The Old KidZone Thread

[mahnamahna]

I thought it had the one lap bar per row :inquisitive: I must be confusing it with the other Seuss ride, CitH. The Trolley ride is still scary as hell Especially that turn over the water... Eek!

If it was Six Flags or Pressler era Disneyland, I'd agree with you

 

[KRAKENvsMANTA]

Height requirements need to be non-existent on KidsZone's next major addition; we all can agree on that right?

 

[Felipe]

Height requirements need to be non-existent on KidsZone's next major addition; we all can agree on that right?

I think so.

 

[IzzyB]

Height requirements need to be non-existent on KidsZone's next major addition; we all can agree on that right?

Yes, outside of the one family/kiddie coaster there should be no height restrictions. I mean I think it needs some low restriction coaster or keep the current one.

Well that explains why I thought my LO could get on it and then was turned away. We probably saw the lower height restriction (when she was under 34") and thought now she could ride it. Seriously, they need to fix the safety concern or get rid of it. It is pretty dumb to have a ride like that with a 40" requirement. I mean if the peoplemover can exist with no lapbars or restraints, they should be able to do something with this thing.

 

[Felipe]

Yes, outside of the one family/kiddie coaster there should be no height restrictions. I mean I think it needs some low restriction coaster or keep the current one.

Well that explains why I thought my LO could get on it and then was turned away. We probably saw the lower height restriction (when she was under 34") and thought now she could ride it. Seriously, they need to fix the safety concern or get rid of it. It is pretty dumb to have a ride like that with a 40" requirement. I mean if the peoplemover can exist with no lapbars or restraints, they should be able to do something with this thing.

I think a BIG problem (or THE big problem) might be the open sides, or door-less-ness of the Trolley.

 

[IzzyB]

I think a BIG problem (or THE big problem) might be the open sides, or door-less-ness of the Trolley.

So put doors on the trolley or put doors on one side and require kids under 40" to ride with someone and put the child less than 40" on the side with the door. Easy fix really.

 

[graspthesun]

Yeah, this sounds like something that could easily be fixed with new RVs.

 

[Nick]

Tell that to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

HRRR is production themed and has licensed music. Not the same as an IP, but they do use specific artists to promote the ride. And the ride is in Production Central, so the production theme fits well.

 

[Nick]

The funny thing is, is that you're comparing the rides of disney and Universal as if they're the same when theyre obviously not quality wise. Who Universal is today is a far shot from who they used to be and Disney is a far cry from who they used to be and not in a good way either. Disney is lackluster these days and is sitting on their buttes not really caring all that much about the current estate of their orlando parks while Universal is pulling out any and all of the stops to make their parks the best. So making the comparison between rides is simply unfair unless your saying that Disney rides and ET are the same because they suck in quality.

And how would you know if they would have gotten redo's? To be quite honest, the mummy and the simpson's are two of the best things to happen to Universal in it's history.

Universal is not Disney. Quite honestly if I want to spend my money on nostalgia I'll go empty my bank account on the Magic Kingdom.

So much fail in one post. :doh:

 

[Frank Drackman]

So put doors on the trolley or put doors on one side and require kids under 40" to ride with someone and put the child less than 40" on the side with the door. Easy fix really.

I think the 'load' side changes depending on which track the RV is on so I assume such a fix would not be as easy as trying to put a door on one side.

I recall the 1st time we rode, I thought the ride was going to be more intence because the restraints seem so restrictive.

 

[USO92]

So much fail in one post. :doh:

And without an explanation in yours I would have to say the same thing for yours. :bored:

 

[Shucker]

I dont know why the trolley is 40'. Once that lap bar goes down there is no getting out, even for a little one. I have 5 year old that has been able to ride for a few years and there is no chance he is getting out. Strange that they changed it to 40. A lot of kids see that train in the sky and want to ride it only to be turned away.

 

[Nick]

And without an explanation in yours I would have to say the same thing for yours. :bored:

Just because Uni and Disney appear to be going in separate directions doesn't mean that everything Uni is perfect and everything Disney is terrible. ET is very easily compared to (and better than) Peter Pan. It's not better by too much, but it's better. A overhaul of the attraction would do wonders in restoring it, keeping one of the last remaining original attractions (and one of the only relaxing ones in the park) and would potentially put it up on the Haunted Mansion level.

