Super Nintendo World - Hollywood (General Discussion)

[Viator]

So, I want to bring this up, but Theme Park Obsession's recent video shows quite a few changes. I'll post the video first, and then go from there, but to say they are going slow is..probably not the wisest call? Atleast not in the way we are seeing it.



The first large change of note, is on the side next to the Mario Kart showbuilding, in that, it looks like they added another layer of primer or paint onto the buildings. It looks a lot smoother now, much more firm in color and the edges look more curved.



Notice the one to the top left, next to what seems to be one of the power stations. The shaping of that wall contrasted to the one in the middle, in guest-accessible areas. You can also see the blue paint also present, but I doubt that'll be there that long.

The other major change, lies in Bowser's Castle. Of note, two things are present:



Of note, closer to the bottom you can start to see the same grey paint being present elsewhere, starting to trickle into Bowser's Castle. It looks to be in a solid stripe, going from one end to the other, being stopped only by the more defined and present smaller archway (As opposed to the large crescent above that (Which I am guessing is going to be the top piece for the mouth, for it's connectors and what-not).

The archway a bit closer:



The last change, is also on Mt. Beanpole, in that grey tarp we saw a few days ago. It seems to be staying, and looks to be of a heftier fabric, perhaps to protect whatever is currently in place for the time being?



I might be grasping at straws, but hey, speculation in this case might actually be a really good thing to do, especially in deducing how close we might be to prefabrification installation. Many thanks for the update, TPObsession, it's certainly made my night more interesting.

 

[Pacific]

I still feel like our Nintendo World might have a unique aspect to make up for the lack of space.

 

[salismetho]

we can now see Febuary 2023 blackouts for Silver Pass, and it's looking pretty good. Seems Universal is moving ahead with a winter 2022 opening, not really sure what other reason this + January's blackouts could be for. Gold seems to have identical blackouts to this year for febuary, and we won't know what the neighbor blackout dates are for a little bit

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Yeah this does seem convincing for SNW to open in November/December. I’m sure they can change blackout dates though if they wanted/needed to.

 

[salismetho]

Yeah this does seem convincing for SNW to open in November/December. I’m sure they can change blackout dates though if they wanted/needed to.

They can change blackout dates sure, but if they're already printed on people's passes then people probably wouldn't know. The park attendance would still majorly suffer.

Also, I was wrong we can see Neighbor blackouts now and:

Again, totally different from the couple blackouts of this year

 

[salismetho]

sorry for the double post, but I'm wondering if they'll announce the opening day/month/concept art on Mario Day. Would be pretty fitting

 

[baconwhiskers]

kinda hard to see but they left the lights on in bowser’s castle and you can see the inside with what kind of looks like a statue. Layout looks different than Japan for sure.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Happy to see they are finally pushing this thing into high gear...at this speed fall/winter makes more sense then it has been the past few months

 

[joerodriguez]

The first sign of theming finally appears. Video from Theme Park obsession, scan to 5:28 mark:

 

[Viator]

The first sign of theming finally appears. Video from Theme Park obsession, scan to 5:28 mark:

For notes:

Rock detailing near Toadstool Cafe, brickwork in the inner portion of Bowser's Castle's entrance, and Diagonal markings indented by white.

Ladies, gentlemen, and that technicolor world in-between. I believe it's time to set the clock, and see what happens.

 

[Milla4Prez66]

The low attendance could be a combination of little to do/re-visit value, vaccine checks, and outdoor masks (now dropped). Even the holiday season was slow at USH.

I went around a month ago and was shocked at how dead the park was. Personally, I think pricing is an issue. Of all the parks I did in California (USH, Disneyland, KBF), I easily got my worst value from Universal. Almost as much money as Disney without anywhere near the attractions. If they dropped the price they might get more traffic. Also, from talking to people in SoCal most people were pretty uninterested in Universal and were either into Disney or wanted to ride coasters with friends at Knott’s or Six Flags. They need better value and a way to win over locals.


As for Nintendo, it’s going to draw crowds for a bit and it will end up just as dead as Hollywood’s wizarding world shortly after. Especially when Orlando opens a better version of it. It will be huge for the park in that will print money in merchandise but I’m not sure how much it really draws extra people to the park long term. They need to start investing in exclusive experiences at that park to draw people instead of cloning everything if they want to draw tourists and they need to find a way to offer more thrills to draw locals. It’s all tough with the lack of space though.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I went around a month ago and was shocked at how dead the park was. Personally, I think pricing is an issue. Of all the parks I did in California (USH, Disneyland, KBF), I easily got my worst value from Universal. Almost as much money as Disney without anywhere near the attractions. If they dropped the price they might get more traffic. Also, from talking to people in SoCal most people were pretty uninterested in Universal and were either into Disney or wanted to ride coasters with friends at Knott’s or Six Flags. They need better value and a way to win over locals.


