The Old KidZone Thread

[novawildcat18]

As long as ET goes, I'll be happy. Unpopular opinion on here, I know.

 

[mahnamahna]

As long as ET goes, I'll be happy. Unpopular opinion on here, I know.

If another family dark ride isn't added to the area, I'll be unhappy. In order for KidZone to compete with Fantasyland, there need to be at least TWO family rides. A flat ride or two and possibly a nice water ride would do wonders as well.

E.T. is the last major remnant of old-school Universal. A massive upgrade and a new facade is all it needs!

 

[Quint]

Part of it. Everything I heard about it will make people happy.

Will this appeal to the family demographic that Kidzone currently targets? And by currently, I mean 1995.

 

[novawildcat18]

If another family dark ride isn't added to the area, I'll be unhappy. In order for KidZone to compete with Fantasyland, there need to be at least TWO family rides. A flat ride or two and possibly a nice water ride would do wonders as well.

E.T. is the last major remnant of old-school Universal. A massive upgrade and a new facade is all it needs!

I agree that it needs at least two family rides. Every time I go on that ride, I always hear complaints from the typical tourist about how lame/weird/boring/trippy/stupid the ride is. I think that they could replace it with something much more impressive. All my opinion though.

 

[MrRoamer]

If another family dark ride isn't added to the area, I'll be unhappy. In order for KidZone to compete with Fantasyland, there need to be at least TWO family rides. A flat ride or two and possibly a nice water ride would do wonders as well.

E.T. is the last major remnant of old-school Universal. A massive upgrade and a new facade is all it needs!

Totally agree. I'd prefer skipping the water ride and keeping Curious George around with a dry entrance to the ball area (read not in view of gallons of water). There isn't anything wrong with giving the little ones a place to burn a little excess energy.

They just need to overhaul ET and give it the TLC it deserves. Hopefully while they are at it, get rid of the steal your soul alien fueled by nightmare juice.

 

[JungleSkip]

In order for KidZone to compete with Fantasyland

If you assume that's their goal, that is.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

As long as ET gets some much needed upgrades and there's another new E ticket I'll be good.

 

[Milla4Prez66]

I'm not for or against ET getting axed. Universal needs a family ride like it in the park but I won't complain if they replaced it with a new IP like, say SpongeBob. I could see a dark ride themed to riding with SpongeBob on a boating license test with the obvious calamity that would ensue. But if they kept ET, I'd be fine. As long as they work on it a bit. I don't think it gets axed though because I know Spielberg was unhappy that it got axed in Hollywood and threatened to pull the plug on his projects in Universal theme parks if they shut it down in Florida.

The whole area needs to go though, so outdated in every way. I just really wanna see a Krusty Krab, if Krusty Burger is successful then I think that would be even better.

 

[mahnamahna]

If you assume that's their goal, that is.

Well I just think the area needs more than one major ride

Fantasyland has:
Peter Pan
Pooh
Small World (major)
Dumbo
Mad Tea Party
Little Mermaid
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (coming soon - major)
Great Goofini

KidZone
E.T.
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster (a C-ticket and off-the-shelf theming)

Considering how much space KidZone takes... pretty unremarkable. I'd say bulldoze Fievel and Barney, give Animal Actors and Curious George some love, and utilize a smidge of backstage areas (I'm hestitant to get rid of Curious George since I love the character :smiley

But I'm eager to hear about whatever the idea Universal Creative has come up with!!

 

[PWT]

Im surprised no one is talking about the new midway games at the entrance to KidZone Photo Credit : Magic C. Mayhem

Haven't seen it noted yet, this has been occurring for the past 4 years. The only difference this year is the games have tents, instead of being in the open.

Normally, it's accompanied by the area getting MG decoration and the little show on the Kidzone stage getting a Mardi Gras theme. (Has the show been put to rest? Come to think of it, I haven't heard anything about it or seen it since last Mardi Gras.)

 

[Gambit]

I would say get rid of Barney (which ended 4 years ago), Fievel (which came out 23 years ago) and Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster (which is nothing special). Keep Animal Actors but move them to a new and much smaller theater and give E.T. the full refurb it deserves with same new technology and figures. The Curious George area to me can go either way.

I know it's been said but the new Super Silly Funland at USH is looking REALLY nice and I think it would make a good addition to the Kid Zone. Perhaps as a replacement for the Curious George section as it has water elements in it.