We all have our own opinions, however, I want to hear your reasoning on Mummy and Simpsons. I agree much more about Simpsons than Mummy, but still, I wouldn't say they're among the biggest things. Potter and Comcast acquiring Uni are the two biggest things easily for the resort. I don't really like Mummy as a IP tbh.

And lastly, I understand your disdain for nostalgia in a way. Disney relies WAY too much on it. For Universal though, they have very little things left in the park that have that nostalgia surrounding them, none more than ET. The IP doesn't have to be something people specifically book a trip for. Of course people will always book for the newest thing. They don't need to promote it either. But when thinking about Uni, I know many people who think of ET and it's been the first ride for many AP Holders i know. Nostalgia is fine in small quantities. When you get to the point where Disney is at with it is when it gets bad.

 

[TomTheRiddle]

So put doors on the trolley or put doors on one side and require kids under 40" to ride with someone and put the child less than 40" on the side with the door. Easy fix really.

I think a BIG problem (or THE big problem) might be the open sides, or door-less-ness of the Trolley.

I think the 'load' side changes depending on which track the RV is on so I assume such a fix would not be as easy as trying to put a door on one side.

I recall the 1st time we rode, I thought the ride was going to be more intence because the restraints seem so restrictive.

This. However's its more complicated than that.

1) The clearance isn't there to add doors to the trains because of the requirements needed for the load platform.
2) Trains not only have different load sides depending on which track they're on, but also the trains will often come in on the opposite side they left on. During slower seasons, they can run "double mode" where it does a loop on each side.
3) To meet the needs of point 2, (disregarding point 1) you would need a computer system to only release doors on one side of the RV, but that leaves a mechanical system not being checked by an operator. So then you need an additional 4 team members in place on the load platform. 2 on the load end on the side of the platform to check doors on the opposite side before dispatch, and 2 at unload to check and secure the doors on the opposite side of the platform as well.
4) Capacity is then drained because now you have to check lap bars and doors at load, and check doors at unload. Ergo you're going to see dispatch intervals go from what they are now to maybe twice as long. Not withstanding how many people get stuff caught in the doors.

Now imagine the cost to implement new RVs, retrain the attractions team, staff the ride with 4 additional positions daily, and change procedures again. Its not even close to worth it.

I dont know why the trolley is 40'. Once that lap bar goes down there is no getting out, even for a little one. I have 5 year old that has been able to ride for a few years and there is no chance he is getting out. Strange that they changed it to 40. A lot of kids see that train in the sky and want to ride it only to be turned away.

Sky trolley changed because 36" was defeatable assuming the child was of certain proportions. It just wasn't as safe as they would have liked.

 

[Mike]

I sincerely want to know what has people longing to keep ET.

It's time for ET to phone home

I firmly believe much more can be done with that building. If I were Uni the investment of putting something new in and the return would drive me to use that building for something bigger better and more "today"

I still stand by my wanting ET gutted. Rode it this past week and it was Just horrible, beyond bad and dated and would be more valuable to the park to get rid of it and put something new there.

Seriously, how many more posts do you need to provide to show that you do not like that Universal operates the ET Adventure in Orlando?

'Heard you loud and clear 10 posts earlier. You don't like it.

All I can say for myself on this thread as a reason I would like to see Universal refurbish and modernize the ET IP is that no one in the last 70+ pages, especially those who are so strong in their convictions, have proposed a better IP to warrant Universal's investment in a change-out. If I am a decision maker at Universal I am first looking to:

1) Establish a budget for that location

2) Estimate what the organization would demand they see achieved, based on that budget, in both

Tangible metric targets (direct-benefits) such as ridership, merchandise sales, and the depreciable scheme of some of the assets

Intangibles brought forth as a value-add (indirect-benefits) sales marketability for the Resort experience, longevity/shelf-life, and impact on the overall growth in park attendance

3) With the budget and expectations established, determine if

a modern ET IP with Spielberg's legacy, the Universal legacy, the Williams Score, the appeal to 21st century families, can be executed well-enough under the budget conditions to execute and achieve the direct & indirect benefits "expected"

-or-

a new topical, internal or external IP, with its own associated up front costs, can execute under its own budget conditions for it to execute and achieve..........

--

Opinions matter, and you certainly have yours. Opinions do weigh on their analysis, so your thoughts are heard as much as mine are. I just think Universal will have a hard time justifying a budget based on what we all know their generic expectations of success are if they trade out ET for a Spongebob or a Smurf. It makes no business sense in the least to just go for some passing fad, or worse, something already on its way out just because a subset of the park demo sees ET as lame.. See Disney/MGM, Who wants to be a Millionaire, Narnia, American Idol.

