Universal's New Park/Site B Blue Sky Thread

[Norrin]

I wish Universal could do something like this.

Would fit the Steampunk theme....a sort of a "Station to the Fantasic Worlds"

EDIT: Plus a great original soundtrack to amp the level of "Epicness"

 

[quinnmac000]

What’s wrong with Port of Entry? It’s a great entrance to the park.

Nothing is wrong but as I stated...its been just under 20 years...theme park design has progressed. Consumers deserve something next level for the new park.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

If UC just puts the new entry on that level, I would give them a D on the grading scale. Its been almost 20 years, they should, would, and could do so much better. It should be at the minimum 3x the level of immersive Port of Entry currently is and optimally 5x better.

Lol what?

 

[Legacy]

I'm a metrics guy, and I'm not sure how you quantify theming.

 

[quinnmac000]

I'm a metrics guy, and I'm not sure how you quantify theming.

The same way people say wow I went to IOA and Potter was and looked great but unfortunately the rest of the park looked rundown.

Todays time and age wouldn't level of "theming' be dictated by social media in addition to...

Materials used, effects of unintentional aging, spatial area, visual icon, passthrough time, feelings of immersion, crowd flow, overall theming compared to the rest of the park....

Port of Entry biggest issue isn't so much the Port itself, its the materials over time have made it look rather cheap and aged, it lacks any iconic imagery within the park that gets people hyped, the cohesion to the lands next to it is rather lacking as you go from something more realistic to two colorful and cartoony areas, and spatially it can't hold crowds like other theme park entrances can. The icon of the Park isn't even within the park. Same thing with Universal Studios.

Comparing to certain Disney Parks (MK, DL, TDS, SDL), despite some of them being older, they don't look cheap, its a key social media spot with people taking pictures, its cohesive to the areas around it, and they can hold/handle traffic way more easily than IOA.

 

[Mad Dog]

The same way people say wow I went to IOA and Potter was and looked great but unfortunately the rest of the park looked rundown.

Todays time and age wouldn't level of "theming' be dictated by social media in addition to...

Materials used, effects of unintentional aging, spatial area, visual icon, passthrough time, feelings of immersion, crowd flow, overall theming compared to the rest of the park....

Port of Entry biggest issue isn't so much the Port itself, its the materials over time have made it look rather cheap and aged, it lacks any iconic imagery within the park that gets people hyped, the cohesion to the lands next to it is rather lacking as you go from something more realistic to two colorful and cartoony areas, and spatially it can't hold crowds like other theme park entrances can. The icon of the Park isn't even within the park. Same thing with Universal Studios.

Comparing to certain Disney Parks (MK, DL, TDS, SDL), despite some of them being older, they don't look cheap, its a key social media spot with people taking pictures, its cohesive to the areas around it, and they can hold/handle traffic way more easily than IOA.

I couldn't disagree more. POE is excellent. It has a WOW factor, not only the first visit to the park, but every subsequent visit. We spend more time looking at the interesting, and beautiful, intricacies of POE, than any other Orlando park entrance.

 

[Alicia]

Checking this thread...

 

[Imperius]

Only thing good about MK entry is the castle. Main Street is just generic IMO. POE with an icon would be far better.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

The same way people say wow I went to IOA and Potter was and looked great but unfortunately the rest of the park looked rundown.

Todays time and age wouldn't level of "theming' be dictated by social media in addition to...

Materials used, effects of unintentional aging, spatial area, visual icon, passthrough time, feelings of immersion, crowd flow, overall theming compared to the rest of the park....

Port of Entry biggest issue isn't so much the Port itself, its the materials over time have made it look rather cheap and aged, it lacks any iconic imagery within the park that gets people hyped, the cohesion to the lands next to it is rather lacking as you go from something more realistic to two colorful and cartoony areas, and spatially it can't hold crowds like other theme park entrances can. The icon of the Park isn't even within the park. Same thing with Universal Studios.

Comparing to certain Disney Parks (MK, DL, TDS, SDL), despite some of them being older, they don't look cheap, its a key social media spot with people taking pictures, its cohesive to the areas around it, and they can hold/handle traffic way more easily than IOA.

You must be disappointed they’re banning straws because you’re grasping for them dude.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I don't know how Port of Entry looks cheap? If you mean all the photo spots, every Disney/Universal park has them.

Also, IOA's lighthouse could not have been placed any better. Inside the park it'll look a lot smaller/weird right next to Hulk. It also balances USF's arches and globe.

 

[Alicia]

I like the music in POE. Best in the park, very memorable.

At the end of the day, most tourists don't care about entry lands though... They just run through them to get to the rides.

 

[Legacy]

The same way people say wow I went to IOA and Potter was and looked great but unfortunately the rest of the park looked rundown.

Todays time and age wouldn't level of "theming' be dictated by social media in addition to...

Materials used, effects of unintentional aging, spatial area, visual icon, passthrough time, feelings of immersion, crowd flow, overall theming compared to the rest of the park....

