Universal's New Park/Site B Blue Sky Thread

[Imperius]

Classic dark rides are extremely boring though.

 

[belloq87]

Where do you stand on FJ as a "classic-style" dark ride? It has much of what you describe, it's just in an evolved form.

I would not call it "classic-style," no. "Hybrid" is the word I would use. Like Spider-Man, Transformers, and Gringotts, it gets a little too simulator-y at points for me to consider it to be in the classic style.

And none of that is a value judgment -- Spidey and Forbidden Journey are both in my Top 3 attractions.

Based on the ride video, Mystic Manor is really the only modern ride I can think of that truly looks like a "classic-style" dark ride for the 21st century. Yes, there are projections all over the place, but it's not simulator-y in any of its moments, and it's crammed with AAs and simpler figures. For the vast majority of the ride, you're looking at things that are really, physically in the space with you.

 

[belloq87]

Classic dark rides are extremely boring though.

 

[JungleSkip]

It's a point of view shared by more people than those in the community want to admit. I don't agree with it, but a lot of people don't want a park full of Haunted Mansions.

 

[belloq87]

It's a point of view shared by more people than those in the community want to admit. I don't agree with it, but a lot of people don't want a park full of Haunted Mansions.

I'm well aware. I'm just constantly baffled by it, because if you don't like classic dark rides, how did you ever become a theme park fan (rather than an amusement park fan) in the first place?

But whatever!

And in any case, as I've argued many times, it's all about balance. I don't want a park full of Haunted Mansions, either. But some parks could still use an experience on that level.

 

[Nick]

I'm well aware. I'm just constantly baffled by it, because if you don't like classic dark rides, how did you ever become a theme park fan (rather than an amusement park fan) in the first place?

But whatever!

And in any case, as I've argued many times, it's all about balance. I don't want a park full of Haunted Mansions, either. But some parks could still use an experience on that level.

Yeah, nobody wants a park of Haunted Mansions. But a few spread here and there can't hurt and it also helps with simply taking a break/rest out of your day. No Universal rides currently are peaceful to where you can just take a nice little break, aside from Hogwarts Express. But with HE, you end up in a different park, so it's not something you can ride simply for relaxation purposes too often.

 

[JungleSkip]

Yeah, nobody wants a park of Haunted Mansions. But a few spread here and there can't hurt and it also helps with simply taking a break/rest out of your day. No Universal rides currently are peaceful to where you can just take a nice little break, aside from Hogwarts Express. But with HE, you end up in a different park, so it's not something you can ride simply for relaxation purposes too often.

Sure but Universal has never had more than maybe one of those rides. It's just not their style.

 

[Disneyhead]

It's a point of view shared by more people than those in the community want to admit. I don't agree with it, but a lot of people don't want a park full of Haunted Mansions.

I have voiced my unpopular opinion many times. Some of my favorite attractions are classic dark rides like HM and PotC. They are hokey and feel like the early '70s.

I absolutely DO NOT want a new E Ticket to feel like the '70s.

GRM and Ellen's were about as "fun" as a root canal. I am done with the walking speed RV, animated wax museum presentation attractions.

 

[belloq87]

Again, Mystic Manor proves you can do a more kinetic, "modern" version of a dark ride that is still crammed full of classic influence and doesn't just turn into a simulator.

 

[Imperius]

Little mermaid, Peter Pan, Pooh, and even HM IMo are incredibly boring once you’ve risen them as much as I have. I could ride Spider-Man or FJ all day.

 

[belloq87]

Little mermaid, Peter Pan, Pooh, and even HM IMo are incredibly boring once you’ve risen them as much as I have. I could ride Spider-Man or FJ all day.

Fair enough. Different people want different things from theme park rides.

 

[Alicia]

Having said all that, I expect the new 4th park to include more "classic-style" dark rides, ala Fantasyland, as well as at least 1 dark boat ride. Universal wants to compete with Magic Kingdom, and new-fashioned nostalgic-feeling dark rides utilizing their own new growing back catalog of animated characters should do the trick. And moreover... low-to-no height limit attractions will be the best thing to welcome families of all shapes and sizes to the new park.

 

[JungleSkip]

Having said all that, I expect the new 4th park to include more "classic-style" dark rides, ala Fantasyland, as well as at least 1 dark boat ride. Universal wants to compete with Magic Kingdom, and new-fashioned nostalgic-feeling dark rides utilizing their own new growing back catalog of animated characters should do the trick. And moreover... low-to-no height limit attractions will be the best thing to welcome families of all shapes and sizes to the new park.

Personally I think this is not a great idea, but we'll see.

Trying to be the Magic Kingdom is the easiest way to ensure you won't beat the Magic Kingdom.

 

[quinnmac000]

Agreed. Magic Kingdom power is Nostalgia not so much ride quality. I don't ride a small world because I actually enjoy the ride, I ride it due to the memories it has.

I'm fine with classic dark rides if they are done with a twist. But keeping it simple and traditional with no level of any intensity is just a waste.

 

[captainmoch]

Personally I think this is not a great idea, but we'll see.

Trying to be the Magic Kingdom is the easiest way to ensure you won't beat the Magic Kingdom.

I don't think they need to try to be the Magic Kingdom, I just think they need to appeal to the crowd that loves the Magic Kingdom.

Currently, Universal is drawing in a lot of attendance but they're not bringing in the people who love pretty, nostalgic, truly all-ages experiences. I feel like the new park has the opportunity to bring that in (with properties such as Middle-Earth and Nintendo) while still appealing to Universal's core teenage and young adult audience (with properties such as Jurassic World and Fantastic Beasts).

 

[Alicia]

I didnt say "be" Magic Kingdom, I said compete with. You can still have fun rides with low-to-no height limits.

And that would still only be a part of the overall offerings at the new park.

Even though we only see one classic style dark ride at each of the existing UO parks, I bet we see a couple more, and maybe a boat ride (that doesn't end in a drop,) show up in the new park.

 

[JungleSkip]

Agreed. Magic Kingdom power is Nostalgia not so much ride quality. I don't ride a small world because I actually enjoy the ride, I ride it due to the memories it has.

I'm fine with classic dark rides if they are done with a twist. But keeping it simple and traditional with no level of any intensity is just a waste.

Right. Like, DreamWorks and Illumination have good properties, but they're just not gonna draw like Disney's nostalgia driven ones do. I also don't want to see slow moving dark rides for things like HTTYD or KFP. Doesn't make any sense.

 

[Disneyhead]

Universal has actively avoided catering to the stroller brigade and the pacemaker crowd. Just sayin'.

 

[captainmoch]

Universal has actively avoided catering to the stroller brigade and the pacemaker crowd. Just sayin'.

It never hurts to have a wider audience, y'know.

 

[Alicia]

Universal has actively avoided catering to the stroller brigade and the pacemaker crowd. Just sayin'.

Man I miss the old Jurassic Park Jeep strollers from the 1990s at USF.