No ride is sacred, we all saw that with Jaws. When it comes to additions and replacements, I think they are dead-on right 90% of the time. Far better track record since 1989 than Disney has had. Disney does well by always keeping some classics around, and Universal should also recognize the risks they take on in removing a classic for a new IP that is not necessarily time tested. Universal has seen success from emulating the old Disney playbook from the past. If they replace ET, I am sure they will have a great plan, I just think it will be a harder and smarter choice than the discussion on this thread reflects. My Little Pony? Dora? Spongebob? umm...

 

[Splatter]

Universal is likely going to wait to see how some future potential films and popular culture pan out before changing too much with Kidzone. Diagon Alley gives them time to wait on that one.

Woody Woodpecker film in the works under the same Studio that just blew one out of the park again with Despicable Me 2. They operate on lower budgets than pixar and make for good success in the theaters and home box office. If Woody Woodpecker becomes that much more relevant they will wait on that one.

 

[JungleSkip]

Universal is likely going to wait to see how some future potential films and popular culture pan out before changing too much with Kidzone. Diagon Alley gives them time to wait on that one.

Woody Woodpecker film in the works under the same Studio that just blew one out of the park again with Despicable Me 2. They operate on lower budgets than pixar and make for good success in the theaters and home box office. If Woody Woodpecker becomes that much more relevant they will wait on that one.

The Woody reboot was cancelled

 

[Splatter]

It will be back on. Its in that development heck. Despicable Me 2 gave a lot of funds for those projects that Illumination wants to do. Either way I think we will be waiting awhile yet.

 

[Cupcakes]

I will be seriously disappointed if they really do scrap the Woody Woodpecker reboot. That's a character that needs to brought back into modern pop culture sooooooo badly.

 

[USO92]

Just because Uni and Disney appear to be going in separate directions doesn't mean that everything Uni is perfect and everything Disney is terrible. ET is very easily compared to (and better than) Peter Pan. It's not better by too much, but it's better. A overhaul of the attraction would do wonders in restoring it, keeping one of the last remaining original attractions (and one of the only relaxing ones in the park) and would potentially put it up on the Haunted Mansion level.

We all have our own opinions, however, I want to hear your reasoning on Mummy and Simpsons. I agree much more about Simpsons than Mummy, but still, I wouldn't say they're among the biggest things. Potter and Comcast acquiring Uni are the two biggest things easily for the resort. I don't really like Mummy as a IP tbh.

And lastly, I understand your disdain for nostalgia in a way. Disney relies WAY too much on it. For Universal though, they have very little things left in the park that have that nostalgia surrounding them, none more than ET. The IP doesn't have to be something people specifically book a trip for. Of course people will always book for the newest thing. They don't need to promote it either. But when thinking about Uni, I know many people who think of ET and it's been the first ride for many AP Holders i know. Nostalgia is fine in small quantities. When you get to the point where Disney is at with it is when it gets bad.

Oh I certainly agree that Uni isn't perfect lol and that Disney is all terrible. I love riding Tower of Terror, HM, POTC, Splash, etc..etc.. I was simply speaking in terms of their present day standards on how a park should be run (on both camps) and how Disney is losing their luster. I will state it again, (Mike you may wanna ignore this) if ET gets a great refurb I will certainly give it a chance. I willingly rode it the last time but was so distracted by the horror that its become that I could not properly enjoy it (plus I had a headache lol).

At the time they put the Mummy the park was (correct me if Im wrong) not doing so well. We know them as the dark years. I remember seeing the Mummy under construction and seeing the trailers for it, labeling it as "the world first psychological dark roller coaster). It seemed intense and for me was one of the most anticipated rides in my mind when it first opened. In that time period the only thing that had opened operations in the near past (once again correct me if Im wrong) was JNNB. So this was huge for Universal in terms of trying to gain some popularity. Now when Simpson's came in it wasnt that big of a deal. When I referred to it I meant to say that the Simpson's was huge because of everything they're able to do now; laid the groundwork, so to speak. But now that Potter has come, both of those things wain in "hugeness" factor.

And I will simply agree with your last point. My opinion has nothing to do with the way the park runs or what they are doing, it simply is a personal preference. :thumbs: