Studio Tour

[Viator]

And therein, once again, lies the issue. The Studio Tour is primarily designed to appeal to tourists, not annual passholders who have ridden it over a hundred times.

I do wonder if there is something to be said of the experience now being more diminished than even that of 2013 Tram, when they were beginning to properly build Supercharged.

With Jurassic Park effectively now in the Studio Vault as a result of not wanting to pay for regrading the road to make it legally safe, the demolition of the Whoville sets (which was for the best, don't get the wrong idea), the closure of Supercharged, and the closure of the Collapsing Bridge--one has to wonder what it will take for them to do a shot in the arm to fully give the Studio Tour a boost.

Or--if they're just going to ride this as they continue to diminish the "Attraction" experiences, in the idea of actively converting the experience to be a standalone one outside of the park. To make it more similar to that of the WB Studio Tour just a few miles away.

That's not to say they aren't investing in the Studio Tour--quite the opposite. Jupiters Claim, the renovations to Earthquake, and the electrification actually have put time and care, and we did have the diesel trams get a sunset signoff with the 50th Anniversary finishes--but I have to wonder if we are leaning in the direction of the park needing to prioritize itself as a "Park" first, and to separate the Studio Tour as a result of that nature.

 

[Jerroddragon]

And therein, once again, lies the issue. The Studio Tour is primarily designed to appeal to tourists, not annual passholders who have ridden it over a hundred times.

Can you tell me why it would be bad to try to cater to both?

I don't understand why it would be bad to talk about more films and everytime its a little different?

You will always talk about BTTF, Jaws, Jurassic etc, no one is trying to be like you can't have some core points but I already complimented one Tram host for going above and beyond and just do not think any guests would be upset if the Tram offered more information then it does now

I also don't get with Jurassic section now gone why they thought taking out F&F with no replacement ready was also good for guests

I just think the ride could use some more love, have a props warehouse we drive through and has more current day props from newer movies like oppenheimer, allow for more the Tram Drivers to go off script more and have a real ending for the Tram again.

Also aren't we going to lose 6 points Texas soon....so to me the Tram is not really going in the right direction right now

Last point as well, people are like this ride is not for APs who go all the time. Didn't the park just lost a bunch of guests, so aren't APs the think keeping the park a float, why would it be bad to cater to the group of people who are giving you the most money each year?

 

[Jake S]

Can you tell me why it would be bad to try to cater to both?

because the demands of super fans like you can’t be met within the financial restraints that these parks operate in. the appetite for “new” is insatiable for guests who attend very frequently.

i’d ask why would it be bad for you to diversify the things you spend your time on? if you’re experiencing one of the most popular attractions in the united states so often that you’re bored with it, maybe it’s time to mix in something else?

 

[Clive]

Can you tell me why it would be bad to try to cater to both?

I don't understand why it would be bad to talk about more films and everytime its a little different?

You will always talk about BTTF, Jaws, Jurassic etc, no one is trying to be like you can't have some core points but I already complimented one Tram host for going above and beyond and just do not think any guests would be upset if the Tram offered more information then it does now

I also don't get with Jurassic section now gone why they thought taking out F&F with no replacement ready was also good for guests

I just think the ride could use some more love, have a props warehouse we drive through and has more current day props from newer movies like oppenheimer, allow for more the Tram Drivers to go off script more and have a real ending for the Tram again.

Also aren't we going to lose 6 points Texas soon....so to me the Tram is not really going in the right direction right now

Last point as well, people are like this ride is not for APs who go all the time. Didn't the park just lost a bunch of guests, so aren't APs the think keeping the park a float, why would it be bad to cater to the group of people who are giving you the most money each year?

Sorry, no. We're not doing this all again. It's extremely self-evident.

 

[Freak]

 

[belloq87]

I've only been on the Studio Tour once, and while I thought it was a terrific attraction, it also seemed evident to me that the experience could vary wildly depending on various circumstances. Earthquake was still under refurbishment when I rode, and there was a bunch of crap out in front of the Bates Motel, making it impossible to get a shot of the motel and the house together (we did end up driving right in front of the house with Norman standing there, and I don't know if that's the usual route, or something they do when the motel is more obstructed to make up for the compromised show quality).

With F&F removed (and with no replacement forthcoming*), plus the apparent imminent loss of some of the sets elsewhere on the experience, I can understand feeling like the Tour isn't in top form.

* It was a junky "finale" for the Tour to begin with, but this isn't an "addition by subtraction" situation; whether any of us liked it or not, it was a major chunk of the ride experience, and should be replaced as soon as possible to restore the lost value of a significant scene.