As for Nintendo, it’s going to draw crowds for a bit and it will end up just as dead as Hollywood’s wizarding world shortly after. Especially when Orlando opens a better version of it. It will be huge for the park in that will print money in merchandise but I’m not sure how much it really draws extra people to the park long term. They need to start investing in exclusive experiences at that park to draw people instead of cloning everything if they want to draw tourists and they need to find a way to offer more thrills to draw locals. It’s all tough with the lack of space though.

As an AP its not just price because the AP's are fairly prices even the best one is fair compared to what Disney is offering

It's the lack of events....hell Florida is getting escape rooms for BTTF and Jurassic.....and here in hollywood we got nothing. Like I doubt this summer we even get a new light show...we will get the cool one with the drones maybe but as an AP they just are letting us down with events and even if you dont want to compare it to other parks literally USH just 3 years ago was doing really cool events and now Grinchmas has a tree lighting and two meet and greets.....thats it.

I hope Nintendo land does well enough for the people in charge to try harder, like cool if HTOYD gets a movie in the dreamworks theater in 2024 but you need more use the walking dead space, french area, move the tram loading area....something just do something else besides giving us a ten min movie in 2024 to draw in guests

 

[Rideguy70]

Totally agree. As Knott's has so drastically proven, events will bring in guests, especially the APs. We find our selves going to Knott's very regularly trying out all the food (which we do pay for!) and seeing the entertainment.

It kills me that USH is a movie based park, and seems to have no interest in promoting such movies. How about a Back to the Future event, with dressing up, merch, food, music, character meet and greets, panel discussion, etc. from both 1988 and 1955? A Jaws tribute, with a recreation of the Jaws photo op, specialty seafood items, displays, photo ops with the Amity sign, walk around characters (the mayor would be hilarious), and memorabilia from the movie? Or even for newer films they'd like to promote, a mini-red carpet area with displays and photo ops ,and trailers of the movie playing? That could be more of a pop up event, but even that would be something.

Especially since we're in LA, there could even be some celebrity guest speakers/appearances that could be brought in to draw crowds (even B or C list celebs would be fine for this).

 

[Jerroddragon]

Totally agree. As Knott's has so drastically proven, events will bring in guests, especially the APs. We find our selves going to Knott's very regularly trying out all the food (which we do pay for!) and seeing the entertainment.

It kills me that USH is a movie based park, and seems to have no interest in promoting such movies. How about a Back to the Future event, with dressing up, merch, food, music, character meet and greets, panel discussion, etc. from both 1988 and 1955? A Jaws tribute, with a recreation of the Jaws photo op, specialty seafood items, displays, photo ops with the Amity sign, walk around characters (the mayor would be hilarious), and memorabilia from the movie? Or even for newer films they'd like to promote, a mini-red carpet area with displays and photo ops ,and trailers of the movie playing? That could be more of a pop up event, but even that would be something.

Especially since we're in LA, there could even be some celebrity guest speakers/appearances that could be brought in to draw crowds (even B or C list celebs would be fine for this).

Stranger thing's isn't even Universal yet they come to the parks

Bring in some fun IP's Cobra Kai, Acrane, Fornite, you partnered with Nintendo do an Animal crossing event or Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Transformers, Dreamworks (HTYD, Shrek...etc), Dragonball Z has a new film coming out and is still HUGE in America or other Animes like Attack on Titian, MHA, Demon Slayer, Lorder of the Rings they still have the simpsons rights and could easily do an event around that series, TNMT, Avatar/Korra, Cuphead, Halo (and other Microsoft games) Sony also has a list of great game Ips

I know they never would if USH hired me, I'd Fing kill it with events and make them buckets of money and make fans happy

 

[Freak]

Stranger thing's isn't even Universal yet they come to the parks

Bring in some fun IP's Cobra Kai, Acrane, Fornite, you partnered with Nintendo do an Animal crossing event or Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Transformers, Dreamworks (HTYD, Shrek...etc), Dragonball Z has a new film coming out and is still HUGE in America or other Animes like Attack on Titian, MHA, Demon Slayer, Lorder of the Rings they still have the simpsons rights and could easily do an event around that series, TNMT, Avatar/Korra, Cuphead, Halo (and other Microsoft games) Sony also has a list of great game Ips

I know they never would if USH hired me, I'd Fing kill it with events and make them buckets of money and make fans happy

Once Nintendo opens, they need to do an Animal Crossing event in the spring. Serve AC-themed food, have a KK Slider show, have a meet and greet with Isabel and Tom Nook, have a “tribute store” with Timmy and Tommy….you realize how much money that would make from that event?

