Universal Studios Japan General Discussion

[pumpkinbot343]

There are valid reasons to praise TDR (perfect maintenance, good customer service, strong attraction lineup including classic attractions with no changes) but the resort is very idolized among the theme park community. Some of that I think is gatekeeping (it's "exotic" and not easy to travel to for many people), or first impressions reacting to the positive differences with the U.S. parks. It's different when you visit somewhere once compared to living there and going back multiple times.

TDR is a strong resort on paper but imo it has always missed the "soul" of a Disney park. There's some critical component missing which it doesn't really get and so it sometimes feels like merely a foreign imitation to me. Plus it has all of the baggage that all Japanese institutions do; reluctance to change, slow to modernize, terrible digital infrastructure, stubbornness against accommodating foreigners etc.

I think Tokyo Disneyland/Disneysea got a strong rep because of comparison to the other parks. I think Disneyland is still doing fine, but WDW is mixed, and who really cares about Paris?

 

[wutisgood]

I would imagine given the tickets and food are much cheaper at the Tokyo resort it is easier for them to beat people's expectations who will compare it to other Disney parks.

 

[pumpkinbot343]

One thing USJ does that USO does not is partner with musical artists to promote the parks and IP...from Charli XcX and Galantis with Born to Play to working with popular Japanese artist to promote the parks....and then incorporates those songs into their version of RRR...hollywood dream while we can't even get an update.

If USO were to get into this, they should have The Weeknd do a song for them.

 

[BatCom]

"Super Mario Power Up Summer" seasonal event this year, "where guests can get soaked alongside Mario and his friends visiting from Super Nintendo World. The event will occur in Gramercy Park and feature popular characters such as Mario, Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach, and Bowser Jr."

 

[Jwhee]

Checkout Pikachu’s adorable rain jacket

 

[Clive]

"Super Mario Power Up Summer" seasonal event this year, "where guests can get soaked alongside Mario and his friends visiting from Super Nintendo World. The event will occur in Gramercy Park and feature popular characters such as Mario, Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach, and Bowser Jr."

This slipped by me. Very interesting that they are comfortable letting some of the Nintendo characters exist outside the boundaries of the land itself (beyond parades).

 

[Jwhee]

I don’t think Bourne can fit into the USJ Terminator. From what I recall it’s a much smaller, landlocked building

Will be interesting to see what replaces it. There’s been no show in there since COVID, unlike Backdraft which has been in use as an anime overlay.

 

[Jerroddragon]

This slipped by me. Very interesting that they are comfortable letting some of the Nintendo characters exist outside the boundaries of the land itself (beyond parades).

I mean both companies want money and unlike JK, Nintendo has standards but has zero issues selling out to make a buck.