 

[Jake S]

It was a junky "finale" for the Tour to begin with, but this isn't an "addition by subtraction" situation; whether any of us liked it or not, it was a major chunk of the ride experience, and should be replaced as soon as possible to restore the lost value of a significant scene

Oh I strongly disagree with this. It was awful the day it debuted and I think the tour is better off without it.

 

[KlownzNskullZ]

Oh I strongly disagree with this. It was awful the day it debuted and I think the tour is better off without it.

I don’t think the tour is better off without it, it’s not worse without it. That’s how mid it was lol.

 

[Brian G.]

Oh I strongly disagree with this. It was awful the day it debuted and I think the tour is better off without it.

Yeah I don’t think an already 45 min experience is missing it…

 

[belloq87]

It's not missing it, specifically, but why would anyone be arguing against putting something else there?

It's the same reason that Supercharged at USF, as much as I despise it, should remain open until a replacement is forthcoming.

 

[Viator]

Mentioned it on my previous post above, but I actually do think the closure of Supercharged without a proper replacement does kind of cause issues for the Studio Tour. Atleast, in the sense of the idea, of an "Ending".

Since Battlestar Galactica, the Studio Tour has often tried to have some kind of ending setpiece that is fully able to hook people in. Be with BSG, Dantes Inferno + Mummy + Grinch's Lair, and with Supercharged; the Studio Tour feels more...I guess, "complete", when there is a setpiece at the very end of the experience that makes the experience full.

That doesn't necessarily mean it is a great ending, but it is an ending. With the way it leaves it with Jupiters Claim being merely sets with some limited sound design, I have to think there is a missing piece to the puzzle with the tour that should've been remedied with the replacement of Supercharged.

People would be fair to say to me "Alex, it's 2026, they still could do something, considering the timetable of a retheme being potentially easier for Supercharged", but I can't shake the feeling we won't get any form of a replacement at all for Supercharged, until a sizable project comes in to reinvent the Studio Tour.

Be that of a relocation to the Lower Lot to let the park expand to the current tech services, separating it and becoming a upcharge attraction, or whatever have you. The biggest problem feels like something that could've been done really quickly and really efficently.

Also doesn't help that we are at a more diminished point of the Studio Tour, than what it was in 2013.

 

[salismetho]

The permit did not call for all of Six Points to be demolished, just three structures on the left side so we shall see. While I love the Studio Tour, it is a little unfortunate to see the number of stops be reduced every couple years for one reason or another and the NOPE was visually cool but as an experience kind of odd. A Supercharged replacement is in the works but it’ll probably be a while till we see movement. The ending is sort of in a weird place but at least soon they can talk about The Odyssey lol

Anyways, I love the tour and rode it on every trip I made to the park so I hope to see it be renewed soon

 

[Mad Dog]

Mentioned it on my previous post above, but I actually do think the closure of Supercharged without a proper replacement does kind of cause issues for the Studio Tour. Atleast, in the sense of the idea, of an "Ending".

Since Battlestar Galactica, the Studio Tour has often tried to have some kind of ending setpiece that is fully able to hook people in. Be with BSG, Dantes Inferno + Mummy + Grinch's Lair, and with Supercharged; the Studio Tour feels more...I guess, "complete", when there is a setpiece at the very end of the experience that makes the experience full.

That doesn't necessarily mean it is a great ending, but it is an ending. With the way it leaves it with Jupiters Claim being merely sets with some limited sound design, I have to think there is a missing piece to the puzzle with the tour that should've been remedied with the replacement of Supercharged.

People would be fair to say to me "Alex, it's 2026, they still could do something, considering the timetable of a retheme being potentially easier for Supercharged", but I can't shake the feeling we won't get any form of a replacement at all for Supercharged, until a sizable project comes in to reinvent the Studio Tour.

Be that of a relocation to the Lower Lot to let the park expand to the current tech services, separating it and becoming a upcharge attraction, or whatever have you. The biggest problem feels like something that could've been done really quickly and really efficently.

Also doesn't help that we are at a more diminished point of the Studio Tour, than what it was in 2013.

Not related to the tour, but just a tidbit since you mentioned Battlestar Galactica.... In the 17 days I was at USF, and I checked in the AP
Discount store nearly every day since the discounts (80% off everything) were so great and new stock was rotated in a couple of times each day,
there was one glaring corner of merchandise that just never sold. Namely, Battlestar Galactica. The same stock was there at Day 17 as Day 1 of our visit. And the merch was pretty good. But, even at 80% off, the nostalgia didn't register. No one bought it.