Next Attraction To Go?

[sjago13]

It they wanted/had to keep Shrek I would be cool with them moving him to kid zone and building a mini land for him and maybe using Shrek and Lucy for a classic monsters dark ride. The problem is that Shrek seems too popular to remove but not popular enough to put forth the effort in building a whole new land for.

 

[AK-Jake]

^I can't see Universal spending the money to move Shrek to KidZone. My guess is that when they remove his existing attraction, he'll be gone for good. Definitely like the idea of a Classic Monsters dark ride! Guess we'll have to see how well Universal's upcoming "Classic Monsters Movie Universe" concept they're working up goes over with movie goers.

 

[UniversalCrazy]

Shrek is still a well-known character/franchise, and with a fifth installment (TBA) on it's way, I don't think Shrek is going anywhere.

For example, look at MIB:AA before the third MIB film was released, it was slightly unpopular. But then, when the third film was released it became popular again.

Universal's theming is a lot different than Disney's because most of Universal's movie-rides don't live up to future generations. Unless you're talking about E.T. or Jurassic Park.

 

[UNIrd]

Shrek and Twister are both at 40 minute waits right now. Hell Week begins!

 

[shiekra38]

Shrek and Twister are both at 40 minute waits right now. Hell Week begins!

You know Universal is packed when...

 

[OrlandoGuy]

ET and T2 are safe, I feel comfortable saying.

I think you'd change your mind about T2 if you were to see how much downtime it's had this week.

 

[Clive]

I think you'd change your mind about T2 if you were to see how much downtime it's had this week.

Excessive downtime might necessitate an emergency refurbishment (see Disaster a couple years back), but I think they'll keep it for a while. It'll cost them quite a bit, but hey, Disaster's still kicking.

So wild to me that they aren't more forward thinking when building these attractions: I constantly hear major culprits that led to the demise of Kong (and now apparently contributing to the eventual end of Disaster and Terminator) are lack of parts because the companies that produced them are no longer in business. Perhaps there are operations of business I'm not privy to, but why on earth wouldn't Universal keep blueprints and parts lists for these sorts of things and have other companies recreate them? I'm sure some of them are patented or created specifically for the park, but if one firm can do it, why not another (and the patent can't be too hard to come by if the old firm is kaput). Just seems to be very little preventative maintenance when it comes to these outdated effects.

Perhaps it's because they primarily use their in-house Imagineering, but I just don't hear about Disney having these sorts of critical problems.

 

[Teebin]

Perhaps it's because they primarily use their in-house Imagineering, but I just don't hear about Disney having these sorts of critical problems.

Weeeeell, I have always thought it odd that there wasn't a backup for every animatronic on Disney parks property. It appears it is not financially viable. Disney will have some animatronics not working for months on end. This applies to Universal too.

 

[Clive]

Weeeeell, I have always thought it odd that there wasn't a backup for every animatronic on Disney parks property. It appears it is not financially viable. Disney will have some animatronics not working for months on end. This applies to Universal too.

It'd be way too expensive to have literal duplicate animatronics sitting around -- some of them cost a million dollars apiece or more. (For reference, the original hydraulic Imhotep I cost reportedly cost roughly 4 million, with Imhotep II and Reggie making up the other 3 million of the AA budget.) However, in the "good old" days Disney would keep multiple parts for pretty much everything ready-to-go, so when something broke, it'd take a night or two to repair. Now they don't order anything until it's already broken, which means it can take weeks to fix certain elements.

Universal used to have that point system where an attraction couldn't accumulate 10 or more "points" in broken elements, otherwise the ride went down til they could get it under 10. That process seems to only really apply if it's convenient these days, I'm afraid.

 

[Teebin]

It'd be way too expensive to have literal duplicate animatronics sitting around -- some of them cost a million dollars apiece or more. (For reference, the original hydraulic Imhotep I cost reportedly cost roughly 4 million, with Imhotep II and Reggie making up the other 3 million of the AA budget.) However, in the "good old" days Disney would keep multiple parts for pretty much everything ready-to-go, so when something broke, it'd take a night or two to repair. Now they don't order anything until it's already broken, which means it can take weeks to fix certain elements.

Universal used to have that point system where an attraction couldn't accumulate 10 or more "points" in broken elements, otherwise the ride went down til they could get it under 10. That process seems to only really apply if it's convenient these days, I'm afraid.

I believe we are both agreeing even if we differ on the solution. It's like the frozen food industry. If you find that you can sell a lesser product and still make the same money, then why not!? It is sad but thus

 

[pastis9]

I can say for certain that Disney DOES have those type of problems at some attractions. I worked at Universe Of Energy in 2005, we had trouble with lights on the main dispatch board that enabled the rid to function. In the 6 months I was there, 2 of the lights stopped working and could not be replaced because the company did not make the bulbs anymore. If one more had stopped functioning, the ride could not continue working. Since it never was shut down, I am assuming a work around was found, to the dismay of many lol, but there was considerable worry for a time.

 

[Skubersky]

Perhaps it's because they primarily use their in-house Imagineering, but I just don't hear about Disney having these sorts of critical problems.

Fun fact: Disney does almost none of their own AA work anymore, it's all been farmed out to Garner Holt.

And the motorcycle in T2 went down all the time when I was a tech on that show in 1996. But we did an alternate entrance with no cycle, it wouldn't stop the show during peak season. There must be an issue with the side screen covers not coming up...

 

[DK745]

Fun fact: Disney does almost none of their own AA work anymore, it's all been farmed out to Garner Holt.

And the motorcycle in T2 went down all the time when I was a tech on that show in 1996. But we did an alternate entrance with no cycle, it wouldn't stop the show during peak season. There must be an issue with the side screen covers not coming up...

Was it the same thing they do now with no cycle where they just kinda run off to the side of the stage and the motorcycle still lands center in the film?

 

[MrRoamer]

Fun fact: Disney does almost none of their own AA work anymore, it's all been farmed out to Garner Holt.

And the motorcycle in T2 went down all the time when I was a tech on that show in 1996. But we did an alternate entrance with no cycle, it wouldn't stop the show during peak season. There must be an issue with the side screen covers not coming up...

You were a ghostbuster and a terminator?!?!

 

[graspthesun]

I have to say that I am biased towards the Earthquake effect in the Studio Tour at Universal Hollywood over Disaster at USF. I feel like as long as that element exists on the west coast, I'm fine with it sunsetting in the east.

 

[deano_ue]

personally id say shrek could be the next, mainly because in the pop culture its not as big as it used to be. plus its an easy refurb just throw in another 4d movie.

otherwise id say t2 and et both need some major tlc and a lot of new tweeks. but as others have said if you put a gun to my head id say kill twister there is just no point to it anymore

 

[DufflesMcGee]

So.... going to orlando for the first time in a few months, but going to disney not Uni. feel like its a terrible idea since its top 5 busiest weeks, going to be slammed and no fast passes...

But atleast I can go on that 1 fun ride... called... um...

but seriously, its going to be packed. would rather do uni with fast passes which is still cheaper than a disney pass

 

[JungleSkip]

Perhaps it's because they primarily use their in-house Imagineering, but I just don't hear about Disney having these sorts of critical problems.

That's because no one ever talks about them. Pirates went down for extended time a few times a week when I was working at MK, and now it goes down for stretches of time every day. SDMT, last time I heard, was having just as much, if not more, downtime as Gringotts. Not to mention Disney is just willing to run attractions with critical scenes inoperable these days.

 

[shiekra38]

personally id say shrek could be the next, mainly because in the pop culture its not as big as it used to be. plus its an easy refurb just throw in another 4d movie.

otherwise id say t2 and et both need some major tlc and a lot of new tweeks. but as others have said if you put a gun to my head id say kill twister there is just no point to it anymore

I think a lot of people still know who he is...and recognition is everything...remember Universal is an internationally visited park...
wait, did I just defend Shrek...ugh kill me..

That's because no one ever talks about them. Pirates went down for extended time a few times a week when I was working at MK, and now it goes down for stretches of time every day. SDMT, last time I heard, was having just as much, if not more, downtime as Gringotts. Not to mention Disney is just willing to run attractions with critical scenes inoperable these days.

Well SDMT is more technically advanced than Gringotts with its one show scene and all

Well take a look at Splash Mountain...it was literally chipping away until they closed it and refurbed it...unfortunately an attraction "falling apart" doesn't always mean it is leaving for a while (see T2 and Twister)

 

[MrRoamer]

That's because no one ever talks about them. Pirates went down for extended time a few times a week when I was working at MK, and now it goes down for stretches of time every day. SDMT, last time I heard, was having just as much, if not more, downtime as Gringotts. Not to mention Disney is just willing to run attractions with critical scenes inoperable these days.

It is a real shame too and really shouldn't happen if it is a major scene. Last time we road splash mountain, pretry much everything was dead in the zippidy doo dah scene at the end.