Universal Studios Florida: What Do We Think About It?

[belloq87]

Exactly. Universal Creative is so impressive, and I have no doubt if their leadership challenges them to "re-invent" family attractions -- stuff on par with Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, its a small world -- they could find a way to take this genre to the next level and create new industry classics. Those are the kinds of attractions that will make the parks feel well-rounded and appeal to the parents and grandparents who can pay for vacations.

I know you're basically describing E-tickets, but Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash in Hollywood is a D-ticket, and something on that level would do a lot of good for USF.

My frustration is that SLOP proves they can knock that kind of attraction out of the park (creatively; I know there are some logistical things about that specific ride system that come up short in terms of accessibility), yet they seem totally uninterested in doing that sort of thing in Florida.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

My frustration is that SLOP proves they can knock that kind of attraction out of the park (creatively; I know there are some logistical things about that specific ride system that come up short in terms of accessibility), yet they seem totally uninterested in doing that sort of thing in Florida.

I think if the second movie had performed better and the GSATs for the current attraction weren't oddly low, then they would have built this ride as their 2024 addition. Unfortunately, these quantifiable problems might be preventing the attraction from coming over to the East.

EDIT: I'll edit this post later when I find the post with the GSAT claim on USH SLOP.

 

[belloq87]

I think if the second movie had performed better and the GSATs for the current attraction weren't oddly low, then they would have built this ride as their 2024 addition. Unfortunately, these quantifiable problems might be preventing the attraction from coming over to the East.

EDIT: I'll edit this post later when I find the post with the GSAT claim on USH SLOP.

But it doesn't need to be a straight clone. Use whatever IP, redesign the ride vehicles, etc.

A ride of that basic type.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I don’t blame them for getting cold feet on traditional dark rides. After SLOP and Kung Fu Panda it just seems like the GP is not picking these rides up the way Universal had hoped.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I don’t blame them for getting cold feet on traditional dark rides. After SLOP and Kung Fu Panda it just seems like the GP is not picking these rides up the way Universal had hoped.

SLOP debuted under unfavorable conditions during Covid (opened when the park reopened, so it didn't get the marketing push it deserved) + low capacity throughput and the need to use Virtual Queue.

Kung Fu Panda is a poorly designed ride. Madagascar at Singapore is a poorly designed ride.

Meanwhile, Disney debuted two new dark rides (Runaway Railway & Ratatouille Adventure) and get great crowds for them.

E.T. Adventure gets a healthy dose of attendance each day, and it's been operating since 1990.


Universal is sitting on great IPs that lend itself easily to Omnimovers & Classic Boat Ride-style dark rides: Trolls, Kung Fu Panda (if done well), Minions, Shrek, etc.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

SLOP debuted under unfavorable conditions during Covid (opened when the park reopened, so it didn't get the marketing push it deserved) + low capacity throughput and the need to use Virtual Queue.

Kung Fu Panda is a poorly designed ride. Madagascar at Singapore is a poorly designed ride.

Meanwhile, Disney debuted two new dark rides (Runaway Railway & Ratatouille Adventure) and get great crowds for them.

E.T. Adventure gets a healthy dose of attendance each day, and it's been operating since 1990.


Universal is sitting on great IPs that lend itself easily to Omnimovers & Classic Boat Ride-style dark rides: Trolls, Kung Fu Panda (if done well), Minions, Shrek, etc.

Ah no, I generally agree with all of this, although I’ve recently discovered that quite a few of my LA friends think SLOP is a waste of time.

They 100% have the ability to build a great ride and I think Epic should have had one — but I imagine that the decision not to is based on a lack of faith in the ride being good or a hit + a high opportunity cost in deciding to build one relative to a more thrilling ride.

 

[docholiday]

It needs work. It should be treated with more reverence than what it is. It’s a flawed park with a rich history. Because of their removal of attractions and re-theming them I think it’s lost a lot of its timeless nature. It’s lost the Spielberg of it all. I’d prefer they really work on that. It can’t be nostalgia only. Universal needs a hit and IP that isn’t a flash in the pan.

 

[Mad Dog]

Festivals and Diagon keep this park going. So much of the park has gotten old, it seems overnight, due to duplicity of a particular attraction type that's become outdated quicker than anticipated. I still spend a lot of time in the park though, partly due to lots of street entertainment and live theater attractions. But its screaming that it needs a couple of new D/E ticket hybrid attractions, not just an outdoor regional park type coaster.

 

[saint.piss]

Yeah... if it weren't for Mardi Gras and HHN this park would be in serious trouble. It's a little sad but I think that's going to change soon. RRR is getting replaced, Pokémon is rumored to be replacing Simpsons, Fan Fest Nights possibly coming. A lot to work forward to with USF imo. I think the Pokémon land is going to change everything

 

[docholiday]

That’s the thing. It’s got the best show on property (for now). Put in Waterworld or the Odyssey or something. Two iconic shows would give it something. It just needs life and a central identity again.

Yeah... if it weren't for Mardi Gras and HHN this park would be in serious trouble. It's a little sad but I think that's going to change soon. RRR is getting replaced, Pokémon is rumored to be replacing Simpsons, Fan Fest Nights possibly coming. A lot to work forward to with USF imo. I think the Pokémon land is going to change everything

To me USF needs or WB the “cinema” park. That should be its identity. I don’t hate the idea of Pokémon but I’d prefer it remain movie and TV IPs. I known that ship may have sailed but I think it can still be THAT. If it is a fast and furious coaster and they they do a supercharged overlay with a huge cinema IP as the theme I think it kinda restores that.

 

[saint.piss]

To me USF needs or WB the “cinema” park. That should be its identity. I don’t hate the idea of Pokémon but I’d prefer it remain movie and TV IPs. I known that ship may have sailed but I think it can still be THAT. If it is a fast and furious coaster and they they do a supercharged overlay with a huge cinema IP as the theme I think it kinda restores that.

Well... Pokémon has had multiple movies and tv shows. It's a multi-media IP so it fits. It's also family friendly but appeals to more age groups than just children/young teenagers. It just feels right having it at USF

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Despite IOA clearly being the better park, we always tend to spend more time in USF.

 

[docholiday]

Well... Pokémon has had multiple movies and tv shows. It's a multi-media IP so it fits.

I mean it really doesn’t in that way. Again I know it’s lost argument because people are emotional about the IP. Of it was based solely on detective Pulaski the movie maybe.

 

[saint.piss]

I mean it really doesn’t in that way. Again I know it’s lost argument because people are emotional about the IP. Of it was based solely on detective Pulaski the movie maybe.

What ?

 

[docholiday]

What ?

Keeps autocorrecting to that name. That and Luka. Pikachu.

 

[Mad Dog]

Despite IOA clearly being the better park, we always tend to spend more time in USF.

Same here, actually 'way more' time at Studios. But imagine if they would have put Diagon where LC is, which was a possibility....and they never built HE....USF, without any Potter, except during Festivals, would be a ghost town.

 

[docholiday]

Same here, actually 'way more' time at Studios. But imagine if they would have put Diagon where LC is, which was a possibility....and they never built HE....USF, without any Potter, except during Festivals, would be a ghost town.

But JAWS and Amity would still be there maybe. My favorite land.

 

[Mad Dog]

But JAWS and Amity would still be there maybe. My favorite land.

Lots of people loved the ride, but by 2011 few were riding it daily. Walkon most of the time.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Same here, actually 'way more' time at Studios. But imagine if they would have put Diagon where LC is, which was a possibility....and they never built HE....USF, without any Potter, except during Festivals, would be a ghost town.

I think we spend more time in USF for a multitude of reasons outside of Diagon.

The food across the board is significantly better in USF imo, as well as entertainment in general. Between Bourne, Horror Makeup, the parade and all the street shows you can fill a lot of time. Add in ET, Mummy, MIB, Transformers and Fallon and you haven't even touched Diagon yet.

(Plus, we love just hanging out in Springfield)

 

[docholiday]

I wouldn’t have a huge problem with a Wicked show/ride coming to USF in the FF/MIB area. At least it’s a Universal IP. Make the show great, the ride greater and that along with Fast and Furious coaster goes a long way to fixing USF. I personally would prefer no IP getting multiple attractions in USF though. But I could live with it.