Dark Universe - General Discussion Thread

[queenmetroid]

Hey, the staff here deserve beers and I
if I ever run into them, I will happily buy them a beer or five at the Burning Blade or otherwise. I simply don't reside in Florida so the chances of our paths crossing are low-ish.

 

[Fedic]

I have recently heard rumors that the monsters dark ride is more along the lines of a HHN house and will feature. Gore

If Inside Universal had an award for "Strangest Sentence Structure" I would nominate. You

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Jokes aside……. Hasn’t there been actual rumors or rumblings about this ride being HHN level? The company themselves went out of their way when first introducing minimal details of the ride that “you will feel accomplished riding this ride”, that’s a pretty bold statement.

 

[USO92]

If Inside Universal had an award for "Strangest Sentence Structure" I would nominate. You

Was this response necessary? Why be mean for the sake of being mean? I don't get it.

Jokes aside……. Hasn’t there been actual rumors or rumblings about this ride being HHN level? The company themselves went out of their way when first introducing minimal details of the ride that “you will feel accomplished riding this ride”, that’s a pretty bold statement.

I believe they mentioned in the reveal video that this was their "Scariest ride they've built". We only have a handful of models to go off of regarding "scary rides" from UC, but ROTM and FJ have their fair share of creepy moments. If this is more intense than those, then I'd say they've pushed the bar...

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Was this response necessary? Why be mean for the sake of being mean? I don't get it.


I believe they mentioned in the reveal video that this was their "Scariest ride they've built". We only have a handful of models to go off of regarding "scary rides" from UC, but ROTM and FJ have their fair share of creepy moments. If this is more intense than those, then I'd say they've pushed the bar...

That’s sort of what I’m thinking. Mummy gives a few gasps before the launch to any first riders I’ve been on, I imagine this is going to be 10x that.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

That’s sort of what I’m thinking. Mummy gives a few gasps before the launch to any first riders I’ve been on, I imagine this is going to be 10x that.

I think that 10x scarier would make the ride easily the most unpopular at EU. I understand the desire for an HHN-caliber ride but I imagine it’d be a huge huge risk.

 

[Jake S]

I'd caution against reading too much into statements made in what is essentially a marketing-led hype video. We'll see where it lands when the park opens, but I'd be very surprised if it dramatically breaks the current threshold for "scariest daytime theme park attraction."

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I'd caution against reading too much into statements made in what is essentially a marketing-led hype video. We'll see where it lands when the park opens, but I'd be very surprised if it dramatically breaks the current threshold for "scariest daytime theme park attraction."

Theme Park Marketing working at it's finest. It'll be scary, but don't expect anything beyond something like Kong's queue or the dementors scene in FJ.

 

[queenmetroid]

This ride is a massive investment that is meant to last 15-20 years (at least) and anchor an major area equal to 15% of a new immersive theme park, which is home to a lot of firsts, and this ride on its own likely costs many times as much to develop as a single year of HHN. It's also a property that is basically unknown to most of the general public compared to the rest of the properties in this park. (Sorry, horror fans, but there's no way more people love Frankenstein and Dracula than Mario or Harry Potter.)

While this area and marquee ride are clearly a labor of love for the horror fans by the creative team, they are not the only demographic Universal that will be attending this park. Unlike HHN, which self-selects the audience due to its hard ticket nature, this ride is in a year round theme park with lots of other family-friendly properties, and it has to be accessible for the random family that walks in so that they aren't annoyed about missing 15% of the theme park they paid full price for. It's how all theme parks work, short of height requirements (which serve as a filter for younger kids anyway). There's no way Universal is going to make this ride inaccessible to all ages with excessive scary imagery, explicit violence, or gore. This ride will be focus tested to the hilt, and I will be shocked if Universal gambles this much money on a attraction that so much is riding on. I simply cannot see it as being significantly more intense than Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. At most, it will bear the same warning as HHN about mature subject matter and it not being recommended for children.

(Hey, I'd love to be wrong, but that's just the corporate calculus.)

 

[rageofthegods]

This ride is a massive investment that is meant to last 15-20 years (at least) and anchor an major area equal to 15% of a new immersive theme park, which is home to a lot of firsts, and this ride on its own likely costs many times as much to develop as a single year of HHN. It's also a property that is basically unknown to most of the general public compared to the rest of the properties in this park. (Sorry, horror fans, but there's no way more people love Frankenstein and Dracula than Mario or Harry Potter.)

While this area and marquee ride are clearly a labor of love for the horror fans by the creative team, they are not the only demographic Universal that will be attending this park. Unlike HHN, which self-selects the audience due to its hard ticket nature, this ride is in a year round theme park with lots of other family-friendly properties, and it has to be accessible for the random family that walks in so that they aren't annoyed about missing 15% of the theme park they paid full price for. It's how all theme parks work, short of height requirements (which serve as a filter for younger kids anyway). There's no way Universal is going to make this ride inaccessible to all ages with excessive scary imagery, explicit violence, or gore. This ride will be focus tested to the hilt, and I will be shocked if Universal gambles this much money on a attraction that so much is riding on. I simply cannot see it as being significantly more intense than Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. At most, it will bear the same warning as HHN about mature subject matter and it not being recommended for children.

(Hey, I'd love to be wrong, but that's just the corporate calculus.)

Also feels relevant to note that they're making a permanent scary UM attraction in Vegas.

 

[Rhian]

I don't want to use the word need but there's definitely a desire for a more scary/foreboding ride. While it may not have as much gore as an HHN house I do want something that's pushing of the boundaries of say, a PG-13 movie. The atmosphere of DU alone might cause some to steer away from it and that's okay.

What I don't want to happen is have a similar situation as FJ where they disabled the Dementors flying overhead in a scene because it was deemed too scary. IIRC they're still on in USH but were never turned on for USO.

Unlike HHN, which self-selects the audience due to its hard ticket nature, this ride is in a year round theme park with lots of other family-friendly properties, and it has to be accessible for the random family that walks in so that they aren't annoyed about missing 15% of the theme park they paid full price for.

I would also bring up that in parks with kiddie areas you're unlikely to go to that area of the park or at the very least go on the rides if you don't have children. Personally I never look at children areas and think I wasn't getting my money's worth because I'm not utilizing that area of the park.

The land can be accessible to general crowds but I don't see a big problem with having the ride be aimed at an older/adult market.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I'd say the current scariest theme park attraction within the Orlando market is the Twilight Zone. I doubt this ride will be scarier than that, if only because it'll evoke more visceral fears than the existential dread of your typical Twilight Zone episode.

 

[quinnmac000]

Diversity of experiences for a diversity of guests. I would argue that this park has so many kid friendly attractions that having one attraction that attracts and targets more thrilling audiences really isn't an issue. You neuter the ride so one time visit 5 year old Timmy can ride, you lost single adult with substantial disposable income who has the ability to come back and increase guest spending.

 

[Lucky Planet]

Diversity of experiences for a diversity of guests. I would argue that this park has so many kid friendly attractions that having one attraction that attracts and targets more thrilling audiences really isn't an issue. You neuter the ride so one time visit 5 year old Timmy can ride, you lost single adult with substantial disposable income who has the ability to come back and increase guest spending.

I mean, some roller coasters can't be used by small kids so some rides are only for grown ups I guess. ( regardless of horror elements)

 

[Jake S]

many adults are also not interested in anything scarier than the dementor scene in forbidden journey. it’s not about watering an attraction down for 5 year olds, it’s about building an attraction that most guests paying more than $100 to experience will, well, want to experience.

 

[kingmantis]

I don't think it'll be HHN levels, but Universal isn't a stranger to intense/scary elements in it's rides and queues. The mangled knights in Dueling Dragons, arachnophobia and dementors in Forbidden Journey. Hell, Kong used to straight up have scareactors in line for years. If Universal wants to make a ride scary, they're more than capable of doing it, and that wolf man animatronic sure seems line an intimidating step in the right direction.

Also, even if it's not exactly scary like HHN is, I don't think that's a real cause for concern either. I'll always hold up Curse of DarKastle at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (RIP) as the gold standard of a horror ride that's not scary per se, but incredibly themed and thrilling. Obviously different parks, but if it captures a similar vibe I'd be more than satisfied.

 

[Lucky Planet]

I don't think it'll be HHN levels, but Universal isn't a stranger to intense/scary elements in it's rides and queues. The mangled knights in Dueling Dragons, arachnophobia and dementors in Forbidden Journey. Hell, Kong used to straight up have scareactors in line for years. If Universal wants to make a ride scary, they're more than capable of doing it, and that wolf man animatronic sure seems line an intimidating step in the right direction.

Also, even if it's not exactly scary like HHN is, I don't think that's a real cause for concern either. I'll always hold up Curse of DarKastle at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (RIP) as the gold standard of a horror ride that's not scary per se, but incredibly themed and thrilling. Obviously different parks, but if it captures a similar vibe I'd be more than satisfied.

there's a big difference between actors moving right in your face and the loud noises in a house and their weapons or masks, and an animatronic that is not next to you or CGI creatures on a screen as well,
it will probably be closer to the mummy animatronic in the mummy ride but with more realistic movements.
the werewolf seems to move really real, but it's probably not gonna be next to your face. and you are sitting down on the car,

 

[sonoma15]

I think everyone here is ignoring the potential that this ride could also partially be a sensory experience like Alien Encounter, maybe using some technology within the restraints and seats of the ride vehicle itself, which could really increase the scariness levels a lot. Also even if that doesn't turn out to be the case, the Dementors on FJ already get very close to you and freak me out sometimes and they don't even move, I can see this ride definitely being quite scary.

 

[Lucky Planet]

I think everyone here is ignoring the potential that this ride could also partially be a sensory experience like Alien Encounter, maybe using some technology within the restraints and seats of the ride vehicle itself, which could really increase the scariness levels a lot. Also even if that doesn't turn out to be the case, the Dementors on FJ already get very close to you and freak me out sometimes and they don't even move, I can see this ride definitely being quite scary.

is this ride 3D or just regular?

 

[sonoma15]

is this ride 3D or just regular?

It won't be 3D.