[video]http://www.craveonline.com/lifestyle/articles/644851-behind-the-scenes-despicable-me-minion-mayhem-at-universal-studios-hollywood[/video]

 

[blue180]

yeah, I mean the concept of ET is great. I'm assuming Spielberg wants it to stay. It just needs major, and I mean major enhancements/brand new sets. I was on it this past Christmas, and everything is just so old and dated. The AA's are so frumpy, ET at the end barely says the names. In its current state, it is actually an embarrassment to the franchise in my opinion.

If universal wants to keep it, great. But if you are, give it the full attention and upgrades it needs. Completely redo sets, etc....

 

[JungleSkip]

Well I just think the area needs more than one major ride

Fantasyland has:
Peter Pan
Pooh
Small World (major)
Dumbo
Mad Tea Party
Little Mermaid
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (coming soon - major)
Great Goofini

KidZone
E.T.
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster (a C-ticket and off-the-shelf theming)

Considering how much space KidZone takes... pretty unremarkable. I'd say bulldoze Fievel and Barney, give Animal Actors and Curious George some love, and utilize a smidge of backstage areas (I'm hestitant to get rid of Curious George since I love the character :smiley

But I'm eager to hear about whatever the idea Universal Creative has come up with!!

I meant you're assuming Universal is trying to match Fantasyland and go for that audience. I don't think they are.

 

[mahnamahna]

I meant you're assuming Universal is trying to match Fantasyland and go for that audience. I don't think they are.

I do agree that they're aiming for the 7 and up crowd as opposed to Disney's 3 and up age range. Universal's more adventurous so it'll naturally appeal more to older kids and adults

 

[IzzyB]

I do agree that they're aiming for the 7 and up crowd as opposed to Disney's 3 and up age range. Universal's more adventurous so it'll naturally appeal more to older kids and adults

I think Uni would be dumb not to put more family rides that the whole family can ride. I am not saying making it kiddie land, but give some rides that the whole family can go on to make it more worth it for families that have a range of ages in it to want to go. Right now most of my friends with just one kid under the age of 7 won't touch Uni, such a shame.

 

[JungleSkip]

Right now most of my friends with just one kid under the age of 7 won't touch Uni, such a shame.

But here's the thing, there's not enough room for Universal to add things to significantly change that view, and they know it. Universal is quite happy being the place for families with kids 8+. It's done well for them, and that's the way they're going to continue.

Also, I can safely say move on from Nickelodeon. Not gonna happen.

 

[Mad Dog]

I know that people say that you can't split up IP's over two areas (how about Harry Potter though). But I think a DM Minions area would be a huge success. They're going to do a Super Silly Minion area in Hollywood, and there's a larger area available in Kidzone. Maybe even a Minion D or E attraction also. At least two more movies coming up for this "extremely popular" franchise. DM Minions plus a refurbished ET would be an unqualified success in my opinion.

 

[TylerDurden]

But here's the thing, there's not enough room for Universal to add things to significantly change that view, and they know it. Universal is quite happy being the place for families with kids 8+. It's done well for them, and that's the way they're going to continue.

Also, I can safely say move on from Nickelodeon. Not gonna happen.

Thats a great way to stay stagnant. On a good day, IOA does 10 million less than Magic Kingdom. If they want to keep growing and keep establishing themselves as THE destination in Orlando (or at least an equal destination to Disney) theyre going to have to go for a bit more market share. Theyve already taken steps in this direction. I have to agree wit Izzy that the real money is in families with younger kids. Theyre the ones who are, for the most part, taking theme park vacations. Theyre also the ones going to Disney...the ones Universal wants to take away. They cant do that if they keep insiting theyre for the "8+" crowd only.

Besides, the addition of more kid-centric attractions since Potter contradicts your theory anyway.

 

[JungleSkip]

You're right, having revenue growth at a higher clip than Disney clearly shows Universal is going after the wrong demographic to make money.

Remind me what kid-centric attractions Universal has added. Despicable Me has a height requirement and motion sickness worries. Transformers is not a "family attraction". The parade I guess? And Twirl and Hurl? Yea, they're really going all out to get those little kids!

 

[Milla4Prez66]

You're right, having revenue growth at a higher clip than Disney clearly shows Universal is going after the wrong demographic to make money.

Remind me what kid-centric attractions Universal has added. Despicable Me has a height requirement and motion sickness worries. Transformers is not a "family attraction". The parade I guess? And Twirl and Hurl? Yea, they're really going all out to get those little kids!

Plus the rumored Lorax dark ride, which would obviously be a family ride was axed. Likely to create more $$$ for construction of the new Kong ride which may end up being the resort's most terrifying non-coaster ride.

I think Universal knows they need some family stuff, but they know they will never beat Disney in the little kid area. They know what their market is.