Clive]

Hey, I just scrolled through a whole bunch of should of, could of, would have, TL: DR. But can we go straight to talking about the "show scene" at the end?

Yeah, you aren't the first to suggest that the "show scene" at the end is... not great.

 

[DrStarlander]

Why is everyone so obsessed with rock work cliffs enclosing and blocking stuff!?!

I don't know about everybody, it's mostly just me

But seriously, a rockwork cliff is an efficient way to hide a show building (if seeing the show building would be a detraction) because cliffs, like buildings, are vertical. So it doesn't add much to the square footage.

Landscaping, especially trees, can be located in front of the cliff, and the overall effect can be very pleasing and transportive to many biomes or other planets even, it can be ominous, happy, snowy, tropical.... Plus, many lands, themes are improved by having a scenic backdrop and/or feeling more enclosed.

And, bonus, you can put the queue in front of the attraction, in full/partial shade, winding through the scenic rockwork cliff area so you're getting a "three-fer" for the money: hiding the building, creating a landmark or "weenie" to draw people to it, and creating a themed entry/queue area.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

"Thematically," as in how it is visually themed and presented. I'm not talking about the story of the attraction or how that relates to the narrative subtext of the land.

You want to have a coaster there? Fine! Put it in a showbuilding. That way, you preserve the atmosphere of the land, you allow for the story of the attraction to be in perpetual nighttime (when the titular nocturnal monster is on the prowl), and you add a different type of coaster (indoor) to the park’s coaster lineup, which already has 3-4 outdoor coasters.

I read this in the voice of Major Partegaz from Andor.

Yeah, you aren't the first to suggest that the "show scene" at the end is... not great.

What is the scene?

 

[OrlLover]

Of course I think the show thematically would have worked better but it’s too late to change that.

Whatever expansion they do to this land I hope go big and bold to make up for any shortcomings that the coaster has.

 

[Lucky Planet]

Controversial, but seeing the finished Werewolf coaster I'd rather have had the theatre show, I feel it would've felt like a more substantial experience than a likely long-wait-time super short, low-themed family spinner. I guess it's cool that because we got the coaster the walkable space in the land technically increased a little though, which I think will help to make the land feel a bit bigger.

The coaster was the right decision.

From an operations standpoint, that rationale makes sense.

Thematically, though, it's at least questionable.

It works in Potter as the show is dead center ahead as you enter. But even still, I worry its popularity may fade once overshadowed by the ride and reputation for being the short “fantastic beasts” show with no potter in it. But we shall see.

"Thematically," as in how it is visually themed and presented. I'm not talking about the story of the attraction or how that relates to the narrative subtext of the land.

You want to have a coaster there? Fine! Put it in a showbuilding. That way, you preserve the atmosphere of the land, you allow for the story of the attraction to be in perpetual nighttime (when the titular nocturnal monster is on the prowl), and you add a different type of coaster (indoor) to the park’s coaster lineup, which already has 3-4 outdoor coasters.

shows are tricky and hit or miss. they might never fill out completely, and a bad show can harm the place with negative reviews. could end up being a really bad situation.

a coaster is a never ending, never stopping attraction that eats people and gives you something to do.
I'm thinking of different shows from different parks and even different shows that we have had in horror nights, and shows are tricky with all the wait and the downtime in between performances. and with people walking out, the negative opinions etc.

I love shows personally and I would always prefer to do a show instead of a coaster, but for a new park and a new land with just one ride, I could see how the coaster made more sense. specially if the land is seemed as small.

the coaster might not be the best but it probably creates an overall experience in the guest that is coming to a theme park. even if the werewolf elements are "lame" the ride itself, the coaster itself will keep people happy.

or at least it gives you a "thrill".

 

[Clive]

All I know about the final scene is it includes an appearance of Maleva, rebranded as a "mystic." My understanding is the character is completely static, which may play into why it's so disappointing/underwhelming, but I'll let someone with firsthand experience chime in.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

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Why is this "not as good"? It's largely unseen from the guest space and is filler to hide the building. It's not as detailed as the upfront rockwork because it doesn't have to be. Same for why it doesn't cover the whole building, it doesn't need it!

 

[rageofthegods]

Seems like an easy (perhaps not cheap) way to plus up the coaster is to just put a rudimentary AA in the final tent scene and make the werewolf in the barn move its neck and mouth.

Edit: either way, this is clearly a land with a lot of love and which people seem to enjoy that has some serious deficiencies, including this coaster. Hopefully future expansions are on the fast track.

 

[Magic-Man]

My ideal replacement for the Monsters show would have been a take on a classic antique cars rides. Theme it as carriages and take it through a village and caves. The money saved from not having to pay for coaster track could be used on theming. It keeps the sightlines intact, retains the werewolf theme, and gives families a ride with no height requirement.

 

[DrStarlander]

Why is this "not as good"? It's largely unseen from the guest space and is filler to hide the building. It's not as detailed as the upfront rockwork because it doesn't have to be. Same for why it doesn't cover the whole building, it doesn't need it!

I find the other rockwork examples more appealing and believable.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I find the other rockwork examples more appealing and believable.

I wonder if that's the actual rockwork or google maps polygon modeling being poor.

 

[mccgavin]

I find the other rockwork examples more appealing and believable.

In the many times across my life that I've visited Magic Kingdom, I've never noticed the rockwork back there a single time.

If it were more detailed, it would draw more attention to the structure. The whole point of it is to blend in, and not stand out in any way.

 

[DrStarlander]

I wonder if that's the actual rockwork or google maps polygon modeling being poor.

Possibly. To clarify my intent though, it was not to critique Splash Mountain but rather to show a few different examples of rockwork cliffs, to show how common it is as a theme park technique, and secondarily to point out there's a range of ambition to the examples. It was to answer the original poster's question about why rockwork cliffs are suggested so much.

Here's a few more examples to the point of how common they are and why they'd come up as possibility for Dark Universe some day.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Possibly. To clarify my intent though, it was not to critique Splash Mountain but rather to show a few different examples of rockwork cliffs, to show how common it is as a theme park technique, and secondarily to point out there's a range of ambition to the examples. It was to answer the original poster's question about why rockwork cliffs are suggested so much.

Here's a few more examples to the point of how common they are and why they'd come up as possibility for Dark Universe some day.
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I'm probably too hung up on the rankings, my bad. Thanks for the post!

 

[Rhian]

All I know about the final scene is it includes an appearance of Maleva, rebranded as a "mystic." My understanding is the character is completely static, which may play into why it's so disappointing/underwhelming, but I'll let someone with firsthand experience chime in.

Yeah, for me it comes down to this. My first thought when seeing it was that it was just not operational yet but as we got closer I realized that nope, that's all it is. Even if it wasn't as articulate as the other AAs in the land that would've been okay.

It's unfortunate to see a static figure here after seeing the AAs contained in Monsters Unchained next door. It could've made what was already a very short ride have a better payoff.