Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Construction Discussion

[fryoj]

First and foremost, theme parks are a subset that is entirely inside the set of amusement parks. All theme park attractions are amusement park attractions. But not all amusement park attractions are theme park attractions.

That said, DD/DC was a theme park attraction. It just utilized an artistic style that is not often used in theme parks. It falls into the category of impressionistic theming similar in concept to space mtn. but more closely related to The Loch Ness Monster in BGW. That is opposed to the more common realism artistic style of BTMRR and Everest. Artistically, Dueling Dragons was more successful at conveying the image of two flying dragons fighting than Hulk was at depicting a giant green gorilla-man rampaging through a comic book city. But Hulk just looks soooo good, no one cares.

I think if it was still the full Dueling Dragons experience with dueling and queue, and not been neutered by Potter and no dueling, I think this would be a much bigger loss. It truly was something special when it opened and certainly fit in the most well themed park that was IOA.

 

[Cheezbat]

Universal runs their coasters hard. DC was done. It was either retrack the whole thing, or replace it. Since MANY people considered it a blight on Hogsmeade, rebuilding it was never considered as everyone knows UC can do better now.

Sure didn't feel anywhere near 'done'...I've ridden other B&Ms just as old or older that felt to be way rougher and closer to the end of their lives...yet they still stand.

 

[Disneyhead]

Sure didn't feel anywhere near 'done'...I've ridden other B&Ms just as old or older that felt to be way rougher and closer to the end of their lives...yet they still stand.

Universal maintains their trains very well. But the track was getting many overnight spot welds for hairline cracks. The other rougher B&Ms are because the parks are slack on maintaining their trains.

 

[Mike S]

First and foremost, theme parks are a subset that is entirely inside the set of amusement parks. All theme park attractions are amusement park attractions. But not all amusement park attractions are theme park attractions.

That said, DD/DC was a theme park attraction. It just utilized an artistic style that is not often used in theme parks. It falls into the category of impressionistic theming similar in concept to space mtn. but more closely related to The Loch Ness Monster in BGW. That is opposed to the more common realism artistic style of BTMRR and Everest. Artistically, Dueling Dragons was more successful at conveying the image of two flying dragons fighting than Hulk was at depicting a giant green gorilla-man rampaging through a comic book city. But Hulk just looks soooo good, no one cares.

Space Mountain?

Um...

 

[Andysol]

From a premier, one of a kind attraction to a pile of scrap.

Sad.

I’m with @Mike S that DC was an eyesore. As for DD- look at that pic on the left and tell me it isn’t awesome looking. It had trees that obscured the coaster and the dragons to take your eyes off it completely. It’s pretty badass, even by today’s standards.

They're going to leave it and further explore it in another attraction..

Fear not, Universal seems to be listening to the "no moar screenz" debate

They are? I mean, I guess according to rumored future attractions that haven’t had a single foundation poured or brick laid yet, they are. But everything that has been built or is currently under construction is just “moar screenz”

If I’m wagering, I see them moving away from it. But fool me 35 times... in a nutshell, I’ll believe it when I see it.

 

[Disneyhead]

Space Mountain?

Um...

Yeah, Space Mtn. That's way cool and everything but looks absolutely nothing like actually going into space. It's still an impressionistic journey to space.

I’m with @Mike S that DC was an eyesore. As for DD- look at that pic on the left and tell me it isn’t awesome looking. It had trees that obscured the coaster and the dragons to take your eyes off it completely. It’s pretty badass, even by today’s standards.



They are? I mean, I guess according to rumored future attractions that haven’t had a single foundation poured or brick laid yet, they are. But everything that has been built or is currently under construction is just “moar screenz”

If I’m wagering, I see them moving away from it. But fool me 35 times... in a nutshell, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Those trees aren't suppose to be there. They ABSOLUTELY ruin the intended view. You are supposed to be able to see the face off loops framed by the dragon sculptures. You'll notice the ice loop is above the ice dragon and the same for fire.

 

[Andysol]

Those trees aren't suppose to be there. They ABSOLUTELY ruin the intended view. You are supposed to be able to see the face off loops framed by the dragon sculptures. You'll notice the ice loop is above the ice dragon and the same for fire.

Then why did Universal plant them?

 

[Disneyhead]

Then why did Universal plant them?

Landscaping. The question is why didn't they prune them.

 

[rhino4evr]

I'm really trying not to judge the ride before there's any substantial info released about it or until I've sat on the thing. But its hard seeing what was once one of the greatest amusement park attractions in the world reduced to a torn pile of ruble. It makes matters worse knowing those amazing coasters are the first defunct members of B&M's beautiful masterpieces of civil and mechanical engineering instead of some stupid Batman clone. I'm trying, but I don't know how to not hold a negative connotation of this ride before its even built.
Honestly, I'll try being fair but while riding whatever ends up being built I'm going to have Dueling Dragons (not Dragon Challenge) in my mind and place that as the benchmark of how good this ride needs to be. I know you may not agree but to me that is a lot to be asking for...

samezies.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

2) I want a rock band at my funeral now.

I’ve always wanted a rock band at my funeral.

 

[rhino4evr]

That's it, right there.

It was an amusement park attraction inside one of the most highly themed areas of a world class theme park.

And yes, there's a difference. I actually laughed out loud when I went to Six Flags and they had signs pointing to theme parks. I never did find those theme parks hiding somewhere in New Jersey near Six Flags.

Oh get out of here with this nonsense. Dueling Dragons definitely qualified as a "theme park ride" . It had an immersive queue, building, a story, and themed trains for god sakes. Even when Boy Wonder decided to take over, and they gutted most of what made the original theme unique, it still had plenty of theming throughout.

 

[Kraken&Manta]

Universal runs their coasters hard. DC was done. It was either retrack the whole thing, or replace it. Since MANY people considered it a blight on Hogsmeade, rebuilding it was never considered as everyone knows UC can do better now.

Fair enough then. I didn't remember anyone reputable like you saying that in the Hulk thread so I always kind of assumed it was just a rumor. Quick question though, how are some of B&M's older rides like Kumba that are still running strong with the same operating schedule as Universal's coasters? Does Busch Gardens have better overall maintence compared to Universal, or perhaps they're more willing to close an attraction down for long periods of maintenance?

 

[Scott W.]

Fair enough then. I didn't remember anyone reputable like you saying that in the Hulk thread so I always kind of assumed it was just a rumor. Quick question though, how are some of B&M's older rides like Kumba that are still running strong with the same operating schedule as Universal's coasters? Does Busch Gardens have better overall maintence compared to Universal, or perhaps they're more willing to close an attraction down for long periods of maintenance?

I don't think they have the same operating schedule. Sure, the parks are opened the same amount of days for roughly the same amount of hours but I've been to BGT plenty of times when Kumba is only running one train and Hulk is running 3 at the same time of year.

 

[Disneyhead]

Fair enough then. I didn't remember anyone reputable like you saying that in the Hulk thread so I always kind of assumed it was just a rumor. Quick question though, how are some of B&M's older rides like Kumba that are still running strong with the same operating schedule as Universal's coasters? Does Busch Gardens have better overall maintence compared to Universal, or perhaps they're more willing to close an attraction down for long periods of maintenance?

What @scott_walker said. Universal pushes a lot of trains all day everyday. Busch Gardens pushes trains out kind of regularly. SeaWorld get trains out of the station when they get around to it.

 

[anihilnation]

Fair enough then. I didn't remember anyone reputable like you saying that in the Hulk thread so I always kind of assumed it was just a rumor. Quick question though, how are some of B&M's older rides like Kumba that are still running strong with the same operating schedule as Universal's coasters? Does Busch Gardens have better overall maintence compared to Universal, or perhaps they're more willing to close an attraction down for long periods of maintenance?

Seaworld and Busch Gardens tend to take their time with maintenance, so probably they do look better after their coasters, both track and trains, better than Universal. What Scott and Disneyhead say is true as well, as Universal is always busy, and even when there's no real wait time at Uni, part of the reason will be because they still run all vehicles. Busch and Seaworld are the opposite. Interestingly enough, when I went to Busch last week Kumba was running two trains, even the front row was about walk on.

 

[Mike S]

Oh get out of here with this nonsense. Dueling Dragons definitely qualified as a "theme park ride" . It had an immersive queue, building, a story, and themed trains for god sakes. Even when Boy Wonder decided to take over, and they gutted most of what made the original theme unique, it still had plenty of theming throughout.

And now they saw fit to make something on the level of the rest of Harry Potter and trash Dragons. I wonder why that is? Could it be that it just didn't cut it anymore? Or that it never cut it but they couldn't do anything about it at first? No, because then that would mean you would be wrong and can't have that can we.

Universal is finally correcting some of their biggest flaws. I thought people here would love that since you all love oh so much to compare them to Disney. Well guess what? Disney for the most part doesn't clutter their parks with intrusive big steel coasters.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

And now they saw fit to make something on the level of the rest of Harry Potter and trash Dragons. I wonder why that is? Could it be that it just didn't cut it anymore?

If I had to guess, Budget Cuts took the toll on Dragons the most, to ensure the quality of FJ and the land itself can prevail.

 

[Mike S]

If I had to guess, Budget Cuts took the toll on Dragons the most, to ensure the quality of FJ and the land itself can prevail.

Exactly. If they had the funds it probably would've left a long time ago.

 

[JungleSkip]

Okay everyone, time to move on

 

[Mike S]

Okay everyone, time to move on

Yup. I'd like to see more progress pictures if anyone finds any.