 

[Ron101]

I still think they need more actual rides. Not sure I agree about the lack of events thing because honestly, what are they going to do other than dress up Universal plaza with some booths and banners? People aren’t going to show up to these events if the park is still lacking in other attractions.
That’s what makes Disney’s and Knott’s events successful is because people are already there for the variety of attractions offered, then just happen to stumble upon the event like Lunar New Year/Food and Wine. Some guests, mostly pass holders, will visit just for the up-charge tasting event, and visit DLR over USH’s event because of the better variety of attractions.

 

[Freak]

Another complaint I hear from my friends who aren't avid park-goers is that USH "has too many virtual rides" and the "rides are slow and boring". I understand they want to appeal to families, but I think USH should try to put a coaster in whatever way they kind. Once Mummy is on the chopping block, it should be for a coaster.

 

[highdefrex]

I still think they need more actual rides. Not sure I agree about the lack of events thing because honestly, what are they going to do other than dress up Universal plaza with some booths and banners? People aren’t going to show up to these events if the park is still lacking in other attractions.
That’s what makes Disney’s and Knott’s events successful is because people are already there for the variety of attractions offered, then just happen to stumble upon the event like Lunar New Year/Food and Wine. Some guests, mostly pass holders, will visit just for the up-charge tasting event, and visit DLR over USH’s event because of the better variety of attractions.

I agree. Practically everyone I know views Universal as a "maybe once a year" park because there's nothing dynamic in terms of actual rides. Barring Wizarding World and maybe SLOP, practically the entire upper lot is a "once and done" experience: KFP, Minion Mayhem, Simpsons... even Animal Actors and Waterworld don't necessarily provide anything new once you've seen them. Same with the Studio Tour at this point, really. First-timers/vacationers are going to view it all fresh, and diehard AP holders are going to come regardless, but that huge population of general parkgoers in between want dynamic ride experiences, which simply isn't possible when the bulk of their day is just... sitting watching something in front of them. Sitting for KFP. Sitting for MM. Sitting to watch a show. Sitting for Simpsons. And to a degree, sitting for the Studio Tour.

Even the lower lot on a good day can be finished in an hour, and even then, I've heard people lament how Mummy is way too short (which it is) or how Transformers - despite being an actual ride compared to the upper lot stuff - is just not that exciting anymore because it's just another screen-based experience in a park too full of them as it is.

Universal could throw a new, crazy event each week to try to draw people in, but it'd still be like swapping paint on a used car. It may look different, maybe even flashier, but behind the wheel, it'd still be the same fundamental experience, one where no amount of food and drinks or special theming and so on would hide the fact that throughout the day, guests would still be experiencing the same old screen-based stuff that burnt them out and keeps them away in the first place. SLOP was a good step in the right direction, and SNW is going to be a nice shot in the arm, but I'd imagine only for so long, when the rest of the park remains the same; hopefully after it's open, they start going all in on what's next, because it's long past time.

 

[chris.g]

For what it's worth I did hear USH was going to kick into high gear events year round last year but the rise of Omnicron literally just put a nail in that coffin.

Once Nintendo opens, they need to do an Animal Crossing event in the spring. Serve AC-themed food, have a KK Slider show, have a meet and greet with Isabel and Tom Nook, have a “tribute store” with Timmy and Tommy….you realize how much money that would make from that event?

I have also heard something almost exactly like what is mentioned here is in the works in an effort to have our land have more kinetic energy.

 

[Clive]

For what it's worth I did hear USH was going to kick into high gear events year round last year but the rise of Omnicron literally just put a nail in that coffin.



I have also heard something almost exactly like what is mentioned here is in the works in an effort to have our land have more kinetic energy.

There's too much bureaucracy to get new events implemented - at least anything with any real meat. By the time it gets through several layers of middle management and budget eviscerations, we get something like our "lunar celebration" this year.

They don't want to spend any money because attendance is bad... but attendance is bad because they aren't spending money.

Anyway, it may be best to create a new thread to discuss the "state of USH" / lack of events and the like, but this is the Super Nintendo World thread, so we should get back on topic...