Port of Entry biggest issue isn't so much the Port itself, its the materials over time have made it look rather cheap and aged, it lacks any iconic imagery within the park that gets people hyped, the cohesion to the lands next to it is rather lacking as you go from something more realistic to two colorful and cartoony areas, and spatially it can't hold crowds like other theme park entrances can. The icon of the Park isn't even within the park. Same thing with Universal Studios.

Comparing to certain Disney Parks (MK, DL, TDS, SDL), despite some of them being older, they don't look cheap, its a key social media spot with people taking pictures, its cohesive to the areas around it, and they can hold/handle traffic way more easily than IOA.

So, your issue with POE is that a twenty-year-old park known for somewhat mediocre maintenance looks twenty years old. That's not a theming issue. That's a maintenance issue.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

The same way people say wow I went to IOA and Potter was and looked great but unfortunately the rest of the park looked rundown.

Todays time and age wouldn't level of "theming' be dictated by social media in addition to...

Materials used, effects of unintentional aging, spatial area, visual icon, passthrough time, feelings of immersion, crowd flow, overall theming compared to the rest of the park....

Port of Entry biggest issue isn't so much the Port itself, its the materials over time have made it look rather cheap and aged, it lacks any iconic imagery within the park that gets people hyped, the cohesion to the lands next to it is rather lacking as you go from something more realistic to two colorful and cartoony areas, and spatially it can't hold crowds like other theme park entrances can. The icon of the Park isn't even within the park. Same thing with Universal Studios.

Comparing to certain Disney Parks (MK, DL, TDS, SDL), despite some of them being older, they don't look cheap, its a key social media spot with people taking pictures, its cohesive to the areas around it, and they can hold/handle traffic way more easily than IOA.

I'm gonna level with you here, you need to reel back your train of thought.

__

To get back to speaking of blue sky, it seems as if @Disneyhead mentioned that Thinkwell will be apart of the project.

For perspective, they are responsible for WB Dhabi and also various other things from Universal Parks and Resorts back catalog.

Some of which includes the USH Special Effects Show, Madagascar from Universal Singapore, and apparently the thematic elements currently being applied to Cinematic Celebration and possibly more.

 

[Riler]

Port of Entry is fine to me, im not particularly one to stop and appreciate entrance areas but it has a nice aesthetic and is a nice opposite to the studios. I probably spend a few minutes walking through it and occasionally drop into a shop or two on the way out. I guess thats the problem with any entrance area, they arent destinations, just walk throughs to get where you want to be. The only exception for me is Main Street which has made itself a destination thanks to the evening entertainment, parade and shopping on offer.

Its the same issue I have with Citywalk when compared to Disney Springs, it isnt a destination for 90% of the people who go there. It is a stop on your journey to the parks that you are forced to go through. Im really hoping its something they change with this park if they want to make a big thing of the theme of the entry area and dont just copy and paste the current Citywalk offering.

 

[SkiBum]

I like the music in POE. Best in the park, very memorable.

At the end of the day, most tourists don't care about entry lands though... They just run through them to get to the rides.

Although, I've been enough now that I actually will slow down to look around. It only took a few decades. I love POE's music. I actually will pull up the music on Youtube via Universal Orlando Radio and just feel some peace. The only thing that I would welcome beyond POE's look is maybe some waterfalls or other water features. Even then, that is a small suggestion as the moving water might make it difficult to enjoy the music.

One thing I would add is that most entry areas are filled with souvenir shops (ex. MK's Main Street), which is fine but people aren't ready to shop when they first arrive. Well, I never was. I needed to get rides in before I was ready to look at a shop. So, imagine an entry similar to POE but, once you actually enter, you walk through trees (ex. Animal Kingdom). Or a different approach to set the tone and to move the shops away from the entrance. I guess it depends on what the park's overall theme is supposed to be.

 

[tielo]

I always thought that the castle at the end of main street always looked out of place and because of that kitsch and plastic.
In the end I see a lot of people glued to their phones when entering a theme park, probably feeling the need to tell the world they arrived. I love to browse POE when I leave the park and salute the icon when I exit the gate walking into the sparkling lights of CityWalk for an excellent dinner.

 

[Disneyhead]

I always thought that the castle at the end of main street always looked out of place and because of that kitsch and plastic.
In the end I see a lot of people glued to their phones when entering a theme park, probably feeling the need to tell the world they arrived. I love to browse POE when I leave the park and salute the icon when I exit the gate walking into the sparkling lights of CityWalk for an excellent dinner.

Unless they are vloggers, they are probably checking wait times in the App to figure out which way to go.

 

[Mad Dog]

Unless they are vloggers, they are probably checking wait times in the App to figure out which way to go.

Probably playing video games or texting people, like they do in the queues, oblivious to being in or enjoying a theme park. They may as well stay home, lay on the couch, play with their phones, and stuff themselves with pizza.

 

[Scott W.]

Probably playing video games or texting people, like they do in the queues, oblivious to being in or enjoying a theme park. They may as well stay home, lay on the couch, play with their phones, and stuff themselves with pizza.

Those darn kids and their game boys!

 

[tankart150]

Nothing is wrong but as I stated...its been just under 20 years...theme park design has progressed. Consumers deserve something next level for the new park.

The Oasis ew: