Been thinking of doing a post on the matter, expecting to get a bit flayed on it; but I think in the light of timing and the current state of the experience, someone has to start asking a unique question.
In the past decade the Studio Tour has kind of undergone a specific kind of augmentation and change that has been of reduction and of lessening the overall experience, to compensate for that of the Studio's wanted needs to continue to operate and flow at a unique rate. Some of the changes have been simple to point out too.
- The Reduction of the Red Sea to Park Lake (and in the near future, the complete erasure of the lake in the process of the remaining soundstages promised back in 2016.)
- The Demolishment of a sizable portion of Six Points Texas, to compensate and bring in a new Production Support Facility (Permits have gone live)
- The demolition of structures to relocate and redirect utilities such as Studio Mills (with the new mill being constructed right now near Earthquake and the future Production Support Facility)
Change and evolution for the studio would make sense in theory, but one has to wonder what it means with the Studio Tour. Because for the advancements to modernize the lot, the tour has continually changed as an experience, that has been diminished over a shortened period of time.
Some of the choices, like Jurassic Park forced to close seemingly permanently as a result of the accident (with the Picture Cars being kind of saved by being able to move to the lot over by Bates Motel), but others is the choice to not invest and reinforce elements and components. The lack of a replacement for Fast & Furious: Supercharged, the choice not to modernize the Collapsing Bridge infrastructurally to allow it to be operational again, hell--the choice to not regrade and not fix the road exiting Jurassic.
That isn't to say Universal isn't investing--they're just about finishing the electrification process, but I have to kind of wonder if at what point are we nearing the end of the line for the current Studio Tour experience.
It has now been nearly 15 years since the last major media refreshment with a new host. it has now been over a decade for a sizable and full scale Studio Tour experience*
(*excluding Jupiter's Claim as it is more or less that of a new set portion with minimal elements. It lacks the "Attraction" component of the likes of Earthquake, Kong 360, and Supercharged [and excluding the 60th Anniversary media done for the attraction]). And as it stands, elements that had been attempted to bring in new life to the tour, have since withered away as a result of costs to make it viable (like the Nighttime Studio Tour).
Less than a decade ago, we had the surveys, of Universal gauging the interest, and the ideas of converting the Studio Tour experience into a standalone attraction. Something that could make it distinct and isolated, away from the main park. I have to wonder if in the time since they've last broached the idea more prominently, that they've been observing what their competitors are doing. With Warner Bros. and their Studio Tour, Paramount and Sony's with theirs, and have been considering the notion again.
With work underway on the repositioning of Universal Studios Hollywood to become a major resort in the LA market, I wonder if they might've finally pushed the button. And that in a few years, we will see the VIP Studio Tour become it's own "Standalone Experience", with the Electrified Trams replacing the current Shuttle Trams. I genuinely wonder if we are finally nearing that path, of USH needing to make a justification and a reason for people to commit to multiple days, on the lot.
And for that commitment, lies to the future of the Tour. Because I think if Universal sees the vitality of how much people would be willing to spend for a more personalized experience, then I'd argue to get your rides in for the Studio Tour in the course of the next few years.
Sorry for the long post, expecting to get flayed, but this is me mainly making my observation based on reflecting on what has been happening with the tour as of late, and the path it seems to be following down towards.